Bella and Ellena walked toward the vacant ground. Even at this hour, the place held the same desolate calm as it did at night, and, besides, this time of day was meant for an afternoon nap or some rest. They made their way toward the forest path, and the deeper they ventured, the denser the jungle became. Towering trees surrounded them, sunlight piercing through the canopy here and there, casting scattered beams onto the forest floor. Though the place was deserted, it was the sergeants' duty to maintain the security and safety of the area. Yet the jungle seemed far wilder and more imposing than it truly was, the structure of the trees giving it an illusion of untamed depth.
Ellena turned to Bella and asked, "So… what exactly did we come here to see?"
Bella replied with a shrug, "I… I don't really know either."
Ellena looked at her in astonishment. "Wow… we've set aside a little time from our afternoon rest for this, and you're telling me you don't even know why we're here?"
Bella gave an awkward smile. "We're here to see what it is. Last night, that shadow went this way."
Ellena placed a hand gently on Bella's shoulder, stopping her, and said, "Bella, maybe those were just officers or sergeants on patrol. Or perhaps some cadets are around. You're overthinking this without reason."
Bella nodded slowly. "Yeah… maybe you're right."
Ellena sighed in relief. "Let's head back before someone sees us."
Bella nodded in agreement, and together they turned back.
Bella and Ellena were walking back from the vacant ground when Ethan appeared, emerging from the officers' condo building. His sharp gaze immediately fell on them. "What were you two doing in the vacant ground at this hour?"
Bella hesitated, her words faltering. "We… went for a walk."
Ethan's eyes lingered on her for a moment before he said, "Cadet Ellena, return to your room. Cadet Bella, come with me to my office."
Ellena gave Bella a quick, reassuring glance and muttered, "Okay," before walking away, leaving Bella standing frozen for a heartbeat. Ethan didn't speak as they made their way to his office, the silence thick and heavy with unspoken tension.
Once inside, Ethan sat behind his desk, opened his laptop, and gestured toward the chair opposite him. "Sit."
Bella lowered herself onto the chair, careful not to meet his eyes. Ethan looked up, his gaze steady and probing. "So, Cadet Bella… tell me. Why has the vacant ground become the center of your attention lately?"
Bella's eyes stayed fixed on the pen holder on the table, avoiding his gaze. "It's peaceful there… there's no noise."
Ethan leaned back, his expression gentle but firm. "So you run away from the noise outside?"
"Maybe," she admitted softly.
He studied her for a moment, then spoke with quiet intensity. "Do you know why people run from the noise outside?"
This time, Bella dared to look at him. His eyes, deep and impossibly clear, seemed like oceans hiding untold secrets. Ethan's lips curved into a faint, sad smile. "Because the noise inside has grown too loud."
Bella's voice was barely a whisper, trembling with vulnerability. "How… how does the noise inside ever stop?"
Ethan rose from his chair and moved to the one beside hers. He took her hand, placing it gently over his heart. "What do you feel?"
Her lips parted slightly. "Heartbeat."
"Close your eyes," he murmured.
She obeyed.
"What do you hear now?" he asked.
"Heartbeat," she breathed.
And in that moment, the world outside—the clamor, the chaos—vanished completely. All that remained was the rhythm beneath her fingers, steady and real, belonging to the one she loved. A love so deep, so consuming, that even she hadn't realized its full magnitude until now.
Bella kept her eyes closed, still feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her hand. Her voice trembled slightly, betraying the unrest she felt inside. "Your heart… and these heartbeats… belong to whom?"
Suddenly, panic flickered across her face. She opened her eyes and looked straight at the man sitting before her—Ethan.
He smiled gently and asked, "What do you think?"
Bella gave a sad, wistful smile, withdrawing her hand from his chest. "I… I only know this much," she said softly, her voice breaking slightly, "your heart and heartbeats… they're not mine. They don't belong to me."
With that, she rose abruptly, her emotions too much to contain, and ran out of the office, leaving Ethan behind, silently watching her retreat.
Later, at the training ground, Ellena approached her. "Did Officer Ethan scold you?"
Bella shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "No… I told him we went for a walk because it was quieter there, and the vacant ground isn't forbidden anyway. Only the path into the forest is off-limits, and we didn't go there."
Ellena let out a relieved sigh. "Thank God. I was worried you might get some new punishment."
Bella nodded quietly, still lost in thought.