Flashback: The Girl I Loved

After we train our bodies inside the Training Center, Miss Sam suddenly approached me, she was carrying a glass tablet. While I was waiting for her to speak, she was busy typing on the glass tablet she was holding. Based on her extensive reaction by her typings, she seemed more serious than before. She often wore a white lab coat, and every strand of her hair was arranged perfectly. Her face was serious, and if I could guess her age by her face, I could say that she was in her forties but the truth was that she was only thirties.

"I was observing your progress in your training here in Training Centre and I found out a great growth in your flexibility, agility, and your body balance," panimula nito,"In case you don't know me, I am the Head Supervisor in Health and Medical Laboratory Department in our Headquarters."

Sa kanyang pagpapakilala ay doon lamang siya ngumiti ng mabilis. Hindi ko nga nakita ng matagal ang paglapad ng kanyang mga labi at bumalik na naman sa dating seryoso ang kanyang pagmumukha.

"At your young age, you have this excellent Intellectual Capacity," I couldn't believe she was complimenting me continuously, "After you finish all your session here in Training Centre, you have an option to choose in which department you wanted to be part of."

"What are the list?"

She cleared her throat first and started to read all the different departments. "We have this HMEAF or the Headquarters Military Elite Armed Forces. They are being on hold in case we need to go into war with our enemies, particularly the CRYPTIC. The second one is the Computer Technology Engineering Department. The one who's in charge to operate the technologies inside in our Headquarters, they are the responsible in our Reflection Defense System, Communications, and all related with computers. Intelligent Agent Department, the most tiring department. They aren't often around here. They are always in their mission. Trying to gather some information outside in our fortress and risking their lives to undercover within our enemy's nest. Science and Engineering Department, the one who are doing some new inventions, guns, bombs, high-tech equipment, and etcetera. The last one is my own department. Health and Medical Laboratory Department, creating medicine, nursing our wounded agents, and other stuff related in our expertise."

Hindi ko masyadong nasundan ang pinagsasabi niya dahil bukod sa mabilis siyang magsalita ay hindi ko maintindihan ang mga salitang kanyang binabanggit. Tumungin ito sa akin at nakaabang ang kanyang tenga sa magiging sagot ko sa kanyang mga binanggit na mga department. Hindi ko alam na mayroon palang mga ganito sa headquarters. Ang akala ko ay nag-eensayo lang ang punta ko dito.

"I think my Dad would love to see me in the Agent Department." I smiled forcefully, and then she gave me an are-you-sure-look.

"Alright then, Your session for today is done. You can now go back to your room, and you can enjoy the rest of your stay here," sabi niya at agad siyang naglakad palayo sa akin na parang walang nangyari.

Naiwan akong mag-isa sa loob ng Training Centre. Inikot ko pa ang aking sarili upang makasigurado na kung ako nalang ba ang natitira. Mabilis kaseng natapos ang session nina Trudeau at Pauline kaya iniwan na nila ako at nauna ng kuman ng hapunan. Kung tama ang pakiramdam ko ay umuulan sa labas ng Headquarters. Tatlong araw ng umuulan at baka mayroong bagyong tumama sa Central City. Matagal-tagal na kase akong hindi nakakarinig ng balita sa labas ng Headquarters kaya hindi ko alam kung mayroon bang bagyo o wala.

Dahil ugali kong tumingin sa daan kapag naglalakad ay hindi ko napansin si Pauline na sinasalubong ako sa hallway. Nakasuot ito ng puting pang-itaas at maluwag na puting pantalon. Sinalubong niya ako ng kanyang malapad na ngiti at nagsimula siyang magsalita. Ako maman ay nagulat sa biglaang pagdating nito at kinalmahan ko ang aking sarili na huwag magpahalata na nagulat sa kanyang biglang paglitaw sa aking harapan.

"Is your work already done? Are you having some work to do this weekend?"

Napakunot namana ko ng aking noo sa pagtataka sa kanyang sinabi. Mga ilang linggo na kase kaming magkasama dito sa loob ng Headquarters at ngayon lang siyang unang nagtanong ng ganoong klaseng tanong. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay niyayaya niya akong lumabas bukas.

"I think I'm free tomorrow, I already—" Hindi niya pinatapos ang aking sasabihin nang bigla siyang tumili at parang batang nagtatalon sa sobrang kasiyahan.

"Good to know, Meet me at tomorrow at the exit door at the ground floor."

"W-What?" I chuckled awkwardly.

"I have something to show you," magiliw nitong sabi, "Sasama din si Trudeau sa atin."

