Their Meeting (3)

While saying this, Fem caught sight of the tall military figure at the other end of the long table. They were almost directly opposite each other. She thought he was just Mark's look alike so she shrugged off her nervousness and gave a wide smile to welcome the guests for the food. At the corner of her eyes, she could see that the man stood still and stared at her without blinking. She purposely diverted her gaze to her boss and squinted her eyes to apologize for being loud and seemingly arrogant.

After she said those words, she strode to exit the dining hall to have quick shower since she could smell her smokey self from the food grilling earlier. She was few feet to the stairs when her boss Ernest called her attention.

"Fem! " He called out gently.

She turned her head to look at her boss who was just done putting some food on his plate. "Boss Ernest!" She said in return while retrieving the distance between them.

"Let the girls do the serving. Come and join us here. I have a guest who wants to talk to you." Ernest said slowly and thoughtfully.

"Boss, I just need to change these clothes. I'm stinky." She grinned while smelling the sleeves of her blouse.

"Okay. Be quick. He has been waiting for you since he arrived. I should guess you know each other already" He said.

"Is it him?" Fem raised her chin to point at the man who was slowly picking his food absent-mindedly. Her pleasant smile instantly disfigured. 'So it's him! Why on earth is he here?' Her heart went into panic.

"Yeah, that's Major Arevalo for you. You know him, right? Go but come back quick!" He said and pointed his chin to the stairs signaling her to go.

"Ahhhh, this isn't my job boss! I want to skip being an entertainer. Let me do some other stuff but not this." Fem complained as she started to turn away.

"What's your problem with him? Is he not good looking?" Ernest teased.

"Boss, he is too good looking that I think he has a lot of first borns already!" Fem removed her cap and twirled it with her index finger as she hurried upstairs skipping two steps at a time.

Meanwhile, the man who has been absent-mindedly picking his food heard everything the two employer-employee said. He did not notice that his plate was already full of food that it looked like a huge mountain. Only when the steak was about to fall from his plate did he notice that it was indeed full. He frowned and looked around. Looking at the two police interns, he approached them and sat beside them.

"Here, you need to eat more meat to build your muscles." He said as he distributed the food from his plate to each one.

"Sir, we can serve ourselves. You eat first!" Manuel moved his plate away to avoid the food being piled on his plate.

"Didn't you hear the saying, the first shall be the last and the last shall be the first?" Mark eyed the two interns with his usual stoic look.

"Hahahaha! Sir, I never heard that said during meal time though. But I admit I'm still learning !" Bryan burst out a laugh. Unlike Manuel who is reserved, Bryan is out spoken and easily reacts to jokes.

"Good! When you went through training, all they give you are left overs of the society. So if you're invited to such occasion, be sure to feast and eat out to your heart's content." Mark smiled as he started shoving some food into his mouth.

However, even while he was chewing his food, his mind was wondering elsewhere. 'Will she come back here?' He wondered. Having heard her conversation with her boss a while ago, Mark wasn't sure if Fem would come back to join them.

He hurriedly ate his food like a military trainee then looked around for the washroom. Finding none, he asked Bryan who in turn told him that the common toilet is just right behind the living room upstairs.

"I'll go find it. Thank you." He said as he strode towards the stairs.

He heard that Fem wanted to take shower first. He hoped she's done already and she would come out for dinner afterwards. Seeing and hearing no one in the washroom, he entered and locked himself inside. He needed to compose himself well and calm his emotions before he faces her. He stared at his reflection in the mirror but didn't see any trace of disturbance. It's only deep inside him that is under deep turmoil.

After relieving himself and a bit calm and composed, he came out from the washroom and started to walk back downstairs.

Just as he was about to descend, he heard the door of the room at the far side of the living room opened and the one he had long expected emerged from it. Mark turned his head towards that direction. She was wearing a red hoodie shirt over a white skinny ripped pants. Her hair was combed nicely but still wet.

Fem stood frozen by the door, unsure whether she would retreat to her room or proceed to greet this man who was staring at her direction.

Before she could think next, Mark approached to her side with his hands in his pockets.

"Fem, long long time no see. How have you been?" He said leaning against the wall as he intently studies her face. 'Oh my! She's become even more adorable and sweet' he held his breath then released it with a deep sigh. He wanted to touch her face but his mind told him to hold in first.

Fem looked away, closed her room and proceeded to head towards the stairs going to the dining hall ignoring him like she didn't see or hear him.

"Fem, go ahead and have your dinner first. We need to talk. Don't you dare ignore me like this!" He followed her as he asserted his status.

"Let's go down and have some food, sir Arevalo. The food is waiting!" She said formally like they never had known before.

Mark gently caught her hand to stop her from turning her back totally from him.

"Fem, please. I have a lot to tell you. We really need to talk. Don't be like this!" He almost whispered. His throat was hurting from holding in his emotions.

Fem looked at his hand holding her elbow, then her eyes travelled to his arms up to his serious face. He was calm and showed no much emotions.

"I don't need your explanation. I respected your choice and that's the end of our story." She said giving him a disdainful look.

"I understand where you're coming from but let me just talk to you afterwards. At least, give me a chance to talk and see if you can believe me after you have listened." Mark pleaded.

"Let me go." Fem said solemnly as she pulled her hand from his hold. He was not gripping but his hold wasn't loose either.

She headed downstairs followed by him.