"This is the crucial part, to be honest!" May exclaimed as they lined up to get their meals.
Keira laughed and commented, "At least we've got to learn to eat things we don't usually eat. Cheer up, May. This is healthy food. Don't worry, I will treat you to super nice food once we are out? Or sneak?"
May pouted her lips and murmured, "Gosh, Keira, it will take months for that to happen. I want to cry out loud right now. But wait, do you smell it too?"
Lana creased her forehead and asked, "Smell what?'
May sat first at the table and said, "Duck and Bird, they are weird if you can get me, you know, bird awhile ahmm, something is going on between a duck and a bird. Also, Duck seems acting straight for real and not just acting."
Vel burst out in laughter and asked, "What was that? Some kind of code? So do you have a code for me too?"
"Yeah of course we did. It's B-I-T-C-H but then since you are no longer like that we change it to Lucky," said Lana with a grin.
Vel did not respond because she knew it was only a joke, anyway, she couldn't help but get curious so she asked, "Why Lucky?"
Keira smiled and answered instead, "Because you are lucky I did not pull a strand of your hair before."
Then the girls laughed.
"Soldiers! Focus on your meal! I hear another loud buzzing and you will run a mile outside and enjoy your talking there!" Shouted an Officer.
"Yes, Sir!" Keira shouted with others, as they smiled meaningfully to each other.
Vel was right, they had codenames for each and everyone because they must not mention real names while gossiping. She wanted Zach to be called Wolf whenever they talk about him and Jeru as Bat.
…..
Their first lesson was focused on basic marching commands.
"When we march, we march as a unit, together," said Sergeant Cole as she began to instruct them to do forward march.
"Okay, let's do this," she added then shouted, "Face right!"
"One, Two," they responded as they followed Sergeant Cole's commands.
Sergeant Cole: "Face left!"
Soldiers: "One, two!" (faced left)
Sergeant Cole: "Face right!"
Soldiers: "One, two!" (faced right)
Sergeant Cole: "Face left!"
Soldiers: "One, two!" (faced left)
They followed well but then after facing left Sergeant Cole shouted again, "Face left!"
But they ended up facing right and everyone started laughing because it was a mistake that they made when they got used to doing left then right continuously.
"What's funny?! Do you think it's funny?! Do ten push-ups now!" Sergeant Cole shouted.
"Aye, Ma'am!" They shouted and did ten push-ups.
"Bro, why are you here?" Torin asked with a frown as he saw Zach standing not far from Keira's unit.
"Look at those kids doing push-ups, I bet they got caught up by Sergeant Cole's prank on marching," he said laughing.
"Torin, I think it would be best if the man tells Rizie directly that he's not interested in her, right? I mean Rizie is still young, so it's better not to give her false hope." Zach murmured while looking at Keira.
"Wait, did Rizie make a bold move toward that man? Bro, that's too cold! Rizie is such a fragile girl like those in training right now. For goodness sake, let her get an inspiration, there's nothing wrong with that as long as the man doesn't take advantage, don't you think so? By the way, how can you be so sure that the man is not interested in Rizie? What if he is?" Torin asked, he was obviously hinting on something, but Zach's face remained expressionless.
Then he heard Zach sigh and instruct, "They will proceed for vaccination after that. Make sure everything is ready."
Recruits got vaccinations and Keira almost paled just looking at those needle near the skin of other soldiers.
She hated needles! It was the last thing she would do but she must act strong and brave because Zach was around, observing.
"Don't scratch those circles on your skin for the next 48 hours and make sure those mark never fades! Okay?" Instructed an Officer.
"That's PPD, so we can check if you are clear from tuberculosis. You will also receive vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, meningococcal and tetanus," Lieutenant Jang explained further.
Keira closed her eyes, her face crumpled and she bit her lip as the needle touched her arm.
"You're finished, soldier, out of the line!" The Officer said and she quickly opened her eyes and answered, "Yes, Ma'am!"
She smiled because for the first time she made it and she thought it's all done...
To her horror, they were handed two tubes for drawing of blood.
She wanted to cry at that moment because she really hated needles.
"We will be drawing your blood. You will serve your own tourniquet so as we draw blood do not let your bicep go, hooaah?"
"Hooaah!" Answered the soldiers.
"Are you afraid of needles, soldier?" General Zach asked Keira as she was about to go next in line.
Keira gave him a smile and answered, "Not my favorite, Sir! I'm afraid I'm going to faint after this General."
Zach frowned and answered, "Alright, soldier, go and get it done, let's see how you will pass out!"
Keira let out a weary sigh and followed while she held her biceps tightly. She closed her eyes, with fist tightly closed, she also bit her lip hard when she felt how that sharp needle pierced her skin as her blood was withdrawn through a vacutainer.
