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I woke up early the next day to cook for Freyr. Because I love to cook laging puno ang fridge ko. And marami din akong stock sa pantry ng condo kaya kahit maaga ay kumpleto naman ang ingredients ng lulutuin ko.
I baked red velvet cake I designed it a bit dahil kahit papaano ay maalam ako sa pag dedesign ng nga pastry goods. I studied in a baking workshop when I was young because I love baking and cooking.
I also cooked adobo with eggs because Freyr love those, ito ang madalas niyang request na lutuin ko.
I smiled while looking at the food, satisfied with the outcome because I manage to finish cooking until he's awake.
Sa kabilang kwarto natulog si Freyr kahit pa gusto ko ng cuddle mag damag. He said that even if he's already my boyfriend we should set limits.
Pa limit limit pa siya e dati nga nag kikiss kami kahit walang kami.
I decided to cook for him because I can't celebrate his birthday with him, I have to meet someone later and he has exams today.
We will be busy the whole day kaya napag kasunduan namin na next time na lang mag celebrate. He said that my yes was enough, that it's already a birthday gift for him.
The side of my lips rose remembering how he called his lola last night para ibalita na kami na. Ipinangako niya kasi dito na ito ang unang makaka alam kapag naging kami na.
I didn't even know na may promise siyang ganoon sa lola niya, kagabi ko lang nalaman.
Tuwang tuwa ang lola niya para sa kanya, while Freyr sounded so proud.
"Masaya ako para sa iyo apo, itrato mo siyang mabuti at huwag pababayaan gaya ng iyong pinangako," rinig kong saad nito sa kabilang linya.
"Opo la," he said before ending the conversation with his grandmother.
Freyr never fails to amazed me. Mabait siyang apo at masunurin sa kanyang lola, he's also very respectful.
While me, I'm completely the opposite of him. I love to party and I had many boyfriends before.
The only thing we have in common is that we love to study.
But I guess opposites do really attract.
Dahan dahan kong binuksan ang pintuan ng guest room sa condo, Freyr is on his side and his hooded eyes are still close.
Dahan dahan akong lumapit sa kanya dala ang cake na aking binake. Ibinaba ko ito sa side table at umupo sa kama para gisingin siya.
"Hey... Wake up," I said while caressing his hair.
He looks peaceful while sleeping.
Dahan dahan niyang binuksan ang kanyang mata, his grey eyes welcome mine.
"Good morning baby damulag!" Asar ko sa kanya.
He chuckled while slowly getting up, agad ko namang kinuha ang cake sa side table at sinindihan na ang kandila nito.
"Happy birthday boyfriend ko! Pwede na kitang tawaging ganon kasi tayo na!" Nakangiting saad ko.
Freyr's face looks bright and he looks really happy right now.
"Then I can call you mine now," he said using his deep hoarse voice.
May face heated at iniwas ang tingin sa kanya, imbis na sagutin ay nilapit ko sa kanya ang cake na ginawa.
"I bake this for you." Saad ko habang nakatingin sa kanyang reaction.
His eyes brighten upon seeing the words that was on the cake.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FUTURE ENGINEER" those were the exact words on the cake.
"Thank you," he said with a smile on his face.
Inabot niya ang aking noo at hinalikan.
" You're welcome Engineer ko," I said and kissed his cheeks.
"Make a wish," saad ko sa kanya, agad naman niyang ipinikit ang kanyang mata para mag wish.
The whole time he's wishing I was just looking at him, admiring every inch of him. I wonder what did I do in my past life for God to give me this man.
I will never wished for more, This guy before me right now is a real blessing.
I wish this happiness will last us a life time.
After a few seconds he blow the candle and open his eyes.
"Anong wish mo?" Tanong ko sa kanya, while putting icing on his nose.
Mas lumapit siya sa akin at nilagya din ako ng icing sa aking ilong. Natawa ako dahil para kaming mga bata. Ang aga aga nang lalagkit.
"Secret," he playfully said, inirapan ko siya dahil may pa secret secret pa siya.
"Baka kasi hindi matupad..." Mahinang saad niya while pouting nang makitang inirapan ko siya. Natawa ako sa reaction niya at kinurot ang pisngi niya.
"Nevermind, basta my birthday wish for you is for you to achieve your dreams," I said while smiling at him, tahimik naman siyang nakatutok sa akin he attentively watch me speak.
" I wished for you to pass the board exam, at makapag oath taking kasama si Lola Esme," he smiled upon hearing my wish for him.
"Sana kasama din kita sa oath taking ko," mahinang saad niya.
"Of course I will! I'm your girlfriend, I will be the happiest for you that day! Bibigyan pa kita ng reward e," mukha ginanahan siya sa aking sinabi dahil nagliwanag ang kanyang mukha.
"Really? Then I should ace the exam para ma top 1," he enthusiastically said.
"Kahit pa hindi ka masali sa top, I will be the happiest for you, I will give you many kisses as a reward," natatawang saad ko, because he looks energetic right now.
He hugged me tight that I could feel his heartbeat.
"I love you," I whispered to him while caressing his hair.
"I love you more," he responded.
After that we ate the breakfast that I cooked, bakas ang saya sa mukha ni Freyr nang makita ang hinanda ko para sa kanya. Ang dami niyang nakain sa mga inihanda ko.
I was elated to see him eat happily, he appreciates every single thing na ginagawa ko para sa kanya.
And everytime I looks at him, I know my eyes screams affection and love. It's like I'm looking at the universe, my universe... it's him..
Lumabas ako ng kotse pagkatapos ng mahabang byahe, I have to meet someone and our meeting should be secret.
I arrived at a private hotel in tagaytay, you can't easily check in in this hotel. Usually ang nag che-check in dito ay mga malalaking tao, kung hindi pulitiko ang member ng mga frat ang madalas.
