Life is not just about living. It is about survival. A battlefield of dilemmas against you.

Everyone are not just born as humans, we are all born as a fighter and as a survivor. And no matter what happens, whatever kind of battle this life may give me. I will always fight against it and walk back to home bringing the beacon.

I'm not just fighting for a single battle right now. Because this battle I'm fighting right now, is not just about protecting my country and the people beside me, this battle is the battle of my principles too.

If law can't give the justice that the death of my family deserves, then I'll claim it on my own justifiable way.

This is for my father… I uttered in my mind, while letting the bullet percolate on the terrorist's head while I'm still driving the car rapidly.

This is for my mother...Again, I let the bullet of my gun, enter the terrorist's chest.

This is for my sister Calliope, and this is for my brother Augustine. Sunod-sunod kong pinaputukan ang dalawang terorista na s'ya na lang natitira mula sa orihinal nilang bilang na anim.

There's no damn way I'll be giving them the chance to use their long guns.

"Hold on tight! I'll take you into a safe place," I shouted to my companions behind me after I overthrow those terrorists.

And as what as I have said, they took a grip on the seatbelt's strap while their other hand are clutching the car's window.

I again focus myself on driving rapidly, taking the path away from the battlefield. But to my horror, instead of seeing rainbows of hope, what I saw are flickering lights coming from the uncountable guns and isochronous explosion of bombs.

"SHIT!"

Our car were right now in between the flying bullets and bombs. I didn't even notice that I'm taking the wrong way!

"OH GOD!" My eyes widened after hearing Zalysha's shout in aghast along with the deafening sound of  the shattered window.

"Zalysha! Zalysha are you okay?" I asked hastily while trying to focus on driving.

"Ayos lang ako Mayora, gosh muntikan na 'kong matamaan ng bala," she said panting while trying to control her cries of fear.

"Mang Erwin are you good?" I asked mang Erwin while trying to take a peek on his state through the rearview mirror. And my eyes widened the moment I saw blood on his white sleeve.

"SHIT! You're wounded are you okay mang Erwin? Just hold on okay? I'm going to take you out of here!" I quickly drove faster, not minding the shouts of the soldiers 'cause I'm blocking their sight against the terrorists.

"Galos lamang ito hija. Bagal-bagalan mo ang iyong pagmamaneho at baka dahil pa d’yan ako mamatay at hindi sa bala," he humorously uttered that made the side of my lips shot upward in disbelief. How could he dare to throw a joke in this kind of situation?

The road is hopeless, we can't get out of here. Seeing the bunch of terrorists scattered all over the place were like damn pests. Kaya napagpasyahan ko na lang na itigil ang sasakyan sa likod ng isang Tanke de guerra.

"Zalysha, take care of mang Erwin's wound give him first aid, and don't you ever dare to come out from the car. Just stay and sit in the car's floor, and if it's possible bow your heads always. Don't you ever dare to step out of my command, got it? And don't do anything stupid," I rigidly instructed to them while giving them a serious look.

"Saan ka tutungo hija?"

"Ano pong gagawin n’yo Mayora?" Sabay nilang tanong, I smiled in conserve at them.

"I'm going to help in finishing this battle so we can go. But you two you must stay here and stay safe."

Alam kong wala na ako sa serbisyo at isang malaking pagkakamali ang mangialam sa gyerang ito. Wala akong karapatan na makipagpalitan ng putok sa mga teroristang iyon.

Ngunit hahayaan ko na lang ba ang sarili kong manood lang at makinig sa palitan ng putok kung alam ko namang may magagawa ako? Of course not. That's a big no. Tutulong ako, at isa pa ay may atraso sa 'kin ang mga teroristang iyon. Gusto ko lang namang makaganti sa kanila kahit sa maliit na paraan.

"But--"

"No but's, come on, bow your heads and give first aid to mang Erwin Zalysha," after freeing those words, I found myself running towards the front part of the Tanke de guerra, while putting another pile of bullets in my gun's magazine.

"Ang kukulit n’yo talagang mga media!" I paused for a moment after hearing that stupid shout.
Seriously? Media?

My eyes stopped in the pair of an eyes who have the color of nature...the color of tranquility. For a moment, I feel like the Earth stopped on rotating on it's axis. For a moment, despite the deafening sound of the daft war, I found tranquility in his...emerald eyes. But what the eff!?

"Dumapa ka! You stubborn media woman!!" He again shouted that fortunately took me out of my trance.

As what as he said I quickly duck and crawl in the ground, not minding the dirt going on my white long sleeves.

"Excuse me? Seriously a media? Have you seen me with a camera man? And even wearing a reporter's vest?" I sarcastically said the moment he reached my location.

"Not yet, sa minutong 'to pa lang naman kita nakita," he answered me sarcastically.

"Alright. If you are not a reporter, then what a stupid woman like you doing here? In the battlefield?" How I hate his tone of talking to me and the word he used to define me. What a rude and bossy soldier.

