I'd forgotten.

No—I'd wanted to forget.

If I could have chosen where to regress to, I'd have picked my first day out of the army.

Even after regressing, I still dreaded the army.

Back in my day, you still got beaten up in the latrine.

It's a Wonderland of sorts, where the smart ones, the losers, the weirdos and the oddballs all live together.

Sure, you can find friendship, camaraderie, respect and devotion in there too, but I hated it.

Doing it once, in my last life, was plenty.

Twenty-four months without freedom.

That's how awful it was: the day I got discharged was happier than the day I had my first kiss with a girlfriend.

"Sir, a draft... what?"

I'd forgotten again.

That Team Leader Yu was sitting right in front of me.

All this time, I'd hidden my age like my life depended on it.

Even when she booked plane tickets, I made the final payment myself.

Same with hotel reservations.

I'd lied to Team Leader Yu about my age.

It was bound to come out someday, but for some reason I'd wanted to keep it from her.

And today it had slipped out without my meaning it to.

The call with Mom had ended fine.

The physical was next Monday morning. Thanks for the early warning, Mom.

My address was still listed as home, so my parents had gotten the notice.

Every Korean man has to go, but I don't think anyone should ever have to go twice.

"They say my draft physical notice has come."

I didn't hide it.

At this point it was only a matter of time before sharp-eyed Team Leader Yu figured it out.

"Ah... your physical."

Team Leader Yu didn't bat an eye.

What? What was that no-big-deal look?

"I bet you'll get a Grade 1, sir. Just looking at you, you'd fit right in with the Marines or the special forces."

Team Leader Yu, talking about Grade 1 like it was nothing.

For a second, I blanked.

"...Team Leader Yu, did you..."

"Did I know your age?"

My head nodded all…