CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Sassah received an email from her reservist commander who admires her hard work, persistence and determination to excel in the bunch of tough and excellent guys from batch 1001. Once again she got an invitation to apply in the military.
She's not so impulsive now. She's chaotic inside; will she take the risk again or live shallowly?
Her food buddies caught her playing with her food. It's her favorite comfort food yet she didn't even taste it. She's looking in somewhere else and unconsciously stabbing that poor beef morcon.
"Hey… sassahbells, is there something bothering you?" Catherine softly asked.
"Maybe she's in love?! Is that the boss guy who supplied you with freaking veggie food and said you're a dead zombie?!" Morris teased. She stopped playing with her food and looked sharply to Morris with killing intent written all over her beautiful face. (Would you like this fucking knife stabs into you?)
"Opps" Morris covered her mouth animatedly.
"No. I'm fine" Her replies and told them her dilemma because she knew that they are bored and will not stop pestering her about the abnormality that she showed.
"O-okayyyy, with that very soft profile and very feminine joining the military really, isn't that suicide?!"Catherine freak out while Morris smile crazily.
"I knew it! I knew it! I did notice before that there's really something in you. You didn't fail in surprising me. That's cool." Morris said while scrubbing her chin and moving her head like agreeing on something abstract like she is already jumping into future plans…
"Cath, I'm batch 1001 reservist. I'm in the top rank in that class. Remember the saying 'Don't judge based on the cover'"
"Go for it big sistah!" Morris cheers her up.
"Okay, I didn't know you're that fierce you didn't look like though, no offense, but if it's really what you want go for it." Catherine expressed her support also.
A bright smile shows and gently reveals her white beautiful teeth that can fascinate others.
"You think so guys?" she somehow felt shy and a little scared.
"Darn it! You have a beautiful smile and those twin dimples… killings." Catherine can't help but burst it out. There's a little worry reflecting on her beautiful eyes for her friends' somewhat impossible desires.
She felt awkward about it but she ignored it eventually.
"Yeah, if you smile more often you may get yourself in trouble, especially a bunch of hungry men in the military? Goodluck! " Morris also added.
She frowned and about to rebut but she saw her previous team leader approaching them that's why she just gave a warning stare to both.
"Hi Sassah, you look great. Look at you, you seem to be enjoying your new team. What's up? Good news?"
"Hi Anna, you look great with that yellow thing. We're here teasing each other and giving exaggerated compliments that can freak out others."
"Oh them, Hi newbies… Are you in the same or different teams? What's up? Batch mate?"
"Yeah" They replied in unison. Her previous team leader stays until the end of their breaks and they all go separately in different teams.
After a little deliberation, Sassah accepted the invitation of her commander and she was advised to report on the following day. She requested to have it at the end of the week appointment and her commander agreed since she's employed and needs to ask for leave permission.
***************
One year ago, she's in the same place having her training as a reservist. Now she went there at her commander's instruction as a visitor.
"Sassah, how are you?" Her commander greeted her. It's a weekday and there's no reservist training but on the other side is the recruitment for enlistment. There are so many men and women in white shirts in pants and rubber shoes registering for enlistment the same way she dressed up. Her commander asks her to wear the applicant attire.
"I'm fine. You look healthier than the last time I saw you." She greeted him back.
"You mean I gained weight? You're really cheeky. Get in."
"Well, a little. Where are we going?" She asked after securing her seat.
"In 51st Engineering, you're going to apply as a special enlistment. The commander there is new and a good friend of mine."
"Special enlistment, will I go in the field?"
"I found out you are into computers. You specialize in computers like most women. And 51st is more on logistics and engineering."
"Sir…"
"I found out that you really passed the officer ship. Who did you get offended by? You were intentionally removed from your batch."
"What?! I don't know."
"A certain Dela Villa from the 2nd western district, sounds familiar?"
"No. But my family is from the 2nd western district." she replied instantly and unconsciously.
"Nice, did my own roots block my way?" She bitterly asked no one in particular.
"Why?"
"I'm not sure either. But last year, I had a conflict with my parents or maybe with our whole clan now just because of that little cousin they've adopted. He's like a termite ruining our family. Two years ago after he graduated from college, he asked my parents for a shelter so he could move here to work from the province.
My father even helped him secure a job but he left before quarantine for an uncertain reason." She starts explaining and she can't help the feeling of anger just remembering what had happened in the past.
"He followed my brother like a shadow before and his excuses; he's new and ignorant that he must learn something from him so kento brought him everywhere and introduced him to everyone. Kento may not finish college but he is well connected! And that bastard did use him really well, what's wrong with him? He took things from my brother. He tried to replace him at their works until he replaced him from my parents' attention and that little trust and confidence they left for him, -gone.
During Christmas and New Year, and some occasions before and after the quarantine, we notice his attitude. He's lazy, pathetic, and he was acting deprived! an opportunist and entitled! He thinks that everything and everybody should sympathize with him… but we didn't.
I can't tolerate that, I'm not as kind as my parents. I confronted him at first to enlighten him. We had a little talk because I wanted to fix the conflict but he took it against him. Still no change from his end, until everything went south we attacked him verbally Confrontation after confrontation. I especially hate such a person but our parents keep on protecting and shielding him until too many words are said and we end up hating each other but I won in sending him away but my father sent me out too. Pathetic noh?! I still can't understand why he chose to stay with us even though he had his two brothers and family aside from us?"
She was cut from her long dialoge.
"What? You sent him away during quarantine? How heartless how he made it?" Commander Pete noticed the frustration and anger in every word she spoke and said things to lighten the uncomfortable atmosphere inside the car.
"And you think that's the reason for your issue? Isn't that karma?"
"I was sent away too. And I still think it was for the better than we, all become more evil if it will take longer than than. We will eventually ruin him with all the harsh words and actions like we're creating him to be a monster or us to turn into monsters instead. I can't pretend or keep composed and compromise. I cannot!"
"So you think it's your parents?"
"They can't do it. They're weak and have no courage to do so. They love to play holy."
"You're cousin?"
"His dad is dead. His mom is mentally… I'm not sure either."
She let out a deep breath. Her wounds have been open. She thought that she had grown up right but now she knew that she's been broken and pretended that she's okay and their family is okay. She thought she knew things but she's now, she is unsure.
"Maybe, I really don't know, will you enlighten me?"
"That's why you should go to 51st to enter the military. If you really want to become an army, you don't have any other option. You must secure this position once and for all."
"Do I still have a chance to become an officer? I really want to learn things there."
"Then work hard for it. You still have your final year."
"Age limit" She smirks thinking that everything will not be easy for her.