After ripping the dress, about a week had passed.
Ding! Ding!
A message arrived from Sims.
-[You rascal!]
-[I’m really glad not everything has been unsealed yet!]
"...?"
Just like when my sexual magnetism and virility were unleashed as soon as I became an adult, was there something more about me I didn't yet know?
'I guess it’s not something to worry about right now.'
There was something more pressing to consider.
I checked and the schedule fits perfectly so I can go straight away But are you really going now? Are you sure? < Yes Okay! Anyway, there's no filming schedule and the schedule is clear, so no problem!
It was about my basic military training. I needed to enter the training camp for about four weeks, so it was essential to enlist during a period when my schedule was completely clear.
'And that time is now.'
Specifically, except for the last shooting of <Shall We Get Married?> next week. I had no other commitments for about two months, making it the perfect time to enlist.
And before enlisting,
I’ll really keep my enlistment a secret
I made sure to ask that no information leak out.
< Don’t worry about that part, I’m keeping a tight lid on it < But wouldn’t it be good if people knew you were fulfilling your military duty?
I just don’t want others to suffer because of me
Knowing how the area around a famous celebrity's enlistment can become paralyzed, I wanted to avoid such disruptions as much as possible.
'It's probably best to keep this low-key.'
After deciding on that, the next Wednesday, Jaerin and I quietly held our wedding at a quiet church.
Just the two of us, aiming for a modest, homey atmosphere.
"Did you two say you were childhood friends? That must be why you seem so close."
"Does it look like we’re really married?"
"Yes? Oh, yes."
"He loves me a lot."
Was all this just an act? Probably. Jaerin stuck close to me during the entire shoot, causing even the staff to give us curious looks.
Was it always like this? It made me wonder. But these were unavoidable things.
'After all, if we’ve come this far, it would be strange if it didn't feel like this.'
There was a married-like vibe, maybe? But the staff didn’t think too deeply about our relationship.
Because,
"It’s good to be close, but... Jaerin’s complexion doesn’t look great. Is she tired?"
"That’s true. Donghu looks great though... it must be the recent schedule."
Jaerin’s stamina had changed.
It felt more like reliance due to exhaustion than just being close.
'I didn’t think we did it that much.'
We did quite a lot, actually. As I mused about this,
"You’ve worked hard! It's going to be a memorable last episode."
"Thank you for making the last episode so beautiful and glamorous. A 20% viewership for We Got Married! That's really great!"
That’s how the filming of <Shall We Get Married?> concluded. As the set was being cleared, Jaerin looked at me with slightly puffed cheeks.
"...Why?"
"Have you seen this before? Your reaction is too bland."
"Huh?"
"Maybe it’s because I wore such a pretty dress this time, the reaction was different from before."
She must be talking about the dress I had ripped.
'I was really shocked when I found out how much it cost later.'
That dress, which I had vowed never to tear again, really suited Jaerin.
Maybe my expectations had been too high. According to Jaerin, I hadn’t shown much reaction at this wedding.
'Probably why there wasn’t any strange misunderstanding.'
It seems my behavior might have made Jaerin feel a bit neglected.
"That’s it, you looked so beautiful that today’s slightly less stunning appearance is a bit off."
"Really?"
"Just kidding."
I slowly pressed my hand against Jaerin’s increasingly puffed cheeks, laughing playfully.
"You were pretty in a different way today, since you had to act for the camera."
I'm usually not good at expressing these things. After explaining that,
"You sometimes seem like a... what's the word, a kind-hearted thug."
"...Thug?"
"Anyway, that’s how it feels."
"I'm going to the military next week, isn’t that being too harsh?"
"What? You’re going to the military?"
"Yes." "Why didn’t you tell me earlier!"
"Hmm?"
Ah, should I have mentioned it sooner?
'I kept quiet to prevent the media from getting wind of it.'
Seeing Jaerin’s reaction, I realized I should probably give a heads up to the people around me.
'It would be good to tell the girls first.'
They’d be shocked if I suddenly went out of contact for about four weeks.
***
After letting the girls around me know about my military enlistment, the reactions were more intense than I anticipated.
-"AAAAAHHH! Kim Donghu! You're going to the military? Are you crazy! How can you leave me!"
"No, it's just a 4-week stint. I'm not going anywhere. People might think I'm being deployed. But, Sujin, are you crying?"
-"Yes, I'm crying! Crying! You bad man! You should have told us!"
I was surprised by the intensity of the responses.
-"Senior, brother! Are you really going to the military?! For two years?!"
"No, 4 weeks. It's nothing much."
-"Still! I’ll write you letters! Can I make you a lunchbox to bring?"
"No need for that. And I probably won’t be able to receive it, I just wanted to let you know."
