Han Yujin Over the Frozen Sky (5)

[Male Celebrity Gallery]

[Title: Hey, Bbatduri is going to parachute jump??]

A military man just posted on the Special Forces Gallery, it seems real lol

Likes: 144

-Who’s Bbatduri??

└Not a gallery regular??

└Bbat (crushed) + Choi Haru (Haru -> Dul -> Duri)

└The comments are too harsh on her;;

└Oh that’s your smell lol

-Looking at it, she’s trying to compete because Queen Yujin is jumping

└For real, they’re the same age and Queen Yu overwhelmingly has higher support from 20s men, so she’s probably having a one-sided competition

-She’s hurriedly jumping with a parachute now that Queen Yu took the 20s men pie from her, ah f*ck this is so funny lololol

└Huh?? She still sells a million copies of her first albums, what 20s men pie did she lose lol Don’t exaggerate too much

└Are you context-blind? I didn’t say she lost everything, but she’s losing it, you crazy Choi fangirl ㅠㅠ

-Now she’s doing parachute viral marketing.. Ugh

└lolololololololol

-Thinking about how she’ll probably fail to jump and come down embarrassed makes me laugh so much

└lololololol

└For real, she definitely can’t jump

└For real, she’s a bird-chested girl who gets startled even by stage fireworks, what parachute lol

-I hope that often-seen failure Mangharu fails

└You anti-fan bastard lol

└There’s no possibility of it being staged considering how big the issue is and how many eyes are watching

└If it was staged with 3000 people gathered, they’d be risking their lives lol Dozens of cameras were rolling too

---

Sunday. The end of filming.

Lilme, who drew the curtains, stretched and said refreshingly:

“It’s clear. Perfect weather for jumping from 300 meters in the sky.”

Peaceful high-pressure weather.

Unlike the clear sky, Choi Haru’s mood was low pressure.

Because she realized she hadn’t stood fire watch last night.

In contrast to her taciturn outward appearance, her inner thoughts poured out like a machine gun:

‘Aaaah! Choi Haru, you fool! I didn’t do fire watch yesterday. Why didn’t Yujin wake me up? No, did she wake me up but I foolishly couldn’t get up? Is that it? That must be it. Then Yujin stood fire watch twice. What should I do. I’m so sorry I want to dig a mouse hole and hide in it.’

Feeling like a criminal, Choi Haru couldn’t raise her face.

With a muffled voice, she carefully broached the subject to Han Yujin, who was folding blankets:

“…Yujin-ah.”

“Yeah.”

“…I’m really sorry.”

“Huh? What are you sorry for?”

Han Yujin’s busy hands suddenly stopped.

“You stood fire watch instead of me…”

“Ah, that.”

Choi Haru raised her head and looked at Han Yujin.

Her face looked overall tired.

There were dark circles deeply carved under her eyes like puddles, and her lips looked drier than usual.

Seeing that appearance, self-blame and regret whipped Choi Haru.

‘Why am I always like this. I end up just being a nuisance until the end.’

She appeared on this show wanting to change her timid and weak personality even a little, but she felt regretful that she hadn’t changed at all until the very end.

Just then,

Han Yujin raised her left hand high.

It looked like she was about to strike her head.

‘That’s right, someone irresponsible like me deserves to be hit!’

Choi Haru closed her eyes tightly in resignation.

What she felt wasn’t pain, but a soft body temperature.

Han Yujin tidied up Choi Haru’s messy hair that was sticking up like a magpie’s nest.

“A magpie built a nest on your head.”

“…Sorry.”

“What are you sorry for? I deliberately didn’t wake you up because I was worried you’d be tired. I knew you had trouble falling asleep, so it didn’t feel right to wake you up again.”

“…But then you become tired!”

Han Yujin, who was touching her slender neck here and there, reacted indifferently:

“It’s okay. I can sleep when I’m dead.”

Looking at Han Yujin smiling warmly, Choi Haru felt relieved like a fetus.

Just then, Cha Jaehee pretended to do an interview, holding her toothbrush like a microphone.

“Yes, we’ll talk with IKiss’s Choi Haru. Choi Haru-ssi. Are you confident about jumping today?”

As befitting an actress with excellent acting skills, her tone and intonation were stable as if she had become a sports announcer.

“Uh, um, ah…”

“Can you jump?”

After deliberating, Choi Haru squeezed out an answer.

“Um, y-yes!”

“Good. I wish you good luck.”

This time, Lilme approached and pressed a small doll into her hand.

“This is my lucky charm from our house treasure. I’ll lend it to you.”

A round devil doll.

The doll with pointed ears and a rebellious smile was cute.

Choi Haru, recognizing it, smiled faintly.

“…Kuromi.”

“That’s right. This is what HaYoo won for me looong ago. If you have this, it will ward off all kinds of bad luck.”

“…Uwa, thank you.”

“Good luck!”

And,

Han Yujin poked Choi Haru’s cheek.

“Haru-ya. Do you know what I did last night?”

