Guns and Roses [GL]

Chapter 10

-'How's the mission sweetie?'

"Mhmm, it's going on well dad. I'm currently on the 3rd phase" I said as I was preparing to leave for the next phase. The next phase is about strategy, So, I think I should wear comfortable clothes for this one.

-'Well that's good to hear. Do your best on the next phases, this is the only way we can gather information from the Montaignes. A once in a life time opportunity'

"Yes dad, I'll not only do my best. I will make sure that I get that spot" I said with determination and I heard chuckle from the other line.

-'Alright, then take care on the way'

I smiled, "Thanks dad, I will". As soon as I said those words the line completely ended. I couldn't stop thinking of the possibilities. The possibility that I will not be chosen as a bodyguard

Thinking of it makes me angry and disappointed in myself but there's this feeling of longing and sadness. I couldn't understand why I'm feeling like this just with the thought of not being able to protect ....

"Ow!" I exclaimed when I felt my own punch through my skull.

"So that's what it feels like" I said to myself while caressing my cheek after I punched it and lay down on my bed.

I stared at the ceiling and started talking to myself, "I can't believe that I just thought of protecting our enemy" the tone of disbelief lingers.

I sighed loudly and brought my hands to my face. I covered my face and closed my eyes and suddenly, the image of us kissing in that bathroom haunted me that shot my eyes wide open.

"Argh!!!!" I yelled as I mess my hair in frustration.

"What has that girl done to me" tanong ko sa hangin at tumingin sa earpiece na hawak ko kanina.

Wala akong panahon para sa mga ganito. I'm not here to flirt with the enemy, I shouldn't be doing this, this is very wrong. And if my dad finds out, he is going to be so dissapointed.

I sighed again and frustratedly tugged on my hair.

Naputol ang iniisip ko nang marinig ang cellphone ko na tumunog. Kunot-noo ko itong kinuha at tiningnan kung sino ang nag-message sakin.

"Hey, I'm outside your apartment" I read the text out loudly at dali daling tumingin sa labas ng bintana.

"What is he doing here?" Tanong ko at agad na kinuha ang gamit at lumabas para salubungin siya.

"Kai! Tara sabay na tayo!" Salubong ni Jhasper sakin nang makalabas ako ng apartment. Kumunot naman ang noo ko dahil sa kanya.

"How did you know where my apartment was?" I asked confused. I don't remember telling him where my apartment was. 

"Ah-eh. Nagtanong tanong ako jan sa tabi-tabi. Anyway, tara na! Baka malate pa tayo" saad niya at hinila na ako kaya hindi na ako nakapagtanong pa sa kanya.

We rode a taxi on our way to the training grounds and as I glance at Jhasper, he's just busy on his phone which I find unusual. But I didn't give it much attention, it's his business anyway.

After minutes, we finally arrived at the training grounds which is a forest. Come to think of it, the 3rd phase is about strategy so it has something to do with the place.

I got out of the taxi first and Jhasper followed, still keeping silent while directly focusing on his phone. I wonder what he was looking at. 

I saw the other participants, so I decided to follow them deep into the forest. The forest was vast and huge, I didn't know they had such forest in the Philippines. I keep stealing glances at Jhasper, worried that he may split up with me in a few seconds.

I just kept on walking and was starting to feel irritated by Jhasper, not because he was not talking to me but because he was not paying attention to where he was going. I sighed and stopped right in front of him while facing upfront.

"Ouch!" he winced and I felt him drop his phone. I acted clueless as I looked behind me to see him giving me glares. 

"What's that look for?" I asked nonchalantly and he pouted.

"Tsk, inggit ka lang kasi hindi kita kinakausap" saad niya and I was left dumbfounded. Wow, the nerve of this guy. 

I immediately walked away and left him there having this annoyed look in my eyes. 

"Oy! Saglit lang! Ito naman!" rinig kong sigaw niya ngunit hindi ko siya pinansin, bagkus ay deretsong naglakad hangang sa makita ko ang ... campsite?

Tumigil ang panandalian at inilibot ang tingin kung tama ba ang aming napuntahan. Hindi pamilyar sa akin ang ibang participants pero nang makita ko ang babaeng host namin ay napanatag naman ako na tama ang aming napuntahan.

I flinched when I felt a hand on my shoulder and immediately looked to see Jhasper catching his breath beside me.

"Ito naman ... ha.... nagtampo na agad" he said while catching his breath. He really got the nerve to joke around with me. I just stared at him and waited for him to calm down before giving him a smack on the head. 

"Aray naman!" saad niya at minasahe ang ulo niyang tinamaan ko. Ayan mga nakukuha ng makukulit.

Hindi ko na siya hinintay roon at dumeretso upang magset-up ng camp na medyo malapit sa kanila ngunit hindi ganoon kalapit. I have a feeling that this task needs strategy either to look for something or to escape from something so I need to be aware at this one. 

"Kai! Hintayin mo naman ako oh!" sigaw muli ni Jhasper sa aking likuran but I didn't bother to look at him. Instead, I chose a spot for us both and started to set up. Mabuti na lamang at may mga camping items ako sa aking bag at hindi ko ito tinatanggal.

Dumating naman siya mamaya-maya at tumulong sa akin habang humihingi ng sorry dahil daw ay pinagtampo niya ako. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko maintindihan kung totoong nagso-sorry ba ito sa akin o nang-aasar. 

Tumigil naman siya mamaya-maya at nagpatuloy nanaman sa kaka-cellphone niya. Habang ako naman ay tumitingin sa paligid, pa-hapon na ngunit hindi parin nagsisimula ang dapat masimulan kaya hindi ko maiwasang magtaka. 

Napatingin naman ako sa dako ng pinasukan namin kanina at nakita ang mga tao na hindi ko masyado maaninag. Ngunit ang akala ko na papasok dito sa campsite ay sila ring naghiwa-hiwalay patungo sa kakahuyan. That's odd, tiningnan ko ang iba at mukhang hindi nila napansin ang aking nakita kaya napa-isip ako. What are they planning?

"Hey! What are you thinking?" tanong sakin ni Jhasper kaya napalingon ako sa kanya. He is not holding his cellphone anymore and he is just looking at me, confused.

I shook off my thoughts and faced him directly. We are both sitting on the ground right now while woods and sticks are in the middle. 

"Nothing, I just thought I saw something" tumango si Jhasper sa naging sagot ko.

"Matalino ka naman ano?" He asked suddenly which made my forehead creased.

"Why do you ask?" I asked back not wanting to answer his question.

He smiled, "No reason" sagot niya at nagpatuloy sa kaka-selpon. Napa-isip naman ako sa kanyang sinabi, smart? why? is it related to the test? It is a possibility so I won't just disregard it. Tiningnan kong muli si Jhasper at hindi maiwasang ma-curious kung ano ang kanyang ginagawa sa cellphone.

"Ano ba tinitingnan mo jan?" I can't help but ask him. He looked up at me and smiled. He showed me his phone, and on his screen is a puppy.

"Nilalaro ko lang" saad niya at nagpatuloy na ulit sa paglalaro nung asong iyon. Tumango nalang ako at nagsimula muling tumingin sa paligid. It's starting to get dark and when I looked at my watch, it was already 5:30 pm. I was about to stand up when I heard the megaphones around the campsite.

"Good afternoon participants.  Please head to the Camp House for distribution of foods, thank you and welcome to the 3rd phase of your test"

'What?'