Sa Pagkapit | Liham 6

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Salute

"Coffee?"

Nahihiya kong tinanggap ang inilahad na kape ni Captain Santana. Para kaming sirang plaka dito sa evacuation center, magpapahinga kapag may may oras, iinom ng kape kapag gabi na dahil mas lumalamig ang simoy ng hangin. Ganito ulit bukas. Paulit-ulit. Parang walang katapusan ang mga katawan na nareretrieve mula sa dalampasigan at sa ilalim ng dagat.

"You're a soldier," I told him, naramdaman ko ang tingin niya sa akin, "Tell me, do you ever get used to death?" I looked at him, "Kasi ako, kahit araw-araw pang may pasyenteng mamatay sa harap ko, hinding hindi ako masasanay."

"At some point..." pinanood namin ang ilang kasamahan na magpabalik-balik para sa mga ginagawa, "At some point, it's numbing. I think the job requires us to do so. This is a job that will require you to sacrifice lives, anyway,"

"How can you sleep at night?" I asked him again.

"I don't," he looked at me, "Literally."

Natahimik ako at muling uminom ng kape. A little far from us, a group of teenagers are singing together. May isang tumutugtog gamit ang isang gitara na nailigtas mula sa sakuna. They are singing a classic OPM song, marahan at kasabay ng mahinang gitara.

"Sorry if I told Ivo that you... argued with someone..." aniya sa gitna ng pakikinig namin sa pagkanta nila, "That was nosy of me."

"Yeah," he chuckled at my agreement. Anong akala niya? Sasabihin ko na okay lang?

"I just thought... that you'd like to tell it to anyone. Or... yeah, that's just me. I just assumed," he said, "Because in my opinion, it's better to atleast say what feels heavy even to one stranger than keep everything to yourself."

Except that Ivo isn't a stranger and I find it harder to share those kinds of stories to him because of that, especially in a situation like this. I understand that Leon meant no harm, though.

"Ang desisyon ko ba?" he chuckled before sighing, "I should go and you should rest, Miss Cortez."

I looked at him, "Thank you for your concern, Captain Santana."

"Leon," napalingon kami nang tumawag si Ivo, "They are looking for you."

Leon smirked, "Alright, Ishan. I was about to go too. Thank you. Maiwan ko na kayo," tumayo si Leon at lumingon sa akin, "Enjoy your coffee, Miss Cortez."

Tumango ako kay Leon bago muling humigop ng kape. Ivo remained standing. He looked at me sitting beside me, "I called Skyla's parents," my heart raced, "They left a message to Leon, asking for me. Concerned lang sila sa kung ano ang sitwasyon ko dito. I just formally returned the energy and the thoughtfulness."

"You don't have to explain anything to me."

"Aside from them, I also called my parents, of course. Pagkatapos ay si Havriel at Sierra dahil nag-aalala sila sa akin." he continued despite what I said, "Honestly, I was hesitating to call my parents," napatingin ako kay Ivo, "Thank God it's not the usual 'I told you so, stay in Manila' shit I heard."

"Ivo..."

"I want you to know," aniya, "I want to give you an assurance, Aelia. Na pwede ka ring magkwento sakin, at magkukwento rin ako sa 'yo."

I looked at him.

"Sa pagsapit ng dilim, ako'y naghihintay pa rin... sa iyong maagang pagdating..." ang mga batang tumutugtog hindi kalayuan sa amin ay may bagong kanta na inaawit. Napahinto ang ilang nurses at sundalo upang manood rin, "Pagka't ako'y nababalisa kung 'di ka kapiling, bawat sandali'y mahalaga sa atin... tulad ng ibong malaya, ang pag-ibig natin..."