16 I Won't Call It Impossible

Mason Kent narrows his eyes and briefly recalls his conversation with his mother earlier. Once he looks up again, he forces a smile despite talking through a phone. "I was the one at fault," he says. "Please forgive me, Mother."

He is met with another silence but like always, he waits with patience. After all, it's something he is good at.

"How about you come home tonight? You are always busy and it's been so long since we last had a meal together."

"Alright," he responds without even sparing a moment to consider. Thinking of Alycia who is still inside, he promptly says, "I have to go, Mother. See you tonight." 

Once he hears his mother's positive response, Mason quickly puts his phone back in his pocket and walks inside.

"I am sorry about that," he says to Alycia as he occupies his seat. "It was an important call."

"It's fine," Alycia quickly replies. An awkward silence follows and they both end up finishing their food without saying a word to each other again. Once they are done eating, Mason Kent settles the bill and they walk outside together.

Even as they walk side by side, Alycia's mind is still occupied by what Mason said and also how much he resembles her father in terms of personality and all. Maybe because her father has always been an important person in her life despite the divorce, it is not easy for her to ignore the person with so much in common with her father; the person who fancies her.

"This is bad," Mason Kent suddenly says once they are outside, snapping Alycia out of her thoughts. When she gives him a puzzled look, he points at the building just a few meters away and says, "Your office is right there. I should have suggested some faraway place so that I would have got to ride with you again."

Alycia Reese cannot believe what she just heard! After listening to everything she told him earlier... how could he still say such things casually?!

Is he not right in the head or what?

"Don't look so confused, Miss Reese," Mason Kent says as he understands what Alycia is thinking. "You know... in the past, I regretted a lot for never giving a try, about you I mean."

"Mr. Kent -"

"I understand everything you told me today," Mason Kent calmly interrupts. "But still, I wish to save myself from having another regret. If I back down again without even trying, I would really think of myself as a coward who let go of two chances."

Alycia Reese finds herself struggling for words to say, yet again. Why is this Colonel so stubborn yet patient? She feels like she would never be able to understand him!

"You know it's impossible -"

"I know it will be hard, but I won't call it impossible," Mason Kent still interrupts again when Alycia finally manages to say something. There is even a little smile on his face when he says, "It would be a lie if I say I am confident and I admit that I can't promise you anything. I am a soldier after all. However... I wish to be selfish just this once. No... I insist to."

"It will not change anything," Alycia Reese promptly responds and softly exhales. "Why are you so stubborn, Mr. Kent?"

"In return, you can just push me away no matter how many times," Mason Kent quickly says to her as if it were nothing. "After all these years, I don't mind trying and trying again."

Once again, Alycia is taken aback by how persistently patient the Colonel is!

It's not like she is the only woman in the world for god's sake!

She takes a moment to clear her mind so that she can come up with something to say but... her mind suddenly goes blank when her gaze happens to land on someone familiar who grabs all her attention at once!

Isn't the person who is walking in their direction her ex-boyfriend, Elliot McCall? Not to mention that he is not alone!

Noticing the sudden change, Mason Kent trails Alycia's gaze and the identity of the two persons he sees makes his eyes flicker!

Why are those two coming together?

Closing the distance little by little, it is not long before the two halt before Alycia and Mason who remain in their places all the while. The uneasiness and also amazement in Elliot McCall's eyes when he looks at Alycia is more than obvious that Colonel Mason Kent clearly notices it.

Not to mention that all Alycia Reese does is stare at her ex-lover who is there with a woman; her expression is more than hard to read.

Elliot McCall and the woman next to him bowed before Colonel Mason who now has most of his attention on Alycia Reese and it is the unidentified woman who first speak up.

"It's a wonder to see you here, Deputy Commander," the woman says with a huge smile on her face and jokingly adds, "I see that you also know how to eat outside the camp."

"Now that I am in another division, it seems like you are not even afraid of me anymore, Captain Freya," Colonel Mason replies, matching the humorous tone of the woman. Still, it is obvious that the center of his attention and concern is still Alycia Reese who is yet to say a word.

"When was I ever afraid of you, sir?" Captain Freya playfully retorts and chuckles. However, her attention is quickly shifted to Alycia who looks a bit pale by now. "A date?"

Having no idea of how flustered Elliot is, she beats Colonel Mason in speaking up and says, "It's nice to meet you. I am Freya Morton, an army surgeon." She reaches out her hand to Alycia, offering a handshake.

When Alycia Reese only narrows her eyes at the hand that is offered to her, Mason Kent is about to intervene but... he cannot do so because Alycia suddenly accepts the handshake with a little smile. "Alycia Reese," she introduces herself in a calm voice.

Hearing the name, Freya Morton's eyes instantly go wide. "Alycia Reese as in Reese Corporation and CR Securities?!"

As the reaction is not unfamiliar to her, Alycia Reese simply nods her head. Then Elliot McCall finally breaks his silence.

"Let us get going," he says to Captain Freya; his struggle to hide his uneasiness is obvious, at least in the eyes of Alycia and Mason. "We are already late for our reservation," he adds, trying his best to not meet Alycia's gaze. However, there is also a hint of curiosity when he looks at Colonel Mason. Maybe he is wondering about the relationship between the two.

Didn't Alycia say nothing in objection when Freya mentioned a date? Still, he tries to brush away the thought. There is no way.

It seems like Freya Morton still has many things to say but she still nods in agreement when she hears Elliot.

"If you'll excuse us, Deputy Commander," Elliot McCall says to Colonel Mason, slightly bowing his head as he talks.

"Go ahead," Mason Kent replies, and the two soldiers enter the restaurant. Then almost immediately, Mason's full attention is focused on Alycia Reese who slowly turns around to look at the two who almost gives off the vibe of a couple but not exactly.

Are they really a couple? Was Elliot really cheating on her like her mother speculated? She refuses to believe it. Elliot McCall she knows is not someone who would cheat.

"Are you alright?"

Alycia turns back to Mason when she hears his question. Though she notices the concern on his face, she ignores it and nods her head. Then she looks at her wristwatch. "I will be meeting a client in my office and it's almost time." Looking up at the Colonel once again, she says, "I should get going, Mr. Kent. Thank you for the meal."

One thought occupies Mason's mind and it keeps on bothering him though he refrains from saying. However, when Alycia is about to walk past him, he suddenly finds himself reaching out to her and grabbing Alycia's wrist, taking her by surprise!

"Mr. Kent."

"I believe there is nothing between them," Mason Kent promptly says, looking more nervous than ever before. "I know Captain Freya well; so, I hope you don't think too much about it."