The officers on both sides were not fools.
They had picked up on the meaning hidden in the conversation going back and forth.
The problem was that, no matter how they looked at it, it was not a proposal that would put them at a loss.
However, it was not something they could decide alone.
They needed the other officer’s agreement.
The Indian officer glanced over and said to the Pakistani officer,
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
“Let’s hear what this is about, then.”
Srrng.
The Pakistani officer rose as if he had no choice.
Just moments ago, these men had snarled at each other every time they opened their mouths.
Now they had moved away from the table and were whispering to one another.
“#%#$%#$%.”
“%$%^$.”
Their voices could be heard faintly, but it was in another language, so he could not understand them.
Taesu found that a little regrettable, but he did not mind it much.
He leaned slightly toward President Gu Seungheon and said,
“It feels like they’ll reach a good conclusion.”
“It would be good for us, but I’m sorry it seems the doctors will have to suffer.”
“We were thinking of it from the beginning. Even from our perspective, it’s the best way to buy time.”
Taesu smiled faintly.
It truly was something he had received everyone’s permission for.
Kim Hyeokgwon had shown a bit of dissatisfaction, but in the end, he had agreed.
In conclusion?
The only weapon the medical team had to resist armed force was medicine.
Soon, the officers from both sides returned to their seats.
Then the Indian officer asked with a heavy gaze,
“Dr. Choi, are you saying you will provide impartial medical care, as you did in Izambak?”
“That is why we raised the flag.”
“I understand. Mr. Gu.”
When the Indian officer called him, President Gu Seungheon replied,
“Please speak.”
“You have obtained everything you wanted.”
“Then does that mean you will give us sufficient time?”
President Gu Seungheon wanted a clear answer.
The Pakistani officer answered that question.
“I will state that part clearly. It is time for boosting the soldiers’ morale and improving their combat strength.”
“I understand.”
“As for the compensation, we will provide it as discussed earlier.”
“I think it would be difficult to leave such a promise only in words.”
President Gu Seungheon steered the matter toward putting it in writing.
Perhaps they had discussed that as well, because the Pakistani officer nodded.
“Let’s do that.”
“Then I will draw up the agreement first.”
Scratch, scratch.
President Gu Seungheon began writing in large English letters on the paper he had prepared.
There was no copy machine, so everything would have to be written by hand.
It required some time, but no one rushed him.
A little over ten minutes passed.
Everyone who had been seated at the negotiating table was now standing in front of the tea-leaf storage warehouse.
Among them, President Gu Seungheon and the officers of both sides each held a sheet of paper in their hands.
It was the agreement document.
That single document did not create a warm and amicable atmosphere. Still, it was true that the feeling, which had been nothing but sharp, had softened considerably.
Before long, the gazes of the officers on both sides had turned toward Taesu.
President Gu Seungheon had led the negotiations, but their eyes treated the NGO as more important.
Taesu had noticed as well.
He did not want to step forward any more, but he had to bring things to a close.
Step.
Taesu stood between the two armies, just as he had at the beginning.
Unlike before, the soldiers did not aim their muzzles.
“……”
Seeing them quietly watching each other’s reactions, it was clear they were only pretending to be peaceful on the surface.
Taesu paid no mind to it and said only what needed to be said.
“Then, as promised, the NGO will open a clinic starting tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
“We will take it as such.”
The officers on both sides answered one after another.
Taesu made one thing clear to them.
“It would be truly unfortunate if the NGO’s beliefs were not respected.”
“The Indian Army once again promises to disarm.”
“The Pakistani Army will also never act against that.”
The officers on both sides mentioned it directly, showing certainty.
With a satisfied expression, Taesu glanced toward President Gu Seungheon.
Shake, shake.
President Gu Seungheon expressed with a shake of his head that he had nothing more to say.
Only then did Taesu speak to the officers.
“Then we will bring this meeting to an end.”
Taesu’s words were extremely plain.
You worked hard, good job.
He refrained from such formal phrases.
Since they did not feel sorry, there was no need for Taesu to mention it either.
The officers seemed to have noticed.
As if they did not want any further cold treatment, they immediately turned around.
The soldiers watched each other to the very end as they climbed into their vehicles.
Vrooom.
The vehicles from both sides left only the sound of their engines behind as they headed toward their respective camps.
Taesu quietly muttered one sentence to himself.
‘Let’s never meet again.’
He wanted this unpleasant encounter to end here.
Soon, the area in front of the tea-leaf storage warehouse became quiet.
The tense atmosphere that had filled the surroundings also gradually settled back into place.
Sensing that, Squad Leader Sam said in a low voice,
“Fortunately, it ended without incident.”
“Dr. Sam, you worked hard.”
Taesu spoke playfully, but Squad Leader Sam’s expression was not that bright.
Rustle.
Taking off the white gown, he said bitterly,
“I went so far as to put on this gown, but I don’t think I did much.”
“What are you talking about?”
“That’s the truth.”
“Absolutely not. Because you held your position, we were able to say everything we needed to say. Right?”
Taesu subtly sought agreement from President Gu Seungheon, who was standing on the other side.
But President Gu Seungheon’s face had turned deathly pale.
Whine.
“Ugh.”
Perhaps his head was spinning, because he could not keep his balance easily.
Squad Leader Sam was greatly flustered.
“What’s wrong?”
