XXXIX

After a long discussion with Hyejin, Yongsun finds out which room Moonbyul is staying in. Yongsun runs, her flat shoes reverberating over the hospital floors, and finds herself standing in front of the former sergeant’s door. Yongsun peeks through the glass, eyes searching.

Yongsun sees her sitting on the bed, back turned to her. Moonbyul’s shirt is thrown on the bed, her long dark hair cascading down her back, hiding the steel, flesh and scars from view. Yongsun watches as Moonbyul brushes her hair to the side, placing it over her shoulder. Yongsun gasps, quickly covering .

More steel is covering Moonbyul’s back, the small plates are haphazardly scattered across her back, shining like deadly shards in the dim light. Moonbyul’s shoulders slump, Yongsun watches as she breathes slowly and heavily. Yongsun wants to reach out, desperately wants to feel, to touch, to be human and remind Moonbyul that she is also human.

Yongsun slowly opens the door, Moonbyul turns at the sound and is surprised to see the engineer in her room. Not many words are exchanged, no apologies are muttered because there is nothing to be sorry for. They sit on Moonbyul’s bed across from each other, talking for a while until they go to the cafeteria in search for some food.