Chapter 3

At Seok-woo's home, Chae-Yoon found herself surrounded by her closest friends, gathered on the terrace for a long-overdue reunion.

As they settled into their seats, a maid arrived with refreshments, efficiently serving each of them before discreetly withdrawing, granting the group privacy.

"It's been too long since we've all been together like this. How have you been, girls?" Chae-Yoon initiated the conversation, lifting her cup from the table.

Gyeong-Eun responded first, her demeanor reflecting a sense of monotony. "Not much has changed, just the same old routine day in and day out," she remarked, crossing her legs and arms.

Turning to Yu-Mi and Na-Yeon, Chae-Yoon inquired about their lives.

Yu-Mi spoke up next, her voice gentle yet carrying a hint of exhaustion. "My days are filled with the usual tasks, especially now that I'm married. There's always something to do around the house, keeping me occupied," she explained before taking a sip of her drink.

Listening intently, Chae-Yoon couldn't help but notice the subtle differences in their experiences.

However, when it was Na-Yeon's turn to share, her response took Chae-Yoon by surprise.

"Both of you seem to have found your paths, but I can't help feeling lost," Na-Yeon admitted, her voice tinged with melancholy as she rested her chin on her hand.

Chae-Yoon leaned forward, her concern evident. "But you have your business, Na-Yeon. That's something to be proud of," she reminded her friend, hoping to uplift her spirits.

Na-Yeon sighed, her gaze drifting momentarily. "I know, but sometimes it feels like it's not enough," she confessed, her words heavy with uncertainty.

"How about you, Chae-Yoon? How's life treating you?" Gyeong-Eun inquired, her eyes filled with genuine interest, mirrored by Yu-Mi and Na-Yeon.

Chae-Yoon took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding, her gaze drifting to the cup in her hands.

"It's been... good," she began, her voice tinged with a hint of hesitation. "I'm fortunate to have a loving husband who takes care of me," she admitted, her words sincere yet tinged with a hint of longing.

Her friends waited patiently, sensing there was more to her story.

"But..." Chae-Yoon trailed off, her expression pained as she continued, "My relationship with my son is... complicated." She paused, struggling to find the right words to convey her feelings.

"I've tried to reach out to him, to show him that I want to be there for him as his mother," she explained, her voice faltering slightly. "I've cooked for him, done chores, anything to earn his acceptance," she confessed, her gaze dropping to the cup, her reflection mirroring her inner turmoil.

"But before I could truly make progress, he enlisted himself early for mandatory military service," she continued her voice barely above a whisper. "In that moment, he called me 'mom,' but... I can't help but wonder if it was just a fleeting gesture," she admitted, her heart heavy with uncertainty.

"I've tried to visit him whenever he's had free time, but he refuses any visits," Chae-Yoon confided, her voice heavy with sorrow. "Even during vacations, he never takes them. Our interactions are limited to phone calls. I don't even know what he looks like now," she admitted, her heartache palpable.

Seok-woo's refusal to accept visitors was a bitter pill for Chae-Yoon and Sung-Hee to swallow. Little did they know, his actions were driven by a desire to accumulate Interest Points, to get some Rolls.

Unbeknownst to Chae-Yoon, Seok-woo had unwittingly become somewhat of a legend among his peers and superiors. His steadfast dedication to duty, at the expense of personal connections, had elevated him to celebrity status within the military community. But the toll it took on Chae-Yoon was a consequence he hadn't fully grasped.

As her friends listened, their expressions filled with empathy, Chae-Yoon couldn't shake the fear that her efforts would ultimately be in vain.

Her friends exchanged glances, their hearts aching for Chae-Yoon's pain. While they couldn't fully understand her situation, Yu-Mi reached out, offering a small gesture of comfort, knowing all too well the challenges of motherhood.

Na-Yeon attempted to steer the conversation in a lighter direction. "You know, we've been to your house so many times, but we've never actually seen your son. Do you happen to have a picture of him?"

