Knowing You.

The First Try

BEN

Damn, this woman is smart.

What is one significant way to keep him on his toes? Find something that won't stop making him think.

Simple as it may sound, it's tricky for someone who has a brilliant mind like Ben to fall for such a trap. Yet, the woman seemed to crack the code.

She merely had to utter two words.

Diem. Camden.

He must have said those names in his sleep because how else would she have known those two words?

He must have dreamt of them the night before; he can't recall it anymore.

The moment she said those words, he almost lost all control. It's as if he unconsciously gave a personal part of his life to her and now she'll use it to her advantage.

And yet, even if she took something from him, she gave another in return.

"I'll give you two as well," she said, "Agham and Jedoh."

Now he can't help it. He wants to know who those people are.

He may have been quiet this whole time, but inside he is fuming with utter disgust at himself for wanting to talk to the woman – ask her even. God, how pathetic and weak does that sound?

Ben throws a side glance at the woman who looks busy scraping and gathering the last bits of her share of canned beans. All her attention is on her current action so Ben has the chance to watch her quietly. Deep down he knows that she won’t harm him. Well even if she keeps on verbally reminding him that she has no plan in harming him, he still had his doubts. It’s the normal thing to have especially during a war – doubts, lots of them.

When he got wounded, he doubted that he would survive. And now that he is slowly healing (which is miraculous in its own way), he doubts that he would be able to continue living even with this woman with him.

It’s best if he leaves and runs away once he’s all better. If his men were to find out that he’s been with the enemy the entire time, Ben would not hear the end of it.

The least he could do now…is try to be civil with the woman.

God, cordial with her? He thought with such malice. Could that even be possible?!

It can.

If he simply tries.

“Finished?”

The woman’s voice breaks Ben’s train of thought.

“What?” He asks in his mother language, earning him a confused look from the woman. “What?” He repeats in her language.

She points toward the metal can placed on the ground beside him. “I asked if you’re finished eating already.”

He looks down to see that he’s eaten only around two to three spoonfuls of beans out of his can. Guess his running thoughts were the ones that satiated his hunger.

“Leave the can with me,” he says, “I’ll finish it later.”

“Suit yourself.”

Ben couldn’t hold it in anymore. The words he’s been wanting to ask are clawing their way through his throat. And what’s the harm of asking now? The woman finally initiated a conversation of some sort. “Who are they?” He asks in a slightly loud voice.

The woman raises an eyebrow at him. “Who?”

He rolls his eyes, breaking their gaze, and squares his jaw. After huffing out a breath, he explains in a voice laced with some rising frustration, “You mentioned two names. Who are they?”