[CN] Field Training Date
🍒 Warning: Detailed spoilers for a date, 拉练之约, which has not been released in EN 🍒
[ Released in CN: 28 September 2022 ]
[ 1 ]
From across the bus window, the afternoon sun leaves a gentle warmth on my cheek. The swaying carriage leaves me feeling drowsy.
A vibration in my pocket rouses me awake from the tiredness. With my eyes closed, I feel around for the “answer” button on my phone.
??: We didn’t divulge anything, did we? Does Captain Gavin know that you’re coming over to visit him? What exactly did you tell him...
The moment I pick up the call, Tang Chao’s blustering voice can be heard from the other end of the line.
MC: I didn’t divulge anything, but it’d be difficult for Gavin not to know if you continued to announce my plans this loudly.
Tang Chao: Sigh. Why didn’t you tell him that you’re coming over?
MC: Your field training is in such a faraway place this time. I didn’t want him to pick me up from such a long distance.
Tang Chao: What a grand display of romance. When you reach the entrance later, just tell them who you are.
The person at the other end of the line suddenly lowers his volume before hanging up quickly in a guilty manner.
I watch as the scene before me gradually unfolds. The thought of being able to see Gavin soon puts me in a wonderful mood.
As the STF has been conducting field training in a remote city, it’s been almost two months since I last saw Gavin.
With great difficulty, I’ve made it to the only resting day of this two-month long field training. However, the STF regulations prohibit members of the squad from leaving, and only allows family members to visit.
Gavin couldn’t bear for me to take a plane to the city, followed by a five-hour intercity bus ride and a walk up the mountain on foot. As such, he rejected my request to visit him.
But to me, the length of the journey didn’t matter at all. Being able to see him was most important. Which is why I secretly asked Tang Chao for the location of the base.
MC: I hope my “unsolicited visit” wouldn’t bring Gavin any trouble...
After dragging my huge suitcase with much difficulty, I finally reach the final flight of steps of the mountaintop.
In front of the awe-inspiring entrance field training base, I notify the sentry about who I am and am guided to the dormitory building.
The simple dormitory building is submerged quietly in a patch of gold. Looking up, I squint against the sunlight and am stunned in place.
On the balcony of a certain dormitory on the third floor, a familiar figure is currently stretching his arms.
I smile, taking out my phone and planning to send him a text to toy with him. However, the screen shows me that Gavin had sent me a text three minutes ago.
Gavin (text): What are you doing now?
I tilt my head to the side, giving it some thought. Then, I key in some words.
MC (text): I’m admiring a handsome guy as he stretches~
The figure upstairs stiffens in his movements. In the next second, his gaze lands on me accurately.
Gavin: MC, what are you doing here?
[ 2 ]
MC: Why did you lose so much weight?
Gavin and I are sitting next to each other on a simple bed in the dormitory. My gaze sweeps over him, and I find myself pinching him on the arm.
MC: You’ve become tan and your hair has grown longer too. Wait. Why do you have so many bruises?
A resigned and soft chuckle drifts to my ears, and a powerful pair of arms grip my restless hands tightly before bringing me into his arms.
Gavin: That’s what field training is like. I’d lose weight, get a tan, and there aren’t places to get a haircut.
Gavin: But that’s enough about me. Why’d you come over without saying anything?
MC: I missed you…
I bury my face in his chest and give him a nuzzle. The familiar scent makes me feel at ease.
MC: After all, it’s almost two months since we last saw each other. Since it’s a rare opportunity to visit you, of course I had to seize it. Which is why I used some clever tactics to obtain the address of this location.
Gavin: It was Tang Chao, wasn’t it?
MC: ...how’d you guess that quickly?
A hint of a smile surfaces on his lips. He lifts his hand, brushing strands of hair behind my ear.
Gavin: He loves to meddle in other people’s business. Also, he volunteered to do some tasks today, which was suspicious. He probably wanted to redeem himself.
MC: Will he be able to escape punishment?
Gavin: Nope.
Gavin shakes his head, his gaze resolute.
Gavin: Once he returns, he’ll get his punishment.
MC: Pfft.
I quickly stand up straight, acting as though I’m ready to accept punishment from a superior.
