Unpredictable

Zannie and her fellow volunteers overcame the busyness of the soldiers in the training camp. Her eyes immediately searched for Jacob and her superior to turnover first aid kits and food supplies that the soldiers would need at any time. There is no alarming scenario yet. She also prayed that the opponents would not threaten again and destroy the town.

"Is there no one to assist us here? Where is the head of operations?"

Zannie's thoughts vanished like a bubble because of Howard's question. She noticed that everything seems new to Howard based on his gaze while wandering around. Zannie can't get if Howard is just clueless or acting ignorant.

"You didn't see anyone to meet us, so obviously, there's nothing." Here she is with her demeanor. It looks like the petty quarrel is starting again.

He couldn't say Zannie could be allergic to handsome guys because when it comes to Jacob, she looks like a gentle kitten and she only gives that man her smile, but when it comes to him, Zannie's mood quickly changes. Howard asked her reluctantly. He had no idea why the girl was always hot-headed when she was talking to him.  

"Just put in all of those that were carrying,” was Zannie's authoritative command. Howard had nothing to do but to obey the command of this boss wannabe. Bossy—the adjective which fits her. Finally, he already realized that bossy people are annoying just like him before, as Howard recalled that he had the same attitude towards SLI employees.

One by one, Zannie unloads the items in the service van. Aside from the strong wind blowing, she was distracted by the way Howard was staring at her. It's kind of intimidating. If only she could have told the young man not to stare at her, she would have done so before.

"Oh, I'm already there. That's so heavy," her fellow volunteer Joel, stopped her from doing what makes her busy. 

"Okay," she shrugged. The wind blows on her face. She assumed that there would be heavy rain today. Her own hair covers her face because of the force of the wind.

"What's that? The wind is irritating!" Zannie complained like a child. Howard noticed that he was snatching something from his own pocket. She just sighed because she had lost the single ponytail in her pocket that she used to tie on her long hair that obstructed her face when the wind was so strong.

"Oh, why did you go? It's dangerous now because there was another casualty last night. Didn't your companions inform you?" Both Howard and Zannie looked at the source of the baritone voice. Zannie's smile widened because Col. Sarmiento was the one approaching their purpose earlier.

Col. Sarmiento is the assistant head of camp operations. And even as Zannie knew, she wanted to like the performance that Jacob was putting on. Maybe sooner or later, Jacob will be enlisted as a new private army. That’s the thing she kinda regrets when Jacob finally achieves his career goal. Of course, Jacob will be deployed to the battlezone, and he is worried about the possible consequences.

Zannie cleared her throat. "Sir, actually my head didn't tell me that the rationing of supplies is being stopped here. I'm sorry," she earnestly apologized.

"That's okay, Zannie. I notice you love the soldiers so much. Imagine, you always send a box of rice. The others are already stocked, which are used to block in the barracks of every member of my unit. It's hard. Maybe another stray bullet will hit us, and we never know when another encounter occurs."  Col. Sarmiento still expresses his concern for his fellow soldiers who are sacrificing their lives for the sake of achieving peace. 

Howard remained silent. As a former CEO, he used to analyze based on what the person in front of him was saying. He can sense the sincerity of Col. Sarmiento. On first impression, he thinks that he is an effective leader.

"I hope the trouble is over here. Trias seemed to achieve continuous peace and silence. But then, I never expected it to happen."

Zannie nodded so as not to show the sadness she felt. She was not only sad for Jacob, but also for the soldiers and civilians affected. She is about to lose her faith in humanity, but she remains positive every day that she stays in this place.

"We're about to win this. Don't you trust my team?" he asked jokingly.

"Of course, I'm very confident," she replied with a wide smile.

"Ah, where is Jacob?" Zannie asked all of a sudden. She looked around again to confirm that Jacob was indeed there, whom she was looking for.

"Ah Jacob, I sent him back to Manila. He will be a full-fledged soldier in the future. He has passed the assessments and training. He just needs to get some more requirements."

