The war was glorified by all who never lived it

Wendy always listened to those stories of war heroes who give everything for their team and the objective of the mission. Men and women without fear of death, capable of risking even the most precious things in order to defend their homeland. People write songs about them and their battles, they are buried in special places and venerated forever among the laurels of history

But all of them had been lucky

Because there was a group of people that didn't​ have the same fate. There was a group of soldiers who would never be recognized as heroes and history wouldn't even remember them, it would spit in their faces and laugh at how little they did, boasting that they weren't​ good enough. Each day Wendy spent struggling in the battlefield, she was more convinced that she didn't​ have a name or surname, she was just a disposable resource that contributed to the army and nothing else.

The war had exploded exactly four years ago. It began as a simple diplomatic conflict between two super powers on a global level and culminated in a fierce encounter between the armies of both countries. The conflict escalated in intensity and the dead piled the streets one after another, the demand for soldiers grew so much that civilians were forced out of their shelters and sent to fight. Everyone who was of legal age should fight for the homeland, for freedom, for the ideals of a nation that would turn its back on them as soon as they step on enemy soil.

Why should the innocent pay for the sins of the guilty?

Wendy almost didn't​ remember what she did before the war started. She'd been studying medicine in her senior year when the conflict send everything to waste and she had to leave behind her parents and her sister to find a safe shelter in the middle of nowhere. Later, thanks to her knowledge in medicine, she was enlisted as a doctor to attend the wounded on the battlefield. The fear and terror that Wendy lived the day where she was given a gun for the first time was the worst thing she ever lived. Most of her memories of that time had been overshadowed by the blood on her hands, the hundreds of friends she had lost because of a bullet, the many people she couldn't​ help because their bodies were too destroyed to be recognized or helped...

However, Wendy remembered Seulgi very well. Her Seulgi. Her best friend and soulmate, her girlfriend and whom she planned to marry as soon as they finished their degree: Wendy in medicine and Seulgi in arts

Seulgi was also sent to the battlefield to fight but not in the same one as Wendy. She was trained to drive and handle all the different items and weapons of a tank before she was sent to the south of the country, away from her beloved and all the good times they'd lived.

"We'll meet again, Wan." Seulgi gave her one of her beautiful smiles​ and adjusted the helmet over her head that was a little too big for her head. "Take care until then, ok?"

Wendy hugged her tightly and held back her tears. She couldn't​ show any weakness in this world where they lived

"Take care, Seul... I don't​ care what you do out there as long as you're back in my arms"

Seulgi placed a long kiss on her forehead and then traded her dogtag with that of her girlfriend, securing it firmly around her neck to then smile again.

"See you Wannie"

Exactly three months ago she'd said goodbye to Seulgi and exactly three months ago she'd obtained any news from her. For security issues and army policies; letters or messages between soldiers were forbidden and they could only ask for a comrade or relative in the city's headquarters. What comforted Wendy was the fact that she could still receive letters from her parents who were twice as anguished after her sister was also drafted into the army recently.

Wendy was now sitting on the floor of the camp her squad had made, they were taking a short break before continuing their mission. It was assumed the reinforcements would arrive within a week at the latest to surround the enemy on their own camp and get them to surrender, thus controlling one more city. Wendy's team would attack from behind.

"Hey! Lieutenant Wendy!" Shouted Joy, one of the members of her squad that was always too euphoric to go to battle. Sooyoung was her real name but Wendy nicknamed her Joy for that 'joy' that characterized her and that, ironically, spread to others. At home, two younger sisters and their parents were waiting for her and she was always talking about how she would show off her medals as soon as the war ended because she "didn't​ plan to leave empty handed." "Did you hear the latest rumor? They say the war is about to end"

Wendy looked up at those words. If the war was about to end then that means she would soon see Seulgi...

She shouldn't​ have hope, enemy soldiers always start rumors to lower the guard of the team and get away with it. Wendy wouldn't​ believe anything until someone released an official statement

"You believe everything Joy..."

