"Ahem," Mark cleared his throat, catching Captain Bron's attention. "So, Captain, we see you've got a lovely nurse attending to you. You know, we're not sure if it's the injury or her that's making you blush."
Captain Bron laughed, "Ah, you Guys got me. It's definitely the nurse. She's been my saving grace during this difficult time."
Jhohan grinned mischievously, "Well, we wouldn't want to interrupt your quality time with the nurse. Maybe we should come back later?
Captain Bron smiled, "No need for that, guys. She's just been helping me get back on my feet... well," he glanced down at his bandaged, amputated legs.
The nurse blushed at the captain's compliment and excused herself to attend to other patients. Mark couldn't resist teasing the captain a bit more, "Looks like you're not the only one on the mend, Captain. Better watch out or she might just steal your heart."
The captain chuckled, "I wouldn't mind being a patient for a little while longer with her around."
Jhohan teased, "Well, I guess that's why you're loving it here, huh? Even though you're already feeling better."
Captain Bron laughed and playfully replied, "That's what it's all about, right, Mark?" He extended his fist for a fist bump.
Mark chuckled and gave him a fist bump, joining in on the lighthearted banter. "Yeah, Captain, you sure know how to keep the spirits up."
"So, Mark and Jhohan, any exciting news to share with?" Captain Bron asked with a sly grin, his gaze flickering between the two of them.
Mark raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "Exciting news? What are you getting at, Captain?"
Captain Bron leaned forward, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Oh, come on! The way you two are always together, there must be some sparks between you two. You know what they say, love blooms on the battlefield." He punctuated his statement with a chuckle.
Jhohan replied, rolling her eyes at the captain's teasing. "Sorry to burst your bubble, Captain, but I don't have time for that kind of nonsense."
Mark chimed in, grinning mischievously. "Yeah, sorry to shatter your matchmaking dreams, Captain. We're too busy fighting off our own troubles to worry about romance."
Captain Bron chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, you youngsters have so much to learn. But remember, if you have feelings for someone, don't wait for the perfect moment. Life's too short for regrets."
Mark and Captain Bron continued their banter, exchanging playful jokes and witty remarks. Their laughter filled the air, providing a temporary escape from the somber atmosphere surrounding them. Jhohan, however, couldn't help but roll her eyes at the captain's shameless corny jokes, finding them a bit too much to handle.
"Hey guys, I hate to break up the fun, but we have a critical situation to deal with," she said, her tone serious.
The room fell silent as Jhohan's words sunk in. The wounded soldiers had a higher possibility of being bitten or infected by the creatures they were fighting. It was a race against time to provide them with the medical care they needed while also ensuring that the parasites didn't spread.
"Just want to remind you again that these parasites are known to thrive in dark environments," Jhohan emphasized, her expression grave.
Captain Bron tried to brush it off. "You already explained it to them, Jhohan. Let them do their job," he said.
Jhohan's face hardened. "This is not the time to make light of the situation, Captain. We don't have enough antidote for now. Do you really think they can manage all the wounded soldiers if some of them have already been infested by the parasites, stealing their own bodies?" she added, her tone sharp.
Captain Bron, realizing the seriousness of the situation, spoke up. "You're right, Jhohan. We can't afford to waste any time. Mark, come with me to the Research and Development Facility. We might find something useful there to aid us in this battle."
Mark hesitated for a moment, "I'm sorry, Captain, but I have to ensure the safety of my sisters first. They need me."
Jhohan turned around and with a determined expression, she said, "I'll go outside to check on those dead beasts. We need to stay vigilant " , she closed the door behind her.
Mark was walking alongside Captain Bron, who was using an electric wheelchair to move around the hallway. The two of them remained silent for a while until Captain Bron decided to break the silence.
"Did you slept with Jhohan?" Captain Bron asked, a mischievous grin on his face.
Mark's face turned red with embarrassment. "Captain, that's a completely nonsense question! There are so many other things we could talk about. Why would that question even cross your mind?"
Captain Bron chuckled and scratched his head. "Just curious, you know. It's good to have a little fun and keep things light-hearted in these serious times."
