Disgusting!
2010 Words
Moonday.
The first day of the school week as usual.
Our commanding officer, Cpl. Ben-Kulera, gives us a sneak peak of what we'll be expecting this week.
Nothing but basic military history and some geography.
And of course, some training exercises.
Classes that don't involve much physical activity aren't much different from typical classes in the Royal Academy.
The only things that are different are the required salutes and the attaching of “sir” at the beginning and end of our statements, regardless of the gender of the “sir” being addressed to.
For our first class, we're being taught Military History 101.
It documents how the founder of our kingdom eventually had to amass his own army as rival leaders were itching to conquer his domain.
In his own words, it was “a necessary evil”, but the pact he made with the fairy of legend ensured him he would not fall to the same corruption his rivals had.
And in our second class, we're being taught Military Geography 101.
It's basically a rehash of typical geography lessons being taught since elementary school, but with a focus on our kingdom's strategic descriptions and military relations with other countries.
For today, the fact that Matutum Prefecture is colloquially called “The Kingdom's Food Bowl” is being reiterated into our minds. The nickname is due to the fact that the prefecture's towns specialize in various agricultural goods.
For example, the town of Forhampe specializes in wheat; Orion Cepheid specializes in chickens; and Pabionum specializes in milk and honey.
The only new thing we've learned is that the prefecture itself has its own self-defense force, where some soldiers dispatched by the Royal Armed Forces also work as farmers, ready to defend their hard-worked produce from bandits and other unruly elements.
Lunch break then comes.
As we three enter the dining hall once more, Yulissa wears an uneasy face.
“Something the matter?”
“Brother, it's about the written test tomorrow...”
“Ah, the one where we must write an essay on whether our kingdom's founder's military policies can be considered as realpolitik or not, right?”
“Yeah. I admit I'm not good at politics, and thus my grades in that subject since high school aren't that spectacular...”
Laika cuts in.
“Indeed, I know that weakness of yours, too. We know for a fact that you're not good at politics not because of a bad experience...”
“I just simply hate that subject. Can't we as a people just get along?”
I reassure her.
“Well, this world of Amitabhilia is not as simple as you think. Sometimes, it takes a proverbial bonk to the head to someone so stubborn in order to change their mind. That's why we're future soldiers, right? That's why we fight, right?”
“But brother, we've all made a promise to become soldiers because we have someone to protect!”
“Yup, I'm not ignoring that. It hasn't changed then, and we as heck won't change it now.”
I then give her a wholesome headpat to accompany that reassurance.
She gives off a warm, radiant smile, complete with a blush.
“And brother...”
“Yes?”
“Please stroke my face like you used to do ten years ago.”
“Alright. For old time's sake.”
I eagerly, but slowly, touch her face, mainly with my palm.
She certainly has smooth and fair skin, as expected of a teen girl.
And her scent? I can sense a hint of watermelon.
Maybe she has used a watermelon-scented cologne, perhaps?
The smile and the blush are more radiant than ever, and Laika sure is amused by that fact.
Not to mention that the cologne Yulissa used today is borrowed from her.
We're eventually through with our lunch, and there's still 30 minutes before classes resume.
Note that during lunch break, we cadets are free to roam in authorized areas, disregarding the rule regarding walking in a queue at the right-hand side. That's also in the cadet handbook.
While we three are looking for a place to relax and enjoy some fresh air in the open-air field within the Zach Suratos Building...
We can hear some audible murmurs.
“Hey, that old classmate of mine, Keenan, is reportedly ready to do 'miraculous' things to his own sister!”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah, because of them frequent headpats and even face strokes.”
“Ah yeah! I remember that yesterday, I saw his sister clinging to his arms like he was her lifeline!”
“I saw that too, you know!”
Once we hear that conversation, we instinctively relocate to another corner of the open-air field.
The two murmuring cadets can only comment...
“That's pretty sus of them.”
Laika then whispers to us...
“Ugh! I've been keeping an eye on those peeps since yesterday; and knowing how close you two are, they're definitely spreading lies about you.”
I can say only one word.
“Disgusting.”
Yulissa, knowing all along how closely-knit sibling bonds can be a potential problem, proposes something.
“Brother, in the meantime, we have to separate. I don't need to be treated like a kid, you know.”
I agree with a silent nod.
Once we three all part ways, I can now relax under the shade of a tree.
Until a random cadet shows up.
“So, how's your...”
“I AM NOT DATING MY SISTER!”
I storm out of the tree, relocating to a nearby bench.
Trying to lie comfortably on that wood-and-steel bench, I can hear a playful sing-song from nearby.
“Keenan and Yulissa sitting on a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”
“NO WE'RE NOT!”
With that explosive reaction, I withdraw from the bench.
Now where to next?
Ah yes, the man-made bamboo fountain at the side of the building.
No one would ever spoil the serenity of that place.
Until another cadet proves me wrong, with a bawdier version of that playful sing-song.
