LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT - SEASON 2 CHAPTER 86
Keira was smiling from ear to ear as they were walking hand-in-hand toward the function hall. She knew about Torin’s surprise event that he prepared for her husband.
Zach noticed his wife’s knowing look and asked, “What is it?” to which Keira just shook her head and answered with, “Nothing…”
When they entered the function hall, everything was pitch dark. And suddenly, a bright spotlight was on, beaming toward a large throne chair which was placed toward the center of the room. Keira led Zach to sit in it while she occupied a smaller seat next to him.
Then the bright light was shifted, pointing to the stage in the middle of the hall. “What’s this?” Zach murmured when he saw some of his soldiers appear, one by one, including Torin. They started to perform some funny skits of all the memorable experiences they encountered during their fieldwork.
“Wow, look, he really put a lot of effort to impress you,” Keira praised as she laughed watching Torin acting as Zach.
Zach was laughing as well, as he recalled all those adventures during the many missions he was sent to. The most awful part was when a group of them had to hide from their enemies inside a small underground shelter, and Torin released a fart bomb!
Everyone inside the function hall roared with laughter.
“Oh my gosh, bro Torin almost jeopardized the whole mission with his fart!” Rizie commented as she laughed.
Then came the part where Keira and her friends joined the military academy to stalk Zach. Torin performed the bit where Zach would always confide his dilemma to him, about how the teenage Rizie was stubbornly pursuing someone older than her.
Rizie crumpled her face as she looked at her big brother and pointed to herself, mouthing, “Me?” Zach shook his head and laughed in embarrassment.
Then Torin performed the bit where he was ordered by Zach to demonstrate a full CBR training to the new cadets, only to find out how lenient Zach had been to Keira’s group because he couldn’t see Keira suffer inside the gas chamber for even a second more.
The CBR training skit must, of course, include Torin’s pathetic attempt of revenge, where he ordered Keira and May to prepare dinner for the high-ranking officials, which flunked and only backfired on him. In the end, not only had he gotten reprimanded by Zach, but Zach had also commanded Torin to help him finish the horrible food that the two girls had prepared.
May flinched and mumbled, “Eww! How could they eat it all?”
Keira widened her eyes and hit Zach’s chest, “General! Admit it! You already liked me back then!” Zach chuckled and grabbed his wife’s hand to kiss it.
Then came the last part, in which the couple was stranded on an isolated island. Zach looked at his wife in disbelief, to which Keira responded by giving him a mischievous grin and shrugged shoulders.
Torin seemed to be a natural born performer, as he was doing a great job imitating Zach, only based on Keira’s explanation. They all laughed as he acted how Zach used hand gestures and body language to communicate with the tribesmen.
“Oh God, this is remarkable. Keira told me she brought along a girl from that tribe, and she wanted to adopt her as a younger sister… What was her name again? Mara?” Lana commented.
“Correct. Mara. And John is assigned to look after her in a secluded place where she could strengthen her immune system slowly. It was the only way for her to survive in the modern world. And I heard it would take years…” May explained.
“Oh yeah, right, I heard about that. They’re probably already staying on that island, which Keira recently bought. You know, one of the neighboring islands of the Kens’,” Lana figured.
“Yes, they’re already there. Keira bought the island, not only because it reminded her of the memorable moments she and Zach had when they were stranded on the other island, but also to have a secluded place where Mara can stay, study, train, and build her immune system properly…” May added.
She knew because John had personally bid his farewell to her before he left for that island. He told her that he would be staying there with Mara for a few years.
John also mentioned that it would be a tough job because, even though Mara was a grown woman, but she didn’t know anything about modern civilization. So she would be as naive as a child, and instead of being her guardian, he would most likely be her sitter.
May felt terrible for John because of the way she rejected him. But what else could she do? She needed to be straightforward with John. She regretted that she had been clueless about his feelings for her. Had she known about it earlier, she would have been able to act sooner and minimize his heartache.
“Don’t worry… John is a tough man, and he said he understood you. Besides, you parted as good friends. He smiled genuinely when he said goodbye and wished you luck, right?” Lana consoled her friend when she noticed May’s solemn expression.
May had confided to her about what happened. She was also surprised when she heard the story. Perhaps both May and her were just too dense to notice this kind of thing.
The show finished with a finale as the soldiers shouted, “Happy birthday, General Lim!”
All the guests were obviously satisfied with the performance, which could be heard from the sound of laughter and applause in the hall.
Keira whispered to Zach as she clapped her hands, “You see how hard Torin has worked to entertain you? This was all his idea. So, stop giving him a hard time and just grant him his wish…”
After the show, Torin rushed to Zach, panting hard. “Did you like it, bro?” he asked, smiling broadly at Zach.
Zach stood up from his chair and looked at Torin with a serious expression and said, “I appreciate this, brother-in-law. Thank you for all your efforts…”
Torin’s eyes widened as he repeated excitedly, “You said brother-in-law, right? Does that mean you consider me as your brother-in-law now?”
Zach did not say anything. He only smiled and patted Torin’s shoulder before he walked toward the rest of his soldiers to thank them for the wonderful show.
Torin shifted his gaze to Keira and asked, “You heard it, right? He really called me brother-in-law, right?”
Keira laughed and nodded while giving him a two thumbs up.
