Hidden Within 🤍 Bright/Win

Chapter 4 ~ neighbor ~

Paitoon woke up automatically at 4.30am and went to wash up before the other three guys, they seemed like a nice bunch and he felt like they could be friends. After getting dressed he went for a walk, there was another hour and a half before roll call so he thought he would explore the camp.

"morning Cadet, you're up early" a patrolling soldier said to him.

"yes sir, I'm used to waking up at 4.30 every day" Paitoon replied saluting him.

"you don't have to salute me kid, I'm not an Officer" the soldier said.

"thank you for telling me sir" Paitoon replied.

"don't be out too long before roll call, you could get into trouble" he said.

"why?" Paitoon asked.

"well for a start they might think your a spy if you're skulking around during the early hours" 

"right, good point, thank you again sir" Paitoon said smiling.

"hey, you're that singer aren't you?" the soldier asked.

"yeah" Paitoon said feeling shy all of a sudden.

"can we meet later for a selfie, my girl will be so jealous" he asked.

"yeah sure but what about now?"

"I'm on duty, I'd be in deep shit if my superiors knew I was even talking instead of patrolling the area but I'd tell them I'm asking you what you're doing, I'm not lying after all" he said winking.

"sure, ok, I'm in hut 11 so I'll catch you later" Paitoon said before heading back to his hut.

He didn't want to be getting into trouble on his second day as well, yesterday had been bad enough. When he got back to the hut the others had started waking up. Roll call was at 0630 hours and the hut would be inspected so Paitoon made sure his bunk was tidy and everything was tidy in his closet.

He wasn't sure how they liked everything to be yet but the routine was not dissimilar to life in the orphanage so he hoped he was on the right track. At 6.30am on the dot, roll was called and Officer Chit walked into hut 11 with a soldier beside him.

Everyone was to stand by their bunks and salute the Officer who then inspected the hut to make sure everything was tidy. Luckily he had no complaints but he lingered beside Paitoon and asked him if he was ok.

"yes Officer, I am fine" Paitoon replied staring ahead.

"good" Chit said looking him up and down and then leaning in to sniff.

"what's that smell Cadet?" Chit asked frowning.

"it's my face cream Officer Chit" Paitoon said as the other three Cadet's sniggered behind Chit's back including the soldier beside him.

Chit glowered at everyone and they all stood to attention once more.

"you know if you were in a hostile environment where you were hiding from an enemy, they could locate you just by how pretty you smell, I don't even want to imagine what could happen to you if you were captured but I guess as long as your skin looks good ..." he said shrugging.

The Cadets sniggered again and this time it was Paitoon who glowered at them.

"alright people, everyone to the canteen for breakfast then I want you all at the rifle range in an hour" Chit walked out of the door to go to the next hut and he couldn't help smiling to himself, that nuisance would be the death of him.

"you bastard's, you're supposed to be my friends" Paitoon said to the guys as they walked to the canteen.

"sorry mate but you asked for that one, fucking face cream, you should've said soap at least it sounds more manly" Kit said laughing.