Dead Reckoning - A Gregorio del Pilar x Reader story

XI - Pâro

Right there, Goyo stops right in front of the two of us with his arms crossed across his chest with layers of fabric on one arm and a proud smirk on his face. Standing next to him is an unfamiliar face, one who is a little shorter than him (about the same height as I do), and a light scowl evident on his otherwise handsome features.

"Goyo. Enteng," calls Isidro right away as he draws closer to stand next to me. "Handa na ba ang lahat para sa magaganap na pag-atake sa Paombong?"

Goyo's smirk widens. "Masyado atang nagustuhan ng iba nating mga kasamahan ang plano ko." He perches in between me and Isidro, looking at the gathered men behind us. "Siguro naman ay naintindihan at pinapakalat na nila ngayon ang magiging plano, ano?"

"Na-ibahagi ko na sa kanila. Pinag-iisipan na lang nila ngayon kung sino ang sasama sa isa, at kung saan sila maaring pumwesto," Isidro replies.

He nods. "Basta. Hintayin ang senyales kamo."

Isidro agrees. "Naiintindihan ko, Goyo."

"Hinihintay ka na nila doon. Nandoon sila kuya." He chuckles. "Masyadong natuwa si kuya sa mga kasuotan. Bagay naman kamo talaga sa kanya."

The man along with Goyo stifles a laugh, as Isidro smiles before saying, "Kung ganoon, hindi ako magpapahuli sa kung gaano karamdam ni Julian ang pagsusuot ng saya. Puntahan ko sila doon." He turns to me for a second. "Maiwan ko muna kayo." And then, just like that, he is off to the direction from where Goyo and his companion came from.

I then turn to the two of them, almost shuffling on my feet, unsure of what to do or say to them. I know, for an instance, that I should head to where the rest of the women are. However, the heavy stare of these two young men right now seems to weigh heavily onto me. Judgmental, if ever.

"Humarap ka doon," Goyo tells me as he points me to the right, taking the colorful layers of fabric on one arm.

I raise an eyebrow at him and points at where he is pointing at. "Dito?" I follow his order, turning ninety degrees from them.

Goyo looks back at Enteng and beckons with his head to 'go ahead'.

"Sigurado ka ba rito, Goyo?" Enteng asks him, a little hesitant but walks forward as he draws closer to stand behind me. His back against my own.

I lower my eyes, a little shy with this. After all, if I am standing back-to-back with someone else unimportant, I'll not react this way. However, this man standing behind me is the younger brother of the Matanglawin, a close friend of Goyo who've died a brutal death. Aren't heroes either to die young or famous, and brutal or honorable?

"Hmm... Sakto lang naman. Magpalit na kayo," Goyo remarks.

I blink at him. "Huh?"

"Ibig niyang sabihin, magpalit tayo ng damit, binibini," Enteng says non-chantly, sighing heavily, as if he had been aware that this is leading to that before even coming here.

"A-Ano?" I blink at him.

Goyo sighs heavily, frowning a little. "Pendejo ka talaga, ano? Ano bang mahirap intindihin sa sinabi namin ni Enteng na magpalit kayo ng damit?" He then smirks. "O gusto mo ako magpalit sa inyong dalawa ng damit?" Before I can even say or react, he adds right away as his smirk disappears but his eyes are wild and piercing, "O si Totoy?"

I gape at him, my eyes widening, and I shake my head. "H-Hindi kailangan, ano! K-Kaya ko sarili ko, at naiintindihan ko! Na... Nagulat lang ako sa pinapagawa niyo eh. Ibig-sabihin ay susuotin ko ang damit..." I look shyly at Enteng. "...niyo po, Ginoong Enteng?"

Enteng offers his hand at me for a shake, introducing himself, "Koronel Vicente Enriquez."

I take his hand. "(Y/N). Isa sa mga taga-Cruz Roja." Apparently, there's the truth, and there's the half-lie that had been predetermined by this game as my role.

We let go off each other's hands.

"K-Kung hindi niyo lang po mamasamain na itatanong ko." I look at the two of them. "B-Bakit po natin kailangan magpalit ng damit?"

"Agaw atraksyon," Enteng remarks plainly.

Among the layers of fabric that Goyo has on his arms, I didn't realize the presence of a handheld fan. And now, he opens it up with one fluid motion and draws it closer to his face, eyeing me flirtatiously and seductively.

I roll my eyes, shaking my head a little. As if naman...

He chuckles lightly. "Ganito lang naman natin lulusubin ang Paombong, Pendejo."

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