Hyun-Jae woke with the first light filtering through his blinds. The house was quiet. He slipped from his bed and padded softly down the hallway, checking on his sisters and his mother. Yumi and Harin were still half-asleep in their rooms, his mother quietly reading at the kitchen table. His father's absence in the hospital left a quiet heaviness, but at least there was no immediate danger this morning.
He returned to his room and pulled on his jogging clothes, lacing his sneakers quietly. He was about to step outside when he noticed movement in the living room. Harin, rubbing sleep from her eyes, stood by the window.
"Hyun-Jae," she said softly, her small voice carrying more curiosity than sleepiness. "Where are you going?"
He walked over and crouched to her level, resting a hand gently on her forehead. "I'm just going for a jog," he said, his voice calm, trying to ease any worry.
Harin tilted her head, still watching him. "A jog? Really?"
Hyun-Jae smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Yeah. Just to wake up and get some fresh air. Nothing to worry about."
Harin's small eyes were fixed on the floor now, her brows furrowed. "Do you… do you think Father is going to be okay?" she asked quietly.
Hyun-Jae crouched beside her, resting a hand lightly on her shoulder. "He will," he said firmly, trying to keep his voice calm for her sake. "You don't need to worry your pretty little face about it."
Harin's lips pressed together in a pout. "I'm not a little girl anymore."
Hyun-Jae chuckled softly, reaching out to pinch her cheeks. "Sure, sure, your a big brave girl," he teased.
Harin squirmed, frowning and swatting his hands away. "Hyun-Jae! Stop it! Go already!"
"Alright, alright," he said, grinning as he stood. "I'll leave you alone." He gently scooped her up and carried her back to her bed, tucking the blanket around her.
"See? Everything's fine," he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face one last time. Harin huffed, rolling her eyes, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips.
Hyun-Jae gave her a final nod before heading for the door. The morning air was waiting outside, crisp and clear, and he stepped out with his sneakers crunching softly against the pavement, ready to clear his mind and start his jog.
Hyun-Jae's feet hit the ground in a steady rhythm, the cool morning air filling his lungs. His plan was simple, it was to run, clear his mind, and maybe mentally prepare himself to volunteer for the draft sooner rather than later.
Lost in thought, he barely noticed until a light tap on his shoulder made him jump.
"Hyun-Jae?"
He turned to see Soo-Min, jogging lightly beside him, a small smile on her face. Her presence made his chest tighten in that familiar, distracting way.
"You… scared me," he muttered, his face flushing slightly.
Soo-Min chuckled softly, matching his pace. "Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. Mind if I join you?"
Hyun-Jae shook his head quickly, words catching in his throat. "N-no, it's fine. Go ahead."
They ran side by side for a few moments, the only sounds the crunch of their sneakers against the pavement and the occasional rustle of wind through the trees.
Soo-Min glanced at him, curiosity in her eyes. "Do you jog like this every day?"
Hyun-Jae felt heat creep up his neck. "N-no… not really," he admitted, voice low. He avoided her gaze, focusing on the road ahead instead.
Soo-Min nodded, her smile softening. "Okay. I just asked because I usually run this route, that's all."
Hyun-Jae couldn't help but glance at her, and despite the nervous blush coloring his cheeks, he felt a small, fleeting comfort. Talking to her made the morning and the weight of everything waiting for him feel a little less heavy.
They fell into an easy rhythm, their steps keeping pace, though the silence between them was heavy with thought. After a moment, Soo-Min spoke, breaking it.
"What do you think about the draft?" she asked, her tone casual but her eyes searching his.
Hyun-Jae hesitated, swallowing. "I… I don't really know what to think," he admitted, his gaze fixed on the pavement ahead. "I just… I don't like that they announced it so suddenly. It's like they expect people to decide their fate in a day."
Soo-Min let out a small, bitter laugh. "Yeah… me neither. It's basically sacrificing people."
Hyun-Jae exhaled deeply, the morning air harsh in his lungs. "I… yeah, I guess you're right," he said quietly, his agreement weighed down by worry.
A short pause followed, and then she asked, "Has your family decided yet?"
Hyun-Jae glanced at her. "What about yours?"
Soo-Min's smile was faint but determined. "I'm going to volunteer."
Hyun-Jae's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wait—what? Why?"
Soo-Min tilted her head teasingly, a small glint of mischief in her eyes. "You're awfully talkative today, aren't you?"
Hyun-Jae's face flushed, warmth creeping over his ears. "I… I was just asking!" he stammered, unable to meet her gaze.
Soo-Min's grin widened, and she shook her head lightly. "Relax, Hyun-Jae. I just wanted to make sure you weren't spacing out completely."