MC: Captain Gavin should punish me too. Otherwise, I won’t be upholding justice. It was because of my longing for Captain Gavin that I asked Squadmate Tang Chao for urgent assistance. He was simply helping a citizen of Loveland City, so the “main perpetrator” was me.
Seeing that I’m pretending to be solemn, Gavin blinks while contemplating for a moment.
Gavin: In that case, your punishment is to drink less coffee when working overtime next time.
MC: How’s that possible... I rely on it to boost my energy levels and continue living!
My shoulders droop as I whine. The lifts the corners of his lips slightly.
Gavin: If you feel tired, you could give me a call. No matter how late it is, I’ll pick up.
His sincere tone warms my heart. Just as I’m about to say something, I hear an ear-piercing alarm.
“Ding ding ding.”
Not knowing what’s happening, I watch as Gavin picks up his phone and turns off the alarm.
MC: You set an alarm for 3pm?
Gavin: This is my alarm for additional training.
My brows furrow in confusion.
Gavin: The new recruits are very strong. If I don’t do additional training, I won’t be able to face them if I can’t match up to them during training.
MC: Wait. Does this mean that you’re giving yourself additional training?
Gavin nods.
MC: But isn’t today the only day of rest you have in this two-month long field training?
He freezes for a moment. As though realising something, he averts his gaze.
MC: You aren’t resting on such a precious resting day?
Gavin: Cough. Well...
MC: That won’t do. Resting is the top priority of a resting day.
Gavin’s Adam’s apple bobs up and down a few times. In the end, the corners of his lips lift in resignation and he takes my hand.
Gavin: MC, I'll get proper rest. But I have one final set of this additional training. This set is the only core training for today. Core strength is very important - it trains my strength and endurance in combat. That way, I won’t get hurt easily. Just let me complete this set, okay?
He pinches my hand, blinking his clear eyes slowly. His sharp features actually seem a little pitiful.
His choice of words and logical reasoning leave me in a daze, and I release a sigh.
MC: Okay then. But once you’re done, I’ll help you to take a little break.
Gavin: A little break?
I arch my brows in a secretive manner.
MC: You’ll find out later.
[ 3 ]
MC: 385, 386...
A pair of strong and muscular legs are hooked onto the end of the bed, taut outlines appearing due to the strength of his abdominal muscles.
My gaze shifts up and down along with Gavin’s repeated crunches, and I’m unable to tear my eyes away for even a moment.
The person who is being watched keeps his scorching gaze focused on a certain spot in front of him, and his entire body seems to be filled with vitality.
His movements cause the bed frame to release regular creaking sounds. Even though he has done over three hundred consecutive crunches, he’s able to maintain a regular rhythm.
Although he doesn’t say a word, his breathing, which gradually grow heavier as he curls and relaxes, showcases the great difficulty of this exercise.
Gavin: [delicious noises]...
Sweat slowly drenches his t-shirt, causing it to stick to his skin. The muscles underneath the translucent fabric are faintly visible.
His muscles rise slightly with each exertion, and his veins quiver along with them.
But Gavin doesn’t have much of an expression. His thin lips part when he breathes out, droplets of sweat gliding down his flushed cheeks.
Every single droplet seems to pelt into the depths of my heart, tickling it and also making me feel an inexplicable dryness in my mouth.
MC: 398, 399, 400!!! Done!
I cheer while walking forward, grabbing a dry towel and wiping off his sweat.
MC: I thought the 400 crunches would be split into different sets. I didn’t expect you to finish all of them at one go. Are you very tired?
Gavin: I’m okay. The last set of training is usually the lightest.
MC: ...this is considered light?
He takes the water in my hand with a “mm”, and I detect a hint of pride in the slight arch of his eyebrows.
MC: Wait... the last set? What sets did you do before I came?
Gavin twists the water bottle while recollecting, a serious expression on his face while he responds without putting much thought into it.
Gavin: Carried a 20kg load while running 6km, 2 hours of target shooting, 2 hours of kickboxing...
MC: ? You did so many sets of training? But it’s only 3pm... What time did you wake up?
Gavin: 6am.
MC: That’s before dawn.
I can’t help but purse my lips, feeling an ache surging in my heart.
MC: Didn’t you tell me that you only run and do boxing every day?