At that moment, Taesu naturally supported President Gu Seungheon and said,
“What do you mean, what’s wrong? The tension has left him, that’s all.”
“Huuk.”
Stagger.
President Gu Seungheon let his body lean against Taesu as he supported him.
He seemed to find it difficult to say even a single word.
For an entire week, he had not slept properly even once, spending all his time in anxiety. Now that fatigue had struck him all at once, leaving him struggling.
Taesu held President Gu Seungheon even more firmly and said,
“The time when you had to hold your breath in fear is over now.”
“Hoo, hoo.”
“Don’t try so hard to endure it. You can let go of the tension.”
“If I do, if I do, then I……”
President Gu Seungheon tried to hold on as he stammered.
Taesu said quietly to him,
“You should rest well and harvest the tea leaves.”
“Th-that……”
“You worked hard.”
“It’s still, not……”
Slump.
President Gu Seungheon, who had endured and endured, finally lost consciousness.
Taesu looked at President Gu Seungheon, who had fainted and was leaning entirely on him, with a gentle smile.
“You worked hard getting through that long tunnel.”
Looking at him, Taesu once again engraved in his heart what responsibility meant.
News of the agreement spread quickly to every corner of the village.
With such happy news, it would not have been strange if everyone had run out and danced.
Yet surprisingly, patients began appearing one after another throughout the village.
Thanks to that, the medical team became busy.
“Why is everyone collapsing!”
“How on earth have these people been living all this time?”
“It looks like they barely slept or ate.”
“Good grief. Hurry up and get the IVs in!”
In a rush.
Taesu and the medical team had to run from house to house.
They moved separately, each fighting their own battle, but beside them, PKO soldiers were paired up and accompanied them.
Because those reliable soldiers were there, the medical team could move with ease.
The silent atmosphere of the village continued into the afternoon.
Taesu had come alone to Factory Manager Na Duyeong’s house.
It was to check on Bong Yunju’s health. Just as he had been concerned since yesterday, she too was in a state of tremendous accumulated fatigue.
An IV line was connected at length to Bong Yunju’s arm as she lay in the opposite room.
Taesu checked the dosage with the IV regulator and packed up his house-call bag.
Click. Click.
“Now you just need to sleep deeply for a while.”
“Doctor, how can I ever thank you?”
Bong Yunju’s face was full of a reddish flush. As the tension left her, her whole body was feverish and drained of strength.
And yet, the look she directed at Taesu was unbearably wistful.
It seemed as if the slightest touch would make her burst.
Sensing that, Taesu spoke as gently as possible.
“President Gu worked the hardest. We merely helped from the side.”
“I know how hard the president worked. But what are we to you doctors……”
Bong Yunju’s voice began to tremble.
Even Taesu’s calm words had provoked such an intense reaction.
She was taking every word emotionally.
Seeing that, Taesu could not simply tell her to keep holding it in. So instead, he changed direction and chose to let the longing knotted in her chest burst out.
“Madam, it won’t be long now before you can visit Korea.”
“Hup!”
“You need to take a breath and gather more strength. Only then will you be able to see with your own eyes how beautifully Yeongju has grown.”
“……Hh, hheuh.”
Drip, drip.
Bong Yunju quickly covered her mouth to suppress her sobs. But she could not suppress the tears that fell.
Taesu smiled softly and slowly stood up.
“I’ll be going now, so please rest.”
“Hheueu.”
“And when you wake after sleeping for a while, you’ll feel much better. Then.”
Taesu gave a light farewell and quickly left the opposite room.
Click.
The moment he closed the door.
“Huaaah.”
Bong Yunju’s sobs began in earnest.
It was the crying that burst out as her anxious heart finally found stability.
It was likely also the sorrow of the past days she had spent with her heart in her throat, more nerve-racking than a roller coaster.
Perhaps because of that, her crying grew louder and louder.
Taesu only smiled gently.
But it would be rude to keep listening, so he headed to the main room.
When he entered the main room, Factory Manager Na Duyeong was looking at him while lying face down.
Since they had met earlier, Taesu calmly went inside. However, the sound of crying from the opposite room could be heard even here.
Taesu sat down close by and quickly said with an awkward expression,
“I’m not the one who made her cry.”
“Aren’t human emotions truly strange?”
There seemed to be some meaning in his sudden question.
So Taesu asked back with curiosity on his face,
“In what way?”
“People cry when they’re happy, and they cry when they’re sad. It’s not as if tears are some kind of weapon.”
“I suppose emotions have their subtle sides.”
“Yes. They do have subtle sides.”
Factory Manager Na Duyeong’s answer was extremely ambiguous.
Just as Taesu was about to tilt his head in puzzlement.
Factory Manager Na Duyeong suddenly began putting strength into his body.
“Grrngh.”
“Are you trying to turn onto your side?”
“No, grrgh. Just stay there.”
After stopping Taesu, he continued straining. His face reddened fiercely, and veins stood out in his eyes.
Taesu could not simply watch such an ominous situation.
“Factory Manager.”
“Just, right there, just, hhuup!”
Factory Manager Na Duyeong only stopped him again.
Yet he himself showed no sign of stopping.
It had now been twenty-four hours since his surgery. It had not been long enough for the sutures to have properly settled into place.
He should have known the condition of his own body better than anyone.
Even so, Factory Manager Na Duyeong did not stop.