Chapter 5

The shooting sounds of a gun rang through the air as it disrupted the silence of the day. His blazing eyes shot countlessly at the dartboard before him, as though wanting to destroy every piece of it. Behind him stood Simon who kept a despairing face at his captain who looked more aggressive than ever. He covered his ears, terrified, that his captain might end up killing anyone who crossed his part of that state. The master sergeant witnessed how horrified Simon was, and he sadly heaved a sigh at him.

"He misses her, that's the only way of venting his anger" he explained to Simon who was grief-stricken for his captain. They wished there was something they could do for this heartbroken friend of theirs. Though he hides his fears from others, but the master sergeant knew him well that he was devastated, haven made a tough decision in his life. He had separated ways with the one woman who was his driving force in the mission they were vested upon to carry out. Certainly, they would never meet again.

"Why does everyone he loves ends up leaving him?" The juvenile rhetorically questioned as their eyes gazed at him, contemplating on when he would be himself again. He knew his captain never had happy days ever since he separated from his lover.

"He would get through it just as he did for his family" the master sergeant reckoned, and the juvenile became more curious to know more about his raging captain who hadn't been listening to anyone lately. He assumed the death of the Captain's father was what prompted him to become a soldier as he believed his father did not die an ordinary death, but a conspiracy perhaps was carried out. Their conversation was interrupted as they suddenly saw the captain punching his fist furiously on the hardboard. Swiftly, they rushed to stop him from what he was doing. What was probably wrong with him? Could a woman be the reason he hardly concentrated and got easily provoked at everything? These two tried to tame him down but couldn't as he was much stronger than them. It wasn't surprising why he was the captain and chosen as the leader of the special mission force.

"Ryan! You have to stop! Don't let her get into you!" The master sergeant ordered while the juvenile pleaded with his captain that he would bleed to death in that state. That statement infuriated the captain as it made him punch harder while glaring at the board with wrath. Bruise were now visible around his knuckles but he chose not to stop. He didn't listen to these two and when he had wounded his fist to his heart's content, he exhaled deeply. He shoved his direction at these two men who had surrendered in stopping his decisions as it turned out to be a waste of time. His face was covered with sweat as he narrowed his eyes at the juvenile who was weeping like a child because he feared his favorite captain would bleed to death. However, Ryan was just furious with himself and reminding himself not to let emotions get control of him and focus on serving the nation while fulfilling his aims of being a soldier in the first place. His old self begins now. From that moment on, he was closing a chapter to his love life, which had lasted a year. Ryan was getting disgusted by Simon as he was such a weakling who couldn't hide his tears.

"I guess the army isn't for you"

The juvenile nodded and Ryan scoffed, beckoning on him to leave if he were unable to hold back his tears. The master sergeant smirked at Ryan, who got them worried. He pretended as those these men weren't troubled by his actions.

"Why not get yourself disposed? I can't work with someone weak at heart" Ryan furthered, swallowing hard as that was the only way to stop Simon from shedding tears. Simon swallowed letting out a smile. The fact that his captain noticed him was now beguiling and means more work. Recently, Ryan had been snubbing them and uses duty to cover his fears. Nevertheless, Simon tries finding time to watch over him like a guardian despite his ranking. He always looks up to this captain as a role model.

"Get your wounds treated before ranting the young man" the master sergeant defended with a frown as Ryan let out a soft gasp at him, insisting that he was fine when he wasn't, and it was obvious. Having such persistent and caring men like Simon and the master sergeant who had now become family to him, they would ensure no harm comes to him.

Simon hastily cleaned his face as she hugged paced to hug Ryan, relief that his captain was back and talking casually with them again. Ryan shrugged Simon off him, but the young lad never gives in when it comes to a warm hug and cuddle. He always looked up to the captain as a bigger brother, and besides, there were no soldiers around to see them hug.

"Get off me!" Ryan commanded, irritated by the young lad. However, his order wasn't obeyed as the master sergeant also gave these two a warm hug, pressing them inside and laughing as Ryan tried to break away, but it seems they were prepared to lock him up in their arms. As all he needed right that moment was no words but a warm hug that would tell him he was fine and would scale through. He had better not act like a stone-hearted man because of duties, and give in to friendship. How could it be that he hadn't seen these two's love for what it was before? Pure. Unselfish. Undemanding. Free. He felt his body press in, soft and warm. This was the love he waited for, prayed for. He let out a snicker and hugged all the tighter. A love like this is to be cherished for life. Finally, he felt alive with his new-found brothers.