Chapter 467: Completion Ceremony
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 467: Completion Ceremony
Crackle, hiss!
— Trainees 29, 172, and 205, who were featured in today’s stories, please report to the administrative office. Report to the administrative office immediately.
The radio broadcast ended.
I sprang to my feet and headed straight for the office. Those whose stories were read on the radio were granted the privilege of a phone call. Having waited for this moment, I didn't waste a single second.
"I'm so jealous!"
"What insane connections!"
"Let's be friends, man!"
"Hyung! Tell her I'm a huge fan!"
"The performance was amazing!"
"It must be crazy expensive to hear that in person, right?"
My bunkmates teased and cheered as I walked out. It seemed they were all hyped up after hearing a celebrity like Choi Jin-ah show off her professional skills.
To be honest, I wondered how many people here actually appreciated classical music, but it seemed a world-class violinist was world-class for a reason.
It definitely had a grand feel to it.
The way a single violin could fill the entire soundscape and feel so rich was a fresh experience.
When I arrived at the administrative office, they let me make my call first. Even the duty officer and the assistant instructors were in high spirits, saying they’d enjoyed the expensive violin performance thanks to me.
Ring...
Ring...
Ring...
After a few rings, someone picked up.
— Hello?
Hearing Choi Jin-ah’s voice for the first time in a while brought an involuntary smile to my face.
"The performance was wonderful."
— Ah...
She must have recognized me immediately, as I heard a soft chuckle on the other end.
— I worked really hard on the composition. I played it for my orchestra conductor, and he actually scolded me, asking why such a piece was being kept private.
"I believe it. It was great to listen to. Everyone around me is thanking me because they loved the performance so much."
— Does that mean I’ve made your military life a bit easier, Woo-jin?
"A little?"
— Ahem!
In reality, everything would reset once I finished training and moved to my assigned unit, but knowing she had helped me seemed to make Choi Jin-ah prouder than anything.
"Actually, I felt bad about not being able to call you last time. I'm glad I got this chance."
During the last call, I’d used up all my time talking to Seo Ye-rin, Choi I-seo, and Yoo Ah-rin. I’d felt guilty toward the others.
"Are you coming to the completion ceremony? If you do, you'll probably have to wear a mask and a hat."
— Ah.
When I asked with a smile, Choi Jin-ah gave a hesitant response. I wondered what was wrong, and she began to explain sheepishly.
Only three of them were coming to the ceremony. Since I needed to spend time with my family and hadn't introduced the other three to them yet, they had decided not to come.
— So, we decided that we’ll be the ones to pick you up when you get your 100-day leave.
"You've already planned out my 100-day leave?"
— Of course. So you better get out here quickly. Yun-ji, Ju-hee Unni, and I are all waiting for you.
"Heh."
Just imagining it was pleasant. Then again, imagining life outside is the most entertaining thing you can do in the military.
"Alright, I understand."
— It’s a promise.
The assistant instructor signaled that my time was almost up. Regretfully, I had to hang up.
"They're telling me time's up. I have to go."
— Goodnight. It was so good to hear your voice.
"Me too."
I’d thought this before, but Choi Jin-ah really had a way with words. Should I call it elegant?
Though she’s definitely not like that when she’s eating.
It was like she had two different personas: Choi Jin-ah the violinist and Choi Jin-ah the food fighter. It felt strangely familiar.
Ah.
As I walked back to the barracks, I realized I already had a girlfriend with two faces.
She’s like Ye-rin.
Of course, she wasn't as extreme as Ye-rin, but the vibe was similar.
In any case.
The completion ceremony was almost here. The time to see the girls was drawing near.
*
"I think my heart is beating too fast."
I smiled at Kim Young-ho’s words as we sat side-by-side on the bus.
"Mine too."
It felt like it happened in the blink of an eye. It was finally the day of the completion ceremony. The long, grueling month was over. Once the ceremony ended, I would be free.
For about six hours, anyway.
That’s so damn short.
It felt unfairly brief, but it was better than nothing. My butt was practically hovering off the seat in anticipation of finally getting out.
"Dude, the angle on your beret is insane today."
"Right? I've been being super careful not to mess it up."
"How's my hair? Does it look too flat?"
"A little? But it's fine. It's not that noticeable."
To anyone else, we probably all looked exactly the same, but we were dead serious. It had been a while since we’d seen our loved ones; we had to look our best.
*
"Yes, Mother. We're already here."
In front of the massive gymnasium where the ceremony was being held, Choi I-seo was on the phone amidst a sea of parked cars and crowds.
"There are so many people. Just tell us where you are, and we'll come to you."
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Scanning."
Choi I-seo gestured for Yoo Ah-rin and Seo Ye-rin to move aside so she could continue her call. The two stepped away and resumed their conversation.
"Scanning for what?"
Seo Ye-rin was bundled up in sunglasses, a mask, and a hat. She lowered her sunglasses slightly and peered around, muttering to herself.
"To see if there's anyone prettier than me. I have to be the prettiest person here so Woo-jini can feel like a king."
"You can't even take your mask off anyway."
"It's the principle of the thing! When Woo-jini sees us, he needs to feel like his girlfriends are the absolute best."
"...And? What are the results of your scan?"