Wherever Pauline go, the evil and annoying brother of her was always at her back, tailing her like a dog. I thought his brother was just overprotective to her sister. They had a strong bond. I wish I had a sibling like him. Siblings that would stay together no matter what ordeals and hardships may come to their life.

The time had passed, I remembered the first time that I brought them here, they were like a scared little deer—afraid to everyone, but they were strong agents like everybody else compared before.

"So, Are you in?" she asked.

I didn't respond through verbal rather I nodded off to indicate that I was willing to join what they were planning on weekend.

***

T

he door was creaking as we were quietly sneaking out the exit door of the Headquarters. The exit wasn't always used by the personnel inside the building. It was for emergency escape. Since, we were friends with Agent Kinoto, he let us used the exit for free. He handed Pauline the key to open the door, and I was still wondering why I was with these two lunatics—sneaking around like a spy, sneaking around in the middle of the night.

"What are we exactly doing out here?" I asked them when we finally closed the door, but I  heard the metal rattling inside the Headquarters. The exit was close with the Science And Engineering Department so even it was late, they were still working to invent something to help the whole organization.

"Just keep quiet," Pauline said as we were walking barefooted on the bermuda grass.

We passed through the low level branches of trees. I was in the middle of the siblings. In my front was Trudeau with his flashlight, and the other one behind me was Pauline. She was holding tightly the end portion of my shirt.

After a sudden, a huge rock surprised us. It was covered my moss and the surface was rough. Because of uneven texture of the huge rock, we had a chance to climb it to reach the top. That was what they did, they climbed that rock, and I was hesitating if I should follow them or should I wait. Even in the simple situation, I couldn't choose a choice.

"Is this what you're planning? Climbing that huge rock?!" I shouted so they could hear what was I saying beneath them.

I noticed that the fireflies starting to ignite its special features of their bodies int the dark gloomy night. I couldn't see the sky because of the tall trees covering the sight above with its big branches and leaves. The whole place illuminated when a millions of fireflies gathered around me. I was left in wonder. An emotion of pure happiness thrived inside my chest. I had not felt that kind of feelings in my entire life. A beautiful and eye-catching night.

"C'mon Toby. You're not gonna believe what we are actually seeing at the top of this huge rock!" Pauline voice resonated around the forest.

I had no choice but to force my feet and hands to climbed the huge rock. The place wasn't far from the headquarters. The eagerness that I felt while climbing the huge rock drove me into a belief that once I finally stepped at the top of it, I could finally see the whole Headquarters.

A hand from Trudeau started to appear when I was at the edge. He was willing to help me to pull my whole body up. I accepted his help and we both exerted our energy just to pull my whole body. A fresh air inserted my lungs as I inhaled a lot of oxygen, and my body recovered after that intense climbing.

"Toby, Look," Pauline said, and she lifted my chin to look up at the sky.

I couldn't help myself but to cry in awe and wonder. I couldn't believe that I was saw the beautiful scenery at the middle of the night. I could feel something growing inside my chest, a feeling of happiness and sadness, two different emotion but a successful weird feeling. I just remembered my Mom while I was watching the beautiful sky, we used to do things like that before she left me. That was the only best memories of her that I could remember.

"Bakit ka napaiyak diyan?" Pauline asked me while I was trying to hide my face from them.

"I-I just—" I couldn't create a single word due from the sadness I felt.

"Mayroon ka bang naalala?"

"My, Mom," I answered her quickly.

Hindi ito nagsalita bagkus ay pinagpatuloy niya ang kanyang pagtingin sa akin.

"She..." At the second time around. I couldn't create a single word to express and describe my feelings right. I was like a child starting to learn how to construct a good and proper sentence.

"You don't need to say anything," she said. "Your tears explains why."

She was like bursting color existed in my greyscale world.

I didn't respond to her, and she swiftly locked me in her arms. I could feel her body temperature, and it pushed away the coldness in my body. I could smell her sweet fragrance, felt her soft and shiny hair. All of those moment was ruined by her brother. He was trying to separate us apart while mumbling around. After he ruined my moment with her big sister, my memory shifted to the memories were I spent my time with my Mom.

I miss my Mom. I hope she lived longer so I could say all my problems to her without worrying my emotions. She was the only one taking a good care of me. I couldn't still process why she was taken from us. She was murdered by those plagues of Central City. She was gentle and kind. She was the first girl I loved.

Pauline and Trudeau continued to watch the beautiful and eye-catching sky. I stood up and joined them. The scenery was like a feast to our eyes. I hope it won't change. I hope my Mother was one with those stars above the sky. Looking at me, guiding me with all my decisions.

Thank you for reading :)