When I lost my family, I feel like I was betrayed by life. I feel like the whole world turned its back against me, and since then I've been carrying its weight on my shoulders.

How can I move forward from their death when together with their absence is the absence of my source of strength too?

But I'm still grateful for those hands who brought the light of my life again. And for those tongue and eyes who reminded me once again, that there will always be a silver-lining in the dark and nebulous sky.

Isang nakakamanhid na vibration ang muling nagpabalik sa 'kin sa kasalukuyang nangyayari. I took out my phone from my pocket. Napangiwi ako matapos mag-flash sa screen ang notifications ng 21 missed calls.

"Why the heck you are not answering your damn phone?" Isang nakabibinging sigaw na naman mula kay Mr. Guanzon ang sumalubong sa tenga ko.

"Are you planning to explode this phone by your consecutive calls?" I asked him back sarcastically.

"Just answer the damn question Eury, why the heck you are not answering your phone? Are you okay there? Wait...where are you?" Sunod-sunod n'yang tanong.

"How can I answer your call if I'm in the middle of a battle? Yeah, we're still here in the battlefield.”

"What!? Don't tell me you joined the battle? Such a stubborn kiddo. Now tell me you're okay, or I'll pull your ass out from there," napahinga na lang ako nang malalim sa mga sinabi nya. He's again acting like a father to me, na s'ya namang nagpapangiti sa 'kin.

"Hush, you're such a harsh grumpy man. And yeah I did join, sort of?" I answered back to him, skeptic about the last word.

"I'll go there, the whole partylist are worried in your state. Your principles are such a pain in the ass kiddo," wika n’ya na bakas na sa boses ang inis.

"Oh yeah right, but don't you dare come here it's not yet safe. We'll be there soon, stop worrying okay grumpy man," I automatically ended the call after throwing those words.

"Your boyfriend?" Nag-aalangang tanong sa 'kin ng Heneral na hindi ko napansing na sa tabi ko na pala. So he's been listening to our whole conversation? What a rude green-eyed General.

Parang gusto kong maduwal sa sinabi n’ya, how could that grumpy old guy who was like a father to me became my boyfriend? And Geez! No boys have ever been caught my attention throughout my existence. And no one will.

"One of my companions in our partylist," I answered nonchalantly.

"Wait, you said a while ago that you have a secretary, and now you have a partylist? What are you woman?"

"Human?" I answered back in a humorous manner while trying to act like I'm taking his nonsense question seriously. I saw how his jaw dropped in disbelief. Bahagya pang nanlaki ang mga mata n’ya. Hindi ko namalayang nakangiti na pala ako habang nakatitig sa kan’yang reaksyon.

Wait, when was the last time I smiled genuinely? Oh it's the time where I bid goodbye in my family for our operation, and at the same time where I promised to come back for them. But they didn't wait for my arrival. I can't believe that I'm smiling genuinely right now just because of his reaction. It's been the second time around.

"Yeah, typical answer of a stubborn woman," he said in annoyance.

"Nope, a well humored woman General," pagtatama ko sa kan’ya.

"Whatever. Alright so what's your profession now? After resigning in Philippine Army?" The corner of my lips shot upward, forming a smirk.

"I'm currently the Mayor of Q.C and currently running for Presidency too," he dropped the alcohol he's holding and stared at me again with disbelief. Damn that stare! And those piercing eyes! Ngayon lamang ba s’ya nakarinig ng isang babaeng tumatakbo bilang pagka-Presidente ng isang bansa?

"You said that you're an ex-Lieutenant a while ago, and now you're telling me that you're the Mayor of the most copious city in the whole Philippines? And running for Presidency too?" He said in disbelief sprinkled with a sarcastic tone together with a grin on his face. Why do he look so shock? Hindi ba s’ya nanonood ng balita?

"Do I still need to show you a video of my ought taking just to prove to you that I'm really a Mayor, General?" Hindi makapaniwalang sagot ko sa kan’ya.

What is really wrong in being a woman? Why is that most of the people in this world had already set limits in our abilities?

"No need, by the way you’re running for Presidency too?" I just nodded at his question, I already said it earlier he's just repeating it as a question.

"I apologize. Ang alam ko lang ay may babaeng tumatakbo sa pagka-presidente sa eleskyong ito, hindi ko alam na ikaw pala 'yon. Wala akong masyadong pakialam sa kasalukuyang nangyayari at lalong-lalo na sa politiko," paliwanag n'ya pa. Tumango lang ako.

"You amaze me of your audacity woman," dagdag n'ya pa.

