Pontianak, Capital of West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
A young girl can be seen packing her things into a big suitcase. Every once in a while her gaze will look at the view outside her window. Her house, a 4 story building in the elite housing area near the Government Office, was built with special focus to it's surrounding views. She can see the bustling city from her room at the top level. She is reluctant lo leave these views, the bustling city and her luxurious life, alongside her custom-order gaming capsule that she really like. She is at the age where she needs to join the military service, she is studying university but her father's influence means she can just ignore the classes and still graduate after 4 years. Her father is a leading politician with considerable power. Ever since the relocation of the country capital to East Kalimantan, local people like her father started to gain more place in the power structure of the country.
Last week, her father decide that since she is not attending university she might as well go to finish her military service. She won't be joining the military training though, her father arranged for her to work as an assistant instead. This was actually the option for people with weak body who unable to join military training, where they will serve in the military camp as assistant or staff but with 3 years serving period instead of 2 years like the regular military service duty. Some people in power are exploiting this option for their children who don't want to do military training, and now her father is doing the same for her. Like he did for her older sister and older brother before her.
"Lisa, are you ready?" Her father's voice can be heard through the intercom in her room. Her father rarely home, even whe he is home Lisa can only meet her during breakfast or dinner.
"(You can do this, Lisa Analita! It's only for 3 years, after that you will come back here, wait for the graduation and take the position prepared by father.)" Lisa try to encourage herself, take a last look through her window and going downstairs to meet her father who already waiting for her.
"I'm ready father. Are we leaving now?" Lisa asked her father who waits for her together with her mother and siblings. As the youngest child Lisa is pampered by her mother and siblings. Her mother is a Spanish descent. Lisa's great grandfather was a migrant, he moved to West Kalimantan because of his work and decided to settle down. Lisa's grandparents and mother were born in Pontianak, although they still going back to Spain sometimes.
"Yes, we need to leave now. The plane is already waiting for us. Say your goodbyes, I will be waiting in the car." Lisa's father gave a hug to his wife and other children before going to the car. He make sure the house servant pick Lisa's suitcase into the car.
Lisa can't stand the farewell, so she just give a hug to her Mother and siblings, say goodbye and quickly got into the car. She is worried that she might unable to part with them and make her father angry. Inside the car, Lisa and her father just sit down quietly. Lisa already informed by her father last week about her arrangement. She will serve as the assistant for the Head Instructor in Ketapang Military Camp.
Her father choose Ketapang to avoid any sabotage or scheme from his political opponents. The Head Instructor also promoted by him in the past, so he will definitely take care of Lisa. Basically all Lisa need to do there is just following the Head Instructor around, otherwise she is free. Her father knows that she will have to play "BORNEO" too and also bought her another gaming capsule for her use in the camp. As a leading politician her father also not in the dark about the government agreement with GUPA company, so he make sure that his daughter won't get the same treatment with the cadets. He doesn't really care or knowledgeable about the game, but he thought it is okay for Lisa to play, at least while waiting for her graduation. Who knows that Lisa might be successful in the game? She still has more than 3 years, it's more than enough to find out whether she will be just another player or a successful one. The amount of money circulating in the game are scary, even for his standards.
After half an hour riding the car, and another 40 minutes of flight. Lisa and her father arrived in Ketapang. From the airport they went directly to the military camp. Her father don't want to spend the night in Ketapang, so he wanted to finish arranging Lisa's stay quickly and then return to Pontianak. The Head Instructor received them in front of the military camp. They went to the Head Instructor office, which also will become Lisa's office. Exchanging some pleasantries and reminding the Head Instructor to take of Lisa, Lisa's father then taking his leave after saying he will come to check occasionally.
"You can go to rest if you want or do what you want to do, Lisa. you're free for now. You will start from tomorrow morning, make sure you join the gathering in the hall, I will introduce you everyone and fellow cadets." The Head Instructor told Lisa after his father left. He then proceed to show Lisa her room and told her she can check her uniform in the closet later. Her capsule is already installed in the room too. The Head Instructor also left a tablet for Lisa, which she can use to find her schedule and any information about the camp and the military training.
