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Jisoo listened to the idols who had already been discharged from the military. They told during this variety show, about their experiences, their highs and lows, their funny or sad stories.
And listening to it all, he noticed an unsettling feeling brewing inside him.
He looked to his side, where Jeonghan and Seungcheol were sitting. Soon they too would have to do their mandatory enlistment. And others from Seventeen would follow.
The only ones who were exempt were Jisoo himself, Junhui and Minghao, being American and Chinese citizens.
Jisoo looked over to Vernon, who was calm as ever. They still didn't know for certain whether Vernon would keep his dual citizenship. A dual citizenship which meant that he could be drafted too.
Jisoo sighed. Enlistment was still hotly discussed, between the members of Seventeen, the company, and sometimes even their families.
Would they go all at once?
Jisoo looked over to the members of ONF, who had done just that, enlisting as a group. Well, not really, but they enlisted in the same year. During that time, their Japanese member U kept ONF relevant, all by himself. The other members enlisted and were discharged at almost the same time, with Hyojin and E-tion the last ones being discharged.
And now they were complete again as a group.
If Seventeen did that, they would be ready in about 2 years.
If they went by age group, it could take ...
Jisoo counted.
Maybe 6 years?
For 6 years an incomplete group?
Jisoo slightly shook his head.
As he did that, his eyes landed on Dongheon, the leader of Verivery. Their group had been active some 5 years, compared to Seventeen's 8, and already their leader was facing enlistment. The other Verivery members surrounded their leader, touchy, a bit worried but also very caring.
Other boy groups that were present, would be facing enlistment issues in maybe 4 years. Jisoo did know that Bang Chan and Felix from Stray Kids wouldn't be eligible for enlistment. He was not sure about Jisung, or TXT's Huening Kai though.
As Jisoo looked up he saw Son Hyunwoo, Monsta X's Shownu. He grinned and shook his head. His enlistment had not been disagreeable to his physique. He now looked more handsome and built in Jisoo's opinion.
His thoughts were interrupted by the MC who had noticed it: "Ah, Jisoo-gun, that was funny wasn't it?"
"Sorry, sunbaenim," Jisoo chuckled, "I was thinking about something else. As I was looking at Shownu sunbaenim, I thought, that if military enlistment does the same for Seungcheol-hyung as it does for Shownu sunbaenim, then we can throw away all our current stage outfits, because hyung would rip them apart, by just moving!"
Soft laughter and chuckles sounded all around, even a bit louder from the Seventeen members. Meanwhile Jisoo noticed that pink dusted Seungcheol's cheeks and the tips of his ears were quite red.
There was some more banter before the MC continued:
"As you all have noticed we still have an unoccupied seat. That one is reserved for a special guest. In the last movie of the 625-war, special attention was given to units of over 20 countries, who fought on our side. Amongst them was a small Dutch contingent.
Maybe you remember one of those soldiers who died, which made quite an impression on the audience? Well, that actor is here."
A buzz went through the audience and all male idols. Quite a few of them had seen the movie. And they too were deeply touched by the scene that the MC had described.
The MC had waited until the buzz died down: "He is himself a member of the Dutch armed forces, and has visited our country on numerous occasions. To visit a cemetery, where his own grandfather is buried. His grandfather who really was a soldier of the Dutch contingent portrayed in the movie, and who died defending our country."
That last statement was followed by an even louder buzz amongst the idols, the audience and even staff members.
"Please," the MC said, as he gestured to the side, where visitors could enter, "welcome Colonel Willem Alexander van Buren!"
Applause sounded, and a man in his 50s, in military uniform stepped into view. The applause died down, and was followed by a buzz of "whoah", "daebak" and other exclamations of wonder.
Because everybody could see, that the left side of his uniform was covered by a whole battery of medals.
As he came nearer, Huening Kai jumped up from his seat with wide eyes, pointed wildly at the soldier and exclaimed: "No way!"