He freezes for a moment, then scratches his head with slight awkwardness.
Gavin: Fundamentally speaking... it’s true that I run and do boxing.
I release a sigh, deciding not to say anything more to this “terrible” person. I turn around and open my suitcase.
Gavin: These are...
MC: A neck and shoulder massager, pillows, patches for pain relief, snacks, hair-cutting scissors...
Gavin is stunned in place as he watches me retrieve various objects from my suitcase.
Gavin: Did you prepare all of these?
Grabbing two pillows, I place them on the simple bed, trying my best to find the most suitable angle.
MC: Yup. Before coming here, I already knew that you were having a very tough time. Eli told me that the living and eating conditions are harsher during field training, and that there aren’t places for you guys to get a haircut during this period of time.
Gavin: ...
Gavin: That rascal Eli betrayed me as well?
His frown of annoyance is pretty comical to me.
MC: Captain Gavin, you can deal with them next time. For now, please hand me the water basin and water bottle.
Gavin: Why do you need the water basin and water bottle?
I pat the “recliner” that I had constructed on the simple bed, holding his shoulder while inviting him to sit down.
MC: Because I’m going to be your hairstylist today~
[ 4 ]
Gavin: You’re going to cut my hair?
Gavin’s eyes widen slightly, revealing a rare hint of surprise.
MC: There’s nothing to worry about.
I drape the cape that I had prepared beforehand over him.
MC: I did lots of homework before coming here! Aside from learning how to cut hair, I also researched on massage techniques and how to accelerate the metabolism of lactic acid to alleviate soreness in your body.
I say this while rubbing his shoulders. He shirks his neck stiffly before gradually relaxing.
Gavin: MC, there’s no need to trouble yourself. We should take a break together...
MC: Don’t move! If you keep struggling, I’ll have a reasonable suspicion that you doubt my skills.
Gavin: Of course not.
MC: In that case, listen to my commands and sit down obediently!
Gavin: ...as you command.
He cooperates, tilting his head upwards as he lies on the edge of the bed. Sunlight enters the room, softening the sharp lines of his chin.
MC: I’ll begin now~
I cup some water in my hands, damping his hair gently.
His soft hair floats in the water basin, matching the pair of sparkling eyes which are staring at me, causing my heart to become incomparably soft.
I pour shampoo onto my palm. After lathering it into foam, I rub and massage circles into his hair gently.
Gavin seems to be feeling comfortable as he closes his eyes. Seeing him like this makes me feel playful, and I clear my throat.
MC: Mister, if you’re satisfied with my service, you could choose to sign up for a membership card.
Gavin is stunned momentarily. Then, the corners of his lips curl upwards.
Gavin: There's no need for that.
MC: Huh? Does this feel uncomfortable?
Gavin: Nope, it’s really comfortable. It’s just that I can’t bear to let you serve me all the time, so forget about it.
There’s an obvious sincerity in his pretence of being polite. At this moment, I feel encouraged and satisfied, and wash his hair even more meticulously.
That pair of bright eyes continue to watch me, causing my cheeks to heat up. I wipe my hands before covering his eyes with my palm.
MC: Just enjoy it!
He chuckles mischievously before complying, hugging his arms and enjoying the experience.
The air gradually becomes quiet. Gavin’s breathing turns regular, and he seems to be asleep.
This person always seems to have no concept of tiredness when he's with me. But he’s definitely very tired...
With this thought in mind, my actions turn gentler. I find myself holding my breath, afraid that I’d disturb his rare time of relaxation.
After a moment, I carefully wipe his hair with a dry towel, then prop his neck up with a pillow before trimming his hair.
Even though I took a few classes earnestly, it still takes up quite a lot of energy and focus to cut Gavin’s hair.
By the time I’m done cutting his hair, an hour has gone by. I release a huge breath. Just as I’m about to examine the results, I notice that lots of stray hairs have fallen into his collar.
I pick up a small brush, prepared to clear them out. But when I happen to look down his collar, I noice a huge patch of red near his heart.
I’m taken aback for a moment. My brows furrow instinctively as I take a closer look, realising that those red patches are sunburnt skin, and there are several bruises beside them.
MC: ...
