"Do not forget your main purpose as to why you entered the military, Clei. Nasa pugad ka ng mga kalaban kaya mag-iingat ka. Do not believe anything they say to you. People like them are not real heroes. They're like dogs who don't know anything but to follow their owners. Don't let them fool you the way they fool the public. Showing only the good sides of the story and not exposing the truth."

I could still remember what Tio said to me before I went back to Baguio. It's been almost a year since then. Hanggang ngayon ay dala-dala ko pa rin ng paalala niya.

I let out a controlled breath as I look around. Nakasakay ako ngayon sa sasakyan kasama ang mga kapwa ko graduate. Papunta na kaming kampo para pormal na tanggapin sa hukbo.

Mula ngayon, hindi na ako si Cleise.

I am now Second Lieutenant Clarise Espinosa.

Nakinig ako nang maigi sa bawat sinasabi ng lalaki. I also tried to memorize the whole place at first glance. All soldiers with me are serious too but they talk to each other from time to time. Ako rin naman ay kinakausap nila but I always answer them briefly. I am not here to make friends. Makadidistorbo lang sila sa misyon ko.

In the academy, as much as possible, I try my best to blend in. Madalas akong nag-iisa pero paminsan-minsan ay sumasama ako sa 'king mga kaklase. I act what normal "millennials" would act sometimes kahit na hindi ako ganoon sa totoong buhay.

Maybe it's an advantage that that was a military academy. Kailangang magseryoso ng mga tao. And since being cold and serious is my nature, hindi ako nahirapan.

Kung walang nakahalata sa 'kin doon, sisiguruhin kong ganoon rin dito ngayon. 

Though it was not our first time being of service dahil nag-OJT naman kami noong ika-huling taon namin, ibang lugar naman itong kampo. We were sent last time to Mindanao for our OJT.

As military academy students, we study general subjects in our first two years. The last two are for studying the core subjects we chose and what branch of service we want to specialize in.

And I chose the Army Intelligence.

Mag-isa akong kumain sa canteen. There were not much of people inside. Ang isang malaking mesa na kakasya ang apat na tao ay okupado ko ng mag-isa.

As I take my time eating my meal, I looked around.

I am sent here not only to monitor the movements of our enemies but also to help our enemies take down illegal weapon suppliers like us. Iyong mga kakompetensiya namin.

I figured to make well use of my time here in the camp. Hindi rin naman ako magtatagal dito.

Four years in school just to get in here and stay for a couple of months.

Napailing ako. Apat na taon din ang sinayang ko. I even ditched the course that I have chosen for myself just to legally get inside this secured place—well, not really legally since I'm using a fake name.

But oh well, it was my decision. Tio can smuggle my entry but I declined his offer. It's better this way. Mabuti na'ng maingat tsaka may natutunan rin naman ako.

The plan is...I monitor the army's movements, Greco will give me information about our competitors in business, he will send it to me and I will send it to the military. Parang nagpalitan lang kami ni Greco ng impormasyon. He became Tio's right-hand man after I left.

It's a win-win. Natutulungan ko ang gobyerno na mapatumba ang mga illegal na negosyo rito sa bansa tapos kami, lalong lumalago ang negosyo ni Tio at nakakapagbigay ako ng impormasyon sa kanila.

See? It's not that bad.

Mabilis kong tinapos ang pagkain sa isiping dapat na akong kumilos sa lalong madaling panahon. Nasa gitna ako ng pag-inom ng tubig nang may lalaking tumigil sa harapan ko, ang mesa ang tanging naghihiwalay sa 'min.

"Hi..." His eyes traveled to my sleeve then, to my chest. "Second Lieutenant Espinosa. I'm guessing this is your first day here?"

I kept my straight face but I was amused. Siya ang unang taong lumapit sa 'kin ngayong araw.

"Yes."

Hindi na ako nagtanong kung paano niya nalaman. I saw his sleeve and his rank was Captain. Ibig sabihin, medyo matagal na siya rito at may posibilidad na lahat ng tao ay kilala niya na.

"Very well, I'm Captain Raxen Valle. Been on service for four years and counting," pakilala nito saka nilahad ang kamay sa 'kin.

I stared at his extended hand for a while before I accepted it for a handshake.

"Second Lieutenant Clarise Espinosa," pakilala ko habang pinagmamasdan ang hitsura niya.

Typical built of a soldier but his looks are quite different from the ones I have encountered.

His looks are more...pleasant to look at.

"Done admiring my handsome face, Lieutenant?" he asked with a teasing smile.

I looked at him blankly making him shake his head.

"I'm just kidding. Anyway, I noticed that you're alone. Mind if I join you?"

"Sure. Patapos na rin naman na ako."

He grinned. "Great!" Inubos ko ang tubig na iniinom. "Actually may kasama ako. Pero dalawa lang naman sila—hey, where are you going?"

"I'm done eating," I answered with an indifferent tone as I move out.

"Hindi mo man lang ba ako sasamahan muna? Wala pa ang mga kaibigan ko, oh."

Tumaas ang kaliwang kilay ko. Balak ko sana siyang barahin nang maalalang mas nakatataas pala siya sa 'kin.

Huminga ako ng malalim saka hinarap siya. "As much as I wanted to stay, Captain. But I can't. I have some work to do," pagdadahilan ko kahit wala pa namang naiaatas na misyon sa akin. I smiled sarcastically.

