Chapter 82 Love, Family and Friendship

I can't believe what I am seeing.
Dad happily talks to Jayson while they are having a beer and watching old recorded videos of football games.
Jayson, who was pale and nervous at first, looked so funny and silly when he came here and first talked to dad. But it seems they are going well together now and it makes me so happy to see both of them agree with each other while watching the show. Julie and I were preparing for dinner and Carl was playing with Carl the squirrel.
It seems so simple and happy here that I never thought of going back to Bunker four. The facility here got better because of my dad. He handled all the machinery here and it prospered more than the bunker which made him the hero of this facility. And I and my friends have become the topic in this place and were in the news for more than a week now. And yeah, I can't believe it's been a week already since we came here.
Their laughter and the sound of the television filled the living room. Since we came here, my friends have become busy with their personal endeavors in this place. Timothy reunited with his dad too, and his dad donated a hundred million to the people of Level Three bunker and provided them with more food and things they need. He's working with the officials of this bunker and shares his opinions about things. I believe he will be a great and sympathetic leader of this nation one day and I can't wait for that time to come because this continent needs more people like him.
Li is assigned as one of my father's apprentices so he comes here a lot to bug my father with his questions. Mona is working with my now officially stepmother, Julie and she's assigned at the infirmary of this place, looking out for the ill people and studying medicine all at once. Roanie, on the other hand, enrolled in one of the prestigious schools here as a scholar for working in the kitchen of the bunker. She's studying culinary though and I'm happy about it because she's a magnificent cook and I believe she will excel in that profession she chose.
Jayson is now one of the exceptional soldiers that are now in training in the military. I hope he took a different profession though but I know this is what he wants. To protect people from the threat of the destructive elements outside.
While I am still figuring out what I really want, I just spend most of my time with my dad and my brother and I am fond of talking about a lot of things with Julie. She's just an amazing woman and I am happy that dad finally found someone who could take care of him. I learned a lot about what is going on in this bunker, how the people are discriminated against here, especially in Levels Three and Four and I hope Timothy could do something about it. I know he won't let his voice be silenced when it comes to the welfare of the people in this place.
After spending time with dad and having our scrumptious dinner prepared with Julie and me, Jason and I decided to take a small walk outside. He took me to see the small aquarium this place has where they preserve water creatures, preventing them from extinction.
The hallway is quiet and empty. The lights are out and only the blue light from the aquarium illuminates the area that gives the solemn atmosphere in this part of the hallway. The room temperature is a little cold so I brushed my arm to warm myself a bit. Jayson noticed it and took my hand and kissed it as he pulled me against him.
He stared at me like it was the first time he saw me and smiled. I can't believe we never have to worry about going back to Bunker four again. Everything here is perfect and the security of this place is better than any bunker in the whole of Arcania so we all decided to just stay here and improve the place by using our skills to help build the progress in this bunker.
"Can't choose what to do yet?" He asked me as he brushed the hair from my face and tucked it behind my ear.
I smiled at him and was not sure what to say because I am still confused about what exactly is best for my skill though. "I am thinking of joining the military too," I confessed to him and he stared at my eyes, trying to read what was in my mind. But he knows this is what I also want. The adrenaline, the adventure. I want to protect people, my family, and what remains in the humanity that this world has not destroyed yet. I want to give people a chance at a good and secure future. Especially my brother. I never want him to experience any more hardship in life.
Jayson kissed me on the forehead and embraced me, looking scared for the future we have in this place. But just like him, what I am just scared of is not doing my best to make this place a better place to stay. We can do better. We could change the course of the future and keep faith in each other, especially in Timothy, believing he could handle the situation in the Council of this bunker.
"Everything will be alright, Harriet. Our sufferings from the outside are already over. What are you thinking right now?"
"Nothing. I am just happy that after all that had happened out there, we still got to this place without anyone of us being badly hurt. And that is because you are a great leader, Jayson. I believe Timothy will need you one day to manage people in this bunker so you always take care of yourself when you"re out there in the field. I will join you though. I just need to train. I haven"t told dad yet about it but he knows this is what I want and I want to fight for the people in this place. All of us are just trying to survive and survive we will no matter what it takes..."
"Yes, we will, Harriet. I know we can"t make this world a better place to live in because all these people have different faith to believe but we will protect what is ours. And that"s what I"ll promise you, Harriet. I"ll support you whatever you want but always know I am just behind you protecting you from anything."
I look at Jayson"s green eyes, his expression is full of determination but there is love and tenderness behind there. I felt the ring on my finger and thought that what had happened before we got here was just a dream... both terrible and amazing. Amazing because I get to know this wonderful and loving guy beside me who protected me and our friends with all he could and helped me find my family again, despite the hard circumstances and which means his life would be in peril. But he still did, and I am just so lucky I am loved by this person who only wants to get in this place and start a new life. Now, he"s going to start it with me by his side.
Jayson leaned down on me, sealing his promise with a kiss. He brushed his lips gently on me and I wrapped my arms around him, tasting the freedom we finally have from all those fears and nightmares that we couldn"t sleep at night because of the Creepers. Now, we are all safe and with the people we truly love. There is nothing I could ask for now but to just stay here with my family and with Jayson and spend the rest of our life here as long as this bunker could hold its people.
When I pulled from him, I gave him a fulfilling smile and we hold hands as we walk in the wide hallway. Then, to the signal of the speakers indicating that there is a social gathering in the dining hall of Level One, we went to see our friends there, excited to hear what they all are going to tell us about what they did the whole day, the new discoveries they learned and the endeavors they wanted to reach. The last thing I heard, Mona will finally get her surgery so she could talk again and that made Li cry so hard when he learned about it. We are both happy that finally, those two dared to admit the feelings they have for each other.
When we reach the dining hall, we quickly heard Li calling both of us, all four of them including Timothy and Roanie who are now already dating too are sitting at a round table, reserving the two seats for me and Jayson.
I couldn"t describe the happiness I feel seeing my friend"s smile as we reminisce all the adventures we have over dinner like it was some kind of a movie we are telling each other.
Jayson kissed me on my hair and I have never felt so contented in my life like this before.
The End.