Mint couldn't do anything anymore. She couldn't even protest anymore because their big boss made it her final decision. Even Mint's boss agrees to that. Damn it, she's the one at a disadvantage here. Why them, anyway? There's many driving schools out there. Why did they choose Aethercliff? She doesn't want to revisit the past anymore.
Mint signed with resignation.
Within 7 months after her graduation. She went to join a camp. She expected it to be an 'ordinary' camp. For example, they will go hiking through some mountains or valleys. They will stay outside and live in the forest. Try something knowledgeable and teach them how to survive in the wild. That kind of thing.
But no. She didn't have any ounce of knowledge that it's a camp that a military academy designated. It has the intention of training the people who joined the camp and they will select any good newbies that they can absorb and trick into joining into their academy. The one who orchestrates the camp is the Echelon Knight Military Academy.
Though Mint knew that the said academy doesn't have a bad intention. Besides their hidden intention, after all, they do good deeds by the way as they will train people into learning some self-defense and how to protect themselves for a little amount of money. It's just that they do want to choose some good seedlings and persuade them into joining their academy. Of course, it's not forceful in a way.
When Mint learned that the camp is that kind of training camp. It's tolerable for her so she joined all the way and went with the flow. Within the camp, they teach them some combat skills. How to handle guns. Trained to hold any kind of weapon. And Mint's favorite, they teach them how to drive a car.
Mint excels in driving. She even learned advanced driving. She can even do some dangerous tricks like some basic drifting. Every time she drives a car her temperament changes. Like she's becoming a new person.
After the training finishes, Major General Kane attended their last day and a small program in sending them off. To Mint's surprise, her all escapades during the training, especially in her driving skills, he discretely summoned her through his assistant for a private discussion. Of course, she agreed.
According to them, she was called because they wanted to invite her to join their academy. They have many good conditions just for her to join. One of them is that she can still improve his driving skills and learn a lot more about it.
Mint gets tempted. She wanted to improve her skills in driving since she really gets interested in it. When they gave them the opportunity to do so. She really can't say no. Also, having the knowledge that Echelon Knight Military Academy or EKMA is the most famous military academy in their country is a big stimulus for her. Not everyone can join EKMA. In the end, she decided to join.
In the academy, Mint is really grateful because she really learned many things. Aside from the teachings regarding military personnel, her driving skills really improved. Aside from her innate skill in learning it, the academy really helps her. Anyway, her and her teammates become flexible. They acted as trainers , but they are trainees too occasionally. But during the last two years she is attending the academy, she and her team get a mission. It's about a syndicate that they should stop.
As usual, she's their capable driver and back up. So she's on the standby again and is responsible for monitoring the main group together with the 3 other people on the team. During the mission, they face a dangerous situation as the subject of their mission knows that they will appear. So, they were ambushed. The ambush is waiting for them and the bait is lying there for them to take.
Although they completed the mission, it came at a great cost. Even if their team is very skilled and they worked on the best solution for them to survive, one of their team was killed and the rest of them got injured very badly. The one who got killed has a very friendly relationship with Mint. When they returned with many serious wounds, they immediately reported what happened.
They found out that Major General and the others had already known that a member of EKMA sold information about their mission to the syndicate. That they were sabotaged. They said they couldn't contact them. The satellite couldn't even reach them. That's why they are worried about them. They guessed that the area that they were in is already blocked by some kind of barrier for outside not to contact them, so any signal won't reach them. "Good thing they didn't all die.", one of the Colonel there even said, which annoyed Mint greatly.
This became a big blow for Mint. It made her realize that, it's better to be a normal person after all. Also, you can just trust anybody. Anyone can betray you. No one can be trusted. When the calendar marks the two years of her entering EKMA. She decided to leave.
Before Mint leaves, the academy finds out who the traitor is. They also punished him to be executed on the spot because he sells an important military secret. Not only that, he has been doing that for a long time. He's just gotten unlucky this time because Mint and her team didn't let go. They never really stopped looking for whoever the mole is.
Back to reality. Now this is happening. Mint didn't know what to do now. She didn't want to remember what happened. She's already content with what's happening right now. But her bosses already decided. Her skills in driving will surely be exposed in no time when they start teaching those kids from EKMA.
