The soldier couldn't believe what he just saw. Before he could even turn and run, the same gun that was pointed at Y.Hong was now pointed at him.

'Die.'

And then a loud bang filled the air, as the soldier crashed to the ground, lying dead on a pool of red blood.

*********************************************************************
Miles away, Jessica and Bin Li waited for Y.Hong's return at the varendah. Jessica stared at the blossom tree before her. It had grown in that very porch for more than twenty five years now... How could she forget? It was that same tree that Y.Hong planted on the first day they came to the army.

She was much younger back then, and so was he. But he was always smiling.

'Haha! And after that... I'll rise to COlonel, then Major! And in no time I'll be the General and take command of this Rebellion and then..'

Jessica pouted. 'Yea yea... and then you'll be King of the world, right?'

She found a nice patch of grass beside Y.Hong, who was alraedy lying down on the green grass. She looked at him again. That same look.. that look of desire, of passion. She smiled, and placed one hand on his shoulder. He turn back and looked at her, confused.

She smiled. 'But I know you can do it.'

Y.Hong looked at her for a moment, and then, smiled. 'Mmm!' and then nodded.

'O yeah! I almost forgot!' he said, as he pulled something out of his pocket.

Jessica stared at him. 'What is it?'

Y.Hong's eyes looked back at her with mischieve. 'Hehe... guess.'

Jessica grimmaced. 'Guess?'

Y.Hong nodded. Then look at her with a naugty smile.

Jessica piuted again. 'Oh c'mon!! Tell me!!' and began hitting him.

Y.Hong laughed. 'Hahahahah!! Ok ok! Stop! stopppp! Hahahah. Its a blossom seed.'

Jessica stopped. 'Blossom?'

Y. HOng stood up, and held that seed between his forefinger and his thumb. 'Yeah.... I found this the other day clearing out some of Dad's old stuff. Hey I noe! Let's plant it!'

Jessica looked at him, then placed her hand on her mouth. 'Pfft... '

Y.Hong looked back at her. 'What?'

jessica let out a haughty laugh. 'It can't grow hhere you dummy!! The weather's too hot!'

Y. HOng ignored her. 'I noe. But this seed.. is going to symbolize me. I know one day it'll grow to be a really hugeeeee tree. And by then, I'll grow according to its height, and be at the top!'

Jessica looked at him. 'Idiot.'

Y.HOng looked back at her. 'Yea... maybe. So, plant it?' he wiggled it before her.

Jessica suddenly jumped up and snacthed it. 'Why not! But I get to plant it!'

Y. HOng stood up. 'No way!'

Both of them ran around in circles, and laughed as they planted the seed into the ground.

A gentle wind blew past Jessica. Suddenly, one of the leaves of the blossom tree broke from its stem, and it fell, slowly, towards the ground. Jessica's eye's couldn't leave it. BIn Li looked at her.

'What's wrong?'

Jessica continued to stare, ignoring him.

'Jessica?'

She broke from her flashback.

'No... no it's nothing...'

Bin Li turn and looked forward again. There was a couple of seconds of silence, before he spoke again. 'He'll be fine.'

Jessica turned and look at Bin Li. THen, he nodde. "Yeah...' What Bin Li didn't see were the tears that began to flow fill her eyes, because she knew she was lying.