SOLDIER | K.TH

Instructor V

YOUMIN

My eyes open hazily from someone lifting me up.

"Yes?"

"Yeah, hyung. I found him."

I can't feel my body. The only thing I can move are my eyes, and even that's hard to do.

Someone's arm tightens around my waist.

"He needs medical attention. Get the team set up. I'll be back in five minutes."

I know that voice.

There's a soft click. My head just hangs limply off Instructor V's shoulder, and I don't even have the strength to feel embarrassed anymore.

Then the voice comes again.

"I know you're awake, Park Jimin."

My eyes go wide.

He sighs, but his tone is sharp. "The moment I saw you, I knew you couldn't handle this. I'm putting you down for dismissal the moment we get back."

"Understand?"

My heart starts to race.

No.

I shake my head against his shoulder, heart starting to race. My voice is a tiny rasp, all torn from exhaustion.

"I— I don't want to."

He suddenly stops.

I wince when he just drops me to the ground, my hands scrabbling to find balance. My back slams into a tree, but I'm glad it's there.

Without it I couldn't even keep myself sitting upright.

"You don't want to."

He repeats, getting down to my eye level. His dark eyes are burning, like fire.

"Trainee. Do you think this is a joke?"

He slams a hand against my shoulder. I suck in a thin gasp, but still force myself to stare back at him.

His fingers twist.

"You can't even complete a run. This place isn't for weaklings like you, Jimin."

"Give up."

I nearly do, right there. But what about my younger brother? How could I pay his hospital fees if I gave up now?

"No." I hiss, voice a bit stronger. I shake his grip away, scrambling back up to my feet.

I can feel him watching me as I try to climb my way back up the slope I'd fallen down.

But it's so steep.

My feet slip, but I just force myself back up every time I end up on the bottom again. It's so pathetic, but I couldn't get dismissed. I just couldn't.

Darkness starts to crowd my eyes again.

No, no, no.

If I fainted now, I was done for.

Taking in a ragged breath, I pull my body up. I couldn't even believe how far I'd fallen— it was a miracle I hadn't snapped my neck.

When I reach for the tree again, a hand wraps around my arm and tugs me back.

I meet black eyes.

"That's enough."

"No. I'm getting— getting up there, and then you have to promise..." My voice fades away, with pieces of my mind.