XIX

A week later, Yongsun is standing outside the general’s tent trying not to listen to the heated conversation inside. She stares up at the blank sky, hearing gunshots and reimagining them as birdsongs. Something from inside the tent grabs her attention, a crash perhaps, or something being thrown. She presses her ear against the closed flap.

She leans in too close, loosing her balance she stumbles inside. The officers all turn their heads, staring at Yongsun with stoney faces, except for Sergeant Moon who smirks, looking less surprised and more impressed by Yongsun’s sudden appearance.

«General,» Yongsun straightens herself, «I’ll… I’ll wait for you in the infirmary,» she mutters and turns to leave, red-faced with embarrassment. When she gets outside she cowers in shame, the soldiers around the tent stop comparing the shininess of their steel flesh to stare at her.

Yongsun feels someone tugging at her and immediately pulls away from the warmth, almost falling backwards. She looks up seeing Sergeant Moon staring down at her. Only now does she notice that the sergeant has faint creases on her eyelids and piercing brown eyes. Yongsun’s knees go weak at the faint smile on the sergeant’s lips.