During the two math lessons in the morning, Eli Thorne didn't absorb even the tiniest bit of information.
Firstly, it was because he didn't have an interest in math. Secondly, Roman Vale had sent him another Instagram message: Baby, want to eat together at noon?
Eli Thorne had been shocked at the word "baby", which had also caused his face to whiten; his psychological defence was in a complete mess.
How should he feel being called baby by a boy?
Eli Thorne only felt that the entire world was an illusion...
At break time, Eli Thorne followed the masses to the sports field. His good friend Marcus ran up from behind, held his shoulder and asked, "It seems like you were a little off today, distracted throughout the entire lesson. What's going on?"
With that, he looked craftily at Eli Thorne. "Don't tell me that you rubbed one off too many times last night and your body is hollowed out?"
Eli Thorne had grown up with Marcus since he was young, so he had long become immune to his "filthy language". He silently gave him a look and paid him no heed.
"Hey, you have no sense of humour." Marcus curled his lips and, feeling disinterested, retracted his arm from Eli Thorne's shoulder. At the same time, he commented, "Eli Thorne let me tell you, if you're like this, you won't be able to find a girlfriend in the future!"
Eli Thorne gave a hum, then retorted, "You said it as if you could find one yourself." The two of them were perpetually single.
But after hearing what Marcus had said, Eli Thorne 's brain automatically replayed back to Ramon Vale's Instagram message from last night: Then may I pursue you?
His imagination even included Ramon Vale's voice, using his tone from this morning. It was strangely a little provocative. What was happening?
Eli Thorne was shocked by his fantasy and quickly shook his head.
During the break, the two of them went to the cafeteria to buy bread and snacks as usual. A growing seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth would naturally get hungry quickly.
At this time, the cafeteria was packed with people and Marcuw pulled Eli Thorne to a less crowded place to queue up.
The crowd suddenly stirred and automatically parted, forming a pathway. At the end of the pathway was Roman Vale with both hands in his pockets, enjoying the privilege with an expressionless face. Behind him, Thoma asked Him, "Boss, what would you like to drink?" Meaning that he would buy.
Roman Vale was about to answer when he spotted Eli Thorne waiting obediently amongst the crowd. His eyes lit up, and his originally gloomy mood cleared in a flash. Even his face became somewhat more relaxed.
"Boss?" Thoma called out again.
"What drink? Don't you see everyone queuing up?" Roman Vale berated him with a frown as if the person who had just strutted in wasn't him .
Thoma: ...
What did he do wrong again?
Seeing Roman Vale heading in his direction, Eli Thorne turned his head away immediately, pretending as if he hadn't seen him . he silently mouthed: Not looking for me. Not looking for me...
"Eli Thorne ." The smiling voice sounded behind Him. Eli Thorne scowled, not understanding how two people, who had previously bumped into each other so few times over more than a year, could meet so frequently now!
In response, the male student behind Eli Thorne glanced at Roman Vale and made space for him, conveniently allowing him to cut in line.
"Why didn't you reply to my message?" Roman Vale stood behind Eli Thorne and naturally put a hand over his shoulder.
In an instant, Eli Thorne sensed a difference. The act of putting a hand on the shoulder was the same, but while Marcu's action felt frank and open, the indescribable hint of wanting to take advantage of him came with this person.
Eli Thorne struggled a little but didn't break free...
"I haven't seen it," he replied moodily.
Roman Vale laughed softly and the sound tickled Eli Thorne's ear.
The person behind him bent over and said softly into his ear, "Then do you want me to say it to you directly?"
Eli Thorne turned pale with fright and felt that Roman Vale would really call him "baby". Not knowing if it was from fear or shyness, the tips of his ears turned red and he hurriedly said, "Don't. Don't. Don't. I'll go back and look at it myself."
Satisfied, Roman Vale lifted his hand and patted his head. "Okay. Remember to look."
Marcus, who was at the side, had a bitter expression on his face while staring at the two of them. When did Eli Thorne have such a good relationship with Ramon Vale? No, when did they get to know each other? As Eli Thorne's best friend, it was unexpected that he didn't know about it!
After quickly buying bread, Eli Thorne kept his head lowered and headed back. He wasn't sure if it was his misconception, but why did it feel like the whole cafeteria was looking at him? Earlier, were his and Ramon Vale's actions very strange? Had it been noticed by someone?
Eli Thorne's heart was troubled. Walking to the cafeteria's entrance, he saw a few male students surrounding a table for a card game. One of the students' chins was propped on another's shoulder. The position was closer than he and Roman Vale had been. But the people surrounding them didn't seem to mind their actions.
He heaved a sigh of relief.