Chae-Yoon turned to Na-Yeon, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, which she hastily brushed away.

Pulling out her phone, Chae-Yoon scrolled through her photo gallery, realizing that there weren't many pictures of Seok-woo saved there.

After a moment of searching, she finally found one—the very first picture they had taken together in the house, capturing the moment when Chae-Yoon first set foot in her new home.

"Here, this is what he looks like," Chae-Yoon said softly, turning her phone screen towards her friends, displaying the image of Seok-woo.

The trio leaned in closer, studying Seok-woo's features intently. "He looks cute," Na-Yeon thought to herself, a mischievous idea forming in her mind as she envisioned teasing him upon his return.

Gyeong-Eun's reaction was more subdued as she glanced at the image, quickly retreating to her seat without much of a response.

"Chae-Yoon, you have a handsome son. I'm quite envious," Yu-Mi remarked teasingly, adding a light-hearted tone to the conversation.

After sharing the photo, Chae-Yoon tucked her phone away, ensuring it wouldn't interrupt their time together by switching it to silent mode. She hadn't realized the simple act would have such an impact on her life.

As the conversation among friends flowed, topics shifted every few minutes, reflecting the camaraderie and closeness they shared.

Little did Chae-Yoon know that muting her phone would mark the beginning of a new chapter in her life.

Meanwhile, Seok-Woo stood at the gate where he had first entered, today marking his discharge from military service.

Examining himself, he couldn't help but marvel at the transformation he had undergone. His appearance is now vastly different from the photo Chae-Yoon had shared with her friends.

Dressed in a thick jacket to ward off the cold weather, Seok-Woo concealed the muscular physique he had developed during his service.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped outside, relishing the freedom that came with completing his military duty.

As his fellow teammates bid their farewells and departed, Seok-Woo acknowledged their parting gestures with gratitude, waving back at them.

"Thank you all for your support and for helping me earn those Interest Points to gain Rolls," he silently acknowledged, reflecting on the camaraderie and shared experiences that had shaped his journey.

As his teammates departed, Seok-Woo accessed the system in his mind, eager to assess his current standings.

"Interest Points: 2.5/10"

"Available Rolls: 2"

Disappointment washed over him as he observed the dwindling number of Interest Points. It seemed that in the final months of his service, the rate at which he garnered Interest Points had slowed considerably.

"Have they lost interest in me because they've seen me for too long?" he mused, briefly entertaining the idea before dismissing it. Ultimately, it didn't matter anymore now that he was discharged.

With a shrug, he shifted his focus to the future. "Well, I'll be starting college in a few weeks. There will be plenty of opportunities to interact with new people, especially females," he reasoned optimistically. The prospect of college reignited his hope for acquiring the Rolls he desired.

Afterward, he redirected his focus to his Applied Modifiers, eager to review them once more.

"Applied Modifiers:

Acting Skills[+1],

Cooking Skills[+1],

Strength[+2],

Fingering Skills[+1],

PP Length[+1]."

"Quite an array, I must say," Seok-Woo remarked, still perplexed by his acquisitions from the Gachapon machine.

He recalled how he had obtained another Strength[+1] from the Gachapon machine previously. Upon applying it, the modifiers seamlessly integrated, augmenting his Strength to [+2].

Reflecting on the other enhancements, he marveled at the unexpected bonuses bestowed upon him.

The PP Length[+1] had indeed extended his member, a minor but welcome augmentation. A few extra centimeters couldn't hurt, he thought wryly.

As for the Fingering Skills, he hadn't yet had the opportunity to utilize them, given his circumstances during military service. It seemed this particular skill would require the presence of a partner to fully explore its potential.

As for the other items he received from the Gachapon, some were rather odd—a variety of condoms, instant cup noodles, and even a dildo, of all things.

However, amidst these peculiar prizes, the most common acquisition was money, currently totaling 1 million KRW in his inventory.

Seok-Woo couldn't help but ponder what eccentric surprises the Gachapon machine would produce next. Standing at the gates, he patiently waited for someone to arrive.