"It's not my audacity General that pushes me to run in the said position. It's my raging passion to protect and lead this country, and to give the justice to my massacred family. I want to show to the world that we women are not just a woman. We are individuals who has the capability of doing impossible things that usually men do. I also want to prove that it's the heart and the intelligence that makes a good leader. And not the gender," I spoke rigidly, causing him to stare at me in awe.

"Your words, damn!" I shot him a puzzled look.

"So, you don't have your family anymore?" Dagdag n’yang tanong sa nag-aalangan na tono. Tumango na lang ako sa kan’ya bilang sagot. Hindi ko man lang namalayang nasabi ko pala ang bagay na iyon.

"Sorry to hear that, anyway I hope for your victory. I'll surely give my vote to you stubborn woman," I smiled at his words. He's trying to make me smile as he diverts the topic, which somehow happened in success.

"Thank you General, but I prefer a vote coming from a willing hand."

"Then my hand are one of those," I stared at his eyes, after he said those words softly. His emerald eyes are beyond beauty. Even the color of the nature can't be compared in his dazzling emerald eyes. Agad akong napa-iwas ng tingin sa mga mata n’ya nang eksaherado s'yang tumikhim.

"So, may I know your name stubborn woman?" Pagbasag n’ya sa muling pagtitig ko sa mga mata n’ya. I thought he'll actually mock me. Good thing, he stuttered while saying those words. May pang ganti ako.

"Hindi na uso ang ladies first sa panahon ngayon General," blangko kong sagot habang malayo ang tanaw.

Talking to strangers? Nah, that's not my thing, except if I have some important bussines to deal with them. But why the heck I can't stop myself from talking to this green-eyed General?

"Okay, I'll introduce myself first," wika n’ya sabay hinga nang malalim na para bang naghahanda s’ya.

"I'm General Styyx Lxion Andervano, or you can call me yx," my lips parted after hearing his name.

Who the heck named him?

"What's the right pronunciation of your name again?" Tanong ko sa kan’ya nang hindi ko masyadong natandaan ang tamang pagkabigkas n’ya.

"It's Stayeks Laksyon woman," he chuckled.

Styyx Lxion...

"How about yours woman?"

"Mayor, Hezekeiah Eurydice de Lara," I said nonchalantly. Tumango naman s’ya sa sinabi ko ngunit nagulat ako matapos niyang ilahad ang kamay n’ya sa harap ko.

Nag-aalangan ako kung aabutin ko ba iyon o hindi? Pero may kung ano sa 'kin na nagnanais mahawakan ang kamay n’ya. Does he have a callused hands? Or a soft one?

What the hell Eury!

Sa huli ay inabot ko na lang ang kamay n’ya. Wala namang mawawala. Ngunit, sa sandaling nagdaop ang mga palad namin, ay parang may kuryenteng biglang lumandas sa sistema ko. I feel like there’s a green virus that corrupted my senses. It literally made me feel electrocuted.

On the other hand, what I thought is, that handshaking will be quick, but he didn't let go of my hand. I can still feel the electricity in my system right now. What the heck is happening?

"Pleased to meet you Eurydice, you have a goddess name," he complimented. When he acted to kiss the back of my hand, I immediately took it away from his grip.

"Oh I'm sorry, it should be a salute then," naiilang n’yang wika. Pero hindi ko na lang s’ya pinansin at itinuon ko na lang ang atensyon ko sa mga medic na ngayon ay abala na sa panggagamot ng mga sugatan nilang kasamahan.
And why the heck am I just standing here?

Akma na 'kong tatayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa compartment ng sasakyan ko nang bigla na naman s’yang nagtanong.

"Wait your surname is de Lara right?" He asked in disbelief. He really has a habit of repeating what the person have just said in a question huh? Then I'm starting to get annoyed in his habit.

"I heard that surname countless times, so you are that woman?" I impassively nodded at his question knowing what he mean.

"Woah...you're that female Lieutenant who saved the lives of his comrades and who brought victory in that daft battle?" he said in awe. What he's pertaining to is the last battle I fought before I resigned in Philippine Army.

At ang kaparehong gyera na naging dahilan para hindi ako makauwi nang maaga at para hindi ko matulungan ang pamilya ko. Instead of me who should die in that battle first, it's my family who died in massacre.

"No wonder, you're good at guns tho," papuri n’ya pa sa 'kin. Napalingon siya sa gawi ko matapos s’yang umupo sa tabi ko at hindi makatanggap ng sagot.

"You should be happy, your name is known all over the Philippine Army, but why is that your eyes are showing the opposite emotion?"

"Being known will never make me happy General. I just did what I have to do as a Lieutenant during that battle. I'm fine hearing at least a thank you from those people who I really helped, and not appreciation from those people who only listened to what really happened. And most of all, I don't need a title," I said rigidly while my eyes are locked in his emerald eyes.

