XLIV

Moonbyul visits Yongsun on a whim, quite spontaneously. Yongsun finds enjoyment in seeing Moonbyul emerging more from the shell that the military had tried to fit her into. They meet at the train station, Moonbyul pulls Yongsun in for a tight hug and pecks her forehead. Yongsun caresses Moonbyul’s face, they smile for a while, ignoring the people walking past and, in an instance, it feels as if the world is spinning around them. 

They find a nice restaurant with dim lights and deep red walls that set the atmosphere. After supper, on their way to Yongsun’s apartment, they walk past an advertisement for a new exhibition at an art museum. They stop, turn to look at each other after having recognised the artist’s name.

In the art museum, they easily spot Wheein amongst the crowd of people. Wheein salutes her former sergeant when she spots them. Moonbyul cringes at her old title, Yongsun squeezes her hand, Wheein fails to notice the slight change in Moonbyul’s demeanour. Yongsun notices Wheein’s prosthetic arm shining underneath the material. A bright flash goes off in front of her, Yongsun does not know if it is someone taking pictures of them or if the flashbombs have come back to haunt her.

They walk back to Yongsun’s apartment, hand in hand, their warm breaths mingling with the cold winter air. Yongsun’s cheeks have turned red along with the tip of Moonbyul’s nose. They stumble into the apartment, shivering as the chilly breeze follows them inside. After shedding their coats, they settle on the couch, a glass of wine in hand, they talk, catch-up, then realise it is late and they should get some sleep. In bed, Yongsun wraps her arms around Moonbyul, squeezing her eyes shut when bright light flashes before her.