Y/n POV

I tiptoed and tried to look over the tall green fence built around the east camp. I couldn't help but curve my lips into a smile as we finally reached the camp. It had been so long since I had seen Taehyung. Though it was just three months, it felt like years to me.

The hope, the reassurance, and the feeling that I wouldn’t be alone anymore eased my heart.

I let out a soft sigh, caressing my round belly.

"We're here, love. Let's go meet your daddy," I whispered to the air.

The sun's wincing rays were slowly fading as the stars began to emerge in the sky. Silvery, shimmering stars looked like pixie dust sprayed over a beautiful, multicolored satin dress with shades of pink and orange.

Just a glance at the glamorous sky lightened my heart and mind.

A heavily armored man wearing a military uniform approached us, holding a gun in his hand. His face was covered with a black mask, with only two holes cut out for his vision.

The group of us moved closer together, holding hands as the tall soldier took long, heavy steps toward us. He scrutinized us, scanning us from head to toe with his sharp eyes. He seemed to notice that we were locals, and seeing ourselves covered in dirt and dust, he must have assumed we couldn’t be much of a threat. But he still chose to question us as part of safety protocols.

"Who are you, and where are you from?" His voice was slightly stern.

The older man among the two in our small group stepped forward to speak with the soldier. He explained what had happened and assured him that we were merely victims of the bomb attack from the previous day.

"Hmm, we need to get you guys checked. Is anyone injured here?" the soldier asked.

The man shook his head. "No major injuries, but..." He then glanced at me and added, "Sir, she's pregnant."

As the man spoke, the soldier looked over his shoulder and shot a glance at me, where I was hesitantly digging my nails into my dress.

He hoisted his loaded gun over his shoulder.

"Line up. The pregnant lady in the front, follow me," he demanded in his husky voice. I reluctantly walked to the front, standing there as others lined up behind me.

They checked us one by one to ensure that we weren’t here to sabotage the camp or carrying any weapons with us. Even though the strict protocol was tiring, I had no choice but to endure it.

"Are you alright, miss? Can you walk, or would you like a wheelchair?" the assistant nurse in the treatment bay asked with concern. Her eyes softened with kindness.

I smiled and declined the offer.

"It's alright, I think I can walk. Thank you." She nodded with a smile and handed me a small cloth bag. It felt warm.

"Use this, it'll reduce the swelling," she said, pointing at my legs, which looked severely swollen. Being closer to labor had made my legs swell like two balloons. The long walk had only made it worse.

After the checkup, they treated our minor injuries and provided us with warm blankets to cover ourselves. I was beyond grateful for that, as I was trembling with the teeth-grinding chill of the night.

I was exhausted from walking miles on bare feet, without anything to cover them. But all my pain would turn to joy within minutes when I met Taehyung. My heart was thumping with joy and relief.

"Stay close, the camp is overcrowded. You might get lost," a soldier, different from the previous one, said as he gestured for us to follow him. He wasn’t wearing a mask like the other guy, so I was able to see his face.

I don’t think he was more than twenty. He looked so young. The tragedy of the war was stealing the lives of the young, making them sacrifice themselves at an age where they couldn’t even grasp the meaning of life.

Yet, his face was filled with determination.

"But don’t worry, we’ll find a space for you all. You’re safe now," he said, his words calm and reassuring.

The camp was alive with activity. The murmur of voices filled the air. Soldiers were busy carrying the wounded on stretchers. The smell of gunpowder and sweat mixed with the scent of cigarettes that wafted through my nostrils. As a roaring sound came up from the sky, I turned my head and saw a few planes landing beyond us.

I felt a sense of relief, as if I were finally in a safe place.

The young soldier halted near a cluster of tents, which were covered. He turned to us.

"You can stay here for now until we find you another tent. Try to settle in," he said before turning to leave.

I quickly stepped toward him and grabbed his arm to stop him. He immediately turned to me with a questioning look on his face.

"Yes, miss? Can I help you?"

"Yes, my husband—his name is Kim Taehyung—works here. Can you please take me to him?" I asked. He looked at me and thought for a moment.

"Ma’am, I think it’s better for you to rest now—"

"Please, I need to see my husband. Please, I beg you." I took both his hands and clasped them between mine, pleading.

Even in the semi-darkness, I could see his gaze soften. He let out a sigh.

"I’m not in a position to take you to him, but I will take you to the headquarters. There, you’ll be able to meet him."

My face lit up with a bright smile.

"Thank you so much. God, thank you."

He led me through the tents and then to a building that was well-constructed, unlike the temporary tents and huts around it. The large white building stood out among the rest. I kept following the young soldier, trying to keep up with his pace. Noticing I was struggling to walk quickly, he slowed down, taking smaller steps.

As we entered the building, I saw walls filled with soldiers, all ready to fight to the death. Whether it was night or day, they worked tirelessly, running here and there like busy bees, all focused on protecting the country. As we walked through the corridor, soldiers stared at me, wondering what a woman—especially a pregnant one—was doing in the headquarters.

"He’s a platoon leader, you said?" the soldier asked to confirm. I nodded in affirmation.

The young man knocked on a door with a brass plate reading "Colonel." He gestured for me to wait as he entered the room. I leaned against the wall and gazed out the window at the sky.

The stars—they were so beautiful tonight. It felt like something special was about to happen.

