Chapter 2

The next morning, Min-seok carefully wiped Kim Il-Sung's portrait with a clean white cloth. He stood on a wooden bench, focused on cleaning the face of the Great Leader—a face that had been stained by Hae-jin's spit the night before.

He glanced at his wife and son, Myung-sun and Hae-jin, who were quietly sitting at the table. Both were eating. In their bowls, there was a thin broth with a few pieces of sweet potato.

Suddenly, Min-seok shouted, his voice cracking with both anger and fear.

"야! 여보, 해진아! 우리 위대한 수령님의 초상화가 왜 더러워졌소?!"

("Hey! Myung-sun, Hae-jin! Do you know why the portrait of our Great Leader is dirty?!")

He frowned at them; his eyes burned with anger.

Myung-sun and Hae-jin looked at Min-seok. Myung-sun's face showed concern, but Hae-jin remained expressionless—as if he didn't care. He did not respond. Instead, he continued eating at the table.

Myung-sun quickly replied, her voice quivering.

"모르오! 나는 언제나 위대한 수령님의 초상화를 깨끗하게 닦고 있소!"

("I don't know! I always clean the portrait of our Great Leader!")

Min-seok turned back to Kim Il-Sung's portrait. He wiped it again, more gently this time, but his face was filled with fear.

"아이구! 위대한 수령님, 용서해 주십시오. 깨끗이 닦지 못했습니다!"

("Aigoo! Great Leader, please forgive us for not cleaning you properly!")

Hae-jin stood up from the table and looked outside. Before leaving, he softly said,

"더녀오겠습니다."

("I'm leaving now.")

The sun was high above the cornfield, casting a golden glow over the endless rows of tall stalks. Farmers, including Hae-jin, were bent over, planting corn seeds into small holes before carefully covering them with soil.

Hae-jin wore a rattan and abaca hat to shield himself from the scorching heat. His thin, long-sleeved shirt clung to his body with sweat as he worked tirelessly.

Not far away, Tae-ho stood at the edge of the field, smoking a cigarette, watching Hae-jin. His sharp gaze never wavered, unreadable. After taking another drag, he flicked the cigarette away, crushed it under his boot, and began walking toward Hae-jin.

Hae-jin, still bent over planting, noticed the polished black boots stopping in front of him. Slowly, he straightened up, lifting his gaze—and met Tae-ho's intense stare.

"따라와..."

("Follow me.)

Tae-ho turned and walked away. Hae-jin hesitated, watching his tall figure disappear along the lines of freshly tilled earth.

Tae-ho stood in the narrow clearing between the tall stalks of corn, his entire body hidden by the towering leaves. The air smelled of soil and growing corn as he lit a cigarette.

When Hae-jin arrived, he stood beside Tae-ho, though he kept a small distance between them.

The air was thick with tension, filled only by the rustling of corn leaves and the faint crackle of burning tobacco.

Without looking at him, Tae-ho finally spoke:

"또 너 이름 뭐냐?"

("What's your name again?")

Hae-jin lowered his eyes, hesitant.

"해진... 강해진입니다."

("Hae-jin... Kang Hae-jin, sir.")

Tae-ho exhaled smoke, watching Hae-jin closely.

"정태호다. 조선인민군 상위."

("Jeong Tae-ho. Senior Lieutenant.")

Hae-jin's shoulders tensed.

A soldier… a high-ranking one.

His heart pounded in his chest.

"안녕하십니까... 상위동지..."

("Good morning, sir…")

He bowed slightly, voice barely above a whisper.

Tae-ho tilted his head slightly.

"여기서 가까이 사냐?"

("You live near here?")

Sweat trickled down Hae-jin's neck. He hesitated but knew he had no choice but to answer.

"예... 상위동지... 15분 정도 거리요."

("Yes, sir… about 15 minutes away.")

Tae-ho nodded.

"몇 살이냐?"

("How old are you?")

"열일곱입니다..."

("Seventeen, sir.")

Tae-ho muttered under his breath.

"씨발..."

("Fuck...")

Then he said, smirking

"애송이구만."

("You're just a kid.")

