Covert Aim

Chapter 9

"Sorry, we have to do this." Rosana tightened the rope on the old man's hands up.

Rita tied the man's feet, too. "We're doing this for the safety of our father, sir."

"I know. My children so did this to me when I was chased, too." The man teared. "Leon's so lucky to have y'all as his bodyguards. I miss my children."

Rita stood up and left Rosana with the tied man. She went to his father. At the same time, Rosana stared at the man.

She felt pathetic while looking at the sorrowful man. She crouched and put his arms on her knees.

She put down her chin on his arms. "You only did that for reward, sir?"

"Yes," the man returned.

"Why?"

"Um . . . um—"

"Someone bothers you?"

"No one. I just wanna transfer my wife and children's body to a public grave where they can lie their bodies peacefully."

The words of the man made Rosana sadder. She began to be interested in the man's life, so they talked.

On the other hand, Rita sat beside Leon, on a stool. "He's all tied up, Dad."

"Didn't you zip his mouth? He could cry for help, you know," Marco said.

"He won't. He seems to be doing this just for money."

"Money what?"

"Oh, did you know, Marco?" Mara interrupted. "There's a five million-peso reward money for whoever finds Dad, dead or alive."

"World's so cruel." Efren bowed.

It was late afternoon and they still did not have any food but just cups of coffee for lunch.

Joseph starved so much, so he did go to the tied old man. He found Rosana doing something beside the man. He went there and found her doing a bowl of sliced tomatoes. He also found that there were bowls of rice and dried fish beside her.

"Where did ya get these?" Joseph interfered.

"Oh, hi." Rosana put the knife back to where it belonged again. "This man we tied up is a great help."

"Huh? What?"

"He commanded me to get these and make lunch for us."

"He said that?"

"Yep, he's a good man."

"No, he isn't," Joseph said. "He put his gun on our youngest brother's head."

"Otep," Rosana started to walk, having the two bowls of the dish in her hands, "he helps us survive this afternoon, tho."

They then both went to the others.

"As you can see," Rosana set down the rice and the dried fish, "the old man wants us not to hunger."

Joseph followed and put the soy sauce with tomatoes on the table, too. No one replied to Rosana. They began eating the served food bare-handed. Rosana stood up when she was already finished eating.

She got a plate and served it with the same food. Without excusing herself, he walked away from the table and went to the tied man.

She unbound the man's fastening even though her family did not approve to untie the person. "Sir, you can eat now."

"Um . . . thanks, little lady." The man started to pick the spoon up. "You're good at cooking, tho."

"Thanks. By the way, can you tell me more about your children . . . if you wouldn't just mind?"

"Of course." The man swallowed a spoonful of the dish then drank some water. "Am a former member of Armed Forces of the Philippines. I became a student in Philippine Military Academy in my early twenties and was destined here in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro when I was promoted as a first lieutenant.

"In those times, I stayed here for three years approximately, and at that time, I really missed my children. So, I brought them here one by one. I had three children and a loving wife.

"My wife already passed away before I was assigned here . . . in her late thirties, because of cardiac arrest. That situation sucked for my children. I felt sorry for them, so then I brought them with me here.

"One time, amid summer, our team was tasked to do an important job . . . to drag a former, infamous s*x syndicate down to jail. I then began to have threats from them, my children had them, too.

"One night, in the middle of great peace, our rest house here was fired by that damn syndicate. My children were shot dead . . . dead on the spot . . . all of them. I was wounded, but I didn't mind it for my familial loss was much greater than physical injuries.

"In fear, I buried them at the backyard of our rest house then I left them unblessed by the holy church. I left them wandering this cruel earth. I just pray and pray to God that my children deserve peace and unity with Him. I love, and will always love . . . my children.

Rosana smiled bitterly. She could not think of anything but the sentiment inside the man. At that time, she realized how hard life was for the man—that he had such great, loving children, too.

The man finished his lunch and drank his water fully. He smiled at Rosana with a tear going down his aged cheek.

"Hey, little girl," the man handed Rosana his hands, "you can now tie me up again."

Rosana then nodded in unanimity. She tied the man's hands bitterly. She held the soiled plate and plastic cup.

She stood up and turned to the man again. "Sir, I haven't heard your name, yet."

"My name doesn't matter." The man smiled. "As long as you know my thoughts, you can know my name."

The words marked Rosana's heart in great happiness. She then went to her family. They already finished their late lunch, too. Some washed the dishes and some found for fruits, some fetched for water and some made the nipa hut's windows and doors more covered. The night fell, all were tired of the day. They fell asleep as the night went more silent.

Efren gave the tied man a pillow and made him sleep horizontally. When Efren went to sleep, the man opened his eyes. All he could see outside the holes of his house were twinkling stars. All he could hear was the noise of the night's critters. All he could feel was an empty home needing for fixation, needing some healing, needing some time to be rebuilt. He closed his eyes and began to snore.

A morning rose once more. The crows of feral roosters made the whole people in the nipa hut wide awake. David went to the dining area. He was shocked at what he saw—the old man was looking at him with a smile, no ties nor rope at all.