"And how can I be happy if that is the reason why I lost my family?" I added, causing him to stare at my eyes intently. So I immediately averted my eyes from his after feeling the weird feeling that suddenly devoured my system. His eyes are damn like illegal drugs. You can actually get addicted to it.

"Sorry to hear that Hezekeiah," he said apologetically.

"It's okay. Anyway, you can call me Eury, that's my palayaw," Hindi ko na ipinagpatuloy pa ang usapan tungkol sa pamilya ko. I don't want to get emotional in this time. Not in front of this General.

Dalawang tao pa lang ang nakakakita sa mga luha ko, and there's no damn way that I'll add another one.

"What's palayaw?" He asked curiosly. I stared at him in disbelief, weighing if is he just kidding or not. But his eyes are damn serious. Paano naging sundalo ng Pilipinas ang kano'ng ito?

"Nickname," tipid kong sagot.

"Oh, I thought it's a food," my lips pursed after hearing his thought about the word palayaw. A really stupid idiot..

"You look more beautiful when you smile...." nakangiting usal n’ya. Napaiwas na lang ako ng tingin nang maramdaman ko agad ang pag-init ng mga pisngi ko. Shit! Bakit ako naapektuhan sa mga sinasabi n’ya?

"Mostly with your Rosy cheeks."

I've been receiving a lot of compliments, from my colleagues, from my people and from the politicians who know me. But this is the first time that someone complimented me in my beauty except of my family.

"T-thank you?" I answered awkwardly.

"It looks like hindi ka sanay purihin ang tinataglay mong kagandahan," he chuckled.

"Paano naging sundalo ng Pilipinas ang isang Amerikanong tulad mo?" Pag-iiba ko sa usapan. I'm not comfortable talking about myself and hearing praises from this General who have an emerald eyes that are like illegal drugs. Damn addictive!

"Ah about that. Half Spanish at half Filipina ang mama ko. Habang ang papa ko naman ay may dugong Amerikano. Dating mataas ang tungkulin niya sa larangan ng Philippine Army. I grew up in Spain, but when I reached the age of 10 ay lumipat na kami dito sa Pilipinas," kuwento n'ya. Tumatango-tango na lang ako.

"Okay that explains why you have the nature's eyes," he smiled at my words. Dahilan para lumitaw ang isang biloy n’ya. Now it's not just his eyes that's beautiful in him, it's his deep dimple too.

My eyes widened after seeing his left arm. Nagdurugo ito ngayon, I immediately stood up, and grabbed the alcohol from his hand.

"What do you think you're doing Eury?"

Eury....  How I love the way he said my name, it was like a music. A music with a predominant rhythm.

"Trying to help you," I said nonchalantly while grabbing the Betadine and the bandage beside him.

"Where did you get this wound?"

"Where you delayed to shoot the last sniper man, he did fire bullet at you and you didn't even notice it?" He asked in disbelief. How can I notice it if I'm too focused on my thoughts?

"Luckily, hindi ka natamaan at ako ang natamaan. You must torture that damn terrorist first for hurting me, before killing him, " he whined like a child, causing my eyebrow to shot upward in his words.

"As if I care, General," I answered impassively. Natawa ako nang mahina sa reaksyon n’ya. He held his chest acting like he was hurt and then mumbled 'seriously?' Hindi ko na lang s’ya pinansin at nagpatuloy na lang ako sa ginagawa ko.

"My mama keep saying that I have the most beautiful eyes, I inherited it from my father tho," nakangiting usal n’ya. Pero iba ang ipinapakita ng mga mata n’ya.

"Where's your mama?"

"In heaven," he spoke softly, while staring at the dazzling sky. And because of its blinding radiance he averted his eyes from it and looked at me with a smile on his face.

"Sorry to hear that," he answered me with a reassuring smile.

"I really don't believe that I have the most beautiful eyes, 'cause I know that someday I'll meet the owner of the most beautiful eyes that I could ever have the chance to stare at," wala sa sariling wika n’ya habang nakatingin pa rin sa 'kin—sa mga mata ko to be exact.

"And she's in front of me right now," biglang lumambot ang tuhod ko matapos marinig ang banayad n’yang boses na puno ng sensiridad.

Shit! This is not damn good!

I immediately grab my hand away from his arm. I averted my eyes, trying to ignore the embarassment creeping in my system.

Why am I even acting like this? Why am I allowing myself to talk to him and tell him about my life? You're not like that Eury! I was about to drag my feet away from him, when I heard his words again.

"It's you. It's your eyes who have the most beautiful color. It's you're overcast eyes yet full of emotion, passion and determination. Tell me, how can I have the permission to stare at it for a lifetime?"

|End of chapter 3|
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