Insulting Words

Another day ended when the team was very busy with the medical supplies to be given to the camp. Only then did Howard have time to talk to Zannie again and find her in the barracks where she was staying.

"Zannie? Are you there?" he began while knocking on the door. Howard had to wait a little over a minute before Zannie opened the door for him.

"What's the matter? Why are you looking for me? Have you discovered that I sent your evaluation form?" Zannie inquired as she faced the young handsome man who, as usual, made her heart tremble for unknown reasons.

"Actually, I just want to ask you out," Howard stated flatly.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Zannie inquired, perplexed.

"I mean, I'd like to have dinner with you, just the two of us," Howard explained.

"That's not going to happen; I've been working with the medical team all day," Zannie said bluntly.

"What's the point?"

"What's the big deal?"

"I'm tired like you, and I have some things to say," Howard explained.

“You can say it here. Don’t waste my time.”

"I just wanted to thank you for being patient with me," Howard replied earnestly. "If you're available on the other day, perhaps you can agree to have dinner or even lunch with me; please let me know. Goodnight."

Before turning his back, Howard painted a sly smile on his lips. Meanwhile, Zannie couldn't keep her smile from showing.

"Why is he doing that? It's ridiculous."

***

"Oh? Why is the medical kit missing? I counted it before I left the storage room." 

Other staff will not struggle to find other medical kits to distribute to war survivors. They are already waiting and unable to fight back. For sure, the head of the medical team with them will be mad at them and will badmouth all of them for the whole day.

"Where is Zannie now?" another person asked. "I didn't know if she was doing her job properly, sje disappeared suddenly."

The other volunteers were even more nervous because the head of the medical team was approaching them. 

"Oh? What are you waiting for? Why don't you give it to the person waiting here?" His voice was enough to startle the voice of the head man who seemed to be in his forties.

"Ah eh because ... Ms. Zannie, she hasn't come yet. Maybe she has the other supplies to take care of." The two still looked at each other, and were obviously scared in front of them. 

"Ah? Is that your team leader? Why did you take a slap on her face then? Is she the one who has a friend who is a soldier? Eh, maybe she was gossiping or flirting in the camp." He smirked and grabbed a bag containing medical kits to be distributed. 

"I want to talk to that Zannie! I'm not satisfied with her demeanor and working ethic!"

The other staff bowed because of the head officer's even more terrifying voice.

"Sir, sorry sir."

Everyone's attention was focused on Zannie who was gasping for breath from running. "Look? A few minutes have passed, people are having a hard time because of you! Why are you still the OIC of volunteers here? Why can’t you just quit?"

Zannie tried to stay calm even though inside she was more annoyed because of the look of the man in front of her who did nothing but scare her and the other people right now. That made her feel even heavier because her conversation with Jacob hadn't been going well yesterday.

"Sir. As for the other medical kit, I know that only a few of them left a bit because you cut the supplies. I heard you yesterday. So if you think it's my fault, it might be you."

The head officer gritted his teeth. He even narrowed his eyes at Zannie. "I'm the one you're blaming huh? So you're making me look corrupt? It's your team's fault Zannie because you're not efficient, you prioritize gossiping with the soldiers. All you can do is flirt!"

Zannie's ear tingled. She clapped her hands and averted her eyes from the head officer, because if she hadn't done that, she might have stumbled upon it. "Don't be so mean to a woman like me, if you don't want me to divulge the rest of what I've heard. You plan to sell other medical kits so you can have extra income, right? And since the media is coming to broadcast our activity here, you're going to act like you're the victim! "

She glared at the man. She knew that at any moment, she could be assaulted. Not that she was wrong, that man was about to hit her face. She closed her eyes in preparation for the blow but was startled when the man fell on the floor.

"How dare you hit a weak woman!"

If earlier her heart was pounding with nervousness, it was pounding even more because she realized that a man had acted to defend her. And unexpectedly, it was Howard.

***

"You're embarrassing! You're called the head of the medical team but you pretend to own everything around you. Don't be Zannie, don't be the person like him who improves the job even if she's not paid!"

Zannie is upset because now the person she hates is defending her. All people around them are paying attention to them now. And the head officer of the medical team looks so pissed off, his face flushed as if all the blood had risen to his head. And it seems like the blood on his body will reach its boiling point.

"And you! What do you know to get us involved huh? Do you know I can charge her with libel for her slander?" the head officer sighed uncontrollably. 

Howard unconvincingly hissed. "And she can sue you too if you hurt her."

"Oh is that so? Let's not just fight so that no more charges will be filed!"

"You know. It's pitiful that people like you get so hot-headed. Maybe no one loves you. If you can't handle your duties here, get out."

The head officer smiled loudly and glared at everyone as a sign of his annoyance. That feeling was getting worse because of Howard's words. "And who are you to tell me that? Is it okay to act rude in front of your superiors? Don't act like we're different. Eh I heard you're the CEO of a big company—and no one can handle your behavior. Are you talking to yourself? "

Howard nodded. The darkening of his appearance is also noticeable. He tried to stay calm but the man successfully triggered him. "Don't accuse me like you know me! Because that's not true!"

"Exactly! There's no truth in what that useless girl says so I'm disgusted! Who would want to accuse you of something wrong that you didn't do?"

Suddenly, Zannie intervened in their conversation. "It's true about what I said! And I'll just let you know, I'm not useless here! I even worked a lot more than you did because I’m an all-rounder!"

The head officer let out a silly laugh. "Hey! You haven't proven your resiliency yet! What profession did you end up in? Who are you huh?" That man was provoking Zannie in the easiest way—his insulting words.