My Dreamy Old Husband

Michael patted her waist and said sternly, “I have to rush back to the crew to shoot the night scene. There is not much time. Let me show you the tactics that you have learned today.” He then held onto Sophie and slowly demonstrated the techniques to her.

He gave a commentary on every action of his and said, “Stanley has a well known weakness—his lower hip is unstable. Aim there.” He pointed out every move to Sophia carefully, personally giving a run down on the techniques. Sophia watched him, equal parts attentive. She wrote everything down in a notebook, for fear of forgetting something.

Michael didn’t have much time, and he left after giving her some tips. Before leaving, he said to her, “It’s easier to get high scores in the Superb Company. When I was a drill instructor in Superb Company, the overall score was 90. You just have to train well.

I will send you some videos once I get back; you can have a look.” He also cheered her up by saying, “Those already in the Superb Company only joined earlier. In reality, they are not much better than you. I have faith in you; you can do it.”

Before Michael left, he took out a box of chocolates wrapped in silk flowers. Looking at the gift, Sophia was surprised, having no inkling as to why Michael would want to give her a gift.

She looked up at him, confusion written all over her face. Michael bent down to hug her, his breath hot over her cheeks. He whispered in her ears, “Happy birthday, chica.”

Birthday? Only then did she remember that it was her birthday. It had been ages since someone wished her happy birthday. If she remembered correctly, only her grandparents would wish her. She remembered her grandmother’s wrinkled face, her skin looking like an old tree trunk, as she showered much love on her.

Every year, her grandmother would boil two eggs on her birthday. As her uncle was not filial, her grandparents had hard lives, living on the eldery subsidies. A young Sophia greatly appreciated the two eggs as her birthday gift.

At that time, she was lucky that the school had provided free compulsory education and a lunch subsidy. Otherwise, she would not have been able to complete her studies. Her childhood dream was to study hard, get into Bayside University, and be filial to her grandparents.

did she know that things would take such a different turn. After her grandmother’s death, this was the first time she received a birthday gift.

gently stroked her messy hair and said, “Alright, it’s late. Go back and have some rest. Tomorrow’s task will be rather difficult.” Sophia nodded and remained silent. She

eight o’clock the next morning, and everyone gathered at the training field. A lieutenant carried a box of camouflage paint, then grabbed people at random before smearing it on their faces.

task was a cross-country run, whereas the afternoon task was firearms training,

she felt hopeless. Yet, there was a flame burning deep down. She was

the company of 20 to

her while running, “Oh, little one, if you can’t take it just go back!” Sophia was already panting hard, and she had no energy to reply.

steel mesh and the like, all the while carrying a load. They also had to carry a gun weighing more than ten

was feeling so tired that she panted heavily, with all those things weighing her down. Truth be told, she wanted to give up multiple times, but she managed to grit

rendezvous point in the afternoon, and sat down to munch on some rations, leaning on a tree. She initially planned to start her return journey at one o’clock, but she was so tired that she

go!” Sophia woke up to find that everyone had left. Stanley squatted down to look at her, his face full

the rations in her hand, only to find it full of ants. Shocked, she

and started to run. Stanley followed, a slight smile on his face. But when she reached the foot of the hill to the rendezvous point, the bus that was supposed to take them back

here. If she had

make it in time for the bus and thus would have to walk for at least an hour to return