Yaveria - 1917

Chapter 1 - Page 7

I shook my head, as I replied "No, Sergeant... I think I'm a little lost in thoughts..." She then sighs for a brief moment, as she says one simple word "switch..." I just nod, as Sergeant replaces me with another machine gun operator. "Go ahead, take a rest for a little. Just make sure you're not too comfortable and remember that we're in a damn battlefield, am I understood?"

"Understood, Sergeant..." as I also nodded to her. She sighs, as she walks away from my gaze. Then I sat beside Alex who's still passing ammunition boxes to the machine gunner. "Hey, Alex." as I bump my shoulder to him. "Y-yeah???" he nervously answers. I sighed, as I asked him a question, "I wonder... If you're really here to defend our country, or you're just really a scaredy-cat with no other option to fund your living...?"

He looks at me briefly, as he rubs his eyes, "Well...? I read the news about the Yaverians trying to "reclaim" their land by force... I mean, I do know that this war has been going on for 4 years now, and... I feel ashamed that so many have to die protecting me... Instead of me protecting them, as men's obligatory..."

He sighs, before he continues, "I didn't want to die... Nor do I want to fight either. But, if war is the only way to peace then... I have no option but to fight as to what we civilians should do to reach that goal..."

"I see..." as I replied to him. He had a quite noble reason, when I always thought that he's here because he thinks he's tough enough. "So, are you in a relationship already?" Alex then shakes his head. "Not yet... I'm just waiting for ladies to take the initiates." I chuckled, once I heard his response.

"So, how old are you actually? Since we've never asked each other much deeper into personal questions." He shrugs, as he answers me, "Well... I'm supposed to be 20 this year, how about you?" I rub my head, as I reply back to him, "Well, about 22 now." He then nods in acknowledgement.

"Umm, so, uhh... since you asked me whether or not I am in a relationship already... how about you?" I grin, as I replied to him, "Well? I'm settled with a lady already." He then nods again, "So, umm... You're married then?" I nodded back at him, "Yeah."

"W-well, I guess I don't have many times just sitting here... Sergeant ordered me to keep passing these ammunition boxes, so..." I nod understandingly, "Go ahead then." Alex then stood up, as he left me sitting there. He immediately passes many more ammunition boxes once the machine gun operator shouts at him.