General and I

WHEN PATH CROSS AGAIN

The night was soft with rain when Leah returned home. City lights shimmered across the wet streets, each reflection reminding her of how fragile hope could be. Inside her small apartment, the faint hum of the refrigerator and the gentle rhythm of her sister’s breathing filled the silence.

Leah dropped her bag by the door, exhaustion weighing down her limbs. Maya was asleep on the couch, her little body curled under a thin blanket, IV lines carefully taped to her skin. Leah’s chest tightened. Every time she looked at her sister, she was reminded of why she couldn’t give up.

The laptop on the table blinked with a new message. She almost ignored it too tired for more hospital reminders or payment warnings but something made her click.

Subject: Horizon Military Program Admission Status

Congratulations, Miss Leah Sanders.

You have been selected as part of the accepted recruits under the National Defense Initiative.

Your overall score: 97%.

Kindly report to Horizon Base within 48 hours to complete induction.

Her hands froze. She read it again, once, twice, until the words finally sank in.

A sob escaped her lips half disbelief, half joy. After weeks of endless worry and tears, something had finally gone right.

She ran to the kitchen. “Jenah!”

Her best friend peeked from behind the door, eyes wide. “What happened?”

Leah turned the laptop toward her. “I got in.”

Jenah’s mouth fell open. “You’re kidding Leah, that’s incredible!”

The two hugged tightly, laughter spilling into tears. “You did it,” Jenah whispered. “I told you, Leah, you were born to survive anything.”

But when Leah’s gaze drifted to Maya, her joy dimmed. “I’ll be leaving her behind…”

Jenah squeezed her hand. “I’ll stay with her. You just focus on training and come back stronger. Maya needs you to win this, not worry.”

Leah nodded. Her heart was breaking, but she smiled. “Thank you, Jenah. I won’t forget this.”

The next morning, Leah stopped at the hospital before leaving. Dr. Reynolds met her outside the ward, his expression thoughtful.

“You’ve been accepted, haven’t you?”

Leah nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ll start training soon. I promise to settle Maya’s bills as soon as the first allowance comes in.”

The doctor smiled kindly. “You don’t owe me promises, Leah. Just take care of yourself. Maya will be here waiting for you.”

Leah’s throat tightened. “Thank you, Doctor.”

And with that, she walked away her life packed into a single bag and a fragile hope clutched tightly to her chest.

Horizon Military Camp

The air smelled of iron and new beginnings. Rows of recruits stood at attention, their boots thudding against the ground. Leah clutched her registration slip and looked around at the massive compound. It felt like another world one built on discipline, power, and purpose.

An officer handed her a file. “Leah Sanders, right? You’re one of the top scorers 97%. You’ll be assigned to Camp Unit Alpha.”

Leah blinked. “Alpha?”

He nodded. “Highest performing division. Only the best get in.”

As she walked toward her assigned building, whispers followed her. A girl scoring that high wasn’t common.

And among those whispers, one pair of eyes burned the brightest.

Ann Parker.

She stood near a group of trainees, her polished boots spotless, her lips curved into a smirk that didn’t reach her eyes. When she spotted Leah walking confidently toward the Alpha unit, something inside her snapped.

Her?

Ann remembered her the same girl from orientation who had dared to bump into her and then walk away as if nothing happened. And now, that same girl was here in her camp, her unit.

Jealousy flared through her chest like wildfire.

“She’s in Alpha?” Ann muttered under her breath. “That’s impossible.”

Her friend beside her a short, dark-haired recruit named Celia shrugged. “Rumor says she scored ninety-seven percent.”

Ann scoffed, voice dripping with disdain. “Yeah, right. Probably a clerical mistake. Or pity points for her sad little story.”

But deep down, Ann felt something sharper than irritation fear. Fear that someone like Leah Sanders could outshine her. And worse, that the man she’d claimed in her heart for years ,in terms of beauty, Leah is no different from her,she’s God damned gorgeous,even with her 101 Korean skincare which she splashes dollars on every month cannot be compared to the shining skin Leah has.

Inside the barracks, Leah found her assigned bunk. A few girls were already unpacking. One of them, a tall brunette with sharp eyes and a quiet demeanor, smiled faintly when Leah approached.

“Hey,” she said. “I’m Natasha.”

“Leah,” she replied, returning the smile.

Natasha nodded. “You’re the ninety-seven-percent girl, right?”

Leah chuckled softly. “Apparently.”

“Well,” Natasha said, folding her arms. “That means you and I are roommates now. Welcome to Alpha.”

Leah laughed, easing into the conversation. For the first time since arriving, she felt a sense of comfort maybe even belonging.

But outside, in the courtyard, Ann Parker’s jealousy was already turning into a plan.

Cole Industries Same Day

At his desk, Damien Cole skimmed through the new recruit performance sheets. His eyes paused when he reached a name.

Leah Sanders — 97%.

He leaned back, lips twitching into a faint, thoughtful smile. The same number he’d achieved during his own time in the program. Coincidence? Maybe.

But something about that name… it stirred a familiar ache in his memory. He saw flashes of an elevator, tear-streaked cheeks, trembling hands, and quiet courage.

Could it be her?,she quickly brushed the feelings off,how can a meek girl like her come to a cruel place like the military,if anything she deserves to be treated like a princess

His assistant cleared his throat. “Sir, are we still confirming your attendance at the camp address tomorrow?”

Damien nodded absently, eyes still on Leah’s name. “Yes. I’ll be there.”

The Day of the General’s Speech

The entire camp was alive with anticipation. Recruits lined the main field in perfect formation, banners snapping in the wind.

Leah woke early, heart racing. Today was the first time she would get to see how everything and people are in the military .

But when she reached her locker, her breath caught. Her uniform perfectly ironed the night before was slashed across the sleeve. Someone had ruined it.

Her stomach twisted. She didn’t need to ask who had done it.

By the time she found a replacement, the event had ended. The crowd was dispersing, the sound of applause fading into the distance. Leah stood outside the hall, disappointment tightening in her chest.

She had missed everything.

That evening, unable to shake the weight of it, she wandered out to the far edge of the camp where the wind was quiet and the air smelled of pine. She sat on a low bench, staring at the horizon.

The memories came rushing back her parents, Maya, every sacrifice she’d made to stand here. The tears came quietly, slipping down her cheeks before she could stop them.

“Why does it always have to be so hard?” she whispered.

A deep voice broke the silence. “Because the hardest paths often lead to the strongest hearts.”

Leah froze. She turned and there he was.

He stood a few feet away, dressed in dark uniform, the last streaks of sunlight glinting against his medals,Leah had no ideas about military medals or anything so she couldn’t make out who he was,but the aura that emanates from his body is hard to ignore,and this person in front of her looks too handsome to even be called a soldier more like a web toon kinda character.

He looked calm, almost unreadable, yet his eyes those storm-gray eyes softened when they met hers.

For a heartbeat, neither spoke.

Then he stepped closer, voice low. “You were crying.”

Leah shook her head quickly. “No, I was just… thinking.”

He studied her face, recognizing the same quiet sorrow he had seen once before. “You remind me of someone I met not long ago,” he murmured.

Leah swallowed hard. “Maybe she cried too.”

Damien’s lips curved faintly. “Yes. But not like this.”

The silence that followed was heavy, charged with something neither of them could name.

Leah didn’t know who he was beyond his rank and reputation, but standing before him, she felt strangely seen as if the walls she’d built around her heart had cracked, just a little.

And Damien, for reasons he couldn’t explain, felt the same.