0 – So Who’s Chaewon’s Childhood Friend?
“Ever or Fna.”
“Huh? No, I must have misheard you.”
“You heard right. Ever or Fna, which one do you prefer?”
A barracks 20 minutes before roll call. Two senior soldiers in the midst of skincare, three corporals contemplating what to watch during tonight’s free time. Four privates excited to meet their new junior and one rookie who has yet to adapt.
Everyone’s incredibly busy doing their own thing.
“Is that your high-quality question to a rookie who just joined us after two months?”
Oh, by the way, I’m a senior with zero interest in this.
“Aye~. Sergeant Kang Yumin, tell me what could be more crucial in our military life than this?”
“What’s the rookie’s name again?”
“It’s Private Shin Yuseob!”
“Don’t say it out loud like that. So, Yuseob, choose wisely. All your seniors are listening closely.”
Thanks to the nonsense-spewing private, the rookie friend is all tensed up.
What to do. From the looks of it, this friend might have a tough time.
“Is this even a tough choice? Just spit it out.”
“Well, then….”
“Is it Ever, as expected? After much thought, it’s still Ever, right?”
“Yes, it’s Ev———.”
“You fool, how can you choose Ever when there’s the eternal military president Fna?”
“Yeah, nonsense. No matter how great Fna is, Ever is on another level. Right, Yuseob?”
“Yes, that’s correct…! I also prefer Ever…!”
The rookie, caught between the gorilla-like hell sergeant and the meerkat-like petty officer, sided with the gorilla.
Well, even I would be scared if someone like that got angry.
“Knew it. I told you. He’s got the face of someone who would prefer Ever.”
“Ever during their active years is better than Fna during their hiatus.”
“Sigh. From today onwards, during roll call, this friend will be indoctrinated into Fna with me through the military music broadcast.”
“Unfair, you bastard, unfair.”
The rookie’s comment draws one-liners from the previously uninterested corporal line. The private guys next to them are showing varied reactions, and the rookie still wears a baffled expression but…
“Music Bank, July 14th broadcast. 1 hour, 14 minutes, and 23 seconds, Corporal Park Sangwoo.”
“Right. This is Ever’s legendary moment.”
The squad leader turns on the music broadcast, and everyone’s gaze simultaneously shifts to the screen.
The so-called idol expert ensures the song plays immediately.
“Sigh… how can they all be so perfectly beautiful…?”
“Among them, Minah is the best.”
“I like May. That cuteness is truly another level.”
“Hey. Even so, there’s no one as charming as Yerin.”
“Rookie, who’s your favorite?”
“Me, are you asking me?”
“Who else in this room with a rank of 5 would we be asking?”
“Eh? I’m also a 5. The 5th.”
“You’re understood, now get out quickly.”
“Oh, this is so dog-like.”
A senior who was applying moisturizing cream took this opportunity to boast, earning jeers from the juniors.
Ugh, I still have 33 days before I can go home, this is infuriating.
“So, rookie, who do you like?”
Amidst all this, a private who’s genuinely into Ever remains unfazed and continues his inquiry.
The rookie faces another challenge. He hesitates and fumbles before finally saying…
“I think I like Han Chaewon the most…!”
He points at Chaewon appearing on the screen. Everyone’s attention turns to the screen again, to that ‘aegyo’ scene that amassed over 7 million views.
“How can a human be so perfect? Han Chaewon truly is the ultimate idol…”
“Why aren’t there girls like that around me….”
“Look at your face, would there be?”
“…Are you a demon?”
Han Chaewon. The leader of the world-renowned girl group ‘Ever.’
Since their debut, Ever had garnered numerous titles due to their excellence. Within the group, Chaewon stood out with her innate talent and bright personality, making regular appearances on various shows…
Now, stepping into her fifth year, she’s a ‘versatile idol’ loved worldwide, juggling acting, commercials, solo albums, and variety show appearances.
“———So who’s Chaewon’s childhood friend?”
A peer mumbles with his chin propped up. One junior following him promptly responds.
“Are you talking about the childhood friend she cheered for in their self-produced content?”
“Yes. I’m pretty sure one of our sergeants here is that guy, but no word about it so far.”
“I’m busy avoiding falling leaves in my final year, and you think someone with the title of Chaewon’s childhood friend could survive here?”
“If it were me, I’d rather take advantage of being a senior.”
Two seniors engaging in a heated discussion, my peers. They served in the military during Ever’s heyday, so they are more passionate about Ever than anyone else.
In other words, if caught, no one knows what they could end up facing.
“What would you do if you found that guy?”
“I’d make him go through the harsh winter training again, no reason needed.”
“I’d make his military life even more miserable, no reason needed.”
My casually thrown question receives brutally honest answers from my peers.
“You’re cruel. Are you even human?”
“You, who brought up the harsh winter training, have no right to talk.”
“But isn’t it allowed for him?”
“To be honest, yeah, it is.”
They glance at each other as if they’ve both gone mad, but it only lasts a moment. The corporals and sergeants, having exchanged pointless chatter, applaud Chaewon caught as the ending fairy on screen.
“Yuseob.”
“Yes! Understood!”
“Serin is the best in Ever.”
“…I, I misheard, right?”
“In Ever, Serin is the best. If you don’t know, memorize it.”
Even after 5 years, I still haven’t adapted to the fact that a childhood friend is a beloved idol.