n. a kind of melancholic trance in which you become completely absorbed in vivid sensory details—raindrops skittering down a window, tall trees leaning in the wind, clouds of cream swirling in your coffee—briefly soaking in the experience of being alive, an act that is donepurely for its own sake.

* * *

A few more days of walking, realizing that it is just us now with no one ensuring our backs, it had been fleeting to me the next days of our odyssey. After all, Goyo remains remorseful of what happened, still blaming himself for what happened with the rearguard. Despite my insistence to talk to him to soothe down the tension, he would just nod or shake his head or if he does talk, it will just be short and prim, and in a whisper. Even whatever Enteng or the others wish to tell him, they send the message with me as the messenger. In short, only I manage to converse with him.

As we trail some plain after a few days of treking, a mountain had been visible along the horizon, unique on its own as its top shows a peak of stone. And there is no doubt that we'll be needing to trek it as well if such distance will continue keeping the Americans away from us.

I sigh heavily at the sight, one that immediately catches the attention of Goyo, who've been walking next to me.

"Pendejo," he calls softly. "Pagod na?"

"May pagka." I sigh again, a little surprised that he is starting the conversation after a few days that I end up to have the first and last words. "Pero kaya pa. Nakakahiya at baka ipatigil mo pa ang lahat para lamang makapagpahinga ako."

"Totoo," he agrees. "Buhatin ka na lang kung ganoon."

I blush a little and look away from him. "Hindi mo ako kaya."

"Hindi ko naman sinabi na ako ang magbubuhat sa iyo."

I blush much more.

"Pero binigyan mo ako bigla ng ideya." He laughs a little before taking a shaky breath. "Pendejo... pasensya na kung nadamay ka sa lahat ng ito."

I look back at him and realize how sadness paints his face.

He is visibly hurt and exhausted, but his eyes still has the same spark that his words are truly genuine. After all, at the start of this journey, he'd been guilty that if he had prepared much earlier, we could've fought against the Americans than to flee; and after what happened a few days ago, he was filled with remorse that he wasn't a capable leader. And now, here he is, apologizing to me.

"Hindi mo kailangan humingi ng tawad sa akin," I tell him and smile softly. "Kahit malaman ko na ganito ang mangyayari sa simula pa lamang, at mas nanaisin kong manatili sa Dagupan... alam ko na, sasama at sasama pa rin ako sa inyo."

He looks at me, not quite believing his words.

I smile much more. "Baka nga naging luho para sa akin ang katahimikan ng mga panahon natin sa Dagupan. Pero, ginusto ko pa rin na nandito. Kaya wala ka dapat ipag-alala. Naniniwala ako na malalampasan din natin ang lahat ng ito."

"Sana nga."

"Anong 'sana nga' ka diyan? Isipin mo na may mas mahalaga kang dapat maisagot pagkatapos ng lahat ng ito."

"Aba... may sagot akong kailangan sagutin? Ano ito? Talata ng mga nangyari?"

I bite my lower lip. "Parang ganoon na nga. Pero... isipin mo na lang, paano mo ba gusto maalala ng mga tao? Hmm?"

He looks surprised with my question, and he didn't say anything.

"Isipin mo na lang... itong nangyari, paano ka maalala ng susunod na henerasyon. Sa pangalan o sa nagawa mo?"

He remains quiet.

I scoff. "'Wag ka mag-alala. Naniniwala ako na mas maalala ka sa iyong ginawa. Naniniwala ako sa iyo doon."

Goyo nods as he looks away for a second, pinning his eyes to the trail. Before I even know it, he runs off ahead.

"G-Goyo!" I shout, surprised by his action. Curse this skirt and me being clumsy that I hesitate to follow after him.

Enteng draws closer to me right away, asking, "(Y/N), bakit?"

"Si Goyo," I answer. "Biglang tumakbo. Nababaliw na ata."

"'Wag ka mag-alala. Susundan ko." And just as he had told me, he runs off as well in pursuit of Goyo.

It takes us almost two more hours to somehow agree to take a rest after treking. The view from up here is of pure greenery and mountains. And the wind seems to be howling around us being the ones currently here. A few minutes later, Goyo and Enteng return from wherever the latter caught the previous after that sudden ran.

Goyo immediately draws closer to the President and says, a little short of breath, "Ka Miong, may plano ako."

# # #

Compared to other towns, the town of Cervantes welcomed us warmly. Not to mention that the small population there had lined up the sides of the tracks while a band is playing some jolly sound. At the end of them all is the mayor of the town who've greeted us, especially the President, with a huge smile and bamboo lei.

"Maligayang pagdating, Señor Presidente," he greets. "Mayroon po kaming pagkain at tubig para sa inyong lahat."

"Salamat," the President remarks with gratitude. "Maraming salamat."

