The Sixth Girl

Chapter 3

Hindi kami natulog after we ate from the restaurant.

Nagkwentuhan lang kami hanggang umaga. Naligo at kumain lang tapos walang tigil na kaming nagusap, nagtawanan, nag iyakan, nag share ng mga experience, nagkamustahan at nagtuksuhan.

Sa iba't ibang kainan sa loob ng hotel kami tumambay (sa mga V.I.P rooms) at nag food trip. Itinuro niya sa akin ang ilang mga sundalo ng dynasty na nagmamatyag sa paligid, loob at labas ng Resorts World.

Staycation na din daw ng mga sundalo niya na lahat ay mula sa kanyang angkan.

Twenty-Five ng gabi, hindi na halos kinaya ng ulo at katawan ko ang pagod at walang tulog kaya pinilit na nya akong matulog sa suite ko.

But when I woke up in the morning, wala na si Ravinder sa tinutuluyan nitong suite.

No note, no letter, nothing at all.

I asked at the lobby pero not surprisingly, wala daw Ravinder or Uyghurs na nag check in sa kanila in the past few days.

He really is gone...

No good byes...

No anything...

Just like that...

Hindi ko na nagawang malungkot ng matagal dahil dumating na ang mga sundalong makakasama ko sa almost five months na pananatili ko dito sa Pilipinas under the guise of Diplomatic Mission to Observe the Election Culture and Environment of the Philippines.

Dinala nila ako sa embahada ng Hyillia kung saan tumatayo na din itong embassy ng Akimrea.

Hyillians ang mga trabahador dito at alam nila ang tunay na dahilan bakit ako nandoon.

They will provide logistics while the soldiers will do the actual job and acting as my personal guard.

"Everything is all set Ambassadress," report ni Kowru sa akin, ang tumatayong kanang kamay ko dito at ang surprisingly, leader ng mga sundalong magbabantay sa akin, "The papers and formalities are established. They won't suspect a thing. Starting the first of January, we can begin the observation," makahulugang sabi nito sa akin ng binatilyong sundalo as he reported while standing in front of my office desk na parang nasa Akimrea lang kami.

Tumango naman ako at tiningnan ang bukang liwayway sa labas ng Pinas.

We still worked at night. Mahirap baguhin ang nakasanayan na namin. Besides, mas makakagalaw kami ng malaya sa gabi.

"Magaling. All we have to do is wait. Pagkatapos ng bagong taon, makakapagtrabaho na din tayo. Nasaan ang ibang mga sundalo?" tanong ko kay Kowru as I finished signing several papers.

"Nasa labas po ng embassy ang mga sundalo. The staff are already on their way home. Tayong dalawa na lang po ang nandito, Ambassadress," he said in a curiously happy voice.

"Good... Lumabas na din tayo ng makapama...."

Naputol ang sinasabi ko ng biglang umimik si Kowru in an eerie monotone, almost robotic voice.

"Verna, pasesnya hindi na ako nakapag-paalam. Sarap pa kasi ng tulog mo tsaka usapan kasi namin ni Hoshiro, I will leave exactly before six in the morning leaving no trace that we were even there. Hindi ko alam kung magkikita pa tayo pero if it's a matter of life and death, Kowru is authorized by Hoshiro to contact me directly. But I hoped it never come to that. Keep safe. Keep the kid saying this message close. Wag mo kalimutan sinabi ko sa iyo."

Hindi ako nakaimik as the soldier in front of me delievered the message from the person I thought left me without so much as saying a goodbye.

"I should've known," mahina kong sambit.

Kowru was always the talkative one. Sa kanya ako nakakabalita ng mga bagay na hindi sinasabi sa akin ni Hoshiro.

I attributed it to his young age.

Little did I know he is doing it on purpose.

The kid in front of me grinned childishly, "I agree. Ilang buwan pa siguro makakahalata ka na. Pero mas mabilis ang Crown Prince ng Akimrea. Maybe because he is keeping an eye one anyone who is seeing and talking to you. He noticed I was being very friendly. Sabi niya, it's my loyalty to you that gave me away. Turns out, Akimrean kids are trained to follow the ruling family at all cost without second thoughts. He ordered me to spy on you. Nakita nyang nagdalwang isip ako. It blew my cover in an instant," pag amin niya sa akin na parang laro laro lang ang lahat.

"Buti hindi ka niya pinatay on sight. You do know how prejudiced he is against your people," alalang sabi ko sa kanya.

Tumango ito, "I thought so too. Nakatutok na nga dito ang baril nya," turo niya sa sentido nya na nagpakilabot sa akin, "But he kinda guessed who I am working for so he changed his mind at trineat pa niya ako sa isang eat all you can restaurant," kwento nito na parang bata lang na nagkwekwento ng nangyari sa maghapon niya, "You know, Ambassadress. My job is to spy on Hoshiro and kill him if ever he became a threat to your life. That was my original and standing order. It's also my job to report anything that is happening on your life once a year. My first ever report was a failure when the Crown Prince was the one who contacted him instead of me," hinayang na sabi nito na parang bumagsak lang sa isang subject ang reaction.

"I am even surprised he let you lead the regiment here considering your age and your status," I said to the barely legal age kid standing in front of me who seemed to think that everything was just a game.

Which made him more dangerous if you ask me.

"Well the Crown Prince said I can continue doing my mission for Lord Ravinder. Sabi nya I am the one who is best to keep an eye on you here. Because by any idiotic chance na may mangayri sa Akimrea, he can be sure that I will keep you safe and contact my liege right away," proud na sabi nito sa akin.

I sighed and gave a quick look kay Kowru. He is still frail and thin barely even lean enough to be a soldier.

But he is an Uyghur.

I bet in two or three years time, he will have a growth spurt similar to Ravinder's.

"Well at any case. You are very lucky Ambassadress. You have a family who cherishes you and a man who loved you. I promise I will do my job here to honor my Lord who gave me the privilege to protect his remaining family the same way he protected me back in the dynasty," sabi niya sa akin sabay balik sa normal nyang boses, "At any case we should leave. Kailangan na nating makapamahinga. We have an electon to observe," meaningful na sabi niya as he escorted me palabas ng opisona ko.

I looked at the rising sun and thanked the stars for the two people who takes care of me.

I can't fail now.

Habang nakasakay kami ni Kowru sa kotse ay napadaan kami sa malaking political ad ni Lycan sa Edsa.

LYCAN FORTALEJO PARA PAGKAPANGULO!

Don't worry Lycan. You are not alone in this fight. I have the capability to help you reach you goal.

Napakalapit mo na para makabalik ka na kay Sierra. Kaunting panahon na lang at matutupad na ang gaga kong plano para sa iyo.

And I will make sure it will end in success...

You can count on it!

-0-

Author's Note: Happy Holidays! I think it's high time for Verna to enjoy hers again with her family. Lahat naman siguro tayo may karapatang makasama ang pamilya natin sa panahon kung saan halos lahat ng tao sa paligid mo ay nagsasaya. Salamat po ng madami sa mga nagbabasa pa ng story ko! Enjoy the season's cheer! Please comment and Happy Holidays again!