Ch.189After Tearing the Dress

After tearing the dress.

About a week later.

Ding! Ding!

I received a message from Sims.

-[You playboy!]

-[I’m so glad you haven’t unsealed everything yet!]

“…?”

Just like how my sexual appeal and masculinity were unsealed as soon as I became an adult.

Is there something else I don’t know about yet?

‘Well, that’s not something to worry about right now.’

There was something more important.

>I checked and the schedule works perfectly, so we can go right away

>But are you really going now? Are you okay?

<Yes

>Okay! Anyway, there’s no filming schedule, and my schedule is fine, so no problem!

It was about my basic military training schedule.

Since I needed to enter the training center for about 4 weeks.

I needed to enter when I had no schedules.

‘And that’s now.’

To be precise, except for the final filming of “Will You Marry Me?” next week.

I had absolutely no schedule for about two months.

It was the perfect time to enlist.

Oh, and before enlisting.

>I’ll really keep my enlistment a secret

I didn’t forget to ask that the information wouldn’t leak.

<Don’t worry about that, I’m keeping it under tight control

<But wouldn’t it be good if people knew you’re fulfilling your military duty?

>I don’t want anyone to suffer because of me

I knew very well how paralyzed an area becomes when news breaks that a famous celebrity is enlisting.

I wanted to avoid that as much as possible.

‘It’s better to… keep a low profile on this.’

After coming to that conclusion, the following Wednesday.

Jaerin and I had a small wedding at a quiet church.

Just the two of us.

It was staged to create a simple and homely atmosphere.

“Oh my… You said you two were childhood friends? You look so close.”

“Really? Do we look like a real couple?”

“What? Oh, yes, yes.”

“My darling loves me so much.”

This must all be acting too, right? Right?

Jaerin stuck close to me throughout the filming.

Even the staff were giving us strange looks.

To the point where I wondered if she was always like this.

But this part couldn’t be helped.

‘Since we matched our bellies… it would be stranger if this atmosphere didn’t come out.’

It was like we had a strangely couple-like atmosphere.

But the staff couldn’t think deeply about this relationship.

Because.

“It’s good that they get along well… but Jaerin’s complexion looks much worse than usual. Is she tired?”

“Yeah. Donghu looks really healthy… I think it’s probably because of her recent schedule issues.”

Because Jaerin’s stamina was different from before.

Rather than looking like we’d grown closer.

It looked like she was leaning on me because she was exhausted.

‘I didn’t think we did that much.’

I guess we did do it a lot.

While I was muttering to myself.

“Good work everyone! This will truly be an unforgettable final episode.”

“Thank you for making the finale beautiful and spectacular. Breaking 20% viewership for ‘Will You Marry Me?’ I’m so happy!”

The filming of “Will You Marry Me?” came to an end.

As the filming site was being cleaned up.

Jaerin stared at me with slightly puffy cheeks.

“…What?”

“Have you seen this before? Your reaction is too bland.”

“Huh?”

“Since I’m wearing such a pretty dress, your reaction to the bride’s entrance was different from before.”

The pretty dress she’s referring to is probably the one I tore up.

‘I was really shocked when I heard the price after tearing it up in anger.’

That dress that made me vow never to tear clothes again.

It really suited Jaerin well.

Maybe that raised my expectations too much.

As Jaerin said, I didn’t have much of a reaction at this wedding.

‘Actually, that’s probably why I didn’t get any strange misunderstandings.’

I guess that part made Jaerin feel disappointed.

“Yeah, I saw you looking too pretty before, so today’s less pretty appearance is a bit…”

“What… really?”

“No, I’m kidding.”

Poooooh.

As I slowly pressed my palm against Jaerin’s increasingly puffy cheeks.

I laughed playfully.

“You looked pretty in a different way today, I was just acting because we were filming.”

I’m not good at expressing myself like that originally.

After explaining.

“Honey is sometimes like… how should I put it, like a sweet thug.”

“…A thug?”

“Anyway, you’re like that.”

“I’m going to the military next week, aren’t you being too cold?”

“What? You’re going to the military?”

“Yeah.”

“Why are you only telling me now!”

“Hmm?”

Ah, was this something I should have mentioned earlier?

‘I was trying to keep it quiet to prevent it from leaking to reporters.’

Seeing Jaerin’s reaction.

I realized I should at least tell the people close to me.

‘I should tell the girls first, right?’

They might be surprised if I suddenly disappear for 4 weeks.

+++++

After contacting the girls around me about going to the military.

-Waaaaaaaaah! Kim Donghu! You’re going to the military? Are you crazy! How can you leave me!

“No, I’m just going for 4 weeks. I’m not going anywhere. Someone might think I’m being deployed overseas. But Sujin, are you crying?”

-Yes, I’m crying! I’m crying, you jerk! You should have told me!

I was quite surprised by the more intense reaction than I expected.

-Senior, oppa! Are you really going to the military?! For 2 years?!

“No, 4 weeks. It’s not a big deal.”

-Still! Even so! I’ll write you letters! Can I make you a lunchbox to take with you?

“No, there’s no need. And you probably won’t be able to give it to me even if you come. I just wanted to let you know.”

-Hehe, senior is so thoughtful. Okay! See you when you’re done!

“Yeah.”

