Chapter 5 A new start

The sun came up so brightly. The morning welcomed Stephanie with a morning message from Harry.

" Good morning, my love!"

Stephanie smiled happily as she had read the message and sent back a reply to him before starting her daily work.

Noticing his phone vibrating inside his pocket, Harry took out his phone and read the message. " Good morning too, honey!"

A message from her made his day a little more brighter. It gave him an unexplainable feeling to do his daily task with so much energy.

A man in the same rank as him came and caught him off guard as he was looking at his phone attentively. The man choked and stand next to him.

" It's such a nice morning today isn't it, General Kiernan?" The man in uniform asked him with a teasing tone in his voice.

Lost in his thoughts, Harry was alarmed by the sudden approach of his comrade. He looked at the man who was watching him closely.

Feeling a little bit shocked, he instantly made his natural appearance. His face became so serious and cold looking.

" Yes! It's indeed a very nice morning today, General Carter. Aren't you supposed to be looking after your soldiers instead of gossiping into my personal affairs?" Harry stood proudly next to him.

" I'm just happy to see you in your full glow, General. I never meant to make you feel annoyed. It's great that you are in great spirit. Someone must have gotten your interest now." A sly smile was shown on General Carter's face.

" Are you mocking me, General? With or without someone has gotten my interest, I always do my best in my field of work." Harry said with a rough tone, indicating that he doesn't want to have further discussion with his co- General.

Slightly giving him a sharp glance, General somehow felt the urge to punch him in the face. They may have the same rank in the army but they have opposite sites and battalions to hold. They always keep competing with each other as they reach for a higher rank.

But unlike General Carter, Harry was just following his instincts and aspirations in life. He take all responsibilities concerning his work and set aside first his personal affairs. However, he felt a little bit of change inside of him when Stephanie came into his life. He became more lively and glowing indeed. He always thinks of Stephanie even if he has so much work to do.

Stephanie was like an angel for him and a new start means a new beginning for his love life.

" I think I should be going now. See you later, General!" General Carter said indifferently. He turned his back and walked away from him.

Despite of their way of communicating, Harry didn't mind him at all. He just nodded and never gave General Carter a salute nor glance at him. If ever some higher ranked official has seen their gestures, they must have been misunderstood of being disrespectful with each other. Luckily, there's no higher ranked around yet.

After the morning exercise and military training, Harry went to his office table to review all the papers forwarded to him. He needed to enhance more of his battalion's skills and tactics on combat battle for the upcoming competition next month. He can't afford to lose. His rank is going to depend on the competition.

Therefore, he took all his effort to research on how to improve his battalion's skills and abilities. Nevertheless, he restrained himself nit to involve his personal affairs into his work.

After the whole afternoon work, he was tired and restless. He closed his eyes and eventually, his mind was full of Stephanie's radiant smile. Somehow, he felt a little comfort upon thinking of her. He grabbed his car key and went out of his office, holding his bag. As he was on his way to his car, he noticed that there was a newcomer in the camp. He is already familiar with all of the men inside the camp that's why he could easily distinguish if there was a newcomer or not inside the camp. When he crossed path with the young men in uniform, they saluted him and he did the same.

" Are you going home now, general?" One of the uniformed men asked courteously.

" Yes, Steve! So don't let your guard down." Harry said with a warning tone yet with affirmative command.

" I will, Sir!" The young soldier said with respect.

Afterwards, Harry passed on them and went to his where his car was parked. He opened the door of his car and went inside. He plugged in his car key and started the car engine. He drove his car towards his way to his own house.

When he reached his house, the wide gate opened itself and a white huge mansion appeared in front of him which is his own house. He was the only son in their family. His parents died early in an accident. That's why he married early but his unfortunate because his wife died in a car accident as well.

Fate was cruel to him but he was still lucky to have a son whom he treasured after all the disasters he had in life. His son was the only one giving him strength before but now, he also had Stephanie in his life.

An opposite version of her dead wife. That's the reason why he has more energy and strength to fight for his life in any battle. A maid opened the door when he got out from his car. There were four maids who lined up and greeted him courteously with smile on their faces.

" Good evening, Sir!" They said in chorus.

"Good evening!" Harry replied back with a formal look on them.

He went straight to his room upstairs. He opened the door of his room and quickly threw his jacket on the coach near him. He closed the door and took off his boots followed by taking off his uniform. He grabbed his robe and went to take a shower.

After taking a shower, he felt more refreshed and energized once more. He changed his clothes and relaxed for a while before he went downstairs to take his dinner.

On the other hand, Stephanie was quite busy also with her own work but she kept in her mind to stay connected with Harry even if it meant a little time.

Time went by so fast that it was already evening and it means time for them to have a little bonding.