"None of your business," I answered nonchalantly while giving my attention to the enemy upfront us. I don’t want to waste a minute and a single saliva in answering his stupid questions and talking to him in this kind of situation; where we are fighting for our lives and protecting our country.

"Really huh? Then being here and wait...where did you get your gun?" He asked me in a tone like he just saw a woman wearing a vest of bombs.

"I bought it," tipid kong sagot.

"Don't worry it is licensed," dagdag ko bago pa man nya 'ko tanungin muli. Geez! Why am I even talking to this green-eyed soldier?

"Sergeant we got...wait are you alone?" He again asked me, cutting his report to his Sergeant.

"I have my secretary and my driver with me, they're in the car behind this tank," I answered.

"Yeah we got three civilians here! The other two are in the car behind the tank!"

"Two civilians only!" Pagtatama ko sa sinabi n’ya.

"Oh then what are you? An aspiring woman soldier?" He asked sarcastically. I shot him a lethal look.

"A resigned Lieutenant," pagtatama ko sa sinabi n’ya. I saw how his left eyebrow arched in confusion and followed by a grin on his face later.

"Such a funny woman," nagpagting ang tenga ko sa sinabi n’ya. I know this is not the right time to talk and prove things to a stupid idiot.

But this is the only way for him to stop asking me a bunch of sarcastic questions. I took out my photo with my complete uniform and badges from my belt's pocket, and showed it infront of his eyes. I saw how his eyes widened and his other eyebrow arched.

"Woah, a woman like you? How did you become a Lieutenant?" He asked in amusement but with a belittling tone.

Now, this is what I hate the most. I hate this stupid mentality of the people here on Earth. Can't they just accept the fact that we are not just woman? That we women are not just for beauty and household chores? That we can do and surpass the things that men usually do?

"You don't see me yet if how I fight inside the battlefield officer, and don't you dare underestimate my ability. 'Cause I can literally knock you off," I answered rigidly, having no intention about boasting. But he just nodded forfeitedly.

"Alright ex-Lieutenant, I will give you a favor. Let's get this battle finish!" He answered vigorously after a sigh of frustration.

I just nodded at him then focused my attention on the enemy's location. Two bullets for two terrorists, and then they got headshot and downed.

"Good shot ex-Lieutenant, " bati niya pa sa 'kin pero hindi ko na s’ya pinansin.

I'm here to help and win this battle not to hear praises from this green-eyed soldier.

I quickly crawl and hide behind a Coconut's tree.

"Hey! Can you just stay by my side?" Angal pa n’ya. Pero hindi ko na s’ya pinansin. Kaya s’ya na mismo ang gumapang at nagtungo sa kinaroroonan ko.

"What a stubborn woman!" Bubulong-bulong n’ya pang wika.

My eyes widened after hearing a kid's cry. And my eyes widened more, when I saw the kid crying in horror behind a Coconut tree upfront me while covering her ears.

Napamura na lang ako sa isip ko matapos makita ang sitwasyon ng bata. Naka-upo lang s’ya sa likod ng puno habang yakap-yakap ang mga tuhod n’ya at pilit tinatakpan ang tenga n’ya. Agad na umalon ang awa sa puso ko, hindi s’ya maka-alis sa kinaroroonan niya dahil napapagitnaan s’ya ng dalawang pwersa. Oh God, how could they let a kid trapped in between this battle?

"Hey green-eyed soldier, listen, I want you to cover me. I'll be running there towards that tree," I said slowly to the green-eyed soldier while pointing the places where I'll be running later, and the Coconut tree where the kid was trapped.

"Ano? I won't fvckin' let you do that stubborn woman, bibigyan mo talaga kami ng karagdagang sakit sa ulo huh? E pano kung matamaan ka ng bala?" Napasentido na lang ako sa walang kapreno-preno n’yang bibig. Is he really a man? Now I'm doubting his gender.

"Makinig ka sa 'kin okay? 'wag kang tanga, at sinusubukan ko lang kayong iligtas sa mga katangahan n’yo."

"How could you let a kid be trapped in between this battle?" I added. His eyes widened the moment he heard that a kid was trapped.

"You'll cover me? Or I'll let you take the consequences of being irresponsible?" Napabuntong-hininga s’ya sa sinabi ko.

"Okay-okay, the audacity of this stubborn woman. 'Wag na 'wag mo lang subukang magpatama sa bala kung hindi ako mismo ang maglilibing sa 'yo, and bring that kid over here safely, got it?" I nodded in his words, while trying to hide my smile.

Wait, am I really smiling? After the fvcking long time, this is the first time that the corner of my lips wrinkled, trying to form a smile as I am keeping it.

Marahil ay dahil sa nalaman kong kahit papaano naman pala, sa kabila ng pagiging wala n’yang modo ay may pakialam pa rin s’ya lalong-lalo na sa mga bata. Well that is what his profession ought to do, and perhaps he's just doing his duty. Was it really because of that? I just narrowed my brows as I throw profanities towards myself through my mind.

After my moment of stupidity, I immediately leave my guns to him and quickly run with my full speed towards the kid's location.

