Task Force Trilogy #1: Bullet

Chapter 17

MABILIS kong binatukan si Ulysses. Agad naman itong sumimangot at bumaling sa akin. "Ayan, sige. Sigarilyo pa, lieutenant. Nang magkaroon ka ng lung cancer. Why are you even smoking? Stress ka ba? Sad? Maraming iniisip?"

Naabutan ko siyang mag-isa sa veranda. Pinayagan kami ni heneral na buksan muna ito basta mag-iingat at maging alerto kami. There's a telescope here, and I saw Ulysses looking throught it every five seconds while smoking his cigarettes.

"Well," Itinapon niya ang sigarilyo at inapakan. "I won't smoke now. You're here."

Napangiti ako at sumandal sa veranda. The nightsky is very clear and beautiful right now. It's bright and twinkling with all those little, colorful dots from afar. Marami rin kaming nakikitang mga fireworks mula sa malayo. I hope everyone is spending their New Year celebration safe and happy.

"What are you thinking? Nagsisigarilyo ka lang naman kapag stress ka." I said, giving him a meaningful look.

He looked away. "It's nothing."

Mahina kong itinulak ang braso niya. "C'mon, Ulysses. I know at least this habit of yours. May maitutulong ba ako? You can tell me if something's bothering you, or someone." I shrugged my shoulders and remained watching him.

Napabuntong-hininga ito bago ngumiti. "Actually, I'm thinking about the moles. Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin sila nahahanap. Muntik na ngang hindi payagan ang New Year celebration natin. If it wasn't for Doc Annie's persuasion, then we would not have celebrated. Nakakabahala lang."

"Ibig sabihin, magagaling magtago ang mga traydor? You mean they are still roaming the base free and without harm?" Gulat kong tanong.

He nodded. "That's right. We had our suspects, actually. But their alibis were strong, and they were proven innocent. I have someone in my mind, but I...I---iyon nga ang problema ko, Nadj. I feel bad thinking it is that person, kasi...kasi bakit? Paano niya naman magagawa?"

"Who is it?" Pasimple akong tumingin sa loob. Lumapit ako kay Ulysses at bumulong. "Kasama ba natin ngayon?"

He looked at me and I know that very look.

"Who is it? Do you want to tell me?" Mahina kong tanong.

Bumaling siya sa akin at ngumiti. He ruffled my hair. "I know you, Nadj. I know I can trust you. Simula pa lang naman noong iniligtas muna ako, alam kong ikaw na ang ipinadalang guardian angel ko. Guardian angel in a human form."

I snorted and laughed. "Grabe sa guardian angel. Baka ipinadala lang ni Lord."

"Baka nga." He agreed.

Natahimik ako dahil akala ko, hindi niya sasagutin. Bigla niya kasing iniba ang usapan. Or maybe because I reacted to what he told me. But after a minute, I heard his soft whisper. So soft that I thought I wouldn't hear the name---but I still did, in the end.

"Why?" I worriedly asked.

He stared at the horizon. "Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit sumakto sa kaniya lahat ng mga pinag-aralan at binalikan ko. I was tasked to observe in the utility area, and...and there it was."

Muli akong napatingin sa labas pero wala sa oras na agad akong napaiwas ng tingin. He found my eyes.

"When the bombardment and abduction happened, she was there, near at the function door. The function door which is the next door from the main entrance. Ang sabi niya ay may inihatid lang siya sa isang sundalo, who by the way, is with Private Benjamin Brillantes that time. I asked him and he said, he did not see it. He left before it happened."

"Paano kung hindi lang talaga nakita ni Benj? What if noong pag-alis niya, iyon namang pagdating ni...ano, ni---basta."

He chuckled but shook his head. "I checked the particular recorded tape of the CCTV in that date, and in that area. She did give something to a soldier, and it was an envelope, Nadj. Siyempre, pinuntahan ko ang sundalo na iyon. And he gave me that envelope."