“I bet you have plenty of gay boyfriends abroad, huh? Have you picked one out yet?”Yeah, I have—got a problem with that?! My mouth snapped shut. The gaze drilling into my cheek was too intense.The man lounging with his arms crossed—tapping his forearm in amusement—caught my eye. He smoothed the tension from my glance with a grin and said, “Don’t mind me. Carry on.”How much does that bastard understand?! So inscrutable!Silently I fumed insults at the innocent stranger—though on second thought he wasn’t entirely innocent—while I gaped wordlessly. Kim Jeong-pil launched another salvo of vitriol.“Why so quiet all of a sudden? You didn’t just do it with one guy—how on earth could you know who’s your lover? You’ve been partying like a fish in water, haven’t you, Taeui?”Damn. If that were true, I’d at least have no regrets about my youth.I lowered my head, swallowed by regret as I recalled my twenties, then lifted my gaze again.Looking back, the root cause was Captain Kim. If he hadn’t behaved like a maniac, I’d never have been mustered out; if I hadn’t been discharged, I wouldn’t have left Korea; if I’d stayed at home quietly, I’d never have endured this brutal life. Though I don’t regret it now—sometimes I think my life has been quite all right—that doesn’t erase my anger at him.I glared at Kim Jeong-pil, voice low and hollow: “You—did you get married?”“…? Why do you care, you bastard?”Kim Jeong-pil frowned, puzzled by the sudden question. He clutched his fist; there wasn’t a ring on any finger. I snorted and curled one corner of my mouth.“You still haven’t cured your premature issue? Or maybe it’s hopeless? No woman would marry you, right?”“—!”Kim Jeong-pil’s eyes flared, and he lunged forward. I balled my fist, ready to strike back.But then Yoon Chang-o sprang into action, grabbing Kim Jeong-pil from behind as if he’d anticipated this, and in that moment I seized the chance to land a solid blow to Kim Jeong-pil’s face.“Argh! You bastard! Chang-o, let go! Hurry up—let go?!”“Hey, Taeui, what are you doing hitting him? At least you should stop. Out of principle!”Chang-o, looking flustered, twirled with Kim Jeong-pil still in his arms. Opportunistic as ever, I wanted to slip behind Chang-o and punch him too, but I lost the moment—my pager buzzed in my waist.The shrill beeps came twice, three times, intermittently.I reluctantly unclenched my fist and checked the pager. The number 16 was flashing.Room 6, basement level 1. Where is that…?No need to think long. That was the room assigned to me. Jangling the matching key in my pocket, I blinked.Oh, right—the instructor.I grimaced. I’d been called by the office to go greet my instructor on B1. And now I’d wasted time going back and forth ten times. I could already picture the clerk glaring at his pager.“Ugh… I don’t care.”I shoved the pager into my pocket and turned to leave.“Where do you think you’re running off to? Can’t you stand there?”Kim Jeong-pil shouted after me, but having punched him once, I didn’t have time or reason to wait.“You’ll be seeing plenty of me over the next fortnight—don’t even think about running. Just don’t slow us down with that sickly body of yours.”“Just you wait! I’ll get you!”Kim Jeong-pil raged behind me, but I ignored him and began climbing the stairs.Just as I set foot on the first step, I caught the stranger’s eye behind them one last time. Reflexively I frowned. He narrowed his eyes at me.See you around.His dark eyes sparkled with amusement.Ronald Hogan was an unremarkable-looking man: brown hair, blue eyes, average height and build. For someone in the military, he was a bit on the soft side, but he explained he was only nominally attached to the armed forces, actually handling administrative work far from the field.“Pleased to meet you. I’m Ronald Hogan.”He stood, closed the laptop he’d been checking e-mails on, and extended his right hand. “Sorry I’m late.” “I’m Taeui,” I said, clasping his hand.I felt his gaze, neither kindly nor hostile, sweep me from head to toe. I returned his appraisal with a restrained glance.Was this the man I’d be guarding for the next fortnight?His lips half-curved in a smile, but his eyes did not. I realized the emotion behind that look: wariness. I wondered what reason I gave him to be cautious, then smiled wryly. After all, someone doing something shady would suspect everyone.I may guard you, but there’s no satisfaction in protecting a wrongdoer.“Taeui…?”He stumbled over my name. I interjected lightly: “Just call me Tae.”“Tae… OK. And you can call me whatever you’re comfortable with—Ronald or Hogan.”