Chapter 16

I always have to check the area near the Dankworth's residence. And day by day, at the same hour, I noticed that someone sits on their balcony and sips her tea while watching me check the grounds of nearby area. Palagi siyang nandoon, hindi siguro niya alam na napapansin kong madalas na siyang naroon sa tuwing nasa area nila ako.

Minsan pa nga na tanungin ko ang isa kong kasamahan para makipagpalit isang beses ng area na iikutin namin, sinabihan ko pa siyang tingnan niya 'yong babaeng nakaupo sa balkonahe ng bahay ng mga Dankworths. Ang nakakagulat pa sa sinabi niya, wala raw doon ang babaeng tinutukoy ko at kinabukasan naman na ako ulit ang nagcheck sa area, nandoon ulit siya at nakaupo, umiinom nang kanyang tsaa.

Sa araw-araw na ginagawa ko ang trabaho ko, mas nagtataka ako dahil parang may ibang intensyon ang babaeng iyon. Sa bawat araw ay nagiging curious din ako kung nandoon ba siya o hindi. Nakakasanayan ko nang gawin ang i-check din ang kanilang balkonahe. At kapag wala siya roon, kinakabukasan ay hinahanap-hanap ko kaagad.

And one day, a weird day for me because all of what's happening back in the cabin, I went into my area to check the surrounding and unexpectedly the girl on the balcony wasn't there instead she's standing behind their tall gate waiting for me—or so I thought.

Though with her presence lingering around, I still ignored her. Baka nasasaktuhan ko lang talaga siyang nakikita roon. Ayoko rin namang mag-assume na gusto niya akong makita because that's really way out of the context. She's a first-class-citizen, she wouldn't fall for a Silver Knight. That's an impossible thing to happen. First-class people only sees us as servants so I'm sure that she's not looking after me because why the hell she would?

I only have thirty minutes every moment of the day to check the grounds. And when I was about to leave to report it back to my chief, this girl approaches me for something.

"Hey, Silver Knight!" tawag nito sa akin. And because we were trained to act when a First-class is in need, I came by to her attention. "Are you going to check another area?"

Umiling ako sa tanong niya. "No, Ma'am. I'm already done checking the grounds of this area. I'll be heading to report back to my chief in our Main Quarters."

"Sure..." she nodded her head and then I notice her eyes checking me from head to toe. "Do you mind if I ask you name?"

I nodded. "Yes, Ma'am."

"So what is it?"

"Nathan Langdon, Ma'am," sagot ko sa kanya. Seryoso ang tugon ko, hindi 'ko sigurado kung bakit niya tinanong ang pangalan ko. Kung may gagawin din siyang reporting, kailangan ko ring malaman 'yong binabalak niya. "May I know what is it for, Ma'am?"

She smiles and giggles. "Nothing, I just want to know your name."

"Ah... okay, Ma'am," I winced.

"Drop the title, Silver Knight. Call me Moira."

"I can, but I shouldn't, Ma'am."

She chuckles. "I know but it will only stays between us. Call me Moira and I'll you Nathan, would that be fine?"

"I guess it would be fine, if you could just call me Nate. That's what most people call me though."

"Sure... but I'm not like everyone. I want to call you whatever I want."

I nodded. "It's up to you, Ma'am—I'm sorry, Moira."
She giggles. "You're a silly Silver Knight, Nathan. Do you have anything to do tonight?"

Why would she ask that?

Napaisip din naman ako kung anong gagawin ko mamayang gabi and aside from resting early para sa nalalapit na battalion training namin, wala naman. I have a clear schedule until next week bago magsimula ang training ng mga Silver Knights. It's just a new training for us to expand more of our skills and capabilities. We don't need to feel pressured but we have to give our best para maganda ang record naman sa bandang huli.

"No, I don't have any schedule tonight Miss Moira, why would you ask that?"

"Oh, nothing, it's just that... I've been watching for a couple of weeks now and I thought of knowing you."

"Oh, Miss Moira, I'm just a Silver Knight."

She reaches for my shoulder and held it tight. "I don't think you're just like any other Silver Knights, Nathan. What do you think so? Going out with me tonight?"
And without hesitations, I said, "Yes."

"Good to know that, Nathan. I'll be seeing you tonight." she said and then she leaned closer to me and whispered something to me. "Wear something nice and please... don't wear any underwear." And she planted a kiss before she pull herself out. She touches my cheek before she turn away and I think I was in cloud nine after that.

I never expected to go this way.

On that night, I met Moira near her house as I was told not to wait in front of their house. Moira and I went to a private first-class club which Silver Knights can't enter the premises unless we have a permission to enter the building but with Moira, I got in without a letter of permission.

Moira is a happy young lady, she do whatever she wants to do. I got to know her more and she surprised me when I knew that she's a heavy alcohol drinker. She also told me why she's always at the balcony of their home and she confessed to me that she's always waiting for me. When the first time she saw me, she couldn't forget me that every day she don't want to miss the opportunity of seeing me until that looking from afar came into this situation.

We kissed at the end of the day and after that, everything changed.

And yes... when she told me not to wear any underwear, I followed it which ended on a very steamy circumstances which I didn't really expected. A first-class and a Silver Knight. And if people find out about it, it would be the biggest scandal for them. And of course, for us.

We kept our little social night a secret until we became a couple and every night we meet to have something little common of what we need. And the day goes by the same and the night made us weary. Paulit-ulit ang nangyayari sa aming dalawa hangga't sa nagtatalo na kami at hindi na nagkaintindihan. And out of the blue, Moira stops everything. We lost our communication and she never stays in the balcony during my grounds anymore so I had to transfer to another area to forget about her.

What we have was unfortunate kind of thing. We didn't expect that it'll happen but I'm sure it'll grow more if we made understood of each other. And we guess, we only keep ourselves together because we both need a thing that keeps us in flame but it doesn't work anymore and the relationship can't stand along with it.

After our out of the blue separation, I never talk about it to anyone and never heard anybody talking about it. And that's a good affirmation for me that Moira kept her mouth shut. Maybe she doesn't want to ruin her reputation and as well as for me, I don't want to ruin my honor and reputation in my line of work.

We started with kindred spirits, a love we think was special but then the sparks doesn't spark anymore so it went black until we no longer care about each other.
Until this time... when Moira became a missing person.