CHAPTER 9

I winced as I watched the children playing in front of me. They looks great and happy as they run like a free bird. The one of them looked at me and waved. I smiled and waved back, she's cute.

My smile faded when I saw a three boys dragging Levi. Itinulak nila ang lalaki papunta sa harap ko kaya't itinaas ko ang kilay ko.

"What?" I asked.

He grimaced but it turned into smirk when I looked at him furiously. "Hehe, hello?" He said as he scratched the back of his head.

Naalala ko tuloy ang sagot niya sa tanong ko kahapon.

I'm your future, Levi Celerio.

Napailing ulit ako sa kahanginan niya. Hindi ko talaga alam kung mahiyain ba talaga siya o malandi lang talaga.

"Stop acting like a kid Levi, what do you want?"

He winced and looked at the boy in front of him. "Unsa diay imong pangutan-on sa iya?"

Napataas ako ng kilay. What did he just said?

"Pangutan-a kung naa na siya'y uyab."

What?

Nagkunot ang noo ko sa pinagsasabi ng ka. "What did he just said?"

"He's asking if you have a boyfriend, and I doubt you don't have one."

I mentally rolled my eyes and raised a brow. "How can you say that? I'm getting married."

"What? Getting married? But then you're kissing someone? Seriously?"

I smirked and just shrugged my head. "Job."

His face disoriented as he faced the little boy. "Kaslonon na daw siya."

The little boy looks sad as he nodded. "Ka gwapa niya oi, ilugon sa uyab bi!"

Levi chuckled and shook his head.

"Ayaw ra na sa iyaha, iluron ra ka."

"Murag man og dili mangingilad, buotan pero hadlok kaayo ang nawong."

I waited for him to talked to me but he didn't.

"Ayaw ana niya oi. Maguwang ra kaayu na nimo."

I raised a brow again. Are they backstabbing me? Why would they do that?

"Anong pinag-uusapan niyong dalawa? Sinisiraan mo ba ako ha?"

Napatingin siya sa'kin at walang emosyon na nagsalita. "Why would I do that? I just tell him that you're too old for him, after all you're marrying someone."

My forehead knotted as I regain myself. "Fuck you, I'm not marrying anyone. I'm single and please, I'm not old."

"Tsk, sabi ko na nga ba't wala kang lalaki eh."

Sumama ang mukha ko. "At bakit mo nasabi yan? Mukha ba akong hindi nagkakaroon ng lalaki sa buhay ha?"

He smirked and raised his brow. "Well, I just thought that you don't have any ex boyfriends since you're too busy."

I rolled my eyes as I bore my eyes unto him. "May ex ako, tumahimik ka diyan." I lied.

I actually don't have one, hindi ko lang alam kung meron ba dati but after that i've never been got attached by someone. It disgust me to hell and I don't even know why I felt like this that in fact, I'm a fan of a romance. How idiotic isn't it?

But hell, fictional character is better than the real one. Not to mention that they're too handsome in my imagination.

"Hindi ako naniniwala, I still believe that you don't want to get attached with anyone and to commit."

I rolled my eyes and crossed my legs together. "Edi huwag kang maniwala, your opinion doesn't matter anyway."

He stilled for a minute and then suddenly, his face change as he smiled bitterly. "Right, my opinion doesn't matter."

Hindi ko siya maintindihan pero wala akong pake-alam, it's his life and I don't gave a fuck. I shook my head as I stood up and rest inside my room.

Days had passed and we're still at peace. No guns and no bombs, Nana and I talked everyday to inform us about them. But after that, we already don't have any idea what they up to.

But we know that they're also preparing for our allies to attact. One thing I'm sure is that they can make us kneel in front of them, I'm not that confident. I know that they can defeat us, base on Nana's word.

But we can't stop here right? I still want to renown my mates for a good job. But I'm not confident, what would I do?

I'm not like this, I'm really not like this. I was confident enough to fulfill my duties, even though, I know that I don't have a chance. But what now? Was I too scared to lose someone?

"Ang lalim ng iniisip natin ah,"

Napatingin ako sa tabi ko ng may marinig ang boses niya at umupo sa tabi ko. I sighed and shook my head.

"Things got wrong, and I just can't help but to think."

"Why? What's wrong? Maybe I can help?"

I shook my head. "You're too bad for my league."

He suddenly looked at me seriously. "You may be know how to use a gun but we can't change the fact that I'm still a man and I can defeat you using my strength."

