My Girlfriend Is Very Good to Me

TL/Editor: looloo

Status: ongoing

Illustrations: posted in discord

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After week zero, boot camp's first week began in earnest.

With basic examinations complete and those leaving for unavoidable reasons gone, we were now truly recruits.

Early this week, however, we focused on non-training activities, much like last week. We applied for savings accounts, received mental training, wrote internet letters, and mailed our civilian clothes home.

We also received miscellaneous supplies, had officer interviews, and could get letters from family and friends.

Among my fellow recruits, I received an abundance of letters. One from Heena and Sarang, plus others from family, friends, and the cafe noonas.

Moreover:

< While you're away, I'll stay strong too. I'll take good care of Sarang and work hard, so you won't worry. >

< Please come back healthy. That's what matters most. I'll end here. I love you, Yeonho. >

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Raei Translations

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< ─I miss you, Daddy! Come back soon! Don't you miss Sarang too? >

< Sarang's been studying hard to write you a letter. I'm teaching her correct spelling, but left her part uncorrected.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Cute, isn't it? >

Heena sent me two letters. One on my enlistment day, another with Sarang early last week.

Heena's elegant handwriting and Sarang's endearingly crooked letters brought a smile to my face even at night. Exchanging letters like this occasionally might be fun in the future too.

After all that, real training began. Physical fitness tests, gas mask drills, and military formations.

Nothing was particularly difficult, but the summer heat was brutal. We sometimes trained indoors, but they usually pushed us outside whenever possible.

Still, it was fun in its own way. Mostly thanks to Yu Jun.

"Yeonho hyung... my head won't fit in the gas mask..."

"Seriously?"

"What's wrong? They said head size doesn't matter for gas masks."

"Wait. Loosen the neck strap before putting it on, idiot!"

"Ah!"

"Oh, for fuck's sake."

Yu Jun, being quite chubby, struggled with everything from morning runs to gas masks, formations, and fitness tests. But his determination helped him keep up somehow.

The drill instructor seemed to appreciate his earnest efforts. I often found myself grinning as I watched him during training.

As days passed, each felt incredibly long, yet the week seemed short. When it ended, I thought, "Already?"

Now that the PX was open, we could wash down the shitty boot camp food with snacks. We also bonded with fellow recruits over Mafia games. The first week quickly flew by.

Over 10 days had passed since entering boot camp. Like clockwork, it was time for another family call.

Being the second time, I spoke more calmly than last week.

[ Honey, you've worked hard~ Less than a week left now, right? ]

"Yeah. It's come to this already. We'll be together next weekend."

[ Already? Each day feels like a year! ]

"No, I just meant... Where's Sarang?"

[ She's listening beside me. Sarang~ ]

[ Sarang's here! Five more sleeps until Daddy comes? ]

"After Sarang sleeps five more times, Daddy will come to hug you~"

[ Sarang will hug Daddy tight too! ]

This marked our fifth phone call. From week zero to week four. With discharge next Friday, this was our last call from boot camp.

In retrospect, it passed in the blink of an eye. Five weeks that felt both fleeting and eternal were coming to an end.

I'd grown close with other recruits too, making it bittersweet, but nothing compared to the joy of seeing my family again.

"I have to go now. Heena, are you coming Friday?"

[ Of course. I've already requested time off. ]

[ Sarang too! I'll come see Daddy! ]

"Then I'll see you then. Travel safely. I'm going now~"

[ You take care too! Love you~ ]

[ Daddy, I love you! ]

"I love you too~"

After the final call, I returned to the room. Yu Jun was already back, munching on snacks.

"Welcome back~"

"Call go well today?"

"Yeah. You?"

"Me too."

I sat beside him, leaning against the locker. Soon, I wouldn't have to fold my blanket and underwear here every morning.

Feeling sentimental, I reached for some snacks.

"This hyung really loves snacks, huh."

"Thanks to you, I'm leaving well-fed."

"I did feed you a lot. Guess I'll have to treat you to a meal later?"

"I'll buy. But wasn't your base in Busan? Close to home, right?"

"Sweet as honey~"

"Free lodging if I visit?"

"No conscience... If you visit, I'll clear out a room."

Yu Jun's family runs a pension in Busan. He says it's more like a guest house. Not too pricey, apparently.

I wondered why a Busan resident came to Nonsan for boot camp, but you can't argue when the country calls. At least he seemed lucky to be stationed close to home.

"Forget the pension. When I visit Busan with my family, we might as well see you too."

"Ah, come on. Visit once. I can lend you a room if it's not peak season."

"If I come, it'll be with family. How can you give it for free? Wait for me to boost your sales."

"Come on, I can manage a day or two. Aren't you my soulmate who was going to carry my pack?"

"The drill instructor ended up carrying it. Did you give him a snack?"

"Tried to at lunch, but he cursed me out, asking if I thought he was young enough to eat this shit."

We burst out laughing. Only days since the march, yet it was already becoming a memory.

Maybe because it's the final stretch, but the drill instructors have been much more lenient lately. So recruits like Yu Jun occasionally approached them directly.

"Anyway, don't ghost me later. They say even if we exchange numbers here, we lose touch. But if we do, I'll hunt you down for my snack money."

"Don't worry. I was planning to take Sarang to Busan anyway."

"Ah, so jealous... Wish I had a daughter like that..."

"Absolutely impossible."

"Fuck."

Lazily chatting on our bunks on a sunny weekend, the end felt near.

My first and last boot camp experience was drawing to a close.

Author's Note:

Yeonho's boot camp story concludes next chapter!

I tried to keep it brief, but it still ran longer than expected.

I mistakenly wrote the boot camp period as thirty days initially, but corrected it to forty...

As an Air Force veteran, I wasn't sure... I thought Army was 5 weeks, but apparently the first week is week zero. What's up with that? Did we do that too? It's too long ago!

And Sarang's doll... I want one too. I'd love to hug it while sleeping!!

Thank you always for reading with enjoyment! Love you all!