“Then you know our Heads, too?!”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I? I was there when they were given those positions.”
Eve gasped and refrained herself from shedding tears. “They have never mentioned about you as an appointed Captain before, but he did talk about someone having an organization name Edmund under the Echo Team who was promoted for another designation.”
“That is why I have to go with the flow. Please my co-officers and act the way they do. I have to keep this position in able to get closer to the truth about this organization.”
He turned around and looked at her, then to his bodyguard. “So, tell me, what brought you here?”
As if she had been pulled from spacing out, she almost jumped out of the settee when she remembered the time.
“One of my Heads is going home today. I want to make sure she will. Can you do something to make that possible?”
The man smiled. “You came to the right person, Captain. I can suggest to the boss to send my own bodyguard to accompany her. Unlike the other uppers, Lux is a bit considerate of me.”
He then gazed at the man. “Accompany Captain Eve to her place. Make sure no one will get near her and take the documents she has.”
“Wait, you haven’t confirmed yet if Head Eula will be safe—”
“I promise you, she will be.”
The bodyguard helped her stood up to lead her outside. Edmund creased his forehead and raised his brow; and pretended shouting at her.
“Leave!” he dismissed her, making their act convincingly true.
The passage was still silent when they went out. She can feel her heart wanting to pump out of her chest as they stride away from the place.
“Relax, Captain Eve. I have the officer’s order.” The bodyguard walk ahead of her, securing her behind him.
A few more buildings before theirs, a team came out of their hide. 'They might have been ordered to meet someone,' she thought and continued walking.
“Captain Eve!” The Captain went to her to give her greetings, to which she forcefully acknowledged as she has no choice but to do so.
“Good morning, Captain!”
“Seems like you have been busy even on your last days here, Captain. We’re heading to the boss’ office. How about you?” the man query, interchangeably glancing at her and to the bodyguard she’s with.
“I never knew that even though we’re supposed to be relaxing by now waiting for our turn to go home, we will still be given some stuffs to work on,” she replied casually and walked alongside the bodyguard, giving the man an idea that she has no time and intention to boast some rudeness with him.
“Oh, I see. Yesterday I had received a notice from the boss’ office. He’ll give us a mission today.”
She smiled upon hearing a trace of nastiness in his tone. “Good luck then. Do great in your mission.”
The man laughed insultingly as he turned to her. “My team has always been prepared, Captain Eve. We are just waiting for a mission to be given to us.”
She nodded. She doubts it is a big deal type of mission.
“Is that a report you’re holding?” He looked at it and have tried to touch the folder but to his dismay, the bodyguard was alert enough to pull her away from him.
He gazed at the man and gave him a warning look, then turned to her. “Captain Eve, pardon, but I am pissed by this bodyguard.” He looked at the man and insulted him by glaring at him from head to toe. “From what I have read and what I know, bodyguards have no power over Captains. Step away.” He intimidated to which was just declined.
“Pardon me as well, Captain, but my Upper Edmund have given me an order to accompany Captain Eve without letting anyone getting near her. If we may, please excuse us now.”
Feeling disrespected, the Captain raised his hand, but she quickly stopped him. “Captain, don’t you dare lay a finger on him. I don’t tolerate violence.”
He put down his hand and composed himself. “Be thankful that a Captain is around to defend you. If not—”
“Even if I am not around, the surveillance cameras will speak for him, Captain,” she interfered.
“Captain Eve, it is so easy to turn the tables—”
“Do it then. The uppers surely would not let you live a normal life the moment you inflicted risk to their personal servants.”
“I am sorry, but you have to go now, Captain Eve. I believe you still have more important things to do,” the bodyguard meddled to stop them.
He then politely held her arm to get her away from the team, leaving them speechless—the Captain the most.
“Thank you.”
“Captain, such kind of people are the ones we should be avoiding here.”
“Let them get past first before you go back. Stay in my team’s facility for a while.”
