Under Different Circumstances

Chapter 31

Boxing was on the agenda for Thursday's physical training. This time, I didn't partner up with Aidan and went with a female recruit who was similar to me in height and weight instead. I had never boxed before, but quickly took a liking to it, and the first half of the day flew by.

After showering, I changed into my uniform and got ready for lunch. Mei was brushing her hair next to me while I was packing up my things.

"How did you like boxing, Mei?" I asked her.

She glanced over at me and smiled widely. "It's not really my thing. I see how it's a useful skill, but I definitely won't take it up as a hobby anytime soon," she replied and twisted her hair up into her usual bun. "I was really glad that Claire partnered up with me again. She's so good at everything physical!"

"Yeah. The way she raced through that obstacle track the other day was extremely impressive," I noted. "She seems to enjoy mentoring you from what I have seen."

"I hope so, I can learn so much from her," Mei sighed, smiling

"And how do you find the academy in general?" I asked, gauging the expression on her face.

Compared to the first day I had met her, she had become much calmer and quieter. She was still a happy and bubbly person that liked to smile at all times, but she lacked the enormous amount of energy she'd exuded at first.

"I knew that joining the academy would be very challenging for me, but I prepared for that, and I love it!" she beamed and stored her toiletries away in her locker. "How about you?"

"I'm really enjoying it too. I was just wondering because you've become quieter throughout the week, so I wondered why that was," I explained and sat down on the bench between the lockers.

"Oh." Mei closed her locker and sat down too. "I thought you might notice that. Before I started the academy, I made myself the promise that I would go in full force and meet and make friends with as many people as I could. In the past, I've often kept to myself too much, and I didn't want to do that at the academy. But I noticed quickly that I couldn't keep it up permanently. Right now, I'm trying to find a good middle ground."

That explained the change I had witnessed.

"I understand, and I'm glad that's the reason. Starting somewhere new is always a good opportunity to reinvent oneself, but it has to be sustainable. I like you either way," I reassured her and playfully punched her shoulder.

"You're pretty dope too!" she grinned and scooted closer on the bench to give me a hug.

"Dope?" I chuckled.

"Yeah! You know, cool, fly, groovy!"

"I know, I know," I laughed. "Come on. Let's get some food."

We got up and left the locker room.

"Hey, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" I wondered as we walked through the entrance of the cafeteria.

"I'll be 22 in January, you?"

I remembered what it was like when a higher number on the birthday cake was still a reason to be excited. "Much older," I sighed with a grin and waved to Aidan who sat at a table a few feet away, waiting for us to join him.

In class after lunch, I sat between the two of them as we learned the police ten-code.

Aidan and Mei were quickly becoming good friends of mine, and as I listened to the instructor teach, I was overcome by a sudden wave of elation. When I was Mei's age, I had given up on my dream of becoming a cop, and it had taken a decade, but now, I was finally in the right place and on the right path. I was finally where I wanted to be, and that realisation and relief sank in deeper into my consciousness every day.