Keira woke up early for the military tests that were going to take place that day.
Dark circles were slightly visible under her eyes because she couldn't sleep properly last night as she was too excited.
She was too eager to show everyone what she'd got, especially her dad. But of course, at the same time, she was too excited to see Zach once more...
She ran to the bathroom and immediately got prepared. Then, went out to have a quick breakfast.
"Oh, you're early. Aren't you going with your father?" Mrs. Chan asked.
"Nope. I will meet with the group. We will head there together. Besides, it's not good to arrive at the base together with Dad, and I also need to be earlier than him." Explained Keira as she ate her breakfast.
After brushing her teeth and rechecking herself in the mirror, she smiled and said, "Perfect!"
Outside, her dad and mom were having breakfast together so she bid farewell.
First, she kissed her dad who said, "Good luck… and do your best, dear."
"Wish me good luck too, Mom," said Keira, who kissed her mom next, before leaving.
"Fighting!" Said her mom with a gesture of her hand, she was imitating what they've usually seen on drama series they were watching together.
"You lack the energy, Mom… You should do it with both arms like this. Fighting!" Said Keira full of energy, which made her mom laugh.
"Alright, Wonderwoman… go, leave now. Bring home the bacon?" Her mom said with hesitation, which made Keira's lips get pouted.
"What's with the hesitant tone? Bring home the bacon? Really, Mom? With a questioning tone? Geez, I will definitely bring home not just bacon but a SON-IN-LAW…" Keira said confidently, which made her parent's jaws drop early in the morning.
"You… you… come back here, you… get a degree first!" Shouted Mrs. Chan at Keira who was almost running out of their mansion laughing.
Mrs. Chan shook her head as she stared at Keira's back.
"Darling, I think we are too soft on Keira. Don't you think so?" Mrs. Chan asked her husband.
Field Marshall Chan winked at her and said simply, "Hmm… Let's just support her as long as she is not doing anything bad to others and to herself… I think nothing is wrong at all…"
They were not that strict with Keira because they trusted her and knew their daughter well. Keira would never do anything to disappoint them.
"Alright, my lovely daughter… Enjoy your youth," she murmured as she smiled on her own, thinking about her adorable daughter.
It was really nice to have an inspiration, which would give someone a motivation to do her best on something.
She could say, at that moment Zach was a good dose of medicine for Keira who was extremely lazy before. But now, Keira could wake up on her own, plus she's taking good care of her health and body unlike before.
Such a good change, for that quick span of time and she's loving it, seeing Keira full of energy and motivation.
However, her point was still when it came to Keira's career. She would prefer Keira not to stay long inside the Military School and focus more on the academic study to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Medicine or Law…
...
Keira used their family van and picked Lana, May, and Drey up along the way.
"I'm suddenly nervous," May said while she shook her hands as she inhaled and exhaled loudly.
"Well, that's normal… Let's just do our best. We all studied hard for that anyway. Today is purely all written exams."
The first step was taking the Military Academy entrance examination.
The entrance examination covered the following subject:
Algebra and Geometry
Grammar
Composition
Reading and Comprehension
Verbal Reasoning
Numerical Reasoning
Pattern Analysis
"Hmmp… That's why I'm nervous… Because among all of us, I have the least, uhm poorest reading comprehension skills…" May murmured.
"Don't worry, sis, stop thinking too much. You can do it," Keira said, giving the latter confidence and assurance.
"Geez, stop that May, we all need to pass, otherwise, there's no more treat for you to all the lavishing restaurants with yummy dishes from all over the world. We will diet you for a month if you won't do your best on this exam!" Drey exclaimed and he would definitely make that happen just by his threatening tone.
May's eyes widened in horror while Lana and Keira laughed. May was a total glutton and her weakness was food. You could say anything to her, no matter how harsh those words were, she would not get affected by any of it at all. But don't you dare threaten her with food because she would definitely do anything for a good meal.
"If you do that, I'm going to kill you, Drey!! Of course, I will pass so make sure you treat me to all dine in places I want for this month!" Declared May irritably, which made the group laugh out hard.
'That's my girl…' mused John who was driving with a smile as he listened to the group's conversation.
"Stop grinning alone and focus on driving, boy!" Instructed Jim and shook his head. Youngsters these days were so different...
If their Mistress Keira passed the Military School exams, the two of them could get a very long rest while she was gone. Jim inwardly wished his Mistress good luck too.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"This is it, finally." Keira murmured as they were going through the entrance of the Military School.