A confusing buzz followed as everybody tried to figure out what the young idol was pointing at, but suddenly Seventeen's Vernon's eyes went wide and he too jumped up, uttering: "Impossible!"
And then Jisoo caught it, and he too sprang up exclaiming:
"How did you get that?!"
The soldier had taken in the excitement in stride, literally, as he walked towards his seat and sat down. He looked up at the 3 idols with a sad smile.
The MC intervened: "Huenning-Kai ssi, Hong Jisoo-ssi, Chwe Hansol-sii!"
The names were uttered in a sharp tone. "Please sit down!"
"I'm sorry, Willem Alexander van Buren ssi," the MC apologized, "this was a bit unexpected."
"Oh, it's okay, it's okay," the soldier answered, in accented Korean, "and please, you can all call me Alex."
"Very well, Alex-ssi."
The MC turned towards the 3 idols: "Why did you react like that?"
Jisoo looked at Hansol and Huening Kai, who both looked back at him.
Silently they more or less signaled him to respond, as the oldest of the three of them.
"Hansol, Heuning Kai and me, we noticed one specific medal Alex-ssi is wearing, and several other medals from the United States of America. Amongst others a Silver Star and even a Navy Cross."
Jisoo turned towards the soldier: "Have you perhaps served with American marines? Because... well, you got a Navy Cross."
The Dutch soldier slowly nodded: "Yes, I have..."
One of the other idols exclaimed: "You served with marines?"
It was Shinee's Choi Minho who asked it. He was known to have served within the Korean Marine Corps.
Again Alex nodded.
Jisoo addressed the MC: "That's one of the reasons we reacted like that, sunbae. Apologies if it looked or sounded rude. That was not our intention. But that Navy Cross, we're surprised that a non -US soldier was awarded that medal."
Minho now addressed Jisoo: "Is that a high ranking medal?"
"Yes, Minho-sunbae," Jisoo answered him, "there's only one award higher, than this one. Both the Silver Star and Navy Cross are awarded ... for bravery in battle."
A gasp was heard from all around the studio. Even the MC was apparently surprised.
Jisoo continued: "There's even a saying about the Navy Cross. 'The ribbon is white and blue. And the price is lots of red.'"
That statement sunk in.
"But that's not the main reaseon why we were shocked. Do you see the medal with a blue ribbon around his collar?" Jisoo pointed at the soldier again.
All viewers now noted the blue ribbon with white stars, that covered the collar and uniform neck tie of Alex, and the star shaped medal suspended from that ribbon.
The MC nodded.
"That's the Medal of Honor, the highest ranked medal from the United States of America, awarded for extreme feats of bravery in battle. That's what got us shocked," Jisoo lowered his finger. "We didn't know that medal could be awarded to non-US soldiers."
Again gasps from all around, and an excited mumbling.
As the buzz died down, Hansol addressed the soldier:
"Alex, sir? May I ask how you got that Medal of Honor?"
Alex van Buren showed a soft smile that was tinged with a hint of sadness as he answered Hansol's question:
"Officially that action is described as successfully defending a strategically important radar station, against an overwhelmingly superior enemy force."
Something clicked in Jisoo's brain.
Medal of Honor.
Radar station.
Foreign non-US soldier.
Could it be?
Jisoo had to know:
"Did ... did you get a nickname for that action?"
The gaze of the older man, snapped to Jisoo. He was silent for a moment, before he answered: "Yes."
Jisoo: "Sir... is one of those nicknames ... maybe ... 'Bayonet'...?"
A longer silence.
Then: "... Yes..."
Jisoo's lips began to quiver. He rose from his seat again.
With eyes brimming he gasped: "It's you!"
Jeonghan who sat besides Jisoo, tugged his sleeve: "Shua-yah? Is ... is he the one you've told us about?"
Jisoo looked at Jeonghan, and while several tears escaped his eyes, he nodded. Gasps were heard from all other members of Seventeen.
