Love Amidst the Flames

Chap 5

Return to Reality

As soon as Engfa opened her eyes, she saw Sun - her close friend since the early days of joining the resistance - sitting beside her. Sun noticed she was awake and leaned down, his eyes filled with concern.

"Engfa, you're awake! Are you alright?" -Sun (softly)

Engfa tried to smile, but the pain prevented her from relaxing her facial muscles. She shook her head slightly, still trying to appear strong.

"I'm still alive... that's the most important thing." - Engfa (in a whisper)

Sun frowned slightly, sensing the pain Engfa was enduring. He moved closer, placing a hand on her shoulder as a gesture of comfort.

"You were seriously injured, but luckily it's not life-threatening. Tif found you right after the explosion."

Hearing Tif's name, Engfa looked around and saw the young girl standing not far away, her eyes filled with worry. Tif, a promising young officer, was someone Engfa had always trusted and given authority to in critical situations.

"Tif, you did well. I knew you would always be there when needed." - Engfa (addressing Tif)

Tif stepped closer, her voice trembling with emotion:

"Officer, I was very worried about you. If I hadn't found you in time, perhaps..."

Engfa interrupted Tif with a slight nod, not wanting the young girl to feel too burdened by the responsibility. She understood that Tif had done her best in that situation.

"Tif, you saved my life. Thank you. Don't blame yourself anymore. War doesn't allow us many choices, and I know you tried your hardest."

Sun observed the exchange between Engfa and Tif, his heart filled with emotion. He knew that Engfa was always a resilient warrior, but this was the first time he saw her physically weak. However, Engfa's spirit remained unbroken.

Sun tried to lighten the heavy atmosphere in the tent - "I thought you were a superhero, no one could ever hurt you. Who knew you'd fall like this!"

Engfa looked at Sun and managed a weary smile. Though it was a joke, Sun could sense the genuine worry in his voice. Engfa knew Sun was concerned for her, but at the same time, she also knew he was trying to keep her spirits up.

"I can't fall now... There's still so much to do." - Engfa (in a weak voice)

Sun didn't reply, just quietly nodded. He knew that Engfa always had a great source of motivation within her, but this time, something felt different. He couldn't help but notice a distant look in Engfa's eyes, as if she were thinking of something beyond the battle, beyond the mission.

Sun leaned forward, his voice more serious:

"Do you have something you want to talk about, Engfa? This battle seems to have changed you. I can feel it."

Engfa closed her eyes for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts. Memories of Charlotte flooded her mind once again. She couldn't stop herself from remembering her, even though she knew this wasn't the right time to talk about it. But deep down, Engfa understood that the bond between her and Charlotte had profoundly affected her emotions more than anything else.

She opened her eyes, looking directly at Sun but not mentioning Charlotte. Instead, she decided to keep her feelings to herself, knowing that their mission was still long and arduous.

"It's nothing. I just need to recover quickly so I can return to the battlefield." - Engfa (with determination)

Sun studied Engfa for a few seconds, then quietly nodded. He didn't press further, knowing that Engfa would share when she was ready.

Tif, having overheard their conversation, stepped closer and added:

"We'll take care of you, Officer. We need you to get up and lead us through these tough days."

Engfa nodded slightly, feeling the warmth and determination from her close comrades.

Engfa lay resting in the medical tent, the wound on her side had been treated carefully. However, even as her body gradually recovered, her mind remained unsettled. The memories of Charlotte kept creeping into her thoughts, from the mysterious glances to the gentle voice that had spoken to her the first time they met. Every time she thought of Charlotte, Engfa's heart raced, as if she were holding onto something very special that she had not yet dared to acknowledge.

While Engfa was lost in her thoughts, Tif, the young and close assistant, entered the tent. Tif's eyes were filled with concern, but she maintained her composure as she stood before Engfa. After a few seconds of observation, Tif began to speak gently:

"Officer Engfa, I have important news to share with you."

Engfa slowly sat up, her eyes regaining their familiar sharpness. She gestured for Tif to continue.

"There's a new nurse who just arrived at this refugee camp. She came this morning from a larger camp in Bangkok."

As soon as she heard about the new nurse, Engfa's heart raced. Everything around her faded away, leaving only thoughts of one person: Charlotte. She couldn't stop herself from thinking that perhaps Charlotte had returned, that she could be the new nurse who had just arrived. A mix of anxiety and hope surged within Engfa, making it impossible for her to remain still.

"Did you say a new nurse? Do you know her name, Tif?" - Engfa (curiously)

Tif shook her head, her face slightly flustered:

"I'm not sure, but she's assisting in the western part of the camp. I think you could meet her if you want."

Upon hearing that, Engfa could no longer hold back. Her intuition told her that Charlotte was indeed that nurse. She immediately stood up from her bed, ignoring the pain coursing through her body, and hurriedly searched for her boots. Tif, seeing Engfa in such a hurry, quickly approached, trying to advise her:

"Officer Engfa, you just recovered! You shouldn't rush like this. You need to rest more."

Engfa shook her head resolutely, her eyes filled with determination:

"Tif, I can't wait any longer. I have to go see her."

Tif was taken aback by Engfa's determination, but she understood this was something Engfa couldn't let go of. Tif had witnessed the look in Engfa's eyes every time Charlotte was mentioned - the look that held something very special, something she had never seen in Engfa before. Tif nodded slightly, saying nothing more and just helping Engfa prepare her things.

Once ready, Engfa quickly stepped out of the tent, leaving all the advice about resting behind. Despite the lingering pain, she walked swiftly toward the western part of the refugee camp. She wasn't sure if it was truly Charlotte or not, but deep down, she felt a strong urge, as if each step brought her closer to the person she longed for.

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"This nurse must be the best medicine."

Hy.