Living the Military Ways

George was just observing while Magee sobbed silently on her bamboo bed. After an hour, she headed to the bathroom then got back with a towel on her head ; she had freshly combed and tied her long hair. With so much energy she was holding the broom and a rag. While George was just keeping an eye on her.

" What are you doing now."

" I'll start cleaning." She smiled at him.

" Hmm...is it heartily or you still have plans of escaping. You can only escape when this war is over, okay?"

" Opo." Magee smilingly persuaded him.

" Which place do you like to start cleaning? and don't forget I can lend a hand supposed you need help."

" I'm done with mine. Your place is next. Hmm...don't worry I'll just do it alone and I'll have this clockwise."

" Okay. You are welcome there."

He was just staring at her working for his place and it took her for an hour to get it done.

" Wow. I thought my preliminary touches were already outstanding. There I see you made it looked like a hotel room. Bravo!"

" Thank you. It's just that I arranged some pictures of your family around. Your parents, this one, hmm...she's beautiful."

" She's my sister. I missed my family a lot these days." Then he sighed.

" Just keep hanging in your dreams, is this a part of it and then age like a veteran?"

" Sort of, when you're in the military, chances are you can help your country and the security of tenure is promising. This also brings me here in the Philippines and saw someone who was very afraid of the flashlight's puppet shadow show and dive into the abyss." He smiled.

" Now I'm really about to escape." She jokily put off the broom and rag then got out of George place.

" Hey! haha...I was just kidding and it's not at all a grave offense, you know. We're just very busy stalking you up there all the time. Can you recall when you were talking to a frog alone and you called it, "Hey comrade, one day when I become a soldier, I will throw dozens of grenades to the enemy's barracks. Yes, it was one dusky twilight when you were overlooking at it from a distance. My tummy aches from laughing while listening at you and so with Albrecht. But just forgive us anyway, we did not spread your funny stories around. We just honestly followed what our captain told us to do, "Guard that girl, it's my order." See that."

" Really? I was talking to a frog alone? Ah...Yes, I remember it now." She smiled.

" What are the others." Reveal now all the illegal stories you've kept."

" You stood horrifyingly on the edge of the well and it was really breathtaking when you shouted so loud, something like " God, give us rain! Our well is empty, I hate this droughttttt!" Then I actually almost to rescue you because I thought you'd really get suicide and throw yourself inside the well when I almost run going to you, Albrecht pulled me back and I smooched on the grasses. When you turned your head towards us, sensing of some noise, we were both somewhat hiding in the battlefield.

" Haha! really...I was always afraid of my Grandpa's stories of creatures around that's why I always panic. Stories of tikbalang, manananggal and kapre. Hmm...but why is it really that your captain seriously deployed you to protect me? give me some hint, I will not tell anyone, promise."

" Sorry, but I don't have any idea either. We just follow his orders and that's all."

" Hmm, I see, it's okay." Then she transferred to the next place till she was done at 9'oclock in the evening. She did not join with them during dinner instead only after when they're all done at the table, but still she skipped dinner. She felt so tired and could not even chew the food so she told Albrecht she has to sleep. So then they left her to get a sound rest.

George was not able to sleep quickly thinking of the captain had in his mind that there'd be some Filipino guerillas coming and would be joining with his company in the cave.

" The trail going down to connect us to the legendary cave of Kabang would help us a lot. We're already thirteen around. It would be very difficult to move and considering we've got one prisoner of war. Hah! what a thought I have, no not, I'm getting insane to this woman and her pastime haha. I almost lose my job today. Thank God I caught her before she'd successfully escape. First time in my life that someone attempted to escape in front of the soldiers and it's obviously during daytime. " He thought with a smile till his droopy eyes retired and fell asleep.

" Hey, hello...good morning. George? George?"

" Yeah, why?" He seemed in a hypnagogic state and like he rose from the dead.

" Here, read this. A message from the arrow spotted on the board. We haven't opened it yet." Albrecht sat down beside him.

" Prepare the place, I've got six Filipino men as new recruits forwarded to me by station two. We'll get a good timing to climb there. Though, ideally, we have to let them go up there tomorrow night while we need to return to the barrio. You know what to do . Likewise, to update you all there, five women were found dead this morning, the usual case. Please, protect that girl on my behalf."

" Hmm...good thing that Magee had a general cleaning yesterday. Coming are the new recruits, praise God! And he should not worry about her, I should be worrying her too much, haha, right, Albrecht?"

" Indeed, but she's good. She works very hard, it was sincere I know."

" Where is she?" George asked.

" She woke up very early and went out to get sayote leaves."

" Whattt?" He slipped off out of his blanket and ran notwithstanding the cool foggy waterfalls showering him. A little while, he saw her picking sayote leaves on sides while he was chilling with his jacket.

" Magee, come...don't go there, it's dangerous,you see, it's a cliff. Come back here, they might see you there, come!"

Magee immediately moved towards him and he quickly grabbed her hand so to hide her from the waterfalls and finally got inside. Albrecht prepared a towel for the two of them and served the hot water from the kettle doused with ginger.

" Grrrrrr.....whew! so...so cold! Albrecht, I might die. You knew I just woke up and had a suicide bathing , tell me if I can survive this one, whew!" George was immensely chilling.

" Why you're still standing, go, go wash yourself, Albrecht give her a towel too, please." George urged her to change .

" Ha? no, it's okay. I even love to go back there, bathing is great in the morning. It's okay Albrecht, I'm fine. Here, take your 'salabat' George."

" Whew! I'm still chilling....grrr, yeah, yeah, let me have it please, thanks. Magee...why you did not wait for me to wake up. You should have waited." He was still worrying while sipping the salabat.

" I told you yesterday I will not escape anymore I was just craving to eat sayote leaves and put it on top of Albrecht's rice, steam it a little that way then dip on a lemon with a small amount of chilli. It's the only thing I wanted to happen."

" I just do not know, it worries me. Next time, just request anybody around to do it. It's a cliff you know. It's s cliff."

" Okay, I will not do it again. Stop worrying about it anymore." Magee smiled in shyly.

" What's this blood on my hand?" George was asking Albrecht.

" It's my wrist's wound you have heavily pressed when you've grabbed my hand. But...it's okay, I was also about to look for "kamunggay" leaves outside but to no avail. This has been bleeding since last night that's why I skipped dinner too. But here, Albrecht, I've got these leaves, please boil them for me, these are good for breakfast, loved them."

" Yes please, these leaves makes me crazy too watching both of you squirming under the waterfalls. Give that to me." Albrecht pouted and put the leaves on top of the rice.

" Did you wash it Albrecht?"

" I didn't, you already washed them when you get back under the falls, these are the reasons someone might die while chilling" He said.

Magee was just smiling while looking at the two men worrying a lot.

" Okay, go change now George. I will prepare for breakfast. Albrecht, please assist him."