He took another drag of his cigarette before holding it out to Hae-jin.

"한번 해 봐."

("Try it.")

Hae-jin's eyes widened. He looked at the cigarette between Tae-ho's fingers, then back at his cold, unreadable eyes.

There was no way to refuse.

Slowly, he took the cigarette, placed it between his lips, and inhaled—only to choke immediately. His body jolted as he coughed violently.

Tae-ho smirked.

"처음엔 다 그렇지. 곧 익숙해질 거다."

("Everyone starts like that. You'll get used to it.")

Still coughing, Hae-jin forced himself to take another puff.

After a moment of silence, Tae-ho glanced at Hae-jin.

"여자 친구 있냐?"

("Do you have a girlfriend?")

Hae-jin froze. Slowly, he lowered the cigarette from his lips, glanced at Tae-ho, then quickly looked away.

"없습니다... 상위동지..."

("No… sir.")

Tae-ho smirked. His sharp eyes swept over Hae-jin's features.

"그래? 잘생긴 놈이 아직 여자 친구도 없냐?"

("Really? A good-looking guy like you… and no girlfriend?")

Hae-jin didn't answer. He only smiled faintly.

Tae-ho turned slightly. Reaching behind him, he grabbed a large ear of corn from the stalk.

He held it out to Hae-jin.

Hae-jin stared at the corn in Tae-ho's hand. He wanted to take it—he was starving—but hesitated. His eyes darted between Tae-ho and the corn.

Tae-ho's voice was calm, almost casual.

"괜찮소... 먹어도 되오... 어제 내가 가져간 옥수수 대신이라 생각하라."

("It's fine. Take it. Think of it as payment… for the corn I took from you yesterday.")

Hae-jin hesitated for another second before finally reaching out, his fingers brushing against Tae-ho's as he took the corn.

He bowed slightly.

"감사합니다"

("Thank you, sir.")

Turning away, Hae-jin glanced at the tobacco still between his fingers.

After a brief hesitation, he dropped it to the ground and crushed it under his foot.

Then, he clutched the corn tightly.

In that moment, despite everything—despite the hunger, the exhaustion—he felt happy. A small, genuine smile appeared on his lips as he took his first bite.

From a few steps away, Tae-ho heard him chewing. He smirked to himself, shoving his hands into his pockets.

For the first time… he felt like he didn't mind having Hae-jin around.

As Hae-jin carefully planted corn seeds into the soil, he couldn't help but remember what had happened earlier.

"나는… 이제 끝장이라고 생각했소."

("I thought… it was the end for me.")

"위대한 수령님의 초상화를 더럽힌 죄로… 엄중한 처벌을 받을 거라고 믿었소."

("I believed I would be severely punished for what I did to the Great Leader's portrait.")

"그러나… 나는 틀렸소."

("But… I was wrong.")

"내 평생에 처음으로…"

("For the first time in my life…")

"군관이 나한테 이렇게 말한 적 없었소."

("No officer has ever spoken to me like that.")

"군관이 나한테 식량을 준 적도 없었소."

("No officer has ever given me food.")

"그것도… 진심에서 우러나서 말이요."

("And I knew… he gave it to me sincerely.")

As Hae-jin recalled what had happened in the cornfield, he didn't realize that the weight on his face was slowly fading.

"이렇게 긴 세월 동안… 처음으로…"

("For the first time… in so many years…")

"내가… 웃고 있소?"

("Am I… smiling?")

Before the sun could set, Hae-jin returned home. His body was heavy with exhaustion, his face smudged with dirt, and his clothes covered in dust.

"다녀왔습니다."

("I'm home.")

His father, Min-seok, barely glanced at him. He sat on a wooden stool, reading a newspaper filled with praises about Kim Il-Sung.

His mother, Myung-sun, sat on a thin mattress, quietly sewing.

On the small wooden table, Hae-jin noticed a plate of cassava. His stomach tightened with hunger. Just as he reached for a piece, his father's voice thundered across the room.

"야! 놔둬라! 그건 널 위한 게 아니다!"

("Don't touch that! That's not for you!")

