From Villain to Virtual Sweetheart: The Fake Heir's Grand Scheme(BL)
Chapter 99: The Thermos Said It All

Chapter 99: The Thermos Said It All

Micah and Emile registered their names at the desk where a bored-looking soldier ticked them off the list without a glance. The sun was already high, and the air smelled of dust, heat, and sweat. The two of them strolled across the training field to the designated area.

When they finally arrived, they found the students sitting on the ground in rows. The instructor at the front was demonstrating how to fold a blanket with precision and efficiency, emphasising the importance of discipline and readiness. His voice rang sharply with each instruction, and not a single student dared to speak. Piles of olive-green blankets and neatly folded uniforms lined the ground beside them.

"Be quick. You must be ready at all times. A dispatch order could come without warning. Folding your blanket and making your bed is the first basic skill every soldier must learn."

Micah and Emile dropped down at the very back, careful not to attract attention. Micah winced slightly as he bent, his stomach still unsettled. He sat cross-legged with his arms draped loosely over his knees. Emile plopped down beside him with an unimpressed look on his face.

When the session ended and the instructor dismissed them with a barked command, they all sighed in relief. Before Micah could even stretch his legs, Eddie and Nick came running to them from another group.

"Ah! You are back!" Nick exclaimed. "We had a scare not seeing you this morning." he paused. "Why are you still looking pale?"

"Yeah, like the life was sucked out of you!" Eddie added, glancing at Micah up and down. "What happened?"

"He threw up blood, that’s what! Of course, he looks like shit!" Emile grumbled.

"Shush!" Micah hissed, nudging him with his elbow after spotting Darcy walking toward them.

The military uniform fit Darcy perfectly, showcasing his tall, lean frame. His dark hair had been slightly tousled under his cap, and his serious, focused expression only heightened the quiet authority he exuded. To Micah, he looked like a young general straight out of a movie, ready to execute him.

Several girls nearby glanced up, their conversation pausing as their eyes followed Darcy’s approach with obvious interest. A few even whispered to each other, their cheeks flushed.

Micah didn’t notice any of that. The only thought was that he would be roasted at any minute now.

Darcy stopped in front of Micah, eyes locked directly on him.

Micah shifted awkwardly.

"Are you feeling better?" Darcy asked, his gaze flickering to the plaster on Micah’s right hand. The sign of an IV.

"Yeah..." Micah replied dryly.

"Why didn’t you tell us sooner?!" Darcy’s tone sharpened.

Micah’s eyes darted away, not meeting his. "I didn’t think it was a big deal. I figured it would pass soon enough."

"You went to the hospital. That’s not passing."

"Yeah, it was severe; they had to do an endoscopy to stop the bleeding," Emile said.

Micah stomped down on Emile’s foot. "Don’t listen to him. He is exaggerating."

"But seriously, what is it with your body? The first time we met, you said you had just been discharged from the hospital too, refusing to go in to check the knife wound." Darcy said, concern in his eyes.

"Yeah! I was floored, too. You should have seen the doctor’s face when he listed all the injuries. One on his arm, bruises on his abdomen, and they almost thought the stomach thing came from.... Ahhh.., my foot!" Emile yelped, whimpering.

Micah applied more pressure, shutting him up. "I am just clumsy, that’s all," Micah said with a tight smile.

He had gone to such lengths to hide his abdominal bruise from Darcy, not for Emile to offer it up on a silver platter.

Darcy’s lips thinned. He glanced at Emile beside him, unreadable emotions flashed in his eyes. But he didn’t press further. "Umm... just take care of yourself."

With that, he turned sharply and walked toward his unit.

Micah watched him go; an indescribable emotion filled his chest. "Shit! He is so angry!"

Nick glanced between them and asked. "Really?! He looked pretty calm to me. Wasn’t he wishing you well?!"

"No... that wasn’t a normal ’take care’. That was a ’you are on your own, good luck from now on," Micah replied, rubbing his face with both hands.

"I don’t get why you care so much about his opinion, man." Eddie raised an eyebrow.

Micah remained silent. Indeed, from the outside, he knew it probably looked weird. But when you had stolen someone else’s life, stood in their place, taken their family, their future, you couldn’t help but care. He didn’t know how to explain it.

"Do you have feelings for him?" Emile blurted out.

Micah turned his head, looking at him questioningly. "What??"

Emile stared back into those wide hazel eyes, pure and clueless, taken aback by the innocence in them. He coughed. "I meant, like...did you guys grow up together or something?" he changed his question.

"Nah, we just met two or three weeks ago."

His answer made even Nick and Eddie think something was amiss. They behaved too closely, the way they talked felt too natural, too familiar, like some childhood friends.

Micah sighed. "I don’t know how to fix this!"

The trio glanced at each other. But before anyone could speak, a sudden screech from the nearby speaker startled everyone.

"Attention. Lunchtime."

The announcement acted like a spell. The students, like the fallen soldier receiving news of backup, sprang to their feet and ran toward the designated place for the military canteen.

Micah followed them at a slower pace. He didn’t feel hungry at all.

When they reached the line, Nick craned his neck, looking up ahead. "Damn! By the time we get to the front, all the good stuff will be gone."

"Good stuff? Do you think the military has a VIP menu?!" Eddie said with a scoff.

They were still bickering when a thermos was shoved into Micah’s hand.

"Here. I got permission. You are not supposed to eat tough, spicy food with your stomach like that." Darcy said.

Micah stared at the thermos in his hand, stunned. He hadn’t expected this. He had thought Darcy had written him off. Suddenly, his throat tightened.

Darcy was still looking out for him.

He was a solid guy, a treasure. He would never let those psychos ruin him, break him like in the novel!