There was a loud gasps around the Control Room.

"What happened here?" Commander In just got back from outside.

"It's Captain Kim, Commander," answered one personnel. "She jumped out of the vehicle to rescue Mr. Denman."

"What!"

"Pie!"

All their attention was caught by the scream of Pie's mom. She's fanning Pie with her hand while Jane adjusts her position as Pie is leaning on her.

"Medics! Mrs. Denman collapsed!" called Commander In. "Assist her immediately!"

The medics came in right away.

Commander In turned to the screen again, thinking that what Kim is doing is suicide.

---

Kim 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 Pie 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 Pie's life completely.

Kim 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.

Kim attacked again. Killed one more. She looked around and realized that all the Evens are running towards them now. Kim knew that this is the perfect chance. She took out the bomb that Doctor Puey 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."

Kim blinked her eyes. In her mind, she smiled. But she knows her face didn't show it.

Before everything went dark for Kim, 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?"

Kim laughed. She hugged her girlfriend on the side and kissed Pie's temple. "Trust me. This is something you'd want to see. There is magic in it that people just always take for granted."

Pie scoffed jokingly. Kim just smiled at her, internally admiring Pie's beauty with that after--hair. She kissed Pie's temple again.

"I love you."

Pie wrapped her arms around Kim'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. Pie'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. Kim 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 Pie.

"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."

Kim 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."

Pie 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."

Pie's smile faded. She pulled back. She rested her elbows on the veranda and cupped her face with her hands.

"Something wrong?" asked Kim.

Pie 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, Pie."

"I know. It's just that, the idea of you leaving again, it's really hard for me to take."

Kim 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 Pie, cupping Kim'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 Kim, placing her thumb and forefinger to her chin.

Pie 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?"

Kim ruffled her girlfriend's hair affectionately. "Thank you, Pie. Thank you for understanding."

"Just promise me you will never go."

"Huh?"

"Say you'll never go."

Kim 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."

Kim held both Pie'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."

Pie 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, Kim."

---

"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 Kim's already conscious."

Kim didn't know what to react. She still feels lightheaded.

"I'll be right back in a few," said the woman who Kim 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."

Kim looked aside and almost flinched. "C-Commander?" she croaked.

Commander In 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 In. "Doctor Puey 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 Puey too, his bomb saved your ."

Kim 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. Denman 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?"

Kim shook her head no.

Commander In walked over to the bed and sat down beside Kim. "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. Denman and tested all the bombs, that might lighten up things a bit."

Kim looked away. "I am sorry, Commander."

Commander In waved her hand. "But you're surely suspended. We also received a memo from Doctor Jane to force you to take your vacation leave. You won't be allowed to enter any AEF premises during the period."

Kim shook her head, smiling.

"You need it, kiddo. Trust me," said Commander In, 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 Kim, 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."

Kim nodded, smiling again. "How long was I out?"

"About 24 hours, I'd say."

Before Kim could respond, someone knocked and opened the door. Commander In looked up.

"Hey, Pie."

"Hi, Commander In," said Pie, bowing a little. "I just heard that Kim's conscious now. I came by to check."

Kim felt her heart flutter, hearing Pie mention her name.

Damn. She can't help herself admiring Pie wearing that purple scrub suit.

"I see. Would you two like to talk for a bit?" asked Commander In.

Pie'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 In, smirking.

Kim 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."

Kim 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."

Kim looked at the door again, remembering every single detail of Pie earlier.

"Have you heard that she fainted in the Control Room after you jumped out of the vehicle?" asked Commander In.

Kim 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."

Kim doesn't know what to say. Will it be possible to Pie 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. Kim didn't know what to feel after seeing the person she least expects to visit her coming into the room.

Commander In stood up to welcome the visitor. "Mrs. Mindara. A pleasure to see you here. Your daughter just came by."