Chapter 147: Private (1)

 

Today, the sky mirrored the emotions of the new recruits, as rain poured steadily down.  

 

Due to the rain, the enlistment ceremony was held in the auditorium, which was packed with recruits and their families. Drill instructors in their signature red hats moved around the hall.  

 

Meanwhile, Han-gyeol was putting on his usual expression, perhaps to keep me from worrying.  

 

Even though his heart must be uneasy, he tried hard to smile. Seeing that made me feel both grateful and guilty.  

 

Since it was his enlistment day, I wished he would be a little clingier to me, but Han-gyeol remained his composed self, as always.  

 

From the car ride with Han-gyeol's parents, to the meal we shared, and finally to entering the auditorium, I couldn't take my eyes off him.  

 

I wanted to capture as much of him as I could and stay as close to him as possible.  

 

I longed for a deep, intimate moment with him, but I couldn't risk doing that in front of his parents...  

 

“Eun-ha~ You're going to wear out Han-Han-gyeol's face!”  

 

His mother, seated to his right, looked at me and teased.  

 

“Ah—! I-I'm so sorry! I didn’t realize—!”  

 

“No need to apologize~ It’s nice to see. Look at him all you want while you still can~”  

 

“T-then I won’t hold back...! I’ll keep looking—!”  

 

When I responded boldly, his parents chuckled warmly, clearly amused.  

 

“Our son is lucky~ Having such a lovely girlfriend.”  

 

His mother playfully directed her comment toward Han-gyeol.  

 

Smiling brightly at her teasing, Han-gyeol replied,  

 

“Yes, I’m incredibly lucky.”  

 

“You’re due for enlistment in about 30 minutes. You’ve double-checked everything, right? Do one more check to be sure.”  

 

“Just a second...”  

 

At his mother’s prompting, Han-gyeol began re-checking the bag he’d brought.  

 

“I’ve got my ID, my original certifications, my phone... Oh no. I think I left my charger in the car. Dad, could I get the car keys?”  

 

“Good thing I asked. There’s still about 30 minutes left until the ceremony, so go grab it quickly. You remember where we parked, right?”  

 

“Yep, I remember. I’ll go with Eun-ha.”  

 

“Geez~ Didn’t I tell you to double-check before we got out of the car?”  

 

“I guess I was too distracted because it’s enlistment day. I’ll be right back. Eun-ha, let’s go.”  

 

“Ah—! Yes, yes! We’ll be back soon.”  

 

“Alright~”  

 

Taking my hand, Han-gyeol led me outside the auditorium.  

 

It was surprising—he had never forgotten something important before.  

 

“Han-gyeol, this is the first time I’ve seen you forget something like this...”  

 

“I didn’t actually forget anything. Look.”  

 

He opened his bag and showed me. The charger was right there.  

 

“Huh? It’s here?! The charger’s here?!”  

 

“Let’s just stay in the car for a bit.”  

 

“Han-gyeol, you...!”  

 

I stared at him, realizing I’d been completely fooled.  

 

Smiling mischievously, he opened the car door.  

 

“At most, we’ve got seven or eight minutes. This might be the only time we get to talk alone.”  

 

“You’re unbelievable...!”  

 

Though I had been duped, I couldn’t stop my lips from curling into a smile.  

 

The idea of even a brief moment alone with him made me happy.  

 

“What’s unbelievable?”  

 

“Well done~”  

 

I grinned and got into the car.  

 

The moment we were inside, Han-gyeol clasped my hand tightly.  

 

“I wanted to hold your hand all morning, but I couldn’t with my parents around.”  

 

“Hehe... I was holding back too...! Are you okay, though? It’s your enlistment day—it must be tough for you...”  

 

“I couldn’t show my parents how sad I felt. But yeah, I’m a little down.”  

 

“Today, you’re allowed to lean on me, you know...”  

 

“I’m already leaning on you right now.”  

 

He gently fiddled with my hand.  

 

“Eun-ha, your hand is so warm.”  

 

I also began playing with his hand, gazing at him softly.  

 

“There’s not much time left, so lean on me all you want!”  

 

“This right here—this is me leaning on you~”  

 

“You must’ve been tired, hiding your feelings all morning.”  

 

“I wasn’t hiding them~ Looking at you made me smile too much to feel down. But honestly, you staring at me so much made me a little embarrassed.”  

 

“I just wanted to look at your handsome face as much as possible~”  

 

“What’s handsome about me after shaving my head~”  

 

“You look incredibly handsome! Makes me want to kiss you.”  

 

Han-gyeol smiled warmly at my words and planted a kiss on my forehead.  

 

"Someone might see us...!"  

 

"The windows are tinted. No one can see in. I checked earlier when we got in."  

 

"What?! You’re so sly, Han-gyeol!"  

 

"This much is okay before I enlist, right?"  

 

Without hesitation, I leaned in and covered his lips with mine.  

 

Sure, talking was nice, but we could do that over the phone on the weekends.  

 

Right now, stealing a deep kiss was far more worthwhile!  

 

I smiled blissfully as we continued kissing.  

 

It felt a bit scandalous to do this in his parents’ car, but at this moment...  

 

I just wanted to kiss him a little longer.  

 

After a brief but intense kiss, we pulled back and gazed at each other.  

 

“Eun-ha? I wasn’t expecting a kiss, you know.”  

 

“Han-gyeol, how much time do we have left?!”  

 

“There’s still a bit of time before the ceremony, but we should head back to my parents within 5 minutes.”  