I faced him and looked at his face seriously. "Too dangerous for you because between the two of us, I can kill without skepticism, but you? Nah, I don't think so. You chose that profession of yours to save people, so I doubt you can't kill me."

He put his tongue in the side of his cheek and chuckled. "You're right, I don't want to kill people because I save them. But that doesn't mean I can't fight you back right?"

I shook my head as I emotionlessly stared at the scenery in front of me. It was sunset, we're in a good place. Kitang kita ang paglubog ng araw, ang malakas na hangin ay nagpapagaan sa loob ko. I want this kind of peace, kailan ko kaya makakamit 'yon?

When the sun gets down, I looked at the nighty sky and stared at the stars. What a good place to relax.

"Doc, kakain na."

I looked at my back and saw Kit, one of the doctors. I faced Levi and didn't say anything. After all, I'm eating alone. I looked back at the scenery and caressed my nape as I yawn.

"Hindi ka pa aalis? Let's go, kakain na."

My face contorted as I looked back. "I'm okay, just leave me alone."

I heard a chuckling sound behind me and I doubt that's Kit. "Damn, sorry Doc. Pasmado bunganga eh,"

Lev stood up exasperatingly and turned his back, I just stared at it but when he's in front of Kit, he suddenly swifted his gaze and his eyes met mine.

"Malalandi din kita,"

After that he left me hanging like a bridge. Fuck, what was that? Ako? Lalandiin niya?

My face disoriented of the thought, I may be a fan of romance but I disgust it in real life. I always wanted to puke whenever I saw a woman, kissing a man. Just like, what the fuck, aren't they eating some foods? Kasi kung makahalik sila sa isa't isa parang gutom na gutom.

Parang ilang araw silang hindi nakakain, are they starving that much? Yuck. I don't want to experience that. French kissing a man, although I already did it, but it has no feelings attached. Unlike them, feeling so heavenly because of love. I just kissed someone for my job, but that doesn't mean I like it. It disgust me to hell.

Well. . . Levi is an exception, he's far away from my past men whom I kissed. He's delicate and gentle at that time, and I was on top so yes, not bad at all.

I sighed and stood up. Pumasok na din ako sa bahay na tinitirhan namin ngayon, it was like a big kubo. Magkaiba nga lang ang tinutulungan naming mga may tama ng bala. Madami silang bahay dito, kahit gawa sa kawayan ay maganda. Hand made kasi.

I wonder how they'd avoid typhoon. When I entered the room I occupied, I get my leather jacket and wore it. Medyo maayos na din ang pakiramdam ko, nagising na din si Lian.

Nagpapagaling na lang kami, and after that, we're going down for them to be safe.

I went out of the room and went to the next house. Nadatnan ko silang lahat na kumakain. Napatingin din sila ng makita ako.

Si Ynah ang unang ngumiti sa'kin. "Hello Cap! Kain!"

I roamed my eyes and sat down. Kamay lang din naman ang gamit namin kaya tumayo muna ako at naghugas ng kamay. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na mas masarap pala kapag kumain ka sa dahon ng saging.

Tapos yung ulam mo ay isda, pagkatapos sabay sabay kayong kakain at magku-kuwentuhan ng kung ano ano at tatawa.

That's how their life works. Necessitous but they're contented. They also had this community ethos that makes their family grow stronger.

I sat again on the corner and started to eat. Mahaba ang kainan, hindi hapag kundi sa sahig na gawa sa kawayan. Kahit ang ikaw ay gawa lamang sa krudo.

So this is how it felt to be part of the indigenous people. How carefree and happy.

"Cap, kailan ang plano niyong umalis?"

I looked at Kin when she suddenly asked that in the middle of our dinner. I swallowed hardly and shrugged my shoulders. I really don't know, I still need to talk with Nana. Baka kasi may sumalubong sa'min, ayoko'ng madamay ang mga tao dito na walang kasalanan. Naiipit lang talaga sila.

"We'll plan that, we can't move hastily in this case. It's still dangerous."

She nodded as she put the camote on the corner. "But you'll plan it when?"

"Right after this dinner, dalian niya na din."

Lian and Myra nodded as they listen to our conversation. Napatingin naman ako sa tabi ko may biglang sumikip sa'kin.

"What the fuck is your fucking problem?"

He chuckled and raised his two hands as a defeat. "Chill, and please stop cussing, nasa harap ka ng pagkain. Puwede kitang subuan," He said as he played with his brows.