There’s a slight stinging sensation in my nose. I reach out, wanting to touch that startling patch of skin. However, the person in front of me suddenly stirs.
Lifting my head, I see that Gavin is staring at me, bleary-eyed.
Gavin: What’s wrong?
MC: Tell me the truth. Are you hiding anything from me?
His bleary eyes blink twice, and he seems to have absolutely no idea what I’m talking about.
MC: Do you remember what you always said when we talked over the phone?
Gavin: That I missed you a lot?
MC: [blushing] ...not that!
I clear my throat before bringing the conversation back.
MC: Whenever we talked over the phone, you would only share trivial details. For instance, how a tiny dragonfly landed on your hat during training, how Tang Chao complained about not feeling full after eating five bowls of rice... Since you always shared these light-hearted things with me, I started to genuinely think that field training might not be that tough.
Gavin: It really isn’t tough.
He takes over the conversation. I cut to the chase, tugging on his collar and signalling with my eyes for him to look at the “proof” of him being riddled with injuries.
Gavin: ...these are actually okay. For the previous field training, we had to walk through a forest and handle our own food and shelter. If we weren’t able to find a cave to stay in during torrential rain, it was normal to spend the night in the mud.
The more I listen to his words, the more upset my expression becomes. Gavin quickly realises this, and he immediately stops.
Gavin: ...in short, I’m doing very well.
He brings me into his arms, pressing his head against my chest while acting slightly coy.
Gavin: I feel especially happy when training ends and I get to read your texts where you ask about my well-being and share details of your daily life.
My eyes land on his fluffy head, and my heart softens into mush.
MC: In that case, you shouldn’t be doing additional training on your only day of rest. You’re working hard enough on normal days...
Gavin lifts his head with a soft chuckle. Then, he shifts backwards and lies down on the bed before pulling me down to lie beside him.
Gavin: Do I look like I’m having a very tough time?
MC: Not really. I understand the nature of your work and know better than anyone else that Gavin is such a person. But I can’t bear to see you suffering any hardships. Haven’t you heard of the saying - that if you like someone, you’d find him very “pitiful” and can’t bear to see him suffer even the slightest hardship?
Gavin: I see.
His smile climbs into his eyes, and his serious gaze lands on my face.
Gavin: Reporting to the Commanding Officer - I won’t be as “pitiful” in the future.
MC: Hmph, that better be the case...
I purse my lips, pinching his cheeks unhappily.
MC: But despite what you said, you’ve always had strict standards for yourself. I’m afraid I can’t make you loosen up. I understand you very well, and I know that you have your own aspirations and requirements for yourself. So... there’s only one thing I can do.
Gavin: What is it?
I clear my throat, meeting his eyes with a serious expression.
MC: Next time, I’ll always keep in mind the hardships you go through and your tiredness. Since Gavin doesn’t know how to care for himself, MC has no choice but to care for him!!
Gavin doesn’t respond. Volumes of affection surge in the depths of his eyes as he looks at me. In the next second, he reaches out and brings me into his arms.
The setting sun casts a lingering yellowish warmth over us, as though wanting this warmth to pause here forever.
Gavin: The things you said have made me forget all of the hardships. All that’s left is happiness.
MC: I never knew that my words were that miraculous?
I joke with a chuckle, and a resolute voice drifts into my ears.
Gavin: In order for the squad to remain cautious and not fall into deep sleep, the bed frames are very hard. But now that I’m hugging you, I actually find that this small bed is really comfortable. Thank you for coming here and giving me a day of rest. And thank you for caring about me on my behalf.
An uncontrollable smile dyes the corners of my lips. Feeling contented, I take a deep breath and fill the depths of my heart with Gavin’s scent.
It seems that the tiredness of my journey this morning is finally taking effect, and my eyelids grow heavy. But something occurs to me, and I poke him on the chest.
MC: Gavin, aren’t you going to look at yourself in the mirror to see how the haircut turned out?
Gavin: No need - I have a lot of faith in your skills.
Hearing this frank response, I feel even more contented as I nuzzle into his arms.
In my daze, I secretly agree with what Gavin said.
Even though this small bed is very hard and very tiny, it also seems very comfortable and very huge.
For a moment, I feel as if -
This is the entire world.
✧ Call l Moments
90 notes
·
View notes