Chapter 12
Battle with Sleep (3)
I must not fall asleep.
If even one of us nods off during the battalion commander’s mental-education lecture, and he catches it…
That day will end with a punishing round of extra drills courtesy of the instructors.
But that warning alone wasn’t enough to lift our heavy eyelids.
No. Stay awake!
I pinched my thigh, trying to drive away the fairies of sleep.
If I’d relaxed even a little more, I might have drifted off too.
This is driving me crazy.
I glanced around.
It hadn’t even been five minutes.
Already, some trainees were bobbing their heads like sick chickens.
This is bad.
At this rate, a group punishment was practically guaranteed.
The only small comfort was…
The commander hasn’t noticed yet.
But that wouldn’t last.
It was only a matter of time.
“Uh… as for the casualties our forces suffered in that battle…”
No offense to the commander, but this lecture was painfully dull.
Even college classes were boring; a military “mental-education” session certainly wasn’t going to be thrilling.
Look at Seohwan—drooling in his sleep.
I told this guy not to doze off…
I jabbed his side.
“Ack!” he yelped.
Thanks to that outburst, the commander and every trainee turned toward us, startled awake.
The commander tilted his head.
“You there. What’s going on?”
“Uh, well…”
Seohwan shot me a pleading look: Do something!
I swallowed a sigh and raised my hand.
“Trainee No. 45, Lee Geum-seong! I have a question, sir!”
“A question?”
“Yes, sir!”
“What is it?”
“It’s about the Panmunjom Axe Murder Incident. I’m curious what impact that event had on the UN forces and our own military, and what claims North Korea made at the time—and their weak points.”
“Oh, really?”
A wide smile bloomed on the commander’s face.
Lecturers can’t help being pleased when someone asks a question—it shows interest.
I’d seen this before.
During week four of basic training, another trainee had asked a question in a similar lecture, purely to break the heavy silence.
The surprising part?
That trainee was awarded a full five merit points for “exemplary attitude.”
Will it work again?
No doubt.
This is the army.
As expected, the commander launched into a long, enthusiastic answer—just as soporific as before.
He had a true talent for putting people to sleep.
But the result was what mattered.
“Who just asked that question?”
“Trainee No. 45, Lee Geum-seong, sir!”
“Lee Geum-seong… Tell the instructor to give you five merit points after class.”
“Thank you, sir!”
Five points secured—and with them, the in-camp reward of 5 million won I’d set as a personal “quest.”
What I thought would be a crisis had turned into an opportunity.
The recruit camp’s merit system included this perk:
Any trainee who earned at least five points in a week got a three-minute call on the pay phone.
Thanks to my performance, I was the first in my group to hit that mark and win a phone call.
After the lecture, Seohwan kept repeating how jealous he was.
“I’m dying of envy, Geum-seong.”
“Don’t be. You can do it too.”
“Me?”
“How many points do you have now?”
“Let’s see…”
He pulled out his soldier’s notebook and merit card.
“Three points.”
One for shouting the loudest during marching chants, and two for spotless cleaning.
“Just two more, then.”
“Think I can? There aren’t many days left in the week.”
Less than three, in fact.
He clearly thought it impossible.
But the game isn’t over until you give up.
“Remember I promised to help you earn a phone call?”
“Sure, but I figured it wouldn’t be this week.”
Probably he was expecting next week—when there’d be more opportunities during zeroing practice or grenade training.
But everyone else would think the same.
And besides—
“The fewer people who win phone calls, the more extra time the instructor can give.”
If too many earned it, calls would end right on schedule.
But with just a few winners, the instructor might add minutes.
Last time I got a phone reward, Instructor Joo Yong-hyuk gave every winner two extra minutes.
I still remember it vividly, even twenty years later.
Sure, chances to earn points in week one were scarce.
But there’s always a way.
“Just find out who’s officer of the day.”
“Today? Okay, hold on.”
Seohwan hurried out and soon came back.
“It’s the company clerk, the supply NCO.”
“Nice.”
Luck was with—no, with him.
“Then let’s quietly grab two points each tonight.”
“Huh? How?”
“Lend me your ear.”
I whispered the perfect plan for scoring easy points when that NCO had duty.
As always, the day ended with evening roll call.
“Company, attention!”
The trainee in charge saluted the duty officer.
“Salute! 5th barracks roll call: total strength fifty-three. None absent. Present fifty-three. Count off!”
“One!”
“Two!”
“Three!”
Partway through, the supply NCO cut in.
“Enough numbers. Everyone’s here, right?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Tonight we’ll inspect lockers, boots, and hygiene. Lay out all issued gear. Move!”
“Y-yes, sir!”
Surprised by the sudden hygiene check, trainees wore puzzled looks, but of course we couldn’t refuse.
We laid out every item from supply—each in its own haphazard way.
The NCO barked,
“What did you learn here? In the army, order and alignment are life. Line those items up properly. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
He checked everything from gear condition to boot care.
Apparently word of his duty shift had spread, because most had prepared well.
He chuckled.
“Not bad. You boys were ready.”
But he wasn’t done.
This was a hygiene inspection.
“Hands forward, fingers spread. Now!”
The trainees obeyed, uneasy.
The NCO strolled past, calling out,
“Fail. Fail. You fail. Fail. Fail.”
Not one passed.
Then everyone realized why.
“You boys need to cut your nails, huh?”
“Sorry, sir!”
Haircuts were required before arrival, but trimming nails was another matter.
Nail clippers were in the barracks, but few thought to use them.
Except for two.
“…Hmm?”
He stopped before me and Seohwan.
“You two.”
“Trainee No. 45, Lee Geum-seong!”
“Trainee No. 44, Kang Seohwan!”
“Nails trimmed perfectly.”
“Yes, sir!”
Normally I wasn’t this meticulous.
But the army is different.
“Instructor!”
“Private Joo Yong-hyuk!”
“Give each of them two merit points.”
Our comrades’ envious eyes bored into us.
“Thank you, sir!”
“Thank you!”
Exactly as planned.
As soon as the NCO left, Seohwan grabbed me in a bear hug.
“Thanks, Geum-seong!”
“Let go—you’re crushing me.”
All this fuss over one phone reward, honestly.
Thanks to my strategy, Seohwan and I both earned the coveted phone call.
It wasn’t just us.
Han Gang-tae, the trainee platoon leader, also made the cut—just the three of us.
Of course. He’s my biggest rival for top trainee.
Instructor Joo pointed to the three pay phones.
“Perfect. Three phones, three people. Pick one each. How long should I give you?”
Seohwan grinned.
“Ten minutes, sir?”
“Ten? That’s a lot… but fine.”
“Thank you, sir!”
Ten minutes.
Inside the phone booth, I found myself unexpectedly at a loss.
Calling my family on a weekend afternoon… they probably won’t even answer.
Who should I call?
An unforeseen dilemma.
