Be My Soldier Forever

Ep. 44

2 Weeks later

 

While Frans still met the requirements, Vania and Frans did not leave each other behind. Wherever they went, every step they took, they were together. Not once did they talk about military life. Because Frans knew that if they talked about it, it was the same as talking about separation.

Then today is the day when the time has come. That morning, Frans walked over to the mailbox in front of his house and found several packages of letters.

 

"It's bills. Billings. It's for mom. Mom, there's a bill. And these…. Frans Ardiansyah Samuel, for me." He said while reading the letters. His eyes widened as he looked at his name. He swallowed and opened it, slowly.

 

From : U. S. Military Department.

To: Frans Ardiansyah Samuel

Your honor, though,

We want to congratulate you. That you have been accepted to join us in the U. S. Military Department….

 

Frans did not read the rest of the letter. He dashed inside with his hand gripping the letter tightly.

"Mother!" He ran into the house looking left and right for his mother.

"Mother!”

"Mother's here, in the kitchen!" Anastasya Shouted. Frans ran into the kitchen.

"Mother, guess what."

"What?"

"I'm welcome, ma'am!"

"What did you just say?" Anastasya dropped the spoon and his jaw dropped.

"I'm in, Mom. I was accepted. I'm going to the military base, ma'am." Tears flowed down Anastasya's face.

"Mom's so proud of you." He walked up to her and pulled her into his arms.

"Why are you crying?"

"Because I'm proud of you." Frans raised his hand and hugged his mother tighter.

"I love my mother very much." Frans whispered in his ear. Anastasya releases his son.

"Mom loves you too. Now, go to Vania's house and tell her." Frans nodded and ran to Vania's house.

 

Frans arrives at Vania's house. He tries to open the door, but it turns out that Vania's house is locked. Frans tried to knock on the door hard.

"Vania! Open the door." He yelled. Vania opened the door still wearing her pajamas.

"Yes, wait a minute." Vania rushes to open the door, “What's up, Frans?”

"I'm welcome, Van!"

"Received what?"

"I'm welcome to be a soldier"

"What?" Tears formed in his eyes.

"I was accepted into the army and became part of the military "He grabbed his hand and pulled it into his chest.

"I'm so proud of you."

"really?" He felt his tears on his shirt.

"of course. You're my best friend." He was tense at that word. He knew he wanted to be more than a good friend.

"You want to come, right?"

"Come? You want to go today?"

"In the letter it says, obviously I have to enter the camp from today." Tears are falling faster. He held it tighter, not wanting to let go. He tightened his hands on his waist.

"I won't miss this moment."

"good. Let's go."

"Where?"

"My house."

"I'm still in my pajamas."

"Then change clothes. Hurry up." Vania nodded, but she still did not let go of her embrace.

 "I don't want to let go of this hug.. But we have to let go." Frans forcefully releases her embrace and Vania runs upstairs to change her clothes.

 

 Today is the time, Valerie thought. The day I'm gonna say goodbye to the first love of my life.

 

Vania was very happy that Frans finally achieved what she wanted, while Vania herself did not achieve what she wanted. Tears flowed down her face and she wiped as she walked down. To his surprise, Frans was still there at the door waiting.

 

"Come on." Frans grabbed his hand and ran to his house.

 

When they arrived home, Frans shouted, "Mother! I'll go to the room and pack with Vania.”

"Okay baby, I'll be right there to help." Anastasya shouted back.

 

Frans did not let go of Vania's hand, and then dragged her up. As they reached the room, Frans ran towards the closet and Vania sat on her bed.

 

"Are you going to miss me?" Frans asked back with 2 suitcases in his hand.

"Of course Frans." Vania knew she would cry in a moment. "hold. Hold it," he thought.

"I'll be back, I promise you."

"And what if it's not?" Voice broke.

"Why do you think negatively? Please don't be like that, Vania. Keep thinking positive.”

"Ok well.."

"Do you believe me?"

"Yes. I believe you"

"How long will you be gone?"

"I don't know. My captain will tell me all that, later.”

"So, let's start packing." Frans nodded. Vania walked over to her drawers and skimmed, then grinned.

"Um, can you not see that part?" Frans said in shame.

"Do you mind if I borrow this?" Vania touches her superman boxer pants. Frans' cheeks flushed. He walked over and grabbed his pants.

"What's? Wh why? Do you like superman? There must be a hero in this city.”

"Oh and it just so happens that the hero is you?"

"Shhh, I should have kept it a secret."

"Well, it's no secret, Superman." Frans covered her mouth with her hands and the other hand behind her neck.

"Nobody should know." Vania rolled her eyes; frans felt her smile through her hands. Vania dropped her eyes into his hands, Frans looked into his eyes. 'Kiss him' screams his conscience. He raised his hand slowly and looked at his lips. They stared at each other's lips for a few seconds.

