The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 46

Kabanata 46

Atlas

Truth was, the camp was a shithole of horny cadets. Nasa dining hall kami para maghapunan sa gabing 'yon. Walang commandant na nagbabantay dahil nag-ayos lang naman kami ng mga gamit sa dorm buong araw. Sinulit 'yon ng mga kapwa ko kadete kaya malaya silang nag-usap sa hapag. They were fumbling over Douglas' phone. Kumunot ang noo ko pero dahil 'di naman ako mahilig mang-usyoso'y hinayaan ko sila.

"Ang ganda naman! Sigurado ka bang anak 'yan ni General Linarez?"

Douglas smugly nodded. "Dude, do you think I'm a source of fake news? Anak talaga 'yan ni General. Ganda 'no? Pang-Miss Universe!"

"Sa tingin mo ba bibisita siya rito? Because damn, bro. I think I'm in love."

My brows furrowed more. General Linarez had a daughter?

I thought about it and realized I wanted to know about her, not because I was interested, but because General Linarez was one of the people I looked up to in the industry. Connections are important no matter where you are. And for me, who always strived to be the best in my craft, even the trivial things mattered.

Nakita ko ang pagsulyap sa 'kin ni Douglas. He noticed the flicker of interest in my eyes which was why he abruptly snatched his phone from Manuel, one of our co-cadets. Tumungo siya sa 'kin, umupo sa dulo ng lamesa, at saka dramatikong pinadulas tungo sa harap ko ang cellphone niya.

"Ionna Sebella Linarez. Eighteen. Upcoming Fine Arts Student. Heathens of LFU," he introduced.

I lifted a brow at him. Totoong gusto kong makilala ang babaeng 'to pero ang makita ang pang-aasar sa mukha ni Douglas ay nagpainit ng ulo ko. I didn't want to be figured out. I hated it. It reminded me that people could also command me, and I wasn't the type to follow orders unless it's by someone who was in a higher military rank than me.

"Ang favoritism mo, Doug! 'Tsaka ano pa bang purpose niyang ginawa mo, e 'di naman 'yan tipo ni Atlas!" ani Manuel na nagtatampo na ngayon.

"People change," patuyang sambit niya. He squeezed my shoulder and I shoved his hand away immediately. Laughing a bit, he said, "Baka ito na ang magpapabago ng standard niya, dude. The girl looks life-changing!"

It was true that I had a type. Maybe it started with me looking up to my father and how he chose my Mom. She was petite, slender, and small. Sa tingin ko'y nagustuhan siya ni Papa dahil gusto nitong ipakita ang pagiging superior nito bilang lalaki. It was toxic masculinity but it was normal back in the days. Turns out though, that my mother was much superior compared to him. The man would literally bend upon her.

But then that isn't my point. My point is I liked my girls alike with my Mom. Not because I wanted to assert dominance, but because I just wanted them... cute. Like a kitten. At nang bumaba ang tingin ko sa cellphone na nasa harap ko, ang litrato ng babae roon ay malayo sa tipo ko. 

She was fierce, sultry, and... she looked like someone who'd make me kneel someday. The picture was her in a hotel's terrace. The Eiffel tower was behind her and basically, it was just a simple vacation picture.

Except that her eyes turned me the fuck on.

Hindi ko mabura ang litratong 'yon sa isipan ko hanggang sa nagsimula na ang training namin sa kampo. It was 7 AM when I arrived at our Cadet Barracks. I was late because I had things to do at YSI the day before. Pagpasok ko sa loob ay naroon si Douglas na nagmamadaling binubutones ang official uniform namin.

"Shit, Las. I'm going to be fucking late," he said and started reciting the Our Father while changing.

Tulad niya'y problemado rin ako dahil malabong makakaattend pa ako ng Rifle Inspection. It was a good thing that I could easily excuse myself because of YSI. Unfair 'yon. And I knew the privilege that it brought me, pero imbes na matuwa roon, mas lalo kong pinepressure ang sarili ko dahil gusto kong ipakitang karapat-dapat ako sa pribileheyong meron ako.