Emile stopped in front of the cafeteria, his face distorted in disbelief as he jabbed at his phone. The call connected with a beep.
"Cousin, what's this about military training?!" he said, agitation evident in his voice.
On the other end of the line, Jacklin sighed. "You didn't know?! Seriously? The way you acted, insisting on going to uni here, I thought you were completely aware. Well, it doesn't matter now. Calm down. It's not like you are being drafted. Girls are attending, too, you know. It's nothing like those wilderness survival shows you are imagining."
Emile paced in a tight circle, his fingers tugging at his curly hair. "Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure about that? Can't you get me an exemption or something?!"
"What exemption?" Jacklin said with a huff. "Everyone has done it. I've done it! Are you saying you are less than us girls?"