And true enough the mayor with his words. Everyone of us had a decent meal after weeks of hoarding ourselves in exhausting everything we have and even going on for days with barely or nothing at all with food and water. But even there are too much food, everyone doesn't eat up more than necessary, our stomachs already used with less to no food.

After some grand feast, Goyo had ordered all soldiers to be gathered. His plan had been approved by the President earlier on, and though I myself had been fidgeting with the idea, it is the only way, now that the Americans is hot in pursuit of us and no rearguard to protect the trails.

With both the Del Pilar Brigade and Ilocos Sur Brigade separated in an orderly manner, Goyo and the rest of us remain in front of them. The townspeople surrounding the sides and the back. And right now, Enteng serves as the spokeperson in addressing everyone else.

"Alam kong may dinadala pa ring hinanakit ang mga sundalo ni Luna sa ibang sundalo rito. Pero panahon na ngayon para magka-isa," he starts, walking down the vacant space that visibly separates the two brigades from one another. "Kailangan ko ng sisenta na sundalo para magtayo ng mga trentsera sa Pasong Tirad. At ipagtanggol ito." He stops and faces Goyo's soldiers. "Brigada del Pilar, tumayo ang matapang."

Immediately, many of the soldiers from the Del Pilar Brigade stand. The courage clearly visible on their eyes, even knowing the odds of survival. I immediately notice familiar faces among them. Juan del Pilar, Isidro Wenceslao, and even Jose Enriquez didn't hesitate to stand, as well as that Spanish lieutenant of Goyo's, Telesforo Carrasco. But looking at them, they're barely half of the needed sixty men.

Enteng doesn't looked amused by this that he calls on for other soldiers to stand up. "Ruiz. Sabino." Those two had been guarding our guide all throughout the journey. "Huwag kayong duwag. Tayo!" He trails back the other soldiers. "Ikaw, Pilat. Bikong. Oy, Paltik."

The soldiers, as their names had been called, slowly stand, following the orders that they can't just bend.

Then, Enteng turns to the other brigade. "Batalyong Ilocos Sur, tumayo ang matapang."

A full minute of silence passed, and no one had shown interest at all. At that, I hear Goyo sighs, disappointed himself. But not as disappointed and as furious as Enteng does.

"Walang magiting sa Ilocos Sur?" He inquires, the frown he has heavy on his features. "Pare-pareho tayong dumaan sa hirap papunta rito, pero ni walang isang tinubuan sa inyo ng bayag?!" No soldier had made any indication of standing still, causing Enteng to huff a sigh in frustration and heads back closer to us. "Eh mga duwag pala itong mga ito."

"Koronel Enriquez!" someone from the back shouts, causing all of us to turn to the direction of the voice. He then speaks something in a different dialect, surely of Ilokano, as he moves out of the hut and marches on the space between, drawing closer to where Goyo and Enteng are with his rifle on one hand. He is a man on his late forties, but has the stance of a soldier, vibrant in his aura.

"Teniente Garcia," Goyo acknowledges the man. "Taga-Cervantes ka pala."

"Heneral Goyo." Stopping right in front of Goyo, the two of them shares a salute. "Hindi ko inaasahan makita ka rito."

Goyo sighs a slightly, indicating the reasons that had brought us here with just it alone. Lieutenant Garcia's presence right here now suggests that he is willing to join the fight, causing Goyo to ask, "Kusang-loob ba ito?"

"Depende. Ano bang pinaglalaban ninyo?"

"Buhay namin."

Lieutenant Garcia nods and acknowledges the Ilocos Sur batallion, asking them in Ilokano another time. This time, soldiers from the said group stand without anymore hesitation. In a far count, they all appear almost complete.

"Isa na lang!" Enteng says, already had the initial count in his head.

Breaking apart from the group, a small kid with a wooden miniature rifle runs to the front and next to Lieutenant Garcia, shouting, "Tay!"

The soldiers bite back a laughter, seeing the boy's intention to be part of it all.

Lieutenant Garcia faces Goyo again and remarks, "Kumpleto na."

I see the small smile that ripples through Goyo's expression, but at the same time, forlorn. As if we've already deduced what is bound to happen, I know that look of his is for seeing himself when he was at the same age as the boy: introduced to the world of war, and innocence taken at an early age.

And with that, the sixty soldiers needed for the making of trenches in Tirad Pass and in defending it are complete.

* * *

A/N: July 2! It only means that about two weeks from now will be the first anniversary of my first solo! Woohoo! I am accepting gift by you reading, voting, commenting and sharing my story, FLIGHT PLAN, which is loosely based on my experiences as well! Thank you for supporting Dead Reckoning down too its last few chapters as well, since how timely this story is too in the current situation of our country. Follow me on twitter @23meraki for more updates. ;)

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