PRANKED BOOK 1 (published with BOOK OF LIFE PUBLICATION)

Chapter 8

"YOU'RE MY HUSBAND NOW."

"Putcha!" I punched the vehicle's door in annoyance. "Tahimik na sana ang buhay ko." I uttered. I expelled a heavy breath and laughed. "Hooooh!" I shouted in disbelief. "I have a great turn in life." I said facing the driver.

"Okay lang po ba kayo, Sir?" the driver asked me when my phone started ringing again. "Hello." I said.

"Better hurry." the woman on the other line.

"What now, Aliza?" I irritably ask.

"I am waiting for you." she said, then cut off the call.

I expelled a heavy breath and leaned my back on the seat. "Malapit na po tayo, Sir. Relax po muna kayo, mukhang stress na po kayo."

"Oo nga, e. Mukhang hindi maganda ang mood ni Sir." I am referring to our battalion commander who just called before the woman who claims to be my wife. "Wala naman po tayong problema na hindi natin kayang lusutan." he said smiling. That sounds convincing.

I once again expelled a smooth breath while nodding. Then, I immediately remember that I have to change my attire into proper uniform. I am wearing a civilian t-shirt and our lower camouflage uniform - the pants -  with full of dust combat shoes. "Drive ka lang." I said in the driver while removing my t-shirt and replace it with the proper military inner shirt.

I also remove my combat shoes. I get the shoe shine and brush from my bag and do the cleaning and shining of my shoes. 

"Sa'n si BattCom?" BattCom means Battalion Commander. I asked while disembarking the vehicle with one of the personnel I met. "Nasa messing hall po, Sir." he said while standing in attention and renders salute to me. "Thank you." I said and replied the salute.

We just arrived at the headquarters of my unit assignment and I am rushing to see our BattCom to comply with his orders. I enter the messing hall, "Good evening, Sir." I said while in salute.

"Lieutenant Molinari, here you are." he didn't reply with my salute.  "Join here." I felt my feet are getting heavy. "Bumalik ka ba sa company mo?" he said while I was sitting on a seat in the dining table. "No, Sir. I just came from the headquarters of the brigade." I replied with my eyes sticked to the woman in front of me --- that caught my eyes. "Hindi ko man lang alam na may competency firing kayo? Snappy, ah. Maayos ang hitsura mo, hindi halatang galing ka sa firing range." 

I can't answer his questions. I looked at him and glanced again on the woman in front of me. "By the way, I heard that you got the highest score in the marksmanship today." 

"Yes, Sir." I nodded. "Good news. Magagalit na sana ako sa'yo but you have always the good performance." he smiled.

I replied with a dry smile, "Thank you, Sir." 

"The table is ready, let's eat." he invited. "Ma'am, you are welcome here in our headquarters. Feel at home po kayo. Tomorrow after the inspection, ipapasyal namin kayo sa mga tourist spots and media broadcasting facilities under my command." he said to the group of men and women wearing civilian attire. I don't think they were soldiers too.

I stopped thinking when First Lieutenant Cañome, my senior officer and in-charge of the human resources of our battalion, nudge me. I looked at her, "Paanong hindi nalaman ni BattCom na nagcompetency firing kayo?" she whispered. I adjusted my face away from her because we're too close. "Hindi ko alam." I gently shaking my head. "Baka hindi nainform ng Operations Section, Ma'am." I said. "Galit na galit siya kanina n'ung wala ka kasi kailangan ka dito sa opening ceremony para sa inspection. "No one informed me. I can cancel the competency firing if I was informed, Ma'am."

"Buti na lang magaling ka at hindi na nasabon." she giggles and I smile at her. 

"Nge?" 

"Bakit?" she asked that makes me look at her.

"Wala po, Ma'am." I answered.

I nearly dropped my spoon when I saw Aliza sharply glaring at us. Mukhang mangangain ng tao sa tingin, ah. I said in my head. I wanted to laugh with what I am seeing right now. Nasuklay ko ang sarili kong kamay sa mga buhok ko dahil sa pagpipigil ko ng tawa. It's confirmed. My wife is really something. "Totoo kayang asawa ko na 'to?" I murmured. 

"May sinasabi ka ba, Mol?" Lieutenant Cañome asked. 

Lumingon at ngumiti ako, "wala po, Ma'am."

"Okay."

We peacefully ate our dinner and after a few moments, the BattCom invited the guests to their accommodation rooms. Our BattCom guided them out of the messing hall when I grabbed Aliza to the back of the messing hall. I heard her gasps, "Shhh..." shushing her grabbing her hand. "Ano ba?" she whispered.

"Bakit ka nandito?" I asked.

"Ikaw, saan ka ba galing? At, bakit ba hawak-hawak mo pa ako?" She irritably ask and grab her hand away from my grasp.

Maldita. Napangiwi ako sa ginawa niya. "Pa-ayaw-ayaw ka sa akin ngayon samantalang kanina tawag ka nang tawag sa'kin. Dito ka na nga lang, sayang lang oras ko." I was about to leave her when she grab my hand. 

"Te'ka lang." Her eyes were like a child begging for chocolates.

"Tell me what's the problem." I said in a low voice.

"This is not the right time to discuss it with." she said in a low and lonely voice.

"Kung hindi ngayon, kailan?" I nearly laugh of what I've said. Nagiging makata na ata ako.

She rolled her eyes to me, "Later, Christian Harold." 

"Do not ever do that again to me." I warned her.

"The what?" Maldita ka ngang talaga.

"That eyes of yours," I don't know what to call it. "You rolled it."

"Like this?" she did it again.

"No." I said shaking my head, "Stop it, I don't like it."

She lift her upper lip, crossed her arms on her chest and teasing me by looking at me from head to toe. That got me irritated.

I reached her face and kissed her. She tried to push me but I drove her hands at her back and take steps until her back leaned on the wall. "I missed you."

"You... hm..." I heard her groans. "You... do... that to... the other woman... officer... hmm....,"

I stopped, "to whom?" 

She's gasping and looking angrily to me. "Oh, that look. I knew it." I smiled and kissed her again. "She's just my senior officer, baby." I said and caressed her face. I did not gave her the chance to answer me. I really miss this woman.

"Miss Decena?" we both look at the origin of the voice.