"It's true! The 35th squad told me! I can almost see that day"Joy took off her helmet and waved it in the air while singing along to an old victory song in the army "We're going home! I haven't​ tasted a ramyun bowl for years and I'm dying for one"

Wendy smiled widely when she saw Joy spin around with happiness. She also missed everything about her home: the warmth of her bed, the smell of clean sheets, a shower with warm water, hot food, sleeping in Seulgi's arms... there were so many things she missed that she couldn't really list them. It felt good to imagine how soon she could see those whom she loved so much

"Now I'm craving for one, Joy" Wendy replied with a smile "When this is over, let's go eat ramyun at my house"

"Sounds great!"

"Park Sooyoung. Put on that helmet immediately. This is war"

The voice of the squad captain made Wendy immediately get up and salute. Joy did the same while putting the helmet on almost instantly. Bae Joohyun was the captain of the squad. A woman with a cold facade whom the war had taken everything away: her family died after the enemy bombed the shelter where they lived while she fought on the battlefront too many miles away from them. A year later, Joohyun would lose her high school sweetheart in an enemy ambush. Wendy still shuddered to Joohyun describing the death of her beloved in her arms and the pain of not being able to save the woman she loved

Joohyun was a great strategist and an excellent leader. Her leadership had led them to win several battles against the enemy with the least number of possible casualties. She was destined to receive a medal for her mighty merits on the battlefield... Wendy didn't​ want to think how cruel it would be to return to an empty and perhaps destroyed house with a medal that credited her as a hero but also as a martyr

Next to Joohyun was Yeri, the youngest of the group. A sweet and playful girl who Wendy was sure didn't​ deserve to fight a single battle neither being close to the actual carnage. She was too young to fight but the army considered her of legal age and fit for any battle. She had three sisters at home and her parents but, at her young age she had already lost a lot. She'd seen her best friend die before her eyes and also had no idea where the most important person in her life was: A soldier named 'Kim'. Commander of a group of tanks that was the terror of the enemy and which the allies had warmly nicknamed 'Soshi'. This Kim soldier was the greatest hero of the war and whom everyone respected. Its list of victories was so great that it became a sign of hope, a living myth. The soldiers said the day they saw Kim's tank rolling through the fields covered with bodies would be the day on which they could claim victory

"We'll leave in an hour" Captain Bae announced "Pack your things"

"I thought we would leave tomorrow" Wendy whispered

"They changed plans, the reinforcements are a day away and the enemy begins to move. The orders are to close all their escape paths and keep them locked up, this fight will be decisive for the war"

Wendy watched Joy's eyes fill with faith

"Does that mean the war is going to end, captain?!"

Joohyun adjusted her helmet so that it covered her eyes a bit more before turning around.

"It'll end just for some people. Let's move"

Wendy took her backpack and adjusted it on her back before setting out on the road. She felt a hand on her shoulder that stopped her immediately as she watched Joy and Yeri move forward. The hand that stopped her was none other than her captain's

"Wendy... I need to talk to you"

That was never a good sign in times of peace, why should it be in times of war?

"What's up captain?"

"When I was notified of the change of plans in the morning, I received a note from the headquarters. They said that two days ago there was a huge battle in the south of the country and, although we won, there were too many casualties. There are rumors that even the general died there"

Wendy felt her soul drain from her body. If even the best element they had had died...then...

Joohyun took a red note from one of her pockets and handed it to Wendy

"The note has the names of the corpses they managed to recover. I haven't​ read anything but you can do it, you deserve to read it"

With trembling hands, Wendy took the note and her eyes searched anxiously for an immediate response that told her everything was fine. There were about a hundred and fifty names along the piece of paper and her eyes were just looking for a single name that would return her hope or break her heart

Unfortunately it was the second option

Because Wendy found the name "Kang Seulgi" among the list of unfortunates

She wanted to scream, she wanted to cry and scream her lungs out to heaven for justice because she wasn't​ supposed to deserve all this. The war had finally killed everything she had and there was no point in crying. With the few strength she had, she returned the note to Joohyun and sighed. Joohyun gave her a look full of understanding

"Her name is there..." Wendy whispered as her eyes filled with tears "Her name is there..."