'Dad! Mom!' She almost cried silently as she felt like it took too long.
Zach was intently observing Keira because he noticed she was pale.
"Sir, are we done?" She couldn't help but ask.
"Not yet, soldier! Open your eyes and show bravery. That's just a needle. Bullets are the least things you will encounter next!" Said Zach in his authoritative tone.
Keira followed and smiled at him as she stood up as soon as the needle was pulled out.
She slightly laughed, still looking at Zach she winked and proudly murmured, "No sweat! It can't even be compared to ant bites."
However as soon as those words escaped her beautiful lips, Keira suddenly passed out and Zack quickly caught her.
Zach was fast and Keira was in his arms in an instant. "Out of my way!" He shouted to soldiers blocking his path as he rushed to go towards the Medical Center.
But along the way, Jeru blocked him and glared at him as he said, "Give her to me!"
"Move, General Liu! Don't cause a scene here because I will knock you out if you don't get your ass out of my way!" Zach exclaimed as he met Jeru's piercing gaze.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
Field Marshal Chan let out a long sigh…
"She has always passed out whenever we have her vaccinated or she did a blood test. I'm surprised that she managed not to pass out before the needle even touched her skin because she usually does. So they draw blood out, do vaccination while she is unconscious. She hates the sight of needles," Field Marshal Chan explained to Zach while staring at Keira.
"You can now go back, General Lim, I will stay here. She will wake up soon. Thank you for bringing her here," Field Marshal Chan said and Zach bid farewell to his superior before leaving.
Meanwhile, Torin waited outside.
"Bro, what happened? Anything wrong? Cielo said that Jeru returned so worked up and gloomy that she's even afraid to make a sound inside." Torin said but twitched his mouth, in the end, seeing Zach's blank expression.
He should stop because he would not receive any information from Zach in this state.
He looked at Zach every now and then as they walk back. Zach had a conflicted expression this time.
'Is it confusion?' Torin mused, trying to read Zach's expression at that moment.
"Bro, what is it? You feel worried? Confused? Conflicted?" Torin couldn't help and ended up asking simultaneously.
"Stop, Torin, and zip your mouth," Zach replied with a creased forehead.
"But, Bro, you behave weird! This is the first time you look so concerned like that. A cadet who saw you even get worried that you may trip because you were practically running towards the Medical Center! Was it because she's the Field Marshal's daughter or because…"
"Stop that Torin, or you will stay and monitor the male's training instead!" Zach hissed not letting Torin finish his sentence.
"Alright, Bro… Your wish is my command," murmured Torin with a crumpled face.
'It's just a simple question! Why can't he just say what he feels?' Torin complained silently.
...….
Meanwhile, Jeru had already cleared his thoughts and went to visit Keira in her room. No one was inside when he went in. Field Marshal was probably called for urgent matters.
He sat beside Keira and stared at her beautiful face. He felt conflicted… He liked Keira and at the same time, he needed Keira to survive. No one would fit him but her.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you go," Jeru whispered and held Keira's hand.
That time Keira moved and gently opened her eyes.
"How are you feeling?" Jeru asked.
Keira's face crumpled as she looked at her hand in Jeru's hand, so Jeru quickly let it go.
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried and…"
"It's okay, Jeru, I'm feeling good now. Actually, it happens a lot whenever I see a needle pierce my skin. I'm shocked my reaction was delayed this time," Keira said as she sat. She couldn't believe that she still fainted after she succeeded in controlling herself not to faint while Zach was around.
"Did you bring me here?" Keira asked.
"Ahm.." Jeru mumbled, but then the door opened and Field Marshal Chan barged in with an arched brow.
"How can you undergo our training when you can't overcome just a simple prick of a needle?" Her father said in a serious tone.
Then he greeted Jeru casually. "You're here. Don't you have any training to attend to? By the way, I will need to meet you all tomorrow to discuss further planning for Country X. The situation there is getting worse. Zach might take over on the situation earlier as planned if General Jin doesn't succeed in five months."
Jeru stood up and answered, "Yes, I do, Sir. I just wanted to check if Keira was fine. I will leave now, Sir."
Then he looked at Keira and bid her farewell while the latter nodded.
As soon as Jeru left, Field Marshal Chan sat on Keira's bed and held his daughter's hand.
"You upgraded, daughter. I'm proud that now you do not faint before getting injected. Maybe the next time you'll overcome that needle thing in your head," her father said with a teasing tone.
Keira pouted her lips and murmured, "Hmmp, a while ago you scolded me for not overcoming it and now you're suddenly proud."
Field Marshal Chan laughed out hard and pat Keira's head.
"I see Jeru is trying hard to be friends with you. He's also a nice boy, though a little bit temperamental. You see, growing up under the supervision of that Old Madam Liu the Female Hitler is not easy. I heard he has experienced a really tough life, so that's why he's kind of afraid to be a disappointment. Or should I say that he needs to be perfect and please Old Madam Liu," explained her father.
