3 Chapter Three

Day 9 I owe my life from you

Early in the morning she stands by in the door room of Sergeant Herrera, she wanted to know if he is awake, she felt that she has a responsibility to do and she wanted to give thanks to the Sergeant for saving her life. Finally the door open she approached a nurse who was coming from the room of the Sergeant. She was then, allow her to enter into the room to visit the Sergeant. She waves at the Sergeant and get close to him.

"Hi". She greeted the Sergeant.

The Sergeant smiles at her and greeted her too.

"Hi hard headed woman, what are you doing here"?

"Well, I am here to visit and to say Thank you for saving me."

The Sergeant just nods and smiled at her saying nothing.

"How are you feeling Sir? Are you okay? Is there something hurt? Continuously ask a question to a Sergeant.

" I am fine, don't worry about me, it’s just a wound. "

" Seriously? Just wound? I think you're enduring the pain".

"Well, this is my job I sacrifice myself to save other lives".

Chyrill gets quiet from what the Sergeant said. She just nods and smiled. She brings some fruits to the Sergeant that she gets from the kitchen of this camp, she has no money to buy fruit for him. She sliced the apple and gives it to the Sergeant Herrera.

"Here, take some I bring this to you, ohh I mean I get this from the kitchen.

" Really? Thanks, hope they didn't notice you in stealing those fruits".

"Ohh... I didn't steal it, I asked for that".

Sergeant Herrera laughs, she was like a little child explaining from the accusation she didn't do. She just giggled and laughs a little from the Sergeant joking.

After an hour of staying at the Sergeant room, she decided to say goodbye and promised that she will get back in the afternoon for the meanwhile she need to go to the North Simpkins Place, she had promised to the kids that today she will teach them to read and write.

She is helped by the soldiers to load the things she needed,. When the children saw her, they run coming over her and everyone has a smile on their lips they are so excited to learn. She handed books, other learning materials, crayons and coloring books for the kids. She gives it one by one to the kids and she starts to teach them to read A, B, C and writes their name, little kids enjoying in coloring the books she gives to them. After the soldiers loaded all the things and some packed foods for them, she was left at the North Simpkins and staying until the afternoon, she also teaches a song to think that the children enjoyed it much. She used to play with the children and they shared the food she bought.

She helps to cook food to the people of North Simpkins all the people there was happy with what she has done for them even thought she don't understand much their language and it’s hard for her them to speak in English she was able to talk with them slowly.

The hours move so fast she didn't realized that it was getting dark, she packed her things so that she will be ready to back the camp once the soldiers returned to pick her up. But the minutes of waiting turns into hours it was getting more darkened.

Sergeant Herrera keeps looking at the clock it was past 5:00 in the afternoon, he feels excited every time the door of his room opens, but, suddenly it was his men that visit him in the room, he was expecting Chyrill to visit him this afternoon, his smile faded away every time that he doesn't see Chyrill to come and visit him, he had missed that woman even thought she gives a headache from the day she was being here.

He waited a long hour to Chyrill, maybe she was busy and enjoying much staying with the children of North Simpkins. Until it gets midnight no sign of Chyrill coming to his room that he expected. He ordered his men to look at her room, he wanted to know if she is safe and rest in the hour.

One of his men comes back to his room and saying that Chyrill was not in her room, he forced himself to get up and he wants to go in her room. He helps by his colleague to stand and bring him to Chyrill room, they suspected that she was getting escape. They checked her belongings, but all her things and belongings are still in there.

He orders to search all the area and asked his men if they had to pick up Chyrill in the North Simpkins Place. He radio the one soldier in charge to look an eye for her.

"Where is She?" he asked for the one of his men who is in charge.

"I left her at the North Simpkins, she belongs there she has no place here, she only causes problem to all of us".

His ears throbbed at what he heard he pulled out a gun and aimed it at his colleague.

"I think you don't know what are you talking about officer Robert" he shouted at his man.

