May broke the hug though the other person did not consider it to be. She took a step backwards in order to get a clear view of her long lost friend. Stanley was back to himself and stared back at her with questions flowing at the back of his mind.
"Grandpa," he called Richard for help. Not knowing, the man was already on his way out of the the big room.
How was he going to handle this? He had handled lots of situations. But a girl, he was not sure. He could only groan inside.
Yeah he knew her. They used to be very close when they were little. May's parents were very good friends of his parents. They even became the family's friend. One could visit or the other way round. Sadly, they moved out of the city into another and that was the end of their friendship.
The fact that she called him by his pet name, he wasn't surprised because back then, she never called him by his real name. Only mom and dad called him Ares and May was the third party. Princessah and Silvester never called him that. They thought it was silly. Ares. The name was a Greek one and the meaning did not fit into his personality.
"Ares," the sound of his name from her lips brought back old memories. He watched as she retreated the step she has taken before. Stanley remained rooted in his spot. He had to do something.
"I'm sorry about your parents." Her right hand went into his large palm. It seemed not to fit in there.
"Sorry I wasn't there." They held each other's gaze making Stanley forget about himself completely.
What was happening? He did not remember the last time he had given a woman this much of attention.
Her brown eyes revealed it all. Stanley wasn't going to lose it. "You look a little bit bigger." He finally spoke up.
"Me," May swelled her eyes over her little self.
"I'm big now. You know, I've gained some weight." She said proudly. But the other paty wasn't convinced. May used to be very tiny when they were small.
"Pfft, you have gained weight, you should look at yourself clearly." Stanley said sarcastically.
May let go of his hand. She was beginning to fume with anger. "Ares, nobody has told me this since I've gained weight. You're still the same. Teasing me as always." She said with warning and a finger directly at him.
Back then, nobody called her tiny. Even her big brothers never bothered to call her names. This guy was the only one who used to do that.
"I'm sorry."
"You are the one whose become bigger. You know, my hand used to fit around yours. But it can't cover even half of your palm." She said with a saddened voice.
Stanley took her small hands, holding them in his and staring at her. This brought about onlookers. They had been staring at the two since the General left. Those who were aware of the nature of the young soldier were very curious to know who the lady was to him. Stanley wasn't a man fond of women. In all their activities in the base, he used to be close to only one woman.
Where was she now? She disappeared and the man never went close to any other female. Except for duty seek. He has been seen with his family that visited him unknowingly, revealing the relation with him and the General.
"Ares, we have a lot to talk about. But..." She then realized where she was. May got her hands out of his hold, looking back at her team who had stopped what they were doing and rather eavesdropping. Everyone got busied with something when she saw them.
" I have a lot to do." She turned back to him.
"Are you the leader?" Stanley asked since they had averted their attention to her.
May nodded. Stanley placed his hands into his lower pockets. He glanced around them in a blink of an eye.
"I'm the one looking after you guys, so there's time to catch-up with things. I bet you're not leaving here until those uniforms are done." May gave him another nod.
"I'll be around." He ensured her. May hesitated to leave.
"You didn't hug me back when I hugged you."
The latter stood there speechless. Stanley was not going to go another round. His men were around. Though they wouldn't dare to stare at him, her members would every second take a glance of them.
They have lots of questions to ask her when she returns to them. She stretched out her hands to him.
Stanley groaned inside. He accepted it and found himself clutched to her small body. She fit into his large one. His hands moved to her back, slowly relieving himself off the tension within. He held her there--- forever.
"May," a voice echoed in her mind. She was dozing off, thankfully, somebody made her get her senses back. She broke the hug and gave her full attention to the lady a feet away.
"We need your guide please."
"I'm right behind you," the woman understood her statement and walked away.
"I need to go," she informed her long lost friend. She didn't want to break the hug, it was very comfortable.
"Don't worry, I am around." She quickly left him to join her people.
Stanley went back to the table where his grandpa was at. Some of the soldiers had gathered around attending to the team's needs. They had a lot to make.
'When are they going to finish?'
"Today is day one, I'm not sure when." A soldier answered him as if he had read his mind.
Stanley glared at him with piecing eyes. Did he ask for his opinion?
"Sorry sir," the soldier apologized. He was only trying to be helpful. He saw how stressed out his master was. Besides, none of them liked to be there, but they had to.
They had to endure.