"I'm so sorry" Joohyun answered and looked at the floor

"Take care, Seul... I don't​ care what you do out there as long as you're back in my arms"

Wendy lost everything that day

***

The night caught Joohyun's squad in the middle of an old battlefield. Their vision was almost nil in the middle of the night and the light of the moon didn't​ help much. According to the map and the most recent report they'd received from the headquarters, they were about 10 kilometers away from the enemy camp. The reinforcements were only 20 hours away from reaching their goal

Tired, hungry and unable to continue; Joohyun's squad decided to camp in a safe place and wait for the morning to keep moving. Everything was going according to plan

Wendy was completely silent while sitting outside her tent, in front of her were the remains of a campfire that had just been turned off an hour ago to cook some of the remaining rations to eat. The taste of that stuff was completely unpleasant but at least it was better than spending whole days without a bite. Among the lieutenant's hands was Seulgi's dogtag that she gave her the day they saw each other for the last time

She traced the letters that read "Kang Seulgi" carefully, as if it were about to break and she looked at it in the moonlight. She couldn't​ cry even when she wanted it with all her strength and Wendy wondered if it was due to all the pain she'd seen and heard in the middle of the battle for years. The only thing that ran through her mind at that moment were irrational questions: how did Seulgi die? Who had the body? Did her parents already knew everything?

When could she see her again?

Everything hurt, everything was so terrible. She just wanted to go back to happier days. Why she had to be fighting a war where nothing benefited her? She didn't​ want to be a hero... She wanted Seulgi in her arms once more. Soon the melodic voice of someone echoed through the camp, Wendy struggled to hear everything clearly. It's been a while since she heard a little music and even a singing voice would be enough to reassure her. The voice was still soft but it was very, very sweet and now Wendy was wondering what it was singing

After a few minutes of listening to it, she discovered that it was an old battle song, a hymn sung during previous wars. The lyrics spoke about a soldier waiting for the end of the war to meet who he loves. Wendy was curious to know who the voice belonged to. Following the melody, Wendy reached the furthest part of the camp where she found the owner of the voice... it was none other than Yeri

"What are you doing awake, Yeri? Tomorrow we move at dawn"

"I can't​ sleep, Lieutenant" Yeri sighed and looked at her in the darkness. Wendy could see that she was carrying something bright in her little hands.

"What do you have there?" Said the lieutenant curiously.

"It's a dogtag..."

"Can I see it?" Wendy reached her hand and the silver chain fell into the palm of her hand. The lieutenant carefully examined the tag in the moonlight and her gaze soften when she discovered the content recorded on the silver with extreme care

Kim Taeyeon
8903097085
Commander Troop No.9 of Armored Vehicles

"She told me to wait for her no matter what" Yeri whispered as she took the tag from Wendy's hands. She gave the object a long kiss and then saved it in the pocket of her uniform. "She told me to sing that song when I felt scared because, one way or another, she would always be listening to me and it would be her promise that one day she would come back"

Wendy listened intently to each of the girl's words and she didn't​ know if it was her youth or love that made her have so much faith

"What will happen if she doesn't​ return?" The lieutenant applied a bit of realism and the bitterness that ran through her.

Yeri giggled

"It's Kim Taeyeon, Lieutenant." She smiled brightly, so much that even the moonlight paled in comparison "Of course she'll be back"

Suddenly, the lieutenant had a rush of faith running through her body.

***

A rude awakening

That was the only way Wendy could describe the way she woke up the next morning.

The planes buzzed like a lightning bolt through the skies and each of them dropped a bomb on the battlefield. Wendy held her machine gun with strength. She fled and took refuge behind sacks full of flour. The enemy retreated in the middle of the night and surprised them with an attack early in the morning in a desperate attempt to resist the invasion of their territory

Soldiers fell like flies caught in crossfire and machine guns in the sky. A powerful explosion went off just a few meters away from Wendy made her adjust her helmet hard and keep the machine gun near her body

"Seul... wherever you are, take care of me"

She left her shelter and aimed fearlessly, pulled off the trigger and her bullets hit the body of an enemy who fell to the ground without a sound

