Friends

Late in the afternoon when Yun decided to go out to the market, for no reason. She just wanted to stroll around the village as if she has not memorized every corner of that small community with majority of its people are women and children.

It is not surprising actually. All men of any age were all mandated to fight and serve for their country. The only male she could see were little boys, who roam and play on the streets in the afternoon.

She smiled as she watched the children play 'tag' and running around the street. One of them even bumped unto her causing him to fall down on his bottom. She chuckled and helped the little guy.

"Are you okay?" she asked and the boy nodded frivolously before running back to his playmates.

She sighed as she watched them ran around. It's nice to see these young kids play without worry. With the war going on, everyone must be anxious and paranoid but these kids, she's glad that they were enjoying their childhood well.

"Hey, Yun!" She heard Bada calling her from somewhere.

Yun looked around and when she found where her friend was, she smiled as she jogged towards her.

"What are you doing here? I thought you're with the captain? Where is he?" Yun asked immediately when she was beside Bada already.

"He headed back to the trucks. He said he forgot to do something." Bada explained before picking a knitted blue scarf and showed it to Yun. The latter nodded, agreeing that the friend should buy it.

While Bada was paying for it, Yun's gaze quickly found her favorite subject. The woman whose name she doesn't know was with her friend and were both busy closing their stall. Her brows furrowed as she thought it was still early to close up.

"Let's go?" Yun heard Bada said which got her attention. She nodded and immediately thought of a good idea.

"Let's walk with them," she said and pointed at the two women who were approaching them from a distance.

Bada turned to the women and nodded. When they were in a conversing distance, Yun was ready to ask them but Bada cut her through.

"Excu—"

"Hello, girls. Mind if we walk with you? We're going the same way, anyway," Bada asked with no holding back.

Yun could only swallow her words as she stared blankly at her friend who ruined her chance to speak.

"Yeah, sure. We don't mind. And I could have someone to talk to. My friend is not good at talking so..." the woman's friend shrugged and giggled.

Yun saw the woman rolled her eyes at her friend's remark but nonetheless just giggled with them too. She smiled as she watched her but when their eyes met, she was quick to look away from the woman.

"Let's go," Yun said and they all went together.

While they were walking back, Yun felt jealous at the way Bada befriended them so easily. Her three companions seemed to have gotten close already while she felt she was just someone who was just walking along them.

The woman was smiling from ear to ear as Bada told them something that amazed them, to which Yun wasn't really paying attention to because she was busy watching the woman as if it was the only thing that matters.

"Really?! Yun did that?!" her friend exclaimed and stopped from their tracks.

Even upon the mention of her name, Yun did not pay attention. Well, not until when the woman's gaze fell on her and she had to look away.

"Huh?" Yun breathed innocently as she looked at Bada and the other friend. "What are you talking about...?"

The three women laughed at the puzzled female soldier.

"She may not look like it but she's really good at aiming! She's a sniper after all, the best one in the field!" Bada said proudly while putting her arm around Yun's shoulder.

Yun's forehead creased at her own friend's exaggeration about her.

"Wow! Yun, you're really cool! You're a hero!" the woman's friend exclaimed, clapping her hands for the soldier.

"What did you tell them?" Yun asked Bada and the latter just winked at her.

"It is indeed pretty awesome. You should be awarded for it," the woman spoke which just made Yun confused and embarrassed because of the compliment.

Yun had no idea what they were talking about until Bada whispered to her. "That Japanese commander you shot dead last time."

Now that she knows what they were talking about, she could not hide how flustered she is because of their praises. She chuckled the uneasiness off her shoulders as she try to look at the woman.

"It's not really a big deal..." she said and the woman smiled at her.

It was as if time slowed down and the only person that she sees now is the woman. Her heart beating loud against her chest and heat rushed to her face as she stared at her.

"It's getting dark. We should all get going," Bada spoke and pulled Yun out of her trance.

Even with the dark swallowing the skies and paths, it still could not hide the woman's beauty.

As they were walking back, Yun and the woman were both silent as they ended up walking together behind their friends. Bada and the other woman seemed to have clicked, the latter is now the one telling a story.

Yun kept on glancing on the woman beside her. And if the latter is not looking or unaware, she watches her until she would look ahead again and Yun would look away then as if she did not do anything.

They were already acquainted when Yun had helped her yesterday. And so she thought, must she do the first move again? It would be fine, right?

She heaved, taking in all the courage she could to speak.

Yun cleared her throat and opened her mouth when the woman spoke before she could.

"You guys can go ahead. I'll just fetch grandma Hong from Miss Seo's home," she said that made all of them stop on their tracks.

"Ah! Right! I almost forgot about grandma Hong," her friend uttered.

Yun looked around the place and even though it wasn't totally dark yet, she knew they cannot just let them go alone, an elderly and a very fragile woman walking in the dark? No way.

"It's okay. We'll come with you. Or, we can wait here for you. It's getting dark and it's better to walk together just to be safe," Yun asserted.

Her eyes found the woman's who seemed shocked and a little amused.

"I mean... it's dark... and... you might need someone to guide you on the way..." Yun stammered as the woman did not look away from her.

Silence seemed to stretch between them as they just stared at each other. Yun waiting for the woman's approval. But honestly, it was just for a few seconds before their two companions laughed.

"I don't think that would be necessary. We're already outside Miss Seo's house and grandma's house is just two houses away," the woman explained pointing at the house nearby and at the elderly's home not really too far from them.

"You know what, miss? I think we can stay a little while out here. Seems like Yun doesn't want to be in-charge of our dinner tonight that's why..." Bada joked.

Yun frowned. She just wanted to be friendly but now she is just getting herself humiliated in front of the woman she likes. When did socializing be so hard? Ah, right. Since, now.

"I think you two should go. You can't just let your comrades go hungry, you know?" her friend said, with a little tease.

Yun looked back on the woman and her heart started to beat rapidly when the latter beamed at her.

"Chaeyoung's right. We'll be fine on our own. We've been walking this dark path ever since the war began so you have nothing to worry about. But thank you for the concern though, Yun," the woman uttered gently followed by a sweet smile which made the soldier fall deeper into the unknown.

She smiled. "Alright. But..." she cleared her throat. "May I know your name?"

The woman looked puzzled as she stared back at Yun.

The latter chuckled and scratched the back of her neck. "I still don't know your name..." she shyly admitted.

When the woman remained silent for a few seconds, Yun immediately regretted asking her and was about to take back what she said when the former spoke.

"Won Dal," she heard her say.

Her lips quickly curved up to a smile and she thinks she will not be able to stop from smiling for a while.

"Well then, Won Dal, we'll get going now. Have a good night!" Yun bid happily before pulling Bada away from the remained two way too forcefully if the latter may describe.

When they went passed grandma Hong's home, it was only then when Yun let Bada go even after hearing the latter's complaints when she started to pull her off from the crowd.

Bada sighed at the sight of Yun smiling brightly under the twinkling stars. "You like her that much, do you?"