TWELVE
26 years ago, year 7518
"THE election for a new Commander is next week, are you excited?" tanong ni Raven habang nakaakbay kay Anara na nakasandal naman sa dibdib niya.
Anara lifted her gaze to Raven. "Not really. I'm not interested in that position." sagot niya. "How about you?" ngumiti siya ng matamis sa kasintahan. "It's your dream to become a Lieutenant General right?"
"Hmmm," Raven hummed in agreement as he kissed Anara's forehead. "But I don't want to expect. You're nominated, and I know very well you're better than me, Agent Zyanya."
Anara slapped Raven's stomach, making the man groan. "Don't call me that."
"Your hand is heavy," sabi ni Raven habang nakahawak sa tiyan na umayos ng upo. "If you want to touch my abs so bad, we can arrange that." sabi niya at nakangiting nilapit ang mukha sa leeg ni Anara.
"Stop being so flirty." tinulak ni Anara ang mukha ni Raven kaya ito napatawa. "I have something important to tell you." humarap siya ng upo sa binata.
"What?" Raven asked in a low voice while softly staring at Anara's face.
"I'm pregnant."
Ang mapungay na mata ni Raven ay napuno ng gulat. Nakabukas ang bibig nito habang nakatitig kay Anara. Napakurap kurap pa siya saka napatingin sa tiyan ni Anara. "You're... pregnant?" maingat niyang tanong.
Tumango naman si Anara habang nakangiti kaya unti unti na ring napangiti si Raven. "I'm going to be a Father," bulong nito saka napatayo habang nakatakip ang kamay sa bibig. "I'm going to be a Father," hindi pa rin makapaniwalang bulong niya saka napatingin kay Anara na nakangiti lang habang pinapanood siya.
"I'm going to be a Father!" sigaw niya saka lumuhod sa harap ni Anara para yakapin ito. "I love you," sabi niya at tumingin sa mga mata ni Anara. "I love you," sabi ulit ni Raven habang nakatitig sa mga mata ni Anara. "I will always do," he said and claimed her lips.
Tinugon naman ni Anara ang halik ni Raven. Raven on the other hand moved closer to Anara and held her waist to pull her closer to him and to deepen the kiss. He pushed his tongue inside her and started to push her to lay on the couch.
Naramdaman ni Raven na ngumiti si Anara bago ito lumayo ng kaunti sa kanya. "It's already late. You have a mission tomorrow, right?" nang aasar ang ngiting tanong ni Anara habang nakatitig sa mga mata ni Raven.
Raven groaned and buried his face on Anara's neck. "I have a high endurance," sabi niya kaya napatawa na ng tuluyan si Anara ng malakas.
"No. Come on," natatawa pa ring sabi ni Anara at nauna nang tumayo. Hinila na rin niya patayo si Raven at hinila papunta sa kwarto. "We're sleeping. Stop being naughty."
"ANA, where are you? Ali's looking for you," sabi ni Raven mula sa kabilang linya ng telepono. Ali Zurton-Cansadov is the current General—the highest position—of MAKEN. Anara and Ali went to the same highschool and they are very good friends.
Dahil din sa kanila kaya nagkakilala si Raven at Aze—Ali's husband and is the youngest of the Cansadov brothers. Matalik na magkaibigan na rin ang dalawa ngayon.
"I'm on my way," sagot naman ni Anara at pumasok sa kotse niya. "I wasn't feeling nice when I woke up so I took too long to prepare." sabi niya at nialagay ang cellphone sa phone holder ng sasakyan saka ito pinaandar.
"I told you, I should've fetched you," may pagtatampong sagot ni Raven. "The election won't proceed without you Love, Ali's starting to sulk now. She's mad because you told me first about the baby instead of her."