"Lieutenant!" Joy's voice took her out of her concentration and Wendy turned her head just to see the exact moment when Joy was shot in the leg. Blood gushed out and the girl collapsed to the ground with a scream of pain that pierced the air. Wendy ran towards her with all her equipment already ready to give first aid

"Easy Joy, you'll be fine"

"Lieutenant..." Joy held her leg before a wave of pain crossed her body "The captain orders the withdrawal... there are tanks less than a kilometer from here and the reinforcements haven't​ arrived. The enemy will crush us... You must leave"

"Do you think I'll go without you, idiot? I still owe you a ramyun bowl" Wendy was still focused on healing Joy's wound. Luckily the bullet had pierced the girl's leg and there was no need to surgically intervene. She applied a disinfectant on the wound and then tried to sew it. A new explosion was heard in the distance and the machine guns sounded closer.

"Go away lieutenant!"

"Don't​ be stubborn, Park Sooyoung!"

"Tanks! Twelve o'clock!" Yeri's voice echoed through the chaos

"We have to go Son Wendy!" Joohyun approached the scene where Wendy healed Joy and held the doctor from her forearm. Wendy looked at her repressively.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Joohyun cried out in desperation "Do you want me to report you of treason for disobeying me?"

"I rather be a traitor than leave Joy behind"

"They're coming!"

Wendy looked up and saw only dust covering everything. The terrifying sound of tanks rolling over the field almost makes her tremble. More soldiers were wounded and, because of the dust, she couldn't​ tell if they were from her squad or enemies. One of the tanks made its way through the dust and launched a powerful cannon shot that smashed an armored vehicle in half as if it was made of paper

Amid all the chaos, Wendy caught a glimpse of something that caught her attention

The tanks were the same color as her uniform

They weren't​ enemies. They were reinforcements

The terrible machines began to make their way between soldiers and enemy vehicles, killing people right and left without noticing the huge amount of bodies that began to pile. The dust slowly dissipated and the tanks immediately stopped. All squad members watched the scene expectantly

There were a total of nine tanks. Among all of them stood out one of enormous size and power that Wendy had only imagined based on the stories of the soldiers who had seen it in person. The hatch of the upper part opened slowly and from it came a woman in a uniform covered in dirt and lead, her face dirty and her helmet between her hands. From the other tanks began to emerge another group of soldiers

"Treat the wounded and bring them to the convoy. Make sure there are no enemies around"

"Tae!"

The woman on the tank immediately diverted her gaze to where the voice that called her came from and her expression changed in an instant to one of happiness

"Yeri?"

Kim Taeyeon came down from her tank and threw the helmet to the ground while Yeri did the same and ran towards her. Soon, Taeyeon caught her in her arms and spun her around while Yeri let out a laugh and clung to her neck in a strong hug.

"You are back... you are back"

Taeyeon left a brief kiss on the girl's lips and then pressed her forehead to hers, smiling gently.

"I told you I would come back, didn't I? I'm already here"

The soldiers cheered victory with excitement, Wendy looked at Yeri with eyes full of tenderness and pride. The girl had never lost faith and that was her reward, she was next to the one she loved to never go back to those darker days. Wendy felt jealous, she really wanted things to be different now...

If fate was gentler, she would be in Yeri's place.

A couple of hours went by after the arrival of the reinforcements. Wendy was inside the camp they created to tend the wounded, fortunately most of them had no serious injuries or at least not for the battle they had just fought.

The lieutenant finished placing a bandage around Joy's leg and, jokingly, left a small kiss on top of the wound

"There you go, Joy. Now you'll feel better"

"Thank you, Lieutenant" the girl smiled sweetly and then she fell back on the improvised bed that had been built out of sheets and uniforms. "Thanks for not leaving me out there... To tell you the truth, I was really scared of dying but I couldn't​ show it. I was glad to know that you wouldn't​ let me die"

Wendy smiled at her gently and took one of her hands

"It's nothing Joy, how am I going to leave my favorite girl behind?"

Joy smiled again, full of innocence and confidence. Wendy let her rest and turned around, however as soon as she turned she collided with another soldier

"I'm sorry"

"Wan?!"

Wendy looked up at the sound of that voice...

"Seulgi?!"