“Okay, Hogan.”Without overthinking, I chose his family name. He nodded, thought a moment, then looked me over again.“I hear you’re the younger brother of Researcher Jeong Jaeui.”“Yes. Though he’s no longer with UNHRDO.”“I heard he went to the Middle East last year. Must be nice to have such a distinguished brother.”“I don’t see Jaeui much—he’s an impressive man. But as a brother, he’s even better.”I shrugged. That’s the usual small talk with someone meeting your brother for the first time. Like most, Hogan soon lost interest in the ‘ordinary human’ that I am, compared to my genius brother.“You’re staying here in Korea for now?”A half-open suitcase next to the bed held an English-language Korean weekly peeking out. He must have read it on the plane. Seeing a familiar politician’s face on the cover felt oddly fresh.“How’s it been, living out of your home country? Is it uncomfortable?”Knowing how hard it can be to live abroad, I offered a genuine smile: “It’s fine. Major cities are similar in terms of amenities, and I won’t be here long.”“So your posting is almost up? You stayed in Korea for a while, then.”“I rotate annually—my assignments are short.”Hogan glanced at his laptop. He’d paused his work to chat, then checked the screen with impatience—perhaps he didn’t wish to talk long. He struck me as the opposite of the ‘friendly foreigner.’“Ha, maybe your next posting will be to Hong Kong.”“Unlikely. I go where the US military goes. If I stay in Asia, it’ll probably be Japan. I’m very pleased to have the chance to be in Hong Kong this time.”He said the last part as though I were Hong Kong’s own ambassador. I returned his formal smile.This opportunity… a chance to gather information that exists only here. Even his banal pleasantries felt significant.Hogan seemed to run out of patience. “Well then,” he said, ready to wrap up.“This is enough first impressions… I look forward to working with you for the next fortnight.”“Likewise. You must be tired from your journey—get some rest. You won’t have much time off after tomorrow.”I smiled and turned to leave. As I reached for the door, Hogan called after me: “Oh, yes.”He stopped me mid-turn.“As your instructor by rank, they attached you as my staff officer. They’ll call on you when needed; otherwise, feel free to take care of your own affairs.”Hogan grinned benevolently. I smiled back.So basically, stay out of my way… In another situation, I’d think that generous, but not now.“No, sir. I have my duties too. I’ll accompany you and assist wholeheartedly. That’s my responsibility.”“You don’t have to. I’m rather uncomfortable with someone shadowing me. I can handle my own work. But when I need you, I’ll call on you.”Hogan shook his head, declining once more. Finally, staring me down, he said, “So make yourself comfortable.”Of course I wasn’t a stickler for duty—I’d have loved to slack off. Normally, I’d thank him and agree eagerly.But not this time.It was clear that my job was to keep this precarious man alive and well. Not something I relished, but something I had to do.I matched his earnest smile with my own.“Thank you. But I’ll accept only your calls. I have a rank and a responsibility to fulfill. My duty as staff officer is to escort and support my instructor. Beyond assisting with work, unexpected dangers can arise—this isolated island even has snakes. I’ll be at your side, but please bear with me for the next fortnight.”I bowed slightly, smiling broadly.Hogan studied me, face like a stone wall, then frowned. Perhaps he judged that further refusal would seem suspicious; unwilling but resigned, he nodded. His tone cooler, he issued his final command.“In any case, there’s nothing to do right now. You may go. I look forward to working with you these next two weeks.”“Thank you. As you know, my room is opposite the living area—call on me anytime.”With our brief exchange concluded, I bowed politely and left. I didn’t look back, though I sensed his disapproval as the door closed behind me.Only after I’d shut the door did I exhale.This is the worst. A superior who insists you stick by his side, then one who insists you mind your own business—both exhausting in their own way. Especially now.With attitudes like this, the next fortnight won’t be easy.I scratched my head and crossed to my room. I left the door wide open so the living area remained in view, in case Hogan emerged. Ronald Hogan’s smile had vanished without a trace.Lost in thought, he stared at the closed door with narrow eyes.

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