Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
[2029]
"good morning, mommy."
hana smiles upon seeing hye-joon entering the kitchen and then giving her kiss on the cheeks.
"good morning honey," hana said as she puts a plate in front of hye-joon.
"take your breakfast," hana pushed the toast of bread in front of hye-joon along with some fruits that hana just prepared just now.
"thank you," hye-joon said as he sits on the stool.
"better eat a lot to get energy. did you have a good sleep last night?" hana asked as she walks to the sink.
"yes. i had a full 8-hour sleep last night," hye-joon answered.
hana smiled and nodded, "that's good. everyone will be joining to send you to the gate, okay?"
"everyone?" hye-joon raised his eyebrows.
hana chuckled, "yup. from me to grandpa and your nieces."
"are you sure that's allowed?" hye-joon asked.
"of course. outside the gate is okay," hana told him.
"good morning," johnny entered the kitchen together with cho-reum and dong-won.
"good morning. sit down. breakfast is served," hana said as she wipe her hands.
"don't worry about the plates. i'll get it," johnny said to hana after seeing that she was about to pick up the plates and put them in front of them. hana chuckled and nodded.
"how are you feeling?" johnny asked hye-joon.
hye-joon chuckled softly, "good. i guess."
hana grinned, "you'll be alright. don't worry. this is the time to face everything you fear."
"yeah... i guess," hye-joon replied softly.
hana laughs silently, "hey. don't worry too much. you'll go through ups and downs. but you can still give us a call or a text. don't worry. we're still here. just focus on yourself the whole time there."
"okay..." hye-joon replied.
hana just smiles thinly. who wouldn't be nervous about entering military training? as a mother, hana is worried about her own son going to military training.
if hana is already worried, what more hye-joon who will be the one that is trained?
🤎🤎🤎
while waiting for hana's brother and sister-in-law and niece and nephew, they waited outside the gate. hana's parents were there. also her grandparents who are also, hye-joon's great-grandparents.
all of them came to send hye-joon for military training. there are a lot of families outside the gate just like them. hana has started to feel uneasy and worried about hye-joon entering the military training. other moms have started to cry.
hana just hissed and put on her smile. she didn't want to cry because she would just ruin the moment. she's supposed to be giving strength to hye-joon and not let him feel sad about leaving his family.
"you good?" johnny asked after noticing hana being extra quiet.
hana smiles thinly and nodded, "yeah."
"don't worry about him. he'll be fine," johnny told her as he put his arms around her shoulders.
"i know. i'm just overthinking," hana exhales while looking at hye-joon talking with his siblings.
johnny chuckled while rubbing hana's arm, "he's gonna be alright."
"i know," hana exhales once more.
just then, hana's brother and his family arrived to join the family. all of them were happy that they were able to send hye-joon off to military training.
of course, they had to take photos first before hye-joon has to get inside the military compound.
"it's better for hye-joon to go inside earlier. just in case and to settle down before the roll call," said hana's mother. all of them agreed after hye-joon took photos with his siblings.
"alright then. say our goodbyes. hye-joon will be going inside," said hana's father.
the siblings hugged hye-joon goodbye first and then hana's brother and his family. when it was hana's turn to hug hye-joon, she hugged him tightly and for a long time.
"don't worry about me, mommy. i'm gonna be alright. just alright," hye-joon said, knowing how worried and concern hana.
"i know. i just don't want anything bad to happen to you. speak up if you get bullied inside, okay? make sure you obey all the rules. don't be naughty and break the rules," hana said as she pulled back from their hug.
"i know, mom. don't worry. i remembered everything you said to me last night," hye-joon said, still holding hana's hands. hana smiled and nodded.
"come here, boy," johnny said before pulling hye-joon into a hug.
"you be good in there, okay? i'm sorry i couldn't experience the training like yours," johnny said.
"i'll represent you," hye-joon chuckled, followed by johnny's laughter.
"you go in there in a perfect condition, i expect you to return in a perfect condition too," johnny said.
"yes, sir. i will make sure of that," hye-joon replied while nodding.
"good. i'll take good care of the family. you, focus on your training, and then return home. text us if you need anything. text us when you have holidays, okay?" johnny continued.
"i know. i know. don't worry. i'll get back to you. don't worry, okay?" hye-joon grinned.
comparing to hye-joon, he thinks his parents are more worried than he himself.
of course, sending the eldest son to the military? that wasn't on hana's plan. at least not when hye-joon just turned 18 years old internationally. he thought hye-joon would want to delay his enlistment.
but no. he decided to enlist right after he graduated high school, hana and johnny's wedding, their vacation, and also after they opened their restaurant and cafes. he waited until after he was done with everything he wants to do before enlisting.
as hye-joon walks towards the main gate of the military training compound while carrying his backpack and a few things in his hands, hana watched him with teary eyes.
"don't you dare drop a tear," johnny said softly.
hana turned to johnny before putting her head on his chest, letting her tears out.
"aigoo, hana... he's gonna be alright. he'll come home when there are holidays," hana's mother said.
"i know, i know. i'm just worried. and i'm so proud that he would enlist at an early age..." hana sniffled and turned back to look at hye-joon.
he reached the gate and his id was checked by the military officer at the gate.
after the officer gave a nod, hye-joon turned back to the family and waved once more. all of them waved back before he walks into the compound, no more visible to them.
