12. Become a Partner

Everyone in the room was silent, no one spoke until someone cleared their throat loudly.

“Do you see that?” the commander said flatly. “We’ll end the meeting today, and continue tomorrow to make plans. Until your departure time is determined, don’t try to sneak out. Do you understand, Victoria?”

“Yes, I understand. Thank you,” the girl said.

The commander rose from his seat and left the room followed by the others. Some of them stared at Victoria, surprised, and sad. One of them was the female officer and Bella.

Victoria’s sharp gaze was fixed on Sean sitting in his place. When everyone left the room individually, only the man was still there.

“See you, Vic,” Bella said who knew the meaning of Sean’s silence.

“Yes,” Victoria answered briefly, raising her hand for a moment towards Bella.

Bella patted Sean’s shoulder briefly who was sitting beside her, while Victoria was across from her.

Instantly the room was silent, and there were only the two of them, but no one spoke at all.

“Let’s go somewhere else to talk,” Victoria said then and got up from her seat first leaving Sean who was still standing in his place.

Victoria seemed unhappy with Sean’s decision to accompany her straight to the battlefield, even accompanying her until the end.

They went to the dark roof of the school building, there was only a little light from below. They had trained in the dark so they were used to it.

Victoria stood on the railing, looking ahead with her arms folded across her chest. Sean’s footsteps followed later.

“What do you mean volunteer?” Victoria asked bluntly and turned to look at Sean who was a little dark.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m someone who will help you. I thought Commander Ben had told you,” Sean answered calmly.

Victoria’s eyes widened when she finally found out who also got the secret mission.

“That, you?” Victoria seemed to not believe Sean’s answer.

But Sean said nothing but nodded. Victoria herself seemed to need time to digest Sean’s confession, and it was still hard to believe it because they had never gotten along in anything, how could they be paired in one team of two people? Ben must be crazy.

Although Victoria and Sean often never get along, strangely the others often put them together in team assignments or groups for other tasks. Because even though they often fight, Victoria and Sean always focus on one point to complete the mission.

"How is that possible? There must be something wrong," said Victoria, still refusing to believe it.

Sean didn't respond, just stared at the girl who looked panicked. For some reason, seeing another side of Victoria that was unusual made Sean a little amused.

"So what if it was me?" asked Sean.

"Of course, it would bother me. You always make me nervous," answered Victoria quickly because she still couldn't calm down from her shock after Sean admitted that the man would be her partner on the secret mission.

The man held back his smile, holding back his amusement because of his confession. What would Victoria do now? Accept Sean, or protest at the centre?

“What can we do? It can’t be changed, Vic. Besides, there’s no time to replace I. Do you want this mission to be cancelled?” Sean said.

The girl fell silent upon hearing Sean’s words. Indeed, there wasn’t enough time to replace a partner. Besides, would anyone want to invite Victoria who was going straight to the battlefield, to the most dangerous point? No way. Everyone was against it at the meeting earlier. If the head office didn’t contact her, no one would be able to go, including Victoria.

There was no other choice, but Victoria still needed time to believe in the fact that Sean would be her partner on this mission.

“You don’t have any other choice, Victoria. So, just accept me, and get ready to get more dangerous information tomorrow. Besides, I can rely on myself if I’m in danger,” Sean said again.

However, that made Victoria laugh.

“Why are you laughing?” Sean was confused by Victoria’s reaction.

“I believe you, but I don’t either. Because you’re more careless than alert. But, thank God if you can take care of yourself, I’ll take care of myself too,” the girl replied fiercely.

“But hey. This is a team, so we have to work together like a team. You can’t rely on yourself, so you have to help each other. Besides, I’m not that bad,” Sean defended.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever. We’ll see. But as a man, you have to protect me,” the girl said.

“Okay. I’ll hold it in.”

“Okay. Deal.” Victoria said while looking at Sean sharply and then extending her hand.

“Okay. Deal!” Sean greeted them while shaking the girl’s hand, and they promised to work together in critical situations.

The two of them did not immediately leave the roof of the school building. On the roof of the third floor of the building, they could see the field, refugee tents, people on guard, and refugees who were still playing around. The sky was starless, this time it was just pitch black.

“I wonder, that little creature is weak to heat, right? Electric shocks and weapons?” Victoria said while looking up at the sky.

Sean followed what the girl did, and realized that the soldiers were installing something above, like wire mesh that conducted electricity. If touched, it would sting.

“The security here is also tight, not only for humans but also for those creatures. However, it seems like they are wary of the big ones. We don't know what their abilities are. Can they jump quickly, or leave poison to kill their prey?” Sean added.

“I also want to know. How to eradicate them. Do the big ones also have chicken eyes that when night falls, they can't see clearly, but move following the sound,” Victoria spoke again with her face still facing the sky.

This time Sean didn't answer, the man's gaze was fixed below, the vast field inhabited by many people, and the large trees growing on the side of the field.

"I want to end this war soon, even though I know it won't be easy. But, I will try even though I don't know what the result will be," said the girl.

"I admire your courage, and your optimism, Vic. But, still, you have to take care of yourself. I know you're capable, but don't push yourself. That's your weakness," Sean said.

Victoria looked at him.

"Thanks for the advice, I'll keep that in mind," she replied.

Sean pulled the corner of his lips for a moment, and they both watched the field from the dark roof, just the two of them there, getting along now. If someone saw the two of them, there would be a misunderstanding. But since Sean and Victoria would be assigned together, they wouldn't have time to start rumours.