Colonel Arias and Captain Eleanor's awkward expression made Yelena's smile. She really wished to laugh but for the sake of the couple, she hardly suppressed her laughter!

"I bet our Deputy Commander wouldn't think of such things. He's a workaholic." Yelena remarked with a light chuckle when she saw the doubtful gaze of the soldiers. Even she doesn't know whether she spoke up for the secret couple or to make the other soldiers more curious!

​​

The Colonel stood still with a busy mind though he put up a calm facade but Ella could hardly sit still. She took the bottle of water placed in front of her and drink again and again. She almost spits out the water in her mouth when another question was directed to her.

"Captain, then what about you? Do you have any opinion?" The one who asked the question was Lt. Gary, the Vice-Captain of Team Echo which Ella leads. He chuckled when he saw the Captain's reaction.

"Me?" Ella gasped and put the bottle back to the table. She awkwardly smiled when she muttered, "I have no opinion." Trying to avoid the Lieutenant doubtful gaze, her eyes rolled around every corner of the small meeting room.

"No one has any authority over their feelings. So, I don't think it's a crime to date a fellow soldier as long as their work is not affected." Everyone turned their head to the Colonel who finally spoke up. Standing at the end of the table, he narrowed his eyes at Ella. "Don't you think so, Ella?" He asked her with a slight smile on his face.

Ella's eyes widen at Arias brazen behaviour. Why did he call her just by name?! Her rank should be mentioned first as they were working now! Besides, why did the meeting turned to a dating discussion meeting?!

"As I said before, I have no opinion, Deputy Commander." She responded as she clenched her teeth. Her voice was far from gentle and the way she gazed at the Colonel was not soft either.

Arias chuckled when he saw her displeased face. Glancing at the other soldiers, he said to Ella, "Is that so? I think it's quite fun to date a fellow soldier." He looked at Ella who was now giving him a pleading look as if she begged him to shut up. "What's the need to feign ignorance? Look at them. They are just playing around with us because they already know."

Ella looked at the others and realized that the Colonel was right! They were all giving them a knowing look. 'We already know everything!' That's what the look on their faces said.

Finally, Yelena let out a laughter which she tried hard to suppress. "It's fine, Ella. You're not that good at acting so just accept it." She calmly patted her friend on the shoulder as if she was trying to comfort her.

Ella had a feeling that it was an action to tease her rather than comforting her, which made her utterly displeased! Maybe she was right because her best friend couldn't stop laughing at her.

"Take it easy, Captain. We already understand when you injured your hand. After that, you always stared at the Deputy Commander in secret but we always caught you though we never say it." Lt. Gary explained to Ella with a playful smile.

"I think the Deputy Commander is more good at hiding, except for that day." Corporal Jena added which made Ella lose control.

"That's nonsense! I'm more better in hiding!" She abruptly rose from her seat with an upset face. She was the one who wished to keep their relationship a secret but if she was labelled as the one who made it more obvious; what would that make of her?! She couldn't accept it.

"Captain Ella is right. I bet everyone becomes suspicious because I'm terrible at hiding my feelings." Colonel Arias spoke up to satisfy her like he always did. Even during the past one year that they spend together, he always agreed to some things even if its a lie. He was okay with it as long as it made her happy.

Feeling that he had no reason to hide it anymore, he gazed at Ella with a loving smile but the latter didn't even want to look at him! As always, her indifferent reaction made him craved for her attention more! Witnessing such a scene, everyone shook their heads.

"I never thought that our perfect Deputy Commander would have this side in him. I'm glad that I'm not interested in having a girlfriend." Lt. Morris commented as he helplessly shook his head.

"Look who's talking." Yelena chuckled when she heard Morris. "It's not that you're not interested. No women want to be your girlfriend!"

"Captain! How can you say that? Do you even know how popular I am? I'm offended!" Lt. Morris exclaimed with disbelief.