Hae-jin stopped, looking at his mother, hoping she might allow him to eat. But Myung-sun only sighed and said,

"위대한 수령님께 바치는 공물이니라. 다음 수확철에 더 많은 배급을 받기 위해서 말이다."

("That is an offering to our Great Leader Kim Il-Sung, so he may grant us more rations in the next harvest.")

Hae-jin exhaled, the exhaustion and hunger deepening the shadows under his eyes. His stomach growled, but he forced himself to ignore it.

He walked out into the yard, heading toward the large clay jar. But when he got there, he found it empty.

Exhausted, he slumped onto the wooden bench beside it. His head lowered, his arms rested on his knees, and his fingers gripped his temples. He didn't want to move anymore.

"해진아, 강가에 가서 물을 길어 오너라!"

("Hae-jin, go fetch water from the river!") his mother called.

Even though night was beginning to fall, Hae-jin was completely exhausted—his legs ached, his body felt heavy, and his stomach was empty. But he had no choice. He forced himself to take the empty jar and walk toward the river.

Each step felt heavier than the last, but he kept moving.

Upon reaching the water's edge, his arms trembled as he crouched down.

His body screamed for rest, but he ignored it. With slow, tired movements, he dipped the jar into the flowing river and began to fill it.

The next day, under the scorching sun, Hae-jin carefully poured water onto the newly planted corn seeds. He carried a large clay jar filled with water, taken from the river. Step by step, he moved across the dry land, making sure each seed got enough moisture.

But as he worked, his eyes kept shifting from side to side, searching.

"나는 왜 그런지 모르겠다… 하지만 나는 그 군관을 찾고 있다. 군관이 지나갈 때마다… 나도 모르게 고개를 돌리고 있다. 나는 그를 다시 보고 싶다. 오늘은 꼭 왔으면 좋겠다..."

("I don't know why… but I'm looking for him. Every time a soldier walks by, I can't help but turn my head. I want to see him again. I hope he comes today…")

Along the narrow dirt path, Hae-jin walked with the heavy jar in his arms.

He heard footsteps behind him—boots pressing against the dirt road.

A soldier.

His heart raced as he turned his head, hope flickering in his eyes.

"상위동지!"

("Senior Lieutenant!")

But the soldier walked past him without a glance.

Hae-jin stopped. A strange emptiness filled his chest.

"하루 종일 일을 했는데… 아직도 그는 보이지 않다."

("An entire day of work has passed… and I haven't seen him.")

That night, Hae-jin returned home. His body was heavy with exhaustion, but the weight on his heart was even heavier.

All day, he hadn't seen Tae-ho.

Not once.

Even in the fields, even among the soldiers—he was nowhere to be found.

And now, as he reached his doorstep, something else weighed on him.

A strange noise.

Muffled moans.

The soft creaking of the wooden floor.

His breath hitched.

Slowly, he pushed the door open.

Under the dim glow of the oil lamp on the table, a scene unfolded before his eyes—one that made his exhaustion disappear.

Min-seok was on top of his wife, both of them bare from the waist down.

With every movement of his hips, the thin mattress beneath them shifted. The quiet sounds of their bodies moving filled the small house.

Hae-jin's entire body went cold. His blood boiled.

"아버지!"

("Father!")

In an instant, he rushed forward and yanked Min-seok away from Myung-sun.

His father lost balance and collapsed onto the hard floor.

Myung-sun quickly sat up, covering herself and hurriedly putting her clothes back on.

Min-seok turned to face him, his expression filled with rage.

"아버지! 엄머니가 임신하면 안 된다는 거 아시잖소! 우리도 먹을 게 없는데 태어날 애는 어쩔 거요?!"

("Father! You know Mother can't get pregnant! We barely have food—how will we feed another child?!")

Min-seok stood up, yanking his pants up. His hands trembled as he pointed a furious finger at Hae-jin—not just in anger, but in shame.

"개새끼야!"

("You bastard!")

A sudden, powerful punch landed on Hae-jin's face.

The force of the blow sent Hae-jin stumbling backward. His body slammed against the side of the wooden table, making it shake unsteadily.

He gripped the edge, steadying himself.

