First Gravity (Completed)

42. For the love of Corrine

Joshua

We are calling this Oplan Sagip Sundalo, with the help of AFP, we will be rescuing Corrine's father and five other soldiers, they were asking fifteen million dollars for the ransom of seven prisoners.

I can afford it, in fact I had it prepared with other donations from Corrine's family and friends, but I know for a fact that these terrorists believed differently, coming to a place, race and community where love was expressed through violence you can't expect mercy nor deliverance from these people. 

Human networks, those were always important assets in most operation, that's why espionage were never out of trends. Without those networks the operation would have failed without even started.

So my team cannot disguise ourselves for some obvious reasons. But we made a camp just 10 kilometers away  from the terrorist and I know that they are aware of us being that close.

They are also aware that we are surrounding every exit they made, and we also made sure that every move they make to escape is a suicide move.

I know I promised Corrine that I'll bring home her father, but that may not be possible, he might already been killed. Although I'm not going home without trying, even if this will take my own life, if this will make Corrine and the kids happy.

I'd rather be a dead man than being alienated from them again.

In the Amazon, those Indigenous Brazilians were not a terrorist, in fact they're the once that were revered because of their atonement with nature.

So we actually allowed them to capture us, we would trust our lives with them than with the wild animals such as land crocodiles.

Here on the other hand I wouldn't even trust one crazy mango tree. Our plan is to attack tomorrow morning when everyone is still vulnerable.

Based on our networks, these extremists operates during the night and goes to sleep at dawn, leaving few of their men as watchers.

It's sickening to think that they have adapted the lifestyle of a rat.

One more call to Corrine and I'm off to battle.

"Babe...."

I can't comprehend any words she's saying because all I can hear are sobs all-through-out.

"Hey..I promise I'll bring your dad back didn't I?"

But she sobbed even louder. Her crumbled voice is so hard to understand.

"Can you just come back? I mean let your troop get Papa.."

I chuckled for her silliness.  She said that in her loud sniffs.

"Don't be silly love, you know I can't do that."

I shook my head as if I'm in front of her.

"Can I talk to Hosea and Rianne?"

I told them to take good care of their mother just in case I'm not able to come back alive and that they should always remember me.

I thought my kids understood what I am talking about because I swear I heard Hosea said dadada. Until I heard Corrine telling them to stop eating the phone.

"Josh, can you just come back to us breathing will you?."

Still sniffing and voice disintegrate into more sobs.

"I've been to worst sweetheart, this is just day job to me."

Corrine

Nasa sala kaming lahat, ang Mama ko, mga kapatid ko, mga kaibigan ng pamilya at ang ibang kakilala at tagapamahala ng CGC Pilipinas, sama samang nanalangin. Ang family spiritual adviser ang siyang nag le-lead ng prayer. Ang Parish priest na mabuting kaibigan at kababata ni Papa ay nag alay naman ng misa para sa kaligtasan nilang pareho.

"Bes, bat di ka nalang matulog muna? dalawang araw ka nang hindi natutulog."

Exagerated masyado ang dalawang araw wag kayong maniwala.

"Okay iidlip lang ako Roms, ang mga bata."

Hindi ko na kailangan pang sabihin ang dapat gagawin, si nate ang kasalukyang nag papakain sa anim na buwan na si Rianne at natutulog naman sa balikat ni Joseph si Hosea.

Ah oo hindi ko nga pala naikwento ang pag bubuntis ko.

Binasag ko ang salamin sa hospital room noon kasi ipinamumukha nito sa akin ang kapangitan ko. Hanggang umuwi si Romano galing Paris at bisitahin ako, medyo sumigla ang pakiramdam ko noon dahil desidido ako na sasama sa kanya sa France.

Pero nang pumasok ang doctor tinanong ako ng mga basic questions ng signs and symptoms like, madalas ka bang nahihilo now a days? tumpak, nauseous ka ba sa mga amoy na hindi mo naman dati pinapansin? yes na yes, may food cravings ka ba? wala akong gana. 

"Congratulations Misis buntis po kayo ng tatlong buwan."

Ayun, kayat nag hintay ako ng anim na buwan para maka panganak bago umalis. Kaya madalas akong tulala at nag mamadaling umuwi ng Pilipinas, pero pinayuhan ako ng mga magulang ko na hanapin muli ang sarili ko dahil hindi ko din naman maalagaan ang mga anak ko kung mag mumukmok ako at mag papaka depress. Tama naman sila.