Descendants of The Sun: The Second Chapter

Chapter Six-Part Three

   Si Jin couldn't answer that one.

   Mo Yeon let out a pathetic sigh. She turned her head away to the left, deeply puzzled and a little bit saddened at the same time. Si Jin could not tell the reason for his presence and she understood that. The one thing that was making her puzzled was the fact that he was trying to keep her safe. She didn't know how long exactly Si Jin would hold on to his secret and that made her agitated.

   "Mianhae." Si Jin expressed. "There are things that I can't tell you right now. However, it is my truest intention to keep you safe, Mo Yeon-ah. I hope you can understand that." Si Jin slowly and carefully held her hands, causing her to look at him. "I will keep you safe. I promise you that with my life."

   His soft words took effect almost instantly, calming her heart down. It's been a month since he touched her like that affectionately, and she was deprived of that due to her busy schedule. His gentle touch ignited the long-buried yearning to be caressed by the person she loves very much–to be cuddled or hugged or handled like a fragile glass with absolute care.

   Somehow, Si Jin could read her thoughts. Slowly, he wrapped her in his loving and protective embrace, bringing her head to a rest on his chest where his heart beat. Like a loving father he stroked her hair, the brownish-black strands that were as smooth as silk. He was silent when he embraced, allowing her to feel protected and safe. He knew that his beating heart will console her worried soul, and maybe that was what she actually needed too.

  Mo Yeon turned into a sponge, absorbing the love Si Jin delivered like how a sponge takes in water. She closed her eyes as she let her senses be immersed by the sound of his heartbeat–a sound of his presence.

   No one uttered a word for more than minute as they embraced, sharing their thoughts silently through the beating of their hearts and the sound of their breaths. The love they had was natural, and the feelings were honest. "Better now?" He whispered softly to her ear. He felt the nodding of her head and the humm of agreement.

   Mo Yeon slowly pulled back from the embrace, her eyes met his. "Can we do this more often?" She requested. "I need you."

   Her request made Si Jin smile. "Silly girl. I'm always here for you."

   "Ani, not that. I mean, can we embrace more? I want to hear you, the beating of your heart. It tells me that you are here, and alive." Once again, she embraced him, this time more passionately. "I really need you, Si Jin-ah. Really need you here with me."

   Si Jin at first was a little bit puzzled by her request, but he hugged her back anyhow. It was when he heard soft, muffled cries only then he realised what she really meant.

   She was scared that he might one day–never come back.

   He hugged her tighter, closing every remaining spaces between them. If she's scared, he needed to comfort her, to let her know that he will not die, and will always keep his responsibility of staying alive. His embrace told her, that no matter where he was, near or far, whether it was the darkest day or the creepiest night, the shivering bone-wrecking winter or the hottest of summer, through the highest peaks to the lowest depths, he would always come back to her. He made a vow, that he will never, ever leave her alone again.

   Never will.

   Never again.

*****

Later that night
Uruk National Prison/ UNMIU Command Centre Four
   The humvee drove up to the entrance checkpoint of the converted prison complex, one of the four buildings around the country to be used as a command centre. The eerie-looking complex was an unpleasant sight to watch by Dr Athena, even though UN flags were seen waving at a distance.