Chapter 57

"Tayo na Behati, umuulan na. Baka magkasakit pa tayo." Nanatili akong nakaluhod sa lupa habang pinapayungan ako ni Alys.

Kalilibing lamang ng aking buong pamilya at hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin matanggap.

"Why Alys? Bakit tayo? Life isn't fair at all."

"Nothing is fair in this world, alam mo 'yan."

"How can I continue life without them? How can I be motivated without them? How can I claim my achievements without them? Who would congratulate me? Papaano pa magkakaroon ng silbi ang magiging tagumpay ko kung walang sasalubong sa akin?"

"Behati, tama na. Hindi lang ikaw ang nasasaktan, nawalan rin ako."

"Life isn't life without family."

Nabitawan na ni Alys ang kanyang payong at dinaluhan niya ako. Kapwa kami nagyakapan sa aming sarili.

"May natitira ka pang pamilya, Behati. Nandito ako at hindi ako magsasawa na suportahan ka sa lahat ng magiging kagustuhan mo. Are you thinking about our graduation? I'll be there clapping for you! My greatest Magna Cumlaude!"

I pulled her hair. Natawa ako sa sinabi niya.

"It was not about that, you idiot Alys."

"Seryoso ako Behati, kahit tayo na lang dalawa. Hindi natin dapat iparamdam sa isa't-isa na may kulang sa atin. Our love for each other won't ever surpass by anyone, not even your future boyfriend!"

I laughed.

"Hindi pa 'yan pumapasok sa isip ko."

Time flies, I passed the CPA board exam. Have my first job and enjoyed my life for while. Pero sa bawat paggising ko sa umaga, parang may hinahanap ako, may bagay na dapat akong gawin.

"Ayoko talaga ng sundalo, hinding-hindi ako mag-aasawa ng sundalo! No way!" Lumingon ako kay Alys.

"Why? Being a soldier is honourable." Sagot ko.

Inilipat ni Alys ang channel dahil kwento ito ng isang sundalo.

"Death isn't honourable, pain that you'll leave to someone isn't honourable. That's my opinion." She grinned.

"Oh," tipid na sagot ko.

Umuwi ako ng tanghali galing sa opisina dahil masama ang pakiramdam ko, nang tumigil ang dyip ay may napansin akong grupo ng mga sundalo sa gilid ng daan.

They're on their training. Mga bagong pasok na may dalang malalaking bag at baril habang minamanduhan ng kanilang superior. May ilan rin akong babae na nakikita. Kahit kita sa hitsura nila ang pagod mas lamang pa rin ang kagustuhan nilang magpatuloy.

Biglang bumalik sa alaala ko ang mga sundalong halos wala nang tulog para tumulong sa amin noon nang panahon ng Yolanda.

Their dedication and hardship can give light and hope to those people who are losing their grip on the future.

Iniwas ko ang mga mata ko sa bintana ngunit tumigil ito sa may bintana sa aking harapan na siyang nagpapakita ng aking repleksyon.

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang makita ko ang sarili kong nakasuot ng uniporme ng mga sundalo.

A small smile formed on my red lips.

Maybe I wasn't destined to be in white long sleeves, pencil cut skirt, high heels and make-up as an armour. But I woman with a gun and a face with the dust of the battlefield as a sign of a whole day's work.

"Alys, I'll join the Philippine Air Force. I already have the schedule of my examination."

I was expecting that I'd receive a scolding machine coming from my cousin, but she smiled at me.

"Alam ko," tahimik siyang lumapit sa akin at niyakap akong mahigpit.

"Did you expect me to complain? I told you, I'll support you no matter what. Mangako ka lang sa akin na hindi mo ako iiwan."

"I will, I will Allison."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang panahon kung kailan pinagpasyahan kong maging sundalo.

Maybe because everything I've learned during my military years can be applied during calamities like this.

There were only a few people in this world who've been given a chance to have a little voice. Who has been given a chance to influence people, who have been given numbers of long strings to hold with millions of hands gripping waiting to be pulled back.

But these given chances can signify something if someone can use it for rights and justice.

And when life turned your page in this moment, would you rather blink your eyes to brush away the weight of chaotic reality or you let your eyes open to feel and struggle with the pain of the dust coming from the awakening?

"Never thought that I'd admire a gangster-like woman." I heard Graham Bell's voice.

Pero nanatiling nakatitig ang aking mga mata sa unahan kung saan, ang buhol-buhol at nagkakagulong mga sasakyan kanina lamang na siyang unti-unting nakagagawa nang hindi man kalakihang daan ngunit sapat na para makaraan kami ni Pedro.

