Chapter 311 - RIGGS & REX BACKSTORY (1/2)
”Rise and shine, Aurora!”
Riggs was awoken by Riece' loud voice and by the blinding light coming from his window as his sister roughly slid open the curtain that was shielding Riggs room from sunlight. Throwing his arms to cover his eyes, Riggs lightly groan in annoyance.
”5 minutes Riece -- shut your trap,”
Though this occurrence always happens every single day, he will never get used to it. He wants more sleep -- he needed it as he don't get enough sleep because he was studying and working part-time jobs at the same time.
”Alright, 50 seconds. I'll be back.” Riece responded charitably cutting down his pleaded time limit. However, not a ten second had passed, she forcefully kicked his brother out of bed causing a loud thud sound when Riggs well-build physiqued crash on the laminated floor.
Feeling the sudden pain from his minor crash, Riggs winced as his consciousness finally woke up. Supporting himself to sit up, he instantly glared daggers to his sister's wicked grin. ”Witch, begone!”
”Good morning too, brother.” Riece giggled in triumph as she made her way outside Riggs room. Surely, it's her favorite time of the day when waking up her big brother and sees his protesting expression yet, knowing that he could only lashed out verbally -- Riece took advantage of it.
Despite that she had a plausible cause why she was doing it knowing what her brother was doing, alas, they don't have many choices as they only got each other's back and needs to prepare for their own future.
---
While having breakfast, Riggs as usual just poured himself a bowl of cereal and an unimaginable amount of milk that was spilling on the dining table. Since Riece was used to it and lost hope for his big brother to listen to her preaching, she could not be bothered anymore as she can just clean it all up afterwards; saves her the time and energy to bicker with her brother early in the morning.
As he eats his breakfast, Riggs constantly cast his sister a glance as if he was hesitant to say the news he was about to deliver. Alas, unbeknownst to him, Riece already knew about his plans and was just waiting for him to say it.
”Say it.”
”Tch. I'd enlist.”
”Brother, do you even know what you're saying?” after the brief silence, Riece raised her small head. Her dark natural brown hair that reached past her shoulders dr_a_p_ed on her back with minimal strand left on the side. Her pair of monolid dark wood eyes that was almost black in colors were filled with concern and pain. She also had a small pointy nose and thin lips that made her look delicate and fragile; on the contrary of her strong and bright personality. She added,
”Have you forgotten why we lost Dad?”
”Riece, come on. You know that this is my dream; to serve and protect this country.” Riggs frowned hearing Riece' opening up about their father's death.
Indeed, his father is a fallen soldier. Alas, he died for the country which merited his father a great honor. After all, they are a family line of soldiers, reasons why Riggs was taught about a strong sense of patriotism and the seemingly cool stuff being a soldier when he was a child. Hence, as a little boy, he once dreamt to be just like his father and his grandfather.
Now that he has passed all the qualifications he needed to attain all the requirements, he was ready to take a new leap towards his dream. However, he could not completely disregard his only remaining family hence, Riggs was conflicted as well.
Yes, Riggs and his sister Riece were already an orphan. Losing their father at a young age, then just after a decade, their mother soon bid her farewell because of a disease. Since losing both of their parents at their early teens, Riggs and Riece stayed with different relatives one after another.
However, though technically speaking, both siblings were feeding and probably paying their stay on their Uncle's house by the remaining monetary benefits they received from their father's death, alas, they were maltreated and was forced to do all the chores as another repayment by the seeming kindness shown to them.
Hence, when Riggs and Riece reached the rightful age to be independent, they chose to move out from the hellish house they were staying and live together. It is hard at first as they have to pay for everything on their own and the savings they had left was insufficient.
After the struggling years, having both of each other's backs, Riggs and Riece survived studying and working multiple part-time jobs and share their burden.
”You will die.” Riece finally raised her head and her certain gaze instantly met his.
”I will, but not too soon.”
