Chapter 151: Corporal

 

Life in the military has become something I’ve grown used to.

 

Though, to be honest, it’s less about adapting to military life and more about accepting the fact that I’ve enlisted for the second time.

 

I was working on the daily tasks assigned to the support team when the phone rang.

 

Since my junior colleague had gone to handle delivery duties, I picked up the call.

 

“Communications security. Corporal Han-gyeol from the support team speaking.”

 

“Hey, it’s Sergeant Jung Dong-hyuk from the communications squad.”

 

“Jung Dong-hyuk .”

 

“Han-gyeol, did you make corporal?”

 

“Yes, I got promoted last Friday.”

 

“Oh~ So you’re discharging this year?”

 

I couldn’t help but feel a faint twitch under my eye.

 

Well, they say the true beginning of one’s time in the Air Force starts at sergeant, so it’s not entirely wrong.

 

“Unfortunately, I still have over a year left. What’s the reason for your call?”

 

“I need you to approve my leave request. I’ve got to apply for TMO today.”

 

“Understood. I’ll take care of it right away.”

 

“Thanks~ See you later in the supply room.”

 

“Yes, Jung Dong-hyuk .”

 

As I hung up the phone, Master Sergeant Han, who oversees personnel, spoke to me.

 

“Who asked for leave approval?”

 

“Sergeant Jung Dong-hyuk from the communications squad. He needed it approved for his TMO application. I’ll log in and approve it right away.”

 

“Alright. Oh, by the way, when are they giving out the travel allowances? End of June?”

 

“According to Staff Sergeant Lee, it’ll be distributed in early June.”

 

“Got it.”

 

Though I enlisted as a financial soldier, I’m practically doing administrative work.

 

After all, no one would entrust a unit’s finances entirely to a private, so my workload is relatively light.

 

At that moment, my junior, who is the actual administrative soldier, returned from his delivery task.

 

“I’m back. Did I miss any calls?”

 

“Sergeant Jung Dong-hyuk called to ask for leave approval.”

 

“I’ll distribute the packages I just picked up, then take care of the approval myself.”

 

“It’s fine. I’ve already done it. By the way, did any of my packages arrive?”

 

“Did you order a reference book? A heavy one came in.”

 

“Ah, yes. Set it aside for me.”

 

“Understood.”

 

I processed the leave approval mentioned by Sergeant Jung Dong-hyuk while my junior made calls to other departments to notify them of their packages.

 

Once the delivery tasks were wrapped up, it was time for lunch.

 

The officers headed to the cafeteria first, and my junior and I followed soon after.

 

“Corporal Han-gyeol, are you not taking the tax accountant exam this year?”

 

“No, I plan to take it next year.”

 

“But you study every evening, even on weekends. Wouldn’t it be better to attempt it now?”

 

“The registration period has already passed. You should also work on getting some certifications while in the military.”

 

“I’ll try my best.”

 

“What’s for lunch today?”

 

“Oxtail soup with spicy squid salad.”

 

Oh, not bad.

 

“Do you want seconds?”

 

“That was my plan from the start. I’m heading to the base exchange after lunch. Do you need anything?”

 

“No, I’ll come with you.”

 

“Alright, sounds good.”

 

****

 

After the morning and afternoon duties, it was time for physical training.

 

I grabbed the straps I had prepared and headed to the gym, where Sergeant Jung Dong-hyuk greeted me.

 

We’d been working out together in the gym since my private first class days.

 

“What’s the plan for today?”

 

“Today’s back day for me. Aren’t you doing upper body today?”

 

“Yeah. Later, help me out with the bench press. I’m planning to add 5KG plates on each side. If I yell for help, you better save me.”

 

“Do you trust me?”

 

Sergeant Jung’s pupils widened at my joke.

 

“I’ve been treating you so damn well…”

 

“It’s a joke. Are we starting with the bench press right away?”

 

“Of course. Just don’t let me die, okay?”

 

“I won’t let you. Go ahead.”

 

After loading plates onto both sides of the barbell, I helped him through his workout.

 

Around the eighth rep, his arms began to tremble.

 

“Grrr…!”

 

I quickly grabbed the bar with one hand to assist him.

 

“Just push through two more reps. I’ve got you. One… two…”

 

With a clatter, the barbell was racked, and Sergeant Jung Dong-hyuk sat up, breathing heavily.

 

“That’s it. Let’s take off the 5KG plates.”

 

“When I was a private, you said removing weights mid-set was something only weaklings do.”

 

“Sh*t… I have no comeback for that. Are you turning into a total gym rat?”

 

“It’s all thanks to you, Sergeant.”

 

“You’ve rested enough. Get back on the bench.”

 

“This little…!”

 

After Sergeant Jung finished his bench press, he helped me with my workout.

 

I loaded plates onto both sides of the barbell, braced my core, and lifted.

 

“Hoo-!”

 

“Good…! Tighten your back more!”

 

After completing two sets, I lowered the barbell and sat down, but Sergeant Jung brought over two more plates.

 

“You need to load up more weight too.”

 

“Ah… this is already my limit. If I add more, I’m going to black out.”

 

“If that happens, I’ll catch you in the most epic way possible. Now lift.”

 

“I trust you, Sergeant Jung.”

