The Last Day of Service
Ba-ba-bam-ba-ba, bam-ba-ra-bam-ba-bam-ba-ba, bam-bam-ba.
As always, the unchanging wake-up call signaled the return of my consciousness, and my eyes fluttered open. I sat up in bed and scanned the barracks, only to find the privates, who had been dead to the world, still struggling to wake up.
"Sigh... are these guys trying to get chewed out already? The duty officer is bound to be watching, right?"
Due to the recent "Advanced Barracks" campaign, the trend had shifted toward soldiers of the same rank living together rather than mixing with seniors. It was a stark contrast to my own days as a private, and I found it quite disorienting.
Back when I was a private, it was a given that the youngest in the room would be the one to flip the light switch. And the moment the lights went on, we were supposed to rush to the front of the room to receive orders from the duty NCO. Seeing their current state, it was painfully obvious they were about to get hammered.
I climbed out of bed, changed my clothes, and tossed a word toward the privates still lying in their bunks.
"Hey. Get up. You guys not doing roll call?"
Jump!
The privates scrambled up in unison, spamming the private-exclusive skill, "I'm sorry!" One of them, closest to the door, bolted out of the barracks immediately.
No sooner had he left than I heard the duty NCO tearing into him.
"Hey, you jerk... why are you so slow? You only woke up because the guy leaving the base woke you up, right? Get your head in the game! Tsk... fine. Whatever. It’s indoor roll call today. Dismissed."
"Indoor roll call. Indoor roll call, sir!"
"Go pass it on."
"Yes, sir!"
The private returned to the room to relay the orders.
"This morning's roll call will be held indoors! Dismissed!"
"Good work."
"Yes."
Seeing the private return to his spot with a stiff, sullen face, I finished changing and approached him.
"Hey, kid. Unclench that face. You’re a man, don't be so petty over something like this. It’s obvious you think it’s unfair just because you were a little late waking up. But you’ve got to learn to let some things slide. We lived like this, so it’s just a habit for us. Besides, once you get some seniority, no one will touch you, so just think of this as a time to endure."
"...Yes, sir."
"I’m leaving soon, so I won’t say much, but you guys still have to live together. For another seven months, at least. You’re grown adults, is it really worth being this sour? Take this as a chance to get yelled at and toughen up your mentality. I’ll probably buy you guys something to eat tonight to clear the air. Just try to understand, alright?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Keep it up."
Having finished my talk with the private, I headed to the administrative office and approached the duty NCO sitting in his chair.
"Hey~ Duty! Lend me some shampoo."
"Ugh, you’re leaving soon, why are you so demanding? Just take it from my locker and put it back."
"Okay! Thanks. Wait right here, I’ll show you my discharge certificate before I go. Hehe."
At the mention of waiting, the duty NCO barked back.
"Wait for what, you discharged bastard! Ugh... seriously, why did I join the military so late... ugh."
"Hehe, isn't joining late your own fault? Good luck."
"Ugh... fine, whatever. Good luck!"
The duty NCO, clearly annoyed, turned his head slightly and waved his left hand dismissively.
I headed to the corporal's barracks, where I found a group of them sitting on their beds.
"Yo! Corporal squad, sleep well last night?"
"What the, Sergeant Kim! You haven't left yet? Why are you here?"
"Ah~ just here to borrow some shampoo."
"You came all the way here before morning roll call just to borrow shampoo and rub it in our faces?"
"Nah."
As I was laughing and chatting with the corporal at the entrance, one of the corporals at the end of the room stared at me with a serious expression.
"What? Is there something on my face?"
"Ah, no, it’s not that... um, are you going back to live at the orphanage starting today?"
Startled by the sudden personal question, I looked at the corporal. No sooner had the question left his lips than every other corporal’s gaze shifted toward him.
"Hey, you idiot, why are you asking that?"
"Ugh, what a total screw-up."
"Why! You guys were curious too! Why are you acting like this to me?"
"There’s a time and place for questions, you moron. Ugh, seriously. And this is my peer."
"Hey! Manage your peers!"
"He’s *your* peer, you lunatic! He’s two months behind me!"
The barracks erupted into noise in an instant. I pulled the shampoo from the duty NCO’s locker and continued.
"Well, it’s fine. The director told me to be independent and even helped me find a small studio. I’ll live there and start working part-time. Once I’m out, I’m thinking of studying for the civil service exam."
"Civil service? Yeah, that’s a decent challenge."
"Independent, huh? Hehe, I’ll have to visit sometime! Congrats! Anyway... you’ve become a real 'old man' who’s finished his service, haven't you?"
"You jerks! I’m 22, how am I an old man! Whatever. Come visit sometime. Bring booze. Hehe!"
