Albrecht's in Bad Mood
When they reached the granite mountain, Baldur decided to bring his comrade to the tunnel's exit passage going to station one. George and Magee understood what Baldur mean, to preserve their privacy and still hide the granite house from anyone. It was a bit taxing but Baldur did it in order to allow Magee and George to use the secret external door of the granite house, and since its already evening, the couple quickly get in, going up to the spiral stairs. Interestingly, someone was standing beside the bar counter, looking at them going up - its Albrecht.
" Magee climbed slowly and stayed behind George. George never knew of what was it all about and he just smiled to Albrecht.
" Come! " Albrecht called Magee and he walked straight going to the granite couch at the receiving area.
George was still puzzled yet he accompanied Magee, side by side, even during when they sat down.
" You drowned me with vodka, it was intentional. You put me to sleep and you escaped. You left me alone for almost whole day and lifeless. Now, tell me, why did you escape? despite restrictions." Albrecht was truly mad. Magee just seated too close to George and remained silent. Thus, the husband spoke on her behalf and explained everything to Albrecht. The eldest brother cooled down a little and eventually understood especially when Baldur arrived and helped meddle the situation.
" But yes, yes Mag, you just intoxicated our brother, he's just too upset. Hmm..." Baldur sighed.
" I'm very sorry, kuya. I...I just thought seriously on how my husband and Baldur have leaped on the enemy lines. I thought its better to go try for help than stay here and doin' nothing."
" ...because of what you did, I've got hallucinations with the vodka. I heard like chirping or what, and then a kid's voice from nowhere. It was horrible and terrific! Okay, I gotta go, I just took a bath and I need to recover a little. I'm all tired from being so drunk like a couple of years." Albrecht stood up and left lifelessly.
" Oh my God...he's really mad at me, I could feel it, huh!" Magee sighed and leaned on to her husband's shoulder.
Baldur moved and nestled her hair with his bare hands.
" Mag, you just did an excellent job, helping us. What you did to Albrecht was just accidental. If not without it, George may never be saved or we're stuck to Makasido until now, or maybe captured. You hanged out with us like a backup. Hmm..just take it lightly, you're just fine, thank you for all your efforts. We've got this journal, back to us again and I'm thankful that it slid at the back of Elmar's table. All these deserve a celebration, God's mercy and protection on us stays stronger. God is so good." Baldur recounted.
George stayed seated and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, tapping her so gently as if telling her she's just okay. Minutes after, Baldur left and returned to their place inside the tunnel.
It was then when Magee and George put their things in room number 5 and they went bathing. On the other hand, Damian was busy playing with Budekdek and he made a small house for his pet.
The couple went out and were refreshed. A little while, Magee made a soup made of mongo seeds mixed with salt and garlic. Then they called Damian in room number 7.
" Hi Damian, 'mano po' to Mama and Papa, come! hmm...what have you done for two days, ha?" She smiled, picked him up and together they proceeded to the kitchen while Budekdek followed them too and was not even sleepy.
While at the table.
" I'm very busy with Budekdek, I built a house for him. He was very happy." Damian smiled to both of them while sipping his soup.
"Then what have you eaten while we were away?" George smilingly asked.
" We ate the chocolates that Mama has left on the table and since there was rice, I made the chocolate as viand for the rice. Its perfect. Its been a long time since I have eaten rice, its stuffy inside my belly and it feels good." Damian enjoyably narrated and feedback.
" Wow! that would be better." George commented.
" Papa, I liked that room so much. I wanted to stay here forever, I hate the war outside while room number 7 has a forest inside with so many ivy clinging and water flowing on sides and there's sunlight too in one portion. I loved this house." Damian was smiling and seem overwhelmed.
" Oh dear, thank you. Our parents built this house and gave it as gift for us, hmm, its a long story." George smirked.
Then they have religiously eaten their late dinner and afterwards, they sent Damian to room number 7.
" So? just verifying if do you really know on how to take care of yourself? hmm, like bathing, wiping the floor with a rug, brushing your teeth with salt and all else?" Magee squatted while waiting for Damian's answer and as Budekdek was flapping his wings in between them.
" Yes, of course, I do. I'm trying." Damian smiled.
" That's good, so how about praying before you go to sleep. Okay?" Magee said while waving her hand to the little boy.
While the couple got back to room number 3, George pulled her a little to room number 2. Together, they were watching the beautiful fireflies again.
" Hmm...what do you think is the day today? " George asked.
" Oh...I don't know now." She replied.
" Today is already February, it's December, December 3 of 1942 to be precise. Its almost one year of war here in the Philippines and still scary on the other side too. We're all thankful that we're safe. A lot of lives were devastated, so many burned houses, bayoneted bodies and a lot are starving. But this war gave us the freedom to love each other." The lieutenant whispered on her ear again.
" Hope we're nearing to liberation. I wanted to relax and enjoy my motherhood that time inside this house." She could hear his breathe.
" That time will come, just patiently wait." George kissed her forehead and till they forgot the world again.