Minutes ticked by, eventually stretching into half an hour, then a full hour. Seok-Woo glanced at his wristwatch, perplexed by the absence of the person supposed to pick him up.

"Why isn't she here yet? Didn't I specify the time for her to fetch me?" Unbeknownst to him, Chae-Yoon had forgotten that today marked Seok-Woo's discharge from the military, engrossed in conversation with her friends.

Lost in their chatter, Chae-Yoon failed to notice her phone lighting up with Seok-Woo's repeated calls.

After several unsuccessful attempts to reach her, Seok-Woo sighed in resignation. "Forget it, I'll just hail a taxi and head home myself."

Seok-Woo waited patiently by the roadside, scanning the passing taxis until one approached. With a swift wave, he signaled for it to halt.

As the taxi pulled over, Seok-Woo wasted no time. He deftly opened the trunk, stashing his bags filled with belongings inside. Settling into the back seat, he gave the driver his address, and they set off towards his home.

Leaning against the window, Seok-Woo's gaze drifted outside, lost in thought as the scenery passed by in a blur.

Midway through the journey, his phone suddenly rang, jolting him from his reverie. Glancing at the caller ID, he was taken aback to see Sung-Hee's name flashing on the screen. He accepted the call, curious about her unexpected contact.

"Seok-Woo, word has it you're finally discharged from military service. Where are you right now?" Sung-Hee's voice crackled through the phone, filled with a mix of curiosity and frustration.

"I'm on my way home, in a taxi. Why do you ask?" Seok-Woo replied, intrigued by her sudden interest.

"I'm heading straight to your place. Get ready, because I'm going to give you a piece of my mind!" Sung-Hee's tone was laced with anger, her threat unmistakable.

Seok-Woo couldn't help but chuckle at her fiery response. "Ah, so that's the plan, huh? Can't say I'm surprised. You've always had a knack for dramatic entrances, Sung-Hee." He couldn't suppress a smile as he spoke, amused by her predictable yet endearing antics.

Seok-Woo couldn't help but understand Sung-Hee's frustration. He knew all too well that he had been adamant about refusing any visitations from her, solely focused on grinding for those coveted Interest Points.

"Just wait! I'll be at your house in a few hours," Sung-Hee's voice echoed in his ears before the call abruptly ended, leaving Seok-Woo to ponder her impending arrival. He heard the familiar beep signaling the call's conclusion, knowing that Sung-Hee meant business.

Expecting her visit after a prolonged absence, Seok-Woo couldn't shake the feeling of apprehension mingled with anticipation. He knew Sung-Hee well enough to anticipate her fiery reaction, yet he couldn't blame her for being rightfully angry at him.

As the taxi continued its journey towards his home, Seok-Woo felt the weariness of his military service creeping upon him, his eyelids growing heavy with fatigue.

"I'll take a shower as soon as I get home," Seok-Woo resolved within himself, determined to refresh and rejuvenate after the long journey before facing Sung-Hee's inevitable wrath.

Back at Chae-Yoon's, she remained engrossed in the conversation with her friends until it was abruptly interrupted by Gyeong-Eun's inquiry.

"I forgot to ask this, When will your son be discharged?" Gyeong-Eun's curiosity about Seok-Woo's return prompted the question, capturing the attention of both Yu-Mi and Na-Yeon, who leaned in eagerly, awaiting the answer.

Chae-Yoon absorbed the question, processing it before responding, "He will be discharged on Friday," she stated matter-of-factly, unaware of the impending bombshell her response would unveil.

The room fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the soft hum of the air outside. Chae-Yoon's confusion deepened as she noticed the perplexed expressions on her friends' faces.

"What? Too soon?" she probed, seeking clarification from her silent companions.

Gyeong-Eun cleared her throat before delivering the unexpected news, "Today is Friday," she announced with a hint of disbelief, her words hanging in the air like a heavy fog, enveloping the room in stunned silence.