“…I don’t know.”

Han Yujin scratched her cheek and opened her mouth after smirking:

“I prayed.”

“Prayed?”

“For you to be able to jump safely.”

Hearing Han Yujin’s words, the corners of Choi Haru’s eyes curved up brightly.

---

Choi Haru took a deep breath.

The tension didn’t decrease even until the moment she had her last meal, put on her helmet, and wore the harness with the parachute attached.

Choi Haru’s lips turned pale purple, to the extent that it wouldn’t be covered even if she applied lip tint.

Seeing that, Han Yujin held out her hand.

“Want to hold hands while riding?”

“…Yeah.”

As if she had been waiting, Choi Haru grabbed her hand eagerly. Holding the warm hand calmed her heart as if she had taken a heart-calming pill.

The jump instructor wearing a blue instructor uniform, called ‘Smurf’ by the trainees because of it, said sternly:

“The instructor never forces you. There’s no need to be arrogant if you jump, and no need to blame yourself if you can’t. Let’s go up comfortably without thinking about the broadcast.”

“Yes, understood!”

The line door closed firmly.

The hot air balloon began to float vertically, leaving the ground.

Cha Jaehee and Lilme waved their hands, seeing them off.

“Jump hard for my share too!”

“Both of you, good luck!”

The hot air balloon went up endlessly.

100 meters,

200 meters,

300 meters.

The further they got from the ground, the faster Choi Haru’s pulse and breathing became.

‘…How high are we going.’

Every time she took a step, the balloon shook. Choi Haru and the camera director, riding for the first time, gripped the railing like a lifeline.

-Stop.

When the control instructor’s voice was heard from the speaker, only then did the hot air balloon come to a stop.

Choi Haru poked her head out slightly and looked down.

It’s high.

Dizzily high.

People looked as small as dots, like dust, near the wide crossroads.

‘…We’re jumping from here? Really?’

Surprised, Choi Haru looked at Han Yujin. Her expression was calm and relaxed.

‘Am I the only one scared? How can a person be like that? Are people who live in the world of competition originally this strong-willed?’

The fear given by the dizzying height.

Overwhelmed by the momentum, Choi Haru’s legs shook aimlessly against her will.

“Haru-ya.”

Han Yujin’s voice dug into her ear.

“…Y-yeah?”

“Don’t just look down.”

“…I don’t know where to look.”

“Look straight ahead.”

Choi Haru’s gaze moved following Han Yujin’s outstretched finger, smiling.

“…Wow.”

Choi Haru couldn’t close her mouth at the different world unfolding before her eyes.

Choi Haru’s eyes busily gathered the scenery like picking up fallen fruit.

The world seen from above was brilliant.

The figure of the blue mountains was relaxed, and the river reflected by sunlight shone silver. And in between, winter birds were dancing, undulating as they flew.

A wide-open view that was dazzling.

A landscape painting on a single canvas.

It was a quite beautiful ecstasy.

“Shall we take a deep breath together?”

“…Yeah.”

Choi Haru slowly inhaled.

Clean air without a speck of fine dust filled her lungs.

“Look over there.”

Choi Haru’s gaze followed the direction Han Yujin was pointing.

Surprisingly, Lotte Tower in Jamsil was faintly visible.

“That’s my nest.”

“…I-I see.”

“I have a tight grip on the Seokchon Lake area, you know? By the way, Choi Haru anti-fans are banned from entering, so come visit sometime later. I’ll treat you to the full course.”

Han Yujin smiled like a child. It was a smile more reassuring than any words.

‘…I wonder what the Jamsil full course is?’

Before she knew it, curiosity had taken the place of tension in Choi Haru’s heart.

“Now, who will jump first?”

The Smurf instructor asked.

Then Choi Haru raised her hand.

“Candidate Number 2 Choi Haru!”

“Good. Check parachute clasp!”

“Parachute clasp checked!”

As the Smurf instructor opened the line door, Choi Haru stood on the threshold.

A chilly wind gently touched Choi Haru’s toes and passed by.

One step.

The fact that it was empty air with just one step made Choi Haru’s ankles freeze.

The broadcast control voice was heard again from the speaker.

-…Standby, standby.

At that moment.

Han Yujin spoke softly from behind.

“Haru-ya.”

“Yeah.”

5 seconds.

“Even if you’re scared, just look ahead and jump.”

“Yeah.”

4 seconds.

“At some point, you’ll be flying.”

“Yeah.”

3 seconds.

“Haru-ya.”

“Yeah.”

2 seconds.

“You’re a really strong child.”

“…”

1 second.

Her anxious breathing stopped.

-Action!

“Candidate Number 2! Descend!”

“Descend!”

And,

Choi Haru threw herself like a bird.

Well done, Haru-ya.

I clenched my fist watching Choi Haru flying with her parachute open.

To be honest…

I thought she wouldn’t be able to jump.

I thought she wouldn’t make it far.

What if the parachute doesn’t open properly, such anxious thoughts can drive a person crazy and make them jump.

