Chapter 465: Those Who Left, Those Who Stayed(7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 465: Those Who Left, Those Who Stayed(7)
"Huff! Huff!"
"Phew, haaa."
"Ugh..."
The heavy groans of men echoed from all directions.
Normally, I would have found the sound disgusting, but right now, I felt a deep sense of empathy and understanding.
We were two hours into the march.
It had begun in the predawn darkness before the sun had even risen. Now, the morning light was finally cresting, illuminating the path ahead of us.
"Whoa."
As we climbed a slope, Kim Young-ho, who was walking in front of me, nearly toppled backward. I quickly reached out and shoved his military backpack forward.
"S-sorry. My legs just gave out for a second."
"It’s fine. Everyone’s feeling it."
How should I put it?
I don't think I’ve ever felt such a strong sense of camaraderie before. The phrase 'pulling from the front and pushing from the back' felt so real it was almost overwhelming.
My combat uniform was drenched.
As beads of sweat rolled down my chin, I felt emotions I had never experienced in my life.
I miss my dad.
It sounds hilarious if you just hear it out of context, but after my thoughts spiraled through various stages of exhaustion, they somehow landed on missing my father.
I couldn't even remember the train of thought that led me to that conclusion.
But as I thought of the people in my life one by one, I eventually found myself missing him.
This is like some kind of 'Filial Piety Package.'
Lately, variety shows have been all about families fighting and reconciling.
Who needs that?
Just put them through one intense military march, and that’ll do it.
We were only two hours into a five-hour march, yet I was already reflecting on everything: things I did wrong, things I did right, things I failed to do for others, things I wanted to do, things I was sorry for, things I wanted to apologize for, and so on.
A countless number of thoughts flooded my mind.
So this is why people used to say you should seek out hardship even if you have to pay for it.
I understood that this was a process of deep reflection and personal growth, but...
I felt so 'enlightened' that it felt like my brain fluid was leaking out.
I just wanted to stop.
"We’re taking a short break here."
We stopped at a vacant lot where a broken vending machine stood.
Maintaining our ranks, we sat down and leaned our backs against our fellow trainees.
Technically, we weren't leaning against each other's backs, but against each other's packs.
With our heavy-as-hell military backpacks pressed together, we drank water from our canteens.
I never dreamed I’d ever think like this in my life.
But if someone were to ask me who I envied most in the world right now...
I would say four names without hesitation.
Kang Han-gang and Pyo Jin-ho.
Jeong Chan-woo and Ahn Hyun-ho.
Those bastards actually finished this?
When Kang Han-gang and Pyo Jin-ho came out on leave last time, I’d already heard their stories about the training center march.
Since Jeong Chan-woo and Ahn Hyun-ho enlisted earlier than me, they should be getting assigned to their units right about now.
There were still three hours left.
Staring blankly up at the sky, I muttered to myself, wondering when on earth this would finally end.
* * *
"I'll give you a push."
Since I was someone who exercised regularly before enlisting, I wasn't struggling as much physically as the others.
I mean, it was still hard.
But I was in better shape compared to the other trainees.
When Trainee 21, the gangster, started falling behind, I pushed him from behind. He looked back at me with a startled expression.
"Just how much did you smoke and drink to be wheezing like this?"
"……."
He looked at me as if wondering why I was helping him. Feeling a bit awkward, I gave him a blunt reply.
"If you slow down, everyone behind you slows down too. We only have an hour left. Let’s move."
At my words, the gangster caught his breath, nodded, and forged ahead.
His steps seemed a bit more energetic.
"Hey—"
As we walked, he hesitated for a moment. He looked like he had something to say but couldn't bring himself to say it. I let out a dry chuckle.
"Are you trying to say you're sorry?"
When I asked first, he flinched slightly and gave a small nod.
Despite having so many tattoos on his body, it was obvious he wasn't the type who was used to apologizing.
"Yeah, I'm sorry too. Honestly, if the same thing happened again, I’d probably throw a punch first, but still... I'm sorry."
Since I was the one who hit him, I figured I should apologize.
The gangster seemed to feel a bit lighter as he nodded in response.
"I deserved it. I'm sorry too."
"Let's go, let's go. Almost there."
Is there anything better than this for resolving human conflict?
If I were a TV producer, I’d make a program where people just go on marches; it would put all current variety shows to shame.
It was a mysterious path, wasn't it?
It was a time when even beasts became human.
* * *
Beep-beep-beep-beep.
"Huh?"
Choi Jin-ah, who was sitting on the sofa drinking iced coffee, let out a bewildered cry.
She had been enjoying some solitude while watching TV when she suddenly heard someone entering the passcode at the front door.
Clack.
"Behold, I have arrived!"
The door swung open, and Seo Ye-rin stepped inside.
"Ye-rin?"
Choi Jin-ah was stunned by how naturally she entered.
