"Fiancee?" Cyprian repeated. Her wild mind was already creating scenarios in her head as she wondered if the so called president’s secretary liked her at first sight and wanted to use this opportunity to hit on her.
Inhaling deeply, she decided to face it head-on. At least, she had to see the person and know what he wanted first.
However, her surprise could not be asured when she ca to stand before the president to see Raymond sitting in front of the man.
"Ray," she called, not bothering to hide her surprise.
"Rian," Raymond called back, the smile on his face showing that he had planned this beforehand.
Before she could be tagged as impolite, Cyprian bowed slightly to greet the president who nodded at her in response. With the man’s frail expression and languid physique, Cyprian could tell he had not recovered completely.
"What are you doing here,Ray?" Cyprian asked, using her eyes to signal to him to stand up from his seat and follow her. Raymond ignored her gestures and instead pulled her down to the seat beside him.
"I’m traveling with you guys as the president’s secretary. Don’t be too surprised," he answered her.
"Hey!" she slapped his arm off, casting a quick glance at the president.
"It’s alright. Mr Stone already explained to the relationship between you two so you don’t have to worry."
Giving a polite nod, Cyprian then turned to Raymond.
"Travelling as his secretary? That ans you’re hiding sothing. What are you up to and where are you going?" she whispered into his ears.
"It’s nothing serious. Just a regular mission to find out why so strange things are occuring."
"Strange–"
Raymond could sense the excitent in Cyprian’s voice so he was quick to cut her off.
"Shhhh. Shouldn’t you be thinking of how we will be having a week to ourselves?"
★★★
"Woohoo!"
Shikera watched from behind as Maja scread at the mountains, jumping up in joy. They had just alighted from the bus to stretch their legs, and at the sa ti to wait for the people who would take them directly to the military base camp. It was not like they could navigate through this forest by themselves anyway.
"Shikera!"
She turned when she heard Vicky’s voice from behind her. She was sitting on a small rock not far from the bus, together with Henry and Josh.
"Is sothing wrong?" She called back to see Vicky shake her head.
"Nah! We’re having chocolates, won’t you take any?"
Shikera walked towards them with a smile on her face, settling down on a smaller rock when she got there.
"I don’t eat chocolate. Did you ask Mr. Clark and his assistant?" She asked, pointing in the direction of the bus where the drivers were resting.
"I didn’t want to disturb them," Vicky replied. Changing the topic imdiately, she continued, "Why the hell are the military even having a mock training for high school students in the woods?"
"No idea, Vicky. Except you’ll travel back and go ask our team leader."
"Hmph! I won’t get angry for now but if I get there and I’m not able to get a handso young soldier for a boyfriend, then my wrath would be unleashed!" Vicky chuckled, unwrapping the bar of chocolate in her hands with force as if that was her unleashed wrath.
Shikera was about to reply when one of the new mbers, Henry, talked instead.
"Uhm...I didn’t know Miss Vicky was still single," he said, his voice almost in a whisper.
Silence ensued as soon as he stopped talking, as realization dawned on Shikera and Josh of the motive behind Henry’s question.
Vicky, however, was oblivious as she simply answered nonchalantly, "I’m single and very much searching. And hey, don’t call ’miss’; we work in a television station and you still address formally?"
"Oh, sorry..."
Shikera sighed loudly, sending a teasing smile in Henry’s direction.
"How about you, Henry? You’re single too, right?" Shikera asked, ready to start her matchmaking process.
It was at this mont that Vicky seed to catch on to what was going on, and she frowned before turning to face Henry.
"I’m sure he is. Everyone here is single too. Both Josh, Maja and Shikera," she intercepted, a victorious smile on her lips.
Shikera shook her head, "I’m not single though. In fact, I’m married."
"It’s not ti to joke..."
"Guys, there’s a car approaching us!" Maja’s excited voice reached them, and they rushed back to their bus.
"Mr Clark," Shikera called, waking the driver up.
The rest of them assembled at the front of the bus as they waited for the approaching car to reach them. Shikera went to stand at the front of the team, as she whispered instructions to them.
"Let’s not behave as playful as we used to do, just for today. When we are settled by tomorrow, you can all do as you wish. Especially you, Vicky, no boyfriend hunt today!"
"Alright, they are here. Let’s et them halfway!"
★★★
"How the heck did Ethan carry this with just one hand?" Shikera muttered under her breath, as she pulled her luggage after her. She was pulling it with her two hands yet it still felt so heavy, so how did Ethan carry it without even breaking a breath?
She looked up at her teammates who were facing the sa ordeal as she was, and then at the man in uniform leading them at the front. He didn’t even bother to offer his help to any of them!
Well, Shikera concluded, it was hers and her teammates’ fault that they packed too much. They wanted to be comfortable for their two weeks trip.
"Sergeant Neil!" Shikera called, causing the man in uniform to stop and turn back.
"How much farther are we going to walk?"
"Just a few more minutes. I need to show you to your tents first before taking you to where the students and soldiers are waiting. I hope you don’t mind," with that reply, Neil turned to start walking again.
But this ti, Shikera couldn’t stomach her request.
"Sergeant Neil," she called again, smiling when the man turned.
"Could you please help lift my luggage at one end while I carry from the other?"
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