Our Own Secret Mysteries (Ranger Series #1)

CHAPTER 12: What Happened?

"Shit! Ilan sila?" Narinig kong pasigaw na tanong ni Zyie sa kasamahan niyang sundalo.

The firefight was still on-going. Nasa loob lang ako ng sasakyan na nagtatago. Fuck? Bat ko kailangang magtago?

After he said those words at me, tuluyan na kaming pinagbabaril ng mga terorista. Hindi ko alam ang itatawag sakanila. Nag-angat ako ng tingin, they were wearing a uniform similar to the soldiers. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari at sumakit bigla ang ulo ko. Memories from my past were creeping in.

"Hindi! Please, huwag ang mga bata. Kami na lang."

Paulit-ulit na naririnig ko yon. I can't help but to ask myself kung kaninong boses yon.

Memory after memory, hindi ko na alam kung anong nangyayari.

"Dra, are you o— fuck!" Rinig kong sabi ni Zyie ng buksan niya ang pinto ng sasakyan bago ako nawalan ng malay.

Paggising ko nasa loob na ako ng isang tent. I am not sure if this is the militarys HQ already or not. Habang nililibot ko ng tingin ang buong lugar, pumasok naman don si Zyie.

"Hey, you're finally awake. Buti naman." His voice was so calm but I can hint sadness in his voice.

"Hey, what happened?" I asked him.

"We were ambushed. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari at nawalan ka ng malay. When I saw you touching your head and it seemed that you were in pain, I got worried. Akala ko napano ka na."

I explained. "Hindi ko rin alam kung anong nangyari saken. Bigla na lang sumakit ang ulo ko ng makita ang mga teroristang yon. Anyways, what happened?"

Kunot-noo niya akong tinignan. "You happened."

I smiled a little. "No, Im asking about the whole thing. Dont force yourself to tell everything, I understand. And if it's that confidential, then just tell me the context of it. Kahit need-to-know basis na lang."

"They are the terrorist na nakaharap nila Ate Alari at Kuya Levin noon. I think Ate was able to kill the former commander of the group. Meanwhile Kuya Levin, wala siyang tinira niisa. That's why binabalikan nila kami."

Nakita ko ang pagdaan ng lungkot sa mukha niya. My mind was still processing what he said. Akala ko makikita ko siyang magagalit kaso hindi, I only felt pity towards him.

"Is that the reason why you feel down right now?" I curiously asked.

Bumontong-hininga siya bago nagsalita. "I get their reason, they wanted revenge. Pero ang idamay pa yung ibang sundalo, yun ang di ko kayang tiisin. I know that when it comes to our work, walang pinipili si kamatayan, but this. Just spare my friends, for Gods sake!" Pigil niyang iyak.

That was my first time seeing a guy cry. Mga lalaki sa HQ lang naman kasi ang madalas kong nakikita at nakakasama. I have never seen a guy be vulnerable.

I do not get why we have this kind of stereotype in our society where we see men to always be composed and tough. If women can cry, men can too. Crying is not a sign of weakness, rather it shows how brave we are for staying strong.

My hands automatically reached for his. I was hesitant to do it actually because I don't know him yet personally. May ibang tao kasi na ayaw ang physical touch when they need comfort, and I understand that. But in this case, I want to hug him and tell him that 'it will be okay'.