Maybe this will be just this kind of relationship. It will end when they finish their contract. They will purely teach those kids and guide them into getting their Driver licenses only. Nothing else should happen anymore. Hopefully. Even if her skills will be exposed, she thinks that it will not hinder her any harm. With that thought, Mint calmed down. Yes. Nothing bad will happen. It will be only purely a Driving School partnered with a normal Military Academy.
Mint just stands aside and is just watching the two group's interaction. After the talk, she was allowed to leave when she asked permission from her boss. But after she left, she didn't know that Major General Kane and his two trusted left- and right-hand men followed her discreetly.
"Are you in a hurry to leave? That's too bad, I wanted to catch up with one of my best drivers once and reminisce with you." said Major General Kane in a soft voice.
Mint stayed still. In truth, she doesn't have any angst and bad opinion of her previous Major General. She even was a little close to him and she even treated him just like a daughter treated her father sometimes. It's just that she already stopped contacting him and the others, even the members of her previous team when she quitted.
She heaved a deep sign. After stabilizing her thoughts, she stands straight. She maneuvered her right leg through the back of her left leg to turn around for her to face Major General Kane and his people. Then she saluted,
"Mint Levine reporting to her Major General, sir, and his personal aids, sir." Mint said with a not so loud voice and with a slight authority.
"Hmm. You don't need to be polite. You're already not a part of my Academy. So, it's alright."
Mint slightly relaxed, but then she answered with a little bit urgency, "That's not right sir. At least, I will always respect you no matter where we were and meet sir."
"Hahaha. You never change. You're still the same. Anyways, come and join me on the walk." Major General Kane laughed slightly and then he gestured to Mint for her to go near him.
Mint complied.
When Mint joined the three, they started to walk. Major General Kane started a small talk.
"At last, we met again. I didn't know that we would meet again. To think that a small school like this will house you."
"Sir, our academy is already great as it is."
"Haha. Of course, I don't mean any harm. Don't get me wrong. I just didn't expect for you to work as a simple encoder with your amazing skills. Anyway, when we we're looking for a driving school, coincidentally, I saw your profile when we visited this Aethercliff today. Well, I know, things will surely get more interesting. So, we decided to choose your academy. "
"Sir, you know, you can't just choose an academy just because you saw my profile. It's unfair."
"You know me. Whatever I want, my EKMA will follow. Also, don't worry, I also chose your academy since the data that we gathered states that your driving school is becoming better and more trustworthy than the other driving schools within this country."
Mint can't help herself and complain directly to Major General Kane. She already stops acting like she's so composed and is a little bit cold in facing him.
"Major General. Why did you request that I should become one of the instructors? I don't believe you don't know what will happen afterwards. I'm just their ordinary encoder in the first place."
"Haha. Easy. Don't get stimulated. Don't worry. Nothing bad will happen. Trust me."
Mint stayed quiet for a while.
"I'll trust you for now." Mint said with a soft voice. Finally, she then concedes. She doesn't want to prolong the discussion because she knows she will just lose.
In the evening that night, Mint is still unsettled. Because one way or another, her secrets will be eventually revealed, even if it is not intentional. Only a few people knew that she was once a part of EKMA back then. Even her mother, she doesn't know. The only thing her mother knows is that she has a job outside their city. So, she needs to be constantly travelling back and forth.
While staring at the dark environment outside, Mint feels a warm embrace on her back. Feeling the comfort that it's giving her, she even huddled more. Silently asking for more.
"Is there any problem? You've been dazed recently. You can tell me anything you know." Sage said tenderly at Mint while he tightened his hug while he peeks at Mints cheek.
"Nothing. I'm just getting tired recently I think." Mint reasoned.
She didn't want to share with Sage what happened. She's not actually ready yet cause once she will say a thing, she will spill everything. Don't get her wrong, she's not scared or what per se, she just doesn't want to reminisce about the past. Also, the past is just a---past---already. It will not matter anymore, it's no longer important to her. The important thing for her is the present.
The only problem is how will she tell Sage about her past. She's slightly scared because what if it will shock Sage? He might suddenly leave her. But of course, she wouldn't agree to be left by Sage. She will just lock him up. Sage is his in the first place
At that, Mint turned to face Sage and proceeded to kiss him directly which slightly surprised Sage. But it's just for a while because he immediately responds to the kiss. He even made it deeply while he then started to clash his tongue with Mint's tongue. The kiss lasted for a long while. Until it's Sage who initiated to stop leaving a trace of silver string that is connected with their mouth.
