"Do you really want to go?" asked Zi Xingxi repeating the question as she removed her hair tie wrapped around her wrist.
Zi Han subconsciously swallowed his saliva as he clenched his fists. "Yes," he replied as his mother handed him the AP sniper rifle. Zi Han looked down at that sleek power weapon in his mother's hand and couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
"You know what this trip means, right?" she asked her tone much more serious than before. She stared straight into his eyes and said, "This is it..... There won't be turning back if you take this step."
As she said this she moved the AP sniper rifle a little forward closer to his hand.
Zi Han's heart pounded hard against his chest his palms sweating in nervousness. He always dreamt of enlisting in the military and had studied various weapons in the simulator at school and at the extra curriculum centre his mother signed him up for but that wasn't comparable to the real thing. Now that his virtual world became his reality he was a little nervous.
But no matter how nervous he was his decision remained the same. This is what he wanted though the route wasn't necessarily the same. His gaze fell back on that sniper rifle before he stretched out his hand and took it from her.
Zi Xingxi relaxed as a small smile appeared on her face. She hoped her son would join the military because she knew how dangerous this world was.
One minute there is peace and people are living regular lives only for things to descend into chaos the next. At least if that happened then her son would be able to protect himself. If he wasn't as accepting of a career in the military then she wouldn't force him but she would make sure he gets adequate training on the side all for his future survival.
"Pack everything up. We need to be out of here in five," she said before turning away and striding to her bedroom.
As soon as she left Zi Han stared at the open suitcase with pockets shaped like various guns with a hint of fascination. His blood rushed to his brain as he knelt in front of the coffee table with the sniper rifle in his hand.
He wasn't certain how to feel as he stared at the peacemaker energy shotgun, the B3 wingman sidearm, the Hammond semi-automatic and SA-3 Mozambique laser shotgun pistol scattered on the coffee table.
He carefully placed the AP sniper rifle in its place in the suitcase with his fingers tracing the weapon with a hint of excitement. He carefully studied each piece before placing them in their rightful positions in the suitcase.
Just as he placed the last one in the suitcase he heard his mother's soft voice saying, "Would you like me to get you a room and leave you with them. I mean..... if you want some alone time I can make arrangements," she said with her shoulder leaning against the wall and her arms crossed on her chest.
Zi Han hurriedly shook his head as he closed the suitcase before placing it upright on the floor and pulling up the retractable handle like he was ready to go. Zi Xingxi sighed as she unfolded her crossed arms. She walked toward him and fixed his hair that was hanging on his forehead while saying, "When will you stop making me worry about you? Go and grab a thick jacket. It's going to get super cold."
Zi Han nodded his head and rushed over to his room picking up any jacket he could find. He pulled a yellow puffer jacket from the closet and rushed back while putting his hands through the sleeves.
When he came out his mother had already put on her comfortable shoes. She was standing by the door holding the suitcase handle waiting for him. When he appeared she rolled the suitcase towards him before opening the door to leave.
ZI Han caught the handle easily and quickly put on his sneakers. When he exited the door his mother was standing in the corridor tying her thick hair up. "Let's go," she said leading the way. Zi Han closed the door and the two walked down the corridor.
Some kids chasing each other in the hallway ran past them. Seeing that her son was going to get bumped by these little rascals she draped her arm across his shoulders and pulled him to her side. "Hello auntie Zi," echoed the sounds of the kids greeting Zi Xingxi as they ran past.
She smiled while saying, "You better be careful while running at the stairs."
A series of 'yes' and 'yes auntie' echoed in the hallway before the little brats disappeared at the corner. Zi Xingxi turned her head only for her steps to pause.
In front of them was a little girl with neat pigtails. She was standing there with her hands behind her back while happily staring at Zi Han with sparkly eyes.
"Brother handsome why didn't you go to school today? I was waiting for you downstairs," she said in a milky voice.
Zi Han patted her head and said, "Little Trixie have you forgotten it's a holiday? Stop sitting by the window waiting for me to pass by."
"Oh," she said placing her little index finger in her mouth before continuing, "It seems I can't watch you through the window anymore. Mama says you poured Mrs Cheng's bath water on her yesterday so I am not allowed anymore."
Zi Han smiled and he was about to comfort her when his mother leaned down and said, "That's because your mama loves gossip a lot. Tell her next time she might lose an eye if she keeps sticking her nose in other people's business." She smiled sweetly while gently pinching little Trixie's cheek.
The little girl giggled before saying, "Can brother handsome come play wedding with me? Last time Leila was the bride and I didn't get my turn to marry brother handsome."
Zi Han got a slight headache recalling how his mother punished him when he came home late. She made him play with the group of little girls in the complex for an entire day. So yes, he ended up being a groom playing pretend wedding. By the time these little divas were done with him, he had scary makeup on his face like the Joker from Batman.
"Nope, your brother handsome won't be around to play anymore. Just go tell Leila that brother handsome is going to divorce her. He is taking on a vow of chastity," said Zi Xingxi while dragging her son along past little Trixie.
Little Trixie seemed pleased that Leila was no longer the favoured one but she couldn't understand the meaning of the word 'chastity' so she asked, "Auntie Zi, what is chasisity?" pronouncing it wrong.
Zi Han resisted the urge to laugh as his mother corrected her, "Its chastity and if you want to know the meaning go ask your mother."
"Okay," she replied before running away.
Zi Han, who had just caught her meaning asked, "Vow of chastity?"
Zi Xingxi's tone became serious as she pulled him into the staircase. "You dare fall in love early and get a girl pregnant I will make you a eunuch."
Zi Han felt his balls shrink into his skin as though camouflaging themselves hiding from Zi Xingxi. What made it even more terrifying was that she would actually do it. She really wasn't fucking around.