Napahinto ako, parang batang nahuli sa pagnanakaw ng kendi. Dahan dahan akong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses. My phone casting light across the figure stepping out from the shadows.
Of course. Sino pa ba? Syempre yung crush ko na napakasungit!
Pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin. He's wearing a plain dark shirt and a cargo pants, hair still damp na parang katatapos lang maligo. The faint scent of soap and something crisp lingered in the air, almost out of place sa alikabok at putik ng kampo. Even in this stripped-down look, he still carried himself with that same precision. Under the faint moonlight, I caught the clean angles of his jaw, the steady press of his lips, and those brown eyes pinning me down like they always did.
"I'm just taking a walk." I tried to sound casual.
"At night. Alone. In the middle of a restricted camp." He flatly said then stepped closer. Ang bigat ng presensya niya ay lalo naging mas malinaw. Even after all that happened today, he still looked annoyingly composed. He towered over me, all calm authority and quiet irritation. Habang ako, mukhang caught-in-the-act pa rin, holding my phone like it was contraband.
"Do you have any idea how unsafe that is, Miss Madrigal? You shouldn't be wandering off here by yourself."
Hold up. Did he just sound... concerned? My irritated fatigue vanished and immediately replaced by a sudden, dizzying rush of adrenaline. Pero come on! This is a military base. Guarded, and crawling with soldiers. Ano ba naman ang pwedeng mangyari sakin bukod sa maging paboritong buffet ng mga lamok? Makikidnap ba ko dito?
I studied his face, trying to dissect the emotion behind the perfect angles of his jaw. Was he genuinely concerned? Or was it pure irritation that his highly structured camp routine was being messed up by the reckless socialite?
Isang ngisi ang iginawad ko sa kanya. "Wow! Is that concern I hear Major Velasco?! Worried ka na sa akin?" I threw the question to him, enjoying the way his jaw ticked in response.
"Don't flatter yourself, Madrigal. Nandito ka sa base ko and that makes you my responsibility, whether I like it or not."
"So I am your responsibility? Okay then maybe you should know your responsibility includes making sure that your guests aren't being devoured by your vicious squad of mosquitoes! Look at this!"
Padabog kong inunat ang braso ko para ipakita sa kanya ang maliliit na pula-pulang kagat. For a second, he just stared at me as if assessing whether I was exaggerating. Then, slowly, his gaze dropped to my arm. Kunot-noo niyang tiningnan ang mga kagat doon, eyes trailing over my skin like he was counting each one.
"I see." he said simply.
His arms are crossed and his expression tells me he'd rather be anywhere else. Lalo akong nairita dahil doon.
"No, I don't think you do!" I snapped at him, hinila ko ng kaunti ang hem ng suot kong shirt at itinaas iyon to expose more of the bites on my body.
"O ayan! See—"
"What the fuck?!"
Natigilan ako sa biglaang singhal niya. His voice came low and sharp, like a gun cocking. His eyes widened for a split second before narrowing into something darker and more dangerous. There was no mistaking it. Before I could even react, mabilis siyang naglakad para lalong lumapit. He gripped the edge of my shirt, yanking it back down with one swift motion. For a second, his knuckles brushed against my stomach through the thin fabric, causing my pulse to go haywire. Dahil sa biglaang pagkakalapit namin, halos maubos ang hininga ko.
"Are you out of your damn mind?!" he hissed, his jaw was clenched so tightly na parang mababasag. His eyes flicked around instinctively, scanning if there were people around. Nanatili ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa dulo ng aking shirt.
"I was just... showing you the bites." I said, softer this time.
Ipinikit niya nang mariin ang mga mata. He was still fuming, chest rising and falling like he was fighting some kind of reaction. Nalingunan ko ang kanyang kanang kamay at nakitang nakakuyom ang kanyang kamao sa gilid. Akala ko ay sisigawan niya ako ulit pero nagulat ako noong kalmado siyang nagsalita.
"Okay... You made your point. But don't ever... lift your shirt like that again."
Umirap ako, though my pulse is still betraying me. He said it with that sharp, clipped tone that's supposed to sound like authority. He ran a hand down his face, jaw tightening as he cocked his head slightly to one side and exhaled.
"You want to show me the bites? Fine, nakita ko na. Now, let's go back to your tent."
He walked beside me in silence, only the crunch of gravel under our boots breaking the stillness. I felt like a criminal na nakatakas, and now being escorted back to her cell. I didn't remove my eyes from him. Nakatalikod siya, his broad shoulders and straight posture blocking my view of the path. His uniform hugged him just right, my eyes traced his tanned forearms. Wow, even his elbows look authoritative.
Hindi siya nagsasalita habang naglalakad kami pabalik sa tent. Pero ako, preoccupied pa rin sa reaksyon niya kanina. He acted like it was the end of the world. Like I'd broken some sacred military code just by showing a few inches of my skin. It was kind of... adorable. I smiled at that thought.
