Chapter 2: The Mission Possible

Present Time

Daniel

“Happy birthday!”

Russell’s expression turned sour as I presented her with the bouquet. I promptly took a seat beside Ryker. At a quaint restaurant, we gathered to commemorate Russell’s special day with a delightful dinner. At the age of nineteen, she has blossomed into a stunning young woman.

“I thought it was solely limited to family. What is the reason for the presence of an outsider?” Russell was irritated.

“Hija, Daniel is not an outsider.” Her father responded, “He’s a member of the family.”

She said in a whisper, “I will never accept him as part of the family,” but I could hear her well since I had a keen hearing.

Even though I felt a little upset, I didn’t say anything. I’ll catch up with Russell later, once we’ve had dinner.

The dinner proceeded without any hiccups. Russell usually scowled at me, even though we joked and told stories together. She rolled her eyes at me, too. But sh*t, rather than being irritated... How come she can be so lovely even when she is upset with me? Her rudeness toward me seems more appealing to me than her polite disregard for me. She constantly seems to notice me.

I apologized to them and got up as soon as my phone rang. It was pouring, so I moved aside and stood next to the restroom.

“What? Will they go on with that operation?” On the other line, I asked my partner Javier.

“Certainly, Sir. We will make it later tonight.” Javier said it on the other line.

“This evening? Right now isn’t the ideal moment.” I murmured.

“Do you have a date, sir?” Javier asked. “Is that the reason you seem disappointed?”

“I don’t have a date.”

“You’re in that phase, sir when you don’t want to be apart from the girl. I know you. You seem to lack motivation.”

“Can you stop bugging my love life? Don’t act like a jealous girlfriend—we’re not in a relationship. Let’s meet up later,” I suggested. The sight of Russell passing by as I ended the call surprised me. Our gazes connected, but she quickly looked away.

“It would be nice to see a smile on your face. Today is your special day.” I told her before she used the toilet.

“If you weren’t here, I might smile,” she said, irritated.

“Are you still upset with me? It has been four years.”

“Why not? What is it that you desire? Should I be happy to see you?”

“There’s a proverb that goes, “The more you hate, the more you will love.” I grinned at her.

Russell’s face contorted into a frown. “Don’t get your hopes up; I’ll never like you.” Her gaze bore into me with intensity.

A smile spread across my face. “I know you’ll eat your words, so I’m not hopeful.”

“Wow, you’re rather thick! You know exactly what you’re saying.”

“Yes, because I’ve made preparations for the future.”

Russell’s face contorted into a frown. “What? Is my brother aware of your actions? Perhaps you overlook the fact that we are quite different in age and that I am your best friend's sister. I would much prefer to be with someone my age.”

Russell turned her back on me, but I moved quickly, grabbing her arm and dragging her into the bathroom, where I pressed her up against the door.

“What are you up to?” Her voice trembles with fear, and her actions betray her nervousness.

My gaze immediately fell on her face. Ugh, another year to endure. I can make it through another year. I cautiously moved my face closer, only for her to quickly dodge, anticipating a potential kiss. I grinned and softly spoke to her.

“I’m heading off, and it will be a long time before you see me again. Even though I know you’ll be pleased, I’ll still insist that you eat everything you said when I get back.” I whispered.

“What? And where the hell are you going?”

I gave her a sly smile and looked away. Why is it that you must know? Will you miss me, I suppose?”

“Haist.” Russell shoved me. “Leave before I shout rape, even if you dwell in hell.”

I squeezed her nose after grinning. “You’re very cute.”

“Oh!” Russell gripped her nose and grumbled, and I walked out of the bathroom.

Ryker’s family and I said our goodbyes after dinner. I needed to return home to get all of my stuff.

I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered that night.

“Oh, is that so? Her parents’ approval is a gift, sir. She’s only nineteen.”

I was dining under a tree when I turned toward Javier. We have spent the last six days in the mountains as part of a mission. I was also browsing Russell’s social media postings while everyone else was eating. Since there was no connection in the places we passed after climbing the mountain, it was fortunate that we had a signal at our location. We couldn’t understand one another over the sporadic signal connection, not even when Ryker called.