As if she were in her own home, Seo Ye-rin tossed her coat and socks aside and threw herself onto the sofa.
"There’s not a trace of Woo-jini’s scent left. It’s nothing but Jin-ah’s scent now."
"Please don't make it sound like I smell. What are you doing here?"
"Woo-jini’s completion ceremony is in ten days. We all decided to meet up because of that."
"Ah... at my place?"
"Yep. The others should be arriving soon."
Beep-beep-beep-beep.
"They're here!"
As soon as Seo Ye-rin finished speaking, the sound of the passcode being entered rang out again.
I never asked for my place to become a communal lounge, Choi Jin-ah grumbled to herself, but she decided to bring out her secret stash of snacks to welcome the guests.
One by one, the women entered.
"The place feels a bit more... settled now."
"True. Before, it just looked like a den of debauchery."
It was Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin, who had been hanging out together often lately.
"Why is time moving so slowly? I feel like it’s been two months already."
"Jin-ah, I told you to stop eating snacks with so much butter."
From Oh Yun-ji, who was suffering as she felt every agonizing second pass, to Min Ju-hee, who started nagging like a mother the moment she walked in.
"It’s an assembly after all this time!"
Seo Ye-rin cheered with a grin.
"You’ve been the busiest one. We haven't even seen your face."
"I can't help it! I'm a super-promising actress! I’ve already decided what I’m going to say for my Rookie Award speech this year."
"You crazy bitch."
"It’s only February, Ye-rin."
They asked why she was already preparing for an awards ceremony, but Seo Ye-rin was already standing in the middle of the living room, smiling as she began her rehearsal.
"Oh, yes. Honestly, I never dreamed I would receive such an award."
"What is she even doing?"
"To say something like that while imagining an awards ceremony..."
Despite their comments, Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo naturally sat on the sofa and began listening to Seo Ye-rin’s acceptance speech.
Unlike the other three who were bewildered, they had already adapted to Seo Ye-rin’s personality.
"I’m so grateful to my director, the other actors, and my mom and dad for allowing me to receive this award."
"Why aren't we mentioned?"
"And thank you to my friends as well. Finally, to my boyfriend in the military! Fighting!"
"Ugh, what a load of crap."
"Ye-rin. You know you can't actually do that, right?"
"Hehehe. I imagine this every day."
Seo Ye-rin returned to her seat with a playful laugh. They wanted to believe that even Seo Ye-rin wouldn't suddenly announce her boyfriend during an acceptance speech, but...
Why am I so nervous?
Ye-rin... she might actually do it.
Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo felt a strange sense of anxiety as they watched Seo Ye-rin munch on snacks.
It was fine that she didn't mention Kim Woo-jin now, but she shouldn't ruin her career with a slip of the tongue later.
"So, why did you call us here today?"
As Oh Yun-ji asked while stealing the coffee Choi Jin-ah had been drinking, Choi I-seo pulled a microphone out of her bag.
A portable microphone.
It was the kind people used to get a karaoke vibe at home, but today, it was for the sake of maintaining order.
"Testing, one, two. Okay. There are exactly ten days left until Woo-jin’s completion ceremony."
Since today was Monday, the ceremony was next Wednesday.
It was time to start making plans.
"I heard he can leave the base for about six hours after the ceremony."
"Ah, finally."
"That bastard Kim Woo-jin. He better get here fast."
Oh Yun-ji and Yoo Ah-rin exclaimed.
Not just those two, but the others also had a look of anticipation in their eyes.
However, Choi I-seo broke the news with a regretful expression.
"But since his family will be at the ceremony, I don't think it’s a good idea for all of us to swarm him at once."
Instantly.
The atmosphere began to turn chilly.
No, it was beyond chilly; it was freezing. It felt as if someone had left a window wide open.
Since she had expected this reaction, Choi I-seo continued calmly.
"No matter how much we want to see him, it’s only right to yield to his family. So, three people at most. That’s the limit."
They all began to eye each other warily.
Choi I-seo continued to direct the flow of the conversation.
"From now on, let’s each state the reason why we should be the ones to go. We have to be fair, after all."
If they didn't see him now, they wouldn't be able to see him until he was assigned to his unit and came out on leave.
Everyone knew this, and the room became so quiet you could hear them swallowing hard.
"Hey, but shouldn't we be the ones to go?"
Yoo Ah-rin was the first to strike.
"We’re the ones who introduced ourselves to his family. Is there any reason for those of you who haven't even gotten permission to go?"
"Ah-rin is so reliable~"
Yoo Ah-rin spoke confidently, squaring her shoulders.
Watching this, Oh Yun-ji couldn't help but chime in.
"Your tits are seriously tiny."
"You bitch! Look at you resorting to insults because you have nothing to say!"
"It’s okay! I make up for the average!"
As Seo Ye-rin boasted while cupping her breasts from below, Yoo Ah-rin screamed again.
"You fucking bitch!"