CHAPTER 42: Goodbye College, Hello Army

"I hate it here" Beom said while sitting on the sofa with Tan twins and Aera looking down at him as if he's going to hell not army, "do I really have to do that?"

"Yes" the three of them said in rhyme, "don't worry Beom, it's going to be ok, it won't effect you progress in college plus you'll have Park Hei with you so you won't be alone~"

"You got me wrong hyung, that's not the reason why I don't want to go, it's because I don't want to leave you alone with those two predators whose eyes are gonna burn your clothes down and eat you alive when they get the chance" alerted ears and tails and eyes like big glitters were looking down on Aera's neck down to his ass that started burning him after what Beom said, "I won't let them have their way because I'll break up with them and come and join you"

"Is that even possible?"

"We'll see~" he shrugged.

Three days later, Han Beom and Park Hei were standing in front of the door they'll enter for whole 18 months, "can we not go? I'm afraid!!"

"Tsk, what are you afraid of?!" Yelled Tan Haneul trying to push away Park Hei from him, "they're scary! Look how they're looking at me!"

"I think the face they're making is one of someone trying his best to not laugh hard at someone embarrassing like you" Han Beom said while looking at them alerting them and turn them red from his gaze, they turned to look somewhere else.

Kim Hei looked at them again and saw how they really are, "oh! I guess now I see what you see Beom!" He said excitedly while letting go of Tan Haneul, "well then, our dear boys need to go now so let's let them go~ I'll come visit you every now and then dear, do your best and finish soon!" Aera hugged him tightly and kissed both his cheeks while handing him something in one of his hands, "this is my lucky charm" he whispered making all men and women around them look at them and see if they're who they think they are but Aera broke their expectations down, "oh y baby brother had grown up and now he's going to the military~!!! You better grow your hair first before you come back home, I don't wanna have a heart attack from how you'll look like! Got it?" He yelled making sure everyone hear so they can leave them alone.

Beom shook his head and hugged Aera back whispering for him a promise to return back safely with no injuries, he and Hei walked through the door that'll make them new people in 18 months, "the challenge starts" he mumbled.

"Move!"

"Faster!"

"Why are you laying on the ground?! Your enemy won't ask you if you need a break or not! It's kill or get killed!!!"

"One! Two! One! Two! Hurry hurry hurry!!!!!"

"What in heavens was all that?!! Who assigned that monster to train us?!?!" Cried Park Hei throwing his body on the bed, "Beom I'm telling ya from now, I'll be taking the low one you take the bed above me"

"I'm ok with anything" he said while taking off his shirt exposing his defined muscles. Everyone in the room gasped at the view and approached Han Beom with waves of questions wondering how he managed to get to this state though he's still 19 but Beom ignored them all and walked out to the showers to refresh himself before bed time.

When he walked back to the room everyone were doing whatever so he slowly walked to his bed where Hei was laying and reading a book, "I trained to be strong enough" he started catching everyone's attention, "me and hyung lost our parents when I was 17 and I only have him. In the same day we lost them, he came back home badly injured so I promised myself I'll be strong enough to could protect myself and who's left from my family. Those muscles you all are admiring are the result of sweat, blood and hard work for three years"

He turned to look at those pity eyes, "I dare you show me those eyes again, if there's a face you all need to make, it's one full of passion and desire to be strong to protect your beloved ones!!" The eyes that seemed lost for a moment glowed and big smiles were eating their faces, they stood from their places with enthusiast and waited for Han Beom to keep going, "now! Who's ready to fight!?!?!?" Han Beom screamed and got in return yells and roars of excited young men. The elders outside the room heard everything from the open door and smiled to each other, excited to meet their students tomorrow and see what they got.

In the next weeks, their trainings kept going and each time it got rougher but they still stood on their feet whenever they fell on their knees with one thing in their minds, "to protect our beloveds!!" They all screamed while running the 100th round around the long track.

Aera kept visiting Beom and Hei's family kept coming every now and then to check on their child they failed to see off in his first day in Uni and in military, the two of them had a lot of stories for their families and in return they had a lot to tell them two too, so it was always a good day for the two of them that helps them to recharge and be ready for what they'll have in future trainings.

And just like that, 18 months passed in a blink of eye and the two left to the café where everyone's waiting for them to celebrate their return, "wow, I still can't believe those months passed fast like this, it felt like we entered yesterday"

"You were silly back then" Beom commented making his friend blush and scratch the back of his head, "I was immature back then, but now, I think I can deal with things wisely"

They sat in silence for few minutes but Park Hei wasn't comfortable at all and that was easy to notice so Beom kept glancing at him waiting for him to speak out his mind but when he noticed there's still nothing he decided to help him a bit, "is there something in your mind?"

Hei flinched but got back his composure and gave Beom a small bitter smile, "I still wonder about that day, I mean the day you fought with the horrible hyungs who used to bully me. I saw how strong their punches were but you still stood on your feet and even escaped some of their attacks"

"And?"

"When we were practicing, I felt light when fighting one on one and- I admire you Beom, not only were you able to pass us all who were younger, older or even the same age as you in self defense, but you also had a big dream those boys saw in it a guiding light to keep going and to not give up. no wonder you're wise in making decisions too haha-"

"Hei? It was just a matter of time I reach what I am. Something bad would've happened sooner or later and I'd become what I am now. The same for you, sooner or later you'll become what you are now. It's just?" He stopped talking giving his hand to Hei, "a matter of time" Hei finished before holding his friend's hand and shake it.

"I don't mind you as a mature man but sometimes being funny is important, since it's part of your personality haha" the two of them laughed heartedly then kept going with their talk until they reached the café.