 

“Then accounting for the run back, we’ve got about 3 minutes and 30 seconds left.”  

 

“Sounds about right...”  

 

Every second felt precious.  

 

Even as we talked, time was ticking away.  

 

“Han-gyeol, I love you.”  

 

“I love you too.”  

 

“Then let’s kiss more! There’s no time! Let’s hurry!”  

 

My bold declaration made the corners of his lips lift into a smile.  

 

“You’re the reason I’m alive, Eun-ha. Come here.”  

 

“Yes!”  

 

He gently cupped my face and kissed me again.  

 

I silently prayed for the next three minutes to stretch on forever.  

 

Kissing him... felt so perfect.  

 

***  

 

After sharing a short but passionate kiss, we returned to the auditorium.  

 

Thankfully, we weren’t late, and his parents didn’t suspect a thing.  

 

I was a little nervous we might get caught, but everything seemed fine.  

 

Time moved forward, and the inevitable moment of separation drew closer.  

 

Through the auditorium speakers, an announcement came, signaling that the time to say goodbye had arrived.  

 

- "In a moment, recruits and their family members will be separated. Before that, recruits, please take a moment to thank and express your love to your families for the care and support they’ve given you over the past 20 years."

 

“It’s time to go, it seems. Mom, Dad, thank you for raising me.”  

 

“Yes~ Thank you for growing up so well.”  

 

“I love you both.”  

 

As the time to part drew near, Han-gyeol first said his goodbyes to his parents.  

 

“And Eun-ha. Thank you for being with me. I love you.”  

 

“I love you too. Don’t worry about anything—I’ll wait for you.”  

 

“Alright~”  

 

- "Recruits, please check that you have your ID and essential items. Electronic devices such as phones and chargers, valuables, cash, unauthorized medications, and tobacco products are not allowed. Any such items should be entrusted to your family. Additionally, we will be using raincoats instead of umbrellas, so please hand over any umbrellas as well."  

 

“I’ll do my best and return safely. Don’t worry too much, and take care on your way back. Eun-ha, make sure to call my parents once you get home. Tell Eunwoo Hyung and Hyun-joo Noona that I said thank you and to take care of my parents for me.”  

 

His words, accompanied by a smile, made it hard to hold back my tears.  

 

It was really happening now…  

 

I wanted to send him off with a smile, but I couldn’t find the words.  

 

Afraid my voice would crack and tears would spill, I simply nodded.  

 

- "It is now time to separate recruits from their families. Recruits, please gather in the center of the auditorium."

 

Han-gyeol slowly stood up from his seat, and his parents and I followed suit.  

 

“I’ll be going now. I’ll call on the weekend.”  

 

“Alright…! Take care, my son…!”  

 

His mother’s eyes turned red with unshed tears.  

 

Han-gyeol hugged her tightly, then shared an embrace with his father.  

 

“I’ll be back.”  

 

“Go safely. Stay healthy.”  

 

Finally, he turned to me.  

 

“Eun-ha, I’m heading out.”  

 

“Yes…! Be careful…! Come back safely…!”  

 

As soon as I spoke, tears began streaming down my face.  

 

“Don’t be too sad~ I’ll call you on the weekend.”  

 

Han-gyeol wiped away my tears and pulled me into a gentle hug.  

 

As his warmth enveloped me and his hand patted my back, the tears I’d been holding back burst forth uncontrollably.  

 

I clenched my teeth to suppress the sobs, but it was no use.  

 

“I love you…”  

 

“I love you too…! I really do…!”  

 

After our embrace, he smiled at me one last time before descending the steps of the auditorium.  

 

“I’ll be back!”  

 

“Alright… Go safely!”  

 

“Yes! Eun-ha, see you when I get back!”  

 

“Yes…! I’ll be waiting…!”  

 

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him as he walked away.  

 

Even as he found his place among the other recruits, he kept glancing back at me and his parents, his smile never wavering.  

 

I waved at him nonstop, smiling back as best I could.  

 

When all the recruits had gathered in the center of the auditorium, the enlistment ceremony began in earnest.  

 

High-ranking officials entered, the pledge of allegiance to the national flag was made, a moment of silence followed, and then came the welcoming address, introductions of the instructors, and a family encouragement speech.  

 

Finally, the ceremony reached its last stage.  

 

- "Recruits, when the host commands, salute the guests and your families with a loud cry of ‘Victory!’ as part of your farewell gesture."  

 

As the host spoke, Han-gyeol’s gaze, which had been fixed forward, shifted back to me.  

 

- "I will now give the command. Recruits, salute your families, friends, and distinguished guests!"  

 

- "Victory!"  

 

The powerful cry of “Victory!” resonated throughout the auditorium, followed by a round of applause.  

 

- "At ease! This concludes the enlistment ceremony. Families and friends, please exit the auditorium through the stairs and main doors. Training officers will guide you safely out to the corridor."  

 

The crowd in the auditorium began to disperse.  

 

Even as people shuffled out, Han-gyeol’s eyes remained on me.  

 

With a soft smile, he mouthed the words to me.  

 

“I’ll be back.”  

 

It felt unbearably lonely. But for the sake of the future I wanted with him, I knew I could wait.  

 

I smiled as brightly as I could and mouthed my reply.  

 

“I love you.”  

 

I couldn’t be certain he caught my message, but I hoped he did.  

 

And with that, Han-gyeol began his journey in the military.  

--- The End OF The Chapter --

 

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