The girl of her dreams was there... she was alive. She was covered in dirt and lead, her uniform didn't​ have a single spot without a bloodstain. Immediately her face was covered by an eye-smile and Wendy threw herself into her arms, hugging her tightly before breaking away and cradling her face in her hands.

"You are alive..."

Wendy ran her fingertips over Seulgi's face as if it was one of the many maps she had learned. She traced her eyes, her nose and lips. She just wanted to make sure she wasn't​ dreaming and that she wouldn't​ wake up in the middle of hell a few minutes later. Seulgi was crying but she was still smiling

"I'm finally back…"

"I thought I'd lost you" Wendy finally let the tears come out after so much of holding them "Where were you, Seul...?"

"You have no idea... I did... I did too much to survive but... but you said that you didn't​ care and that you only wanted me to return. I always remembered that"

Wendy nodded several times and returned to hug her beloved

"It doesn't​ matter, it's nothing​ I care about... you're home"

***

It was just a matter of time before the war ended

The enemy surrendered a few days after the battle where the well-known "Soshi" squad came to the rescue and they made the enemy sign their capitulation exactly one week later. The victory parades soon covered the whole country while the media counted the thousand and one stories of courage and heroism that had happened in the battlefield.

There was a special award ceremony where the legendary troop number nine took the medal of honor for being authentic heroes on the battlefield and surrendering everything for their team and the army. Joohyun's squad also received a purple cross for endangering their lives in exchange for the mission.

A great party was celebrated after the delivery of medals, the dance floor was full of all kinds of couples who had stopped dancing in the recess the band took. Wendy wore her most elegant uniform and looked at the medal on her chest, she already had something to go home with. Joohyun and Yeri were sitting at the same table as her while Joy had returned home as soon as she received the medal to rest (Wendy was sure it was to show off the medal to her family but she wasn't​ going to ruin anything)

"What will you do now that everything is over, Captain?" Wendy talked to Joohyun

"I don't​ know... go home, help everyone start over. I should also start from scratch, don't​ you think?"

"Is up to you, Captain"

"Time will give me answers Wendy. For now, I think I'm fine "Joohyun smiled and got up from her seat before making a salute to Wendy who immediately answered "I expect to receive an invitation for your wedding"

Wendy burst out laughing

"Of course"

Joohyun went lost among people. Wendy stayed with Yeri as the band began to prepare for a slower song

"I also want an invitation to your wedding, Lieutenant." Yeri smiled slyly and Wendy narrowed her eyes.

"Are you going to trade it for an invitation to YOUR wedding?"

Yeri giggled and tried to hide her blush behind her hands before hitting​ Wendy hard on the shoulder and continue laughing. The band began to play a ballad and the dance floor was filled with couples once again. Among the people emerged Seulgi, dressed like Wendy in an elegant uniform and looking as captivating as ever

"Do you mind if I take this beautiful woman out for a dance?" Seulgi reached her hand to Wendy and Yeri cheered in the background. Wendy took the hand of her beloved with a smile

"That's so nice of you, Miss Kang"

Seulgi and Wendy danced slowly in the middle of the dance floor. It wasn't​ a coordinated dance but they just wanted to stay together to try and recover all those nights in which they couldn't keep each other company. Wendy placed her head in Seulgi's chest and heard the sound of her heart beating, even louder than the band's music

"I love you," Seulgi whispered suddenly as she ran a hand through Wendy's hair "I'm so proud of you Wan. Captain Bae told me about how you defied her just to save Sooyoung…that's amazing"

Wendy could only giggle at the compliments

“It's nothing…you still have a lot to tell me Seul. Driving around with Commander Kim and fighting in the south battle. You gotta tell me about that!"

Now it was Seulgi turn to giggle

“Sure, sure. When I'm feeling less groggy…all I want to do is sleep for days and wake up next to you. You don't know how much I missed you” 

Wendy closed her eyes and nodded

"I love you so much Seul... I really missed you too. Thanks for coming back to me"

Seulgi left a brief kiss on the crown of her head

"How could I forget to come back?"

Seulgi cradled Wendy's face in her hands and smiled at her

“You're my home”