Ecstacy of Love (vsoo)

4. Jian...call me Jian.

Edited

Jisoo’s POV

The first light of dawn had barely touched the horizon when I found myself sneaking out of my room, determined to get to the military camp’s washroom before anyone else. It was still around 3 a.m., the perfect time for me to prepare without anyone noticing. I knew this was my only chance, and the pressure of being caught made every second feel like an eternity.

The moment I stepped into the washroom, I could breathe easier. I quickly undressed and took a swift, cold bath, trying to keep my focus. The cold water helped clear my mind. But time was of the essence. Once I finished, I dressed in the most masculine attire I could find—woody brown men’s hanbok with loose, baggy pants. The looser, the better. I couldn’t afford to raise any suspicions.

As I tied my hair into a neat bun, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I have to look the part, I thought, trying to suppress the panic bubbling inside me. It felt wrong. Disguising myself as a man could lead to disastrous consequences if anyone found out, but what other choice did I have?

I sighed heavily as I took one last look at my reflection. The most troublesome part of my disguise was the mustache. I had no idea how Jian had made it look so real, but it was a struggle to keep it on. I placed it on my face, hoping it would stay in place for the day.

I heard a knock on the washroom door just as I finished adjusting my outfit. Panic surged through me. I quickly checked myself one last time, ensuring the mustache was intact. As I opened the door, I nearly collided with someone standing right outside.

“Sorry,” I said, quickly adjusting my voice to sound more like a man’s. It was a terrible attempt, but it was all I could do in the moment. I had to keep up the charade.

The person standing in front of me stared at me for a moment, his eyes scanning my face and lingering on the small mustache. I felt a sudden sense of unease. Something wasn’t right. And then, to my horror, I realized that my mustache wasn’t quite staying where it should. It was starting to peel off at the edges, threatening to fall completely.

Before I could react, I quickly placed my hand over my face, trying to hide the disaster that was happening.

“He…he, once again, sorry, Sehun, for keeping you waiting,” I chuckled awkwardly, hoping he hadn’t noticed the slip-up. But when I looked at him, he was still staring at me, his gaze filled with confusion. I pushed the embarrassment aside as he moved past me, rudely shoving me out of his way.

“Rude,” I muttered under my breath as I watched him walk away. I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed at his indifference. But, no time to dwell on it.

Get it together, Jisoo, I thought, forcing a smile. “Anyway, let’s go, Jian,” I cheered myself up in the quiet washroom, brushing off the awkwardness and trying to ignore the way Sehun had looked at me.

As I walked back to my room, I found Min-seok still asleep in the bed across from mine. It was the quietest I had felt all day, and for a brief moment, I let myself relax, knowing that at least I had made it through one small obstacle.

The first order of the day came quickly—everyone was lined up, facing forward with stern faces, staring straight ahead at the imposing figures of Gunju Taehyung and Vice General Jimin, flanked by several senior military men. Each one of them looked as terrifying as a ghost.

"Are you seeing these bags?" Vice General Jimin's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "You all have to pick one of them and carry it on your back. Run from the Military Camp to the Capital Temple, and then return here before sunset." He threw a red cloth on the ground, signaling us to begin.