Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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As she stumbled, a strong arm caught her just in time. “Careful,” a deep voice said.
“Thank you….” Kelly began to thank him, but her words trailed off as she turned and saw who it was.
“Ken? What are you doing here?” she asked.
Ken was also her friend at the compound. He had grown up alongside her and others since they were young.
Seeing a familiar face in such an unfamiliar place, made Kelly feel a sense of relief.
Ken studied her intently for a moment before speaking. He looked at her with a complicated expression. “I saw you on the ride here. I just didn’t expect you to choose this path and join a research team.”
As George’s closest friend, he knew full well the tangled history between George
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and Kelly.
Kelly gave a faint smile. “Serving the country is our duty, after all.”
“Regardless, it’s good to see you here,” he replied.
After saying that, Kelly jogged to catch up with the rest of the team and ran all the way to the base. She did not realize that Ken did not take his eyes away from her until she disappeared from view. With a faint smile tugged at his lips, he murmured to himself. “It’s good to see you too.”
***
That evening, the leaders organized a bonfire party to welcome the new arrivals. Everyone gathered around the roaring flames. They were singing, dancing and laughing, their joy banished the biting cold of winter.
Kelly clapped along to the songs. She joined everyone to sing and dance. The festive atmosphere made her forget, for a
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moment, that this was the first New Year that she spent away from home.
Strangely, the absence of George didn’t weigh on her as she thought it might. Perhaps, at his moment, he was accompanying Amanda.
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the lively crowd, Kelly decided to take a quiet walk by herself.
As she wandered to a secluded spot behind the mountain, a hushed voice caught her attention.
“Private Murdock, really like you. Look, I’m not bad–looking and my personality isn’t bad either. Besides, we’re going to be stuck here at the base for years. Why don‘ t we be together?”
Kelly froze and her curiosity piqued. She instinctively held her breath and listened. intently.
Ken was handsome. His height was nearly one point nine meters. In contrast to
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George, he had tougher and sharper features. It was natural for a man like him to be very popular with women.
Not wanting to eavesdrop, Kelly prepared to leave quietly, but she heard Ken cold reply, “Thank you for your affection, but I’m sorry. My heart already belongs to someone else.”
Her steps faltered. Someone had already captured Ken’s heart?
Her curiosity peaked and wanted to know more. After all, she had been staying at the same compound as Ken, so she knew he was cold to anyone and never heard of him getting close to a girl.
Even the girl did not believe him. “Ken, you don‘ t have to make up stories just to turn me down,” she said with a skeptical tone.
“Even if you do have someone you like, we’re stuck in this base together. You can’t just leave and find her….”
Yet Ken’s answer was resolute, “She is here.”
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