Hymn in the Springtides (EL Girls Series #2)

Prologue

Prologue

"We're home, Cadet."

My lips trembled as the captain nodded at me, relief washed over our faces as we looked at the nearing port with people huddling around it—waiting for us.

"Are we?"

As I took a few steps away from the ship, hearing how my safety shoes thudded against the wet ground, droplets of rain kissing my cheeks, the bombarding questions of the reporters, the continuous clicks of the cameras, the number of microphones they were almost shoving into my face, the harsh wind, and the noise of the helicopters above—everything was so blinding that I had to look back. I stopped walking and stared at that enormous ship—and the vastness of the dark sea behind it.

I sighed and lowered my head to avoid everyone as I continued walking away from the ship.

Muling umihip ang hangin, higit na pumatak ang ulan at humahampas ang mga along tila hinahabol ang aking mga paa.

I already expected a whole dock covered by hundreds of people—from relatives of the victims, reporters, crews, and even political personalities. This is the biggest hijacking scandal that has happened in the country, and the tons of people hovering around the dock didn't surprise me—mga taong may kani-kanilang mga intensyon sa malaking balitang ito.

The hijacking took almost two months. At hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na darating kami sa puntong lalabas ng buhay at ligtas.

Naunang bumaba ang mga kasamahan kong kasalukuyan nang inaalalayan ng medical team. The reporters were persistent, hindi nagpatinag ang karamihan sa kanila sa paglapit sa mga nakaligtas at pagkuha ng impormasyon. My crewmates tried to avoid them, but the reporters were too determined.

Sa huli ay tumitigil na rin ang ibang kasamahan ko upang magbigay ng ilang pahayag. The thing I had noticed was their short glances over their shoulders— to be more specific, they were giving me gazes with soft smiles on their faces.

My brows creased.

Ano ang sinasabi nila sa mga reporters?

"We heard everything from the Captain, Cadet Escoda," bulong sa akin ng isa sa medical team na umaalalay sa akin.

"What?" napalingon ako sa kanya.

Nanatili nakaalalay sa akin ang dalawa sa medical crew kahit ilang beses ko nang sinabi na magagawa kong magkapaglakad mag-isa.

Ano ang sinabi sa kanila?

As we walked closer, the other reporters turned even more aggressive. The continuous flash of the cameras and the mixture of questions made the march on our way home slower, and the soldiers were doing their best to save us from another kind of storm—a mouthful storm of queries. But they seemed to be about to get overwhelmed.

Hindi na mahawi ang mga tao.

I tried to crane my neck to look for my mother and brothers in the vast sea of families hugging each other with tears in their eyes, but they were nowhere in sight. I was about to take another step, my gaze still roaming around, when a sudden silence enveloped the whole place.

I looked around, confused about my situation, or was it just me?

But it didn't take too long for me to notice when everything around me blurred— and all was silence, my tears began to fall when I saw the familiar image of my father wearing his usual military uniform, a big smile on his face, and a firm salute in his hand.

Ilang taon na rin simula nang iwan kami ni Tatay. But I never stopped admiring and giving him a salute— a salute that I vowed to give him until my last breath.

He's the bravest man. He's the greatest soldier and the best father.

Buhay na buhay ang imahe ni Tatay na nakangiti sa akin, biglang nawala ang dami ng mga tao, tumigil ang ihip ng hangin, ang buhos ng mga ulan at ang hampas ng mga alon. Tumahimik ang buong kapaligiran.

I locked my eyes on his and gave him my warmest smile.

I felt the familiar pain on my cheek as the knife that grazed it when I was on the ship reminded me of all my hardships during the hijack. It stung so much—it felt like it was no longer raindrops but my blood kissing my cheeks, but that didn't waver me from savoring this moment with my father.

I wanted to enjoy it while it lasted because I knew the moment I blinked—I would be whisked away to reality, and this blissful dream with my father would end.

Sa halip na humakbang pa patungo kay Tatay na nakasaludo sa akin, sinimulan ko nang sumipol. Isang uri ng pagsipol na tanging siya lamang ang nagturo sa akin.

It was my father's hymn in his every battle. We whistled together, as my feet started to make their steps again. I continued whistling like it was just the only music that my ears could ever hear.

"Salamat sa gabay, 'Tay," bulong ko.

When I blinked again, my father's image started to vanish, yet with a constant smile on his face.

Muli kong lumingon sa likuran ko kung nasaan ang barko. "I'll come back, and I will never be afraid of sailing against the waves."

Tumama sa akin ang liwanag ng mga camera kasabay ng paglandas ng dugo sa aking pisngi. Tuluyan nang may nakapuslit na reporter sa mga sundalo dahilan kung bakit wala na akong madadaanan at ang tanging nakikita ko na lang ay mga mikropono.

"Most of the crews are pointing their fingers at you."

"They said it's your whistle that started it all."

"They said you saved them. What really happened?"

"Her whistle brings hope, and it seeks justice for the fallen," the captain said.

"Is this another kind of amazing woman?"

Umuulan na ng mga katanungan at hindi ako makapagsalita.

"She's another woman of greatness, hope... and this time justice, right, Cadet?"

"Was there a foul play? What can you say about the actions done by the shipping company?

"Now that the crew members are telling us that the cadet made a great effort to save the whole crew, should we be expecting something—"

Nagsisimula nang hawiin ni Capt. De Torres ang ang reporter at tumango siya sa akin para magpatuloy sa paglalakad.

"Can we hear anything from you? What can you say now that not just your crewmates, but the country is calling you a hero?" pilit humabol ang reporter sa akin.

Hahawiin pa sana muli ni Capt. De Torres ang camera nang hawakan ko ang braso niya at umiling.

This time I bravely looked at the camera, ignoring the annoying lights and microphone. Unti-unti kong inangat ang mukha ko sa harap ng mga tao. I gave them a small smile.

"Cadet Aslanor Tamara Llanes Escoda," matigas na sabi ko.

Mas itaas ko pa ang aking noo sa lahat ng mga tao.

If my name would be known, I wanted to drag the names of those people who were more deserving to be acknowledged by all.

Pagsaludong hindi maaaring lumipas ilang daang taon man ang lumipas.

"A daughter from one of the greatest fallen 44 soldiers."