Juan, My Commander

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

It's already two hours since we arrived from Bairawa. Napatingin ako sa suot kong orasan at malapit nang mag alas sais ng umaga. Wala pa akong tulog ngunit sanay naman ako dahil sa aking trabaho na minsan ay kailangang pagpuyatan.

Nasa labas kami ng Military Hospital habang naghihintay sa resulta. Soldiers wounded in combat were treated in makeshift facilities inside this base. Private Raker was currently in the operating room, fighting for his survival.

Naunang isugod si Private papunta rito sa Unit dahil helicopter ang kumuha sa kaniya. While at the air, they already performed a mild operation to at least, extend the blood inside Private Raker's body.

Nanginginig ang aking katawan habang malakas ang kabog ng aking dibdib ngunit nanatili akong kalmado. Napatingin ako sa aking gilid nang hawakan ni Commander ang aking mga kamay. He was sitting beside me.

"Don't worry. He will be fine," mahinahong usal ni Commander at binigyan ako nang ngiti. Tumitig ako sa kaniya at walang bakas nang paninisi ang kaniyang kapeng mga mata.

"How can you be so calm when your comrade was shot right on his skull? How can you defend me from the Captain when it's already evident that I was the reason why it happened to the Private soldier?"

Ngumiti si Commander at agad na inalis ang kaniyang kamay mula sa akin. Ibinaling niya ang tingin sa harapan at nagpakawala nang malalim na hininga bago sumandal sa aming inuupuan.

"That's the life of soldiers, some will lose their lives and some will live to continue fighting. You don't need to torture yourself by putting the responsibility in your head, My Anita. Walang may kasalanan. Ginawa lang ni Private ang kaniyang trabaho."

Hindi na ako sumagot pa't nanahimik habang nanginginig ang aking katawan. Napakagat ako ng aking ibabang labi. Is it my fault? Siguro kung nanatili lang talaga ako sa loob ng kotse, hindi ito mangyayari kay Private Raker.

Hindi ako mapakali habang nakaupo. Pumipikit na ang talukip ng aking mga ngunit pinipigilan ko itong ipahalata. Palihim akong nagbuntong-hininga.

I didn't expect that it was just a bait. No. It's not entirely a trap but yet, Alphageus was lured and one of their soldier were on critical condition.

"You said that you found out something earlier. What is it, My Anita?" napalingon ako kay Commander. Nakatingin na rin siya sa akin. His brown eyes were staring at me intensely.

Napabuga ako ng hangin at agad na inayos ang aking sarili.

"Draigana was a syndicate from this Country but I was having a confusion why they talk fluently in Russian?"

I can see how Commander Shamer hold his breath. He was digesting my words to comprehend it. Tumitig ito sa akin habang hindi makapaniwala.

"Do you think that..."

"Yes, Commander. I think they are affiliated. Russian and Draigana which is a Nepalese syndicate, they were joining hands."

"Yes. That might be the case," sabi niya at kinagat ang kaniyang mga labi habang nakatitig sa akin. Hindi ko maiwasang kabahan. Pakiramdam ko'y nasamid ako sa sariling laway nang biglang bumuga ng hangin si Commander sa aking harapan.

Mabilis akong nag-iwas nang tingin. Kumakawala ang aking dibdib at baka lalabas ito sa loob ng hawla kung ipagpapatuloy namin ang pakikipagtitigan.

"Ang pinagtataka ko lang kung sino ang nagpadala nang mensahe sa page namin," napabaling ulit ako nang tingin kay Commander, "Where are the hostages, Commander?" Pagtatanong ko. Biglang kumunot ang kaniyang mga noo.