"Today seems to be quite a gloomy day"
I muttered to myself looking at the sky from my window.
My name is jin-hun Yun, second son of jin-min Yun and Ha-rin Yun.
my life is simple, too simple, in my opinion.
I have this burning hunger for thrilling experiences,I just want an interesting life,
Some people, average people, would be satisfied with my life, but I'm not!!, not when there could be more.
'Sigh'
College....
It might help....
Nahh, it will barely scratch the itch, and at the end of the day, I'll then land a mundane job, like my elder brother, who's now a doctor.
"God forbid"
I said with mild irritation
The only way left to be able to escape the clutches normality, is to
Join the military!
Like think about it!!!.
They have guns, l like guns
They have martial arts, I like those too
They have missions, they are perfect!.
I just need to talk to my parents.
Later that night at the dinner table
"Dad, I have been thinking for some time now, and, I want to join the military"
I said, my voice calm and measured.
My parents conversations came to an abrupt halt, hearing my words.
My father's usually stern face was occupied by shock for a second before replying
"Did I hear you correctly?"
" Dad!, I want to be a soldier!, I've thought about this for a while now..."
My voice was louder, and filled with desperation.
"Then you haven't thought enough!, you think the military, is like the games you dive into after school?!!, do the military seem like a joke to you!!!?"
My dad was loud but calm with fury.
"Dear, calm down he's just being childish"
My mom chimed in, trying to calm my dad
"I just.... I just want to be different "
Tears of defeat nearly rolled down my eyes.
"Different?, haa, what a pathetic way to try and be different"
My father's words had cut deeper than he realised, as he suddenly continues
"You know what?, it isn't a bad idea!, it will help discipline you!!!, shape you into a better man, make you stop watching those Japanese cartoons"
"But... But, the military is too dangerous..."
My mom's words were filled with fear and uncertainty
"Well he wanted it, and I'm certain he knew of the dangers"
"But..."
"We would finish this later, the food is getting cold"
My father spoke with cold authority, ending the conversation before my mom could say anything.
I silently finished my food.
Helped with the dishes
before going to my room, to start my night gaming session with my best friend Minho.
After many gaming rounds, Minho went to bed, so I continued the night with some anime.
FEW DAYS LATER
My dad later on agreed and had already started the process.
My mother told my brother about what happened, telling him to convince me or my dad otherwise.
One night my brother came to my room.
"Hey there pal"
my brother greeted opening my door
"Hey Jin woo"
I replied, paying him a brief glance before continuing to chat on my phone.
He adjusted his glasses before speaking
"Mom told me about you wanting to become a soldier"
"Yeah,any issue?"
I replied coldly, not even paying a look
"Haa"
He sighed before continuing
"I know we drifted apart as we grew older, but your attitude isn't helping"
"Is that what you wanted to talk about?
I replied, glaring at him coldly, the emotions I had buried long ago were slowly surfacing.
"Well no... Haa...."
He sighed while massaging his temple, before continuing
"Becoming a soldier isn't all that great
Training isn't easy
Surviving isn't easy
Even though you do go far a bit, your life will always be restricted by rules and orders."
"....."
I said nothing, making my brother continue
"So please rethink your decision, at least for mom's sake"
And with that he left.
TWO MONTHS LATER
My graduation came quickly, and was a bit fun.
After my graduation party, my dad threw an after party at our house.
The party served as a celebration for me coming out as a top student despite my nonchalant behaviour, and as my military send off.
Minho and most of my friends?... Nahh the more fitting term, are acquaintances, came to the party.
Stressfully, I had to greet the guests, they were the parents of most of my acquaintances, people from our social circle, and the rest were my dad's and Mom's friends.
After two hours of painful interaction, I decided to retire to my room, Minho followed me so we could play some games.
While we were playing a round of call of duty, Minho started a conversation.
"It's funny seeing us play COD now, and in a two days you would be in the military"
He said with a bittersweet smile on his face.
"You should follow"
I replied, turning to look at him, before focusing back on the game.
"You know I can't, my parents want me to become a lawyer, and have already started preparing"
He replied, his voice bearing sadness in it.
"I know.... I'm going to miss you bro"
I replied facing him, my voice and face shared the same emotion, sadness.
I was about to go a separate path from my best friend, a person I had known for sixteen years.
He wasn't just my best friend, he was my childhood friend, my anime pal, my gaming partner, my rival.
Without him, loneliness would be my companion.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
my avatar was dead.
"Come on bro!, focus!, is this how you want to be acting in the military?"
Minho said loudly with a teasing smile.
'Haa'
I smirked before speaking
"I will be like ghost, I will see!"
