“Hey,” he muttered in dismay—by then his body was already tilting, about to topple sideways. Damn. No wonder he’d debated whether to strip off his pants too. But he wasn’t going down without a fight.As he crashed toward the water’s surface, Jung Tae-ui thrust out his leg and kicked Kim Jeong-pil behind the knee. Jeong-pil staggered, unbalanced, and Tae-ui gave him another kick. A glorious splash followed.“That bastard really—”“Bring /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ it on. See how you like a taste of your own medicine today.”Just then, the two plunged and flailed in the saltwater, trading blows. A crowd—excited by the prospect of a fight—gathered, cheering. From the shade, Jung Chang-in glanced at his watch, stood, and strolled to the shore. Addressing the onlookers with casual authority, he called, “Break’s over. In five minutes, dry off and shoulder your packs. Hey, Carlo, Derek—pull them apart.”The spectators reluctantly dispersed. Carlo and Derek, summoned by the instructor, waded in and hauled Tae-ui and Jeong-pil apart. Even at that distance, stray splashes doused the break-up party.With an even expression, Jung Chang-in approached them and landed two fair, unhesitating punches—one to the back of Jeong-pil’s head, then one to the back of Tae-ui’s. The blows echoed; Tae-ui’s head snapped forward with a groan. Carlo dragged him ashore.“You’re still full of energy. I’m so old I’m wasted just walking. Must be nice to be young.”Despite the heat, Jung Chang-in had followed without breaking a sweat, then muttered like a grumbly old man. He glanced from Jeong-pil—who shot Tae-ui a murderous glare—to Tae-ui himself, who’d shrugged off his wet pants and stood there threateningly. Jung Chang-in’s brow twitched upward.“But Tae-ui,” he said, tapping his own nape. Tae-ui met his gaze fiercely. Jung Chang-in paused, then pointed at Tae-ui’s neck. “You’ve got a mark here.”Tae-ui instinctively touched his nape, frowning. Though he couldn’t recall when it happened, only one person in the world could have left that imprint. Why didn’t that bastard at least toss me a bandage?Tae-ui glared savagely at Ilrey, who was heading for his pack in the shade. Their eyes met; Ilrey frowned once, puzzled by the look, until Tae-ui mouthed, “What’s that?” Ilrey blinked, then turned away.Tae-ui thought how nice it would be to charge him and leave a matching bite mark on his throat—once again—and had to swallow the impulse. “Tae-ui, is this enough?” Yun Chang-o’s voice broke through Tae-ui’s brooding. He stretched. Only then did the ache in his back and the strain in his eyes strike him.By lantern light, he’d been staking brush aside with his bare hands. He rubbed his eyelids, then looked at Chang-o, who was rubbing his own eyes and holding out a burlap satchel half-filled with dry sticks. In this weather, dry sticks were rare—but Chang-o had gathered a respectable pile.“I think it’s a bit short. But it’ll do for a fire. Let’s call it here.”Tae-ui tied off his own sack the same way, slung it over his shoulder, then heard Chang-o groan, “Ouch, my back…” from bending so long.“Man, a campfire this late in the march—haven’t seen that for ages. These days we don’t even light fires on long moves.” Chang-o chuckled.“It’s not about civilization. The instructors here drive us hard.”“Really?”Tae-ui let the silence hang. Not a total joke—sometimes he suspected the designers of this program were secret voyeurs, watching them struggle and snickering. And Han-boo might be one of them… Tae-ui scanned the dark underbrush.There—a faint plume of smoke behind a clump of bushes some twenty paces away.“Smoke,” he said. Chang-o jerked around. Without waiting, Tae-ui hurried toward it, Chang-o on his heels. Whoever was hunched out there was exactly who Tae-ui thought: Tow, smoking furtively on a fallen log.“Oh, Tae-i.” Tow looked up and said, “Mind sparing one? I’ve been dying for a smoke.”“You know how precious a cigarette is during drill, nicotine addict?”“Lucky you know you’re an addict. Bet you stashed a pack before this started. Hand one over.”Despite his grumbling, Tow rummaged in his pocket, drew out his pack, removed exactly two cigarettes, and passed one each to Tae-ui and Chang-o before stuffing the pack back. Miserly except when it came to smokes.“You two camping around here too?”“Yeah. Why aren’t you gathering wood?”“Taking it easy.”Tae-ui struck his cigarette to Tow’s, lit it, and sank onto a rock. A small lizard scuttled away, startling Chang-o, who hopped up to sit beside them. The three men formed a silent circle, puffing away.When Tow’s cigarette burned low, he stubbed it out in a tin ashtray and glanced at Chang-o.“Isn’t that the guy you went at it with? Wasn’t he in your squad?”“Yeah. During this combined march, he’s in my temporary squad.”“I thought Rick was in there too.”Tae-ui said nothing. Tow nodded as if to empathize. Chang-o gave Tae-ui a concerned look.“Must be someone famous, if people react like ‘Oh… that guy…’ whenever you mention him.”“Yeah, something like that.”Tae-ui muttered. Tow, unpredictable as ever, remarked, “You’re sure unlucky.” Tae-ui shot back, “Shut up.” Tow’s low chuckle followed.“But if you’re teamed with him—and camping together—you won’t fight with the others as much.”Tow mused. Tae-ui replied, “We already fought.” He’d spent hours slogging through the damp forest in soaked pants—not pleasant. Meanwhile, Jeong-pil, who’d left his clothes behind, seemed just as sour, barely speaking except for commands during the march, more glum than Tae-ui.“Jeong-pil seemed off too. I wonder if his sack’s full by now.” Chang-o exhaled smoke. Tae-ui hissed, “Wish I’d poked a hole in his bag.” Chang-o snorted.“You two both upset when you’re normally quick to bounce back? Something happen?”“Like I’d know.” Tae-ui clicked his tongue. Tow watched quietly.“If you’re gonna turn into a wild beast, better make up fast so you don’t put others in danger.” Tow muttered. Tae-ui gave him a playful kick on the shin. Tow grunted, rubbed his leg, then peered up.“I’ve wondered: are you leash-trained by that guy, or did you tie it yourself?”“I tied it. Got a problem?” Tae-ui snapped, yanking Tow’s pack and ripping out a cigarette. Tow scowled, then shrugged, “Fine, do whatever.”“Why the shift? You two seemed fine yesterday.” Tae-ui lit another smoke for Chang-o and chuckled. Tow shivered, catching Tae-ui’s foot.“Your guy—he’s… male, right? What’s he like?” Chang-o asked gingerly.Tae-ui studied Chang-o, who meant no harm despite the question. He stubbed out his cigarette, sighed, and responded:“Capricious, unpredictable, treats lives like flies—could snap my neck any moment.”Chang-o laughed, thinking it a joke, but seeing Tow’s serious expression, he quieted and asked, “Really?” Tae-ui calmly confirmed, “Yeah, really.”…Chang-o regarded him with puzzled eyes. Even as an uncle-figure, Tae-ui still had an innocent streak. Chang-o’s concern made Tae-ui crack a faint smile.“…Why date a guy like that?”“Good question.”

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