Confused

“Are you sure that you're going to wait over there until the rain stops? You might catch a cold,” Lucille said, loud enough for Howard to hear on the other side of the place.

“Yes, I'm sure,” Howard responded.

“Okay, after this, we're heading to our corresponding barracks. How about you? Do you have a place to sleep?” Joel asked.

Howard responded with a quick nod. Three minutes had passed, and the rain had already stopped. Howard decided to go to Zannie's barracks as he was fully aware that she was not asleep.

“Hey, it's me,” Howard softly said while he was standing in the front door area.

Zannie scratched her head as she heard that annoying voice. She had nothing to do but stand up and open the mini door for him.

Her tone was full of annoyance. "Why are you here? Why can't you just stay with other acquaintances?"

“Well, I saw you peeking through your window earlier. I know you weren't asleep yet. And I know that you are going to welcome me here,” Howard confidently replied, but he looked serious.

“I feel like I won't feel at ease if I haven't apologized to you. I'm sorry for my words. I didn't mean to offend you,” he continued.

You don't need to come to me at this hour just to apologize, Zannie retorted with a straight face, "Our colleagues would gossip about us if they saw you here, and it's already late at night."

Since you are my evaluator, Howard feigned apprehension before stating, "To be honest, I don't have a place to sleep, and I'm not yet comfortable with the other people."

Zannie replied and scowled a little, "I can't just let you stay here, or better occupy the bench.

Howard painted a smile on his face, sat down on the bench, and then closed his eyes, saying, "I won't complain." 

“Thank you for allowing me.”

***

For Zannie, today has been a wonderful day. She planned to have the supplies delivered to the camp early because she had heard that Jacob would be returning. While walking up to her fellow volunteers, she smiles proudly.

Lucille flung open the door to Zannie, "Zannie, we're ready to take it. It doesn't matter that we're already there in a van."

"Are there other first aid kits? Then, how about their food?"

"Yes."

"Who will I be with?"

"Howard."

Zannie almost lost her mind. Why did she have to deal with him once more when there are so many other people she can be with? How does she stay herself when this man is around?

"Can I replace him with another good co-volunteer who could do better than him?" she asked, hoping for a favorable answer.

"Not anymore. The seating arrangement is fine, Zannie. I'm sorry," Lucille replied sarcastically.

"Why is there a seating arrangement? First of all, we’re not going on an outing," she said.

We'll move to the area after an outing, so we're a little happy. Oh, you weren't informed. Our mission here is over the following day.

She was saddened by the idea of completing their mission as volunteers. She will also lose the opportunity for him to maintain a connection with Jacob. She will also miss his coworkers and what they do in Trias. However, she later realized that wasn't the most depressing aspect. She has been having trouble concentrating ever since Howard arrived in Trias. And she is gradually losing interest in Jacob.

She sadly questioned her friend, "Is the war over; does it mean that they no longer need our assistance?"

Lucille even gestured toward the young man approaching the area, saying, "They need soldiers, not volunteers. But maybe we can move to another place and there won't be a war. Oh, Howard is already there." 

Looking at Howard caused Zannie to instantly avert her gaze, which caused her to lose focus.

"Mr. Howard, be careful driving," Lucille said, smiling before going to her designated vehicle. 

"Okay, thanks," Howard replied politely.

Zannie even waited for her friend to get away. She finally got the urge to make a snapping sound on her tongue. "If only I could move to another vehicle."

She gets into the driver's seat. She wasn't in a good mood anymore, and she knew Howie should have noticed that.

Howard quietly followed her inside the van. "I'll be the driver. Because if you drive, we'll fall into the abyss." He seriously glared at Zannie who was obviously, who’s nose wrinkled even more with the joke he said.

"Why? Do you have a license?" Zannie looked away for the nth time.

Howie snorted. "Of course I have. I’m driving a car so I have a license."

Zannie blinked. "I'm just asking if you have a license. You shouldn't have said that you're CEO."

A silly smile registered on Howard's face. Zannie started the petty quarrel, and he was ready to embark on its trip. 

"You just need to say yes or no. You don't need to ask if I have a license or not."

Her jaw clenched. "Ah that's right? What if you don't have a license and something goes wrong?"

"You're the only one who thinks that. It's hard to compromise with you. You always don't have a good impression when it comes to me."

"There's nothing good about you, Howard. You're so proud of yourself."

Howard shook his head and got out of the van. He went to the other side, to the driver's seat where Zannie was. He waited for Zannie to come down and swap seats with him.

Zannie opened the car window slightly. "I won't trade seats with you. Okay?"

"How's that? I'll report you to your superior when we're late for our destination."

"I do not care."

He searched for the key to the van. He was disappointed not to see that.

"What exactly are you looking for?" Howard demanded angrily. As if he has no idea what it is.

"The lieutenant gave me the key, so I'm the driver," Zannie jokes.

"All right," he said as he rushed into the van and took the other seat. "Are you happy now?"

Howard shook his head before assuming control of the vehicle. "Not quite yet."

"Our trip will be safer if I'm in charge of driving; it's not appropriate for a woman like you to drive, and I noticed you didn't sleep well last night because I was in the same living quarters as you."

"Do you mean I'm too frail to do what men do?"

"I didn't say anything," Howard said as he started the van's engine. "Did you have the impression that I was demeaning you?"

"What else does it mean? All I want is gender equality; don't dismiss someone like me."

"It's hilarious."

"Could you please say it to me directly? You're causing me a lot of annoyance."

"I'll speak like that if I want to, and what are you talking about gender equality? You’re trying hard to impose that, yet you want me to only follow you without listening to my explanations?"

Zannie raised an eyebrow at him. "Did I ask you a favor? All I want is for me to drive. Is that hard?"

"But I will obey the superior's order; it's the same in my company; and I don't think your character will suffer if you let me do this, right? If you don't want to, you can go down. I'm not being rude to you."

He laughed. He had the impression that he had recovered from Zannie's obstruction.

"Alright. Drive slowly, huh?" Zannie gave up and leaned back in her car seat. "Did you sleep well last night? It appears that you got mosquito bites while laying in bed there."

"Does that mean you've been watching me since earlier?" Howard smirked with a remarkable grin.

"How can I not be preoccupied? Mosquito bites can cause dengue fever," Zannie emphasized.

"You have to drive now, so stop questioning me, huh?"

"Okay, boss." Howard smirked again and returned his gaze to the road.