Nagkunot ang noo ko sa pinagsasabi niya pero hindi ako nagsalita pa. Is this how he seduce a woman? Ackk, what a weak.

"Hindi ka man lang naakit doon?"

Doon ako napaigtad sa kaniya, hindi dahil sa sinabi niya kun'di dahil sa init ng hininga niya sa tainga ko.

I composed myself and looked at him as I raised a brow. "I didn't even blush, if you called that a seduce. . . you're hopeless."

I heard a small chuckled, it was my mates and his co-doctors. He tsk-ed as his face getting into crimson red, oh damn this man. Parang hindi lalaki, bakla siguro 'to.

"Pfft, Doc. . ." Everyone looked at Kit as he raised his hand and shouted. "Weak!"

They all chuckled and laughed. And the man next to me was looking at me furiously as he cover his face because of the embarrassment.

Tsh, doesn't he know how to act like a man?

Everyone ended the dinner with a smile on their face. While I was still quiet all the time, it was quite surprising that I was talking to them. Because honestly, I didn't answer my co-agent directly. I'll wait for important plan, doon lang ako magsasalita pero kapag nakakasama ako sa gala nila, hindi na ako nakakapagsalita pa.

I can live a day without saying a word, nakakatamad 'din kasi. Pero nagtataka din ako sa sarili ko kung bakit ako nakakapag enjoy sa pakikipag-usap sa kanila.

I went out of the room and went to the big tree near the house, may lamesa kasi doon. Habang wala pa silang tatlo, inayos ko ang earpiece ko ay saka umupo sa ugat ng puno.

[Hey yow, how's your day? Do you need anything?]

Except from them, I was really close with Nana. Not because she's my co-worker but because we've known each other for a long time. She's the one who saved me that day, and I was happy that she was there for me.

Siya lang 'din ang napapangiti sa 'kin, I'm comfortable with her so I can rant anything and she'll wholeheartedly listen to it. And I was happy she's there.

"I'm okay, I just wanna ask if when can we move? I need to bring them down."

[Aizhalie. . . do you know that you're not the top on this mission right?]

I nodded even though she can't see it. "Yes, of course. I know they're strong and I can't defeat them that easily."

I heard her sighed on the other line. [Early in the morning tomorrow, tell them to get ready. I've seen a lot men roaming around the east, north is safe but you can't use that way. It's too dangerous, kung dadaan naman ka'yo sa ibabaw at iiba ang daan, sigurado akong makikita nila ka'yo. So I was really worried how'd you handle this Aizhalie.]

"We'll take the east, just lead us the way. May mga sundalo pa rin naman kaming kasama dito, we're enough to take them down."

[I don't think so babe, ang dami nila.]

I can feel a little bit scared for the people and I just felt sympathize for them, should I take a risk? Or not? But what if they'll lunge us while we're in here?

I shook my head and erased the thought. I should think about the positive, not the negative. I know we can escape this.

"I know, pero may mga bomba naman sa paligid diba? You can help us with that, it's not that hard Nana. I know we can escape this,"

She sighed. [Alright, I'll help you with it. Be careful babe, I can't lose you.]

I smiled afterwards. "Of course, I won't let that happen."

[I'll talk you tomorrow, bye.]

"Bye sucker."

Right after she ended the call, the
five of them came out from nowhere arguing in something.

"Let's ready the plan." I said and stood up.

They all nodded and listened to my voice.

I draw something on the ground as I replicate the whole area.

"This part," I draw the side in the east. "I want the three of you to go there first and clean the area, wala dapat may masaktan sa mga tao." They nodded as they listen.

"Ynah and Kin, I want you two to guide the kids and old ones." Tumayo ako at namewang ba humarap sa kanila. "I'll handle the way, mauuna ako ng ilang metro. I'll keep the eye on you three, we can reconnect the earpiece on each other so the communication won't be that hard. I want you all to take this mission seriously, do you understand me?"

They all nodded. "Yes cap!"

I sighed and motioned them to go. "Rest for now, we'll wake up early in the morning."

Umalis din sila pagkatapos, I sighed and tugged my hair together as I sat on the root and stared at the night sky.

I just wished that everything will be okay, na walang masasaktan at mamatay sa mga tao na kasama namin. Sana.

***

Sorry about the bisaya, hindi po talaga ako bisaya and I just asked for help para sa translation. If may mali sa spell or whatever doon banda, I hope you'll understand.
Anyways.

Miss me?