HYEORAEK

Part 34: Day and Night

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"Ayos ba, Misis?" Umangat ang tingin ko mula sa pag-aayos ng sintas papunta sa batang nasa harap ko na wagas kung makangiti. Bumaba ang paningin ko sa suot niyang kulay kayumanggi na dahilan para mas tumingkad ang kaputian niya at kakisigan niya.

Wait-what? Kakisigan? What the hell, Alice?!

"Bagay sa 'yo," puri ni Hugo kaya mas lumawak pa ang ngiti ni Ali. Mas hinigpitan ko pa ang sintas ng suot kong boots saka tumayo mula sa puno ng narra.

"Oo nga. Mukha kang sundalo dyan, ah!" puna rin ni Drew at napameywang pa habang nakangiti.

Tinalikuran ko na sila pagkatapos kong suotin ang sapatos ko at nagsimulang lapitan ang kababaihan na mga kasama ko. I feel strange wearing this soldier clothes. Hugo find four staff uniform and three soldier armor. He give it to us to change our clothes and that's why I'm seeing Thea, Jean with Gwyn wearing the light green polo shirt paired with black pants.

Thea is the only one who use the cap with the initials of the place, the heat of the sun is her reason why she wears it. While Gwyn, on the other hand didn't first like wearing the clothes, she find it cheap and maybe dirty because of its outmoded. But Hugo forced her and end up taking it.

"Wow... ang ganda mo riyan, Alice. Ang perfect mong tignan!" Thea commented while her eyes scintillating. I avoided their gaze on me when they started to stare. Nakasuot ako ngayon ng uniform ng sundalo. I don't know how to explain why I suddenly feel confident of my attire. Since there's four uniform from the staff that the three girls and Drew currently wearing it. I also end up to take the soldier suit with Ali and Hugo.

"Timo..." I whispered as my eyes land at Timothy eyes exposed to the sun. The sun are rising now and the breeze of the wind is beginning to embrace us. Naisipan din kasi ni Thea na paarawan ang sanggol.

Thea notice my gazes on Timo so she decided to give him to me. I already take a bath so I think that's enough for me to hold the toddler. As I embraced him on to my arms I feel his warm and the unexpected feeling. I hate to admit it but I know to myself that I'm having a small attachment of this kiddo.

"Kuya Hugo. Safe naman ditong mamasyal, diba?" tanong ni Thea nang makalapit na sa amin sina Hugo. Nasa likod niya si Ali na patuloy pa ring pinagyayabang kay Drew ang unipormeng suot niya. It's just a clothes that changed from him but not his personality or anything.

Napatingin sa paligid si Hugo saka ulit binalik ang tingin kay Thea. Napatango ito saka ngumiti. "Ligtas naman. Pero para makasigurado mas mabuting samahan ko na kayo. Parang tour guide ninyo na rin tutal saulo ko na naman ang lugar na ito," he said that causes Thea to shriek of excitement.

Even me would want to go around of this place. But something's stopping me and I know what is it. It's my family and the sudden disappearance of my brother.

"Tara na, Jean! Mag-enjoy naman tayo kahit ngayon lang!" masiglang aya ni Thea sa kaibigan niya. She even interwine their both arms to each other, I notice how Gwyn let out a mocking smirk after she saw it behind them. She looks fine now and she has the time too, to be sound bitter of the people in front of her.

Does she have friends in her past? Napansin ko lang na para siyang allergic sa salitang kaibigan.

"Hindi ba kayo sasama?" baling ni Hugo sa amin na naiwan. Napatingin si Ali at Drew sa kanya na ngayon pa lang tumigil sa pang-aasar sa isa't-isa. Habang si Gwyn naman ay walang pahintulot na bumalik sa kuwarto na pinanggalingan namin. I bet she's going to sleep all day cause that's how I observe her when I'm with her.