 

“You trust me?”

 

He twisted my words like that. What a sly guy.

 

“Actually, let’s leave the heavier weights for later…”

 

“Okay, fine. I’m joking. Want me to load the plates?”

 

“Thank you.”

 

In the end, I added one more plate to each side and began deadlifts.

 

I managed to lift the barbell but couldn’t reach my usual number of reps.

 

As my strength started to drain and I considered giving up, Sergeant Jung shouted:

 

“Keep going! More! You can do it!”

 

“Grrr…!”

 

“Think of your parents, who raised you! Imagine this weight is their burden and lift it!”

 

This guy is unbelievable…

 

I’m dying here…!

 

“Don’t you want to show your girlfriend those gains?”

 

I do want to show her, but…!

 

“Then lift it!”

 

“Raaah…!”

 

“Good! Just a little more—straighten your legs! Let’s go!”

 

Thinking of my parents and Eun-ha, I mustered the strength to lift the barbell fully.

 

Then I set it down and collapsed onto the floor.

 

“Han-gyeol, that was badass…”

 

“…I thought I was going to die.”

 

“There are still two sets left. Get up!”

 

“It hasn’t even been a minute…”

 

“Get up. Today, I’m wrecking your back.”

 

God, this is so exhausting.

 

****

 

At six o’clock, I returned to the barracks and retrieved my phone.

 

The first thing I always do after turning it on is call Eun-ha.

 

After a few rings, her voice came through the line.

 

-“Hello~”

 

“Hey. Have you eaten yet?”

 

-“Not yet…! I’ve got assignments to finish, so I’ll eat later. Is it okay if we talk from 8:30 to 9:30 today? I’ll be working on my assignment and then eating with my friends in a bit.”

 

“Sure, no problem. Call me then, okay?”

 

-“Yup, I will. See you later~”

 

“Alright~”

 

This is how it always goes with Eun-ha—we decide when to talk, and then I get on with my tasks.

 

I pulled out my tablet and books from my locker and went to study.

 

With the first round of the tax accountant exam coming up next year, I made sure to study a little every day.

 

In the unit, there were others like me preparing for professional certifications, and some were even studying for college entrance exams.

 

I quietly settled in my spot and started studying.

 

I was deep into my lecture when my phone rang—it was Eun-ha.

 

I stepped into the hallway to answer the call.

 

-“Han-gyeol~ I just got home! Were you studying?”

 

“Yeah, I think I’ve finished today’s portion. What about you? How was your day?”

 

-“I wish I had something fun to share, but it’s the same as yesterday. Assignments are killing me. There’s so much more now that I’m in my second year.”

 

“Isn’t the college festival coming up soon?”

 

-“Yeah, I’m helping out here and there. I wish you could come out on leave so we could enjoy it together. It’s such a shame.”

 

“Yeah, unfortunately, it overlaps with my training period, so I can’t take leave.”

 

-“This year’s festival host is the same one from last year!”

 

“Just don’t end up volunteering again and getting dragged to the front!”

 

At my teasing, Eun-ha’s laughter bubbled through the phone.

 

-“Should I go up and declare in front of everyone that I’m dating you?”

 

“Don’t you dare. I want to quietly blend in when I return to campus.”

 

-“Hehe. Got it. Oh—so, how does it feel to be a corporal now? Any changes?”

 

“Not really. The only difference is that I’ve got three stripes on my badge now.”

 

-“I want to see you as Corporal Han-gyeol soon~!”

 

“I’ll be on leave early next month. You can see me then.”

 

These moments, talking to Eun-ha at the end of the hallway, were the highlight of my day.

 

I couldn’t wait to be discharged so I could spend my days with her, enjoying campus life together. But for now, that day seemed far away.

 

-“No! I’m visiting this weekend!”

 

“You came two weeks ago! Isn’t coming so often tiring?”

 

-“No way! Just the thought of going to see you makes me excited. I’m not tired at all, really!”

 

“Thanks for saying that. Are you coming Saturday?”

 

-“Yup! Do you want me to bring anything? I can pack something for you!”

 

“Just you coming is enough.”

 

-“Hehe. Got it!”

 

Even though I couldn’t always be with Eun-ha, I didn’t feel lonely.

 

Every day, she shared her life with me and asked about mine.

 

Even when there wasn’t anything special to talk about, she would listen to my routine like it was the first time hearing it and respond with genuine enthusiasm.

 

And for my sake, Eun-ha always told me every detail of her day, no matter how small.

 

“Eun-ha.”

 

-“Yeah, what is it, Han-gyeol?”

 

I glanced around and lowered my voice.

 

“I love you.”

 

-“Hehe~ Are you sure no one’s around?”

 

“I checked before saying it~”

 

-“I love you too, Han-gyeol. So, so much. My face is totally red right now.”

 

“Now I want to see it. Send me a picture.”

 

-“Okay, wait a sec~”

 

A few moments later, I received a message from Eun-ha.

 

Her bright smile lit up the photo, and her cheeks were just slightly flushed.

 

“You’re beautiful.”

 

-“What?”

 

“I said, you’re so beautiful it’s killing me~”

 

Ah, I really can’t wait to get discharged.

--- The End OF The Chapter --

 

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