Ire packed his new training uniform and military uniform, slung his pack, and headed to the assigned barracks. Unlike when he was a trainee, a strange tension hung in the air. After a few days of leave, Ire returned to the unit, but the gazes directed at him were noticeably different.
Before, people other than Park Mu-jin looked at him with curiosity, but now they openly sent gazes mixed with hostility and disgust. Ire knew it was because of the incident on graduation day, even without anyone telling him.
While walking down the hallway, someone tapped him on the shoulder. Ire turned around and Seo Young-jun grinned. His skin was glowing and radiant, showing how well he had eaten and rested for the past few days. Seo Young-jun scanned him from head to toe and clicked his tongue.
“Your face is just… totally wrecked since I last saw you.”
Because he was joking so openly, Ire couldn’t help but chuckle.
“How’s your dad doing?”
At the cautious question, Ire nodded silently. To be honest, he wasn’t doing well. His inflammation levels had dropped and he was much more stable, but he had seizures frequently and was almost unconscious. Still, Ire was grateful to Seo Young-jun for talking to him as usual.
“Oh, what room are you in?”
“108.”
As soon as he heard that, Seo Young-jun’s face crumpled. When Ire asked him why, he cursed instead of answering. A moment later, Ire understood why. Park Woo-jin, Park Mu-jin’s brother, was standing in front of the door. Fucking hell. Ire almost cursed out loud himself. As he sighed quietly, Seo Young-jun tapped him on the shoulder.
“Good luck.”
Then he disappeared into room 107 as if fleeing. Ire tried to pass Park Woo-jin, who was blocking the entrance, but he moved to the side and blocked his way. When Ire moved to the other side, he repeated the same action. Ire raised his head and looked him straight in the eye.
“Is there a problem?”
“Huh, a problem? You little shit. Don’t you know how to greet a superior?”
Ire was about to salute, but Park Woo-jin was one step ahead. He grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into the barracks, and the door slammed shut. He threw him down without mercy, and he rolled across the floor. Stunned by the sudden violence, Ire glared at him, and he put his hands in his pockets and grinned.
“Look at this little shit’s eyes. Who taught you to act like that? Huh?”
Then he immediately kicked him. Ire quickly dodged, and Park Woo-jin loosened his hands, making a chilling cracking sound.
“You dodged? You dodged?”
“I heard that assault in the unit is subject to disciplinary action.”
“This isn’t assault, you fucking bastard. It’s education. Isn’t that right, guys?”
Park Woo-jin looked at the other soldiers in the barracks and asked, and they all seemed to agree. Park Woo-jin swaggered up to Ire and kicked him in the shin this time. Ugh, as Ire bent over, he immediately slapped him across the cheek. It was called a slap, but it was as powerful as a punch. He had fought with Park Mu-jin before, but compared to Park Woo-jin’s handiwork, it was child’s play. They were brothers and similar in height, but Park Woo-jin’s strength was overwhelming. Ire raised his head and glared at him, and Park Woo-jin smirked.
“What did you say at the graduation ceremony? That under any circumstances, the chain of command must be protected like life itself.”
Ire gritted his teeth and lowered his eyes. Only then was Park Woo-jin satisfied, and he tapped Ire’s reddened cheek.
“Be good. Huh? No one here welcomes you. Your father’s actions at the graduation ceremony fucked up the team atmosphere. Don’t try to act tough and get beaten up, just lie low. I’m a man who uses his fists before his words. Disciplinary action? Go ahead and report me if you want. You have Kim Ha-yoon’s backing, don’t you? Beg to have your barracks changed. I won’t stop you.”
After ranting for a while, he pushed Ire aside and returned to his spot. Ire packed his gear and went to his assigned space. There were six beds in total, and the inside was a mix of Non-commissioned officers and regular soldiers, and the atmosphere itself was completely different from when they were trainees.
There was one other new guy besides him, but they had only seen each other’s faces during training and had never spoken. After unpacking and organizing his locker, he went to the attached bathroom in the barracks and looked in the mirror. His left cheek was bright red.
Ire washed his face with cold water and thoroughly soaked his hair before taking a deep breath. He was already struggling with Matteo’s situation, and this unexpected incident only made things worse. After standing still for a while, he stepped outside and saw that the barracks were nearly empty—only he and one of his classmates remained.
“Where did everyone go…?”
“They told everyone except the new guys to gather.”
Ire gave a small nod and returned to his spot, quietly organizing his belongings. As he did, the classmate called out to him. There was a moment of hesitation as the other boy bit his lip.
“I’m sorry, but unless it’s important, I’d rather you not talk to me.”
“…”
“I’m just… conscious of what others might think…”
Ire offered a faint smile as the boy stumbled over his words.
“I understand what you mean. I will.”
Silence fell over the barracks. Ire wasn’t particularly disappointed, he understood where the other was coming from. Instead of letting it get to him, he chose to endure and earn recognition here. If he did, the misunderstandings would clear up. By then, Matteo would wake up too. The hope that things could return to how they used to be, that they could be happy again, was enough to keep him going.
***
Ire was eating when Seo Young-jun got his food and sat next to him. He called Oh Nam-gi over, but Oh gestured apologetically and slipped into his team. Watching him grovel next to his superior, Seo Young-jun muttered that he was a traitor.
“You go eat somewhere else too. It’s okay.”
At that, Seo Young-jun smacked Ire on the back of the head. Ire frowned. Seo moved a pile of meat from his tray onto Ire’s. Ire looked at the mountain of meat and let out a disbelieving laugh.
“Eat well. You need to be full to endure the harassment. Fucking hell, what bad luck. It had to be Park Mu-jin’s brother.”
As Ire silently shoveled rice into his mouth, Seo Young-jun gave him a worried warning.
“You can’t fight like you used to. Fighting between trainees and insubordination are completely different. You’ll be kicked out immediately.”
“Don’t worry. That won’t happen.”
Because that’s exactly what that bastard wanted—to get him kicked out and sent back to District B. Besides, even if he wanted to go back, he couldn’t. Not with Matteo. Kim Ha-yoon hadn’t said it directly, but Ire knew the hospital bills were astronomical. All of it was coming out of Kim Ha-yoon’s pocket. So Ire thought he should do as he was told.
After finishing the meal, he ran into Park Mu-jin on the way back to the barracks. As Park smiled strangely, Ire understood why his brother was so eager to get his hands on him. Ire was about to walk past but suddenly remembered that day.
He turned back and called out to Park Mu-jin, who stepped closer.
“Why? Got something to say?”
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
“Let’s talk here.”
“Somewhere else.”
Ire gestured for him to follow and led him to the AV room. After closing the door in the empty room, he asked the question he hadn’t been able to before.
“You told me that day my dad didn’t have surgery.”
Park Mu-jin frowned. “Me?” His clueless expression stunned Ire.
Is this bastard already senile at his age?
“You said your relative went into surgery that day.”
But the answer was unexpected.
“You believed that? Idiot. I lied to lure you out and gang up on you.”
Watching Park Mu-jin laugh with his head thrown back, uvula visible, Ire felt murderous intent rise. This bastard. He’d agonized over those words… suspected and blamed Kim Ha-yoon… over and over again. As he glared in silence, Park gave him a pitying look.
“That’s not what you should be worrying about right now.”
“……”
“My brother’s treating you well, right? He’s my brother, but his personality’s really fucked up.”
“……”
“Try to endure it.”
With a chuckle, Park Mu-jin left, opening the door. Alone, Ire cursed, then sat on a desk and sighed in relief. Still, it was a relief. Kim Ha-yoon hadn’t lied to him.