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Left alone in her room, Lisa notice it's already dark, checking the schedule she find out it's already past the dinner time for the cadets and they should be in the game now. She decide to walk around the camp since it's mostly empty now and she can meet the other instructor to introduce herself, the lack of cadets also another reason. She doesn't really want to mingle with the cadets, unless necessary she will avoid them during her stay here. Her imagination of the cadets are bulky, rough, sweaty and older guys. As a pampered princess, she can't imagine hanging around with them. What will her friends said when they find out?
She walks out from her room in the instructors dormitory area, meet with some instructors and introduced herself before continuing her walks. She arrived at the gaming area for the cadets, take a peek inside and noticing no instructor is present she left. She then go to the gathering hall to make sure she won't have to look for it tomorrow morning. In the gathering hall she meet the female instructor and greet her.
"Hello, um, miss. I'm Lisa Analita, I will joining here as an assistant for the Head Instructor starting from tomorrow." Lisa introduced herself.
"Hello, Lisa. I've heard about you. Nice to meet you, no, I should say nice to finally meet another female. My name is Seri." The female instructor responded warmly with a slight grin.
"Oh, wow. You're the only female here before? Must be hard for you."
"You bet, it was awful. The other instructors are rigid and old men, while the cadets are too weak and not manly enough." If Arang and the other cadets saw the female instructor now they must be very surprised since the female instructor that they know is a cold lady which seems always in a bad mood, way different compared to how she acts in front of Lisa.
Finding a company, Seri starts to chat enthusiastically with Lisa. In no time they already become best friend. Seri acts like an older sister, while Lisa as a youngest child from 3 siblings is happy to have another sister. They talk about various topics, with Seri mostly the one speaking, she seems to vent her frustation and pour her heart to Lisa. Seri learned about Lisa situation and promised to take care of her, when suddenly the door to the hall is opened.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't notice there are people here, it's usually empty at this hour." Arang enter the hall and startled. He is still in maintenance duty, and have to clean the hall every evening, usually it was empty during the gaming session. He saw the female instructor and another young girl inside the hall.
"(Is that a new cadet? But cadets usually coming in batch, not just a single person. Or is she the sister of instructor? Impossible, the instructor definitely won't have a sister as cute as this one.)" Arang scanned Lisa. He saw her cute fate and black hair that only reaching her shoulder. The very opposite of the tomboy instructors. She seems of similar age with him.
"Ah, Arang. Are you going to clean this place now? Come on, Lisa. We should go back to our dorm." Seri then picked up her things and pull Lisa away.
"Hello, I'm Lisa. I will join the military camp starting from tomorrow, but I won't join the training, I will act as an assistant for the Head Instructor." Lisa introduced herself with a smile.
'Uh, I'm Arang. Nice to meet you." Arang was stunned to see Lisa's brilliant smile. Months with male only group, with exception of Seri, are enough to increase his vulnerability toward girl. Not to mention a cute one like Lisa.
"I thought you were the instructor's sister, but now I'm sure you're not." Arang suddenly blurted out what in his mind, before flinching when he see the instructor's reaction.
"Arang! What do you mean, you're sure?! Why can't I have a sister as cute as Lisa?" Seri growled.
"Do you want me to apply for an extension of maintenance duty? I can tell them you really like it so you want to continue." Now Seri is threatening Arang. Lisa just giggling beside Seri.
"No, ma'am. I'm sorry!" Arang give salute then bowed to Seri. He is really scared. Ever since he starts doing maintenance duty he have to stay after dinner to clean the cafetaria and the hall, so he started his gaming session later than other cadets. With each cadets has to spend 6 hours real world time, starting later also means he is going to sleep later, while he still have to wake up together. His lack of sleeps in the last few days already affecting him, lowering his performance during the regular training. The longer he have to do maintenance duty might put him into a vicious cycle of being a bottom ranker thanks to his lack of sleep and make him unable to climb up the ranks.
Seri forgive him, but not before ordering him to do 30 push-ups. Which Arang complied and finished quickly, before Seri changed her mind.
"Why are you not joining the gaming session, but instead cleaning this place?" Lisa can't help but become curious with Arang. Their similar age might make her less repulsive of Arang, and she is interested to know Arang's situation.
"He was ranked last during the last evaluation, so he needs to do maintenance duty as a punishment. At least until the next evaluation in a few days time and if he is still ranked last he will continue until the evaluation after that." It's Seri who answered Lisa's question.
"That's right. Instructor, can I talk to you about something?" Arang just nodded and give a pleading gaze to Seri.