Maybe he realized that I have no plans on hanging out with him so he nodded.

"Okay then, good luck with your work," parang napipilitan niyang ani. He's even pouting slightly.

I gave him a sweet smile. "Thank you. You too, Captain," sabi ko at naglakad na patungong pintuan.

Diretso ang paningin ko hanggang makalabas. I even bumped into someone pero hindi naman malakas kaya hindi ko na nilingon.

"What the—"

Someone bumped me lightly pero hindi man lang ito humingi ng pasensya.

I turned around to get the person's attention when a familiar smell entered my nose. Mabilis kong ipinalibot ang tingin at isang bultong naglalakad palayo ang nahagip ng mata ko.

That posture, that walk...

I was about to follow the woman but Dior grabbed my arm.

"Chill, man. Hindi naman yata sinasadya. Tara na, kumain na tayo. I can see Rax from here," aniya saka pilit akong hinila papasok ng canteen.

I glanced at the space where I think I saw her walking at nakitang wala ng tao ro'n.

Maybe I'm just seeing things?

Who knows? I've been seeing her everywhere lately.

It's been a year yet she hasn't left my mind. Para ngang sa utak ko na siya nakatira. I still don't get the reason why she's stuck in my head like that but I've already accepted the fact that she may not leave my mind anytime soon.

Natigilan ako sa pag-upo nang maamoy ko ulit ang pamilyar niyang pabango. I wrinkled my nose and sniffed. And sniffed again.

"Man, have you become a dog? What's wrong with you?" Raxen looked at me like I lost my head.

"I'm just..." I sniffed. "Sniffing something."

Dior looked at me flatly.

"Yeah. We can see that — everybody in this canteen, can see that."

I stopped what I was doing and slowly looked at my right, then to my left. Napakurap-kurap ako nang mapansing pinagtitinginan ako ng mga tao kapagkuwan ay umupo ng ayos.

"Hindi ka naman siguro nalipasan ng gutom, 'di ba?"

"Gabi-gabi ka namang natutulog, 'di ba?"

Tinapik ni Dior ang kaliwang balikat ko.

"Bud, 'wag kang masyadong magpakalunod sa trabaho. Baka isang araw magising na lang kami, nasa mental institution ka na."

Inalis ko ang kamay niya sa balikat ko.

"Hindi ako nasisiraan ng bait, okay? I just thought I smelled something familiar," sabi ko habang hindi makatingin ng diretso sa kanila.

Dahil sa sinabi ko, umakto rin ang dalawa na parang may inaamoy.

"I do smell something," Raxen said.

"Smells like a woman's perfume," kumento ni Dior pagkatapos ay binalingan si Raxen. "Please don't tell me that's you."

Sinapo ni Raxen ang dibdib saka hindi makapaniwalang tinitigan si Dior.

"Me? Would wear a woman's perfume? Bud, I'm not who you think I am!" eksaherado niyang wika.

Dior rolled his eyes. "What I meant was...were you with a woman before you came here. Ipapaalala ko lang na nasa kampo tayo, Valle. Ilugar mo 'yang kalandian mo."

"Oh." He smiled sheepishly. "Ayusin mo kasi. And no, I was not with anyone. Siguro pabango ni Lieutenant Espinosa ang naaaamoy niyo."

My brows furrowed.

"Lieutenant Espinosa? Who's she? Never heard of her," si Dior ang nagtanong.

"Apparently, she's new and...gorgeous." He snickered.

"This Lieutenant Espinosa...is her hair light brown?" tanong ko kay Raxen. Hoping that what I saw earlier was not a hallucination.

"Yes."

"Does she have thin lips?"

"Yeah."

"Kung ikukumpara mo ang height namin, hanggang balikat ko lang siya?"

"Oo—teka, bakit mo ba natanong? Kilala mo ba siya?"

"Just answer me. Are her eyes red?"

"No, they're brown." So it was contact lenses. "Bakit ganiyan ang mga tanong mo ha? Do you know Lieutenant Espinosa?"

"I don't know," I said honestly.

Now it's Dior's term to get confused. "How come you don't know?"

I just shrugged and did not answer them. Kapag sinabi kong hindi ko alam dahil hindi ko naman alam ang pangalan niya, paniguradong tutuksuhin lang ako ng dalawa.

"Kumain na lang tayo habang may oras pa. Mamaya magpa-emergency meeting na naman si General," pag-iiba ko sa usapan.

Dior and Raxen nodded at hindi na nagtanong pa. They know that when I don't want to talk about something, ayaw ko talaga. Kahit anong pilit nila.

Si Dior na ang tumayo para mag-order. While Raxen and I were left at the table.

Pumangalumbaba ako at tumingin sa kawalan.

Is there a possibility that that woman was the same woman I met a year ago?

"Hey, Raxen," tawag ko sa kaibigan.

"Huh?"

"Ano ang buong pangalan nu'ng Lieutenant Espinosa?"

"Second Lieutenant Clarise Espinosa," Raxen answered without hesitation.

Bumuntong-hininga ako para itago ang biglaang pagbilis ng tibok ng aking puso.

Clarise, huh?

✨GraciousVictory✨

Don't forget to vote, comment on this chapter if you have some questions, and of course, follow my acc, @GraciousVictory. Thank you!😘