CHAPTER 2 - FILLES GÉNÉRALES

As they arrived at the former Military Base of retired Chief General Armando de Castro, her daughter unbuckle herself and open her door side with eagerness, not minding that the car is not yet in total halt…….wanting to get to the target.

“Princess slow down nobody is chasing you and by the way, after you finished there, come see your godfather Domingo in his office okay!?”

The retired General bawled, informing his daughter already far away from him.

“Yes dad, I will!” Retorted back by his daughter.

‘Hmmm…..what an importunate kid still nothing changes.’ Whispered to himself, he just watches his daughter running away from him. Mr. de Castro just smiled, time fly so fast it feels like yesterday that his daughter doesn’t want to be away from him.

But now looking at her……… she has grown to be a very independent woman.

“Armando!” Called out a man, his bearing is sharp as a young lad with his age of fifty-five…………..restless appearance and tired demeanor is catching up on him though.

Caught by the attention from afar, his name is reverberating in the field………he suddenly stops from his musing.

A smile crept into his face knowing the person behind the voice. As he turned around his instinct never failed.

The present Chief General himself Domingo Ramos………his best friend from time memorial, he missis this old lad.

“How are you my friend it’s been a while since we see each other?” Greeted him with a warm hug.

Happily acknowledging the former Chief General that he replaced.

Anselmo reciprocates equally the tight hug to his good friend.

“I’m very much fine Domingo.” An evident smile plastered on the retired general’s handsome face.

“I’m glad you’re finally here, come……let’s talk in my office.” Added the new General to the retired ones.

“This talk is really important….huh Domingo the look on your face seems anxious……what’s been bothering you? Whatever that’s bothering you, I’m here to help?” Assured the retired general to his friend that seems so fretful…..the dark circle in his eyes is so overwhelming to not notice it.

“This is indeed significant Anselmo……I truly need your help with this problem………I am so desperate, I don’t know what else to do.” Agreeing with the General to his best friend with a very worried tone.

The new General guided his friend to his office.

“By the way Domingo, I came with your god-daughter here.” Informed the retired general to his friend.

“Really she’s here?!” Excitement is evident on the old man’s face.

“Doesn't she have any scheduled surgery today? I rarely see that kid now. She used to visit us every day before. ” The General's happy response as he recalled his god daughter’s young self, while they are walking to his office.

“You said it right Domingo…hahaha! We can’t even separate our daughters before, they are so clingy to each other like twins.” Agreed with the retired general to his good friend.

“Wait before anything else how is my goddaughter as well Domingo is she doing good……..she never visited us, after she came back from Germany, where she takes her master’s degree.” Added question by the retired general.

“Actually Anselmo, the reason I called you is because of your god-daughter” Answered the general apprehensive.

“Come Anselmo let’s get inside…….have a seat.” Added the former to his friend, opening the door to his office and ushering him in the receiving couch.

The general’s office is big enough to accommodate a dozen guests, the modern masculine interior suites the general’s authority. The neutral colors applied in the walls accented the leather and wood furniture’s that being used to complement gives the room a cozy yet powerful comfort. The wall-to-ceiling widow making the natural light illuminate inside the general’s office making it festive and appealing inside.

“I know it’s kind of a while now that my daughter came back to the Philippines, but unfortunately she was not able to visit your family…..and for that, we are sorry for not pushing too hard on her to get in touch with your family somehow.” Apologetically announce the new General to his best friend.

The new General is quite disappointed by his daughter’s behavior……but nonetheless even though Rhian is not what she seems anymore, but her loving and caring to others and her family never change.

General Ramos notices the changes in attitude towards his daughter.

Rhian became unrecognizable to them in terms of her behavior, but they understand her because of the pressure of her career…….which is managing all their Architectural Firm solely since she’s an only child.

The young Ramos doesn’t want her family to be disappointed in how she’s handling their Firm.

That’s probably why she is so stressed when her father handed the whole responsibility to her.

Rhian Ramos their sweet little angel becomes not sweet anymore……not being careful; rushing into things. Impatient, quickly irritated, and easily provoked. Because of these responsibilities, she’s been carrying alone it changes her drastically.

But Chief General Ramos knows better, he knows that there is a deeper reason why it comes to this.

The New General doesn’t know when it started…….he means her daughter’s bizarre defiance, but nonetheless, they love her as the way she is.

He is partly to be blamed as well probably; he just doesn’t want to accept it, keeping a one eye blind.

That’s what he thought, thinking this is because of his new responsibility…….but he is wrong, truly wrong.

He missed judging her daughter.

“Domingo?” Getting his friend’s attention whose mind elsewhere.

The former general notices his friend’s weight loss. His muscular physique, well-built, and consciousness of his form are nearly recognizable and you can perceive the lack of sleep and rest.

He knows being a Chief General in the Military is a very excruciating job, but what he sees towards his friend is different this is not about his work in the military field at all.

What really is bothering the new Chief General?

“I’m sorry Anselmo…..I was just being preoccupied nowadays.” Answered the latter to the former who just smile, not reaching his eyes.

“No I don’t buy it, Domingo…..tell me really what’s been bothering you? We have been friends long enough, I know what you feel……..now tell it to me straight….I am here my friend.” Assured Mr. de Castro to his best friend…..tapping his back, comforting him as his reliable friend who is willing to hear his distress.

FILLES GÉNÉRALES (GENERALS DAUGHTERS)