We played till Minho's parents finished their discussion with my father.
Two days later
"Honey!!!, come and greet your son farewell"
My dad shouted out to my mom as he stood beside our opened car
"I'm coming!!!, I'm coming!!!"
my mom replied, though she wasn't so happy about my decision, she wished me well.
As soon as mom give an heart felt farewell, we entered back into the car and started our journey.
While on the ride to the camp, my dad started giving me advices, that would help me in the military.
"One, always obey orders, even though it's difficult"
"Two, be smart and strong, intelligence and strength in the military are great"
"Three, make connections, having useful contacts will help you in life"
"And last but not the least, gain the favour of your superiors, without the favour of your superiors in the military, things can be a little tough. But never become their dog!!!, you hear me!?"
"Yes sir"
I replied swiftly.
my father may seem like a harsh person but his really a kind hearted man deep down who loves his family.
On arrival at the barracks, we entered, and I could see a line of young people, assumably the new recruits.
My dad heads into their administrative office to fill in some documents
I was taken to join the assembly with other new recruits.
The drill Sergeant gave a patriotic speech before giving us some basic exercises.
My dad came back after filling in the documents and gave his goodbyes.
Later on I was given a tour around the barrack, after that I was taken to my camp.
And I got to say there's a lot more people here than I imagined.
I was given my uniform and my bed number which was one hundred and seventy two
Due to how mentally stressful the day was, I wanted to retire immediately.
As expected the beds, were bunk beds.
Seeing this bed setting, my choice was obvious, the upper bed was mine.
But to my annoyance, someone was already laying on my upper bed.
"Hello, you're in my spot"
I declared calmly
"How is that, I was here first!"
He replied glancing at me, mildly annoyed.
"My number"
I replied with calm authority.
"Fuck that!, just stay down"
He responded rudely.
"And why would I do that?"
I questioned, a bit pissed.
"Don't be feisty, and just stay down there"
His response was louder and authoritative.
"Fucking piece of shit, did you just call me "feisty"
I replied cursing, but my voice was calm with fury.
"Did this guy just?,looks like you need a beating!"
He declared furiously, as he got up, and jumped down from the bed.
'Beating!?, though i wasn't the best fighter in my school, though I hardly got into fights, I wasn't a weakling, I had learned some martial arts like wing chun and more, for fun, years ago.
"Try, your, best"
I replied, taking a step closer to him, and looking into his eye.
He was a bit taller than me, who was about 6,2, making our standoff interesting.
"Are you guys seriously about to fight on your first day?"
A new guy chimed into our heating standoff
"This doesn't concern you"
I warned the intruder with a cold look.
"This fucker, started it"
My opponent announced to the intruder.
"Haa"
The intruder sighed before continuing
"Fighting on your first day will be very bad, and trust me, the punishment is painful"
His words made me think about the consequences of breaking a rule, and on my first day at that.
Seeing our silence, he continued
"Why don't you resolve your issue in a more.... Diplomatic way?"
His suggestion was acceptable, and my opponent seemed to have agreed with him as well seeing as he nodded in agreement.
"Then I propose we settle with the rock, paper, scissors game"
I proposed.
"Alright"
My opponent responded
And in a collective shout
"Rock!, Paper!!, Scissors!!!"
"...."
I lost.
"Hey what's your name"
I asked the guy stopped our argument.
"me? Oh am Dae-seong Wang"
he replied with a weird ass smile on his face.
"Wait your grandfather is dae-Jung Wang right?
I asked.
"yes it seems you know of me"
he replied with a proud tone
"No I don't know you, I know your grandfather"
I replied
Punk face laughed before then introducing himself as Ho - Gu.
"No one asked for your name"
I said as I gave him an annoyed facial expression.
"Well it looks like a lot of time has passed we should get to bed I think they'll be waking us really early"
Dae-seong said.
"yeah you're right we should probably get to bed, nice to meet you by the way"
I said with a small smile
"same"
Dae-seong replies while walking off to his bed.
I focused on my bed and arranged it with some of my stuff before laying down to sleep.
'Ughh what a day'
I thought to myself before dosing off.
In my dream
A mysterious female like figure walked up to my bed and touched me.
Her form was radiating a blinding golden light, that felt like staring at the Sun up close.
"Your existence spells doom upon us all"
Her voice sounded beautiful, yet had the weight of a divine declaration.
She stood for a few seconds before walking away, her robe of light dragging across the floor as she then disappears completely.
I woke up from my dream, sweating.
"Okay that.....gulp... That was a weird dream, what the fuck?"
I said drenched in sweat, my chest heaving.
I sat upright for a while before going back to sleep.