The Fine Woman

That same day, they were busy cleaning up the place where they will stay for the meantime. They were lucky enough to find a space beside the home of Grandma Hong, an elderly who acts as the peace officer in the village.

The space wasn't big enough to house all of them so it was decided that the injured soldiers use it while the others find another place to stay. And as if the world is siding with them, they found out that the house nearby was empty and the village folks let them use it too.

"The people here are exceptionally welcoming. Don't you think?" Youngbae nudged Yun-Yeong while they were cleaning up the place.

The company had split up, of course, they wouldn't let all the injured ones to stay together. They all need to share the responsibility. Yun, along with Bada – another female soldier, and Youngbae and thirteen other soldiers and the fourteen injured ones will use the house. The rest of them will stay on Grandma Hong's place.

"But this place is still too small for thirty soldiers," Bada uttered behind them.

"Don't worry about space. Some of the men, icluding me, will sleep outside." Youngbae told them.

"I heard the others will sleep on the trucks with the Captain," Bada said.

Yun sighed. "Let's just finish up so we can start preparing for dinner. We haven't had any meals since yesterday."

This morning, they had to treat their friends and cover up their injuries nicely to avoid infection. And after that, they started cleaning up the place where they'll stay. Not only that, they also need to do some repairs around the house. There was no time to rest, nor to eat. Now, the sun is almost setting, and they had just started cooking.

Yun was busy making the soup when she heard a gentle voice of a woman calling for someone on the other house where the other soldiers are staying. When she looked up, she saw the same woman whom she saw earlier at the market. The woman was carrying something which she gave to a soldier who came to her.

Yun watched them from where she was. She can barely hear what they were saying but it could be just the typical thank you and welcome. The woman was about to leave and it was when Yun saw the beautiful smile on her face.

"Beautiful," she uttered unintentionally.

"What?" Bada spoke beside her that made her flinch.

"Nothing!" She said in defense and just continued making the soup.

By the time it got dark, they were all ready devour in.

"Thank you for the food!" Everyone said before they began eating.

In the middle of their meal, someone came knocking on the wooden gate. They all turned and Yun smiled just at the sight of the woman that had completely captured her heart.

"Grandma Hong wanted me to give you these. She thought you might need some extra blankets so she asked the villagers to lend some of theirs," her voice was sweet and gentle, the kind that suits the night.

Yun thought it was something she'd like to hear every night. But she also knew, that woman won't ever feel the same way.

That night, Yun find it hard to sleep. She was lying there with the blanket the woman brought and she somehow thought that the sweet scent coming off from the fabric was no different with hers. She assumes that the blanket she was using was that of the woman's.

She smiled but it didn't last as she was reminded how impossible it was.

"I'll try to forget you tomorrow." She told herself, completely agreeing that they cannot be together.

The sun still haven't risen yet all of them were already awake the next day. Most of them had gone to an early morning jog and among them was Yun. The houses in the village were lighting up one by one which only means that people are also awake at this time.

They jogged around the village and into the small woodland behind it. They stopped there for a moment and thought they needed some firewoods so they took that chance to find some. When they went back, all of them were carrying a bundle of it on their hands grazing the sandy road of the village.

Food was immediately prepared after and learned that their supply weren't enough for tonight's meal so they had gone to the market once again. Yun was one of the soldiers tasked to go and even if she had second thoughts, she complied.

"We should get some fruits too," Beom-Gyu said.

"Yes, I think we should." Yun agreed following behind the man. Of all the stalls nearby, she wasn't expecting that her companion would choose to buy at the one located much farther from the others.

As they were both nearing the store, Yun realized that it was the same stall where she met the woman yesterday. Suddenly, she could feel her heart beating loudly against her chest.

"Good morning!" Beom-Gyu greeted with all smiles. When Yun looked up, she saw the two women from last time. And they were smiling too.

"Fruits?" The woman with a melodious tone of voice asked.

"Yes, please." Beom-Gyu replied, in his manly voice.

Yun saw how the woman looked back on the woman with feline eyes with a knowing glint in their gaze. She knew what it meant. And it's funny to think that she's hurting because of it.

"Here you go," the fine woman who captivated Yun said and handed the man a bag of apples and oranges.

Yun was watching everything. She saw how the woman smiled at Beom-Gyu and how the latter took the bag and slightly touched her hand.

"We've met yesterday. Don't you remember?" Beom-Gyu then asked just before they are about to leave.

Yun's ears perked. She was suddenly interested about it. The odd feeling going on inside her did not stop though. And even if she already told herself to forget about her, it was harder than she thought.

"Yes, Beom-Gyu," she said his name shyly and looked down.

It was the first time that Yun felt bile at a mention of a friend's name. Before the man could say anything, she cleared her throat and stopped the development of a longer conversation.

"We should head back now," she interrupted.

"Is that so? Then, you can go first. Tell the others I'm still out buying some supplies," Beom-Gyu said which took Yun aback.

"No. We should go back together. I won't leave you here," she argued but the man was persistent. And she could sense that he's becoming annoyed by her presence there but she wouldn't want to leave him there with the woman. No way.

Beom-Gyu smiled at the woman before leaning in to whisper to Yun. "Just go. I'll be back soon. If you stay here with me they might think that we're in a relationship. So just leave."

Before Yun can retort, Beom-Gyu pushed her away and waved her goodbye. She took one last glance at the woman and saw that she was looking at her too. With the bags in hands, she started to walk away with a down feeling.

On her way, she sighed so many times before reaching the house. Bada was sitting on the platform when she came and the former noticed Yun's dejected face.

"Did something happen? Where's Beom-Gyu?" Bada asked but Yun just shrugged.

"Hey! I'm asking you! What happened?" She asked again but Yun only sighed. She doesn't want to talk about it.

"Fine. But you'll help me prepare dinner, won't you?" Bada shift off the topic. Yun nodded and forced a smile. "Captain says we should give out our thanks to Grandma Hong. So we have to prepare dinner for them too."

"Them? Isn't she living alone?" Yun suddenly was confused. She thought the old woman had no family.

Bada nodded slowly. "Remember the woman who came here last night and gave the blankets? She's living Grandma Hong. She's like her granddaughter, actually."

Her heart leaped because of what she learned about the woman. But the thought that Beom-Gyu and that woman whom she admired shattered her heart. She sighed once again. "This is so hard."

"What is?" Bada asked when she heard Yun say.

"Huh?" Yun innocently looked at her. "N-nothing. I just... feel like saying it."

Bada squinted her eyes as she looked at her intently. "You're acting weird since yesterday." She said.

Yun thought she should defend herself so as not to spark any misunderstanding. "No. I'm completely fine. You're the one who's weird..." she muttered the last sentence and went inside the house.

"Hey, you..." Bada sighed in frustration. "Comeback here! We still need to cook!"