Precious and Happy Memories

General Kenzo McLean is rendered stupefied by his daughter's question.

Many times, he tried to talk to his daughter about Lt. Col. Killian Gray but it was Alora who always refused him. And now, the same Alora asked him why he thinks Killian Gray may be a good match for her?!

Rather than feeling glad, the General is filled with concern. Something happened. He is sure about it and it makes him slowly rise from his seat.

"You never wanted to talk about that," he points out, noticing the slight change in his daughter's expression. "What's wrong?" His observing gaze fixates on his only daughter who seems to be struggling to give him a response.

After a moment of silence, Alora McLean finally manages to force a smile. "I think having dinner with the Deputy Commander makes me curious. He is great but it seems like he is not that good in expressing himself."

This time, even the General cannot tell whether his daughter's smile was genuine or fake, perhaps because she sounded sincere when she said those words about the Deputy Commander. Besides, he knows that Alora is not wrong. Killian Gray is indeed not that good at expressing himself. He has observed him long enough to know this.

"I think you should figure that out yourself," Kenzo McLean finally responds to his daughter's actual question and adds, "Once you do that, you might understand." Noticing his daughter's puzzled look, he smiles and playfully says, "I am glad. It seems like my arrangement paid off."

"You only seem more suspicious when you said that," Alora McLean sighs. "Do you know how much I contemplated the possibility of you setting up the dinner to miss it out on purpose?" She slightly shakes her head, eliciting a hearty chuckle from her father.

"I would love to do that," the father casually responds and adds, "But it's real this time."

The Captain gives her father a suspicious look that lasts for a while before finally nodding her head. "Fine then. You should have some rest, Father."

"You too."

Nodding her head once again, Alora bids goodnight to her father and leaves the latter's room. In no time, she finds herself standing inside her room, and almost immediately, that encounter from earlier flashes in her mind, only to pull her into another torment.

She used to wish to see him again, even if it was just once, but now that it has happened, she wishes it had never occurred.

Maybe because the torment and confusion she is feeling at the moment is much harder to bear than blindly waiting for him for years!

After standing still for a while, she slowly approaches her bed and sits down. Then she reaches for a lower drawer right beside her bed, taking out a framed photo of them, together.

The version of him and her in the picture was still so young. They were only 16 after all and 9 years had passed since then. However, unlike their current lives, they looked happy with both of them having huge smiles on their faces.

For Alora, the time she spent with Lucas was still her happiest moment in life. And now, looking at the old photo, she finds herself wondering if it would be the same for him.

However, the encounter from earlier, that woman... she doubts it.

Quietly staring at the photo for a while, Alora slowly shuts her eyes and stays that way for a moment before she puts the photo away. Maybe it's really time for her to move on.

* * *

"I heard Celina arrived yesterday," Elio Corbello points out to his friend who stands by the glass walls, quietly gazing at the view. "Have you met her?"

"We had dinner together last night," Alessio calmly replies. Ignoring the curious gaze of his friend, he turns around and quietly sits on the couch. "Loris informs me in the morning that there is a lot of movement in this city. Maybe our guess is right. The meeting is likely to take place somewhere in this city."

"There are 4 days left," Elio Corbello says, slowly shifting back to his usual self. There is a menacing yet cruel grin on his face when he adds, "I can't wait to see the reaction of those incompetent backstabbers once they see us in the meeting."

His friend sounds so excited that it makes Alessio shake his head, helplessly. They should be angry and not excited! Nevertheless, he does not comment and heedlessly picks up the newspaper next to him and reads it until... the nonchalant expression on his face is slowly replaced by a subtle hint of curiosity and something indescribable.

Unbeknownst to him, he has been sitting motionlessly with the same expression that triggers the curiosity of his ever-curious friend who walks behind his couch to see what he is reading.

"Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vindelle High?" Elio Corbello reads out loud and confusedly glances down at his friend. "Why are you..." His voice trails off when he is suddenly reminded of one thing - that his best friend is originally from Elentrus.

Does Alessio have something to do with that school? Did he perhaps attend that school in question?

Elio has known Alessio for years now but... it is his first time seeing him that absorbed in something. Alessio DeFazio from his memory is someone who is always alert and with a clear mind no matter what the situation is. As such, it is such a rare sight for him to see his best friend the way he is at the moment!

"Do you know that school?" Elio finally asks his friend and returns to his seat.

Upon hearing the question, Alessio also slowly puts down the newspaper. "It's the school I used to attend," he replies. In contrast to his appearance from earlier, he is already back to his usual nonchalant self, be it a facade or not.

Elio Corbello knows his friend too well to not see through the inner struggle he is attempting to bury. Briefly pondering what to do, he flashes an exciting smile and simply says, "It seems like the 50th-anniversary celebration will take place tomorrow. How about we go there? I think it will be fun."

Going back there... after everything? Alessio does not just hesitate it. He dreads it.

After all, that school is the place that holds all his precious and happy memories. It was the place where he met Alora and created many memorable moments.

If he were to go back there after all the change he went through, he is afraid that he would be tarnishing those memories so precious to him. He knows he does not deserve it but at least, he wants to remember those memories fondly.

Trying his best to not let himself be so distracted, Alessio looks at his friend, giving him a disappointed look. "We are here to deal with some trouble but all you think of is having fun," he remarks in his usual cold yet calm voice. "Forget about it."

"Why?" Elio Corbello complains but immediately grins again as he says, "They are inviting all the alumni. Who knows? There might be some gorgeous ladies attending the event."

Elio sounds quite gleeful but ends up frowning when he notices the dull look his friend is giving him. Then he lets out a sigh. "You are always so -"

"I don't think I am the only problem here," Alessio DeFazio interrupts his friend and makes a deliberate pause before he rhetorically asks, "Why don't you be honest with yourself, Elio?" His voice is especially low when he says, "You are still not over Marianna. Both you and I know that."