Colonel Lei

"This is divine~" LinLin exclaimed while chewing on the steak that she ordered.

"Yup. This diner always serves the best Western foods. This burger's patties too..they made it themselves," Micheal explained.

"Really?" Wang Hua eying his burger.

"It does looked tasty."

"You want to have a taste?"

Micheal try to pass his burger plate towards Wang Hua.

"Here, have mine. It's the same," Danial shove his burger in front of Wang Hua's mouth.

"Take a bite."

Wang Hua was startled.

"It's okay. I'm just casually asking."

She try to decline politely but Danial insisted. So she had no other choice but to bite his burger a bit.

"Thank you."

Jason and Micheal gaped incredulously by Danial's brazen move while Calvin just rubs his nose awkwardly. But Danial just acting oblivious and continue to munch on his burger.

'It's tastier after she bite on it.'

After a while, the duo looks at Calvin to ask for a confirmation for their unspoken absurd assumption. Calvin glances at them and nodded as affirmation.

"HOLY COW!"

"SH*T!"

The duo swore loudly.

"What happened?" LinLin confusedly asked.

Danial glares at them discreetly.

"No..nothing. There's a fly.."

"Yes..yes..a fly..a fly.."

"Lunatic!" LinLin mumbled before continue to talk with Wang Hua.

They finished their dinner in satisfaction. Before going out, LinLin grabs the ice-blendeds and two large fries that she managed to order before. After all, their meals was paid by Danial.

"You really have a big appetite, LinLin," Micheal jested.

"Nope. It's for us both," she points at Wang Hua.

"Umm..we just accustomed to munch on something when we walked on the beach."

"Right~ The street foods."

When the girls leisurely strode in front, the boys intentionally lagged behind. Micheal and Jason pounce on Danial immediately.

"So..she's the one?"

"Fu*king brat! I thought you're bluffing before about liking someone. Turns out she's right in front of us, all the time," Jason exclaimed.

Danial just smiled.

"Wait..so the ice cream incident is not a coincidence?" Micheal asked.

"That's the third. Each of our encounters really a coincidences."

"What?! Third?!"

"Where? Where?"

"During the sport's competition last semester."

"HOLY COW!"

"So you knew her all along."

They turns to Calvin.

"You knew?"

"When?"

"I'm his brother, so I knew him better than you," he shrugged.

"Before kayaking."

"That's already so long ago."

Danial shrugged and step forward with Calvin, leaving the duo with more questions than answers. He had a silly smile on his face. Suddenly Jason and Micheal jumped forward and chokehold them and they all end up on the sand.

"Hey...hey...what're you guys doing? I asked a question but nobody answered. Turn out you guys are being gay at the back."

Wang Hua almost choked on her ice-blended when she heard LinLin exclamation.

"Silly LinLin."

They both laughed and continue to stride. It's hilarious.

But the boys gaped horrorly. They looked at their position and soon scramble on their feet.

"Sh*t! I'm as straight as a pole. Even if I'm gay, I won't choose a stuck-up man like them," Jason points at Calvin and Danial.

"Me too," Micheal quipped.

Calvin glares at them.

"Say it again."

Jason and Micheal realised their dire situation and quickly dash forward.

"Help! Help us. There's two angry monsters behind," Micheal childishly shouted.

....

City U. County W.

Three rhythmically soft knocks on the wooden window startled the old woman in the room. She sauntered towards the window and open it cautiously.

"Mother."

A man in all black attire with some black camouflage stripes on his face greets the old lady.

"Lei."

The old lady choked on her tears when she saw her son. She shakily stretch her wrinkles hand to touch his face. The man grabs his mother's hand and brought it to his face.

"You're still alive."

She rubs his face gently.

"Yes, mother. I'm glad you're doing fine too, mother."

The old woman nodded.

"I can't stay for too long, mother. How's..how's the girls?"

"They..they're good too. They came back home three months ago. When..when will you stay forever?"

"I..I'm not sure, mother. This is for you. I..I got to go now, mother. Take care of yourself."

He kissed his mother's cheek and hand before he disappeared in the darkness of the farm. The old lady sobbed silently while staring into the dark night and prayed inside her heart for his son wellness.

..

Five kilometers away.

The man jumped into a greenish-brown Wrangler Rubicon 392 that parked on the roadside near the small forest. His movement was fast and agile.

"Drive."

"Yes, Colonel!"

The man looked behind for a while with an air of melancholy surrounded him. In the next second, he turns around and moves to sit at the shot gun. He glanced at his watch, while estimating something in his mind.

"Change of plan. Drive to City C."

"Yes, Colonel!"

His subordinate whom was driving occasionally glances at his superior at the side.

"You've something to say, Lieutenant?"

The young man was startled and apologized.

"Nothing, Colonel."

"Just say it. We've been together for a long time."

"That's..Colonel..why don't you go to City P or City M to meet your daughters?"

"I wish to, but I can't. They hate me."

"Umm..why not stalking them from afar?"

"You know my situation, Mo. I won't place them in a dangerous situation just to satisfy my selfishness. We don't know who lurking in the dark. The world know my children died years ago.

"I'm sorry, Colonel."

"Nah! Make a stop at the next junction. We need to buy some foods as we won't be stopping until we've arrive at City C."

"Yes, Colonel."