“Keenan and Yulissa sitting on a tree, F--”
“SHUT YOUR PORK TRAP!”
Grr! I've had enough!
I'm going back to the apartment room!
At least I can be assured of my privacy, and I'm totally not doing anything harmful to my beloved sister!
12 post meridiem.
The commanding officer relays a special message via the public address system.
“Calling the attention of every cadet under my command, especially Cadets Keenan Floribunda, Yulissa Floribunda, and Laika Santiaguel. Please gather at the open-air field immediately. I repeat: Calling the attention of every cadet under my command, especially Cadets Keenan Floribunda, Yulissa Floribunda, and Laika Santiaguel. Please gather at the open-air field immediately. Thank you.”
We all swiftly heed Cpl. Ben-Kulera's call, knowing that this has something to do with those unfounded rumors.
As we cadets form ourselves in an orderly fashion, he doesn't beat around the bush.
“It has come to my attention that some cadets are spreading ridiculous rumors about the supposed romantic relationship between Cadets Keenan and Yulissa Floribunda, who are full-blooded siblings. To set the record straight, may I ask the two Floribundas and Cadet Laika Santiaguel to come on over at the front.”
“Sir, yes, sir!”
We three approach our officer with composure, ready to defend ourselves as we stand straight as cadets should be.
“Now then... Cadet Keenan Floribunda, I've had a conversation with your senior high school homeroom teacher some time before your orientation. He told me that your bonds with your younger sister, Cadet Yulissa Floribunda, are unusually strong. If I would have faced your parents right now, I would commend them greatly for raising you two into fine siblings, something the whole kingdom should emulate. But then... some of the cadets here are rubbing that familial relationship the wrong way. Can you at least shed light on this?”
“Sir... I would never in any way have romantic love between me and my pure, innocent sister! There are many kinds of love, and one of them is called storge, or familial love, sir!”
“And Cadet Yulissa Floribunda, may I ask your honest opinion about this?”
“Sir... my brother is right! Because we both grew up in a happy, loving family, that environment has paved the way for us to encourage each other to better ourselves. We have made a promise to become soldiers someday, and this is why we are here! Anyone who takes our familial relationship the wrong way is evil, sir!”
“And your thoughts, Cadet Santiaguel?”
“Sir... I am childhood friends with them, and it warms my heart that they're having the perks of being siblings, as I'm an only child. Whenever I see him patting her head or stroking her face, I interpret those as simple yet effective gestures of comforting someone. Knowing he treats his sister well, he is also treating me well, too, sir!”
“Thank you, cadets. Now then, in light of this, may I explain the ongoing policy here at the military school, as well as in the Royal Armed Forces in general. In the past, we had this 'don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue, don't harass' policy, which meant that romantic acts that are inimical to the high standards of morale, good order and discipline, and unit cohesion were being swept under the rug. But thanks to the calls being made by civil rights groups, as well as appeals from soldiers who had been hiding in the closet, that policy is repealed. And also, while people of all orientations are welcome in the Royal Armed Forces, specific romantic relationships between family members, especially siblings, are verboten for scientific and moral reasons. Here with me is Professor Kaitlyn Melanie Schum to explain the reasoning.”
A green-haired woman with rimless glasses and dressed in a lab coat then shows up.
“Cadets, sorry if Cpl. Ben-Kulera summoned me on short notice; but fortunately, I have used a Teleportation Feather to get here. Now then... I will explain to you cadets why those... relationships between siblings is verboten here in the Royal Armed Forces, as well as in the Royal Constabulary.
“If you have slept though history class, the 13th generation of the royal family was beset by genetic disorders due to inbreeding – and it began with His Highness King Giancarlo Frenger marrying his cousin, Her Highness Princess Chantal Maisonn. Inbreeding increases the chances of the offspring getting genetic disorders such as blindness, hearing loss, neonatal diabetes, abnormal limbs, genital malformations, and schizophrenia. Fortunately, the curse was broken when King Giancarlo Frenger's grandson Ferdinand married a commoner, the would-be Her Highness Queen Precious Ariel Heydarian.
“Another huge piece of evidence against those kinds of relationships comes from a series of dark fantasy novels that you all should know. In particular, a queen and her twin brother were reportedly engaged in an illegitimate romance. As a result, one of their three children grew up to be a tyrannical and merciless ruler due to his mental health defects. Yes, those events may have happened in fiction, but at least the author fashioned them from real life.
“So... there you have it. Loving harmony between siblings is natural and highly encouraged, but cross the line and there will be disastrous consequences. Thank you for listening to my talk.”
The professor then walks away calmly, having given her say.
To be honest, I've never heard of those two reasons against those overboard relationships between siblings.
But now, I know.
I can continue showering my sister with all the love and affection she needs.
And I know she will uphold her end of the promise among us three as a strong woman.
The day ends with every cadet realizing how making assumptions about my relationship with my sister is tantamount to making an ass out of us both, as well as themselves.
- Writer
