The Olympics Bridge terror issue did not subside over the weekend. Rather, it garnered attention to the extent that it was mentioned in overseas news. With the revelation that the culprit was a hyper-human, criticism towards both the hyper-human and the Earth Defense Union grew even louder.
In particular, it couldn’t be avoided that the Earth side first broke the agreement made with Spacystro. People started talking about the significance of the Earth Defense Union’s existence and the necessity of hyper-humans.
Even those who had been indifferent to the activities of hyper-humans for a long time became interested in this incident. On internet video platforms, dozens, even hundreds, of posts were uploaded in real-time.
From past actions to some of the crimes committed by hyper-humans that weren’t reported by the media, testimonies from people who suffered damage poured in. People scoured places where traces of hyper-humans were left, trying to uncover more incidents.
The Seoul Branch of the Earth Defense Union was swarmed with people to the point where there was no room to stand. HunterKiller members even received calls from unknown numbers.
“Hyper-human, can you please comment on this situation?”
Some would skip formalities and get straight to the point, while others would immediately start cursing as soon as they answered the phone. Messages kept coming in, filled with insults directed at the hyper-human.
It didn’t matter where they got the number from. This was the voice of the people they had always tried to protect, and this was how the world viewed the hyper-human.
There were still people who viewed the hyper-human positively, but it was clear that there were far more people blindly criticizing the hyper-human.
While they knew this, hearing their voices directly for the first time was a new experience. Was it really worth becoming a hyper-human and tirelessly striving to protect the world?
Sitting alone at a table set for a meal in an empty house, Blue thought for the first time.
Blue had been one of the longest-serving HunterKiller members, experiencing countless things. Yet, Blue felt okay. That’s all the value Blue and Yuahyung had thought they had up until now.
But now, Blue’s perspective on the world had changed. Blue had found someone who needed them and someone they needed.
When Blue realized this just before rushing out of the house, and when Blue learned what Blue wanted to do.
Thanks to this, Blue could cook the food Blue wanted for the first time. Although Blue was nervous about making the food properly, they said it tasted good. At that moment, Blue felt:
“I hope the person who eats the food I made will be happy.”
That feeling soon turned into affection and love.
And thus, Blue found the reason why Blue needed to live diligently in this world and strive as a hyper-human.
But the reality that returned was cruel.
He, A, was Spacystro. An enemy.
They faced each other every week, aiming weapons at each other and revealing hostility.
Sitting alone at the dining table, Blue fell into thought.
Since seeing A that day, the next day, and until yesterday, Blue tried not to think about it.
Surely there must have been a misunderstanding. Something must have gone wrong. There must have been a reason for A.
But every Sunday evening came, and after waiting for a long time, Blue felt this was reality when looking at the door with no response.
The warm meal carefully prepared lost its warmth and cooled down, and Blue watched the untouched food with hollow eyes.
He had shown Blue what Blue wanted to do.
Because of him, Blue could choose his path.
As Blue looked up, the peaceful scene inside the house caught Blue’s eye.
This house was given to Blue by him. Thinking about living a happy life together someday in this house made Blue feel that it was okay to give up everything Blue had.
He showed Blue how to be happy, what to wish for.
The happiness he showed, the love he showed, the hope he showed.
To Blue, who had lived only for his own value, he gave the reason to live.
And then, he disappeared.
Every Sunday evening, the door he opened and entered made no sound, and there was no sign of his presence.
…Maybe it doesn’t matter?
This thought came to Blue as Blue lowered Blue’s gaze with an empty look, sitting quietly. Perhaps it didn’t matter that A was Spacystro.
Wasn’t the person who showed Blue love and taught Blue to love more precious than those who poured arrows of criticism at Blue?
“What was I trying to protect?”
Blue tried to protect the Earth where A and Blue could live together. It was something that happened daily, ignored and criticized, but if Blue could live with A, the opinions and words of others didn’t matter.
Finding the reason to fight like this, Blue felt the bleak reality when realizing A was Spacystro and wasn’t coming.
Perhaps this is the punishment for not thinking about it?
Thoughts that had been suppressed burst forth, causing Blue’s mind to be in disarray.
If only he opened the door and called Blue with that sweet voice, Blue might return to a happy routine.
Reality did not help her.
Pushing back the chair and standing weakly, Blue stood at the entrance. He would come soon. They would eat delicious meals together, talk and laugh.
They would whisper love to each other in the house.
Turning around, Blue saw nothing but silence in the house.
Traces of him were everywhere. Furniture chosen with A, items moved on moving day, dishes used by A, the living room A passed through.
This was his house. The house he gave and the space where Blue shared everything with him.
Everything was in place, but there was one person missing—A.
Meeting once a week was fine. Every Sunday, the fact that Blue could meet him made Blue happy, and nothing else mattered. As long as Blue could meet him, everything was fine.
But the fact that he was not there was unbearable.
The warmth, the sweet voice, the big warm hand that hugged, the loving gaze. Everything was gone.
