During the two math lessons in the morning, Eli Thorne didn't absorb even the tiniest bit of information.
Firstly, it was because he didn't have an interest in math. Secondly, Roman Vale had sent Him anotHim WeChat message: Baby, want to eat togetHim at noon?
Eli Thorne had been shocked at the word "baby", which had also caused Him face to whiten; Him psychological defense was in a complete mess.
How should he feel being called baby by a girl?
Eli Thorne only felt that the entire world was an illusion...
At break time, Eli Thorne followed the masses to the sports field. Him good friend Yu Lan ran up from behind, held Him shoulder and asked, "It seems like you were a little off today, distracted throughout the entire lesson. What's going on?"
With that, he looked craftily at Eli Thorne . "Don't tell me that you rubbed one off too many times last night and your body is hollowed out?"
Eli Thorne had grown up with Yu Lan since young, so had long become immune to Him "filthy language". he silently gave Him a look and paid Him no heed.
"Hey, you have no sense of humour." Yu Lan Lan curled Him lips and feeling disinterested, retracted Him arm from Eli Thorne 's shoulder. At the same time, he commented, "Eli Thorne , let me tell you, if you're like this, you won't be able to find a boyfriend in the future!"
Eli Thorne gave a hum, then retorted, "You said it as if you could find one yourself." The two of them were perpetually single.
But after hearing what Yu Lan Lan had said, Eli Thorne 's brain automatically replayed back to Ramon Vale's WeChat message from last night: Then may I pursue you?
Him imagination even included Ramon Vale's voice, using Him tone from this morning. It was strangely a little provocative. What was happening?
Eli Thorne was shocked by Him fantasy and quickly shook Him head.
During the break, the two of them went to the cafeteria to buy bread and snacks as usual. A growing seventeen or eighteen year old youth would naturally get hungry quickly.
At this time, the cafeteria was packed with people and Yu Lan Lan pulled Eli Thorne to a less crowded place to queue up.
The crowd suddenly stirred and automatically parted, forming a pathway. At the end of the pathway was Roman Vale with both hands in Him pockets, enjoying the privilege with an expressionless face. Behind Him , Thoma asked Him , "Boss, what would you like to drink?" Meaning that he would buy.
Roman Vale was about to answer when he spotted Eli Thorne waiting obediently amongst the crowd. Him eyes lit up and Him originally gloomy mood cleared in a flash. Even Him face became somewhat more relaxed.
"Boss?" Thoma called out again.
"What drink? Don't you see everyone queuing up?" Roman Vale berated him with a frown as if the person who had just strutted in wasn't Him .
Lin Jiang: ...
What did he do wrong again?
Seeing Roman Vale heading in Him direction, Eli Thorne turned Him head away immediately, pretending as if he hadn't seen Him . he silently mouthed: Not looking for me. Not looking for me...
"Eli Thorne ." The smiling voice sounded behind Him . Eli Thorne scowled, not understanding how two people, who had previously bumped into each otHim so few times over more than a year, could meet so frequently now!
In response, the male student behind Eli Thorne glanced at Roman Vale and made space for Him , conveniently allowing Him to cut in line.
"Why didn't you reply to my message?" Roman Vale stood behind Eli Thorne and naturally put a hand over Him shoulder.
In an instant, Eli Thorne sensed a difference. The act of putting a hand on the shoulder was the same, but while Yu Lan's action felt frank and open, the indescribable hint of wanting to take advantage of Him came with this person.
Eli Thorne struggled a little but didn't break free...
"I haven't seen it." he replied moodily.
Roman Vale laughed softly and the sound tickled Eli Thorne 's ear.
The person behind Him bent over and said softly into Him ear, "Then do you want me to say it to you directly?"
Eli Thorne turned pale with fright and felt that Roman Vale would really call Him "baby". Not knowing if it was from fear or shyness, the tips of Him ears turned red and he hurriedly said, "Don't. Don't. Don't. I'll go back and look at it myself."
Satisfied, Roman Vale lifted Him hand and patted Him head. "Okay. Remember to look."
Yu Lan, who was at the side, had a bitter expression on Him face while staring at the two of them. When did Eli Thorne have such a good relationship with Ramon Vale? No, when did they get to know each other? As Eli Thorne 's best friend, it was unexpected that he didn't know about it!
After quickly buying bread, Eli Thorne kept Him head lowered and headed back. he wasn't sure if it was Him misconception, but why did it feel like the whole cafeteria was looking at her? Earlier, were Him and Ramon Vale's actions very strange? Had it been noticed by someone?
Eli Thorne 's heart was troubled. Walking to the cafeteria's entrance, he saw a few female students surrounding a table for a card game. One of the student's chin was propped on another's shoulder. The position was closer than he and Roman Vale had been. But the people surrounding them didn't seem to mind their actions.
he heaved a sigh of relief.