 

"Hmmm," Vania's voice cracked. "We should pack up, Frans." He walked into his suitcase.

"Wait for Valerie."

"So, what do you really need?" He walked towards her and cupped her face.

“Frans, no." He didn't want me, Frans thought. "I don't want to do this right before you leave, you're going to torture myself by waiting for you."

"At least you have something to look forward to, and I'll be the only person you have in mind." He didn't care that he was selfish, he couldn't control himself anymore.

"Frans, no." Vania. Frans ignored her and kissed her vigorously. After which, the two of them stopped to allow a little space to breathe.

 

"I really want to do that."

"For how long?"

"My whole life." Said Frans. Vania just rolled her eyes. It's just acting, Vania thought. Frans was leaving, so Frans just wanted to play around for the last time before he left. "It's real, Vania. I'm not playing you." His eyes widened as if Frans had just read his mind.

"What's the point of doing this? You'll be gone and probably won't be back for a few years."

 

"So what? It doesn't matter how long I'm going to be gone. The important thing is that you will wait for me."

"I'll be waiting for you."

"good. Now let's finish packing." They're back packing.

 

 Frans actually wanted to say something, but he didn't want to say it yet. Vania knows she can't control herself anymore. Frans was eager to tell him what he almost did that night at his house. A little while later, Anastasya went upstairs.

"You need help?" She asked.

"No, it's okay, Mom. We're done packing."

"Okay, come down and let's eat before we go."

"You and Vania ate. Let me take all these suitcases down."

"All right, hurry up." He's nodding. They walked into the kitchen and set the table. Frans walked towards the package. He took out the uniform they sent along with the acceptance letter. Frans wore that faded green striped uniform and wore boots. He walked to the mirror and looked at himself. He slipped his hand into the border letters in the uniform, “ARMY A.S”.

He walked back to a package again and took a small picture. He looked at her and then turned the picture around.

'For Frans. It's something that you always remember me. From Vania.' He turned the picture back to Vania's face and kissed her. He put it in his pocket that was behind the letters that were already at the border. He quickly picked up the suitcases at the front door and ran back upstairs. He took his hat and walked into the kitchen.

After descending, Vania and Anastasya could not take their eyes off her. "My boys have grown up so fast." Tears flowed down his cheeks.

 

"Mom, I will always be your little son." Anastasya got up and hugged Frans tightly. After they sat down and ate, they headed to the place where the family said goodbye. After entering, they headed to the parting section. Frans walked first to Anastasya. There were tears in his eyes. "Please don't cry."

"Mom loves you very much, Frans." He threw himself into his arms. Frans hugged him tightly.

"Please, mom. Please, don't cry." Frans clenched his jaw. She doesn't want to cry. He knew he was coming back.

"Mom will miss you so much."

"Frans will miss you too, ma'am. I love you, Mom." Frans released her and wiped her tears.

"Alright, continue." Anastasya smiled and pushed Frans towards Vania. "Please say goodbye." Frans walked to Vania.

 

Vania just stood there staring at him. He pulled her into the arms. At first, he just stood there. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist, tightly. He felt his tears in his uniform. Frans let go and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Don't say goodbye, say goodbye."

"See you later." Vania forced her smile. Frans sighed and said it wholeheartedly.

 

"Vania, I love you."

"I love you too, Frans."

"No, I'm in love with you." He stared at her blankly.

"What?"

"I'm in love with you." He's not moving. "Please repeat once again.”

"I'm in love with you." He smiled and pulled her and kissed her. Frans felt the tears of Vania on his face as they kissed. They both backed off. She wiped her tears with her hands. Vania thought, this is a goodbye.

 

"Please wait for me. Until I get back."

"of course. I will always wait for you to return."

"I'll be back before you know it." He kissed her one last time and grabbed her mother's hand towards them. "I'm gonna miss you guys." He pulled the two into a hug and squeezed them tightly.

 

Frans inhaled the scent of their bodies and kept it inside him. Frans broke away and kissed both of their heads. Frans smiled at them and walked up to the army line. As he got closer and closer to the plane, Frans looked back at his mother and Vania. He waved at them, and this time tears flowed down his cheeks. Vania had to raise her hand and wave back. He saw tears running down his cheeks.

 

"See you, Frans." Vania whispers. Vania would turn around and walk away suddenly someone shouted her name.

"Vania!" Shouted Nick. Very loud and crowded, Vania heard it. Frans looked at him, looked at him.

 "Send me a letter at all times!" Frans smiled and nodded then walked inside the plane. Frans sighed and sat in his chair. Vania looked back at Anastasya. He looked out the window where the runway was flying. They watched the plane rise in the sky and disappear. Anastasya looked at Vania wiping her tears.

 

"Let's go home." Vania nodded and the two of them went home, this time without Frans.