-"Hehe, senior, you’re so sweet. Okay! See you after it's done!"
"Yep."
Starting with Chisako.
-"Korea has to do that, huh? I didn’t know. Anyway, thanks for letting me know."
"Of course, we keep in touch often."
-"Thank you for taking care. And don’t forget the proposal I made, think about it when you have time."
"You mean the musical thing? Ghost Hood... was it? I’ll think about it seriously."
-"Okay, see you later. If our schedules align, we’ll really have fun then."
Even Evelyn surprised me by reaching out suddenly.
It was just a 4-week basic training, yet the reactions were as if I was leaving for much longer.
Even.
-"Going to the military? That 4-week basic training?"
"Yes."
That led to reconnecting with Yerim after a long while. We had been like no news is good news, but there was no awkwardness despite the time apart.
-"Take care, I'll write letters, like the old days?"
"How do you know so much? Did you look it up?"
-"Yes, I looked it up a lot. I thought I'd be really sad if you went to the military, but I’m relieved it’s only 4 weeks. I cried when you won the gold medal because you didn't have to go then."
"...I didn’t know that." -
"I'm telling you now."
Yerim’s tone had become much calmer than before.
-"Isn't my news reaching Korea yet?"
"Huh?"
-"From your reaction, not yet... I've been really busy."
"I know."
-"Really? Did Seokho tell you?"
"No, I’m a Louis Vuitton muse. Whenever your name comes up, I pay attention."
-"From a muse who never appeared in a fashion show."
Yerim's voice faltered slightly. Maybe she's fitting well into life in France. There was a newfound elegance in her voice.
-"I always think of you, and I miss you. But I know I shouldn't."
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
-"Just wanted to say it. If we keep talking like this, I might soften, worrying I’d weaken."
"..."
-"If you hugged me tight like you used to, it’d be too funny."
"It's not funny, what’s funny about that."
-"Donghu, Kim Donghu."
"Yes? Why, Yerim?"
-"Right, that’s it. You respond when I call your name."
Yerim seemed more affectionate than the Kim Donghu I imagined.
There was a pause before she spoke again.
It was 7 AM in Korea. A cool breeze was blowing despite it being summer.
This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
It must be around midnight in France. Perhaps she was also enjoying a cool breeze.
-"I’m trying to become a cover model for one of the big four Vogues."
"If you do it, you’ll be the first Asian."
-"Right, I want that, I hope for that."
"You can do it."
-"Thanks, your support really gives me strength... hmm."
Yerim went silent for a moment again. A brief pause.
Then she resumed, quicker than before.
-"Donghu."
"Tell me."
-"You haven’t found a manager yet?"
"Manager? For boxing? No, I haven’t. Who else but you?"
-"Right? You didn’t even think about finding someone else after I left?"
"No, it’s still vacant."
-"Even in the future? Even if I’m not doing it, it remains vacant?"
"Yes."
With the Asian Games over, there wouldn't be much boxing for a while. I didn't really need a manager for that anyway.
But Yerim seemed pleased with my response.
-"Then I guess I must go to the Asian Games. I need to take care of my athlete."
She laughed as she spoke.
-"See you then, next summer. In the hot weather, let’s meet passionately."
"You’ve gotten much better at talking, okay, I’ll do that."
-"Then I’ll hang up now, I want to talk more, but then I might never put down the phone."
After a brief goodbye, the call ended. Maybe because it had been over a year since our last conversation.
'There will be many changes when we meet again.'
I had a strong feeling about that.
***
Time flew by quickly, and the day to go for basic military training arrived.
Wiiiiiing.
As my hair was buzzed off.
"Donghu, isn’t that too short?"
"Ah, it has to be this short so I can grow it back nicely in 4 weeks. And if it’s awkwardly long, I’ll just get teased."
I laughed lightly as I saw Seokho looking worriedly.
"Are you that worried about me?"
"It’s not you I’m worried about, but the military. Donghu, you’re famous, and strange things could happen, so just don’t hold back and...."
"...Knock them out and show them why an Olympic boxer is feared? You’ve said that 10 times already."
"Donghu! Really, people from all over the country gather in the military, so there are lots of weirdos!"
I knew somewhat about it from my past life. Maybe that’s why I seemed too unworried to Seokho.
'I know enough, though.'
But it was my first time entering the military as a celebrity, so I was somewhat apprehensive, despite Seokho’s excessive worries.
"...Wow, Kim Donghu, you’re really huge."
"Wouldn’t want to mess with him, look at the calluses on his fists."
"He’s an Olympic gold medalist boxer, not just some actor. Came in because he won gold in the heavyweight."
"Really scary... menacing."
No one approached me.
'Am I that scary?'
It was truly something I couldn't know.