Kim gave my phone a quick peek as I grinned and looked through the pictures.

“She may be young, but she’s certainly not a youngster. And besides, I won’t tie the knot with her right away. I’ll be patient for the opportune moment.” I expressed it with a grin.

“Are you kidding me, sir?" Javier asked me in disbelief. "How long is your gap in years?”

“Twelve years,” I said.

“She may be your daughter, sir! Sh*t!” Kim quickly withdrew her statement when I raised an eyebrow. “Apologies, sir. I must inform you that this news is unexpected, but it is important to note that she is quite young. Are you thirty-one years old?”

“Would you mind staying out of my romantic life? Just discover your own story so you can stay occupied.” I said, feeling a little irritated by her response.

Kim said nothing and remained silent. One of our friends arrived to patrol the area, so we turned back.

“They are expecting their cargo tonight, sir.”

“Oh, is that so? That’s great.”

“What time is it exactly?” I asked.

“There was no specific time provided, sir. It is expected to occur at the regular time.”

“Same time.”

“Yes, sir. Around twenty-one hundred, sir.”

My commanding officer turned to face me. “Then, Acker, take your station in the vicinity at around eight o’clock in the evening.”

“Certainly, sir,” I said.

My phone vibrated just after we finished dinner. I saw the notification, and my grin became wider. I received a response from Russell to my comment. “DM,” she said in a response. That’s why I opened the email, and rather than being irritated by her response, I grinned. She took notice of me once again.

Russell: Just refrain from commenting on my blogs. You have no place there—that’s only for teens.

Me: Hmm, nothing wrong with what I just said.

She still hasn’t replied to my message. Suddenly, I became perplexed. Is she upset? Russell phoned later, and I took the call right away. But before I could say anything, she began to bug me.

Russell yelled at me over the phone, “You like to tease me, Daniel.”

“That’s hardly even a tease. I just said...” I tried to explain, but she cut me off before I could.

“Enough with the pointless comments on my post. If you’re looking to grab some attention, you could consider sharing something similar to what I did.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at Russell’s comment. “I get the attention I want for tonight," I said. “You wanted to see me wearing trunks.” I tease.

“You have a thick face," she growled. “I have a strong dislike for you. You’re nearly the same age as Dad.”

“Your elder brother is the same age as me. Perhaps you’ve overlooked something.”

“Whatever. I’ll seriously block you if you don’t stop commenting.”

A busy tone was the next sound I heard on the other end. A wide grin spread across my face, impossible to contain.

“Out of everyone who was yelled at, you were the only one who seemed to be in a good mood, sir.”

I glanced over at Javier. “Do you work for the police, or are you just a paparazzi? You managed to eavesdrop on our little phone conversation, huh?”

“It’s not my fault. The woman was yelling at you,” Kim said, giggling.

“Oh, get ready. Ensure the area is secured." I gave the order to the squad.

We were around a house in the middle of the woods at eight in the evening. The sniper is already ready, and we will be entering the area. We have been following them for several months, and we found out that their factory is here in the province. It was a factory for illegal drugs made into pills and capsules to facilitate export to other countries.

We caught the mastermind a few years ago. Still, before the trial started, the man committed suicide, and his wife was in a mental hospital after what happened. Their son is said to have died in another country, so no one attended his funeral, and the police detained the family. But after that, the operation did not stop. Instead, they expanded even more and recruited more members and investors.

Following a monster truck, three Hilux vehicles carrying armed men pulled up. Armed site guards and barbed wire surrounded them as they entered the site. We immediately positioned ourselves at a distance when the newly arriving cars entered.

“They have something to unload.” I heard him say that via the sniper’s earpiece.

“Do you have any idea what’s inside those boxes?” I asked.

After a considerable amount of time, the sniper finally responded. “Sir, the contents are firearms. A few of the crates they dropped had firearms. It seems to have been smuggled.”

I inhaled deeply. “We will surround the area. The eight of you are across the opposite side.” I glanced at the others. “You’ll accompany me,”

My team started to surround the area, and we were on the other side. After a while, we got inside, and the exchange of gunshots began.