CHAPTER TWO
1584 Words
NATHAN HAN.
From the corner of my eyes, I see him walk into the large hall and everyone stands up. I almost don’t stand up but then protocol deserves that so I pull my huge body off the chair.
His eyes rest on me but I don’t budge, I also continue staring back at him. I can bet he can see the smirk on my lips. Uncle Coleen already looks uncomfortable but this is little compared to what was coming for him.
Uncle Colleen takes the podium and everyone of us sits down again.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” his voice floats across the room, “officers, soldiers and distinguished guests. Today, we gather to honor a man. Not just a man but someone whose unwavering dedication has shaped a whole”
Uncle Coleen pauses as his gaze rests on me again. I can see the anger brimming in his eyes. Hand him a gun and he will not hesitate to end me right here, the way he wanted to eight years ago.
Remembering that day feels gut wrenching. The pain I had to go through from the bomb blast and from his gun. I had lost consciousness and when I woke up, I found myself in the hospital. A Good Samaritan had saved me and up until now, I was indebted to her. For eight years, she has helped me get back on my feet and I owe my life.
Eight years of trying to get back on my feet, four years in the Luxembourg army. It was not easy but today, here I am. Standing face to face with the man who caused everything. Dropping dead on the stage wouldn’t be a bad idea but it will be too easy for him.
“Today,” he begins again, “we entrust him with the responsibilities of the united state army. A position that deserves a whole lot down to your life. His exploits in Luxembourg have been told far and wide and we are glad to have him on board as the general of the United state military. It is my honor to invite the next general of the united states army to invite him on stage to take his oath of office”
The hall erupts in an applause as I stand up and make my way towards the podium. Each step I take fills me with anger and frustration. He didn’t even mention my father, not one single word about his bravery. He dies and everyone forgets about him.
I clench my jaw together and force myself to stay calm. This is not the time or the place to explode.
“It is with great pleasure, General Nathan Han” uncle Coleen continues but I tune him out. The only thing on my mind now is do this and get the heck out of here.
Luckily everything goes smoothly and in no time, the certificate is handed over to me but not everyone in the hall looks happy and truth be told, I do not give a f**k about any of them.
“Congratulations!” Uncle Colleen says as he stretches his hand for a shake.
“Thank you, deputy,” I say out loud as I take his hand, “I am sure it will be a good thing working with you!”
Anger wells up in his eyes and his grip on mine tightens. I don’t move, I don’t flinch. I only let him do whatever he wants to do.
“The president has invited us for dinner” he says after a while, “I hope you will be available”
“Of course, I will make sure to be there.”
Uncle Colleen finally lets go of my hand but he doesn’t walk away, instead he takes a step closer to me.
“I know you Nathan and I will be waiting for you.”
“Can you move?” I whisper, “I need to give an acceptance speech.”
He scoffs and steps away while, I walk towards the podium until I am standing directly in front of everyone. Eight years ago, my father used to stand here and deliver speeches. He used to swear people in—he was a good man but then—
I closed my eyes for a few seconds, trying to calm the ache in my heart.
“Thank you so much, deputy General” I start to speak, “thank you, fellow comrades and distinguished guests. It is an honor to stand before you today and accept the title of the general of the united states army. Eight years ago, my father stood here as the commander and eight years later, I have taken over from him”
From the corner of my eyes, I see uncle Colleen fuming with anger. His jaw is clenched and his fists are balled. That singular gesture irritates the hell out of me. How dare he even think he has the right to be angry about my father?
“My father was a good man” I continue, “it’s a shame that he had to die in that bomb blast and I almost lost my life because of that too. At least I am living with a loss of memory , he died” I pause as my emotions try to get the best of me. Talking about my father always fills me with deep sadness but then, I can’t allow them to forget about him like that. He carried this nation on his head, he did everything he could as a general and I am not going to let them forget about him that soon.
“But I am going to try harder” I continue, “I am going to keep on my father’s legacy and maybe one day, I may finally remember everything that has happened. But once again, thank you everyone for this opportunity”
An applause rises from the crowd again as I walk back to my seat but instead of sitting, I hand over the certificate to the man seated beside me and I walk out of the hall amidst the claps and the eyes.
As soon as I walk out of the hall, my mobile rings. I don’t even bother to check the caller ID, I already know who it is. For the last eight years, she is the only person who’s number I have saved on my phone.
“Hello.”
“That went well,” her voice filters through, “I actually thought you would end Colleen right there and then, in front of everyone”
“It would be too easy for him,” I hiss, “and that’s what I am not going to do. He has to pay accordingly”
“Hmmm” she hums from the other end of the line, “your apartment is ready and all cleaned out. You can move in when you want”
“Are you leaving?”
“Hmmm” she responds, “I have a dinner date with Dan this evening”
“Yeah, right.”
Dan is her husband and one of the people I am most grateful to. He is also one of the reasons why I am alive and well.
“Okay.”
“I guess I will see you later okay?” August says, “and yes, you did a pretty good job today. Colleen won’t know what’s coming for him”
I don’t respond, I only end my call and remain like that for a few seconds until a hand prods me and I turn around to see a frail looking woman beside me. Recognition immediately flashes through my face—Ophelia.
“Nathan?” Her lips curls into a tiny smile, “I didn’t know you were the Nathan that my father was talking about”
Yes, she is Colleen’s daughter and one of my arch enemies. Seeing her reminds me so much of her father and it’s the most annoying feeling in the world—she is the embodiment of everything I detest in this world.
“Sorry, do you know me?”
“What?” The smile on her face disappears, “it’s me, Ophelia. Why are you asking me that?”
I drag my gaze over her again. She is fully dressed in her uniform. The last time I saw her, she was adamant on joining the military but I guess uncle Colleen always has a way of doing things.
“You don’t remember me?”
“I am sorry but I lost my memory. I am unable to recognize anything” the lies have almost become part of me, I can almost believe them now.
“Oh” she gasp. “I didn’t know that. I—
“I guess I will see you around, Ophelia” I cut her off before she can say anything else and with that, I walk away without looking back. She should be happy my attention is on her father for now until she decides to become the object of my revenge.
Ophelia is an embodiment of everything her father is and it makes me sick to my stomach, I can already feel the churning in my stomach.
“Keep your cool,” I hear August’s voice from the earpiece pressing deep inside my ear, “keep your cool” she adds again before her voice drops and I am left alone to my thoughts.
- Writer