Withdrawing his gaze, he saw Marcus standing in front of him with a fierce look. "Tell me! When did you hook up with that big shot?!"
...
Roman's POV.
I was enjoying my sleep when my father's call came in.
Mr Vale's call in the middle of the night always leads to blood and guns.
....
Cursing my father for the hundredth time now, the heavy steel door creaked open, and a man's angry voice immediately cut through the dark hallway I was hiding in.
"Goddamn finally! Where have you two been? And what happened to your comms? I couldn't reach you at all when I tried to reach you!"
Two pairs of boots echoed through the concrete floor, approaching the command console where two of their men were slumped over.
The newcomers stepped closer.
"Hey! I'm talking to you! Are you deaf or something?"
The first man grabbed one of the bodies by the shoulder. The corpse fell backwards with a dull thud, eyes glassy, blood pooled beneath his collar.
Before they could even process what they were seeing, I slipped out of the corner I was hiding in behind them, raised my silenced pistol, and fired.
The first shot went clean through one man's temple, dropping him instantly.
The other spun around in panic, hand reaching for the snipper rifle on his chest.
I fired again, but this time his bulletproof vest caught the round with a dull thud instead of a spray of blood.
He turned to face me, face twisted in rage, " You little shit! He roared, fumbling for his sidearm.
The strap caught on his belt. He cursed and yanked at it, giving me an opening to act.
I dropped my now-empty pistol and swung up the rifle I'd taken from one of his fallen teammates. My arms moved on instinct, the barrel lining up with his chest as I pulled the trigger.
The rifle roared in the confined space, muzzle flash lighting the room as I emptied half the magazine on him. The vest soaked up a few hits and then loosened. The rest punched straight through. Ripping into his chest until he collapsed backwards.
The sudden silence after the gunfire rang louder than the gunfire.
My pulse was hammering in my throat.
The smell of gunpowder and iron filled my nose. Then came the stink of burned flesh.
"Ugh..."I dry heaved into the corner, bracing one hand against the wall.
No matter how many times I did these missions, I would never get used to the smell of burnt flesh, which always made me nauseated.
"Dirty!"
It took a while before I got my breathing steady again.
I ejected the magazine, checked the rounds left, then reloaded the silenced pistol in my thigh holster.
Time to move.
I crouched beside the bodies, searching for anything useful. This was always the time that excited me most. Looting!
Two assault rifles, extra magazines, and a few grenades.
A bounty harvest indeed.
Then I noticed one of them wearing a small rectangular device on his ankle, blinking faintly red.
It was a signal jammer, probably what screwed our comms earlier. I unstrapped it and clipped it into my vest before moving out.
The facility used to be a textile factory before the terrorists turned it into their weapon storage base. Our mission was to stop them from transferring the weapons elsewhere and destroy to clear out the place.
...
"Team one, status?" I whispered into my mic.
Static.
Right, the jammer probably fried most channels. Seemed like I'd have to finish this sweep on my own.
I was exasperated. My dad woke me up at three am for this raid, just when I was dreaming about my sweet Eli and reached the part where I was about to kiss him.
Parents!!!
The first few rooms were empty, with some abandoned bunks and empty beer cans.
I was almost at the dining area when I heard movement.
Turning around, I came face to face with a gorgeous blonde in skimpy black tight jeans and a black tank top. What I noticed first were her eyes. She had the same fierce yet afraid look Eli would give me when our eyes met across the cafeteria.
That moment of carelessness almost cost me my life.
Tsk! The reason why my dad says love brings about someone's downfall.
Her hand twitched, something metallic flashed by.
My instinct kicked in at that exact moment.
The shot came fast, her pistol hidden behind her. The muzzle flashed once, the bullet whizzing straight toward my head. Only to hit my protective bulletproof cape and glance off.
She cursed, trying to aim again, but I'd already raised my rifle and fired three rounds.
The first missed. The next two hit her centre mass, knocking her backwards.
I lowered the rifle, my gaze calm but my hands shaking. " Fuck!... I almost died..."
I took a deep breath, turned around to check the rest of the facility confirming it was clear.
Team two had gone after the people who were transferring the weapons to a different location.
My team has been left behind to clear the base out.
"Command, this is Roman. Hideout secured."
Static.
Then my father's voice came through, "Copy that, Roman. Extraction inbound. Good work!"
I exhaled. Thinking about those eyes I have come to like so much. What world was I pulling him into? My life was full of chaos, but even then, I could not stop, even if I wanted to. The only thing I could do is keep growing stronger so I can protect him better.
I holstered my weapon, watching the first rays of dawn spill over the compound walls.
I could not wait to get back to school to tease my little sunshine.