CHAPTER TWO - SENT TO THE BORDER

With sweat streaming down her back, Captain Ysabelle Gum punched the punching bag for the hundredth time. Her hair, tied in a band at the back of her head, bounced just as energetically as she hit the bag. Her appearance is murderous. Her beautiful face twisted into a frown, her brown blazing eyes pointing as they locked on their target. Dark thoughts swirled in her mind. She was furious.

 

The conniving bitch, the sly fox, had the guts to seduce James, her brother. She hit the punching bag again, harder this time. The hands were blistered red. Her face was determined, and each muscle on her back was strained as she hit the bag.

 

It was difficult for her to be the last child in her family of two brothers after her parents died. Her brothers were brigadier generals in Yusama, their home country. Just recently, James got married to Ysabelle’s longtime enemy, Rina. Since their falling out in high school, the slimy bitch has never bothered to get along with Ysabelle.

 

She would have loved to beat her up, but James would cut her head off if she tried it, so she could only vent her frustrations in their private gym.

A loud knock on the door reached her ears; Ysabellle ignored it. She was not in the mood to entertain discussion.

 

Judging from the smell of the cheap perfume and body odour, Ysabelle guessed it was Rina. But she kept her cool. Her brother was being gullible and lust-filled to see Rina for what she was. A gold digger who wanted to elevate her social status.

"Is my sister-in-law not going to eat? I made you some breakfast," she called out slowly, allowing her gaze to roam Ysabelle’s sweat-filled body. Her clothes were soaked through, her face was wet, and her veins were popping out along her legs.

"Shouldn’t you be looking after your husband instead? Before I change my mind about you, " Ysabelle threatened, gritting her teeth, her eyes closing dangerously, her fists clenching.

Rina smirked at her, " That is exactly what I have in mind. You should do that and get beaten this time around by your brothers instead. " She smiled as she spat out venom, one hand holding the door ajar and the other caressing the gold ring on her finger.

"Then get lost," Ysabelle yelled. She would not be a party to Rina’s nonsense. She had come home for the holidays only to be shocked by Rina’s presence in her brother’s life.

"This is my house now, Ysabelle. I would watch the way I talk if I were you. You might easily be the one thrown out. "

Ysabelle had heard enough. She turned off the machine and stalked towards Rina in long strides. Rina got scared of the sudden turn of events. She tried to flee the room, but she was not fast enough. Ysabelle grabbed her by her clothes and dragged her closer.

Her breath fans her neck, she loved Rina's frightened look " Do not think I have accepted defeat just yet. I can make that ring fall off your finger if I set my mind to it" Ysabelle warned. Her dark gaze was on Rina's finger.

 

She smirked at Rina’s expression. She had no intention of following through with her threat, but Rina’s scared face said otherwise.

 

As soon as she heard heavy footfalls coming up the hall, Rina descended into a fit of screams. Ysabelle released gently. Rina skidded over to the side. Ysabelle watched in disgust as Rina purposefully slipped to the floor, her screams getting louder as James rounded the bend. Ysabelle hissed and went back to her exercise, though she left the door opened, fully expecting James's overbearing drama.

 

She went over to the treadmill and started it. She began running slowly. She increased the speed and took off. James came in angrily just then. He went straight to the treadmill and increased the speed, angrily. He was watching her, expecting her to fall. Ysabelle gathered her remaining strength and began running. She embraced the challenge for the next ten minutes before she got weak. Her earlier bag-punching exercise had drained her strength.

 

Smiling wickedly, James stared at her, cocking his head. He increased the mill again, sending Ysabelle skidding off the machine. She bounced off, her head hitting the iron hard. She swallowed her pride and stood up. The scorching pain that followed her landing was bad, as she winced with each move she took.

"James...I," Ysabelle snapped her mouth shut as she realized he was kissing Rina's lips. The two were going at it like high school kids.

 

Ysabelle turned away in disgust, embarrassed by her brother’s behaviour. He stopped her when she tried to move.

"Where do you think you are going?"

"Where else?" She threw back, as if he expected her to cower in front of him, and he realized he'd made a huge mistake: she'd cower in front of no one. She continued walking but paused when James began speaking again.

"You should pack your things. Your letter of deployment arrived today.

"I know you have a hand in that happening. I am going nowhere. "

"Tell that to your beloved brother, brigadier general John, when next you see him. First thing tomorrow morning, you should be on your way to the nation's border. I would not want to be late if I were you. Serious punishment awaits absconding officials. Well, I am sure you know that already." He put his hands around Rina, who tapped his shoulder for another kiss.

She wanted to curse at him but thought better of it. James could lay her out flat on her back in a second and she did not want that in front of Rina.

"Whatever," she threw at him before making good her escape from her brother's clutches. She headed to her room. Her phone was ringing when she got there. She picked it up without any hesitation. It was John's calling.

"It's for the better that you go to where I send you. I know you don’t exactly like James girl, and he would not leave her because of your sentiment, so it's best you leave the house and go somewhere else far away. "

Ysabelle yelled into the phone. "You could have sent me on a vacation or anything, but why send me to the freaking border? Why not just send me to the end of the earth? "

"Is that an option? I will consider that your birthday wish. "He joked, laughing at her. Ysabelle calmed herself after she heard his laughter. His laughter mostly preceded his anger. She must have angered him with her words.

She closed her eyes in agony. Her brothers were a pain.

"Sorry, sorry about that," she said through clenched teeth. Her hands raked her hair in anger as she paced up and down the room. Her jogging jeans suddenly felt tighter. She sat on her bed and took off the offending material.

John was quiet on the other end. He then cleared his throat, "You do not have the right to interfere in James’s private affair. It is none of your business if he wants to marry a whore or stripper. It's none of your business. Since you managed to butt in on an affair that was none of your business. I thought it would be equally fair tto interfere in your posting, so a vacation to the end of the nation will do. Enjoy your experience at the border. Don’t worry, you will like it. And do pack extra coats and sweaters You will need it. " The line went dead in her head.

Ysabelle threw her phone on the bed. She lay on the bed defeated.

"Why do I have to be born after two useless brothers? They are of no help to my life, "she groaned. Her phone vibrated on the bed. She stretched out her hand and picked it up. It was an email informing her of her next stop.

 

Eastern Border, Yusama.

 

Ysabelle smiled upon getting the email. James and John thought they had given her a punishment, but she was up to the challenge. They will hear news of her. She would go over there and do her duty. She would even receive a medal while she was at it. She stood up and began packing her small bag. On second thought, she switched off her mobile phone and picked up a new phone from her cabinet that she had bought a long time ago. She even dropped her wristwatch; her brothers must have rigged it with a locator. Those dratted beings. Since they wanted her out of their sight, she might as well make it good for them.

She would get a new wristwatch. As she was about to close the bag, she remembered John’s warning about the coat and sweaters. She arranged her back, then headed to the bathroom. The sooner she headed to the border, the better for her. If she stayed one more night in the space with Rina, she might commit murder. she just hoped James wouldn't be the one who ends up murdering Rina when he finds her out. He would not even let her talk to him. Rina was not pregnant with James's child. She had seen Rina’s pregnancy test report. It was too early. Judging from the time they got together,

But she would try not to care. John had said it was none of her business. He was an adult. He could take care of himself by himself.

All she had to do was go to Yusama and pretend to have a vacation. Her punishment was going to be her vacation, and she would make sure of it. She would make sure nothing disturbed her peace of mind. Nothing would.