"여보!!!"

("Honey!!!")

Myung-sun shouted, panic rising in her voice, but she didn't move. She couldn't stop her husband.

Blood dripped from the corner of Hae-jin's mouth, but he didn't scream. His fists trembled as he fought back the tears and rage.

Min-seok, shaking with fury, shouted at him.

"너 같은 놈이 뭘 알아?! 내가 널 키웠으니, 내 자식도 키울 거다!"

("What do you know?! I raised you, and I'll raise my child too!")

A cold, empty smile crossed Hae-jin's lips. He didn't intend to smile—it just happened.

Lifting his gaze, he looked straight at his father. There was no fear in his eyes.

"날 키웠다고? 하지만 대가는 뭐였소? 나를 노예로 만든 것뿐이잖소."

("You raised me? But at what cost? You only made me a slave.")

"이 개새끼가!"

("You ungrateful bastard!")

Min-seok roared, grabbing Hae-jin's shirt and dragging him toward the door.

"아버지! 놔둬요!"

("Father! Let go of me!")

Hae-jin shouted as he was forcefully pulled outside, his bare feet scraping against the wooden floor.

Min-seok shoved him out the door, sending him falling onto the dirt ground.

"꺼져라!" ("Get out!")

Min-seok's voice thundered through the night.

Then, the wooden door slammed shut with a deafening force.

Hae-jin was left outside, alone, in the cold night air.

He trembled—not from the cold, but from the anger and sadness consuming him.

Slowly, he placed his palm on the ground, feeling the rough stones against his skin.

He lowered his head, clenching his eyes shut.

There was no sound. No noise around him.

But inside his heart, something dark was growing.

"내가 왜 태어났지?"

("Why was I even born?")

A warm tear slipped from his eye.

It fell silently onto the dry earth.

And in that moment… something inside him finally broke.

After being thrown out, Hae-jin walked silently through the narrow street, surrounded by identical white houses.

The night was dark, with only the flickering light of firewood from the houses illuminating the surroundings.

The cold wind brushed against his skin, but he didn't care.

He had no destination, just walking aimlessly, his eyes swollen from crying.

Suddenly, a bright light shone directly into his face.

He stopped, shutting his eyes tightly, raising his arm to shield them with his fist.

A few seconds later, a vehicle came to a halt in front of him.

The sound of a door opening broke the silence.

A man stepped out, his polished shoes hitting the ground.

Slowly, Hae-jin lowered his hand.

As his vision adjusted, the man's face came into view.

Jeong Tae-ho.

Their eyes met, but neither spoke.

They just stared at each other, unable to explain what they were feeling.

Then, finally, Hae-jin parted his lips and whispered,

"상위동지…"

("Lieutenant...")

Tae-ho glanced around briefly, as if thinking about what to say, before turning his attention back to Hae-jin.

"이 시간에 여기서 뭐 하고 있냐?"

("What are you doing outside at this hour?")

He asked, his tone serious but calm.

"집에 가는 길입니다…"

("I'm on my way home,")

Hae-jin replied. But it was a lie.

He walked past Tae-ho, continuing down the street.

A few moments later, Tae-ho turned his head and called out.

"밥 먹자!"

("Let's eat!")

Hae-jin stopped.

He looked back at Tae-ho.

Their eyes met again.

The cold wind brushed against Hae-jin's skin, but his heart was beating too fast—he didn't know if it was because of the cold… or something else.

Tae-ho stood still, his sharp eyes fixed on him. His face was unreadable, but there was something about the way he stared—it felt like he was observing Hae-jin too closely, as if searching for something.

Hae-jin clenched his fists. He swallowed.

The silence between them was thick and heavy. Then, after a few seconds, Tae-ho finally spoke again—his voice firm yet calm.

"가자."

("Let's go.")

Tae-ho led Hae-jin into his apartment. The moment they stepped inside, neither of them spoke.

Tae-ho walked straight to the dining room, while Hae-jin stood frozen at the entrance, his eyes scanning the large living room in awe. He had never seen a home like this before.

