Alora McLean meets the gaze of her father who is narrowing his eyes at her the whole time.
Is it something her father should worry about? She is well aware of the answer.
Nevertheless, as much as she hates to lie to her father, she has a feeling that it is better for him to not know what she experienced; at least for now.
"It's nothing much, Father," she finally says. "I was only out to celebrate my leave but maybe because I hadn't drank in a long time, I ended up enjoying myself too much."
"Really?" Kenzo McLean sounds a bit doubting but it isn't that much and Alora nods her head.
"You worry too much, Father," she calmly says. "I only let loose because Mason was there even if I got myself drunk."
The General quietly looks at his daughter for a while and then nods. "That's good then. I don't mind even if you spend some time enjoying yourself. You rarely have time for yourself after all." He narrows his eyes at the glass of honey water in Alora's hand and says, "Finish that and wash up. Then we can have breakfast."
"You haven't eaten yet?" Alora is practically blinking. "It's already 8 o'clock, Dad. You will be late for work."
"It's fine," Kenzo McLean calmly assures his daughter. "All your team members are also granted leave and you will all have to be back after two weeks. That means there isn't much time and it has been so long since we had a proper meal together at home. My schedule is clear until noon anyway." With that said, the General slightly smiles and walks out of his daughter's room.
Now that she is alone, everything that happened the other night enters Alora's mind and no matter how much she attempts, the memories are unstoppable.
She really reunited with Lucas Wilde but... it was nothing like she had expected.
During the past 9 years, she often wondered if she would meet him again and if it ever happen, what the scenario would be like.
Would he feel guilty? Or would he even remember her as she does? Would he give her an explanation? Or would he already move on?
Yet when she saw him the other night, he appeared to care less about them and the things that used to exist between them.
He even asked her how long it had been while she was practically counting the days that turned to months and eventually years!
Putting away the glass of honey water, the Captain covers her face with her palms and lets out a soft sigh. "You fool," she mumbles to herself. "What were you expecting after all those quiet years?"
Alora knows that he could easily find her if he really wishes to see her but he never came. Still, she lived in delusion and told herself that there must be some problems that made him unable to show up before her. However, when she finally saw him, it was obvious that he was living a good life all along; perhaps a life where she does not have a place anymore.
She was the one who fooled herself all those years and to admit it is more than bitter!
Refusing to think further, Alora put down her hands and then gets off her bed. She narrows her eyes at the honey water her father brought for her and finishes it before she goes for a shower.
*
"Did you wait long, Father? I'm sorry," Alora apologizes as she takes a seat opposite her father in the dining room. The moment she occupies her seat, the housekeeper who also cooks for them, quickly lays out several dishes on the table. "Thank you, Mrs. Quinn."
Mrs. Quinn who is in her 40s exchanges Alora's smile. "Eat up. I bet you didn't eat well at the camp."
Alora McLean briefly glances at her father before looking at Mrs. Quinn again as if asking her to not say such a thing in her father's presence. This earns her a sigh from her father who noticed everything.
"Just eat," General Kenzo urges his daughter. "It's not like I don't know how you were in the camp."
"It is no secret that you know everything I do in the camp, Father," Alora sighs. "Everyone there is eager to report my every movement to you. They can all be considered your spies."
"Thanks to that, I get to know what my daughter is up to," Kenzo McLean points out. "If not, you never care to tell me about it."
Alora looks at the housekeeper who smiles while shaking her head and then shifts her gaze back to her father. "You know it's not that, General. I'm just too busy to even use a phone."
"Really?" General Kenzo appears as if he were really surprised. Nevertheless, there is a menacing smile on his face when he suggests, "Then should I tell your Commander to give you less work?"
"No." Alora's response comes too fast that it makes her father chuckle.
"See," he says, "You are that busy by choice."
Alora McLean tries to speak up but she is interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. When Mrs. Quinn goes to get the door, she takes her chance.
"I am sure that you will do the same if you were in my place, Father," she argues. "I don't want the soldiers to say that I receive special treatment because I am the General's daughter. Even now, there are many eyes watching and waiting for my mistake."
General Kenzo McLean thinks for a split second and simply says, "Just ignore them, Lora. You and I both know that you play fair in everything and that's more than enough."
Alora McLean lets out a heavy sigh. "It must feel great to be the General. No one would dare to criticize you, at least in front of your face," she bluntly says.
Much to Alora's annoyance, her tone only draws a burst of laughter from her father who always loves to play around with her when it comes to military affairs!
"Father! I'm serious here!" She is practically yelling yet her father only laughs harder!
Alora tries to speak up again but she senses the presence of someone. Only then did she realize she has forgotten about the doorbell from earlier. However, her father beat her on turning around to see who the guest is and a smile grows on the General's face.
"Killian."
Killian? As in Lt. Col. Killian?
Losing no time, Alora McLean turns to see the Deputy Commander of her division who stands in attention to salute her father.
"General."
"At ease." Kenzo McLean calmly orders while his daughter rises from her seat.
"Deputy Commander." Alora isn't bound to salute as she isn't in her uniform at the moment. Still, she slightly bows.
"Captain Alora." Despite being Alora's superior, Lt. Col. Killian has a little smile on his face when he exchanges Alora's greeting. However, his attention is back to the General almost immediately.
"Have you had breakfast, Killian?" Kenzo McLean asks, briefly glancing at his daughter who still remains standing.
"I ate at the camp before I come, sir," Lt. Col. Killian formally replies. "Please carry on. I will wait in the living room."
"I don't think the food at the camp will compare to the food here," General Kenzo points out, making his daughter raise a brow. "How about you join us? We just start eating."
Alora wonders how unusual it is for her father to insist on such a thing.
Does he plan to try something again after promising to give her a break from it?!