Hyun-Jae swallowed, cheeks still hot, and turned his focus back to the path ahead, the weight of her words and her presence mingling with the dread of the draft. Running beside her made the world feel just a little lighter but the shadow of what was coming loomed larger than ever.
Soo-Min glanced at him, her pace unchanging, expression serious now. "I want to help people," she said softly, as though explaining something obvious. "Like a doctor would. And… this experience… it would be good for me."
Hyun-Jae's chest tightened. "But… you could die."
She shrugged, a faint smirk playing at her lips. "If it happens, it happens. But if we don't win… our world won't survive in the first place."
Hyun-Jae looked away, silence pressing down for a moment, before she nudged him lightly with her shoulder. "So… poor Hyun-Jae," she teased, "are you worried about me?"
His face flushed crimson. "S-stop asking questions like that!" he stammered, fumbling slightly to keep his stride steady.
Soo-Min laughed, a short, warm sound. "Fine, fine," she said, raising her hands in mock surrender. Then her tone softened again. "What about you? What are you going to do?"
Hyun-Jae hesitated, swallowed, and then said firmly, his voice quiet but steady. "I… I am going."
Soo-Min gave him a long look, eyes unreadable for a moment. Then she nodded, as if acknowledging a silent promise, and the two continued jogging side by side, the morning air heavy with both fear and determination.
Soo-Min glanced at him with a sly smile, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Then… you'll be there to protect me, huh?" she teased, her tone light but pointed.
Hyun-Jae opened his mouth, ready to reply, but she didn't give him a chance.
"My house is this way," she said suddenly, veering off the path. She waved over her shoulder. "Bye, Hyun-Jae!"
Hyun-Jae froze, dumbfounded, blinking after her as she jogged off. The words lingered, teasing and impossible to shake, making his heart pound in a mix of embarrassment and distraction.
He smacked a hand against his own face, exhaling sharply. "Focus, Hyun-Jae. Focus," he muttered under his breath, scolding himself for letting her comment get to him.
With that, he turned back to the path ahead, straightening his posture. The enlistment area was still some distance away, but he kept his pace steady, each step carrying him closer to the decision he had made and the unknown trials waiting for him there.
---
Hyun-Jae finally arrived at the enlistment facility. The moment he stepped inside, the blast of cold AC hit him, sharp but strangely comforting against the warm morning air. He took a deep breath, letting it fill his lungs, then moved toward a nearby water dispenser. He drank slowly, the cool liquid washing away some of the nervous tension coiling in his stomach.
After a brief pause, he made his way to the signup station. The line was short, but the atmosphere was tense with faces set with determination, eyes flickering with worry or fear.
He picked up a clipboard and began filling out the required information, hands slightly trembling. When he finished, he handed it over to the officer sitting at the station.
The officer looked over the form, nodding once before meeting Hyun-Jae's eyes. "Where are your parents?" he asked, voice low, not unkind.
Hyun-Jae swallowed, keeping his tone calm. "I came by myself," he said quietly. "I didn't want to make it harder for them."
The officer nodded slowly, a hint of understanding in his gaze. "Probably a good call," he said. "I've already seen a few people break down in here… parents, siblings, friends. It's not easy."
Hyun-Jae exhaled softly, feeling the weight of his decision pressing heavier now that it was officially underway. He straightened, letting his hands rest on the counter, ready to face whatever came next.
The officer gave him a small, firm nod. "You'll receive your next steps in the coming days," he said, voice steady. "For now… spend as much time as you can with your family. You'll need their support."
Hyun-Jae swallowed hard, the weight of the words settling over him like a stone. "Understood," he said quietly, turning toward the exit.
The walk home felt heavier than usual. Each step carried the knowledge of what he had volunteered for, and the closer he got to the house, the more he dreaded the conversation that awaited him. How could he possibly tell them? How could he explain that he had chosen to face the same danger his father had narrowly escaped.
When he finally reached the front door, he paused, hand on the handle, taking a deep breath. The house was quiet, the morning sun spilling across the floorboards, casting familiar shadows.
He stepped inside and found his family in the living room, the same quiet intensity from yesterday lingering in the air. For a moment, he just stood there, letting the silence stretch between them, knowing he had to find the words but unsure of how to begin.
Hyun-Jae clenched his fists lightly at his sides, forcing his thoughts into focus. He would tell them. Soon. But first… he would have to figure out the best way to do it, without breaking them entirely.
The house felt impossibly still, and in that stillness, he realized that the decision he had made was no longer just his own and that it would ripple through the family, changing everything.
And yet, despite the fear and the weight of it all, he knew he couldn't turn back. Not now.