"No, nothing like that has happened," Mark replied, shaking his head. "Jhohan is a remarkable person – beautiful, intelligent, skilled, and serious about her plans."
Captain Bron leaned in, a mischievous grin on his face. "But you like her, don't you?"
"Yessss.."
Mark hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit flustered. "Well I mean , yes, I do like her a lot, but not in a romantic way. She's become a close friend to me, She helps me ,..someone I trust and admire. Right now, my focus is on seeking justice for my mom and protecting my siblings. That's my priority."
"But wait, why are you asking about this? Are you in love with someone? Is that why you're trying to encourage us to be a couple, so you can express your own feelings to that special someone?" Mark asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, no, nothing like that," Captain Bron replied, chuckling. "Just breaking the silence, my friend."
Mark couldn't resist teasing the captain a little more, "Ah, I see. So, there's someone you're interested in, huh? Is it the nurse, perhaps?" he whispered playfully, nudging the captain's side.
Captain Bron blushed slightly, trying to hide his amusement. "Oh, come on now, Mark. Don't be silly."
Mark continued his teasing all the way to the exit, walking around Captain Bron and pretending to be dramatic. "Captain has fallen in love! I never thought I'd see him blushing," he sang out. 🎶🎶
He looked back at Him "it seems you've fallen head over heels in love! I never thought I'd witness such a sight."🎶
Just as the banter was escalating, General Maverick entered the scene and interrupted, "Enough Mark.Stop your nonsense. There's no time for that. We have more pressing matters to attend to."
Captain Bron quickly composed himself and saluted General Maverick, while Mark, realizing the seriousness of the situation, quieted down and shifted his focus back to the mission at hand.
"How's your condition, Captain?" General Maverick asked.
"Couldn't be better, Sir," Captain replied.
"That's good to hear."
"But I do need some adjustments, sir. Since I lost both my legs now," he added, a hint of humor in his voice.
Maverick looked concerned. "What happened? How did you lose your legs?"
Captain Bron chuckled,
"Oh, I forgot to mention, thank you for saving me, Captain," Mark interjected.
General Maverick turned his attention to Mark. "Captain pushed you out of harm's way?"
Mark nodded, gratitude evident on his face. "Yes, General Maverick. Captain sacrificed himself to prevent the monster from crashing into me."
Maverick's expression softened, his respect for Captain Bron growing. He moved behind Captain Bron and playfully tousled his hair. "Captain, your bravery is commendable. We'll make sure you receive the best care and support for your recovery."
"You always did your best to save lives," he added, a hint of admiration in his voice.
But Captain Bron's expression turned solemn, as if lost in his thoughts. Maverick noticed the change in his demeanor and quickly stopped his playful gesture.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Maverick said, realizing that he may have touched upon a sensitive subject.
Mark, sensing the tension, looked at Captain Bron, his confusion evident on his face. "Why? What's wrong?"
Captain Bron took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "It's just…
But Maverick interjected, putting an end to the conversation. "Enough with this, Mark. It's time for you to visit your family and spend the night with them."
"Yeah, I'm on my way. Actually, I'm taking this opportunity to spend time with them." Mark replied
As Mark made his way towards the road, "Hey, wait!" he shouted, signaling the driver to stop.
The vehicle came to a halt, and Mark quickly climbed in. Looking back at Captain Bron, he waved and said, "Bye, Captain! See you tomorrow!"
Captain Bron smiled and waved back. "Take care, Mark. See you soon!"
As he entered the room, Mark saw his two sisters holding each other while sleeping. He walked towards them, a sense of relief washing over him.
"It's good to see that you're safe," Uncle Brown remarked, standing nearby.
Mark nodded, his voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you for protecting them, Uncle."
Uncle Brown smiled warmly. "You're welcome, but you should also thank her. She's the one who comforted and looked after them while your sisters were waiting for you." He pointed towards a person who had fallen asleep at the table.
Mark's gaze shifted, and he saw her there, quietly keeping watch. "She always waits for you too," Uncle Brown added, his voice filled with understanding.
