See You Soon, Soldier (Ambience Series #1)

Chapter Ten

Roses are red

Hawak-hawak ni Worth ang kamay ko habang naglalakad. He won't let me go since we left one of the peaks of Mount Hundor--our small house.

We've been walking all night and it's almost dawn. Hindi ko alam ang daan. I was completely lost by everything I see. Pakiramdam ko hindi pa ako nakakapaglakad ng ganito kahaba sa buong buhay ko.

Suot ko pa din ang mahabang pantulog ko na nadudumihan na dahil sa alikabok ng bundok. My boots were covered by dusts as well.

Inalalayan ako ni Worth pababa sa malaking bato. He held my waist and lift me down, pagkatapos ay hinawakan niya muli ang kamay ko.

I looked at him. He still has his rifle on his hand, his huge army bag on his back.

Napahawak ako ng mahigpit sa jacket niyang pansundalo na isinuot niya sakin kanina. It's still dark and cold. Tanging maliit flashlight niya lang ang nagbibigay gabay sa pagbaba.

"Worth," tawag ko.

Lumingon siya sakin. "What is it?"

Inayos ko ang mask sa ilong ko at humawak ng mahigpit sa kamay niya.

"Saan tayo.. uh, pupunta?" I'm not sure what to ask him.

"Mount Hundor's small village below," Tumingin siya balik sa daan. "To my house."

Napatitig ako sa likuran niya. Sa bahay niya? I cleared my throat. It's going to be my first time in someone else's house--a soldier's house.

"May bahay ka pala malapit rito," usal ko.

He shrugged. "I just bought it for easy access." kampanteng sambit niya.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. Bibili lang siya ng bahay para sa easy access rito sa bundok. He must be really rich.

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa. I just swayed our hands while walking to push away my boredom.

Lumabi ako at bumuntong hininga. Sinilip ko si Worth. His whole attention was focused on the trees and pushing away branches. Saglit siyang napapatigil at tinitignan ang kabuoan ng daan. He's focused on our way.

I looked at the sky, it's almost sunrise. Wala na ako masyadong nakikitang bituin.

Napangisi ako nang may naisip na tugma.

"Roses are red, violets are blue. I can't see any stars, they got smitten by the glow of you." usal ko habang nakangiti sa langit.

Lumingon si Worth sakin na mukhang nagulat sa biglang pagsalita ko. He smirked when he got my rhyme. Yumuko siya na parang may iniisip.

"Roses are red, violets are blue. If I got a star everytime I look at you, I'd have a galaxy by a day or two." He gave me a flustered smile.

Kinigat ko ang labi ko. That was better. Nginisihan ko pa rin siya at hindi nagpatalo.

"Roses are red, violets are blue. I wonder what crosses your mind, everytime your eyes met mine?"

I winked at him. Mas lumapad ang ngisi niya at humalakhak.

"You want to know, Bellemy?" he teased.

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at lumapit sakin. He turned off his flashlight and put his mask on before pulling me closer to him.

Sumeryoso ang mukha niya. Napapikit ako nang unti-unti ng lumabas ang araw. The sun's rising slowly between the mountain ranges. Tumama iyon sa mukha naming dalawa.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kanya. He's still staring. Lumabi ako nang hindi siya nakatingin sa magandang tanawin ng papalabas na araw.

"Worth, stop staring at me, look at the sunrise. Ang ganda, oh." I pointed, completely amazed by it's beauty.