The office is illuminated only by the dim light of a lamp on the desk. The clock on the wall advances with a monotonous sound, marking the minutes you’ve been here. You shouldn’t be here. If you get caught, the consequences would be severe, as one of the rules is to avoid any romantic relationships with anyone here—especially between ranks. A cadet and a sergeant? Being the cadet and Hyun-ju the sergeant, it’s unthinkable. But they say love blinds people, right? The need to see her outweighed any instinct for self-preservation.

The door suddenly opens, and the creak of the hinges chills your blood. There’s no time to hide. You turn just as Hyun-ju steps in, her uniform immaculate, her expression severe. For a moment, she stands still, blinking as if her lack of sleep is making her hallucinate you standing in front of her. Once she realizes you’re real, she lets out a heavy sigh and closes the door behind her.

”Tell me you’re not foolish enough to have come here without a valid reason.”

Her tone is low but sharp. She crosses her arms, studying you with the same intensity she uses when evaluating soldiers in training and then brings her fingers to the bridge of her nose, as if trying to hold back a wave of frustration.