I tried to break the silence. "So..." I started, pretending to sound casual. "You're really that scandalized by a shirt?"
He didn't even glance my way. "You're in a military camp, Madrigal. Surrounded by men."
"You say that like it's a sin. Come on, Major! I wasn't exactly doing a strip show. I was simply showing you a proof that I'm being eaten alive by mosquitoes. Wala naman akong masamang intensyon, you're just overreacting. Kung ibang sundalo ang kausap ko and I did that, they probably wouldn't think—"
That made him stop walking. Nawala ang ngisi ko nang lingunin niya ako. Madilim ang iginawad niyang tingin, making every strand of hair in my body rise. His expression isn't anger exactly. It's something heavier. His eyes locked on mine with such quiet force that it rooted me to where I stood.
His jaw clenched once before he spoke, voice low and controlled but heavy with warning. "So if it was anybody else... you'd just lift your shirt up too? Without even thinking twice?"
"I...well, that's not the point." sabi ko, though my voice came out thinner than intended. "I mean..."
He took a step closer. One deliberate, heavy step that erased the distance between us. The faint beam of my phone light caught the sharp lines of his face, the controlled intensity in his eyes. He was waiting for me to complete my sentence but I just couldn't find the words.
"You think they'd ignore it? Hmmm?" he crouched a little to level his eyes with mine. "You think that if you pull that stunt in front of anyone else here, they'll just..." he trailed off.
Pumikit ulit siya ng ilang sandali bago umiling.
"Never mind. Just... don't do that again." malamig niyang sabi bago nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.
Tahimik na lang akong sumunod. Still processing his words over and over. Siguro natakot lang siya kung may makakita. Maybe that's it. Maybe he was thinking about his reputation, the gossip, the way people in uniform always have to appear spotless. It's just my delusional mind who's thinking it could be otherwise. Iyon lang yun. He was thinking about what others would say if they saw us. The rules. The uniform.
Nang marating namin ang tent ay binalingan niya ako.
"Wait here, Miss Madrigal. Babalik ako agad." sabi niya saka tumalikod at tumungo sa kabilang bahagi ng camp.
Naiwan akong nakaawang ang bibig, nakatitig sa direksyong tinahak niya. What is he gonna do? And I should just wait here? As in, just... stand here? Walang context or any clue kung anong susunod? Ano ba to, secret mission? My mind immediately started spiraling. Baka kukunin niya yung commanding officer para ipa-report ako at parusahan?
When he returned, I saw that he was holding something in his hands. Paglapit niya, iniabot niya ang isang tube at isang maliit na rechargeable fan.
"Here. Ointment for the bites, saka portable fan. Para magtigil ka na." he said in a serious tone.
Kinuha ko ang mga iyon. Hindi ko alam kung maiinis ba ako dahil sa 'para magtigil ka na' comment niya o matutuwa dahil... well, nag-abala siya. Pinaglaruan ko sa kamay ko yung maliit na fan, pinindot at umikot nga. Okay fine, this might actually save me from dying of heat tonight.
Then, he took out a small pack of mosquito-repellant coils. Binuksan niya iyon at kumuha ng isa bago ibinigay sa akin ang iba. He took his lighter and lit the coil, then set it down just outside the tent flap. The faint smoke curled upward, its sharp scent filled the air.
"This should keep them away for the night." saad niya habang sinusundan ng tingin ang usok na umaakyat. "You can light one inside too, do you have a lighter?"
Umiling ako. "Wala. I have a platinum card and three kinds of facial oil, pero walang lighter."
He sighed, but there was a hint of something resembling amusement in the way his shoulders eased. Tahimik niyang iniabot sa akin ang sariling lighter. There wasn't anything grand in what he did but somehow, it made my heart beat irrationally.
"Thanks." sabi ko, halos pabulong. Hindi ko alam at may kung anong humahalukay sa tiyan ko ngayon. It was a fluttering feeling that I couldn't name, but was familiar. It was the same feeling the moment we shook our hands a year ago.
Tumango lang siya. "Please don't burn the tent."
I scoffed. Napaangat ang tingin ko sa kanya but he didn't have any expression at all. Instead, he gave me a quick nod saka tumalikod, at naglakad pabalik sa command tent.
Naiwan akong nakatayo sa labas ng tent, hawak-hawak ang mga binigay niya. Is this a pity package? Or is this his way of saying 'welcome to the jungle'? Bumuntong-hininga ako saka unti-unting gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi. I don't care which one, at least nag-effort siya.
Pumasok ako sa tent nang dahan-dahan. Kat and Trish were still asleep, their faces calm despite the heat. Inilagay ko sa tabi ng kama ko ang mga binigay niya. Tahimik kong binuksan ulit ang mosquito coil, sinindihan gamit ang lighter niya. I watched the ember glow red, then slowly fade into smoke.