"Hey, baby, are you ready to meet your daddy?" I couldn’t help but giggle, imagining Taehyung jumping with joy when he saw us.

I waited. I waited and waited.

It had been more than twenty minutes. My back was aching as usual. I slowly slipped down the wall and sat down, as I couldn’t stand anymore with my swollen legs. My patience was starting to wear thin as the minutes ticked by.

"Where is he? Why is it taking so long?"

Suddenly, the door opened, revealing the young soldier who had escorted me here.

"Oh, there you are, Almost time," I muttered. As I tried to get up from the floor, he immediately rushed toward me and helped me up, supporting both my arms.

"Can I meet him? Did they call him?" I asked eagerly. There was a long pause between us before he finally spoke.

"You should go inside. General Lee wants to see you." He avoided my gaze as he spoke.

My smile faded. An ominous feeling began to settle in. The way he avoided my eyes, the awkward silence—it made me feel overwhelmed.

He opened the door for me and turned toward me without saying a word, standing like a statue. But I could read his eyes.

Were they filled with pity? Or sympathy?

The room was dimly lit. Inside, two men were present—one sitting in a chair, resting his head on his hands, and the other pacing around the room. I stepped inside, my heart racing. When they saw me, they exchanged glances.

"Mrs. Kim, please have a seat," the man in the chair gestured. The other man, who seemed a little younger than Taehyung, helped me sit down. The man in the chair, who I assumed was the general, glanced at the younger man and then back at me.

"Mrs. Kim, this is Choi Hyunjun. He works under Platoon Leader Kim." He paused, looking back at me. "He brings grave news, Mrs. Kim. I’m so sorry."

I looked at both of them, confused and in disbelief. My heart raced, and I felt as though it might leap out of my chest. A cold sweat ran down my forehead.

"What do you mean?"

"Mrs. Kim..." The soldier named Hyunjun spoke reluctantly. His eyes glistened, and if I wasn’t mistaken, they were filled with tears. He was gloomy, like a storm cloud.

I could feel the tension in the air, and something told me that something terrible had happened.

Had something happened to Taehyung?

"Tell me. What is it?" I blurted, my anxiety growing.

"Taehyung was shot during our mission three days ago. He... he didn’t make it..." Hyunjun's voice faded as he spoke the last part. I  could feel the weight of his words as he talked.

I felt like I was hearing it from far away. My vision blurred, and the world seemed to spin. A sharp pain pierced my chest as though I were being stabbed.

"He... he didn’t make it..."

Was this a dream? Was I dreaming?

I tried to smile. I tried to laugh.

"This must be a mistake, right? He’s Kim Taehyung, my husband’s name is Kim Taehyung!" I stood up, pushing the chair away.

"Please, check again. He must be here somewhere."

Both men exchanged hopeless glances.

"Mrs. Kim, he’s gone. I was there with him... I’m so sorry." Hyunjun, the young soldier, struggled to hide the pain in his voice. His facial muscles twitched, his lips trembled with the tears he was trying to hold back.

I looked at them blankly, emotionless. I couldn’t respond. I was too shocked to accept the bitter truth.

"Even at his last moments, he talked about you and his baby," Hyunjun continued. But I couldn’t process his words.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. I wanted to let out all the pain inside me.

It wasn’t a dream anymore. It was true. He was gone. Kim Taehyung was gone.

My eyes were wide open. I couldn’t speak. I breathed heavily, feeling my world crumble around me. My hand slid down to touch my swollen baby bump.

My heart ached with a pain I couldn’t control. My head throbbed in agony.

He’s gone...

Taehyung is gone...

"Hyunjun, escort her to her tent. Try to calm her down. She’s in shock, and it’s not good for her condition."

I heard the voices from a distance.

As Hyunjun walked me outside the building toward the tents, I was completely silent. Even though he tried to talk to me, I couldn’t hear his words.

"Mrs. Kim, can you tell me which tent is yours?" he asked, glancing at the tents beyond the small fence.

I stood there, dumbfounded, staring off into the darkness.

Hyunjun let out a heavy sigh.

"Mrs. Kim, please stay here. I’ll come back quickly. Just stay here, okay?" He draped the blanket I was carrying over me and made me sit down on a nearby wooden log. Then, Hyunjun disappeared into the shadows of the tents.

I looked up at the sky, filled with twinkling stars.

"Taehyung, why did you leave me? Why did you leave him?" I whispered. My voice was broken, shattered like glass.

The night sky was silent and beautiful. But even that beauty couldn’t ease the pain inside me.

"Taehyung..."

A sharp pain ripped through me, and I gasped, clutching my stomach. Another contraction followed, this time deeper, more forceful. My vision blurred as I fell to my knees, unable to control the tremor running through me.

"Oh, my God." As I tried to get up, I collapsed to my knees, unable to bear the contractions. The pain was worse than any I’d ever felt. I winced and groaned, clutching my stomach.

Then I felt it.

A warm liquid leaking down my thighs, soaking my dress and undergarments.

No, no, no... This is horrible timing.

My water had broken.

Hi it's been sometime, I'll try to update another chapter today since I'm really relaxed and in a vacation overseas. I've been inspired with the surrounding of the island so I thought why not? I should write this baby lol 😆

Okay see ya guys, love ya ❤️

Hope you love the story💙