Sergeant Herrera quickly gets out of the room and ride in the car, he starts the car engine and he decided to go at the North Simpkins even if his arms are hurt and he can't move as easily he will go back to that place and he will make that she will bring back Chyrill on the camp.

A moment later he was at the Place of the North Simpkins people, place are quiet and he sees a fire afar and a woman who has a covered herself a silk satin cloth. He moves closer and lit a flashlight to the woman who is sitting beside a barn fire. And he was never getting wrong, it was Chyrill who fell asleep, he moves closer to her and approached her. Chyrill startled with she feels that there is someone touches her shoulder.

"It's me... Sergeant Herrera don't be afraid".

She started to cry and trying to hold her tears at the moment she see Sergeant Herrera.

"I was waiting here for long hours, I thought you leave me here alone..."

"I'm sorry, I was not able to be here.

She helps Sergeant Herrera to get up and covered her a cloth to get not cold.

Sergeant Herrera drives back to the camp and he brings her in the room just to make sure that he is safe. She told the Sergeant it is okay to back at her room alone, but the Sergeant insisted it.

Day 10 The cry of the North Simpkins

Just like yesterday she had to visit the Sergeant in his room, but he was not around the nurse said that he needs to get back to the operating room to replace the bandage and make it sure that it was already healed, she leaves a message to the table and back to the Northern Simpkins to teach the kids that she enjoys it now.

She handed all the materials she needed and some packed foods for the kids, she helped by the soldiers to bring things she needed. The kids are so happy to see her and feel excited to learn new lessons from her. They shared the food that she prepared for the people of the North Simpkins before she starts to teach they enjoyed it a lot and their parents are too thankful for her for the help and concerned to them.

The kids are all ears listening to her they are enjoying a lot in learning a nursery rhyme and listening to the stories that she just invented funny, but she likes it too now they can bring the kids to her fantasy that turns into reality just like what happen right now for her to fall in love with the Sergeant. A moment later, the kids invited her to play games that she taught a day ago she has no reason to say no to them because all she wanted is to feel them of being a kid for some time despite of the war that they are with right now.

They formed a circle holding their hands and turning around, they sing a song that she taught to the kids all that she heard was the laughter and see them with a happy face, she used to dance too with the kids and laugh with

them but a moment later they heard a loud explosion near from the place of North Simpkins.

The kids get afraid and all of them are coming close to her, they are all crying as they heard a massive explosion just near the area, everybody is frightened their parents come after with their kids trying to save from the massive explosion, they had to run from the safest place their homes has totally burn the rice, vegetables and fruits they harvest was totally burned, animals are running too, and trying to run away, but she thinks about the safety of the people of the North Simpkins if she only could call a help to the Sergeant and to the Arland Soldiers to save them from this kind of war. She has no idea where those explosions were coming from it was like a total blast, she had seen in her entire life.

She cried for what had happened to the place of Northern Simpkins, there were tears in their eyes, children are frightened, many are injured and they didn't know if others are saved from the massive explosions just like them. She helped lift the wounded to keep them away from the site of the explosion she also helped to apply bait to heal the wounded. She tried to be calm it is the only way to show to the people that there is still hope and the Arland soldiers will come to save them from this terror. She hugged the old woman screaming and yelling because of frightened. She can't hold her tears she feels afraid too, but this is not the time to be emotional she needs to be strong for the people of the Northern Simpkins.

It was only a matter of time before the Arland soldiers arrived at the Northern Simpkins area with trucks carrying the soldiers and helicopters they saw in the air. She burst into tears when she saw the Sergeant and she did not know as long as she just ran closer to the Sergeant and suddenly she hugged and cried. She makes her assured that everything will be okay, the Sergeant brings her at the safest Place and a group of soldiers make sure that the people of the Northern Simpkins will be safe especially the children.

The Arland soldiers began their operation to search and rescue the wounded and began to investigate and find the Sans Serif terrorist they need to find out why they had to target the civilians what they really need a war? Yes a war that never been ended, despite in peace and order the Arland Soldiers brings to the people of the Northern Simpkins.