"Words with courage, hope and deep sincerity can really be this powerful. How amazing.." nagising na ang matandang nasa likuran namin.

Lumapit ito sa akin at kinuha niya ang kanyang apo.

"A-About your daughter—" hindi na naituloy ni Pedro ang kanyang sasabihin nang marahang umiling ang matanda sa akin.

"Silly but my daughter talked to me in my sleep. Thank you for saving us, woman of hope."

Halos matuyo ang lalamunan ko nang tumulo ang luha nang matanda habang inihehele ang kanyang apo na tumigil na sa pag-iyak nang makilala ang bisig ng kanyang lolo.

I've witnessed of different scenes of drifting families due to calamities, but the effect on my heart will never be weakened.

Ang sakit sa puso na ginawa namin ni Pedro ang lahat pero laging may naiiwan, naging may natitirang luhuan.

"I'm sorry," mahinang sabi ko.

Iniwas ko na ang aking tingin sa mag-lolo at humarap na ako sa unahan. Mabilis hinawakan ni Pedro ang kamay ko at marahan niya itong pinisil.

"It's okay baby, you did a good job. You just saved another kind of love, now it's a mother love."

"We, hindi lang ako Pedro. Bakit lagi na lang ako ang nakikita? But in reality you're always here, helping me to save people."

"I was not dedicated that much before, Behati. Ginagawa ko lang ang trabaho ko, but everything have changed when I met you. I didn't know that greatness isn't just about how skilled I am, but my ability that put into passion. You taught me a lot of things baby, it's not just my heart but myself as a pilot and as an individual."

Napatitig ako kay Pedro habang nagsisimula nang tumakbo an gaming sasakyan.

"I think we need to get off, will be a burden. We can ask for help here, you go on your mission." Nag-preno si Peter at kapwa kami lumingon sa kanya.

Saglit na tumango sa amin ang matanda at hinayaan na namin siyang bumaba ng aming sasakyan.

Buong akala namin ay tatakbo na ito at magtutungo sa pinakamalapit na sasakyan para humingi ng tulong. But walked on my side and smiled at me.

"Never thought that the publicity of UASA with the beautiful face of a woman is true to herself. I thought everything was all flowery, but I was wrong. I'm glad that I've met you, a woman of hope. Stay alive and let numbers of people live with your words."

Tumango ako.

"Take care, stay alive please."

Matapos ko itong sabihin ay agad nang pinatakbo ni Pedro ang aming sasakyan.

And when we're about to enter the entrance of rampaging cars from disaster, all I can do is to open my mouth with amazement.

"C-Can I curse now? You are amazing Behati." I heard another comment from Graham Bell.

"I can only hear reports about this kind of certain scenario with Monzanto's mission. Didn't know that this will bring a damn feeling at the actual scene." Kumento rin ni Jensen.

"Been watching her every hard work, look how lucky am I gentlemen?" sagot ni Pedro sa kanila.

Buong akala ko ay simpleng bibigyan lang kami ng daan ng mga tao. But most of the cars are now blinking their lights on and making a noise in unison to acknowledge my existence.

Karamihan sa mga nakasakay sa bawat sasakyan ay nakababa ang bintana habang sumisigaw ng iba't-ibang mga salita.

"Survival!"

"Woman of hope!"

"Monzanto!"

"Woman of hope!"

Pinanatili ni Pedro na nakababa ang bintana habang dinadaanan namin ang mga taong sumusuporta sa aking misyon.

"I-I'll come out—" nangangatal na sabi ko.

"Go on baby," tipid na sagot sa akin ni Pedro.

Habang patuloy sa pagtakbo ang aming sasakyan, sa pagkakataong ito ay inilabas ko ang kahati ng aking katawan hindi dahil may hawak akong baril para lumaban sa humahabol na terorista kundi para sagutin ang mga taong naniniwala sa akin.

The lights and beepers of different vehicles, from cars, trucks and buses turned wilder when I showed myself.

I took a deep breath before sending my message.

Sa harap ng mata ng napakaraming tao, marahan akong yumuko at dinala ang aking mga labi sa aking palapulsuhan at nakapikit kong hinalikan ang patuloy na pagpintig ng aking pusong sumisimbolong patuloy akong nabubuhay at lumalaban.

Matapos kong halikan ang aking pulso ay itinaas ko sa ere ang aking kamay at dahan-dahan ko itong ikinuyom sa hangin.

Tipid na lumabas ang ngiti sa aking mga labi nang halos lahat ng nasa loob ng sasakyan ay bahagyang lumabas para gayahin ang mensaheng nais kong iparating.

This hand gesture means,

Let's touch each other's heartbeat. 

--

VentreCanard