Arya was almost ready to leave the base camp.
From here, both teams will part ways and finish the exercise individually.

They'll try to avoid getting discovered by the opposite team.
The team that will be able to finish the mission secretly will have each member's rank go up in performance ranking.

She had a team of fifteen members.
And Jin had his team of twelve.
She needs to beat him this time.

She needed to talk to Jin.
She knew where to find him.
Either he was in the planning and execution tent, or he was in the tent for the battalion senior under officer.

The executive tent was cramped but no sign of Jin.
She headed for the battalion senior under officer's tent.

Before entering the tent, he heard a familiar sound and her face lit up with a warm smile.

Hoseok was laughing inside.

The sound was a treat to her ears. He was the person that can always make her smile and make her days better. But he was laughing inside Jin's tent. That is too odd.

Before she could make a sound to let them know her position, Jin's calm voice came, "That is not funny."

Hoseok's laugh slowly died down but his voice still contained the excitement and cheerfulness, "I agree, hyung."

"Concentrate here. We will take the turn exactly at this point..."

Arya assumed that probably they were sorting out their plan now on the maps.

She shouldn't hear them. That would be cheating.

She turned to go away but Hoseok's voice again came through, "Hyung, we already went through the plans for few times. Don't you worry, I'll make sure everyone understands their roles and give their best."

Silence.

"Hyung, don't worry, we will finish the exercise."

"Thank you." Jin's voice came through and Arya almost scoffed.
So that tight mouth knows how to say thank you too?

"Hyung, You know Ji-Ho sshi likes you, right?"

Arya instantly frowned.
When did these two get this close to discuss this topic in front of Jin?

Silence.

"She is going overboard to give you a signal. Are you ignoring it or are you just not interested?"

Silence.

"Whatever your reason is, probably you should end it. Talk to her. Seeing her this enthusiastic around you even when we are discussing work is kinda uncomfortable to see."

"I talked with her. She will not do anything anymore."

"Good. But what did you do? Scare her off ?" Hoseok again laughs, "seriously hyung, you are all work and kind of scary."

Silence.

"Hyung..."

"Is there anyone you are interested in, Hoseok?"

Arya's jaws dropped. She couldn't believe it was Jin. And he was freaking asking questions like that casually!

"Yes, I have." Hoseok laughed.

"Is it Arya?"

"You are quite a good observer, hyung!" Hoseok's voice was a little embarrassed.

"Why don't you tell her?"

"I don't know why. I am still conflicted about these feelings. And...I don't want her to go away if it doesn't work out."

"Oh." Jin's voice was quiet.

Arya's heart melted. Who would make this fool understand that she'd instantly accept Hoseok if he mans up and confessed to her?

Well, he was far better than anyone in her reach. Probably the best.
It is the only and ultimate choice she has.

Arya cleared her voice to let them know her presence and gathering all her energy, she stormed into the tent and grinned, "Hey guys!"

Both of them bowed a little in acknowledgment and Hoseok beamed, "Arya, what brings you here?'

Jin calmly folded the map that was spread on the table in front of him.

"Wanted to propose a strategy for the next exercise," Arya tapped Hoseok's shoulder indicating him to move a little further to let her sit on the bench.

She purposefully ignored Hoseok's flustered face.

She won't force him, if he was ready, he'll come to her.
For sure.

The vizor was already down.
Arya furiously tapped on the side of her night vision visor that was attached to her helmet.

She needed to write for checking these high-tech combat gears to the tech team after they get back to the base camp.
It is the third time it is acting weirdly.

This mission was already hard enough.
She felt her head was going to explode with frustration.

This mock exercise though didn't mean anything, but she was a big mouth about it in front of that perfect jerk.

Her blood boiled thinking about Jin.

He didn't approve the mission strategy she proposed declaring it was too risky for the volunteers.

Risky? Who cared about the risk?

But that stern mouth not only blew any signs of consideration on that strategy but also went to the length of lecturing her about the safety of the volunteers stating that a leader should not only care about carrying on the mission but also about the safety of her members.

Ok, if he didn't want to approve her strategy, it was ok. But why must he point out her flaws and self-centered traits? So annoying!

She was serious when she went to him next time to make a scene out of it.

She was a company senior under officer.
Jin couldn't treat or lecture her like that every time they were working together.
That proud jerk!

But guess what? He didn't even look at her or give her any attention!

She swore to god that time she just wanted to choke him so bad.

She again slapped the side of her vizor and instantly her front lit up.
The night vision goggle was working again.

The night was dark. So darn dark.
The sky was cloudy. This infrared night vision's visual range wasn't more than a few meters.
Her world was now gray and colorless.

It was her time of patrol.

Her whole team has been resting for a few hours before they again move further into the mountain.

Two lads and one girl were covering the rest three sides of the temporary camp. She was at the north.

The camp was too dark.
No fire, no lights for camouflage purposes. They can't risk being seen by the opposite team.
So here came the vizor.

But that too was working up.
What if someone infiltrates the camp when her vizor is out?

She already sent out the scout to find out the camp of the opposition team.

Her team lost the last competition of completing the exercise without getting caught.
Jin's scout found her team at that time and was ambushed at the target site before they even get there.

If it wasn't a mock exercise and was a mission for real, her whole team would be wiped out that day.
Her team lost pathetically with her getting an earful from the battalion commander for her carelessness.

She can't let this time Jin win again with his team. How come that stern cowardly man always ends up winning the competitions?
Is it only his strategy or the super team he got?