Many applicants had already arrived, and just like them, there were also students in groups who knew each other. Some were still scanning their notes while others were discussing the possible scope for physical test.
Drey blew air on his forehead as his mouth twitched. As he presumed, they would definitely be the crowd's head turner because almost all other applicants were either obviously looking or stealing glances at their group.
But of course, it was Keira who always shone brightly among them all, so practically those eyes never missed her. She was like a celebrity standing elegantly among the crowd.
'They must have thought that the reason such a poised and elegant beauty is here with us to apply for the admission test inside a military school is to just show off.' Drey mused. Keira was not a public person because Field Marshall Chan made sure his daughter's privacy was well-kept, so the media never captured her face unless allowed by Keira's father.
That was also for Keira's own safety, according to Field Marshal Chan, which they could understand very well.
Field Marshal was an honest and just officer, and many had tried to threaten the lives of his family members to buy out or allow them to do things within his jurisdiction which he strongly rejected, especially, if it was not good for the people and his country.
Drey looked at Keira who, as usual, never seemed to care at all about her surroundings. Well, it's not that she did not care, but she grew immune to that kind of attention, at most, her attitude best suited the entertainment industry but it was impossible for her because Keira hated the limelight.
"Aren't you nervous at all?" Drey asked as he stared at Keira's calm, and at the same time, excited face.
"I don't get nervous, Drey, you know that..." Keira answered simply as they continued to walk to the Main Hall's building where all applicants were instructed to proceed for the briefing.
"Wow… I can't believe that there are so many aspiring soldiers in our country." May exclaimed as she looked at the crowd inside the Main Hall. There were also many women present but most of them looked stiff.
"Yes, it's because of the good reputation of our soldiers under Keira's dad's commanding. As people say, Field Marshall Chan is the best among all the people that had ever commanded our country's military section. And they also offer good quality training and education. It's a high-class training, and we all know that whoever is admitted inside most often than not are the best among the rest..." Lana explained.
Drey arched his brows and whispered, "You came well prepared, as always. I'm sure you will best fit as a strategist, like Keira. But I must really say this… My eyes are feasting right now… urghh, I must pass all their tests no matter what…"
Keira laughed at Drey's suppressed expression because she was sure the latter wanted to cringe and shout-'Wow, so many boys, hunk and handsome boys to serve my eyes well!'
But of course Drey couldn't do it since they were like sardines in the Main Hall and she was sure that they were hundreds in numbers.
May, who always loved to banter with Drey, teased and murmured, "Must be hard, friend… right? Don't worry, I'll do the cringing for you."
Then, at that instant, May burst out, "Wow, so many handsome men! I'm not sure if I can still stay single once I get admitted!"
Lana wanted the whole ground to eat them wholly at that moment because of embarrassment as she tried to distance herself from May and hide behind Keira who was laughing out hard.
At least, Keira laughed with poise…
Drey pouted his lips because the only problem, he would probably encounter inside the base, was hiding his real identity if he ever got admitted.
The noise and murmuring of the applicants stopped with the sound of the mic being tested.
A man went on stage. He introduced himself as Lieutenant Long and welcomed all the hundreds of applicants standing before him.
"Oh wow… I'm glad to welcome all of you here, and I must say that this batch is much bigger, compared to the previous admission tests. I feel honored that many youngsters these days choose to offer themselves as bulletproof, oh forget that, I mean to serve our country well." Lieutenant Long said in a jest, which filled the Main Hall with laughter.
"There will be changes in our admission tests. Today you will be having the basic exam as the first step to determine your qualification for enrollment in Armed Forces. It consists of a 70% multiple choice and 30% written test. Rooms are assigned per the initial letters of your surname, so take note." He continued as he dictated the letters and the room assignee.
"If you didn't listen well and couldn't get to the right room assignee, then the exit gate of our Military Base is open widely for you to leave and better luck to you next time. You have fifteen minutes to get your asses out from here, sit at your assigned room and start the test. It will start and end at the time estimated by the Lieutenant assigned to your rooms. So aspiring soldiers, dismissed! And good luck!" The finale of Lieutenant Jiang speech made the applicants move and search their assigned rooms in a quick manner.
"Goodluck, guys… Let's get this all done and slam victory!" Keira encouraged before each and every one of them left to look and find their assigned rooms.
"What the heck of an introduction! I feel like it's already an exam!" Hissed and murmured some of the applicants who did not get well their assigned rooms as they scratched their heads and walked toward the exit gate of the Military School.