"Ah. That's right. He didn't even tell me that. Anyway, go ahead. Thank you," Zannie replied, without noticing the sudden disappointment she felt at the news about Jacob. She felt a slight resentment because Jacob didn't even tell her his next move. Zannie is used to knowing about Jacob's life.

Howard just frowned in the corner as he realized how deeply upset Zannie is.

'Poor woman.’

***

"Yes, Jared. You got called all of a sudden. What happened to you?"

Due to the weakness of the signal, Howard intended to raise his voice to the person he was talking to on the other line, Jared. He had just returned to the barracks from the camp, and he also had the opportunity to check his own phone.

"I assume that once you're there, you'll be calm to talk to," Jared replied on the other line.

"Jared, the signal is weak, so I'm raising my voice. Luckily, I still got a signal. What's the news about our company?"

"Actually, Tito is sick. It seems like he was considering sending you home."

"Oh? But what's wrong with him?" There was a hint of concern in his voice because of his father's reported condition.

"Stressed"—maybe but it's not that bad, Howard. Somehow, you still need to manage SLI. Tito will call you after his rest. How are you there?"

"Me? I'm busy volunteering, doing social work since manpower is lacking to help other people. Life is different here. Sometimes, we just can't go out whenever we want because of the situation in this place. But, I can only say, I'm still doing fine. I can still eat normally but it's different than before. I'm getting bored, Jared. I want to go home. Life is boring here and people are just pathetic."

"Wow, I feel like my cousin is getting softer. I just heard you feel sorry for people. What Tito did to you was effective."

He couldn't help but hear Jared's teasing laugh. He was irked. 

"And you even got to tease me? I'm not having a good time here, as well as being with me here who seems to have been conceived out of resentment!" After Howard said those words, he glanced at Zannie who was busy cooking food not far from their barracks.

"Howard, I know you. You will never be irked with a person even when you're stressed. But when you get fond of her, you will try your best to attract her attention by annoying her."

Howard raised an eyebrow at what he heard. "What does that mean? I have no interest in her, she's not pretty and she's not my ideal type!"

"I got it! Finally, I can confirm that it's a woman. That's why you're like that. Woah! My cousin is in love again!" Jared burst out laughing, and he further upset his cousin's mood.

"Stop! Don't even call me!"

Jared had something more to say but he hung up the phone. He hurled his anger into the small room where he was sleeping. It's been almost a month since he came to Trias. He just got used to mosquito bites, small pallets, simple food, his fellow volunteers, and especially, that grumpy woman named Zannie. When he has adjusted a bit, then the news will come that his father will send him home. The 90 days aren't over and he is aware that he still has a lot to learn. 

He had so many realizations in life when he was able to explore Trias. Some people are not as lucky as him. Many people have worse problems than just his business problem. People are struggling in different ways. Now he just realizes how self-centered he is just because of his superiority. He has also become accustomed to just following and not being a commander.

His father was right, after all; he really needed a new environment to be clear. He can say he already knows himself. Meanwhile, he just heard footsteps approaching his seat.

"You didn't even help me cook here. What kind of colleague are you?"

He could trace a real disgust in Zannie's voice. He suddenly woke up on the pallet and looked bad in front of her. 

"What? Are you implying that it's my fault again that nobody helps you? Is it bad to rest for a while?" he asked, annoyed. He pondered that Zannie saw no one around her but him and she was releasing her frustrations towards him. 

"Don't act like a boss! You're also a volunteer here!" Zannie exclaimed. She blinked before walking away from Howie. She admitted that she felt annoyed because Jacob did not even say that he had passed as a new soldier. She was his best friend, but what the hell happened? Why does he have to know the news from other people? She didn't know which part she was annoyed with, and Howard was the one she thought to blame. 

Howard had no choice but to follow Zannie as she came out. Jacob also instructed him to be kind to Zannie because she would be his evaluator in Trias. And they talked about something else that he couldn’t let anyone know about—as of this moment.