Humiga na ako ulit at binuksan ang rechargeable fan. I sighed, tumagilid sa kama at pinanood ang pag-ikot noon. The faint hum filled the silence, matching the stupid rhythm of my heartbeat.
"Para magtigil ka na..." I mimicked what he said, rolling my eyes but smiling like an idiot.
I was floating in a dream about a beach in Amanpulo, the sun warming my skin, and the gentle lapping of waves serving as a perfect lullaby. Hawak ko ang isang champagne glass na hindi nauubusan ng laman. It was perfect. Blissful. Then, the blissful waves morphed into a sound so jarring, so brutally offensive, it felt like a physical assault.
A loud siren blared through the entire camp, ripping me violently from my dream. Napabalikwas ako ng bangon, my heart hammering against my ribs. My first thought was... Is this a drill? Are we under attack? May giyera na ba?
"Good morning, Cion! Or should I say, welcome to the 0500 club!" napalingon ako kay Kat. Ready-ng ready na siya, her short hair tied in a ponytail.
I groaned, sinubukan kong mahiga ulit at bumalik sa tuloy. "Go away, Kat. The world is ending. Hayaan mo na akong mamatay in peace."
Narinig ko ang tawa niya. "Hindi yan air raid siren, wake-up call natin yan Miss Clara. Briefing in thirty minutes sa main tent. Kaya gising ka na diyan, bangon na!"
I peeked out from under my blanket, glaring at her. "Thirty minutes? It's not even bright outside! The sun isn't even awake yet. Anong klaseng mga tao kayo?"
I buried my face on the pillow. "If I ignore you, will you disappear?"
Tinawanan lang ako ni Kat at nagsuot ng boots niya. "Sanayan lang yan. Come on, I saved you a spot sa wash area. Kung hihilata ka pa diyan, baka yung tubig na pinaghugasan na ng iba ang maabutan mo."
The threat of using murky, leftover water was a very effective motivator. Bumangon na ako at agad na naramdaman ang pananakit ng katawan. Para akong natulog sa ibabaw ng mga bato. Which, considering the quality of the mattress, wasn't far from the truth. My morning ritual was a study in misery. The "wash area" was still the same horror show from last night. I took the quickest, most traumatic shower of my life. Nag-toothbrush ako habang nanginginig sa ginaw, trying my best to ignore the curious stares from other volunteers who were clearly used to this fresh hell. Parang normal lang sa kanila ang lahat. Paano?
Back in the tent, I stared into my suitcase. What does one wear to a disaster relief briefing at the crack of dawn?
Finally, I decided to pull on a pair of sleek, high-waisted Lululemon leggings in a tasteful maroon color and a matching athletic top. It was breathable, flexible, and made my legs look fantastic. Ipinares ko doon ang dala kong chunky white Balenciaga Triple S sneakers. They were comfortable, and the platform gave me a bit of height. To complete the look, I slicked my hair back into a high, tight ponytail and put on my black Celine baseball cap.
When I walked out of my tent, I felt the atmosphere shift. Ang mga sundalo at volunteers na nagmamadaling maglakad ay biglang bumagal, their eyes snagging on my outfit. Kunot noo ko silang tiningnan pabalik.
"Uhhh... What's wrong?" I asked.
Wala namang ni isang sumagot sa kanila. They jut went back to whatever they were doing. I ignored them all, lifted my chin, and walked towards the main tent with the confidence of someone who knew she was the best-dressed person in this godforsaken mud pit.
Pagpasok ko sa main tent, magulo na. May projector sa harap na nagpapakita ng mapa ng Samar, puno ng kung anu-anong red pins. Sa harapan, naroon na si Major. His gaze flicked from the tablet he was looking at, to me.
I gave him my most dazzling smile. "Good morning, Major! Reporting for duty!" I even threw in an exaggerated salute, my hand held up with a flourish like a beauty queen.
He blinked slowly. Tumaas ang tingin niya mula sa sapatos ko pabalik sa mukha ko. The look he gave me could have frozen the hot coffee in everyone's mugs.
"What..." pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang buong katawan ko. "...are you wearing?" pagtatapos niya.
The question was simple, but the tone was loaded. Para siyang nagtataka kung nagkamali ba siya ng base na pinuntahan.
"Ah, ito po ba? It's just my workout attire, Major. I thought we might be doing some light stretching. Alam niyo na, it's very important to stretch before engaging in strenuous activities."
Hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon niya. "This is a disaster zone, not a wellness retreat, Miss Madrigal. Your clothing isn't appropriate."
"Aww sayang naman. But I don't have any other clothes Major. This is the most appropriate one I can find." ngiti kong muli.
He let out a sharp, quiet exhale through his nose. It was the sound of a man exercising immense self-control. Para siyang suminghot ng isang buong bote ng pasensya. He looked like he wanted to say a thousand more things, pero sa huli ay binigyan niya na lang ako ng isang tango at ibinalik ang atensyon sa harapan.
"Let's begin." he announced.