In Charge (ON-HOLD)

Chapter 1: Encounter

Chapter 1: Encounter

SOLAR'S POV

Kasalukuyan kaming nakikipagpalitan ng putok sa lugar kung saan ako nakadestino. Nakatago ako sa likod ng puno habang pinapakiramdamang maigi ang mga kalaban.

Naisipan kong umisip nang may balang dumaan sa harapan ko. Buti na lang at agaran ko itong naiwasan kung hindi ay sapul ako sa ulo.

"Mga siraulo naman kasi ang mga tambay dito. Nantitrip na lang, napili pang mantrip ng isang lasing." Reklamo ko kay Jessie na kasalukuyang nakadapa sa damuhan.

"Wala na tayong magagawa dun. Buti na lang kamo at andyan lang tayo kung hindi baka patay na silang tatlo kanina pa." Saad niya habang busy sa pag matyag sa mga kalaban. Tumango na lamang ako bilang pagsang-ayon.

Kanina habang nag rarounds kami ni Jessie, may narinig kaming lalaki na nagwawala. Hindi na sana namin papansinin kaso sunod naming narinig ay putok ng baril.

Kumaripas kami ng takbo ni Jessie para agad maka responde kaso lalo lang nag wala ung lalaki. Ngayon pala naka-inom at akala niya dadamputin namin siya. Naka-uniprome at may sukbit na baril pamandin kami ni Jessie kaya siguro lalo siyang naalarma.

Sunod-sunod niya kaming pinaputukan ng baril pag kakita saamin kanina. Buti na lang at wala namang natamaan samin ni Jessie. Magiging simpleng pag pagresponde lang sana 'to ang kaso tumawag ng back-up si kuya.

Kaya ayun, nagigipit kami ni Jessie dahil kaming dalawa palang ang nandito at nakikipag palitan ng putok sa lasing pati sa mga kasama niya. At dahil dalawa lang kami walang nakatoka para sa evacuation ng mga sibilyan. Kung may matatamaan man ng ligaw na bala o kung ano pa man malilintikan na lalo.

"Jessie wala pa ba ung back-up naten?" Umiling lang siya sabay paputok ng baril sa kabilang panig. "Pati medic kailangan naten at baka may madali sa mga sibilyang akala mo'y nanonood ng shooting. Baka din mamatay sa blood loss ung mga armadong lalaking nadali naten ung binti." Napahilamos na lang ako sa mukha sakto naman at may patrol na puno ng sundalo ang dumating.

"Back-up." Dining kong bulong ni Jessie. Dali-dali siyang bumangon at nagtago sa pinaka malapit na puno.

Nakipag palitan pa kami ng putok kasabay ang mga baging dating. Sa kasamaang palad may sibilyang tinamaan sa tagiliran at napaluhod sa daan dahil sa sakit. Bakit ba kasi napilian nilang manood kesa sa kumaripas ng takbo paalis dito?

Hindi ko napigilan ang mga paa ko at tumakbo papunta sa kinaroroonan ng sibilyan. Narinig ko pang sinigaw ni Jessie ang ngalan ko kaso nanguna ang kagustuhan kong iligtas ung nabaril.

Habang tumatakbo may mangilan-ngilang nag papaputok ng baril sa gawi ko. Salamat sa Diyos at hindi ako napupuruhan puro daplis lang. Hindi ko muna ininda ung hapdi at dinalo ang sibilyan.

Nang madating ang kinarorooon nung nabaril nakita kong nadakip na ung huling tatlong armadong lalaki. Ang iba naman ay akay-akay ung mga nabaril namin sa binti ni Jessie kanina.

Pinagtuonan ko ng pansin ung sibilyang patuloy ang pagdugo ng tagiliran. Agad kong binigyan ng pressure ung sugat para bumagal ang pagdaloy ng dugo. "Wait lang po. Tatawag po kaming medic. Wag po kayong matutlog, ha? Labanan niyo ung antok." Tumango naman si kuya.

Tinawag ko si Jessie na papunta na din sa kung nasaan ako. "Nagpakabayani ka na naman. Paano kung napuruhan ka?" Inis niyang saad.

"Bago yang sermon mo. Tumawag ka muna mg isang medic baka mamatay sa kawalan ng dugo itong si kuya." Nagmadali naman itong umalis.

CALIBER'S POV

I looked at my phone to check the map. I don't know this place, but I have an important business conference to attend this week. I am currently driving when a soldier asked me to pull-over.

He knocked on my window so I opened it. "Is there any problem, sir?"

"Pasensya na po sir at hindi muna kayo makakadaan. Hihilingin ko po sanang mag U-turn na kayo. Meron po kasing putukang nagaganap diyan sa daan na tatahakin niyo at baka madamay pa kayo." True to what he said I heard multiple gunshots not far from here.

"Is it okay if I stay here and wait? Meron lang akong importanteng business conference na aattendan. I'll just wait for the encounter to finish." The soldier looked hesitant, but nodded his head.

He asked me to stay near him so he could protect me from harm if anything unexpected happens. I sat on the patrol car nearby and grabbed my phone to check my e-mail.

Before I can browse my phone, a hand grabbed my wrist and started dragging me towards somewhere. He was wearing a soldier's uniform.

"Kailangan ka don, medic. May nabaril at medyo madami-dami na ung dugong nawawala sa kanya. Dalian naten." Did he say medic? Do I look like a doctor of some sort?

I looked at myself and exhaled when I saw my attire. Next time, I'll say no to mom even if she insists. I was about to protest and clarify his assumptions, but we already stopped in front of a man laying on the pavement while a soldier tries to put pressure on his wound.

The soldier looked at me and to my surprise it was a she. Her eyes immediately caught my attention. They were hazelnut brown and they look mesmerizing.

"Dali gamutin mo na siya." My brows furrowed because of the tone she used at me. I don't like being ordered around.

"I am not a doctor, woman." I put both hands inside my pants pockets. The woman looked at the soldier beside me with deadly glares and a raised brow.

"Sorry akala ko medic. Naka navy blue kase e kaparehas nung medic naten. Tapos minadali mo pa ako nataranta tuloy ako." The soldier tried to explain while scratching the back of his head.

"BILISAN MO AT TUWAG KA NG MEDIC KUNG HINDI IKAW BABARILIN KO JESSIE!" The woman was furiously mad. The cap she's wearing wasn't able to hide her red and irritated face.

The soldier named Jessie ran as fast as he can. After a few minutes, he came back with a medical team following behind him. All of them are wearing the same shade of blue I am currently wearing. The only difference is that theirs have a MEDIC text in gold at the upper back part.

The medic team approached the wounded man and did first aid procedures before carrying him away on a stretcher. As the medic team left, gun shots were heard not far from where we stand.

The woman knelt on the pavement earlier stood up while clutching her gun and abruptly ran towards the sound. A strong set of wind blew her cap away which reveal her shoulder length pitch black hair. Her hair danced together with the wind and she looked like a goddess in my eyes.

She didn't bother picking up the cap and ran to where the gun shots were. The soldier named Jessie ran after her in a hurry.

"SOLAR! TANGINA WAG KANG LUSOB NG LUSOB. NANGIGIGIL NA AKO SA PAG KA HERO MONG UGALI. PATI UNG SUMBRERO MO NAKALIMUTAN MO NA. SOLAR!" The man picked up the hat while shouting the woman's name.

"Solar hmm what a nice name for a beautiful lady." I shrugged my shoulders and decided to go back to my car.