The MC sounded a bit confused, when he asked: "JIsoo-ssi? What do you mean by that?"
Jisoo tried to get himself under control, and finally began: "Sunbae, while Alex van Buren was attached to a US Marine batallion, he was still a captain. During an inspection tour he went to a radar station that was supposed to be save from the enemy.
This radar station was so important, because it kept enemy airplanes at bay. Three army camps, Base 1, Base 2 and Base 3 were under the protection of this radar station, that directed their air defenses.
As he arrived there, he noticed a troop build up. He checked some maps and found a path that was somehow missed. He sent a warning to the headquarters, told the radar operators to barricade the doors and seal the facility. He himself took as much ammunition with him to buy some time for reinforcements to arrive. There were several choke points where one man could hold up many."
"One man?" the MC uttered incredulously.
"Yes, sunbae. He was all alone.
When reinforcements arrived he was still fighting, although he was at the last choke point where he could stop them.
As the enemy noticed the reinforcements, they withdrew.
Way later, it became known that he had stopped a whole division in its tracks."
All idols who were already discharged, gasped. The murmured words "One man." and "Against six thousand!" were heard again and again from them.
Jisoo continued: "Later they ran a simulation. It became clear that if that radar station was lost, an air strike would inflict heavy casualties. Casualty rates for Base 1 and Base 2 would be 99,99%, and for Base 3 at least 65%.
That's why the soldiers stationed in those camps, the marines who had reinforced the radar station and the radar station operators, all clamored for the government to award Alex van Buren the Medal of Honor.
Not only for his tenacity in defending that radar station, but also because he saved so many allied lives.
Finally there was a committee hearing, in which a committee member thought that the commander of the reinforcements had made a mistake in his report. He had reported that Alex had run out of ammunition, but also wrote that he was still fighting.
The commander apologized for being unclear. He had unconsciously written that report as a marine, and clarified, that when a marine is still fighting while having run out of ammunition, it's because he has fixed bayonet.
That's how Alex van Buren got his nickname 'Bayonet'."
"OH!" came the exclamation from Shinee's Choi Minho, before adding: "It usually also means 'no retreat'!" He looked at the highly decorated soldier, and it was clear that he was awed.
And he was not the only one.
All the time the uniformed man had listened to Jisoo with an open mouth of wonder.
"How?!? How do you know all this?"
Jisoo looked in his direction. With slow steps he approached Alex' seat:
"On many occasions my parents have told me about you. They even showed me video tapes of the hearing, and that if they would meet you in person, they wanted to thank you for your actions..."
"Why?"
Now Jisoo came to a halt, right in front of Colonel Willem Alexander van Buren. A man he never expected to meet face to face.
And as tears began to make their way over his cheeks again, he told Alex:
"My father was a medic, stationed at Base 1.
My mother was a nurse, working in Base 2.
They are not here, but ... but I am ... so..."
As Jisoo sank down on his knees, he caught the expression on the face of Alex, an expression of total surprise, because the colonel understood the implications.
Jisoo bowed even lower, until his head touched the ground. He took a breath, so there could be no misunderstanding when he spoke:
"Thank you, for the life of my father."
He took another breath.
"Thank you, for the life of my mother."
And another breath.
"Thank you ..."
A sob and a sniffle interrupted what he was saying before he continued:
"... for my life."
There! It was said and done. Now Jisoo could let go, and he let his tears stream freely, even when nobody could see them. Especially when nobody could see them.
He thought back at what his mother had repeatedly told him:
"Without his actions you would not even exist."
With his head touching the floor, he couldn't see anything. But in the silence that followed his words, he could hear it.
The rustle of somebody rising from a chair.
The clicking footsteps approaching him.
The thump of knees on the floor.
And then the pressure of hands on his shoulders.
Hands that were pulling him up.