Starting with Chisako.

-I didn’t know Korea had such requirements, I really didn’t. Anyway, thanks for letting me know.

“Of course, we contact each other often.”

-Thanks for being considerate. And don’t forget my proposal, you have plenty of time to think about it.

“You mean doing a musical together? The phantom hood… was it? I’ll think about it seriously.”

-Okay, see you later. If our schedules match, let’s really have fun then.

Even Evelyn.

I was really surprised by the sudden contact.

It’s not like I’m going for a long time, just 4 weeks, but this reaction.

Even.

-You’re going to the military? That thing? 4 weeks of basic training?

“Yeah.”

Thanks to that, I got in touch with Yerim after a long time.

We had been living as if no news was good news.

But even though it had been a while since we last contacted each other, there was no awkwardness at all.

-Take care, I’ll write you letters. Can I send them through someone?

“How do you know so much? Did you look it up?”

-Yeah, I looked it up a lot. I thought I’d be really sad if you went to the military, but I was relieved it’s only 4 weeks. I cried when you won the gold medal. That was because you wouldn’t have to go to the military.

“…I didn’t know that.”

-I just told you now.

Time certainly does change people.

Yerim’s tone was very calm, unlike before.

-Have you heard any news about me in Korea yet?

“Huh?”

-Judging by your reaction, not yet… I’m working really hard.

“I know.”

-Really? Did Seokho oppa tell you?

“No, I’m a Louis Vuitton muse. Whenever your name comes up, I listen carefully.”

-You mean the muse who’s never appeared in a fashion show.

Yerim’s voice dropped a little there.

Does life in France suit her well?

There was an inexplicable elegance in her voice.

-I always think of you, and miss you. But I know I shouldn’t.

“What are you suddenly saying?”

-Just, I wanted to say it. I’m afraid I’ll become numb, because I know I’ll weaken if I contact you like this.

“….”

-If I think about how I wish you would hold me tight like you did then while talking like this, it’s too funny.

“It’s not funny, what’s funny about that.”

-Donghu, Kim Donghu.

“Yeah? What is it, Yerim?”

-Yes, that’s right. You call my name when I call yours.

You’re much more affectionate than the Kim Donghu I created in my imagination.

Yerim said that and then was silent for a while.

It’s 7 AM in Korea now.

A time when cool breezes blow even in summer.

It must be around midnight in France.

Maybe she’s feeling the same cool breeze, I thought.

-I’m going to try to be on the cover of the four major Vogue magazines.

“If you do it, you’ll be the first Asian.”

-Right, I want that, I hope for that.

“You can do it.”

-Thank you, your encouragement gives me special strength… hmm.

After that, Yerim went silent again for a moment.

A brief silence.

Then again.

Faster than before.

Yerim continued speaking.

-Donghu.

“Yeah, tell me.”

-You still haven’t found a manager, right?

“Manager? Boxing manager? No, I haven’t. Who else would do it besides you?”

-Really? You didn’t even think about looking for someone after I disappeared?

“Yeah, the position is vacant.”

-In the future too? Even if I don’t do it, it’s vacant?

“That’s right.”

Since I won’t have any boxing to do for a while after the Asian Games.

Actually, I didn’t even need a manager position in the first place.

But Yerim seemed to like that answer.

-Then I can’t let that happen, I’ll have to come for the Asian Games. I need to take care of my athlete.

She said that and let out a laugh.

-See you then, next summer. In the hot weather, let’s meet passionately.

“Your way with words has improved a lot, alright. I will.”

-I’ll hang up now, I want to talk more. But if I do, I feel like I’ll never be able to put down the phone.

After a brief farewell, the call abruptly ended.

Maybe it’s because it was a call after a little over a year.

‘There will be a lot of changes when we meet again.’

I had a strong feeling about that.

+++++++

Time passed quickly, and the day came for me to go for basic military training.

Whirrrrrrr.

My hair was cleanly shaved off.

“Donghu, isn’t that cut too short?”

“Nah, this much is necessary so it can grow back nicely in 4 weeks. And if I go with hair that’s awkwardly long, I’ll just get cursed at.”

I smiled at Seokho hyung who was looking at me anxiously.

“Are you that worried about me?”

“It’s not that I’m worried about you, I’m worried about the military. Donghu, you’re very famous, so a lot of weird things will happen to you, so don’t just endure it….”

“…You mean I should knock them out with a punch to the jaw to show them why an Olympic boxer is scary? This is the tenth time you’ve said this.”

“Donghu! The military really brings together all kinds of people from across the country, so there are a lot of weird ones!”

“Okay, okay.”

I knew roughly what it was like since I had completed military service in my past life.

Maybe because of that.

I must have looked too carefree in Seokho hyung’s eyes.

‘I know as much as I need to.’

But since it was my first time going to the military as a celebrity.

I enlisted with some degree of concern.

Contrary to Seokho hyung’s extreme worry.

“…Wow, Kim Donghu is really huge.”

“I’d die if I mess with him, look at those calluses on his fists.”

“He’s an Olympic gold medalist boxer. He didn’t become an actor first, he got in after winning a heavyweight gold medal.”

“He’s really scary… intimidating.”

No one approached me.

‘Am I that scary?’

It was really hard to tell.