It's already midnight the investigation has done, she prepared food for the children, the people of Northern Simpkins, forage and a bowl of soup is the only that she can prepare for this time all the food that they harvest of the people of the Northern Simpkins was burned too because of the explosion. She handed a tray of forage and a bowl of soup and distributed it one by one.

She scooped up the remaining hot broth and took it to the Sergeant who was temporarily resting in the distance.

"Hi.. She greeted the Sergeant. The Sergeant just nodded and looks as far

" I'll bring some hot soup to fill your stomach, I hope it will help you".

"Oh, thank you, How about you? Have you had something to eat?

She just shook her head and sat down next to the Sergeant.

" I'm not hungry".

The Sergeant nods and started to taste the hot soup that she brought for him.

"I'm sorry if it is not taste good, there's no left seasoning I just put a salt on it".

The Sergeant just laughs loud, it was a totally a relieved to him at this moment talking to her he made him smile with nothing.

"No... It tastes good it helps to fill my stomach".

"Really" she smiled at the Sergeant.

The Sergeant melts every time she smiles because her beauty stands out every time she smiles; it is the one of the reasons why Sergeant likes her.

"Anyways, I read your message this morning.

" Ah huh.. "hmm, well, I just don't want to find me in somewhere else"

Chyrill just bows her head and smiled secretly she don't want to notice that she got blushed, she suddenly stood up and decided to go back at the people of the Northern Simpkins she can't take any longer to talk longer to the Sergeant her heart is pounding and she don't want to notice it by the Sergeant.

"I need to go back there, I think they need my help. She reasoned to the Sergeant.

" Oh.. Okay, sure... Take care we will talk later.

She just nodded and walks away to the Sergeant. The Sergeant wants to stop her and tell her to stay for a while, but he was then shy to ask Chyrill. Maybe love is growing in between them with this girl or maybe he was falling into her.

Day 11 The Sergeant is In love

Who can say that in the midst of the war there was a love that formed the Sergeant finally fell in love with Chyrill who was stranded in the Place of Simpkins where the war is never ending. Since yesterday until now he needs to keep an eye on every single minute of this place to assure that the innocent people of Northern Simpkins will not be in danger especially Chyrill. He went into the tent where Chyrill is resting, he entered inside and he saw Chyrill is deeply asleep, he was then smiled she's too beautiful in his eyes maybe she got tired in helping the others to save the others and preparing foods for the children, to the people of Simpkins and for them, she must be a fallen angel that was sent to them too funny to think that she was suspected that she's one of the Sans Serif terrorists, but as time pass and days she stayed at the camp he knows that this woman has a good heart.

He moves closer to Chyrill he wanted to see her face when she was sleeping, but at the moment Chyrill was awake and she sees that the Sergeant was looking too close at her, she suddenly got up.

"Oh.. I'm sorry to wake you up"

"it's okay, is there something happened? Do you need my help?

" No.. No.. just checking you if you rest well".

Chyrill just smiled at the Sergeant and nod.

"Oh... Yes, I have slept... I think three hours"

"Sorry to disturb you, you can go back to sleep now".

"Alright, Siguro may gusto ka na sa akin noh? She speaks again in her language and smiled to the Sergeant.

" There you go again, speaking in your language huh".

"Ha ha ha" She just laughs and back to her sleep.

Sergeant goes outside of her tent smiling and feels a bit shy, he just shook her head and back at his post.

She covers herself in a blanket and trying to go back to sleep, about an hour since Sergeant has visited here in the tent she can't be able to back at sleep again, she is now wondering for how long Sergeant Herrera looks at her while she is sleeping, she decided to get up and help the others to prepare a meal for the kids, the people of Northern Simpkins and the Arland Soldiers.

She came out of the tent and she sees that everyone is busy she sees Sergeant is coming over her handed with a bowl of soup and bread.