As he blinked his eyes, trying to clear the tears from his eyes, Jisoo could see the weathered face of the soldier.
Piercing blue eyes, wide with wonder.
Red cheeks of high emotions.
Mouth slightly opened.
A mouth that finally uttered: "Your parents were there?"
Mutely Jisoo just nodded.
Then he noticed how the jaw of the soldier clenched together, how he heaved a breath, apparently trying to get some deep running emotions under control.
"Thank you," Alex brought out with a choked voice, "thank you for telling me this, Jisoo... "
Jisoo looked up in wonder.
Why would this soldier thank him?
His questioning look was noticed by Alex.
"That day ... that day I killed many people. I was a soldier. And so were they.
But they were also human beings.
Human beings that I killed by the hundreds.
In a single day.
Only a psychopath wouldn't be affected by that.
The blood that I shed that day, still burdens my mind.
It's a burden, that I will carry the rest of my life. I find a bit of strength to carry that heavy weight, in the thought that I killed hundreds, to protect and save hundreds of thousands.
Still, it remains a burden, a heavy burden that weighs me down.
But to also know... to KNOW beyond any doubt, that amidst all that bloodshed, a seed was sown, so a beautiful flower like you could bloom. You, Joshua, Hong Jisoo, who together with your brothers from Seventeen, spread happiness to millions ...
Thank you for telling me this, Joshua.
Thank you, Hong Jisoo.
Thank you..."
Alex broke off his sentence, because he suddenly caught Jisoo in a fierce hug.
The young idol hugged him back.
The soldier finished his sentence:
"... son of my heart."
Jisoo didn't know how long they stayed that way.
But eventually they reluctantly moved apart.
Alex looked towards the MC, and in a soft voice uttered: "Sorry for this."
He took out a handkerchief, dabbed Jisoo's eyes and cheeks, and then his own, before he rose up. He stretched out his hand towards Jisoo.
The young idol took that hand and was pulled up. He had to look up to see the eyes of this colonel. Gosh this man was tall! He would even tower over Mingyu.
Soft mumbling started, the audience probably commenting to each other about what happened. Jisoo also saw some phones out, held by idols, fans and others, who had recorded part of what had happened.
Inwardly he shook his head. Twitter, SNS, Naver, they were all going to have a field day.
The uniformed man was standing at Jisoo's right side. He wrapped his left arm around Jisoo's shoulders, before they both started to walk towards the others of Seventeen. Just before Jisoo could take the last steps for his seat, the soldier stopped him.
Jisoo looked at his side, where he saw Alex' intense gaze sweeping over his brothers. Suddenly it looked as if the soldier had made a decision, because the young idol saw him giving a stern nod.
Alex let go of Jisoo, stood straighter up, put his hat back on his head, and looked like he was standing at attention.
His eyes found Seungcheol: "CHOI SEUNGCHEOL!"
As if stung the leader of Seventeen jumped up and stood at attention.
Alex' gaze swiveled towards Jeonghan.
"YOON JEONGHAN!"
Jeonghan too jumped up.
This continued until every single member of Seventeen was standing ramrod straight in front of Alex and Jisoo, who wondered how that soldier knew their names.
"I'm standing here before you, with Joshua, Hong Jisoo, the son of my heart!
Please take care of him!"
In a sharp motion the colonel saluted Seventeen.
Jisoo now understood Colonel Willem Alexander van Burens actions.
As another wave of emotions surged through the younger, he knew what to do.
His gaze swept over the Seventeen members.
And standing beside the uniformed man, he made a 90 degrees bow.
He heard how several persons had sucked in their breath, before Seventeen's leader spoke out in a clear voice:
"We will, sir! We will take care of Joshua, Hong Jisoo, the son of your heart! Because we are ..."
"Seventeen!"
The last word was spoken by all the members.
Jisoo heard a rustle as the Seventeen members bowed in their direction and another rustle of clothes as they righted themselves.
