"She doesn't have a heart, tito! I swear!" Sumbong ko.
I'm in the my Tito's office right. I really don't want to go back earlier but I don't have a choice earlier but to go home... That girl has the authority. Hindi ako pinapakinggan ng mga people earlier that's why I left nalang!
"You shouldn't bad mouthed her earlier. She's your superior." Instead ako ang pinagalitan imbes na kampihan.
"You have a higher rank than her, Tito! Why are you afraid of her?" I rolled my eyes.
"She knows what's the best, just follow all her orders."
I sighed in disbelief.
"Alam mo, tito. I'm also dissapointed at you too. Afterall, you still want her in the service?"
He didn’t answer right away. Tumitig lang siya sa'kin, like he was weighing a hundred thoughts.
"She’s a good soldier, Gucci. The best we’ve got," he finally said. "We can't remove someone without proof."
"Proof?" I scoffed. "She was there! She was there when Gianna died!"
"She was cleared. And besides, that’s the military. If a soldier died, it’s like part of their job." His voice was colder now. “We grieved, Gucci. All of us did.”
“But she didn’t!” My voice cracked. “She didn’t grieve at all! Hindi siya umiyak. Hindi man lang siya nagpakita sa libing. How is that normal?”
Tumayo siya, ang lakas ng presence niya bilang General, pero hindi na ako natatakot. Hindi na ako bata.
“You think I don’t ask myself the same questions?” he said, calmer this time. “You think I haven’t watched her closely for two years? Wala akong napatunayan, Gucci. Wala.”
"Then I'll prove it," I whispered, almost to myself. "I'll be the proof you couldn't find."
"Don’t do something reckless," he warned.
I took a deep breath and met his eyes.
"Fine! Please, Tito, just get me back in there. Susundin ko nalang ang mga orders niya, I promised!"
I am sincere while saying that.
It was already evening when I arrived in Bulacan. Tito wished me luck and gave me a few pieces of advice para hindi na naman ako ma-kick out.
"Ang tigas pa rin talaga ng ulo mo, Soldevilla?" Yndra scoffed, her tone dripping with sarcasm while she drove.
She picked me up after Tito and I landed. We were now heading to the camp.
"I'm... so-sorry, okay?!" Napipilitan lang ako. Honestly, I didn’t want to apologize. She should be the one saying sorry for everything she did.
Ang dami na niyang sinasabi. More like she's lecturing me. But I wasn’t listening. Parang nagra-rant lang siya nang walang katapusan.
"Please, just drive. Don’t bother me," I sighed. It felt like her day wouldn’t be complete without ruining mine.
She loves ruining my day para mabuo ‘yong kanya. Just like earlier.
I think... mali yata ‘yong sinabi ko. Bigla siyang natahimik.
Trying to break the awkward silence, I blurted out, "What’s your workout routine to get that body?" I chuckled.
