I'm Yours to Keep

Chapter 36

1 year later

I was doing 3 sets of sit-ups when my phone rang so Cade, my fitness trainer from KMA, handed my phone to me.

"If you want to take some gears, just tell Seth."

Tumago ako sa kaniya at ngumiti. "Yeah. Thanks." Saka ako naupo nang diretso at sinagot ang tawag ni Gerard.

"Hey."

"Hey, how are you?"

Pinagmasdan ko ang buong gym. "Italy is nice."

"You've already completed your one-year of training. Zuno will get you at the airport the day after tomorrow."

Marahan akong tumango. "So, I got one free day before I go back?"

"Pretty much... Hmm, I miss you."

Napangiti ako inilagay sa loudspeaker ang tawag para makapagpatuloy sa pagsi-sit up. "I missed you too. How's Miguel?"

We talked until before lunch. Kailangan niya na ring pumunta sa Zambales for his assignment and I went home to pack up.

Sa balkonahe, hawak ko ang isang baso ng kape habang nakatanaw sa labas. Two weeks after my orientation and contract signing with KMA, I flew to Italy to formally start my training.

I told Miguel and my parents that I'm planning to be a sand art instructor here kaya hindi na sila nagtaka sa biglaan kong pag-alis. I was unemployed anyway, inasahan na rin nilang maghahanap ako ng pagkakaabalahn.

Mom and Dad made up eventually while Miguel is still aloof around Dad. They often invite him over for dinner pero mabibilang lang sa daliri kung ilang beses siyang sumipot. Hannah and Xander knew about him too so they have been pretty persistent to get close to him and have been succeeding so far. Mas madalas pang makausap ni Hannah at Xander si Miguel kaysa kay Dad.

The training was hard. I was too skinny, so I had to eat a lot para kayanin ng katawan ko. I gained enough weight to get the muscles that I need. No more flawless skin, though. I got a few scars on my legs and arms from knife cuts. Just a little sacrifice to get incredible endurance and speed.

Dahil professional training ito, they did not allow Gerard to be here. KMA is strict when it comes to love affairs, but I think Gerard is one of their best agents, so they let this past, with reservations, of course.

"Hey, Care!" Kumaway sa 'kin si Greta habang nagsusulat ng kung ano sa lamesa siya. She's an instructor from this sand art school just a few blocks away from my apartment.

"Sorry, I'm late."

Umiling siya agad at itinuro ang coffee maker sa gilid. "No worries, have some coffee."

It wasn't entirely false when I told my parents that I'd be here to be a sand art instructor. It's still about sand art, but I came here as a student.

Daily, I spend three hours of training in the morning, two hours here at school and another three hours in the evening. There's a whole team of KMA instructors that train newcomers.

My training curriculum is composed of logical and reasoning skills, weapon proficiency, physical fitness, mental health endurance and some other significant skills.

I picked up my dinner on my way home after my last training and spent my night watching movies. Bumibigat na ang talukap ng mga mata ko kaya inilapag ko sa gilid ang hawak kong remote.

Maya-maya, narinig ko ang tunog ng ilang susi mula sa labas. Lumakas ito nang lumakas hanggang sa tila bumagsak sa tapat ng pinto.

Tanging ilaw na lang mula sa flat-screen TV ang nagbibigay liwanag sa buong apartment. Mula sa ilalim ng pinto, natanaw ko ang dumaang anino. I took my gun under the coffee table, turned off the TV and walked quietly towards the door.