Astronomy // Duty After School

Chapter Twenty-Seven.

On Sunday, Class 3-2 wrote their letters, addressed them to their family members, and turned them into the soldiers with promises of having the letters delivered. Chun-ho and Won-bin showed up a bit after lunch, instructing the kids to get on their chest rigs and helmets for a nature walk with their packed rucksacks. They were also given sleeping bags, tents, and their army boots for the real experience of what traveling in the army would be like.

"Isn't this too far of a walk for someone who was bleeding out just yesterday?" So-yeon asked, batting her eyelashes toward where Chun-ho was leading the class. (Y/n) had been quite successful in removing most of the blood stains, but So-yeon still wore a sweater to cover what remained as well as keeping warm.

"I set a slow pace for you," Chun-ho answered without looking back.

"For me?" So-yeon repeated dreamily.

"Let go!" Jun-hi seethed as Ha-na nearly slipped down the hill they were heading up. Had Wu-taek not had firm footing as he pushed Ha-na back to an upright position, there would have been more problems further down the line.

"It actually feels like autumn up here," (Y/n) commented.

"'Feels like autumn,' she says," Hui-rak mocked in a high voice as though trying to replicate (Y/n)'s. Il-ha sent him a sharp look. It was quite obvious Hui-rak was shivering, but that was his own fault for not grabbing (or packing) a jacket. (Y/n), too, was quite cold even with Min-kyu's jacket on. As much as she loved the colder seasons, she never did well with the weather or temperature.

"She's not wrong," Bo-ra piped up. "Of course, it's colder in rural areas like the mountains."

"Mhm. Short skirt, long jacket season in Seoul, but not here," (Y/n) nodded.

"I would kill for one look at your closet," So-yun said.

"Right? Future fashion major over there," Yeon-ju said, nodding her head back at (Y/n).

"Why do you say that?"

"'Oh, this? I made it,'" Jun-hi said in an over-the-top manner. Ha-na turned dramatically to her.

"Can't forget the, 'I still have the pattern! Want me to make you one?'"

"Whatever. Why would I need a degree in something I already have down?" (Y/n) dismissed. The class oohed.

"Platoon Two, take a break," Chun-ho called back to the class. Alarmed looks were sent his way.

"Is this another one of those situations?" So-chul frowned.

"Hey, have some trust in your platoon leader," Won-bin said scoldingly. However, the look in his eye told the class that he was wondering the same thing.

"There's no danger out here," Chun-ho said calmly. "I just want to see that you'll be able to sit down and take short breaks with your gear on." Some people grumbled under their breath but paid attention as Won-bin demonstrated how to properly sit down with their rucksacks still on. The class copied his movement, dropping to one knee to shrug off their bags onto one shoulder and set them down.

"That little glade would be a nice spot to film the video Ha-na was talking about," Yu-jeong said to Na-ra, (Y/n), and Ae-seol, whom she was sitting with. The class had been given a new camcorder due to their lense being scratched and cracked beyond being able to film.

"Yu-jeong, you're on board with that?" Na-ra mused.

"Of course," Yu-jeong smiled. "We hardly have any videos as a class. Right, (Y/n)?" The three girls glanced at (Y/n) with expectant smiles. (Y/n) immediately lost concentration on taking deep breaths the moment her name was called.