My heart skipped a beat when I heard the sound of a grazing bullet on my Left ear.

That was close!

"Damn you woman!" I heard the green-eyed soldier's shout, but I chose not to mind him and focused my attention to the girl few meters away from me.

When I reached the girl's location, I immediately hug her and carry her weight then ran back quickly, not even wasting a second.

"You almost died woman! I told you I must be the one to get the girl," my eyebrows creased in his words with disgust. He didn't even suggest to run for the girls life.

Instead of answering him, I just gave the girl to one of his companions and immediately took my guns from his care.

I paused for a moment when I noticed the badges in his military uniform.

Shit! this green-eyed soldier is a damn General!

"Yes, I am woman, but right now duck or I'll be the one to ask the enemy's bullet to percolate in your stubborn head," my eyebrows creased in his words. He reassured me like he knew the question running in my mind.

But this General is really rude. But I chose not to mind him. I focused my attention once again in the real battle; not in the battle of throwing insulting words against this green-eyed General.

Through my knowledge in fast computation, the terrorists are outnumbered by the military's force. But why the heck they're that so hard to defeat this time?

Biglang lumamig ang kamay ko dahil sa talsik ng dugo mula sa katabi kong sundalo.

SHIT!

"Sir are you good?" Tanong ko sa kan’ya. Nagugulahan n’ya akong tinitigan, marahil ay naguguluhan s’ya kung bakit may babae sa gyera'ng ito. Nang sulyapan ko ang katawan niya ay napamura na lamang ako nang makitang sa balikat s’ya tinamaan.

"Medic!" Agad kong sigaw. Tatlong sundalo na may palatandaan ng medic sa kanilang mga braso ang lumapit sa sugatang sundalo. Agad nila itong hinila palayo.

Nang makaalis ako ay iginala ko ang mga mata ko sa paligid, pero kataka-takang wala na ni isang terorista ang nakikita ko. At tanging sigaw na lang ng mga sundalong natatamaan ng mga balang mahirap tukuyin ang pinanggalingan ang tanging naririnig ko.

"There's something wrong," I said slowly to the General beside me.

"Yes, there is. They're hiding, such a bitchy cowards," a little smile escaped from my lips after hearing his words. He sounded like a gay with b-word but his raging vexation in his voice proved that he’s a real man.

"Give me your gun General," I snapped in, after noticing the movement of leaves hundreds of meters away from us.

"What will you going to do woman? You just invaded our battle and now you'll borrow my gun?"

"Just please give me your gun," I uttered impatiently.

"Huh, don't you know that no hands are allowed to hold this gun except mine?" Minsan lang ako umirap, at sa pagkakataong ito ‘yon. I squinted my eyes heavenward in his sarcastic words.

"I don't care on your damn law, just give me your gun and allow me to finish this battle!" I retorted. Shit! the rope of my patience, it's burning it's limit!

"I'm the General here, so my command you follow," may diin n’yang sagot.

Seriously? Do I really need to use my intelligence in sarcasm right now just to have his damn gun?

"I'm not one of your men, so definitely I'm not under your command. So just give me your damn gun or your men's life will be outnumbered by the death of their comrades? You choose General," He gave me a frustrated look before taking a deep breath while handing his gun to me. Finally.

"Wait why don’t you use your gun?" He said wondering. Na para bang may balak pa s’yang muling agawin ang baril n’ya mula sa 'kin.

"It's a short range gun," tipid kong sagot sa kan’ya while pointing the gun to the movement of the leaves.

Ngayon ay nakikita ko na ang nguso ng sniper na gamit ng kalaban. I bit my lower lip while adjusting the gun's angle in the terrorist's exact location of his head. Nang masiguro ko na na tama ang anggulo ko, ay hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip pa na kalabitin ang gantilyo ng baril.

One down. Two to go...

Hindi naging mahirap sa 'kin ang tukuyin ang lokasyon ng natitirang dalawang sniper. Dahil kanina pa man ay batid ko na ang pinagtataguan nila. Their bad, they don't even know how to hide from my eyes.

Well, literally there's no one who can really hide from my sharp eyes.

I again adjusted the right angle, and when I knew that it's right and enough. I let the bullet take his life through headshot.

Sometimes I wonder if how did those damn terrorists massacred my family. Was it in a way where they directly shoot their heads? Or they tortured them like animals in the wild before burning them? And if what they did is the second choice, then there's no way I'll be letting them live their life peacefully. I'll make sure that I’ll kill them mercilessly.

Two down. One to go...

Kagaya nang inaasahan ko ay nakatutok na ngayon sa direksyon ko ang nguso ng baril ng huling sniper. I again bit my lower lip, and closed my left eye, trying to get the perfect angle. And when I got it, I immediately let the bullet fly in the rhythm of the wind before it takes the terrorist's life. 

"You're really a Lieutenant once, brave and stubborn woman," the green-eyed General uttered while staring at me with admiration all written in his face.

"Tell me, how did you made my heart beat fast? And admire a woman for once in a lifetime?"

|End of chapter 2|
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