Agad akong pumasok the guard know me because it's not my first time here.
I have memberships card under a different name para hindi madaling ma trace.
I opened the door of the room at hindi naman ako nabigo dahil nandoon na ang taong inaantay ko.
"Didn't expect you to be this early," bati ko sa kanila.
He's sitting in the couch like he's a king, nakadantay ang dalawang braso sa backrest ng sofa and his legs were wide apart.
While the other man is formally sitting. With a cold expression on his face, he fixed his glasses.
"I'm expecting a good news from the two of you," saad ko at naupo crossing my legs together.
"This brat talks just like his brother," nakangising bulong ng lalaking kaharap ko. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.
He gasped like he's scared for his life.
"See that stare too! I'm having a goosebumps right now!" His deep voice echoed in the room.
"Shut up Reuel," the man in glasses said.
"You act like you're not my friend, Arlo," Reuel said while pouting, inirapan ko siya at humarap kay Arlo dahil mas matino ito kausap.
Reuel and Arlo are my brothers high school friend, they've been friends for years. Si Reuel ay sundalo kagaya ni kuya, while Arlo is detective, disguise as a lawyer.
I asked for their help, gusto kong malaman ang totoong nangyari sa pagkamatay ni kuya.
Biglaan at pakiramdam ko lahat ng nangyari as ibinaon na lang sa limot. My brother was not given a proper funeral, abo na lang niya ang dinala sa amin.
No one from the military attended his funeral except from Reuel, they didn't even give him a military funeral to recognize his achievements when he's still alive. And after his death no one dare to talk about him.
"Is there any lead?" I asked the serious man in front of me.
Agad niyang inilabas ang kanyang laptop at iniharap sa akin.
"I found that the order was not originally from the captain of the troops," he started explaining.
"Politics must be involved," Reuel seriously said.
"Then how come my brother was chosen to be there when he is supposed to be in Baguio?" I said through gritted teeth.
"He told me na sa Baguio siya madedestino! There's no way my brother would lie to me!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sariling sumigaw.
"Your brother didn't lie, he was originally stationed in Baguio but someone twisted everything, at ang kapatid mo ang naipadala sa misyon," Arlo said seriously he took his laptop and type something on it.
"You're father was seen with your brother the day he was replaced from his station."
A CCTV footage of my father, together with my brother was shown in the laptop. Pumasok sa aking isipan ang isang posibilidad na maaring mangyari ngunit pilit ko itong hindi pinaniniwalaan.
Walang dahilan si Daddy para ipalipat ng misyon si kuya.
"And we found out that your father is the one who requested him."
It's like my world stop, it felt like my mind stopped working for a while.
Kung sino pa yung taong pumipigil sa kanya noon, siya pa ang posibleng naging dahilan ng pagkamatay niya noon.
How could he? Hot tears started streaming down my face.
"That mission was to escort the daughter and the grand son of the governor a former general in the army, but unexpected hostage taking and ambush happen. Ihahatid lamang dapat nila ang dalawa papunta sa isang private Island na pag mamay ari ng gobernador ngunit hindi ito natuloy dahil sa pangyayari."
Various pictures of the said mission was shown, pinakita sa larawan ang mga sasakyang puno ng dugo at ang mga katawang nagkalat. Majority of the them are dead.
"Your father recommended your brother, since he wants him to have a higher rank in the army,"
I can't imagine my brother agreeing to that mission, alam kong gusto niyang magkaroon ng mataas na rango pero kilala ko siya, alam kong mas gugustuhin niyang paghirapan ito kaysa makuha sa ganitong paraan.
"He was asked to lead the mission but failed because the daughter of the governor died."
"And the grand son?" I asked.
"We don't know, iyon lamang ang maibabahagi ko sa ngayon." Seryosong saad nito.
"If I had known na ganito ang mangyayari, pinilit ko sanang sumama noon," Reuel gritted his teeth, the veins in his buff arms are very visible right now.
"Your whims will not bring back his life," Arlo said while fixing his laptop.
"We have to find the truth."
Seryosong tumingin sa akin ang dalawa.
"We will," they both said.
Hindi ako titigil hanggat hindi ko nalalaman ang lahat, I will make sure that the everyone who's involved will suffer.
After that meeting ay agad akong umuwi sa bahay namin, parehong nasa New York pa sina mommy at daddy.
I opened the door to my father's office, it looks like a typical office with books shelves on the side and office table on the front.
Hinalughog ko ang lahat ng cabinet ni Daddy ngunit puro papel patungkol sa negosyo lang ang nakita.
It's like there's nothing suspicious in here but my gut keeps telling me taht there's something.
While i was searching in the book shelves, a book fell. Nahulog ang naka ipit ditong ilang papel.
I was about to put it back when I saw a picture of a women, probably in her late twenties. It's not my mom because the girl in the picture has round eyes and thin lips.
Agad ko nailagay sa bulsa nang biglang pumasok ang isang katulong namin.
"Magandang hapon po ma'am, nandito pala kayo," bati niya sa akin.
"Magandang hapon din po, a-ah may kinuha lang ako! Naiwan ko kasi yung libro ko dati kailangan ko pala," paliwanag ko na mukhang pinaniwalaan naman nito.
"Ganun ho ba, sige ho ipagpapatuloy ko na ang paglilinis," saad nito.
"Kung ganoon po ay mauuna na po ako," saad ko at dali daling umalis ng kwarto.
Hindi ko na pinansin ang sumunod na sinabi nito at umuwi na, I didn't realize na nadala ko pala pauwi ang larawan ng babae, I put the photo inside my diary.
I don't know why but for some reason I felt strange about that photo, kung tutuusin maaring isa to sa mga naging babae ng tatay ko, but I don't know why I can't throw this photo.