At that point Jisoo also stood straight up again, and he just caught the saluting hand coming down.
Alex gave a small nod in Seventeen's direction: "Thank you!"
The colonel turned towards Jisoo, who also turned towards Alex.
As Jisoo looked at his face, he saw how slowly a soft smile appeared.
The right hand of the solder moved up and came to rest on top of Jisoo's head.
In a whispering deep voice, Colonel Willem Alexander van Buren spoke to Jisoo:
"Go. You are being sent!"
He retracted his hand and Jisoo saw how Alex motioned with his head towards Jisoo's seat.
Jisoo nodded an took the few steps to it.
As he sat down, he saw how Alex walked, no, marched back to his own seat, straight back, radiating pride.
The rest of the show went past Jisoo in a blur.
Arriving at the dorms Jisoo became alert again.
All of Seventeen were congregating in the dorm that Jisoo shared with Minghao. They were still talking about what happened during the variety show. Asking Vernon about the American medals and the ranking thereof.
Apparently Minghao, Jun, Jeonghan had taken it upon themselves to shield Jisoo from any questions.
"It's all right," Jisoo mumbled. "I think I've got it now..."
Everyone assembled around Jisoo.
Jeonghan sat beside him: "Are you really all right?"
Jisoo nodded.
"Hey!" Minghao shoved a few members out of the way with his foot, his hands holding a cup of tea.
He put that down on the table in front of Jisoo, and said: "Here, tea with a soothing mixture of herbs."
"Thanks." Jisoo took the cup, blew on it, and sipped. It was a nice. Hot and still soothing.
"Hyung," Seungkwan asked Jisoo, "what did he tell you? We only heard him whispering something ... "
"Seungkwan!" Seungcheol interrupted him.
"It's all right, Cheol," Jisoo said, taking another sip of tea before he broke the silence.
"He said to me 'Go, you are being sent.' ... "
"Go your are being sent?"
"What does it mean?"
"It feels ... I dunno... heavy, solemn or majestic ... ?"
"I think I've found it."
Everybody turned towards Wonwoo. He was still tapping on the screen of his phone. "It may be a mistranslation. I don't know if he did it by accident or on purpose."
"A mistranslation?" Jisoo was dumbfounded. "From what?"
"From 'ite missa est'."
Wonwoo took in the confused looks of Seventeen.
"Those words are said at the end of a Catholic church service, meaning the Mass, or church service, has ended," he explained, "but some have translated it as 'the congregation is being sent', as in sent away, meaning that the church service has ended and everyone can go. Others have taken that a step further as in being sent away with a mission, a task, whatever."
"Okay..."
Jisoo caught their attention, silencing them all: "I'm not sure why he said that, but I feel as if he has indeed given me a kind of special task? A mission? If that makes sense...?"
Seungcheol: "You're right. I mean, he said so himself. You are spreading happiness to millions."
"But that's together with you guys!"
"True," Jeonghan touched Jisoo's knee, "but he also asked us to take care of you."
Seungcheol chuckled: "After the show, Shownu told me, that that soldier reminded him of his drill sergeant in the army."
Junhui: "Maybe he's right. I mean, even I couldn't stay in my seat."
More chuckles were heard, and Jisoo saw all of the members grinning.
As everybody was more serious again, Jeonghan continued: "We said yes, when he asked us to take care of you, so ... we're kind of sharing your task, aren't we?"
Jisoo nodded and his heart was warmed by more words of encouragements of the others like:
"We'll help you, hyung."
"You're not alone in this, Joshua-hyung."
Jisoo saw all eyes on him. Glistening. Encouraging. Helpful.
He was now sure of himself:
"Then his words were not only for me, but for us all."
To include them all, in the formidable task they had been doing in the years gone by, and will be doing in the years to come, he took in the faces of his brothers, and repeated to them the words that the soldier had whispered to him:
"Go, you are being sent!"