Decision

Marcus was already at the field when Ethan arrived.

Running laps. Same as always.

He slowed down when he saw him.

“Well?”

Ethan held up the paper.

Marcus laughed.

“Knew it.”

“You don’t know what it says.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

Ethan sat on the low metal fence. Marcus grabbed a bottle and tossed it.

“So? Thinking about it?”

“Yeah.”

“And?”

Ethan twisted the cap slowly.

“Didn’t plan this.”

Marcus shrugged.

“No one does.”

“You did.”

Marcus grinned.

“Yeah. Because I didn’t want to sit in a lab.”

Ethan smirked.

“I did.”

Marcus looked at him.

“You still can. Later.”

“Maybe.”

Marcus stretched.

“You know what I like?”

“What?”

“Everything’s clear. Train. Fight. Get better. No guessing.”

He looked at Ethan.

“And you’re good at that.”

Silence.

Ethan looked down at the paper.

Service Selection. Physical. Tactical. Medical.

Marcus kicked the dirt.

“I’m going.”

“I know.”

“You coming?”

Ethan didn’t answer.

Marcus smirked.

“Don’t think too long. You’ll miss the train.”

—

At home, the conversation started the moment he sat at the table.

His mother already knew. Maya too.

“You’re really considering this?” his mother asked.

“It’s not the army yet.”

“It leads there.”

Maya leaned back.

“So? He’s strong. He’s stubborn. Perfect candidate.”

His mother shot her a look.

“Not funny.”

“Not joking.”

Maya turned to Ethan.

“You want it?”

He thought.

“I don’t know if I want it. But I don’t hate it.”

She studied his face.

“You always need something to push against.”

He smirked.

“Better than sitting still.”

She nodded slowly.

“Just don’t let them turn you into a manual.”

Their mother sighed.

“You could try again next year.”

“I could.”

“And?”

“I don’t want to wait.”

Silence.

From the living room, his father spoke.

“Come here.”

Ethan walked in.

His father turned off the screen.

“You decided?”

“Almost.”

“You going because you want to?”

“…Yes.”

“Or because you don’t know what else to do?”

Ethan hesitated.

“…Both.”

His father nodded.

“That’s honest enough.”

Pause.

“You want me to tell you not to go?”

Ethan shook his head.

“No.”

“Good.”

Silence.

His father looked at him.

“Then go.”

Ethan frowned.

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Pause.

“You won’t learn your step standing still.”

Ethan nodded.

His father added, quieter:

“Just remember where home is.”

—

He found Lili near the bus stop that evening.

She was sitting on the bench, scrolling through something on her phone.

She looked up when she saw him.

“You look like you lost a fight.”

“Didn’t pass.”

She made a face.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

She put the phone away.

“So what now?”

He sat next to her.

“Got an offer.”

She waited.

“Service training.”

Her eyebrows lifted.

“That’s unexpected.”

“Yeah.”

Silence.

Cars passed.

A bus stopped. Doors opened. Closed.

“You going?” she asked.

“Probably.”

She watched him.

“You sure?”

“No.”

She nodded.

“That sounds like you.”

He smirked.

“Thanks.”

She leaned back.

“You always do this.”

“Do what?”

“Walk straight into things. Then pretend you planned it.”

He laughed quietly.

“Maybe.”

She looked at the street.

“Just don’t disappear, okay?”

He looked at her.

“I won’t.”

She didn’t look convinced. But nodded anyway.

“Alright.”

The bus arrived. People got in.

Ethan stayed sitting.

“So,” she said, standing up, “when do you leave?”

“In a month.”

She hesitated.

Then smiled faintly.

“Try not to become unbearable before that.”

He snorted.

“No promises.”

She stepped onto the bus, then turned back.

“Come back in one piece, soldier.”

He raised a hand.

“Not a soldier yet.”

She smirked.

“We’ll see.”

The doors closed. The bus pulled away.

Ethan stayed on the bench a little longer.

The city lights turned on one by one.

Everything right on schedule.

He folded the paper in his pocket.

Training starts in a month.

He stood up.

And started walking home.