The Republic of ARMY

16. Aye

We managed to convince everyone. Thus, we got an unanimous 'aye.' In celebration, Mercy and I ran to my brother and his soldiers who eagerly listened to our idea.

"Wait... A concrete sort of drain around the base of the huge rocks? Are you serious?!"

"We have to try! Please promise you'll help us?"

"Does Dr. Li know?"

That stopped us. Whoa, Ryan was such a mood killer. I couldn't help feeling annoyed at what he said. "So much for being a helpful sibling!"

"Come back!"

"Nope!" I yelled back at him.

"I have a message from dad!" I froze and turned back to face him. My brother looked worried, so I tried to get rid of my anger so that he could tell me what the man I called my father had to say yet again.

"What...?"

"Dad... He said he knows you told mum to leave. He is mad at you and he promised that if you don't settle down and stop this rebellious phase of yours, he will get you fired. For real."

"Settle down? Rebellious? Does he really think that this kind of blackmail will work?!"

"He sounded pretty serious... Said you won't get the inheritance mum's parents left you."

Mercy looked confused. "Wait... Your family is rich?!"

"I... Its complicated Mercy. Ryan, did you tell him that my work was very important? That it will help stabilize countries' climates? That this is what I love doing?"

"I did. He said that you're getting too old for these attentions seeking schemes-"

"Do you really think this is what it is? An attention seeking scheme?!"

"Rai-"

"I thought you knew me better than I knew myself!" I snapped, losing my cool. "Fine, you want an attention seeking scheme?! You'll get one!"

"Rai-"

I stormed out of the tent, running over to the closest landrover and throwing the door open. I grabbed the keys from the sunshine shades at the top of the screen and shoved it into the ignition. The engine was running and I drove off just as my brother and a few of his soldiers ran out of the command centre.

I didn't actually go far. I drove for about three kilometres and turned to the right off the trail. I was driving towards the north east direction for about four more kilometres before stopping the car and turning it off.

Even though I didn't want to admit it, what my brother said was right. What my father said was right. The phone calls I ignored while I was in Geneva, the constant tendency to prove I was as good as, if not better, than a man, my constantly ridiculing thoughts in my head...

So what if I wanted his attention? Had he ever given me any? Dr. Ban had been a better father than him.

"I will prove you wrong." I muttered to myself. "I have achieved so much more than what your sons have, combined. Yet you still disrespect me. Father, you are a cruel, cruel man."

Even then... Why did I snap at my brother like that?

Feeling a little guilty, I jumped out of the car and took the keys with me. I walked for a while, not even noticing the early evening hours creeping in on me.

"I will prove you wrong."

I don't even know if saying it made everything worse or better. All I knew was that one day I eventually was fed up. I got into trouble, and tried to walk off, but he yelled at me and told me something that triggered the wild goose chase I embarked on.

The wild goose chase that brought me to this isolated, barren, place in between Sudan and Egypt.

This became my new home. I could finally have peace from the seemingly irritating assumptions my father made towards me.

Then, I took a step while my thoughts were still deep and my foot sank into sand. I tried to pull it out but it was stuck fast. My other foot was in a similar situation, and then I realized, with a sinking feeling in my chest, "quicksand!"

"First rule. Do not move." I stood perfectly still, trying not to move as the pressure intensified, but that was a very hard thing to do. Where was my brother? Why was I so stupid? Now I was in trouble and he didn't even know it.

"Ryan, I am sorry!" I yelled into the wilderness. "I'm sorry! I should have listened to you!"

As I lay there, waiting for my body to get out of the quicksand, my tears started falling. I sobbed out loud, wishing I hadn't stormed out on my brother when my father called to talk to him.

I was twenty five years old. I had been in this desolate place for close to half a year, and still, my father's words hurt more than my annual jabs.

"Why did I ever tell him that I would prove him wrong? I really am my father's daughter!"

The dark sky had the most spectacular stars and I focused on that. I didn't need to feel insecure about my father anymore. I was out of his reach, I was doing my own thing, and I didn't even have cell service around this side of the desolate place I called home.

"It is better this way," I muttered as I thought about the warm tent waiting for me as soon as I got out of the sand.

"Ryan better have something delicious left over for me or else...!"

As if he could have heard my thoughts, a familiar yell sounded as a torch light shone in my direction, illuminating my face. "Raina! Is that you?! Oh my gosh! Is that quick sand! Guys! Be CAREFUL! There's quicksand here!"

I couldn't help but smile to myself. Ryan would always get me out of trouble, wouldn't he?