On the highest part of the wall, portraits of Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il hung above Tae-ho's military service certificates. Below them, a wooden TV cabinet displayed rows of glasses and fine plates. In front of the cabinet, a long sofa sat neatly arranged.

And most of all, there was electricity.

From the dining room, Tae-ho glanced at Hae-jin.

"야... 거기서 그냥 서 있을 거냐?"

("Hey… Are you just going to stand there?")

Hae-jin, who had been staring at the displayed glasses and plates, turned to Tae-ho, who was standing near the dining table, waiting.

Hae-jin didn't answer. He just smiled slightly before turning his gaze back to the room.

"밥 먹자. 국수 식기 전에."

("Let's eat. Before the noodles get cold.")

Tae-ho said.

At the large dining table, Hae-jin and Tae-ho sat facing each other. In front of them, a bowl of steaming hot noodles was placed. Chopsticks rested neatly beside each bowl.

Hae-jin kept his head slightly lowered. He felt awkward and out of place.

Tae-ho was the first to eat, lifting the noodles with his chopsticks and taking a bite.

Hae-jin watched him.

Their eyes met.

Hae-jin quickly lowered his gaze.

"국수 먹어라."

("Eat your noodles.")

Tae-ho said. Slowly, Hae-jin picked up his chopsticks, hesitating for a moment before taking a small bite. But the moment he tasted it, hunger took over. He began eating quickly, as if it were his first real meal in a long time.

Tae-ho watched him, a faint smile forming on his lips. For some reason, seeing someone eat like that made him feel… lighter.

After a moment, Tae-ho pushed his own bowl toward Hae-jin.

Hae-jin looked at him, a strand of noodles still hanging from his lips.

"괜찮소. 더 먹어도 되오."

("It's fine. You can eat more.")

Hae-jin sucked in the loose strand of noodles, then slowly pulled Tae-ho's bowl closer to his own. Without hesitation, he continued eating.

Tae-ho smiled again.

When Hae-jin finally finished, he took a deep breath.

Gathering his courage, he asked,

"상위동지... 왜 저한테 이렇게 잘해 주십니까?"

("Lieutenant… why are you so kind to me?")

Tae-ho answered immediately. His voice was deep, and his expression serious.

"나도 모르겠소…"

("I don't know either...")

He reached into the pocket of his uniform, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. He took one, placed it between his lips, and lit it with a lighter. He took a slow drag before exhaling the smoke.

"만약 다른 놈이 옥수수를 훔쳤다면, 난 벌써 죽였을 거요."

("If it had been someone else who stole the corn, I would have killed them by now.")

He inhaled deeply, his sharp gaze never leaving Hae-jin, before exhaling a slow stream of smoke into the air.

"난 쉽게 연민을 느끼지 않소. 조국을 배신하는 놈들에게는 더더욱 말이오…"

("I don't feel sympathy easily. Especially not for those who betray the motherland...")

Silence.

The air between them grew heavy.

Hae-jin suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe.

He swallowed.

For a moment, he was afraid of Tae-ho again. But then, Tae-ho spoke once more.

"하지만 너만큼은…내가 당을 배신하는 자라도 된단 말이오?"

(But when it comes to you… Hae-jin… Does this mean I've become a traitor to the Party?")

Hae-jin's eyes widened slightly.

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.

Their eyes remained locked.

And in that moment, Hae-jin thought to himself,

"이 순간, 나는 태호 상위동지에게 중요한 존재인 것처럼 느껴졌소...

하지만 왜지?

내가 뭔데 그분께 이런 관심을 받을 수 있단 말이오?"

("In this moment, I felt like I mattered to Lieutenant Tae-ho…"

But why?

Who am I to deserve such attention from him?")

"나는 그저 보잘것없는 농민일 뿐이오…

이 세상에서 아무런 가치도 없는 존재요."

("I am just a mere farmer…

I hold no value in this world.")

"그런데도..."

("And yet…")

"지금 나를 바라보는 그 눈빛 속에, 분명 무언가가 숨겨져 있소.

마치 본인조차 설명할 수 없는 이유가 있는 듯이."

("In the way he looks at me now, there is something hidden in his eyes.

A reason that even he cannot explain.")