They say you can’t become a superstar in your right mind.

You’re a superstar indeed, Choi Haru.

Seeing her flapping her wings and flying away after opening the cage door makes me feel deeply moved.

I looked at the camera and said mischievously:

“HaYoo-style gaslighting, great success!”

The camera director, seeming relieved of tension too, giggled at my comment.

Well then, now it’s my turn.

I was going to throw a fit saying I can’t do it either if Choi Haru couldn’t jump, but now there’s no need for that.

-Standby, standby.

This ends the filming of “I Am a Soldier” too.

I’ve sown the seeds diligently, so I just need to harvest later.

By the way…

I’m really a pervert.

They say workaholics like me who keep flapping their wings are called ‘birds without feet’.

When will I be able to stop flapping and rest too?

-Action!

“Candidate Number 1! Descend!”

…Ah, damn.

Let’s think about this later.

I jumped right away too. Like a bird.

“Ten thousand, twenty thousand, thirty thousand, forty thousand! Spread check!”

The parachute opened wide like flower petals.

The sunlight tickled my hair and the wind cut my cheeks.

This moment that felt like a flash somehow felt cozy.

After finishing all the discharge ceremony procedures.

We exchanged final greetings with Kang Dahee and the instructors with whom we had shared love and hate while bumping into each other.

I don’t know if we grew attached during the short time of one week, but everyone except me was sniffling and crying.

…What’s with this atmosphere?

I feel like I should cry too.

The instructor nicknamed Wildcat because his eyes resemble a lynx offered a handshake.

“You’ve worked hard all this time.”

I clasped his hand and responded:

“Arrowroot Instructor, you’ve worked hard too.”

The Wildcat instructor narrowed his eyes.

“…It’s not Arrowroot but Lynx!”

“Arrowroot.”

“Lynx!”

I made a “tsk” sound.

“Hey! You’re talking back to a non-commissioned officer who’s like the sky? Do I still look like a candidate to you?”

“…”

The Wildcat instructor became mute as if he’d eaten honey.

As I thought, it’s not Lynx but Arrowroot.

This time, Platoon Leader Kang Dahee hugged everyone and said goodbye.

She stopped in front of me and opened her mouth:

“Personally, the platoon leader is most worried about you. You’re the most similar to me and it seems you have a long way to go.”

Oh. I really do have a long way to go.

It’s so unnecessarily long it’s maddening.

Kang Dahee gently stroked my shoulder.

“Finish it to the end. Stubbornly like a rhinoceros horn.”

“Yes.”

“Even if you fall, you can get up again.”

“I understand.”

“Don’t forget there are always people supporting you.”

“…Thank you.”

Wow, this is driving me crazy.

Am I perhaps going through menopause?

I was trying to cry through acting but…

I really feel like I’m going to cry for real.

Even when I watch sad movies, not a single tear comes out, but now something hot is rising in my eyes.

Lastly, Instructor Choi Jungseop stood in front of me and offered a handshake.

“Candidate Number 1.”

“Yes…”

Choi Jungseop. My middle school senior.

…Who used to be.

In this life, Choi Jungseop said he doesn’t know me. That was quite a shock. I still can’t believe it.

My mood became gloomy from the sense of loss that the countless memories we shared had disappeared.

My boyhood is really over.

I really can’t go back.

Thinking that,

“You’ve worked hard all this time.”

“Yes, good w…”

My emotions welled up.

“Speak properly.”

“Good work…”

My throat choked up.

“Finish your words.”

“Sniff, good work, si…”

Tears were rising.

“Stop crying.”

“…Ah, really, damn!”

I shook my body and threw a tantrum mixed with irritation.

“Don’t glare.”

“…Hmph.”

Choi Jungseop smiled widely, showing his gums as if his reins were loosened.

Is this funny? Is this funny?

Not understanding people’s feelings!

Choi Jungseop slowly opened his mouth.

“Ah, and contact me sometimes.”

“…Pardon?”

For a moment, I doubted my ears.

“Isn’t a middle school senior still a senior? From now on, send greetings to the band club president at least during holidays.”

“Did I hear that wrong?”

“I’m sorry for deceiving you. Actually, the squad leader remembers Candidate Han Yujin well.”

…Huh?

Bewilderment and relief.

Those emotions fused and created a new emotion.

It was anger.

Y-y-you…!

“Choi Jungseop, you son of a bitch!”

I kicked Choi Jungseop’s ankle with my military boot.

“…Waaah!”

Choi Jungseop grabbed his ankle and whimpered.

“Hey, hey. Yujin-ah. You hit the bone! Wait a moment!”

I kicked the injured area once more.

Choi Jungseop’s scream echoed.

It was a pleasant sound.

Before entering the house.

I opened the mailbox.

There was a letter sealed with sealing wax.

It was a party invitation.

[To Han Yujin.]

[You are invited to a private party.]

[12.24 PM 19:00]

…What’s this?

Looking at the back, the party host was someone I know well.

It was the Guild Master.