“Yes!” Torin shouted before he ran to Lyra. He hugged her, lifted her off the ground and did a twirl.
“We can finally get married!” he murmured happily. Rizie, who was standing near them, looked at them in bewilderment.
“Geez, look how happy he is? He looked so desperate…” Rizie commented.
Grandma Terry laughed and said, “He’s not desperate dear, he’s just in love…”
Everyone was enjoying Zach’s birthday party…
But unfortunately, May had to leave early. She bid her farewell to everyone and pulled Riley along with her.
“Is it necessary to live with you, miss May? I don’t want to be of an inconvenience, and I can assure you that I can find my own place and still report to work early…” Riley rambled as they walked toward May’s car, which was parked inside the military base.
“Here, you drive!” May answered by throwing her car key to Riley.
“Nice catch,” May commented with a grin as she stepped into the front passenger seat. Riley scratched his head as he got into the driver’s seat.
When Riley was already inside the car, May looked at him and said, “Stop adding ‘Miss’ to my name. Just call me May. How many times do I have to repeat that? And the most essential part of your job is to protect me at all times. Now how would you do that if you don’t stick with me? So, yes, you must live with me.”
“Let me make it even simpler for you. Riley, the only place you need to be is with me, alright?” May added with a grin, which made Riley blush.
‘I will be your home now!’ May excitedly mused. She did not voice it out loud because she was afraid it would only scare off the already timid Riley.
She did not know why, but there was something about Riley that got her interested. She did not usually pay attention to the opposite segz because food had always been the most attractive to her. That was until Riley came along.
She liked it whenever she saw his shy and timid attitude only to her. Cobra told her that Riley was usually a chatterbox, but not in front of her. It made her feel special.
They finally arrived at her place, and she immediately led Riley to the room next to hers.
“Are you living alone, miss… Uhm, May?” He asked and quickly changed the way he was addressing her when he saw May narrowing her eyes at him as soon as she heard the word ‘Miss.’
“Yes, I am living alone now. My parents moved out of the country a few years ago, but I chose to stay here. My nanny is with me, but she’s currently off for a week to spend some time with her family,” May explained as she opened the door to his room and turned the lights on.
“Help yourself, Riley. I’ll just finish some work, and then I’ll cook our dinner,” May said, but Riley quickly countered, “No, let me cook instead. I feel bad to always eat the food you prepared, so from now on, let me at least prepare the meals when you have to work.”
May was a bit surprised, but her lips curved upward as she said, “Alright, then make yourself at home. Everything you need is in the kitchen.”
Then she went to the study room to finish the cookbook she was writing. She was already late with her schedule, and her editor would definitely roast her alive soon.
But she couldn’t concentrate, as she was anticipating the result of Riley’s cooking. “Darn it,” she cursed as she looked at her laptop, trying to focus on her work.
She timed herself. She would want to finish the pending work an hour before dinner, so she could watch Riley cook.
After two hours, May stretched for a bit before she went down to check on Riley in the kitchen. “Are you done with your work?” Riley asked as he chopped the onions.
“Hmm, not yet, but my fingers are hurting from typing too much. So let me relax a bit by watching you cook. By the way, let’s buy you more things tomorrow, like a mobile phone and some clothes,” May suggested with a smile as she sat in one of the kitchen island counter stools.
“It’s okay. I’ll do it once I drop you off at work, miss… Uhm, May,” Riley declined, as he felt that May had already done too much for him. Besides, he still had enough money that he got from Field Marshal Chan. He had given both Cobra and him more than enough money to start a new life.
He left the military base, as soon as it was deemed safe for them to leave the safe house, while Cobra chose to stay to become a soldier. Cobra wanted a stable and secure life, while he desired to explore the outside world because he felt he was too naive and ignorant, as Cobra would often say.
“Hmm, don’t worry, I’ll have enough time tomorrow as long as I finish my work tonight. I will deduct the expenses from your salary, of course,” May said with a grin as her eyes followed Riley’s every move.
She squealed inside as she watched Riley cook. He looked so segzy in her eyes right now. His movements were so precise, it was a posture of a man who absolutely knew what he was doing.
“Where did you learn how to cook?” asked May as she smelled the nice aroma of the ingredients Riley was mixing right now.
“Oh, from my master… I learned a lot from him, and he was really a good cook,” answered Riley with a smile.
May stared at Riley with adoration on her face. “Effortless,” she gushed because Riley seemed to be an expert in the kitchen.
He was making lobster rolls and fire-eater chicken wings. “I’m not sure if you will like it, but I hope you do,” murmured Riley. He was a bit nervous as he sensed May’s eyes following his every move.
“Nah, I’ll like it for sure,” May reassured him because she could tell just by the smell that it was going to be a tasty meal. As a matter of fact, she was already drooling…
Drooling over for the meal and the man who was making it…
After a few more minutes, May could not wait anymore. She stood up and walked toward Riley, and forked one of the chicken wings to taste. Then her eyes widened as she exclaimed, “Oh my! It’s so delicious. Gosh, I should keep you by my side forever!” Then she grabbed a plate and took some more chicken wings before she went back to her seat.
Riley blinked his eyes and stared at May nonplussed. He didn’t know how he should interpret May’s words.
‘What does she mean she should keep me by her side forever?’ Riley thought with a puzzled look all over his face.