Stephanie took a bath first and change her clothes before calling Harry. She was drying her hair with the hair dryer when she dialled her phone.

Meanwhile, Harry was on his room already when he heard his phone ringing. He was a bit irritated but curious at the same time with the loud sound of the ringing phone. When he reached his phone and saw the name of the caller, a bright smile showed from his face.

" Hello, my dearest sweetheart! How are you?" He said with so much affection.

" Hi! I'm fine, honey. How was your day?" She replied back.

"Did you just took a bath, baby? You look so refreshing!" Harry said when he noticed that Stephanie had a towel intertwined on top of her head probably covering her wet hair.

Smiling shyly, Stephanie touched the towel on her head." Yes, honey. I just finished taking a bath." Her cheeks were as red as cherries when she blushed.

She still felt a little bit conscious whenever Harry praises her or say something sweet to her. Maybe because its a new start for them as a couple to have such sweet talks together.

" How I wish I could smell your fresh bath scent and embrace you tightly now, baby." Harry said looking at her face intensely. With his eyes sparkling with so much affection for her.

" I would really love to be with you too, honey and show how I care for you." Stephanie said while staring at his handsome face. She really felt like hugging him and craving for his love for her.

" Honey, if I finish my mission, would you like to live with me and be together?" Harry said without thinking. As if his mind was already drawn by his eagerness to have her by his side.

As expected, Stephanie was shocked by his sudden change of topic. She was in a daze for a brief moment. Before she could answer him, she thought why is it that Harry seemed to be in a hurry.

" Honey, are you serious?" Her eyes widened in disbelief.

Then Harry quickly realized that he said something that was too impulsive for him to say." I'm sorry, baby. I guessed I said it without considering how you will think about it. "

Seeing him a little bit disappointed, Stephanie felt that she needs to comfort him. " Honey, please don't be sad. I was just shock when you mentioned what your plan is. That's why I wasn't able to answer you directly. But in the near future, I would love to grant your wish."

" Thank you, baby! I really love you! You're my everything aside from my son." Harry was so happy when he heard her comforting words.

" Have you eaten, honey?" Stephanie asked to change their topic.

" Yes, baby. And you?" Harry said cheerfully.

" I'm finish as well. So, are you going to bed now?" She asked while taking the hair dryer inside her drawer and plugged it on the socket. She started drying her hair while talking to him on the phone. She placed her mobile phone under the table on it's selfie stand.

" Baby, you're so sexy with how you dry your hair. " He said as he watched her from his phone.

"Am I that too attractive for you, honey?" She said by teasing him. She pouted her lips and made a flying kiss sound.

" Baby, are you teasing me just now?" Harry was amused by how cute she gestured her way of teasing her. Now, he new another side of her. She is really an interesting woman. She is kind, loving, hardworking and very considerate yet there is also simplicity and wildness in her. A kind of woman that he really needed.

Upon hearing his hoarse voice with a hint of warning and seduction, Stephanie laughed to lighten up the mood between them.

" Do you think I am teasing you just now, honey?" She said grinning.

" Baby, if you were just near me, I would've held you in my arms and kissed your lips to satisfy you." He said while tenderly looking at her with gluttony eyes.

" Sorry if you think I was teasing you, honey." The hair dryer was loud but her heart was throbbing more loudly as he looked at him. When her long hair was dried up, she grabbed her comb and fixed her hair. It took her half an hour drying her hair.

"Wow! You're more dashingly beautiful now, baby!" He said when he saw how she brushed her hair. It looks more smooth and straight now that it was brushed.

" I think you're exaggerating already, honey! It's late. Let's talk again some other time. We both needs some rest to regain our strength. " She said considering that Harry must be very exhausted being a general in an army.

" You're being considerate again, baby. I really want to talk to you more but I know that you must feel very sleepy now too." He said when he glanced at the time on his phone. It was already midnight.

" Good night, honey!" Stephanie said and gave him a real flying kiss this time.

Harry gave back his response by exchanging a flying kiss too to her before saying: " I love you, Baby! Good night! Have a good rest."

" I love you, too!" Stephanie said before turning off her phone.

She laid down on her bed and tried to go to sleep. The night sky was full of stars as if it was showing their sparkles to both of them. They both went to sleep on their individual places. That was a really good start of a new beginning for both of them.

Next morning...The sun rises from the east and the bright sun rays was so radiant that Harry seemed to be awakened by it. He stretched his arms and woke up from his bed. He felt energised as he thought of last night conversation with his love of his life.

He stood up and walked away from his bed. He headed to his bathroom and brushed his teeth. Then he went back to his room, opened his closet and took his uniform. After getting himself ready for work, he took his phone first and dialled Stephanie's number. Every morning and night, they always tried their best to still have some communication to retain their connection and the bond that they created.