"Yeah, go wash up. Why are we chatting with a guy who’s leaving? Roll call time... must be almost here."
I guess seniority is seniority... No sooner had he finished speaking than the duty officer began the morning roll call. It was as if my body remembered the flow of time perfectly; it was spot on.
To avoid causing trouble during roll call, I quickly headed to the washroom across from the barracks. After finishing up, I stepped out to find that roll call had ended, and everyone was busy cleaning their assigned areas.
I returned the borrowed shampoo to the locker, went back to my barracks, put on the discharge cap I’d worn yesterday, and headed down to the Command and Control Center where the duty officer was holding my discharge certificate.
— Command and Control Center —
I didn't have to go far before I saw the sign for the Command and Control Center. Recalling the sentiments of all the soldiers before me—that even a sergeant on his last day feels a strange sense of suffocation and discomfort whenever they enter this room—I took a short, deep breath.
I arrived at the door, knocked, opened it, saluted, and stepped inside.
Knock, knock.
"Salute! Sergeant Kim Eodum reporting. I’m here on business at the Command and Control Center."
"..."
The duty officer wasn't there; only a duty administrative soldier was sitting at the desk, working. Since he wasn't from my company, I addressed him casually.
"Hey, buddy. Where’d the duty officer go?"
"Ah, the duty officer? He went to have breakfast."
"Oh, really? Did you happen to hear anything about him needing to hand over a discharge certificate?"
"A discharge certificate? Hmm... ah, one moment."
He opened a drawer, rummaged around for a bit, found the certificate, and handed it to me.
"Wow... congratulations on your discharge. I still have eight months left... I’m so jealous."
"Sigh... to think I spent two years here just to get this piece of paper... anyway, thanks."
"You’re still military personnel until today, so be careful."
"Oh, right, yes, I should be careful. Of course. Well, I’ll be going now..."
"Yes, good work."
Seeing off the guy from the other company, I left the Command and Control Center and headed outside.
Whew~ whew-whew~ whew-whew-whew~
It might not be much to those who have already been discharged, but I was so excited that I was whistling all the way to the guardhouse.
Suddenly, the sound of the military air-raid siren began to blanket the entire base.
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-!
As the siren’s wail echoed in my ears, I couldn't help but feel angry.
"What the hell! Did North Korea pull some crap on my discharge day? Don't tell me they fired artillery?"
I cursed and rushed into the guardhouse. When I opened the door, I saw that the guard had been replaced; the new guard leader was clutching a receiver, desperately trying to make contact with someone.
"Communication security! Communication security! Damn it! Someone pick up! Ah, communication security! Command and Control! Hey, what is this? Yes? What is this siren? What? An air raid? Where? North Korea? Not North Korea? What are you talking about? Where is it hitting? This vicinity? Yes? Prepare for it? Got it!"
Having finished the urgent call, the guard leader opened the window and shouted to the sentries standing guard at the outpost outside.
"Hey! Air-raid warning issued!"
No sooner had he spoken than the senior soldier at the outpost asked back.
"Please say that again! I couldn't hear you!"
Frustrated that the senior soldier hadn't heard him over the siren, the guard leader screamed.
"Air-raid warning issued!"
"Air-raid... what?"
"Just take cover, you idiot!"
"Yes!?"
"'Yes' my ass! Take cover!"
"I’m sorry! Taking cover!"
"Take cover!"
As the senior soldier repeated the order and dove to the ground, I saw the junior soldier quickly follow suit. Watching them, I shouted out the window.
"Hey! It’s an air raid, so don't just look forward, watch the sky! If it looks like something is falling this way, let me know and move!"
"Yes, sir!"
I pulled my gaze from the window and looked at the guard leader.
"Tsk... what is this? Are they testing our crisis response ability with a sudden drill?"
I thought it was just a light mock drill, common in the unit, and showed the guard leader my discharge certificate.
"Hey, I’m heading out, okay?"
"Whoa, discharge certificate! Wait, no... hey, hey, wait a second!"
After showing him the certificate, I turned to head toward the entrance, but the guard leader stopped me. I turned back and answered him.
"What? Hey, hey, hey! I’m not gonna die, I’m not gonna die. Why are you making such a big deal out of this?"
I laughed as if the situation were nothing, but the guard leader, after a brief, light smile, looked at me with a face full of genuine, non-joking worry.
"Uh-oh? You’re saying that? Hehe. Hey, hey. Stop joking. Just wait a bit. I’m not lying, this is a real situation. Something is actually going to hit this area."
Seeing the serious expression on the guard leader’s face, I couldn't believe it.
...
....
I didn't know then... that this would be the end...