Always, Tulip

?? Nineteen

I stared at her contact while driving with my left hand and after much internal conflict, I send a good morning text. She tended to sleep till later in the mornings though I hoped she was awake by now.

She had also told me that she would be meeting her parents today for a small re-union they had every month.

They always came to check on her and bring some of the foods from home that she so missed. I was so happy that she had such a sweet family.

My phone pinged and I quickly picked up to see who had texted trying to appear relaxed though deep down I wished it was her. Her name lit up on the screen and a smile seemed to form on my stern face.

She had replied and I felt a sense of excitement and contentment flow through me at just seeing her message. It was just a simple greeting though she had added a smiling face with heart eyes at the end.

I hovered over her name, remembering of the day she had given me her number. I had stared at the contact that evening as if in disbelief.

Previously there were only two female contacts on my phone, Nana and Rosie, Reece's mom. I didn't have any female friends and as Nana loved to say, I was a lone man.

In the past Reece had shared my contact to some girls when we were in military school but after my lack of response, they had eventually left me alone.

It felt like a dream to me that she was even talking to me at this point. I rarely spoke but lately I had been trying much to look approachable and normal when I was with her.

I wanted to release the words that seemed to get stuck at the back of my throat. My quiet nature didn't inconvenience me at any time in the past but I wanted to communicate better with her.

A loud honk from behind jolted me back to the present and it's then I realized I had been driving slower than a snail's pace on such a busy highway.

The driver switched lanes and I could tell he was casting profanities with the stink eye he gave me. My phone screen lit up again and I unlocked it in a second.

Ginelle had texted again saying she was now at the airport waiting for them. I hastily picked up my speed when I learned it was the same one I'd be supervising.

If just seeing her text brought this significant change in me, I wasn't sure what could be my final blow. I was slowly giving in to the world she lived in.

I got to the airport faster than any racing car could after speeding for just a few minutes. It wouldn't get me in any trouble but I had never taken advantage of that priority before.

The airport security led me to the offices where our team was getting ready. They had already changed into the required attire and I was given one myself.

I laid down the strategy, assigning everyone a terminal where they would thoroughly check all members boarding and alighting with all their luggage. I let a few walk around as civilians.

Reece came over to hand out the walkie talkies that would ease our communication incase anything were to happen. He was quick in his work though his gaze shifted when it came to Clarissa, the new female recruit.

She had been on our team for almost a month now and Reece never seemed to leave her. Wherever she was he happened to be there too.