“Guys, since tapos na tayong mag lunch, let’s go to the Mangrove area.”
Tumalina naman sila. Kasama na si Aia. Medyo malayo iyon kasi nasa dulo na iyon ng coastal area. The soldiers were boxing her in. Hindi niya alam kung sinasadya iyon or nagkataon lang na nagkasabay sila.
“Miss Aia!”
Aia halted and turned back, it was Sergeant Baldo calling her. May bitbit itong combat shoes.
He handed it to her. “Suotin mo daw Miss Aia utos ni Sir Gabriel.”
Her eyes searched for Lt. Castellejos, She saw him just a couple of meters behind Baldo. “Suotin mo na yan maraming tinik sa daraanan natin.”
Aia looked around, nasa kanila na naman ang atensyon ng lahat. Nasa mukha ng mga ito ang pagtataka kung bakit ganoon na lang ang trato sa kanya ng mga sundalo lalong lalo na si Lt. Castellejos.
“Lt. Castellejos, hindi naman na kailangan,” tanggi niya.
“I insist Miss Trinidad.”
“Fine.”
He helped her with the combat boots while Baldo hoding her for balance. Si Lt. Castellejos pa mismo ang nag tie ng sintas niya.
“There. You can go now.” He turned to Baldo. “Get her sneakers.”
Aia was squatting on her haunches with a muddy mangrove in her hands when Eva knelt nearby, hands filthy just like hers and her shoes were soaked by sea water. The sun was scorching hot. Eva looked up to her and quirked a lopsided grin at her, “I saw that moment earlier with Lt. Castellejos. Isn’t he sweet? Your knight in shining combat boots,” Eva said teasing her.
“You think I’m Cinderella?”
Eva laughed, “You are your own princess.”
Aia stood up, pulled down her hoodie, and dragged a filthy hand across her sweating forehead. She stretched a little. Her back was aching from squatting.
Eva looked up to her following her every move, it lingers on her face. “Oh my God!”
“What is it?”
“What happened to your face?” Ang pula-pula mo na.”
“It’s just normal, don’t worry. I forgot to wear sunscreen.”
“No, I think that’s not normal sun burn. Namamantal kana. Teka lang.” Umalis ito at tinawag si Markus na nasa malapit lang. “Lt. La Madrid, look at Aia’s skin.”
Agad naman na lumapit si Markus sa kanya. Markus studied her face, “Shit. Stay there Miss Aia.” Umalis ito. Pagbalik ay kasama na si Lt. Castellejos. His reaction was of Lt. La Madrid’s.
“Did you have an allergy? What did you eat? Did you bring Antihistamine?” Lt. Castellejos asked her.
“No, it’s not the food.”
“Then what is?”
“Idiopathic photodermatoses.”
“Whatever that means?”
“Sun allergy.”
“Wow, that is some shit luck.” Markus said.
Aia nodded. “I’m photosensitive. Too much sun exposure caused this. I’m sensitive to UVA, longer wavelength tanning rays. I forgot to wear sunscreen, you –
“Are you stupid? May allergy ka pala bakit nagpa araw ka pa din?” he scolded her.
“Do you really have to say that?”
“Look, I’m sorry okay?” pinunasan nito ang madumi niyang mukha. “Can you take antihistamines?” he said in a soft voice.
She lowered her head, “I had an anaphylactic reaction to Antihistamines.”
“Wow, that’s even shittier luck,” Alex muttered. Nakalapit na pala ito sa kanila hindi niya lang napansin.
Tiningnan ang mga ito ng masama ni Gabriel. Si Eva naman ay nagpalipat-lipat sa kanilang apat ang tingin. “You two are not helping.”
“Want to know shittiest luck?” asked Aia. “I'm allergic to penicillin. That magic life saving drug puts me in a hospital.” Aia joked to lighten the mood but she didn’t expect they’d take it seriously.
Their jaws dropped. “No kidding!” Eva, Markus and Alex exclaimed in unison.
Aia laughed. “Of course, I’m kidding! Two allergies are enough for me, thank you.”
Lt. Castellejos glared at her, “You’re making fun of the situation. Your condition is not something to laugh about. I’m sending you home.”
“But.....
“No buts, Miss Trinidad.” He turned to Markus and Alex. “La Madrid, Alcatraz please escort Miss Trinidad to the car, I’ll talk to her Professor. Excuse me, Miss Eva.” Iyon lang at umalis na ito at kinausap si Mr. Taquito. Nakita pa niyang napatingin sa gawi nila ang professor.
Aia gritted her teeth, “Who does he think he is?”
Alex smirked at her, “Do you want me to say it?”
Aia glanced over Eva. She was puzzled as if there’s a big question mark written on her face. Umiling siya.“Don’t. Eva, I’ll go ahead. Lt. Castellejos was just being exaggerated. Look who’s over reacting now.”
“Are you sure you are okay?” asked Eva.
Aia nodded.
“Well, take care. Don’t forget to write a summary of our activity today. Mr. Taquito usually collects it on Monday.”
“Thanks for the info, Eva. I’ll go ahead.” Eva walked off, Markus and Alex in her both sides.
Nauna na siyang naglakad habang ang dalawa ay nakasunod sa kanya. Si Eva naman ay naiwan sa kinatatayuan nito, nasa anyo pa rin nito ang pagtataka. Someday if the time is right I’ll tell you everything Eva,” wika niya sa isip.
Napatingin siya sa dagat at biglang sumagi sa isip niya ang planong mag-swimming kanina. Since she was about to go home, napagpasyahan niyang ituloy iyon. Tinakbo niya ang dagat. Alex and Markus were too stunned sa ginawa niya kaya hindi siya napigilan ng mga ito. Nasa hanggang baywang niya na ang tubig ng marinig niya ang malakas na sigaw ni Lt. Castellejos.
“MISS TRINIDAD, GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANCE!”
Hindi siya nakinig dito. Nagsimula na siyang lumangoy kahit mababaw pa rin nag tubig. Hindi niya kasi alam kung kalian o mangyayari pa kaya na maka tampisaw siya sa dagat.
Maya-maya lang ay may humablot sa kanya at binuhat siya na parang sako ng bigas.
“Put me down, Lt. Castellejos,” matigas na sabi niya. “I can walk.”
“No,” he grunted. Basa na rin ito dahil sa kanya. “Baka kung ano na naman ang maisipan mong gawin. Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng General pag nakita kang parang basang sisiw ngayon?” Hindi siya sumagot. Hanggang ng makarating sila ng sasakyan ay buhat-buhat siya nito. “Alam mo bang pinagtitinginan ka ng lahat at pinagtatawanan? Sinasabi nila na malakas na daw ang tama mo.”
“Ngayon lang ako naging masaya, iisipin ko pa ba ang mga sasabihin nila?” she said cryptically.
Nanuna na silang bumalik nang kampo. Pinagtitinginan sila nang mga sundalong madaan nila dahil pareho silang basang dala. Lalong-lalo na siya. Para siyang basang sisiw. But agai, the hell she cared. Mag isip sila kung anong gusto nilang sabihin. Basta siya, masaya siya sa ginawa niya.
BINABASA MO ANG
Genius in Distress
Fiksi UmumAtlantis Altamirano was uniquely beautiful, influential, rich and quite powerful. She's an Heiress and a political princess. While on the other hand her other identity as Atlantis Melinkov was exceptionally genius with all the dorky, geeky and nerdy...
