Hwang Tiffany had long, black hair that made its way gracefully down the sides of her jaw line and curved at her shoulders before flowing passed her shoulders to create a dark waterfall of silky locks. She was blessed with the most beautiful smile that seemed to corporate with her eyes, becoming half moons when she was in a good mood, which seemed to be most of the time.

And not only that, but her figure quite amazing too; hips and legs, and everything in between. Those kinds of qualities were able to show through a baggy uniform, and if I were to be honest, at first, I was jealous and disliked her at one glance.

She was too pretty to be running around in a place like this. Dusty yet clean, plain and bland yet dazzling, ugly yet beautiful; at first glance, at first impression, Hwang Tiffany conflicted with everything around her.

I didn’t like it and just like how I avoided seeing little Sunny -innocent and worthy- wrapped in her dirt filled sleeping bag, I ran away from Hwang Tiffany as if my life depended on it and not if I got shot in the head in battle.

She reminded me too much of beauty.

And beauty in a place where we’re blood sacrificed for idiotic men who are too ignorant to settle anything without gun powder and killing?

Clearly wrong, so, so wrong.

If I were to look at Hwang Tiffany and be reminded of living flowers rather than dead ones and rainbows of color instead of dust, and sunshine that didn’t burn my skin to black, I would be filling myself with a guilty pleasure. That was distracting and as a low rank already, I couldn’t afford that. I’d be damned to hell if I did.

Though, somehow, she still manages to come around.

I blamed Soonkyu for being such a friendly person. If only she wasn't such a friendly face in the crowd I wouldn't have to deal with the new girl that obviously didn't belong here. Or maybe it was partly my fault too? I was assigned to look after her after all.

“Taeyeon, do you think this is clean enough?” Sunny shoved her rifle in my face, the shiny polish gleaming in my eyes. The rag she was holding reeked of chemicals and I gagged when I accidentally took a big waft of it. It burned my nostrils and I pushed Sunny away for good distance.

“It’s always clean. There’s not need to try to destroy someone’s sense of smell to show something that probably barely has any germs on it.” I wrinkled my nose, growling slightly.

Sunny placed her rifle down carefully and sighed, “I know. I just wanted to make sure.” Sunny seemed to sink against the cabin logs like a little disappointed puppy. I couldn't help but tease a little.

“What, you want someone to notice?” I smirked teasingly and nudged her with my elbow.

She snorted.

“Of course. Being third class is nothing to be proud of.” She threw her rag to the ground, slid down the cabin walls, and dropped onto her back, letting the sun’s blinding rays sink into her black T-shirt.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes a little at her, “And yet for the last few months, you were the one jumping around shouting, “Danshin Power Low Ranks!” You would think they’d know better than to upper rank a girl like you who seems already so content with her rank.” My words dripped with sarcasm. I was punched lightly on the shoulder and laughing, I swatted her away.

“That was because after all this time, I finally found someone my size. Have you seen the women around here? They’re huge!” She stretched her arms out to make a point. "And you gotta act like you're content. The other people here would bull you if you didn't."

I smiled, "Well to be honest, that is true. I was afriad that I'd be the only midget around here."

Sunny gave a large grin and giggled, crawling over towards me to throw an arm around my shoulder.

"And that's why my friend, we must stick together. Who knows that giants lie around here ready to crush us," Sunny looked up at the dry, blue sky.

Sweat dripped from her brow and her brown hair which was tied up into a ponytail became as light as it could, almost to the point where it was blonde, and I found myself sighing to myself, and looking up at the sky too.

An aircraft flew above our heads and it felt so far off; so distant.

"Who knows..."

---

Lunch today was one of most uncomfortable experiences in my life and what reason for that? Hwang Tiffany had decided to skip her way towards my table and plop her perfect, little down in front of me. There wasn't anything more irritating than having a taller woman stare down at you with wide, intentional eyes the whole hour as I'm stuffing my mouth with almost flavourless food. I felt more unattractive than I usually did seeing her eat with such ease and care.

Sunny silently laughed at me from her end of the wooden table, in her own corner of friends that I didn't care for.

I glared at Tiffany, hoping she'd get the message that I'd rather eat alone.

This wasn't a high school drama; the loner doesn't sit alone in hopes of someone would come up to them and talk here. When I'm alone, I want to stay alone. Sunny had picked up on that fact in a week of hanging out with me and respected my space. I didn't know if this one would understand.

"So," Tiffany pushed back her dark hair out of her face and smiled at me, "when are you going to show me around the camp?"

I raised a brow at her. I put my fork down slowly and crossed my hands together, as if I were trying to make it seem way more dramatic than it should be. "Hwang-sshi I-"

She interrupted me, "Tiffany. Just Tiffany."

I sighed and nodded.

"Okay then. Tiffany," I corrected, "I want to make it clear that this place you are right now in, at this very moment, isn't a school campus. I don't think I need to personally introduce you to the places that have labels on them." I spoke bluntly.

Picking up my fork again, I clicked my tongue and began to finish my meal. "I'm sure you know where the restroom and your cabin is, at least. That's all you really need to know to get around here."

The air became stilland quiet. When heard no quick reply, I hummed in amusement.

I glanced upward and saw that her eyebrows her furrowed in confusion, partly open as if she were trying to say something but nothing could come out. I then took a look at the dusty clock in the corner of the lunch tent.

Lunch was going to end soon and it was what- Tuesday? I reckoned today my cabin was on cleaning duty at the bathrooms.

Gathering my plate, I quickly cleaned up my area before turning around and making my way towards the trash. Just as I threw my paper plate away, a hand fell onto my shoulder.

I raised a brow.

"Excuse me?" I already knew who the owner of the slender hand was. It was quite obvious.

"Please."

My stomach dropped at the a little sound of a dejected Hwang Tiffany.

I took in a shaky breath.

I just didn't have the time; I usually wouldn't be as cruel to abandon a newly recruited, not to mention volunteer soldier, but who was I to be responsible of another being? For all I knew, I wasn't doing too well with taking care of myself either. I simply wasn't cut out for the job.

What was the commander thinking? Putting me in charge of getting Tiffany onto and up on her feet around here.

I was still stuck here, on the ground myself.

Alone; a lonely wolf with no pack to feel comfort and family from.

Angst was taking over.

My fist clenched and sweat was forming on my brow. I was sure I felt a headache raging inside of my skull; it throbbed for attention. I was in no condition for this presuasion, or possible agurment that was about to go down.

I jerked my body around, swaying a little when I felt a sharp pain in my head become the result.

"I'm sorry," I met her eye and looked away just as quickly, avoiding the twinkle in them, "I'm not feeling well. Could you, I mean, ask Lee-sshi instead?" The question was more of a statement. I was in no mood for discussion.

I pushed my way passed her, her raven hair flying in the wind my rushing had formed, and it grazed my cheeks just so. I ignored her calls for me and quickly walked outside of the tent, and into the orange lit sand.

Migraine; I haven't been spared by this prison that keeps me in pain. The throbbing was starting to grow insistent, punching and kicking inside the walls of my skull. I needed my pills. Everything was spinning and dizzy.

"Hey! Watch it!"

I hadn't even noticed that I was running straight into someone before we finally collided.

Obviously the latter must've been taller, stronger, and tougher; I fell back head first onto the ground.

A resounding bang, almost as loud as a gunshot, rung throughout the surroundings and my body was set on fire.

Painful- my head screamed and burned.

Angst took over.

***