11.Childhood Bestfriend

Leona was on her way to meet someone at the mall, she needed help with her wardrobe for the next few months. They have someone at work who handles their wardrobe for the missions but she doesn't trust them. Well she doesn't trust almost everyone with anything, even with her food. So might as well use this opportunity to bond with her childhood bestfriend and ask for help with the clothes. Katarina has been nagging her for a girls' day out for quiet some time now anyways.

She's one of those people who kept her in touch with the civilian world, Leona is somehow forced to live normally with Katarina and her family around which she actually likes. they used to be inseparable before the tragic incident happened to her own family but she went off grid after that and didn't meet her again until she accidentally bumped into her in middle school and Katarina had made sure to not lose contact with her since then.Now she's acting like a 'part-time' mother who sulks when her daughter wouldn't bond with her.

"Babyyyyyyyy, my babbbbby! You're here!" her mouth twitched looking at this naive looking girl sprinting towards her.

Why did it suddenly switched into a romantic airport scene? Except they now appear like a lesbian couple who's been on LDR and finally back to each other's arms with how Katarina is clinging to her like a koala with legs on her waist. She even gave her a loud smack on the cheek that the people around them couldn't help but give them incredulous stare due to culture shock, Leona lightly hit her friend's head with her knuckle and dropped her on her feet.

"Aaaaaaaw, Leonaaaa!" complaint Katarina and gave her a wide grin the next second and is clinging on her arm again while leaning on her shoulder. "I miss you so much baby, how did you take it? not seeing me for 6 months? I almost died of depression from missing you!" She can't help but roll her eyes with how dramatic her friend is.

Katarina knew that she's in the military but didn't know that she's a part of something bigger and dangerous, all she knew is that she's just a drill sergeant who stays in the base majority of the time to trains civilians to turn them into competent soldiers.

She caressed Katarina's head, this bubbly girl is the only thing in the world that would never annoy her no matter what. "I'm sorry it was a bit hectic in the base, so what do you want to eat?" She decided to change topic before Katarina bombards her with questions, the easy-going woman's eyes brightened after hearing the word food and pulled her towards the direction of her favorite restaurant.

An hour later.

"What kind of clothes would you like to buy?" Katarina casually asked while nibbling on her boba's straw.

"business attire, something feminine I guess."

her friend's eyes lit up.

"What's going on? Are you finally quitting???" and she facepalmed herself in her mind, realizing that this would certainly piqued Katarina's interest.

"Something like that, I'm on a break so might as well try something new. I'm considering your idea about trying regular jobs, maybe I'll like it" She smoothly lied.

"That's great! Are you gonna stay with me?" Katarina is grinning with excitement.

She sighed, of course she can't. Once she's on her mission she can't have Katarina around for her own safety.

The initial mission is to create a back story regarding her relationship with Xavier Wang or publicly known as King, he can't just popped up in the neighborhood newly-wed with some woman out of nowhere. The rest of her background were fabricated but that would not be enough, her identity still sounded suspicious so they would have to create witnesses to attest how their love story unfolded for some time to be able to ride on Mr. King's reliable name and make it more convincing. This is the pain of going against sleeper agents, you have to beat them at their own game. It's a process that needs time.

"I got an offer in Golden Lake City" she bluntly lied which earned her a pout from her friend.

"I'll stay with you then." and she chuckled, for some reason she felt like she heard it somewhere before.

"You know you can't, you need to focus on your goal to become a prima ballerina right? You can't travel from one city to another everyday" Katerina pouted even more.

"You're so heartless, you don't love me as I love you! you're the worst friend there is." she chided and Leona can't help but laugh at her friend's childishness.

It's also a mystery to her how they could withstand each other's company when they're the complete opposite of each other, Katarina is a warm and bubbly person while she on the other hand is just plain cold. Also Katarina is too loud for her liking and yet she doesn't hate her company at all, maybe because she found this piece of her old self with her around or maybe just simply because Katarina is a lovable person that even she can't resist.

"Now, now stop sulking. wouldn't I have more time with you now that I'm outside? I promise to visit you often okay?" And that was enough to please Katarina, she's too gullible for her own good that sometimes she can't help but secretly check on her to make sure no one is taking advantage of her innocence.

"Okay! let's go I'll make you my doll today, hehe." she sighed looking at her foolish friend.