Chapter 1 (CMY)
The sun was at its peak and it was too hot to stay outside. I was holding the blueprint of the building that I am working on for the new project for our company. I have been at the company for 4 years now and I am one of the engineers of our company. One of the construction workers talked to me while I was checking the site of the project.
“Good day Sir Chris. The weather now is too hot, huh?”
“Yes, it is. It makes me feel that I need to jump into a shower after this one,” I said.
At the age of 24, I had already completed so many projects for the company. I work at the Young Real Estate Company, owned by my parents and managed by my sister Claudia Young. I am the second child of the Young Clan. My name is Chris Morris Young. Most people call me Chris. I grew up with a rich family who owned real estate properties not only in Singapore but in other Asian countries.
One day I received a call from Claudia. I was at the project site when she called me that day to talk about her offer to me to have a position as the Chief Operating Officer of Young Real Estate Company. She wanted me to be part of the management level for me to get more experience in managing our company. I don’t need any position inside the company, even though I am one of the major shareholders of the company, but I want to live a simple life just like ordinary people.
“Chris, c’mon let’s talk about it. I wanted you to be part of the upper level. Give it a try, please?” Claudia begged me to accept her offer. She always keeps on asking me to join her.
“I feel like I am not into that job, I wanted to have a new environment for a job,” I answered her calmly.
“And what is it? I can give you my position as Chief Executive Officer if you want to. That’s how I love you, little brother.”
“Don’t do that. I know you love your job at our company. I knew you were bored. That’s why you wanted me to be part of the management level so that you can make fun of me.” I was just kidding when I answered her.
“Oops, sorry, but I am not bored. But, seriously. Please consider my offer, brother.”
I grew up with this type of job. When we were young, our parents taught us some of the company’s work. Can you imagine that at a young age we are already aware of the things that we need in construction? I wanted to do military service. Since I was young, I have loved action movies and I remember that I picture myself once wearing a military uniform.
One day, I asked my parents about enlisting myself for military service. I have wanted to do it since I graduated and passed the board exam in engineering. I just want to experience what it feels like to be in the service and experience no special treatment, because everyone has equal treatment inside.I wanted to experience everything. There is no rich and no poor. Every time they heard the Young family's name they always gave us special treatment. And I don’t want that.
“Dad? Mom? I am planning to enlist in military service. Would you allow me to do that?” I asked my parents nicely because I knew my mom would freak out. My dad is cool. He is very supportive. My mom is supportive, but there is this side of our mom that she is also overprotective of us.
Dad agreed that I would like to enlist in the Military for 2 years or a maximum of 3 years, but after that, I need to go back to our company to work. I agreed with him because all I want is to serve and experience the life that I want to. A simple life. My mom at first was hesitant about me joining the military, but in the end, she said YES. I haven’t told Claudia yet because I know my sister for sure would overreact once she knew about my plan.
Our parents wanted us to be independent and, at a young age, they taught us the world of business. As I have said, we came from a rich family but our parents taught us to be humble and always kind. There is one thing that they taught us. Whatever status you are in life, rich or poor, always put your feet on the ground. And we will always remember that for the rest of our lives.
It was 8 in the evening when Claudia arrived at our house. We always have dinner as a family. I told Claudia about my plan to enlist in the military. She looked at me and she said,
“So, you chose that over my offer to you to help me in our company?” She looked at me like she was about to eat me because I didn’t accept her offer to be the Chief Operating Officer of the company.
“I will help you once I am out of service. Don’t worry, I will always be here for you. I will support you always, sis.” I told my sister.
But in the end, my sister allowed me. I am planning to enlist early next year. It’s almost the end of the year and also, I still have projects to do in the company. I told my sister that I was going to finish the pending project before I was going to enter the service. The next day, I went to the site to check the ongoing building construction. Everything runs smoothly. For the remaining months of the year. I keep myself busy with the remaining project and finalizing the things that I need to finish because I am about to enlist by next year, the first quarter of the year.
I can’t wait to experience the life that I wanted. To live a simple and ordinary life.
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Four months have passed. After four months of busy working to finish my project and work at the company, I know it is just temporary because I know I will be back once my service is completed. As always, I am always serious about the things that I want to achieve. I keep on my focus.
I made friends inside the military camp. Not only friends, but I can call them brothers. Before, I would be out in the field holding leveling surveying equipment like the wye, but right now, I am holding a sniper rifle. My life in the military is a little bit challenging, but I am enjoying it. It changed me not only physically but also mentally. The first 6 months in the military are not easy. I am still adjusting. I do not sleep in a soft bed. My life now is different. I am getting comfortable as I continue my journey inside.
Time flies so fast since I started to do military service. You will never notice time, especially when you enjoy what you are doing. It’s been more than one year since I started my journey. I am about to finish my service in the military as I have promised my parents. But guess what, I applied for the next tier. I applied to be part of a special action force. The two years promised ended with seven years of service. And I am proud of it. My parents and sister kept on bugging me to finish my service and go back to the outside world because they miss me. Seven years for them is too long. But the seven years of service are worth it because I found the woman that I am looking for. The woman that has caught my eye since I saw her. I have met a lot of women outside before. Women from different industries, but the one that caught my eye through that rifle scope is different. I felt different when I first saw her.