”No, I will kill you even before you go.” Riece dissed as her eyes scrowled. Despite knowing that no matter what she says will not change the heart of his stubborn brother, she wanted to make the last threats and warnings which of course didn't change Riggs mind.
”No --” Riggs sternly replied but was interrupted midway when Riece spoon came flying towards his head.
”Ah! What the hell!” Riggs shouted rubbing his poor little forehead by the assault of her violent sister. Seeing that she was getting her hands on the bowl of cereal, Riggs instinctively jolted from his seat and fled while abruptly grabbing his bag.
When Riggs left, Riece sighed heavily. Frustrated, she languidly leaned her back against the spindle of the wooden chair she was sitting on. ”Stubborn, big brother.” she scoffed as her lips turned to a subtle smile. Part of her was disgruntled by her brother's decision but, still, it made her proud of his strong sense of determination and keeping his words to their father.
”What will I do with you.”
At the end of the day, Riece couldn't do anything to stop her brother. Hence, at the age of 18 years old, Riggs enlisted at Country Y's military force. Sending her brother off, Riece raised her eyes to meet her brother's resolute gaze.
”I don't want to see those man in uniform in my doorsteps. They're the last people I wanna see, alright?” she warned with a frown. Grinning, Riggs nodded in affirmation while his hand ruffled her sister's hair, ”Oh, sister dear. I'll see you in two years.”
”Go.” Riece enthusiastically replied while her brother was busy ruffling her hair. If this was a normal occurrence, she'll probably beat him up until he could no longer walk but now, it slightly prick her heart that she won't see her brother for a quite some time.
”Don't miss me too much, eh?”
”Who will miss you?”
”Alright, alright -- I know you've been holding back your tears since earlier so, take care.” Riggs warmly grinned. He wasn't good at heartwarming goodbyes. Also, he was certain that he could make it in two years and the years after that until he could retire.
Hence, instead of spouting loads of reminders to his ever responsible sister, he knew the best gift she could receive is him, being successful in the path he was about to take -- his dream; fulfilling his promise to his gallant father.
------
After passing all the requirements and signing his contract, the day finally arrived when Riggs together with the new recruits were being relocated to receive their full course training offered by Country Y's Army.
Inside the bus, Riggs awaits for the person-in-charge to welcome them. Since he came from a family of military and he dreamt of being a soldier one day, Riggs was rather excited. After all, this is his first step towards his dream.
The moment the bus door opened and a man in an army uniform with a broad-brimmed felt or straw hat like, with a high crown, pinched symmetrically at the four corners placed on his head indicating who he was.
'Drill Sergeant.'
”harmless stuff, everybody take your cellphone out, hold them up. Alright, on behalf of lieutenant colonel Clark from...” The Drill Sergeant instantly uttered which made every recruit inside the bus began moving and slid their phones out.
”... I'm a Drill Sergeant, everyone wearing a hat like this or something similar is a Drill Sergeant, you will address us as Drill Sergeant, do you understand?”
”Yes, Drill Sergeant.”
”You'll gonna bailing those last three words out of your mouth; yes or now Drill Sergeant, do you understand?”
”Yes, Drill Sergeant.” every recruit answered in unison. Then, the Drill Sergeant started instructed them of the first two things they must do. First was if he told them to leave the bus, females must get out first and head to the left side of the yellow vertical line where the Drill Sergeant was pointing out, and then males on the right side of the vertical yellow line.
Second was that the paperwork that each recruit must be held on their left hand while their bags on the right.
”...your heel, both of your heels together on that vertical yellow line, do you understand?”
”Yes, Drill Sergeant!” Riggs attentively listened to the Drill Sergeant's instruction as he repeated his words again for the second time in a slow and clear manner.
'This is it… Dad, Mom, Riece, I will make you all proud.' Riggs affirmed inwardly. His enthusiast rose that very instant and his determination leveled up. After a few more words from the Drill Sergeant, Riggs finally heard him say;
”You have two minutes to get off my bus, go.”
With that go signal, Riggs deliberately acted swiftly to get off the bus after the females and go to the specified vertical yellow line outside the building.