"Tsk. First of all, I'm in a league of my own. But Ah-rin, you might be in a bit of danger—Aaaack! That hurts!"
"Stop talking bullshit. It's obvious there's no woman here who can match me."
Yoo Ah-rin grabbed the back of Seo Ye-rin’s neck and squeezed. Once she loosened her grip, Ye-rin turned to her and asked, "By the way, Ah-rin, did you go to Chan-woo’s ceremony?"
"I did. We've been friends since we were kids, after all. I just said a quick hello."
"Really? I thought you didn't go."
"Didn't you get a call too? Our high school friends all said they were going together."
Since Jeong Chan-woo was such a handsome guy, his female friends from high school had gone to his ceremony. Since Seo Ye-rin went to the same school, Ah-rin assumed she’d been contacted.
"I don't know! I haven't been able to check my phone much lately. I've been so busy with work!"
"Sure."
"More importantly, Ah-rin, I’ve been thinking."
"About what?"
Even behind the mask, Seo Ye-rin’s devious smirk was visible.
"Even if he spends time with his parents, there’s bound to be a little window of time for us, right?"
"...Probably a little?"
To be honest, Ah-rin was looking forward to it too. Even if his parents and brothers were there, surely they’d give him some time with his girlfriends?
"In that window, we have to find a way to do it with Woo-jini."
"Are you insane?"
How were they supposed to do anything with his whole family there? But Seo Ye-rin was dead serious.
"We could go to the restroom! Or we could 'accidentally' spill a drink on him so he has to go take a shower!"
"Knock it off. I know you're in heat because it's been a month, but draw the line."
"...As if you're perfectly fine."
"Sigh, you have to have some self-control. Since I-seo is on the phone, I guess I have to be the one to tell you this."
Yoo Ah-rin shook her head, scratching her scalp.
"Don't think about anything weird. Let's just tell him he did a good job and cheer him up. Got it?"
"Are you saying you won't do it if the chance comes up?!"
"I won't, you crazy bitch. How can we do it with his parents right there?"
Seo Ye-rin puffed out her cheeks and glared, looking pouted. It seemed she was disappointed to find her 'comrade' wasn't on the same page.
Just then, Choi I-seo approached after finishing her call.
"Let's go in. Apparently, the seating is determined by the trainee's number. They said they're already there."
"That was fast."
"Let's go see Woo-jini!"
They squeezed through the crowd to find their seats. The trainees were lined up on the first floor, while the families sat on the second.
Trainee 29, Kim Woo-jin.
After finding where they needed to sit on the second floor, Choi I-seo gave them a warning as they climbed the stairs.
"I heard you're not supposed to acknowledge them until the ceremony is over. So let's wait quietly. Don't go shouting his name or anything."
"So that's why Jeong Chan-woo didn't answer when I called him last time."
The other two nodded and headed up to the second floor. Once they took their seats, they saw Kim Woo-jin among the countless trainees, staring straight ahead with a stoic expression.
"Woojinaaaaaaa!"
"Ugh, you crazy bitch. I knew you'd do this."
Yoo Ah-rin hurriedly tried to stop Seo Ye-rin, who was already waving both hands and making a scene.
"Stop! Stop it, you idiot! Stay still! He's intentionally not looking this way!"
"Ah-rin, do you have any spare panties? I'm already wet."
"Kim Woo-jin’s parents really need to see this. That’s the only way they’ll realize you’re not daughter-in-law material."
"But where are they?"
Choi I-seo tried calling again.
— Hello?
"Yes, Mother. It's I-seo. We've reached our seats, but where are you?"
— Oh, can you see Woo-jin?
Choi I-seo glanced down at Kim Woo-jin. He was clenching his fists tight, clearly struggling to resist the urge to look up after hearing Seo Ye-rin’s voice.
"Yes, I see him."
— Good. Have a great time with Woo-jin.
"...Pardon?"
— Goodness, we’ve been looking at that boy for twenty years. We’re sick of him.
"..."
— So you girls go and cheer him up, okay?
"Ah... yes. Understood."
As Choi I-seo gave a bewildered reply, the other two turned their gaze toward her.
— Hmm.
Mrs. Kim asked with a giggle.
— Doesn't this make me the best mother-in-law ever? Even I think I have great sense.
"Pfft, thank you, Mother."
— Just in case... make sure to use protection.
"...Yes."
— Have a wonderful time!
Click.
The call ended, leaving Choi I-seo with a dazed expression.
"What is it? Where are they?"
"Did they sit in the wrong section?"
"No, it's—"
As I-seo explained the situation, Yoo Ah-rin and Seo Ye-rin instinctively covered their mouths. They were trying to hide the fact that their lips were curling upward.
"Hey, Yoo Ah-rin! You specifically said you wouldn't do it!"
As Seo Ye-rin laughed and shouted, Yoo Ah-rin flipped her off and retorted.
"Shut up! Fuck! I'm going to lick and suck him dry!"
"Hehehe! Me too!"
Watching the two of them humming and getting excited, Choi I-seo let out a sigh.
"Keep your voices down. People will hear you."
"Right, we can't have Woo-jini getting an erection right now."
"Didn't he already get a semi just from hearing us?"
As she watched the two of them cackling, Choi I-seo counted the number of condoms she’d brought in her handbag and thought to herself.
I need to buy more.