“Upper Edmund will surely—”
“He will understand.” They stopped in front of her vicinity and waited for Anne to let them in when it opened, showing Euno coming out in hurry.
“What happened?!”
“Captain!” They spoke in unison.
He looked at her and to the bodyguard’s badge. “Why you’re with him?”
“What do you mean?” she asked and get inside the building.
“You know what I mean, Eve,” he whispered while they walked going to her office.
“Euno, I will not be asking you about it if I do.”
“Why you’re with an upper’s bodyguard?”
She stopped and glanced at the man he’s referring to. “Head Euno, this is Upper Edmund’s bodyguard. Mister, this is Euno, one of my Heads.”
She proceeded walking until they reached the room. “It is a long story, Euno. But I assure you, there is nothing wrong. Where is Eula?”
“She’s already waiting outside our facility. We thought you had already asked for a yacht.”
After putting the document in her vault, she turned to the man and to the other one.
“Euno, let him stay here for a while. Let him leave after thirty minutes. Do you get it?”
He nodded, though still creasing his forehead. “Just make sure this will not drag us to any problems later.”
“All clear,” she assured before leaving them and headed to Lux.
She almost run to get to his office while glancing at her watch. She shook her head upon seeing that it might be his resting time already.
“Is he here?” she queried right away to the bodyguard as soon as she reached his door, gasping for air.
“He is, Captain. And I believe he’s already waiting for you for an hour now.”
That turned her pale. Making him wait had surely marked her record bad.
“Sir!” She saluted when the door opened.
“Where have you been? Is your Head have changed her mind and plan to stay longer instead?”
“It was my fault, Sir. I am here to request for a yacht for her.”
“Okay then.” He raised his head to gaze at her. “Tell my bodyguard about it.”
She’s about to speak when he raised his hand. “Next time, Captain. I am terribly busy right now.”
“I’m sorry, Sir. Thank you.” She snappily turned around and left; and do what he said.
—
“Where is she?!” Eula asked Euno, sounded irritated.
“Relax, she had already requested a yacht.” He calm her down.
Instead of looking at him, she looked at the man behind him.
“Is everything okay?”
“Don’t worry, Head. Everything is indeed okay,” the bodyguard answered, though remained standing meters away from them.
“You heard him, nothing is wrong.”
“Make sure, Euno. I will not leave you here if there is something wrong going on.”
“Eve is handling everything smoothly. We have no problem here. Now, just be relaxed and breathe in the scent of air. Can’t you smell it? It smelled like home.”
She smiled as she heard that. Teary eyed, she gulped and nodded. “I—I am really going home now, right?!”
“Yes, you really are.” He cupped her face and pulled her closer to kiss his temple.
“Your Lili is surely waiting for you. Lucky her, she has both a father and mother in you.”
She chuckled. “Bud! I don’t know whether that’s a praise or—”
“It is, silly!”
They laughed as they hugged. “Promise me you’ll keep the Captain safe.”
“I will. Promise us you will go home and make up for all the times you missed.”
She nodded and hugged him even tighter. “I will.”
After a few moments of bidding goodbyes, Eve came running.
“Eula!” she shouted.
“We’re here, Captain!”
Eve bit her lower lip and stared at the woman. “Thank you, Captain!”
Eula let go of Euno’s hold to throw herself on Eve’s arms. She embraced her tightly until both of them could no longer breathe properly.
“I will be waiting you two outside. Remember our plan? We’ll do it, okay?” she then muttered.
The Captain pulled away and wiped her Head’s tears; examined her for the last time. “See you outside.”
A vehicle came to fetch the woman, stopping them from furthermore more discussions.
She sighed heavily as she let go of her. “Go, ahead. Go home.”
The next moments were like a slow motioned scenes. Seconds seem to be as long as hours—it feels heavy.
She waved her hands, hoping she can still see her from that far. As the vehicle completely gone to their sight, she hoped for the woman’s safe homecoming just like what she had always been dreaming of throughout the years.