Han Seung-woo - Eyeball - short story

"Who wants to kill?"
The leader spoke. While everyone was hesitating, only one person raised his hand and spoke.
"I will do it."
No one tried to stop him. They only respected and supported his opinions.
“It was good. I hope you come back alive.”
He nodded. I couldn't help but feel sad that I would not see him for even a day longer.
The meeting ended, and people began to hug him one by one. I couldn't bring myself to approach him, so I ended up being the last one to do so. I couldn't stand in front of him and hug him, so I could only say a few words.
“When everyone leaves, come out.”
After saying that, I opened the door and went outside. His gaze, visible between my shoulders, was fixed on the moon reflected in the window.
After everyone went up to their quarters, he came out. As soon as he saw me, he said:
“When you look at the moon, doesn’t a wolf always come to mind? When you look at the moon, the eyes of the wolf that was watching me come to mind.”
I overlapped the moon and his eyes. The round full moon and his eyes were so similar.
"Are you really going to kill me tomorrow night?"
I told him there was a chance he wouldn't leave.
"Of course I must go and kill him. Didn't you see everyone hesitating earlier? I cannot tolerate unnecessary sacrifices. If I die, I will kill one more high-ranking official as a price to pay."
He spoke with a smile, but I couldn't laugh at all. I wanted to hold on to him. I couldn't understand why he would willingly leave, knowing full well he would die. But I always respected his choice. The words "Please don't leave," "Run away," wouldn't come out. That was all I could say.
“The moon is really pretty.”

The next night, I saw him open the door and go out from my room on the second floor. He went down a back alley and encountered soldiers.
‘Bang. Bang. Bang.’
I heard a person crying in pain.
‘Bang. Bang. Bang.’
I heard a wolf howling.
‘Bang. Bang. Bang.’
The wolf howled again.
‘Bang. Bang. Bang.’
The wolf's howling stopped.

I wasn't speaking, I wasn't swallowing. But my throat was choked up. Even though I knew it, it didn't feel real. Maybe because I'd shed more tears yesterday than I could in years, no tears came. My throat was just choked up.
That day, the full moon was not obscured by clouds, so I could see its full glory. I sighed and thought.
In your honor, all I can do for you is look at the full moon and picture your wolfish eyes.