“Training, perseverance, hardship, and focus; these are the important things that our coach imparted us during our orientation. That moment he looked at me, he told me, ‘If you know what you want, you should know how to get it… By any means;’ still in my mind rest all his teachings. No mercy and dedication. He taught us that we should not have mercy when it comes to protecting, to have dedication, in serving. A soldier should be strict. We were trained to be flexible, so whatever situations we are put in to, we can adapt. ‘A soldier should not fall in love,’ love? If it’s love they’re talking about, I love my country, so as my family and no one else…”
“I have been through a lot of battle, but the one I cannot forget the most…”
“He was looking straight in to my eyes. He was crying. The former general was crying in front of me. He raised his right hand and reached out to me. Not long, he lost. He lost the battle between him and life. He died. I cannot forget that moment. He was someone I used to look up to. He died. But he did not die of serving. He died. He died of…”
*Training grounds*
He defeated his opponent and won the fight. They bowed at one another and smiled. He sat down and drank his bottle of water. He took his towel and wiped his sweat. He took out a photo from his back pack and looked at it. “See you soon,” he told the picture of his family.
“Is brother coming home today?” little Chloe asked her mother as she sat and waited for her mother to cook. Rosalie smiled at her daughter, “Maybe,” she answered her. Chloe moped and uttered, “I’m getting upset. I don’t see him often,” she told her mother. Not long, someone grabbed Chloe and lifted her up to the air. Rosalie looked behind her and saw Chloe cuddling with her brother.
“Did you miss me?” he asked his little sister. Chloe hugged her brother and asked for something. He gave her a box of chocolates that made his little sister happy. He went to his mom and bowed in front of her. “I’m home,” he told his mother. Rosalie smiled and hugged her son. “Welcome home, Gino,” she welcomed her son. “Will you be staying for long now?” Chloe asked Gino as they ate in the dining room. “Let’s see,” he answered Chloe and smiled at her.
“The meeting’s about to start in 5 minutes,” Secretary Hanna Yoon told Major General Lawrence Kang. The general nodded as he looked at Hanna. “We’re going,” Hanna whispered as she used the earset. Commission officers were present, and they all sat down after bowing to one another. “This is not the formal meeting we usually have, but I called out for this meeting due to a very urgent case,” Lawrence opened the meeting. Secretary Yoon placed a transparent plastic in the center with an envelope in it. “Ms. Yoon,” Lawrence signaled her.
Hanna wore white gloves and opened the plastic. “This is a letter my wife received last week, it is a death threat,” Lawrence told the officers. They looked at one another. “I am not saying that the culprit is here, instead, I am asking if…” Lawrence announced when Colonel Henry Kwon raised his right hand. “Yes, colonel,” Lawrence let him speak. “My wife received the same letter, two days ago,” he shared. Then, the rest of the officers raised their right hands and using their left hands, they put the envelopes in front of them. “I was actually going to ask everyone, too,” Henry said.
“This is a death threat, should we neglect it?” Henry asked his fellow officers. They all shook their heads. “We receive a lot of threats, but none of them were even real,” one officer said. “So, shall we wait before it happens, then?” Lawrence asked seriously. “I suggest that we should not waste time over this,” one officer said. “Very well then, shall we handle this, personally?” Lawrence asked as he looked at the officers. “By saying personally, do you mean… We cannot seek help from the military?” Henry asked. Lawrence smiled, “Unless they have approval. I am concerned with each and every one of you, for our family’s safety. You can neglect the threats, but I will not risk my family. Anyone here who agrees with me, raise your right hand,” Lawrence said.
Majority of the officers raised their right hands. “To those who raised their hands, strict protection shall be provided when asked for. As for the mean time, we shall neglect,” Lawrence said and ended the meeting. Lawrence was in his office thinking; Hanna delivered his coffee and sat in front of him. He shook his head as he drank. “Don’t listen to them, do what is right,” Hanna told Lawrence. He looked at her, “I believe so too. Family is important too, what if something really happens?” he asked. “I cannot take that risk, but if that risk is to find out who is doing this, then I will do it,” he added.
“Hanna, have you checked on the thing I’ve asked for?” Lawrence asked. “Yes sir, I already sent messages,” she told him. “Aren’t you going to hide your family?” she asked, “No, I have to catch whoever is doing this to us, it may be risky but I’m sure the program set will do fine,” he told Hanna as she sat. “Don’t worry. Nothing will happen to them,” he told Hanna and smiled.
Rosalie and Gino got back from the market. “Wait,” Rosalie said as she took the mails. Gino was organizing the groceries when Rosalie called him. Gino went to his mother; Rosalie handed him a letter. Gino took the envelope and looked at his mother, she smiled at him, “I understand.”
“It’s good to see you again and… I’m awfully sorry for calling you back this quickly. I granted you a six-month vacation but now you’re here,” Lawrence said as he talked with Gino. “If it’s serving the country, it will be fine,” Gino told Lawrence. Lawrence looked at Gino. “This isn’t about the country, Gino. It’s… a personal matter. We’ve received death threats recently,” Lawrence explained as he handed Gino the letter. Gino scanned the letter and gave it back to Lawrence. “This may seem too much for you, I thought of you first because of your skills but if you don’t want to, I can call another agent,” Lawrence said and smiled at Gino.
“Hey Jamie, can we go out shopping next time? I have this dress I want to buy,” Sarah invited her friend. “Sure,” Jamie answered and nodded. They stopped walking and looked straight. “Isn’t that your car?” Sarah asked Jamie. Jamie nodded, “I thought you said you were allowed to ride public vehicles already?” Sarah asked again. “I thought so too,” she answered. Sarah held on to Jamie, “Maybe there’s something wrong? Maybe you’re in trouble?” Sarah said. Jamie pulled Sarah and went along with a large number of students passing by the gate.
“She’s not yet out” Dave whispered to his earset’s microphone. Sarah and Jamie passed by them; “Why did you not ride?” Sarah asked Jamie. “I already told my father that I’m safe, that nothing bad will happen to me. How can anything happen to me? No one even knows me,” Jamie said as she crossed her shoulders. Someone grabbed her arm and pulled her. “Who are you? Let go of me,” Jamie told the guy wearing a cap, and shades. “Jamie!” Sarah screamed. He pointed at her, “You, don’t follow if you don’t want to get hurt,” he told her as he took Jamie away. “Miss!” Dave yelled as he took her from the guy. “She passed through you,” he told them and walked away.
“Who is he?” Jamie asked Dave, feeling irritated. “Were you okay? Did anyone hurt you?” Helen asked her daughter. “Yes, someone drastically pulled me,” Jamie told her mother. “Who?” Helen asked, Dave whispered to Helen. Helen nodded and looked at her daughter, “It’s good that he pulled you.” “What? What is going on here? Why are you asking me to have service for school again? Don’t you trust me?” Jamie asked her mother. “We trust you, Jamie,” Lawrence answered as he entered the living room. Jamie sat down and stayed quiet. “We granted you your wish because we trusted you. We let you into college outside of this house, we insisted you take home school but you insisted you want to see the world. If you want to continue your schooling, you should bear with them,” Lawrence said as he referred to the guards.
