See You Soon, Soldier (Ambience Series #1)

Chapter Twenty-three

Music for this chapter on the multimedia: Departure by BrunuhVille

**

Fight

My house never felt more quiet and sad. Parang hindi na ito ang bahay na dating tinatakbuhan ko palabas at pasok. Andromeda was left shocked by how calm I was while she just told me that my life's ending.

I didn't even flinched, instead I just told her that it was okay. Matagal ko na ring inaasahan na balang araw may isang tao rin na magsasabi ng mga katagang iyon sakin.

"Does Worth know?" mahinang tanong ko sa kanya.

She slowly nodded. "He overheard me telling his father about you. They are all in the tent, waiting for us. The discussion will start when we get there."

Tumango ako at nagpaalam muna sa kanya. Hinayaan niya muna akong pumunta sa kwarto ko para mapag-isa at magbihis.

I went inside my room and locked the door. Sumandal ako sa pintuan at huminga ng malalim. I can feel my body getting heavier and weaker.

Parang may pinapasan akong anumang oras ay hindi ko na kayang dalhin pa. Umiling ako at pinatatag muli ang sarili.

Umalis ako sa pagkakasandal at pumunta sa mga nasablay kong mga damit. The glass wall was still around my bed. Hindi ko pinansin iyon at naghanap ng damit.

I take off the hospital gown that I'm wearing and wore a loose dress. I didn't clip my hair since I can't find my white rose. Mukhang naiwan ko iyon. Hinayaan ko nalang malaglag iyon.

I wore boots and a brown scarf to cover my neck. Tinabunan ko ang maliliit na marka ng mga turok roon. I didn't bother covering the rest on my arms. There were marks of needles and black swollen dots on my wrists and elbows.

Tinitigan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin. Yarah was right. I look like shit. My eyes looked tired from crying, I loose weight, my skin is much paler, there are small cracks on my lips.

Sinubukan kong ngumit sa sarili ko. You still glow, Bellemy. It's just a little gloom.

Bumuntong hininga ulit ako bago lumabas. For the first time, I didn't wear any gloves or a mask on my way out of my room.

Hinintay ako ni Andromeda sa labas. Hindi na siya umiiyak pero kita rin sa mga mata niya ang kulubot at pamamaga nito. Binigyan na ako ng ngiti nang makita ako.

"Ang ganda naman," saad niya. Alam kong sinusubukan rin niya patatagin ako at ang sarili niya sa mga oras na 'to.

Mahinang tumawa ako sa kanya at umiling. "Let's go?"

Tumango siya at naunang lumabas ng bahay.

Pagkalabas ko ay nagulat ako nang masilayan ang mga armadong sundalo sa labas. Tumama ang malamig na hangin sa balat ko. The crescent moon is visible. Wala akong ideya kung gaano na kalalim ang gabi.

On top of the hills, by my garden, outside our house. Kahit saang banda ako tumingin ay may nakatayong sundalo.

"They are guarding the area, Bellemy. My uncle--Commander Esperaz and his platoons are going AWOL. He knew everything from the becoming but he had to play along to know more and who's behind all of this,"

"That's why he let them take you, we and he needs to follow orders first and be vigilant before rescuing you," Bumaling siya sakin habang naglalakad. "He needs to pretend--we need to pretend but, we're done now. Ang pasilidad na pinagdalhan sayo at ang pinasukan ng grupo ni Worth. The main cure was supposed to be there but it wasn't."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Main cure?"

Tumango siya. "I've been spying for years on the scientists to have that information. That liquid was the one producing the antidote. I can't make a cure without it," Tinitigan niya ako. "You led them to that ten years ago. All your tests and trials, I've seen them all. Mga ordinaryong doktor lang sina Doctor Floraza at mga kasamahan niya dati. Look at them now, they are famous scientists because of you."