“Yeah…”
The quiet word told Blue, who had tried to escape from reality, the truth of the present.
A was Spacystro. A met all the HunterKiller members and was injured right in front of Blue’s eyes, then disappeared.
“Oh…. Ahh….”
Crouching down with a trembling voice, Blue covered Blue’s head.
He was the enemy. They fought. They attacked the man who showed Blue love and happiness.
When Blue was in trouble or suffering, he offered help generously and always called Blue with a smile.
“But I…”
Could do nothing. Blue received a house, love, and happiness from him. Even if Blue spent a lifetime repaying it, Blue felt despair knowing that Blue hadn’t done anything for him.
Yes. This is punishment.
This is the punishment for being content with happiness and thinking it was okay to live like this forever. And it is the punishment for attacking him who helped Blue lead a better life.
But Blue couldn’t accept this punishment. It would be fine to suffer even more. Any harder trials could come, and any lower life would be fine as long as he was beside Blue.
With trembling hands, Blue wrapped Blue’s shoulders and walked toward the bedroom.
With each step, memories of Blue and him in this house came to mind. Everywhere Blue looked, it seemed as if he was there. It felt like he would open the bedroom door and come to Blue any moment.
“Dear.”
“What are you going to make today?”
“It’s delicious.”
“Dear.” “Dear.” “Dear.” “Dear.”
His voice echoed throughout the house. The fact that traces of him were everywhere turned happiness into pain.
Entering the bedroom, Blue saw the bed where they first shared a happy moment. The blanket they shared, the pillow he used.
Unable to control the trembling body, Blue collapsed there.
“Ah…!”
Spacystro? That didn’t matter. The memory of loving A and being loved by A filled Blue’s mind and body.
In difficult moments, feeling helpless and worthless for not being able to help A, Blue felt ashamed.
Thinking that A would be fine soon, that A would tell Blue if it was hard.
But what returned was the current situation where A was gone.
It would be nice if tears came. To wash away some guilt.
Learning that A met all the HunterKiller members was shocking, but the shock was greater knowing they couldn’t talk about it right away. It would have been better if A had come and told Blue that A dated and used everyone in HunterKiller.
Crouching down with a scream-like cry, Blue held the blanket they shared tightly. The force in Blue’s hands made the veins bulge, and burying Blue’s face in the blanket, Blue screamed.
The hope found after much effort was gone. Would such a person come into Blue’s life again?
No. No matter how hard Blue tried and did the best, such a person who loved and cherished Blue so much would never come back.
Reaching this conclusion, Blue stopped screaming.
It’s over now.
Blue wanted a family. Not a person who ignored, neglected, and tormented Blue like a stranger, but a real family.
Thinking about having a child with A and moving to a bigger house to live happily every day made Blue smile involuntarily.
“Dear.”
Without any sound, Blue heard a voice in Blue’s ear while lying face down on the bed. Slowly raising Blue’s head, Blue saw A lying on the bed, calling Blue.
“Dear…”
Calling A with a trembling voice, Blue smiled.
Yes. It wouldn’t disappear. Given such love, feeling such love.
There’s no way he would disappear from Blue’s sight.
“I’m sorry…. I’m sorry…”
Thinking that Blue hadn’t done anything for him, Blue apologized and slowly approached him. A smiled silently at Blue.
Having done everything Blue wanted, Blue would do everything A wanted. Holding A in Blue’s arms, Blue closed Blue’s eyes, and Blue fell asleep alone on the bed.
But when Blue opened Blue’s eyes, reality returned.
The A who hugged and smiled was not there.
“Dear. Where are you? Dear…. Dear!”
Rushing out of the bedroom into the living room and searching the entire house, A was nowhere to be seen.
What greeted Blue was the cold dinner left on the table.
Seeing the dinner Blue planned to share with A, Blue cleaned the table without saying a word.
“No. I can’t let Dear eat this.”
Surely, A would come back tomorrow night, the next day, the day after, and on the weekend.
Believing this, Blue cleaned the table.
“What would Dear want to eat?”
Laughing alone, imagining the meal Blue would prepare when A came.
Due to the ongoing issues surrounding hyper-humans, Blue was unable to enter headquarters.
Meetings did not take place, nor did confrontations.
As days passed, Blue could only review the messages exchanged with A.
But reading the messages did not make his voice audible.
Closing Blue’s eyes, Blue recalled his gentle voice calling Blue quietly.
Opening Blue’s eyes, A was there, smiling at Blue, but as soon as Blue took a step closer, A vanished without a trace.
The hand reaching for A froze in mid-air, and the smile that had been formed on seeing A turned cold.
Returning to wander aimlessly around the house, Blue lay on the bed in the bedroom, where A’s scent was fading, and closed Blue’s eyes.
“Dear…. When will you come? Come quickly.”
Alone, Blue muttered unheard words and closed Blue’s eyes.
If Blue closed Blue’s eyes, Blue could hear his voice, or maybe meet in a dream.
Hoping that A would be home when Blue woke up, Blue chose a dream instead of reality.