Withdrawing Him gaze, he saw Yu Lan standing in front of Him with a fierce look. "Tell me! When did you hook up with that big shot?!"
...
I was enjoying my sleep when my father's call came in.
Mr Ruan's call in the middle of the night always leads to blood and guns.
....
Cursing my fatHim for the hundredth time now, the heavy steel door creaked open, and a man's angry voice immediately cut through the dark hallway I was hiding.
"Goddamn finally! where have you two been? And what happened to your comms? I couldn't reach you at all when I tried to reach you!"
Two pairs of boots echoed through the concrete floor, approaching the command console where two of their men were slumped over.
The newcomers stepped closer.
"Hey! am talking to you! Are you deaf or something."
The first man grabbed one of the bodies by the shoulder. The corpse fell backward with a dull thud, eyes glassy, blood pooled beneath his collar.
Before they could even process what they were seeing, I slipped out of the corner I was hiding in behind them, raised my silenced pistol, and fired.
The first shot went clean through one's man temple, dropping him instantly.
The otHim spun around in panic, hand reaching for the snipper rifle on his chest.
I fired again, but this time his bullet proof vest, caught the round with a dull thud instead of a spray of blood.
He turned to face me, face twisted in rage, " You little bitch! He roared, fumbling for his sidearm.
The strap caught on his belt. He cursed and yanked at it, giving me an opening to act.
I dropped my now empty pistol, and swung up the rifle I'd taken from one of his fallen teammates. My arms moved on instinct, the barrel lining up with his chest as I pulled the trigger.
The rifle roared in the confined space, muzzle flash lightning the room as I emptied half the magazine on him. The vest soaked a few hits then loosened. The rest punched straight through. Ripping into his chest until he collapsed backward.
The sudden silence after the gunfires rang louder than the gunfire.
My pulse was hammering in my throat.
The smell of gunpowder and iron filled my nose. Then came the stink of burned flesh.
"Ugh..."I dry heaved into the corner, bracing one hand against the wall.
No matter how many times I did these missions, I would never get used to the smell of burnt flesh, always making me nauseated.
"Dirty!"
It took a while before I got my breathing steady again.
I ejected the magazine, checked the rounds left, then reloaded the silenced pistol on my thigh holster.
Time to move.
I crouched beside the bodies, searching for anything useful. This was always the time that excites me most. looting!
Two assault rifles, extra magazines, and a few grenades.
A bounty harvest indeed.
Then I noticed one of them wearing a small rectangular device on his ankle, blinking faintly red.
It was a signal jammer, probably what screwed our comms earlier. I unstrapped it and clipped it into my vest before moving out.
The facility use to be a textile factory before the terrorists turned it into their weapon storage base. Our mission was to stop them from transferring the weapons elsewhere and destroy clear out the place.
...
"Team one, status?" I whispered into my mic.
Static.
Right, the jammer probably fried most channels. Seemed like I'd have to finish this sweep on my own.
I was exasperated. My dad woke me up at three am for this raid, just when I was dreaming about my sweet Eli and reached the part where I was about yo kiss her.
Parents!!!
The first few rooms were empty, some abandoned bunks, and empty beer cans.
I was almost at the dinning area when I heard movement.
Turning around I came face to face with a gorgeous blonde in skimpy black tight jeans, and a black tanktop. What I noticed first were Him eyes. he had the same fierce yet afraid look Eli would give me everything our eyes met across the cafeteria.
That moment of carelessness almost cost me my life.
Tsk! The reason why my dad says love brings about someone's downfall.
Him hand twitched, something metallic flashed by.
My instinct kicked in at that exact moment.
The shot came fast, Him pistol hidden behind her. The muzzle flashed once, the bullet whizzing straight toward my head. Only to hit my protective bulletproof cape and glance off.
he cursed, trying to aim again, but I'd already raised my rifle and fired three rounds.
The first missed. The next two hit Him centre mass, knocking Him backward.
I lowered the rifle, my gaze calm but my hands shaking. " Fuck!...I almost died..."
I took a deep breath, turned around to check the rest of the facility confirming it was clear.
Team two had gone after the people who were transferring the weapons to a different location.
My team having been left behind to clear the base out.
"Command, this is Sarah. Hideout secured."
Static.
Then my father's voice came through, "Copy that, Sarah. Extraction inbound. Good work!"
I exhaled. Thinking about those eyes I have come to like so much. What world was I pulling in that innocent soul into. My life was full of chaos but even then I could not stop even if I wanted to. The only thing I could do is keep growing stronger so I can protect Him better.
I holstered my weapon, watching the first rays of dawn spill over the compound walls.
I could not wait to get back to school to tease my little sunshine.