Keira let out a long, deep sigh.
Then her father added, "You should thank Zach by the way."
Keira face suddenly lit up upon hearing Zach's name and muttered with questioning eyes to her father, "Huh?"
"He ran you here like a flash as soon as you passed out, dear." Field Marshal Chan uttered nonchalantly.
"What?" Keira burst out totally stunned.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Zach went out with Torin and Cielo to dine outside.
Cielo elbowed Torin and pouted her lips toward Zach, who was so quiet and didn't even utter a word.
Torin shrugged his shoulders but he couldn't take the silence any longer so he spoke, "I think Zach is in the crucial phase of his life right now, Cielo, so let him be. Let him concentrate and analyze himself and what he is feeling at the moment. You see, Zach has this problem of denying a lot of things to himself and..."
Cielo's mouth twisted and she jabbed Torin's ribs, stopping him from uttering another word.
"Ouch! What?" Torin hissed. Cielo signaled him to shut up instead.
"I will order more desserts for us," said Cielo who got up to lighten the mood.
Torin stood up too and looked at Zach.
"Bro…" but Zach did not respond, so Torin waved his hands in front of Zach's face as he called him.
"What?" Zach hissed when he finally noticed Torin who was now shaking his head before him.
"Bro, snap out, will you? I said I am going to pee and Cielo is just at the counter. You're getting worse, look at you! Geez, this denial king!" He said and hurriedly walked away from Zach.
Zach frowned and exhaled loudly but it's too late to hit Torin who ran away from him.
He was confused at that moment and feeling weird. He has been in this confused state not only now but for the last few weeks. Something was not right with him and he couldn't name or distinguish it yet.
He looked at the counter and saw Cielo, who was ordering, then he shifted his gaze and paused when he saw a woman sitting near the exit door and staring at him. She looked weird wearing a hoodie inside a restaurant.
He did not know why but he suddenly got curious so he looked closely but his eyes narrowed and his face darkened when he recognized the familiarity of her face.
"Thea," he murmured and closed his eyes and opened it once more. However, the woman with the hoodie was no longer at that same spot.
Zach quickly stood up and ran towards the door to look around, but there's no trace of her.
"What's this!?" He jeered, full of scornful tone as he walked back into the restaurant.
Torin, who was back from the restroom, looked at him and said, "What's wrong? You went out?"
Zach smiled wryly.
"Yeah, I think I saw a nightmare and it's not even dark yet," scoffed Zach. Then he frowned as he recalled those eyes, he couldn't be wrong, those were Thea's blue eyes.
'Was that regret? Longing? Guilt?' He mused, describing the expression of those eyes, not even sure if what he saw was real. But for some reason, his heart felt a sudden jolt of pain and ache.
'Is it pain or resentment? Is there a difference between these two?' Zach let out a humorless laugh. Then he asked himself what he would do if Thea really showed up before him.
'What will you do, Zach, if Thea really suddenly show up before you?' He asked himself inwardly.
He loved her wholeheartedly since childhood. They were together all the time, especially those hard times in their life that he'd thought would last for long no matter what happened. Thea became his world and his whole life revolved around her.
He thought Thea was contented by having him by her side, and nothing else would really matter as long as they had one another, facing everything together.
He thought everything was really good until she left him with just a note. The damn note where she wrote about all her disappointments in life. He thought everything was good, but in the end, it was all a lie.
She was no longer happy and gave up… She wanted a good life and he was a hindrance. Until this very moment, he still couldn't understand how he became a hindrance in her life when he was willing to give her anything and let her do what she wanted.
He worked hard for her because he wanted to give her everything, he dreamed of a good life with her and their future family.
Another smirk crept up on his face as he cut the beef on his plate harshly as if he was killing someone through that beef.
Cielo and Torin, who were in front of Zach, looked at each other meaningfully, both agreed that Zach looked like out of his mind right now. He looked like a lunatic at that very moment.
...…
Senior Liu looked at the photos from the report submitted by Secretary Wu, staring a particular one. Then he double checked the profile several times making sure he did not miss a single detail.
"Could it be...?" He muttered with a furrowed forehead and quickly called for Secretary Wu.
"Yes, Sir?" Secretary Wu asked and Senior Liu tasked him for another work.
But this time, it's something crucial and more complicated. It made Secretary Wu's heart skip a beat as he was listening to the instructions that Senior Liu was giving him.
He had noticed it too but he wouldn't dare to suggest a thing to his Boss and complicate things further.
However, things had already come to this and he was determined to be loyal to Senior Liu. He would help until the very end.
He was also curious to find out everything. Then he sighed at the possible consequences of everything. It would be a complete disaster...