"This is the crucial part, to be honest!" May exclaimed as they lined up to get their meals.Keira laughed and commented, "At least we"ve got to learn to eat things we don"t usually eat. Cheer up, May. This is healthy food. Don"t worry, I will treat you to super nice food once we are out? Or sneak?"
May pouted her lips and murmured, "Gosh, Keira, it will take months for that to happen. I want to cry out loud right now. But wait, do you smell it too?"
Lana creased her forehead and asked, "Smell what?"
May sat first at the table and said, "Duck and Bird, they are weird if you can get me, you know, bird awhile ahmm, something is going on between a duck and a bird. Also, Duck seems acting straight for real and not just acting."
Vel burst out in laughter and asked, "What was that? Some kind of code? So do you have a code for me too?"
"Yeah of course we did. It"s B-I-T-C-H but then since you are no longer like that we change it to Lucky," said Lana with a grin.
Vel did not respond because she knew it was only a joke, anyway, she couldn"t help but get curious so she asked, "Why Lucky?"
Keira smiled and answered instead, "Because you are lucky I did not pull a strand of your hair before."
Then the girls laughed.
"Soldiers! Focus on your meal! I hear another loud buzzing and you will run a mile outside and enjoy your talking there!" Shouted an Officer.
"Yes, Sir!" Keira shouted with others, as they smiled meaningfully to each other.
Vel was right, they had codenames for each and everyone because they must not mention real names while gossiping. She wanted Zach to be called Wolf whenever they talk about him and Jeru as Bat.
…..
Their first lesson was focused on basic marching commands.
"When we march, we march as a unit, together," said Sergeant Cole as she began to instruct them to do forward march.
"Okay, let"s do this," she added then shouted, "Face right!"
"One, Two," they responded as they followed Sergeant Cole"s commands.
Sergeant Cole: "Face left!"
Soldiers: "One, two!" (faced left)
Sergeant Cole: "Face right!"
Soldiers: "One, two!" (faced right)
Sergeant Cole: "Face left!"
Soldiers: "One, two!" (faced left)
They followed well but then after facing left Sergeant Cole shouted again, "Face left!"
But they ended up facing right and everyone started laughing because it was a mistake that they made when they got used to doing left then right continuously.
"What"s funny?! Do you think it"s funny?! Do ten push-ups now!" Sergeant Cole shouted.
"Aye, Ma"am!" They shouted and did ten push-ups.
"Bro, why are you here?" Torin asked with a frown as he saw Zach standing not far from Keira"s unit.
"Look at those kids doing push-ups, I bet they got caught up by Sergeant Cole"s prank on marching," he said laughing.
"Torin, I think it would be best if the man tells Rizie directly that he"s not interested in her, right? I mean Rizie is still young, so it"s better not to give her false hope." Zach murmured while looking at Keira.
"Wait, did Rizie make a bold move toward that man? Bro, that"s too cold! Rizie is such a fragile girl like those in training right now. For goodness sake, let her get an inspiration, there"s nothing wrong with that as long as the man doesn"t take advantage, don"t you think so? By the way, how can you be so sure that the man is not interested in Rizie? What if he is?" Torin asked, he was obviously hinting on something, but Zach"s face remained expressionless.
Then he heard Zach sigh and instruct, "They will proceed for vaccination after that. Make sure everything is ready."
Recruits got vaccinations and Keira almost paled just looking at those needle near the skin of other soldiers.
She hated needles! It was the last thing she would do but she must act strong and brave because Zach was around, observing.
"Don"t scratch those circles on your skin for the next 48 hours and make sure those mark never fades! Okay?" Instructed an Officer.
"That"s PPD, so we can check if you are clear from tuberculosis. You will also receive vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, polio, meningococcal and teta.n.u.s," Lieutenant Jang explained further.
Keira closed her eyes, her face crumpled and she bit her lip as the needle touched her arm.
"You"re finished, soldier, out of the line!" The Officer said and she quickly opened her eyes and answered, "Yes, Ma"am!"
She smiled because for the first time she made it and she thought it"s all done...
To her horror, they were handed two tubes for drawing of blood.
She wanted to cry at that moment because she really hated needles.
"We will be drawing your blood. You will serve your own tourniquet so as we draw blood do not let your bicep go, hooaah?"
"Hooaah!" Answered the soldiers.
"Are you afraid of needles, soldier?" General Zach asked Keira as she was about to go next in line.
Keira gave him a smile and answered, "Not my favorite, Sir! I"m afraid I"m going to faint after this General."
Zach frowned and answered, "Alright, soldier, go and get it done, let"s see how you will pa.s.s out!"
Keira let out a weary sigh and followed while she held her biceps tightly. She closed her eyes, with fist tightly closed, she also bit her lip hard when she felt how that sharp needle pierced her skin as her blood was withdrawn through a vacutainer.
"Dad! Mom!" She almost cried silently as she felt like it took too long.
Zach was intently observing Keira because he noticed she was pale.
"Sir, are we done?" She couldn"t help but ask.
"Not yet, soldier! Open your eyes and show bravery. That"s just a needle. Bullets are the least things you will encounter next!" Said Zach in his authoritative tone.
Keira followed and smiled at him as she stood up as soon as the needle was pulled out.
She slightly laughed, still looking at Zach she winked and proudly murmured, "No sweat! It can"t even be compared to ant bites."
However as soon as those words escaped her beautiful lips, Keira suddenly pa.s.sed out and Zack quickly caught her.
Zach was fast and Keira was in his arms in an instant. "Out of my way!" He shouted to soldiers blocking his path as he rushed to go towards the Medical Center.
But along the way, Jeru blocked him and glared at him as he said, "Give her to me!"
"Move, General Liu! Don"t cause a scene here because I will knock you out if you don"t get your a.s.s out of my way!" Zach exclaimed as he met Jeru"s piercing gaze.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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