The travel time was also a bonding for the team. It was blue not until their favorite song played.
“Hey, do you think this one’s good for the playlist?” Silas suggested. “Do you mean the Music Video we’re going to produce?” Olivia asked. Silas nodded and faced the team asking for their reply. “Sounds good, but try to include ideas to make the flow worth watching” JL answered. “I agree, we’ll ask your dad for the production and videography crew” DK added.
They sang along… “I don’t wanna waste my time in love, I know that I waste my time enough” It’s Crumble by the Cheats band. An indie but nostalgic music.
Hours passed and JL was the first to go, followed by Silas, and then DK. After the three, seven more hours are added to the travel time. Olivia, Zaydi, Endrei, and Lt.Col. Peredo were left. It’s already past midnight and the car is filled with silence. No radio noises, no music playing, just three kids sleeping on the back seat.
Before Zaydi’s destination comes, they stopped by to have a midnight snack in a 7/11 branch. Zaydi peeked at the glass wall and looked above. “Look at the midnight sky, it’s almost morning and as far as I remember 24 hours ago, we’re already having breakfast but look at us now, were only having a snack” he said.
“I’m glad you’re knowledgeable about treasuring moments. Before, when I was your age, I only think about waking up every day. Breakfast on the table, I envy our older cousins because they’re training for the legacy. Look at me now, I proved that I am capable of following our ancestor’s footsteps,” said Lt.Col. Peredo.
“Just like Gian, he envies Silas so much. He said that he wants to steal Silas’ position in Prideus if he’s carrying our surname” said Endrei who’s eating a heated ready-to-eat meal. The other members looked at him. They can’t believe that those words came out from Endrei’s mouth. “Gian envies Silas?” Olivia unbelievably asked. “This is the new issue. Now I know why there is a cold air between the two. If I know, Gian refuses to sleep at home when Silas is there” Zaydi added.
“Gian loves playing with gun but we gave him limitations. The two have the same anger issue but to think of it, Silas deserves the position better that Gian. In my opinion, Gian is still incapable if we register him to Prideus” Lt.Col. Peredo explained.
Everyone became quiet; they understood the senior’s point. Privileged at talented people are the only ones who are given the chance. Who would want to be so carefree when disappointments are going in their way?
For them, being in this legacy means the “Pride of the Family”. Even in their home, the Prideus members are in separate areas which is degrading for the other family members. Their parents are not allowed to watch the competition but they can still watch it through a camera and a recorded video. Posting pictures related to the legacy would be a red flag because of the presence of spies from the opposing team.
Hours passed until they reached their destination. Zaydi was the first to drop off. When they reached their town, it is already four in the morning. In their sight are their helpers cooking breakfast while the drivers are starting the engines for the early workers in their family.
They used five hours to rest up. They all went down to have their breakfast. When they reached the dining table, their aunts flooded them with questions. As the people say, aunts are the best gossipers. To answer those questions, Lt. Col. Peredo made them watch their behind-the-training videos. It includes the leisure, fun, training, and even their meetings.
“Vino, why did you include Olivia in the boys’ room? Isn’t it prohibited?” their aunt Chelli asked while watching the video. “Aunt, we don’t focus on that rule inside the camp. Besides, we’re on one team. It is completely normal for them to stick together” Lt.Col. Peredo answered. “You always surround Olivia with boys, look at her, she’s hanging around like a hooligan with the boys. I won’t be surprised if she knows how to court someone better than DK” Ria – Olivia’s mom said. Lt. Col. Peredo replied quickly, “Aunt don’t worry, your daughter is stronger than the boys. She even sleeps on the top deck of the bed since Silas is scared”.
They continued asking until breakfast ended. Few minutes after that, Lt. Col. Peredo held their family picture in the kitchen and turned it around. At the back of the picture is a white board. He wrote the plan and the final decision in their meeting. Even though their parents cannot go to the event, they still need to be knowledgeable of their plans in the competition.
Sunday will end in a few hours; everyone is busy with their studies. Their senior is preparing for his proposal promotion; while Silas, Olivia, and Endrei has exams. Zaydi has an audition for his extracurricular activity, DK will take a board exam and JL has a degree to finish.
Olivia glanced at her desk calendar. It’s already the first week of December and the weather starts to get cold. She sighed, “It’s the hoodie season again!”. She carefully organized her desk and prepared her school needs inside her backpack. She opened her closet to get her ironed school uniform paired with her gray-pink sweater.
She opened her phone to see the notifications she’s ignoring for quite a long time now. She received a text from her former opponent: Justin Guzman. It’s a sweet message sent to her last November, on her birthdate. “Damn this is annoying”
Doesn’t it feel weird? An opponent forcing you to have a connection with him? For some suspicious matter, her work as a Private is to eliminate a spy and her situation with Justin is uneasy. She cancelled the chat head ang proceeded with their group chat. It is now a loud group chat.
Dior Tiueco: Hey guess what? I got a date for the next day…
JL Tiueco: DK got something else? You’ll leave that girl eventually
Kim Zaydi Tiueco: Make sure to not get your face posted in the internet again, Heartbreaker!
Dior Tiueco: I’m confident with this one. You’ll see! ^_^
Silas Tiueco replied to Dior Tiueco
Silas Tiueco: Alright, share your story next camp training lol
Carlos Endrei Tiueco: Feels weird, but I miss you guys. :<
Dior Tiueco: Aww, poor baby. We’ll meet soon.
JL Tiueco: Sleep now, people. Tomorrow’s a school day
I replied.
Olivia Marie Tiueco: Ayay! Goodnight, everyone! *virtual kisses*