"I hope you rest well"

"hmmm, yes, I had a good sleep, " she said, but, actually she hasn't enough sleep, she was not able to sleep again from the time he entered the tent.

Sergeant Herrera gives to Chyrill a bowl of soup and a bread.

"Thank you"

"Enjoy your meal, I know it's not too enough to fill your empty stomach, but it helps you a lot."

She just nodded and smiled at the Sergeant.

Not far from where they are standing with the Sergeant they see the children are fighting because of the bread, she went to the children and give a bread to them the one that Sergeant Herrera gave to her she look from distant the Sergeant and she smiles at him. The Sergeant just scratched his head and returned to his post.

"This is for you, okay? So don't fight okay?

The little girl gets the bread from her and ran back where she is sitting. She looks around all is totally damaging their homes, their source of daily life, children are crying and the old are frightened. Their life is harder just because of the never ending war between the Arland Soldiers and Sans Serif terrorist here in Simpkins.

She walks away from the place of the explosion, she needs to breathe and think for a while, she don't want to cry in front of them and she feels, ashamed if she sees Sergeant Herrera crying again. She tries not to cry, but she can't control her tears falling down to her cheeks and this moment she thinks about their friends who has been heading here too, where are they at this moment and how is their life been going through. She back to the Place of North Simpkins and the soldiers is busy in building the tents for the temporary shelter of the people of the North Simpkins, she handed a help to the wounded and helps to cleanse their wounds and attend another medical assistant to the best she could. One of the Arland Soldier comes to her and gives some pack of food. She smiled and gave thanks to him,. She sits at the bark of the tree and starts to eat the food that she gave to her.

It's late afternoon when they had finished building the tents and the wounded are all cured, the Sergeant and the other of his men decided to go back at the camp with her, she hates to go and leave the children in this kind of situation. She wants to say goodbye to the children, but she chooses not to see them before she leaves, it's hard for her to leave them and she needs to go back at the camp with the Arland Soldiers for her safety and to have more rest and to wash up and take a bath.

She walks away to the place together with the Arland Soldiers and with Sergeant Herrera without any glimpse of the children of the North Simpkins, But before she boarded the military truck the children are chased after her, shouting her name and others are crying.

She suddenly froze and faces all the children she was crying too, and she embraces the children and she promised that she will go back tomorrow and they learned a new song and she promised to read a story for them. She finally boarded the military trucks together with the Arland soldiers and with Sergeant Herrera, she waves to say goodbye to the children, she's trying to hold her tears but just like before tears from her eyes suddenly rolled to her cheeks. She cried silently she's trying to hide it from the Arland soldiers and to Sergeant Herrera, but then Sergeant Herrera eyes staring at her.

Day 12 Sweethearts?

It's a beautiful Sunday morning in the Simpkins city as the Sergeant promised her the day before that they will go in the Simpkins City to go around and buy some toys for the kids,she wears a floral color powder blue dress that totally looks gorgeous in the eyes of the Sergeant and the Sergeant wears a white shirt and jeans he put shade too that makes Chyrill heart beats fast.

They went into the city just like an ordinary person. The Sergeant holds her hand as they walk along the city, maybe he cared so much about her and knowing that she is a stranger in this place. Sergeant Herrera did not let go of her hands wherever they go that Chyrill liked. They went to the toy store to buy some toys for the children of North Simpkins. Sergeant Herrera buys a big Mickey Mouse for her that she likes it most. They are like sweethearts who hides each other feelings. She smiled to the Sergeant and hugs him that surprised to the Sergeant and her, maybe she was just happy she gets feel ashamed for what she did and pretends that it was not happening.

She dragged Sergeant Herrera to the Ice cream Parlor but for now the Sergeant, don't refuse at all and she promised that she will treat him. When they are at the Ice Cream Parlor, she is like a little kid that so excited to taste an ice cream, she just chooses the cookies and cream flavor and chocolates and he let Sergeant Herrera choose the flavor he wants.

