DAWN
UNTOUCHABLE (KRYBER)There was a loud gasps around the Control Room.
"What happened here?" Commander Sunny just got back from outside.
"It's Captain Amber, Commander," answered one personnel. "She jumped out of the vehicle to rescue Mr. Jung Jihoon."
"What!"
"Krystal!"
All their attention was caught by the scream of Krystal's mom. She's fanning Krystal with her hand while Jiwon adjusts her position as Krystal is leaning on her.
"Medics! Mrs. Jung collapsed!" called Commander Sunny. "Assist her immediately!"
The medics came in right away.
Commander Sunny turned to the screen again, thinking that what Amber is doing is suicide.
---
Amber knows what she's doing is suicide. But if there's a chance that she can at least save Katrien's daddy, that would be enough for her. She'd be happy to know that she risked her life to save the guy. Katrien will not have to grow up fatherless.
And Krystal will be happy too.
Yes, that's what's important.
Because even after all these years, she wishes nothing but the happiness of the woman -- even if it means taking her out of the picture, out of Krystal's life completely.
Amber injected another booster in her body. She knows this isn't good as she might overdose. But she doesn't care. She used her remaining strength to run back into the village and attack the monsters that are already cornering the car.
She killed one.
Two.
Three.
But they are too many.
The car tried running over some Evens but they just stand up after that.
Amber attacked again. Killed one more. She looked around and realized that all the Evens are running towards them now. Amber knew that this is the perfect chance. She took out the bomb that Doctor Minho gave them. She detonated it and threw it on the ground.
Nothing happened.
One Even attacked her. She fell on the ground. The Even started webbing her foot.
Another Even tried to snatch her away from the first one. She was tossed into the air then hit the ground again. She felt pain all over her body.
She doesn't know what's happening anymore. Everything is starting to become blurry.
She took one last glance at the car and saw the window on the on the driver's side rolled down.
He's looking at her, his face apologetic. Then he mouthed, "Thank you."
Amber blinked her eyes. In her mind, she smiled. But she knows her face didn't show it.
Before everything went dark for Amber, she heard the bomb finally explode.
---
"So, you woke me up this early just so we could witness the dawn?"
"Mmm-mmm."
"After staying up all night making love, you woke me up this early so we could witness the dawn?"
Amber laughed. She hugged her girlfriend on the side and kissed Krystal's temple. "Trust me. This is something you'd want to see. There is magic in it that people just always take for granted."
Krystal scoffed jokingly. Amber just smiled at her, internally admiring Krystal's beauty with that after--hair. She kissed Krystal's temple again.
"I love you."
Krystal wrapped her arms around Amber's waist and leaned her head in the crook of the latter's neck. "I love you too."
The lovers stared at the sight in front of them. Krystal's room veranda is giving a view to an empty land, perfect for watching sceneries like this.
The sky is still dark. But on the other side, a mixture of yellow and orange on the horizon began to appear. Amber inhaled the freshness of the morning, then she smiled.
The light reached further out as the sun ascended slowly from the horizon. It illuminated the sky with its orange feature, evaporating the blue of the night.
The dawn had finally broken.
The lovers stayed still for few more minutes until the sun had become more beautiful, giving warmth in the middle of the coldness.
"It's perfect," said Krystal.
"And I thought you're just sleeping."
"I wouldn't dare. You disturb my sleep for this so I know it's something I would not like to miss."
Amber chuckled. "It's beautiful, right? Dawn is my favorite part of the day."
"Why so?"
"It just gives me this sense of hope, a new beginning. Whatever happened yesterday is already part of the past. And this, this is a proof that we can start anew."
Krystal smiled. "I've to admit it gave me a feeling that I can't explain. But I love it. I will always look at dawn in a different way from now on."
"Yes, because you will always remember me now whenever you witness dawn."
Krystal's smile faded. She pulled back. She rested her elbows on the veranda and cupped her face with her hands.
"Something wrong?" asked Amber.
Krystal sighed. "It's just that I'm going to miss you more whenever I witness something like this now."
"Hey. Hey. I just arrived here yesterday. We're gonna be together for the whole month, Krys."
"I know. It's just that, the idea of you leaving again, it's really hard for me to take."
Amber looked down at her hands. "I'm sorry."
"For?"
"For being like this. For having a work that requires us to be apart for a while."
"Don't be," said Krystal, cupping Amber's cheek with her hand. "I've admired you because you're that. If we met and you weren't an AEF student, I may not have fallen for you."
"Even with this looks of mine?" asked Amber, placing her thumb and forefinger to her chin.
Krystal laughed. "No! I'm not someone who goes for the looks. Although it contributed to the attraction part, I know I fell for you because of your values, not your looks. And I will be a hypocrite to resent you now for the very thing that made me fall for you, right?"
Amber ruffled her girlfriend's hair affectionately. "Thank you. Thank you for understanding."
"Just promise me you will never go."
"Huh?"
"Say you'll never go."