He gently touched her hair and looked into her eyes, his voice filled with gratitude. "Thank you for taking care of my sisters. I never expected you to be here instead of spending time with your own family."
Sarah woke up, sensing someone touching her hair. She stretched her arms before realizing it was Mark standing beside her. As she recognized him, a mixture of relief and joy washed over her.
She immediately embraced him, tears welling up in her eyes. "I really missed you, Mark. I thought I would never see you again. But Uncle Brown told me you were here, so I came as soon as I could. I've been so worried." Her voice trembled with emotion.
Mark smiled warmly and hugged her back. "Thank you, Sarah, for taking care of my sisters. It means the world to me."
Ywen woke up as she heard a voice, immediately tapping her twin sister Ynna's shoulder to wake her up.
"Kuya Mark is back," she whispered, excitement evident in her voice as she saw Ynna stirring awake.
The two of them quickly joined Mark and Sarah, embracing them tightly.
"Wait, wait, you guys are too heavy," Mark jokingly exclaimed.
"We were so worried," Ynna confessed, tears welling up in her eyes.
They all settled on the floor, forming a circle as Ywen began to share their experience. "When you left, we were so scared. We could hear the continuous explosions outside, and it made it impossible for us to sleep. It was a terrifying ordeal."
"Thank goodness for Sarah. She protected us and provided comfort," Ynna chimed in, expressing her gratitude.
Ywen, with a playful pout, crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "You left us here, you know," she teased, a hint of relief and playfulness in her voice.
Mark chuckled and playfully tapped Ywen's shoulder. "Haha, come on, Ywen. You're always boasting about how you defeat the masters in your video games."
Ywen pouted and replied, "Well, I still hate you for leaving us here."
Uncle Brown intervened, reminding Ywen of her own words. "But remember what you said, Ywen? You wanted to be a hero, even if you had to fight alone for justice."
Ywen crossed her arms again, clearly not convinced. "That's not the point here," she insisted.
Mark teased her, "You're already 14, but you act like a baby who lost their lollipop. How are you going to become a hero?"
"Duhhh..." Ywen responded, rolling her eyes.
Meanwhile, Ynna shared some interesting details from the novel she was reading. "You're just like Master Chu in the novel. He acts strong in front of everyone but still cries like a child," she teased her sister.
"Ynna, I thought you were on my side," Ywen retorted, pretending to be offended.
Laughter filled the room as everyone enjoyed the playful banter. The night embraced them with warmth as they eventually drifted back to sleep, their hearts lighter after sharing moments of joy and connection.
Uncle Brown and the twins fell asleep, while Sarah remained by the window, gazing at the moon above.
Mark approached her and said softly, "I just want to say thank you again for staying here. You should be with your own family."
Sarah turned to him and replied, "It's fine, Mark."
"I didn't see them after..." she trailed off, her voice filled with sadness.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Mark said, his voice filled with empathy.
"I had no idea that night would be the last time I saw them. I woke up the next morning and they were gone. I searched everywhere, hoping to find them, but..." Sarah's voice quivered as tears welled up in her eyes.
Mark embraced her, offering comfort. "Everything will be okay. We'll find a way to make things right."
"Sarah, I can't even begin to express how grateful I am to have you in my life. You've been a constant source of strength and support, even in the short time that we've known each other. Whenever I've felt sad or lost my courage, you've been there, right by my side, reminding me that I'm not alone.
Now, as we face these challenging trials in our lives, I want you to know that I am here for you, just as you have been there for me. We may not have all the answers, and the path ahead may be tough, but I have unwavering faith that together, we can conquer any obstacle that comes our way.
Your presence in our lives has brought so much light and warmth. Even in the midst of this darkness, I see the strength and resilience that resides within you. Together, we will find a way to navigate this journey and emerge stronger than ever before.
Thank you for being my friend, for sharing your heart with me, and for allowing me to be a part of your life. Together, we will find the light within the darkness, and we will support each other as we heal and grow."
The words formed in his mind as he hugged Sarah warmly.