"Are you serious, Captain? I use to thought that Lt. Morris liked you. Or did you already dated and break up without us knowing?" Private Lewis from Team Delta asked with a curious face. Maybe he had always thought that the Captain and Vice-Captain of their team were more than close.

"Are you blind, Lewis? Why would I want to date a perfectionist like our Captain? My life will be miserable if I do that!" Lt. Morris faked a gasp but when he noticed that his Captain was not pleased, he deliberately cleared his throat.

"Yeah. Don't ever do that." Colonel Arias said and he looked at Ella. "I'm miserable only outside work but that will not be in your case. You will be miserable both at work and outside work." He chuckled, hinting at how Yelena had a higher rank than Morris.

Hearing his words, Ella instantly glared at him. "Are you saying that I make your life miserable outside work?!"

"No." Arias instantly replied with an appeasing smile. "I'm only joking. You know I won't dare that." His words made everyone burst out into laughter!

Lt. Morris looked at Captain Yelena with a sheepish smile when he realized something. Then he shifted his gaze to others. "You don't know anything that's why you connected me with our Captain."

Yelena calmly sat still, having no idea was Morris was trying to say next.

"Our Captain have a boyfriend. You will be thrilled if I say the name of the man. He is -"

Yelena reached out her hands to Morris and covered his mouth. Though Ella was sitting between them, she was so anxious that she moved fast enough to stopped him on time!

"Let's not talk nonsense, okay? I won't spare you if you say any more word." She said as she looked at him with a threatening glare.

Feeling intimidated by his Captain's gaze, Morris lifted both of his hands to the level of his shoulder. "Okay. I got it." After observing his facial expressions, Yelena finally withdrew her hands from him.

"That's the reason why I won't date our Captain. She's so dangerous." Morris muttered once again which made everyone laughed at him.

"Wait, Captain!" Lt. Gary suddenly spoke up as he observed Captain Ella. "Does that mean you already know our Deputy Commander when you were assigned to our current division? Did you pretend to not know him or... did you just started dating?" Everyone curiously glanced at the couple when they heard Lt. Gary. They were so eager to hear their response!

Ella remained quiet for a while and then finally sighed. She was about to answer the question but Arias beat her at that.

"It's been a year since we met. Do you think that winning over your Captain will be an easy feat which could be done in just a few days? It took me months." Arias responded to Lt. Gary's question but he glanced at Ella the whole time.

His response stunned the other soldiers. 'WOW!' That's what on everyone's mind. They realized many new sides of their friendly Deputy Commander tonight and each one of them was so admirable! The way he was frank and sincere in his feelings; it was what all the four female soldiers on the room find it charming!

"I want to meet someone like you too, Deputy Commander!" Corporal Jena exclaimed, which Captain Ella was not pleased to hear.

"That's an honour." Colonel Arias simply replied with his usual friendly smile but when he saw the look on his girlfriend's face, his smile slipped. He had never seen her getting jealous because he never gave her the reason to! He was always a devoted lover who only had eyes for her.

Deliberately clearing his throat, he glanced at his wristwatch. "It's quite late now. I think we should end the meeting now." He paused when one thing crossed his mind. "Oh! I have one announcement."

Getting down to work, everyone had maintained their composure now. Behaving according to the time and place was always deemed important in the army. They would be serious at times and playful at times. There was time for everything and they were taught to act according to the timing.

Narrowing his eyes at the soldiers who were now all formal and disciplined in contrast to the joyous atmosphere that just took place, Colonel Arias was feeling proud of them. "I received a call from the Agrana Government today and it seems like we won't be able to depart for our country right away."

His words stunned everyone. They thought that they would be able to go home right away now that they had completed their mission. But they don't say anything instead they waited for the Deputy Commander to explained.

"In three days, the Agrana Government will hold an event to commemorate our deceased soldiers who sacrificed their lives for this District and the people. Plus, every one of us will also be rewarded and honoured by the Agrana Government. We are told to attend the ceremony." Colonel Arias explained.....