Vows and Bullets
Chapter 40: Handsome Hyung

Chapter 40: Handsome Hyung

Dead silence filled the surrounding with occasional sighs from Agent Helios’ mouth. I watched him as he pressed his temples in deep thought. After a few minutes, I suddenly realized...

’Why am I acting guilty as if I did something wrong? Technically, I did. But that’s on me. I’m willing to take the consequences of what I did, and I promise not to drag him into it. So why is he so angry?’

"Article 16, Section 3.9 of the Field Missions Regulation," he said, finally breaking the silence, though his tone was still stern and unamused.

"Never do anything that will endanger the mission," I replied quickly since I had already memorized all our laws and protocols by heart. "Should the mission endanger the life of an agent, the agent is free to retreat or abandon, following the protocols stated on Article 16, Section 6."

"Correct. And which of those did you disobey?"

"I...ugh. I know my mistakes, okay? But to answer your question, first and foremost, the mission wasn’t endangered. I simply... derailed from it a bit, but the end result is still the same. We didn’t get busted, I didn’t get harmed, and I even managed to save a child from danger."

He sighed deeply again, probably losing his patience.

"That’s because you got lucky. But what if the worst scenario happened? Did you even check those guys before you chased them? Did you know what weapons they carried, and do you have the weapons to counter them? Did you know how many they are for you to attack them solo? What if you got injured? Or worse, died? What will I tell your mother? Your friend? And everyone from the base?"

"But I wasn’t! I’m alright! Nothing happened!" I snapped. "Rescuing a kidnapped child is an easy mission—it’s not even considered a B-rank mission. It’s either D or E. There’s no way—"

"Those kinds of kidnapping cases have been rated that way because PROPER intel had been gathered about them. You were careless! What do you think of yourself? Some superhero who’s supposed to save everyone in danger, huh? What if, in the future, the same scenario happens, and it will definitely endanger the mission—are you still going to rush into saving people?"

"If it really will endanger our mission, then... maybe I won’t."

"Maybe? I’m afraid your maybe is not enough for me."

"Then what do you suggest? That I turn a blind eye towards something I have the power to help? That was a child! What if I didn’t save her and something worse happened to her?"

"Ugh... There are a lot of what-ifs in this conversation, but yours is the most unlikely to happen. That’s a kidnap for ransom. No kidnapper is stupid enough to kill their goose before they even get their golden egg."

I clenched my fists tight, unable to refute him. I know I’m wrong, but still... that was a child—helpless, scared, confused, and with no one to turn to. Maybe I’m just being hard-headed, but... I, too, was once a child. I know how it feels to be helpless, and I hated it. Now that I have the skill to help, why would I not use it?

"From now on, I’m taking command of this mission," he said. "You’re a huge risk running amok because of your emotion. Where did your self-control training go to? Down the drain? Ugh. I can’t believe this."

"What?" I blurted out, jolting up from my seat. "We’re partners here—there’s no captain and no subordinate. We’re equals! How dare you decide that you’ll be on command?"

"You obviously can’t keep your heart in your sleeves. Decision-making for important matters, especially life and death scenarios, needs a calm mind that you certainly don’t have."

"Huh! Look at who’s talking? What do you call your attitude towards me right now? Hm? You don’t look calm and patient yourself!"

Pissed off, Agent Helios also stood up from his seat and walked towards me to stare down at me.

"We’re in a safe space, so I’m allowed to show my emotions!"

"Exactly! That’s why I’m showing my emotions, too! But outside, I was pretty calm about everything. I even managed to subdue those kidnappers. You’re the one who couldn’t keep your cool and was so angry until I returned!" Then, in a murmur, I continued, "You only calmed down when I—"

It was then that I remembered the moment I kissed him back in the shop because I was trying to smudge some lipstick on him.

’Right... He did calm down after that, right? Hmm... Should I try k-kissing him? Maybe that way, he’ll calm down and stop nagging me?’

"For your information, I was also in a safe space at that time, so I have all the luxury of being angry. And who wouldn’t be angry for having such a careless partner like you, huh? You could have blown our cover, and you’re not even remorseful about it! Just wait and see what the chief’s verdict on you—"

Chuuu!

And there it was...

I kissed him briefly—just a simple peck on the lips.

’I wonder if it will work? If it does, that only means he’s a pervert, and he likes my kiss for some reason.’

Agent Helios’ eyes widened in an instant. He was too stunned to speak. I stared at him, observing each change in his expression. The knit on his eyebrows slowly faded, and his breathing wasn’t as heavy as earlier. His ears turned red, though. After a few moments, he furrowed again, ready to lash out at me.

"W-What the—What do you think you’re doing? We’re talking seriously here, and you just... Are you a pervert? A kissing maniac?"

"What?!" I blurted out. "No way! I was just... trying something."

"Trying what?"

He was still shouting at me, but it wasn’t as loud as earlier. And his face wasn’t as sour as earlier. Woah. I can’t believe it worked!

"Ha-ha-ha," I chuckled softly. "Eun-Woo’ya," I called his name rather familiarly, "now I know one of your weaknesses."

"Huh?"

Then, I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him a little sweetly.

’Would you look at that? He was against it at first, but he suddenly turned obedient and kissed me back. This is funny.’

After the kiss, I turned to his ears and whispered softly...

"So... you like kissing me that much, huh? To the point that it’s calming you down?"