Others won't dare to call Jin a coward but in her eyes he was. If not, why he was so against taking risks?
Where was the fun in it if there were no risks?

She got the best of the comrades in the squads. Jin's team was somewhat weak compared to her team.

How come he always brought out 100% of his members?

It was infuriating.
Maybe she should push her team more.

Or as Hoseok said, she should stop them freestyling and bring them under strict rules and order.
That's how teamwork work.
But how come she would preach rules when she didn't want to stick to one?

Arya gritted her teeth furiously.
She needed to win this time.

Even if it was to prove to Jin that rules are not always the best way or he can't be right every time.

She never cared about anything let alone getting into a competition instead of having fun along the way.
This time it was different.
Maybe she was taking it too personally.

Teamwork?
For a personal reason?

Arya sighed, Jin probably was right.
She was getting into her feelings. Her team had no opinion in it and they were just doing whatever Arya was instructing them to do.

Isn't letting her personal issues get into the plans making it weak?

Why should her teammates fight for her vendetta without delving into a team goal?

Her vizor again went off.
She almost groaned and slapped the side of her helmet again to get back her visuals.

She heard footsteps.

She looked at the luminous dial on her watch.
It was almost 3 in the morning. Her patrol has ended.

One junior was supposed to come and replace her. She'll use that time to sleep until it was time to move the camp uphill early in the morning.

"Jisung? Is it you?" Arya looked in the direction of the footsteps behind her though she wasn't seeing anything in the dark.

Jisung better brought his own vizor and hopefully, that one was working just fine unlike hers.

No reply came.

Jisung was always on the quieter side who didn't speak much even when he was asked something.

"Keep the eyes and ears open. And if the scout comes back, don't forget to wake me up. Ok?" She started to scour through the pocket of her camouflage fatigue.

A hum came in reply and she smiled a little knowing Jisung heard her.

She finally managed to find what she was looking for from the countless pockets in her pant and fished out a chocolate bar, "Take it. In case you are hungry. Don't you dare tell others that I gave you this."

Jisung took the chocolate bar from her hand and the next moment, her both hands were grabbed with a strong grip that she almost yelped.

"What?" She frowned but the vizor in front of her face was pushed up making sure she doesn't see anything.

The intruder didn't know that it was already ruined.

"For god's sake, Jisung! Have you gone crazy?" Arya hissed and tried to free her hands.

The reply came with him pushing her against a tree nearby and effectively blocking her any chance of counter-attack.

Before Arya could process what was happening, she felt a touch at her lips.
It was soft and warm.
She was mortified and confused when she realized he was kissing her.

Arya raged and panicked and tried to get away.
But the grip was too strong that she couldn't even move from her place.

The lips were gentle.

The person was trembling slightly as if he was extremely embarrassed and scared of this situation they were in but didn't want to back off either.
The vizor was pushed up because he didn't want her to see him, right?
Seemed like he had extremely high self-esteem and was embarrassed easily.

Arya felt like jerking him away but eventually stopped moving feeling a trembling hand softly caressing her jaws.
Was this person that embarrassed?

The lips were delicate and gentle.
As if they wanted Arya to remember this moment vividly for a long time onwards.

Her heart was racing and her head was spinning as the lips turned a bit aggressive and it was starting to get difficult for her to breathe.

Her head was not working anymore.
As if she was hearing thousands of cricket suddenly started buzzing at this hour of the night in her ears and the ringing of her ears lingered letting her disregard everything around except the lips on her.

She was still in her daze when the person left so abruptly leaving her breathless and confused. Slowly her knees got weak and she slid down on the ground, grabbing her chest.

She tried to even her breathing as she cursed under her gritted teeth.

who the hell that jerk was who just stole her first kiss?

Her other hand came up and touched her lips, still in daze and confusion.

"Sir?"

Arya visibly trembled and startled and frowned at the direction the words came in, "Who is that?"

"It is Jisung, Choi Jisung, Sir."

"Why are you here?"

"It is my turn to patrol, sir," Jisung reminded her.

Arya slowly pulled down her vizor and slapped the side. This time the vision came back again.

Jisung was waiting.

"When did you come?"

"Just now, sir." Jisung bowed and apologized, "sorry for keeping you waiting, sir. I am five minutes late."

"Did you see anybody nearby when you came?"

"No, sir. Am I supposed to?" He was frowning now.

"No." Arya sighed and got up from the ground and leaned against the tree again,
"Keep the eyes open. I guess scout of the opposite team found us."

"Did you see anyone, sir?"

"Yes," Arya said absentmindedly.

Who was that? A touch was playing on her mind. One insignia on his calfling was different from her team.
He wasn't someone from her team.

"Sir?"

"Wake everyone up. Tell them to wrap up and we'll get moving. We can't get discovered. Hurry."

"Sir, yes sir!" Jisung left just like he came, so abruptly.

Arya's breath caught up as she realized how she has been fooled.
Not only did Jin's team find their layout, but also someone from that team dared to kiss her.

Was it just another indication of mocking her?

But why the hell her heart still was racing like crazy?

That touch was so gentle and respectful that the person almost made Her soft at the same time.
If she was in a good mood, she wouldn't hesitate to admit that the person was a good kisser, and being her first kiss- it was just perfect.

Suddenly a face flashed in her mind. And it almost made her gasp.

The hell?

Why didn't she get it earlier?

Hobi!