After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

The three held back their laughter, forcing themselves to remember his stern image so they didn’t break into cackles.

Gill, who was talked to beforehand by Althea, twitched his lips. Instead of answering the question, he filled up his cup. ”Come on, Captain. Sister-in-law wanted you to have fun! Let loose for once will ya?”

Eagle looked at the captain in awe. ”Never would I think I’d get to drink with the Captain in a legit pub.”

They did drink a bit during those lull times in their missions, but that was when they were camping. And even when they did drink, they couldn’t drink too much either because, after all, they were on the job.

On the other hand, when they were not on missions, the captain was either strategizing, making reports, or simply spending time with his wife (mostly, it’s the latter), so they never really got to drink their hearts out together.

In any case, the conversation fortunately did begin to take form. It was led by the more gregarious Eagle, followed up by the others.

They chatted about their current life and roles in Altera. However, as workaholics, things naturally shifted to some work stuff.

But Gill was sent on a mission by Althea: Distract the Captain well and let him enjoy the night with friends.

”Let’s not talk about work!” Gill said, drinking up. He turned to Eagle with a grin. ”I heard you’re finally getting cozy with sister-in-law’s nurse teammate.”

They were so surprised when he volunteered to help the girl, and refused to switch out.

Eagle flushed.

”Did you ask her for a date tonight?”

Eagle flushed even redder.

He had indeed asked the nurse for a date. He went around to look for her earlier. It was just that she already had a previous appointment with her workmates.

He remembered his shoulder slumping and, considering his angular facial features, it must have looked a bit scary.

However, at the time, Sheila looked at him as if she was heartbroken instead. In her soft voice, she added, ”Uhm… but I am free tomorrow… we can…”

Eagle felt like he just died and resurrected within the span of a few seconds.

”YES!” he yelled with a shit-eating grin. Sheila flushed and ran away though, and it made Eagle think he could’ve scared her off…

He was only pulled out of his daze when he saw a hand waving in front of his face.

”He’s definitely remembering something,” Gill grinned, making Eagle want to bury himself under the table.

Eagle cleared his throat, ”Ah yes, I have a date with Sheila tomorrow. Probably.”

Several eyebrows rose at his admission and they looked at him, making him feel even more shy.

”Have you decided where to take her?”

As special forces soldiers who were always on the go and doing dangerous missions, too many of them were extremely inexperienced with women.

At this, Eagle couldn’t help but look at the Captain and Gill. ”Where did you take your ladies on the first date?” He asked Gill, not daring to ask the captain.

The question triggered some very good memories for Garan though. Back when he confessed to Althea, she had such a lovely flushed face…

Their first date was in an aquarium, with Althea saying some random fact she knew about the sea critters there. It was adorable.

Not knowing their ice-faced captain was reminiscing romance near sea life, Gill and Eagle continued on with their conversation. ”Juni and I started dating in high school.”

He was the type to like being independent and he refused allowances from his parents as soon as he entered High School. He earned some spending money by taking a part-time job in a nearby convenience store. He worked with Juni, who was also a working student at the time, albeit out of necessity.

Of course, with his personality, he offended a lot of customers. Fortunately, Juni was working with him and managed to always ease the situation.

Eagle leaned forward. ”So.. are you going to get back to Juni?”

Gill looked at him. ”No! I’m officially dating Cassandra now!”

”Tsk tsk. How messy!”

Gill shook his head. ”I’m not the one with the messy love life.” He pointed at Drake, who was being fought over by two top suitors: Jona and Yana.

It was very… public. It never quite turned to an all-out cat fight (though it may or may not have to do with the strict regulations in the territory), but it was quite verbal and out-in-the-open. The latest gossip was that the two (physically and mentally) sandwiched Drake when he arrived after the war.

”We played lovers in Fargo!” Jona said with a smug smile, ”We had to play the part.”

Yana paled, but quipped, ”Played! Even after all that, you still didn’t get his heart! Right, Drakey?”

At the memory, Drake flushed in shame.

At this, Eagle looked at him with a teasing smile. ”Did nothing happen back in Fargo?”

”No…”

The topic somehow resurfaced some past things. ”Speaking of women, I remember when Drake was so afraid of women that he almost botched a mission?”

It was a couple of months before his injury. They were on a mission to obtain information about a mercenary group. They wore their own disguises and acted like they didn’t know each other.

Drake happened to be a customer in the bar where one of the witnesses worked. What they didn’t know was that this witness was extremely flirtatious and he almost gave himself away trying to avoid her advances.

Fortunately, the woman was a bit of an airhead and completely missed the mark. After some recalibration, they were still able to get the info they needed.

Their mission had a lot of bumps, but it was fun.

”It’s good to have you back to the team,” Gill told Drake, and the latter sniffed a bit, touched.

The four continued to chat and hang around with soft smiles, though Garan’s mind couldn’t help but fly to their villa and his soft wife. While he did like these friends of his, he was quick to miss his Althea.

Sigh.

Why did she want him out of the house so much anyway?