Ga Eun sent Myung Hwan to go to the army.
All the positive energy Ki Jun tried to build in her by cracking jokes and taking her around Seoul's shopping centres when she had the time vanished the day before Myung Hwan's departure to the army. She helped to prepare his suitcase, like she always had every time he went abroad for family vacations.
But this time it was different. He would leave for a long time. She would think of him everyday, every time. But would he even remember her?
"I prefer if you put only a few clothes and put more food inside my suitcase," he commented.
"Ne?"
"Yeah. I'm not afraid to work hard in the army, but I'm afraid I'll miss the food here. Could you just put in kimchi and other food there?"
"But—where will you keep it there?"
"Oh," he realised with a dejected face. "You're right. Oh dear, I think I need to accept it. I mean, other guys can, why can't I, right?"
"I—if you really want it, just request the food that you want and I'll send it to you. I think you are allowed to receive food from your family."
He was reading his emails on his desk and turned to Ga Eun hearing that, "Bring me food? You'd do that?"
I'd do anything for you.
But her answer was, "Of course Doryeonnim, you only need to ask and I'll ask the chef to make it. And I'll send it to you."
"I won't disturb you like that. It's crazy to think that I could call you anytime, ask you to bring me food and you'll just come to any barrack that I will be stationed at."
"I would, Doryeonnim. I really would."
His hands halted on his keyboard, and he looked at her as if she had said something incorrigible. She was kneeling near his bed, placing neatly folded shirts one after the other. But at that moment, she looked straight at him.
It's her tone that made him frowned. She sounded so full of emotion, like he had never heard from her before, except after her father died. But this time she sounded different. She sounded terribly sad. And strangely, she also sounded as if she was saying something important. Something important in her heart. As if she was begging for something.
He sensed that the moment was rare, that it's one of those irreplaceable moments when people spill their secrets. She looked so broken he was on the verge of saying everything would be alright when she continued with, "I will do it, Doryeonnim. At least let me do that. I won't be able to take care of you for the next two years. If you'll allow me to bring you food, at least I will know that you are alright."
He turned his chair and faced her. She rarely looked straight into his eyes. But she was definitely doing that that afternoon. He did not understand why it robbed him of the ability of speech, but he definitely had no idea what to say. Though he had a distinct feeling that he must say something.
"Thank you," he managed to say. "I'll trouble you by begging for food from time to time then."
"It's me who is grateful, Doryeonnim."
And with that, she finished packing his things in silence, before wishing him a good sleep and bowing low.
******************************************
His parents had hugged him and wished him well for his military duty. They wanted to come to the place where he would enlist, but obligations and appointments prevented them from doing so.
"I hope you will learn a lot, Myung Hwan-ah. The army taught me a lot."
"I hope so, Abeoji,"
Kim Ae Mi was already crying as she hugged her only son.
"Take care of yourself, my Son. Ommoni loves you so much."
"Aigoo, Ommoni. Ahrasseo. I'll call you when I can, okay?"
"Do you promise?"
"Neeee."
And so he went out of his house.
Ga Eun sat beside him in the car, wondering how on earth she'd survive the ride without crying in front of him. Yes, she would escort him to the gate of his station. It's the request of his parents.
"We would be at peace if you could send him there. Afterwards, please tell us all about it."
She had answered her consent dutifully. The truth was, even if they didn't ask her to, she'd ask for it.
Myung Hwan sighed as they left the gate.
"I won't be seeing this house for a long time."
When neither the driver nor Ga Eun responded, he added, "Well, but I know it will still stand waiting for me when I come back."
She looked out the window, but he could hear her sobbing. It surprised him, so he touched her hand, "What is this? Kim Ga Eun? Are you crying?"
"Ta—take care of yourself there Doryeonnim...."
"Oh, Ga Eun....come on, stop it. Don't cry. I'm going to be okay."
"I—know. I mean I—hope so. But—I don't know. I'm used to see you everyday."
"I'm used to see you everyday too."
She started to cry, trying not to make a sound but failing. Myung Hwan looked at her sadness in amazement.
Maybe she does see me like a brother, to make her cry like this.
"You will be alright, right, Ga Eun? You'll start university in no time and I'm sure you'll do very well there. What did you want to study, International Relations, right?"
"Y—yes," she wiped her tears, "You re-member, Doryeonnim?"
"Yeah. You told me that when you just began high school, right? I'm praying that you'll do really well. Do your best, Ga Eun-ah."
"So do you, Doryeonnim. I wish you—good health. Always. I hope you won't get any dangerous task."
"But where's the fun in that? I wish to enroll in the air force actually. I hope I'll get lucky."
"What? No! That's dangerous!"
"If I'm being careful, I'm sure I'll be alright!"
"Please don't try to enroll there, Doryeonnim!"
"But I want to," he said softly, but with finality. "I will be careful."
She was terrified. But she knew when he made up his mind, there's no way anyone would change it.
They arrived and he left the car. She followed and bowed low to him, but he moved forward and hugged her. "Take care, Kim Ga Eun. I wish you all the best."
Her heart squeezed so tight she couldn't say anything anymore.
He let her go and patted the driver's shoulder, who had been with the family for years and had seen him grow up.
And he went inside the station, waving at them for one last time.
At the drive back, Ga Eun cried and cried, sobbing so hard the driver felt terribly worried. He offered the box of tissue and she immediately used it to dab her eyes.
"We're all going to miss him, Kim Ga Eun-ssi."
You have no idea how much I'm going to miss him.
"Ne, Ahjussi. You can't be more right."
Her tears ran down, washed her face and filled her throat.
When they got home, she continued to cry in her room. The house would feel so empty without him.
At one point she stopped, and what's left was praying. Praying for his well being. Praying for his health. Praying for his safety. Praying that he wouldn't forget her.
*****
Author's Note:
And it's time for Myung Hwan to go to the army. Ga Eun will live 2 years without him.