Chasing Liberty // Countryhumans North Korea fanfiction

Severed Threads

  South Pyongan rubbed her hands together as she slid into the gunner’s seat of her T-34-85, Commander Roe Chul taking his place behind her, per usual.

    “Well, comrades, that was a pretty good Liberation Day meal, if I do say so myself.” 

     “And Comrade Korea didn’t disappoint with his speech, either,” Commander Chul remarked. “He truly knows how to speak.”

   ‘You’re telling me.’

   “You had a good poem, comrade,” she said to Se-woon. “You should talk with my brother, he loves stuff like that.”

     Though North Pyongan’s poems tended to be less depressing. But the guy was already dealing with a dead wife, so she didn’t say that to his face.

    “Thank you.” The loader seemed distracted as he arranged his rounds on the wall, so she nudged him.

    “What’s up? Didn’t have a good time tonight?” He had seemed in a good mood earlier.

    “Hm? Oh yeah, great.” He gave a slightly dazed smile as he looked as his daughter and Pak Dae-ho. “Just great.”

    South Pyongan shrugged as Commander Chul said, “Alright, let’s-“

    “Wait!” Dae-ho twisted in his seat. “We have something to tell you. Can I tell them?”

   “I want to tell them,” Yun-suk protested.

    “We’ll both tell them.”

    The two exchanged looks, then turned to those in the back, matching looks of giddy excitement on their faces.

    “We’re getting married!”

   South Pyongan gaped in delight. “No fucking way. Congrats!”

    She had thought they had looked like they were getting cozy during the singing earlier. ‘Arirang’ had made them a bit moony-eyed.

   Commander Chul uttered an, “Oho, so that’s why Comrade Kim Se-woon has been so distracted.”

    “We told Abeoji just after dinner,” Yun-suk confirmed, beaming.

     “I think he’s taking it well. Isn’t that right, Abeoji?” Dae-ho grinned at his future father-in-law.

    “Mm, well.” Se-woon nodded, still dazed-looking.

   South Pyongan slapped him hard on the back. “Cheer up, comrade! Now you’ll have Dae-ho to take care of you in your old age.”

     The man suddenly seemed to grow closer to that time by at least ten years.

    “And his ten children,” the province added, simultaneously adding another five years.

     “It’s okay, Abeoji,” Yun-suk soothed, blushing. “We don’t plan on having kids until after I’ve been teaching for a few years.”

   “And at least one of them will be named after you,” Dae-ho teased. Then sobered somewhat. “I promise I’ll take good care of your daughter, Comrade Kim Se-woon.”

    Se-woon sighed, sucking in his bottom lip. “Pay me no heed. I’m just an old man getting a bit misty-eyed at his little girl growing up. You’re a fine man, Pak Dae-ho. I couldn’t ask her to find better.” He nodded to Yun-suk. “A tank driver, a future teacher, and a good husband.” His voice caught.  “Your mother would be proud.”

   Yun-suk hid her face, but not before South Pyongan saw the tears glimmering there. “I hope so.”

    “She would be.”