"Junhao!" A voice rang from the room beyond the door emblazoned with the words "Commanding Officer". As if on automated cue, Junhao stopped his task on hand and shifted his body to the front of that door. With a heavy shove, the door heaved and granted access. From a gradually widening slit, Junhao saw a man reclining on a high decked chair within.
"Yes Sir, you've got anything for me?"Junhao mumbled in a robotic fashion. "Yes, get me CPT Chew, i'm free for his AFR session now" came the crisp reply. He strolled out and within seconds, he found himself breaking into a quick brisk to the big battalion office down at the end of the common corridor.
He gave two resounding knocks on the wooden door. A shrill voice beckoned him to go in. As Junhao scanned the interior of the office, he couldn't help but notice the dramatic difference in size of this office compared to the one he was in moments earlier on. Meanwhile, a look of recognisation dawned on CPT Chew's face and quickly flushed to one of consternation. "Have you got anything from CO again?" he shot. Junhao was stunned momentarily by this brusque question. He briefly recalled what his friend, Danqing's own experience as a Personal Assistant.
Regaining composure, he quickly replied, "CO sir would like to have you in his office for your AFR session" Without batting an eyelid, the OC said, "Give me five minutes" With the faintest of a nod, Junhao strolled out and accelerated back as usual to his office to convey the delay to CO himself. He paused for a while in front of the RSM's office. A few random thoughts flashed through his mind and he continued on his brief objective.
"Sir, CPT Chew would be coming in around 5 minutes later due to some urgent matters on hand", he dutifully conveyed. "Sure, How was your Chinese New Year?" If the PA was able to barely conceal his stunned expression earlier on in the OC's Office, this one really caught him off guard. As if an expert on body language, the CO quickly motioned the Corporal to take a seat. It somehow aided the transition of the PA from a state of shock back to normalcy. Even so, Junhao was visibly uncomfortable. Apparently he wasn't used to this. He squirmed and fidgeted in his seat.The Grade 2 Major then went on, "So did you go overseas?"
"No sir..." he fumbled hoarsely. "Celebrated the Lunar New Year in the good old fashion." The young Major nodded in appreciation. It was a good thing that uncertainty manifested itself on Junhao that day for it managed to suppress strange/alternative retorts to the Major's questions without a whimper. Needless to say, had those funny thoughts found their way to his voice box, the sunset might never be the same again.
Junhao's thoughts drifted back to the early days in BMTC. He remembered clearly that his entire company had to stand at attention just so that a salutation of a 2nd Lieutenant can take place. It was as if a celestial being had descended on earth itself. Now there he was, sitting across a table of oakwood finishing from a 2nd Grade Major on equal talking terms. Indeed, the earth spins round. What a great reversal of fortune or so it seems.
Junhao was about to speak when both soldiers heard a knock. "Ask CPT Chew to wait for a moment." The PA got up and proceeded to the door, opening it. As if on cue, CPT Chew edged in on the door from the other side and caught a glimpse of his superior. "Give me a while Captain." Junhao soon found himself settling back to the seat, eye to eye with his boss. "Where were we? Ahh... Chinese New Year? Ahh... Yes" Junhao replied,"Correct Sir" The Major pondered for a moment and Junhao thought he saw the officer's eyes narrowed. It seems that they were getting on to what the Major really wanted to say. True enough.
"I notice that you sigh a lot as a young man. I mean it's not a reprimand but definitely it's a cause for concern. Is there something acutely bothering you?" The officer sank back onto his chair. Apparently he was expecting a torrent of words from his assistant's mind. But all he got was, "Yes sir, you were spot on about that. It's just that i'm pondering and carefully deliberating my plausible options after National Service." Deep down inside, Junhao knew that those words were but a front, a vague statement conjured up just to entertain the curosity of his officer.
For a year now he had been worrying. What will happen when both him and his sister enroll together in university? The funding issue is definitely an important issue. Could he hope to defray the costs by procuring a scholarship? What were his chances if that was the case? These thoughts swam in his mind for a very long time, defiant and evasive. They just simply refuse to settle down at the bottom.
The Major's eyes narrowed once more. "You sure about that as in you have no more areas of concern?" This time the corporal put on his best performance and replied firmly. "No sir, thank you for your concern." He left the room and on his way out, CPT Chew filed in morosely.
Dazed, he kept on thinking. The encounter earlier definitely stirred up more confusion in him.
" What will happen?"
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