Task Force Trilogy #1: Bullet

Chapter 37

PAULIT-ULIT akong napailing. Tears are streaming down through my face, I feel it. Basang-basa na ang pisngi ko, nanghihina na ako. Hindi ko matanggap ang mga nangyayari ngayon. Neon is getting weak, and we're trapped. Hindi ko na alam ang nangyayari kina Almarez.

"Put pressure on your wounds, put pressure on your wounds, sergeant!" Natatarantang sabi ni Doc Annie at pinaupo si Neon.

But the latter shook his head and stepped away. "Wala ng oras pa, doc. Kailangan na nating makaalis dito. Parami sila nang parami. Mamamatay tayong lahat dito kung h-hindi tayo lalaban..."

"Neon!" My voice broke when he suddenly coughed. Sunod-sunod na pag-ubo. May dugo. At halos hindi na siya makahinga roon.

"I'm fine, Nadj. I'm f-fine. It's just my stitches."

Napasinghap ako roon. I quickly pressed my hand on his wounds to put pressure and to control the bleeding. Ngumiti siya sa akin pero nauwi iyon sa ngiwi. Tumingala siya at huminga nang malalim. He inhaled sharply as he aubily sighed, obviously trying to draw air.

"N-Neon..." Lumuluha kong bulong. "Let's go back."

Bumaling siya sa akin. "Kaya nga. Kaya dapat lumaban tayo. Para makabalik tayo, Nadj. Babalik tayo. Uuwi tayo."

I gasped when he suddenly moved aside and stood as if he's not bleeding at all. Akma ko siyang tatawagin pero napayuko ako at napayakap sa aking tiyan nang makitang may mga nakakita na pala sa amin na mga Guerilla. And Neon stood up to fight them.

"Doc Annie!"

"Cover yourself, Nadj!"

My fingers are shivering. Valente. Valente, please. His face flashed inside my head. Those eyes that I can't even fathom if they are dark brown or hazel. But what I know is how he looks at me. That familiar deep gaze. His lips, his eyebrows, his prominent nose---everything. I could paint him right now, but I can't.

I'm in a situation where I don't know if I will live or die. Gusto kong tumulong pero hindi ko kaya. Almarez was right. I am a liability. Kung hindi nila ako kasama, madali lang na makakaalis sina Neon.

"I'll b-buy you some time! Leave, Nadia!" Nagising ako sa sigaw ni Neon.

"We can't leave you!" Pumiyok ako.

"Yes, you can! You can, Nadj! Go!" He shouted back.

Napasigaw ako nang may sumipa sa likuran niya dahilan para matumba siya sa lupa. Nakita ko ang akmang paghugot ng baril ng lalaking nakasipa kay Neon kaya kinuha ko agad ang kung ano mang makakapa kong bagay at malakas iyon na ibinato rito.

I hit his forehead with a sharp rock.

"Shit, Nadia!" Doc Annie panicked. Hinawakan niya ang braso ko.

"Ang tapang mo ah?"

I stood my ground and looked at Neon.

You can do this.

Hindi nawalan ng malay si Neon. I bought him time as well. Kaya nakabangon pa siya at agad na pinatumba ang kalaban. He took out his knife and stab the man's thigh, and then another stab on his chest. Paulit-ulit iyon na tila hindi ko na makayanan pang tingnan. Gigil na gigil si Neon, galit siya.

"Please leave!" Sigaw niya.

Naikuyom ko ang mga kamao ko.

"Please leave." He said again as he punched a man. He smiled. "Kaya ko 'to, Nadj. Maniwala ka sa akin. Hindi ako magpapaiwan kung hindi. I want to go home as well."

Natulala ako roon.

"Let's go, Nadia." Hinila na ako ng doktora.

As I'm being pulled away, I'm just looking at Neon. Maputla na siya. Marami ng tama. He's bloody, he's limping, but he's forcing himself to fight. He's forcing himself to live. Mabilis pa rin ang bawat galaw niya pero nakikita ko na bumabagal na siya at nanghihina. Only armed with his knife, his chance of getting out there alive is becoming low.