Marked By The Beast (COMPLETED)

Chapter 6

               I barely slept last night. The itik haunted me even in my dreams. I woke up because I felt a hand touched my neck.

"Hmm?" I made a sound and stretched my body. I mulat my eyes and saw Ver. He's still wearing his mask.

"Mabuti naman at wala kanang lagnat." He said. He's nakaupo on the side of the bed.

"Yeah, thanks for the pagkain and meds nga pala." I said after I pushed myself up to upo while my back is nakasandal on the headboard. I noticed that the window is wide open. Ang buhok ni Ver na may kahabaan ay dinadala ng hangin. I know that without the mask, he probably looks breath-taking at this moment. Sadly, I can't see his face. "Yeah, but you saw the itik, lugi kapa ba non ghorl?!" Said her inner mind. Umiling-iling ako. I'm a girl yet I have such a dirty mind. How could I be so ungrateful to think such things about my savior?

"Gusto mo bang lumabas para mahanginan ka?" He said that made me went back to my senses. I nodded my head. I should just think about other things and forget the itik.

We went outside, behind the cabin. There's a huge santol tree, I was mesmerized by the place. Napaka-simple, napaka-ganda and there's so dami trees around. Nag-latag si Ver under it and he let me sat on it. I'm kind of getting sleepy because of the paspas of the hangin and the sounds of humming birds. It feels so peaceful. Ver went back in the bahay and went out with a basket. He laid it on the latag. It is filled with pagkain. I guess we'll be having our breakfast here. Kumain na ako at nanatili lang syang nakaupo sa tabi ko.

"Aren't you going to kain?" I asked.

"Really Lissandra?" His replied sounded like he's mocking me. It hit me, ayaw nga pala nya to show his face. Maybe he's already done eating his breakfast.

I bit my lower lip. "Hehehe I'm sorry." Then I did a peace sign. Okay, sabi ko nga kakain na lang ako.

I have a question nga pala that's why I turned to him. "What does semper fi means?" naka-labi kong tanong then I gasped when I realized that I just buking myself that I silip him in the bathroom and I saw the big itik?! I panicked.

​               NARAMDAMAN kong bumaling sya sakin kaya nilingon ko sya. "What does semper fi means?" anang nya. Matiim ko itong tinitigan. Did she saw my tattoo? Paano naman? Napaisip ako, siguro nakita nya lang ang dog tag ko sa kwarto.

"You saw my dog tag?" tanong ko dito. Alanganin naman itong tumango. Yeah, that must be it.

"It means, always faithful. It is the US marine corps motto." I said.

"You are a soldier?!" Ang singkit nitong mata ay nanlaki tila namangha sa sagot ko.

"I was but I retired years ago." Nakita kong kumibot ang labi nito.

"Why?" She asked, sounding like she's disappointed. Ayokong sagutin ang tanong nito, matagal ko nang kinalimutan ang bagay na iyon.

"Ikaw anong propesyon mo?" I replied. Pilit nililihis ang atensyon nya tungkol sa pagiging sundalo ko noon.

Her eyes twinkled and she smiled widely. "I'm a fashion designer! I'll gawa you a mask that won't make you look like a member of jabbawockeez once I have materials na." She said with too much enthusiasm.

"Tapos ano, meron na akong clothing line. I'm onti-onting nagawa ng name sa industry nga eh. I'll make some clothes for you pag-balik ko sa manila." Patuloy na kwento nito. I smiled, I successfully diverted her attention.

Napaka-daldal ni Lissandra. Ginugol namin ang oras sa ilalim ng puno habang nagkwekwentuhan. Well, sya lamang ang madalas na nag-sasalita at ako ay tahimik na nakikinig lang sa kanya. She's fun to be with tila lahat ng agam-agam ko ay nawawala tuwing dumadaldal sya.

This girl is a ray of sunshine; she remained positive despite of what just happened to her family unlike me na tila pinag-sakloban ng langit. She's such an amazing woman, maliit at napaka-kulit pero kinakaya nya lahat samantalang ako malaking tao pero napaka-duwag at hina. She has what I don't. Napangiti ako, I guess hindi naman masama na tinulungan ko ang babaeng ito.