Amber got even more confused. "Like not to go far away from you?"
"What I meant is no matter happens, promise me you won't let go of me."
Amber held both Krystal's hands. "I promise I won't let go of you. I wouldn't. I don't want to. I wouldn't even dare. Ever."
Krystal gave out an assuring smile. "That's enough for me to hear. Because even if you're far away, doing your AEF thing, no one will be able to take you away from me because you'll be here," she said, placing her palm over her heart and tapping it three times, "you're untouchable, Am."
---
"Fff... fff... fff..."
She felt something is wrapped around her arm that's getting tighter.
"Fff... fff... fff..."
It continued until she can already feel her pulse pulsating.
"Fffffffffff..."
The thing that's wrapped around her arm loosened after that sound.
"Her BP is normal," she heard someone said. The voice is unfamiliar.
She opened her eyes slowly, getting a glimpse of a woman who's in a purple scrub suit. The woman noticed her.
"Oh. You're already awake!" The woman looked excited. She went to the wall and pressed the device. "Captain Amber's already conscious."
Amber didn't know what to react. She still feels lightheaded.
"I'll be right back in a few," said the woman who Amber assumes now as and AEF nurse due to the logo on her scrub suit.
"In case you still don't know, you're in HQ Hospital."
Amber looked aside and almost flinched. "C-Commander?" she croaked.
Commander Sunny is in her casual attire today, which means she's not on duty. "Yup, it's me."
"W-what happ --"
"You threw yourself into danger. Luckily the bomb exploded, killing all the Evens around," said Commander Sunny. "Doctor Minho was really happy that we were able to test it with that number of Evens. We believe this will cut the Cleansing time in half all over the globe. Thanks to you and your troop. You should thank Doctor Minho too, his bomb saved your ."
Amber nodded, still trying to absorb everything. Then she remembered the scene before she passed out. "What about --"
"He's injured but he made it as well. Thanks to you. The Mustang was wrecked though. Dr. Jung said he drove right away to Jeoswa after hearing about the news, which was after his surgical procedure."
"Oh. How abo --"
"Your troop is fine. The kid is safe. Any questions, Captain?"
Amber shook her head no.
Commander Sunny walked over to the bed and sat down beside Amber. "The high-ups are still debating whether we should demote you or not. You deliberately disobeyed my order. But the fact that you saved Dr. Jung and tested all the bombs, that might lighten up things a bit."
Amber looked away. "I am sorry, Commander."
Commander Sunny waved her hand. "But you're surely suspended. We also received a memo from Doctor Jiwon to force you to take your vacation leave. You won't be allowed to enter any AEF premises during the period."
Amber shook her head, smiling.
"You need it, kiddo. Trust me," said Commander Sunny, her voice concerned. "Your dad would've been proud to see you now. And Captain Taliw too. I'm pretty sure she'll be ecstatic."
"Thanks, Commander, that made me feel better," said Amber, smiling a little. "Did my troop already take their leaves?"
"They haven't yet. They are taking turns here in the hospital, looking after you. You're lucky your people love you."
Amber nodded, smiling again. "How long was I out?"
"About 24 hours, I'd say."
Before Amber could respond, someone knocked and opened the door. Commander Sunny looked up.
"Hey, Krystal."
"Hi, Commander Sunny," said Krystal, bowing a little. "I just heard that Amber's conscious now. I came by to check."
Amber felt her heart flutter, hearing Krystal mention her name.
Damn. She can't help herself admiring Krystal wearing that purple scrub suit.
"I see. Would you two like to talk for a bit?" asked Commander Sunny.
Krystal's eyes widened. "N-no, Commander. I'm still on duty. I just came by to check. I would have to return now. Thank you." She bowed again and left right away.
"She checks on you from time to time, you know," said Commander Sunny, smirking.
Amber wanted to smile too but she repressed it. "Well, she works here. That is why. It's part of her job."
"Yeah. But she's assigned to Wing A, not here. She's that girl, right?"
"Hmm?"
"Your ex-girlfriend."
Amber felt shy. "Y-yes, Commander. Was it too obvious?"
"It's not. I was just able to connect the dots. There was something with the way you look at her kid. Then I remembered Taliw showed me a picture of you and her before when you were still in college. I finally realized why she looked familiar."
Amber looked at the door again, remembering every single detail of Krystal earlier.
"Have you heard that she fainted in the Control Room after you jumped out of the vehicle?" asked Commander Sunny.
Amber couldn't believe what she heard. "She did?"
"Yes. But it was just for a little while. She regained consciousness right away. But she can't stop crying."
Amber doesn't know what to say. Will it be possible to Krystal to still care for her even after all these years?
Or is it just pure sympathy?
Her thoughts were disturbed when someone knocked on the door again. It opened. Amber didn't know what to feel after seeing the person she least expects to visit her coming into the room.
Commander Sunny stood up to welcome the visitor. "Mrs. Jung. A pleasure to see you here. Your daughter just came by."
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