"I can feel that you're uneasy. Okay, I know you don't want to tell it but remember, I'm here, okay?" Sage said softly while he held Mints cheek and then he kissed the corner of Mint's mouth for a quick kiss.
Mint is so happy and satisfied now that Sage is with her. She really feels protected and important from Sage. That he is right beside her. She's very thankful and grateful for that.
Mint hugged him tight, "Yes. Sage, thank you. I love you."
After two weeks, their instructor of Driving called her to tell her that she needs to get down the building and go to their maneuvering site. Of course she complied. When she reached their maneuvering site, she saw a line of cadets. There are about fifteen people.
"Ma'am, you're here. Meet our students for this week. They're so handsome and beautiful, right?" Their driving instructor, Sir Caraway, teases Mint when he sees that she is already near them.
Mint laughed at what sir Caraway said. Then she looks at the cadets. Sir Caraway's right, they're all good-looking people.
After the cadets saw Mint, they all saluted and greeted her. Typical of what a student of EKMA should do every time they see an employee of their EKMA.
Mint's brow raised a little. She's sure of how they acted, these people shouldn't know who she is before. That's great. Mint is very happy with that knowledge. At least she will not face the heated attention of those students who still knew her.
Mint looks at sir Caraway.
"Sure sir. Wow, you hit the jackpot. Hahaha. By the way, what are we going to do, sir? I'll be your capable assistant. Hehe." Mint answered at sir Caraway.
"Speaking of that. You owe me one. We'll talk later. But let's face them first. One week is long, so we need to know them first. After that, we'll introduce them to the basics, like the signs, laws and others they should know in driving. Then I'll be introducing to them the part of our driving car that they will handle later on. Then I will proceed after."
"Roger sir."
Mint just says yes. About what Caraway said, she's a little nervous as he will surely scold her later. The news should reach his ears that she already knows how to drive, she already has a driver license and she has knowledge in driving. In the first place, what they know is that she doesn't know anything about those things. Especially sir Caraway, because he's kind of close to Mint already. So, it's a big deal when he learned the news. Mint is hiding something without him knowing. Without the others, knowing it.
For the whole day, Mint acted as Sir Caraway's assistance, in and out. After sir Caraway dismissed the cadets, she pulled Mint through their lab. When they arrived there, their custodian, Clove, Sage, and two of their companions who were teachers in senior high school were present. What is this? Will she face a vigorous interrogation? And oh shit!! Sage is also with them. She's in so much trouble with him later for sure. He's going to punish her.
"I-- Umhh-- what is this sir?" Mint hesitantly at sir Caraway. She's so nervous. It's like they put him on a hot seat. That she'd be interrogated hardly.
"Are you nervous?" Sir Caraway asks at Mint with raised brow.
Mint shakes her head fast, indicating that she's not.
"Good. Okay, so? You spilled the beans already."
"What is it?"
"Don't be so innocent in there. When will you tell me that you know how to drive? Do you already have a driver license? All along I thought and we thought that you can't drive. Not only that, but according to what they say you're very knowledgeable in that aspect?" Sir caraway spouted continuously. Scolding Mint which is the reason why Mint acts cowardly there. She felt like sir Caraway would spout hot fire into her.
"Sir, Sir, Breathe. Breathe okay." Mint said, trying to calm sir Caraway while she held up high her two hands pointing toward sir Caraway with open hands.
"You still have the guts to joke around."
"Okay. Okay. I'll say it. Yes. I already know how to drive. I have a driver's license. Also, I know a little bit about driving, especially on the maintenance part. What's the big deal? I just don't have the chance to say it to you?" Mint said in an aggrieved expression.
"*Sign* It's not a big deal actually, it's just that why did they request that you'll be one of the teachers? Also, they said that the partnership between EKMA and Aethercliff will not be settled if you're not one? I smell something suspicious?" Sir Caraway said in a soft voice, he already calmed down from his outburst a while ago when she saw how Mint acted so aggrieved from his questions.
Mint's heart stays still, she then glances at Sage secretly, looking at his expression, "What suspicious? How would I know why they gave that as their condition? I swear I didn't know."