Chapter 8: DIGGING A HOLE FOR ONESELF
All Xuan Mo had to do during the farewell party and completion reception was to collect her award . She didn’t manage to participate in the chorus because she was in the showcase segments, neither did she want to stand along on her own, so she requested for a leave and returned to her dorm to lie on the bed while she sorted it her plans for the future in her head .
She gained more understanding as more of her memories were triggered, Earthlings, or perhaps she say put it as the people of this country, of this civilization, their lifestyle and the life experiences they ought to have . The people here went to kindergarten when they were three, four years old, primary school when they’re around six to eight, junior high at twelve to fourteen, high school when they were sixteen to eighteen, then university after that . They could either continue with their studies or enter the working force after that . After that comes retirement, then death .
There were no sentiments of war, nor joining the military, well, at least not among girls . Z L T
What should she do then . She’d just entered first year in high school—she’s only fifteen now—so she still had time . She’d sensitively figured that a high school graduation a standard required by the country . Did that mean that she was free find a way to join the military after that?
She had never given any thought to what her alleged parents who think about that . To her, other than her adolescence where she required her parents to take care of her, she had to settle her own decisions . Parents generally couldn’t be bothered to decide their children’s path for them; children in return hence were too unable to demand their parents to help them settle decision-making choices .
Let’s leave it at that for now then . It’ll only take her three years to get through high school . Once it’s over, she could pursue the lifestyle she liked .
Just as she was pretending to sleep with her eyes closed, she suddenly sensed someone heading over; the steady, resounding footsteps told her that person was middle-aged .
She opened her eyes to see Commissioner Li at the doorway with his hands ready to knock the door .
There were thirty bunks in the dorm; it took Commissioner Li a while before he noticed Xuan Mo hidden on the innermost bunk in the dorm . Her bright eyes were staring at him in caution . At that, he smiled, and knocked the door, asking: “Xuan Mo student, are you resting? Can I enter?”
Xuan Mo nodded as sat up straight .
“Cough cough, there’s no need for formality now . ” Commissioner Li sat down on the bunk opposite hers . He’d originally wanted to sit down in a relaxed position, but Xuan Mo’s seriousness had him sitting straight as well… goodness knows how long it’d been since he sat so straight .
Xuan Mo didn’t move . She looked at Commissioner Li in ernest; she didn’t feel like this position was any formality of sorts, in fact, it was very comfortable for her .
Alright then, Commissioner Li sighed mentally and sat up properly before asking as he smiled slightly: “Xuan Mo, have you thought of signing on in the future?”
Xuan Mo’s eyes lit up, but she didn’t speak . T
In Commissioner Li’s opinion, or his understanding of kids nowadays, the majority of ten wouldn’t want to join the military . Some of those who sign one either were the ones that couldn’t study or just here grabbing the cert like how they’d sit through a level four or five university English for the cert for more options in the future . He didn’t wish Xuan Mo turned it to be either of the two types; this talented seedling ought to be nurtured right .
“There’s no war to fight being a soldier now . The remmunerations’ average too . The majority of the people who sign on either wants to apply for a military school or work in the public sector and earn good money, but a lot of youths only realise how rough it was after actually signing on . I know you can handle it, it’s a matter of whether you want to . ”
“I want to sign on . ” Xuan Mo didn’t hesitate . “But I don’t know how to . ” Z L T
“Oh? What kind of soldier do you want to be?” Commissioner Li smiled to himself . Z L T
Xuan Mo thought for a moment . She wasn’t very familiar with the types of soldier on the Blue Planet . It didn’t matter even if she said because she was a mental power practitioner . She’d been the auxiliary personnel in the team when she’d first started out as a soldier; she was in charge of surveying ahead and mental power interference and attack . Though there were no special protection measures in place for mental power practitioner in a team, she was stationed either in the middle of at the tail of the team, hence there was no need for her to engage in battle . Afterwards when her abilities broke through her bottleneck and advanced to a Marshal level, she began her “office” life . She needn’t involve herself with the smaller-scaled battles . For larger-scaled ones, all she had to do was to commanding podium in their galactic battleship and command the entire army of mechas and battle weapons remotely .
It was only until the last mission did she have to attend to it herself; you could say she was a diplomat cum spy cum bodyguard…
Well, the moral of the story was that she’d tried pretty much everything before so she’s good at it .
And so…
“I’m okay with everything, Commissioner . ” Z L T
Unbeknownst to Xuan Mo was that she threw herself into a fox hole . Z L T
Their following conversation was nothing interesting . Not long after Commissioner left, the students returned from the reception . The majority of them had red eyes as though they’d just cried . When Tian Jin Jin saw Xuan Mo, she gave a howl before pouncing over, bawling out loud as she hugged Xuan Mo: “Mo Mo! I’ll miss the instructor!”
Xuan Mo had still not experienced the inconvenience (at least to her they were considered inconvenient) of communication devices here on the Blue Planet so she was relatively unfeeling and treated Tian Jin Jin’s breakdown as the girl going nuts . She followed the memories in her head and patted Tian Jin Jin’s head, saying: “You can visit them in the future . ”
“Sob sob!” Tian Jin Jin continued crying . Z L T
The instruction to gather had already sounded from downstairs though . Z L T
Everyone had packed their stuff the previous night . After heading down, they would be dismissed from the military base .
There were lots of people who were lingering around to get the instructor’s contact details or getting a picture together with them . Xuan Mo looked from afar, not revealing any feelings of reluctance to leave . There weren’t many people who noticed that, but some of those that did felt that it was just her being cold .
“Won’t you miss this place?” Someone suddenly said beside her; that voice was very farmiliar .
Xuan Mo had long figured someone was walking lee but she didn’t know that person was heading for her . She turned to see who the person was… it was Tang Jing Ze, the crazy guy from the target shooting .
He didn’t have any particular expression on his face, but the rims of his eyes were also a little red .
“No . ” Xuan Mo replied lightly, “I’m coming back . ” Z L T
When they returned to school, An environment everyone was familiar with, the majority of the students had thrown aside their previous reluctance and instead couldn’t wait to go home . Three off days were given to everyone . It so happened to be the three-day holiday for Mid Autumn’s Festival . After returning to school from the three-day break, it would be the seven-day break for National Day soon after .
Xuan Mo was at loss again .
She remembered everything about Xuan Mo’s parents, but they were after all only memories that were void of emotions .
“Mo Mo! My parents are picking me up in a while, you?” Z L T
“I’m going back later . ” Z L T
“Oh okay, then I’ll wait for them at the entrance then! Bye everyone!” Tian Jin Jin ran out happily .
Qi Shan had her things packed as well . She patted Xuan Mo, smiling: “Mo Mo, I really wish we’ll end up in the same class now!” Before Xuan Mo could react, she gave her a hug .
Xuan Mo paused . Her humming as a form acknowledgement had Qi Shan bursting into laughter: “Don’t walk around with such a silly expression… you’re too cute . ”
Silly = =, how was she silly?