Astronomy // Duty After School

Chapter Forty-Seven.

Chi-yeol kept an anxious watch of the area, repeatedly looking into the pantry where Hui-rak and Deok-jung were trying to sneak some food that would go without notice. The two boys were at the very back of the pantry as Deok-jung shone his flashlight on the supplies. Deok-jung rose back up to make sure Chi-yeol wasn't signaling them.

"Chili? Vegetable? Jjajang? Chili? Jjajang?" Hui-rak murmured, having great difficulty with picking a flavor.

"Gosh, hurry up! What if someone comes?" Deok-jung hissed.

"Fuck operations. A person has to eat," Hui-rak said, beginning to take some cans and stuffing them in his pockets. "We'll dive of starvation at this rate."

"I think the others will find out like this," Deok-jung whispered worriedly. "They meticulously keep track of the food." The two boys jumped out of their skin as Chi-yeol grabbed the shelf.

"Let's forget it and go."

"Yeah, I need to pee," Deok-jung said. "We'll definitely get caught."

"Hey, they won't notice two or three things missing," Hui-rak insisted. "They'll just assume it dropped somewhere. Fuck, I never liked this from the start. We should have gone to Seoul from the beginning. Everyone's nuts over college." He crouched down to look at the lower shelves and Deok-jung shone the flashlight on them.

"What are you doing?" So-chul asked from outside the pantry. All three boys jumped up, blinding the boy with the light. So-chul grimaced, shielding his eyes. The three quickly ducked back down and Deok-jung frantically clicked the flashlight, turning it on and off several times. So-chul gave them an unamused look. "Let's go if you're done with the quantity check." Hui-rak nodded at the other two and they all got back up. Hui-rak returned most of the cans to the shelf.

"Yeah, let's go. Come on," Deok-jung said. So-chul rolled his eyes, walking off. Chi-yeol and Deok-jung followed suit but Hui-rak doubled back to grab a can of food.

The boys entered their barracks again, making the boys who were studying look up in acknowledgment. Tae-man and Wu-taek only nodded in acknowledgment, continuing their game of catch. It didn't take much guessing to understand why the three boys were together and more specifically why So-chul was practically escorting them back. So-chul took a seat on his bed, looking quite thoughtful. The other three were trying not to look suspicious.

"Where were you guys?" Yeong-shin questioned. "Did you steal something?"

"What?"

"I'm just asking. Why are you surprised?" Yeong-shin asked, feigning obliviousness. Hui-rak, Deok-jung, and Chi-yeol looked at each other, telling Yeong-shin all that he needed to know. Yeong-hun let out an amused huff.

"Hey..." So-chul spoke up. They all grew quiet and Wu-taek held the ball Tae-man passed back at him. "I... keep feeling anxious these days."

"Wh-What are you anxious about?" Deok-jung asked.

"Why? Is something wrong?" Yeong-shin asked.

"Just... Today feels like the last peaceful day for some reason," So-chul said quite grimly.

"Crazy bastard. Don't jinx it," Hui-rak huffed.

"Which is why I'll ask her today," So-chul said determinedly.

"Ask what?" Chi-yeol blinked, resulting in So-chul looking up from his lap and rising to his feet.

"Ask (Y/n)... to go out with me once the war ends," So-chul answered with a small smile. Wu-taek dropped the ball in surprise and Tae-man's full attention was caught. Yeong-hun and Yeong-shin stopped writing and Yeong-su turned in his seat, wanting to be involved.