"Common Sergeant chooses the flavor you want, don't worry, this is my treat to you" She smiled sweetly at the Sergeant.

"Okay.. I choose cookies and cream too...

The salesman scoop an ice cream, they went to cashier for the payment and she insisted to pay it, but when she was on the counter, she forgot that she has no money at all because she bought fruits last time for the children and that was the only money left in her pocket. Sergeants come over her and approach her.

"Is there something wrong"?

"Ohh...a little"

"What is it?" Sergeant asks her.

"Ma'am 150 ruppee your bill" said the woman in the counter.

She wanted to melt in shame not on the woman at the counter but also on Sergeant because she had promised that she will be the one to pay for this, but what happens is just a full ashamed of herself and to the Sergeant. Sergeant Herrera notices its instantly so he picked a money on his wallet.

"Thank you, " she whispered silently.

She don't even know if she heard by the Sergeant and at that moment she is in a hurry to go outside at the Ice Cream Parlor, she stared at herself and walks back and forth talking to herself. The Sergeant follows her and he was smiling at the moment he saw Chyrill being felt ashamed of what happened at the store.

"Are you okay"? he asked to Chyrill

"Well, I think maybe.. I'm sorry about that"

"it's Okay, you don't have to be sorry"

She just smiles to the Sergeant and walks along with him, they see a fireworks display near the park of the city and they decided to watch for a while.

It’s so surprising that the Sergeant doesn’t let go of her hand and Sergeant Herrera was just looking at her who is amazed at the fireworks display that makes the Sergeant smiled to himself and he feels that his heart is pounding. Until the moment the fireworks display ended, he still holding the hand of Chyrill.

"It was beautiful, isn't it?" Chyrill said, amazed.

"Ohh.. yes... It was beautiful. He looks at the eyes of Chyrill when he is saying those words, that makes Chyrill get blush and feel shy too.

She lost her grip on the Sergeant hand and walked away from the place, she walks along the city and the Sergeant just followed her.

"I think we need to go back at the camp, it's getting dark" the Sergeant told her

She follows the Sergeant. On the way back to the camp, she notices not too far from the place where they are standing people are in turmoil, a group of men are coming with guns handed she was stunned by what she saw. Sergeant Herrera comes to her and took her away from the crowded people.

But she sees a familiar face, she will not be mistaken that she sees their friends; she wonders why they are with those men? With guns slung on their shoulder, Did they notice her too? She looked at the Sergeant with surprise.

She ran to chase the group of men and she was sure that those men were with her friends. She called the names of their friends, but suddenly it’s disappeared from her sight. She looks around to find her friends, she was sure that she saw them. But her hopes are fading, no more sign of the group of men who was with her friends.

Suddenly she feels weak and just sat in the middle of the crowd. Sergeant Herrera approaches her and helps her to stand up and take her away from the crowd.

The Sergeant drive back to the camp, Chyrill is still in silence and looking afar she was thinking about their friends why they are with those gunmen. What is happening to them? Did they notice her? Those are the question that she keeps asking for herself.

"Why you didn't do anything"? Why you let my friends take those men? She asked Sergeant Herrera.

"I'm sorry about those little things, there is nothing I can do at that moment they are with the Sans Serif terrorist and I am protecting you from them..."

"And you are not sure that what you see are your friends "

"Protecting me? From who? You are a soldier you should do something to save them... and I'm pretty sure they are my friends...

Sergeant Herrera just keeps quiet, he knows that Chyrill has been just upset for what had happened in the city, he will try to understand her in the best as he can be.

Chyrill went back in her room from the moment they arrived at the camp, she can't hold her tears back, she wants to go back in the city and find her friends,. The Sergeant follows her in her room and he will try to talk to her and explain everything about what had happened in the city.

"I need to talk to you in a minute." Sergeant Herrera said to her.

"No. I don't want to talk... leaves me alone. She closes the door of her room and locked it up.

Sergeant Herrera just scratches her head and walks away worrying about Chyrill.