During the two math lessons in the morning, Aria Lang didn't absorb even the tiniest bit of information.
Firstly, it was because she didn't have an interest in math. Secondly, Sarah Ruan had sent her another WeChat message: Baby, want to eat together at noon?
Aria Lang had been shocked at the word "baby", which had also caused her face to whiten; her psychological defense was in a complete mess.
How should she feel being called baby by a girl?
Aria Lang only felt that the entire world was an illusion...
At break time, Aria Lang followed the masses to the sports field. Her good friend Yu Lan ran up from behind, held her shoulder and asked, "It seems like you were a little off today, distracted throughout the entire lesson. What's going on?"
With that, she looked craftily at Aria Lang. "Don't tell me that you rubbed one off too many times last night and your body is hollowed out?"
Aria Lang had grown up with Yu Lan since young, so had long become immune to her "filthy language". She silently gave her a look and paid her no heed.
"Hey, you have no sense of humour." Yu Lan Lan curled her lips and feeling disinterested, retracted her arm from Aria Lang's shoulder. At the same time, she commented, "Aria Lang, let me tell you, if you're like this, you won't be able to find a boyfriend in the future!"
Aria Lang 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, Aria Lang's brain automatically replayed back to Sarah Ruan's WeChat message from last night: Then may I pursue you?
Her imagination even included Sarah Ruan's voice, using her tone from this morning. It was strangely a little provocative. What was happening?
Aria Lang was shocked by her fantasy and quickly shook her 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 Aria Lang 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 Sarah Ruan with both hands in her pockets, enjoying the privilege with an expressionless face. Behind her, Lin Jiang asked her, "Boss, what would you like to drink?" Meaning that he would buy.
Sarah Ruan was about to answer when she spotted Aria Lang waiting obediently amongst the crowd. Her eyes lit up and her originally gloomy mood cleared in a flash. Even her face became somewhat more relaxed.
"Boss?" Lin Jiang called out again.
"What drink? Don't you see everyone queuing up?" Sarah Ruan berated him with a frown as if the person who had just strutted in wasn't her.
Lin Jiang: ...
What did he do wrong again?
Seeing Sarah Ruan heading in her direction, Aria Lang turned her head away immediately, pretending as if she hadn't seen her. She silently mouthed: Not looking for me. Not looking for me...
"Aria Lang." The smiling voice sounded behind her. Aria Lang scowled, not understanding how two people, who had previously bumped into each other so few times over more than a year, could meet so frequently now!
In response, the male student behind Aria Lang glanced at Sarah Ruan and made space for her, conveniently allowing her to cut in line.
"Why didn't you reply to my message?" Sarah Ruan stood behind Aria Lang and naturally put a hand over her shoulder.
In an instant, Aria Lang 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 her came with this person.
Aria Lang struggled a little but didn't break free...
"I haven't seen it." She replied moodily.
Sarah Ruan laughed softly and the sound tickled Aria Lang's ear.
The person behind her bent over and said softly into her ear, "Then do you want me to say it to you directly?"
Aria Lang turned pale with fright and felt that Sarah Ruan would really call her "baby". Not knowing if it was from fear or shyness, the tips of her ears turned red and she hurriedly said, "Don't. Don't. Don't. I'll go back and look at it myself."
Satisfied, Sarah Ruan lifted her hand and patted her head. "Okay. Remember to look."
Yu Lan, who was at the side, had a bitter expression on her face while staring at the two of them. When did Aria Lang have such a good relationship with Sarah Ruan? No, when did they get to know each other? As Aria Lang's best friend, it was unexpected that she didn't know about it!
After quickly buying bread, Aria Lang kept her head lowered and headed back. She wasn't sure if it was her misconception, but why did it feel like the whole cafeteria was looking at her? Earlier, were her and Sarah Ruan's actions very strange? Had it been noticed by someone?
Aria Lang's heart was troubled. Walking to the cafeteria's entrance, she 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 she and Sarah Ruan had been. But the people surrounding them didn't seem to mind their actions.
She heaved a sigh of relief.
Withdrawing her gaze, she saw Yu Lan standing in front of her 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 father 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 other 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 Aria 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 her eyes. She had the same fierce yet afraid look Aria 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.
Her hand twitched, something metallic flashed by.
My instinct kicked in at that exact moment.
The shot came fast, her 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.
She cursed, trying to aim again, but I'd already raised my rifle and fired three rounds.
The first missed. The next two hit her centre mass, knocking her 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 her 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.