PALAGAY KO MAHAL KITA

THE humidity in Camp Tecson was suffocating, pero mas nakakasuffocate ang presensya ng lalakeng nakatayo sa harap ng bulletin board. Captain Sofia Galvez adjusted her beret, her jaw tightening as she recognized the broad shoulders and that annoyingly perfect posture. Kahit likod pa lang, alam na niya. That haircut, the way he stood like he owned the entire jungle—it was none other than Captain Jaxon "Jax" Alcaraz. Her ultimate rival since their PMA days. "Looking for your name, Galvez? Nasa baba pa siguro, baka hindi pa napa-print 'yong listahan ng mga disqualified," Jax said without even looking back. His voice was a low, smooth baritone that used to charm instructors but only made Sofia’s blood boil. Sofia stepped beside him, her boots clicking sharply against the concrete. She looked at the mission briefing posted on the board. "Funny, Alcaraz. Last time I checked, ako ang Top 1 sa Special Ops training. Baka naman ikaw 'tong naliligaw? The administrative office is that way. Baka doon ka mas kailangan—mag-timpla ng kape." Jax finally turned to face her. He had that smirk—the one that said he knew exactly which buttons to push. "Ouch. Harsh as always. But unfortunately for you, the Colonel doesn't care about our old scores. Look at the top of the list." Sofia’s eyes darted to the paper. Her heart skipped a beat, but not in a good way. JOINT TASK FORCE: OPERATION DAGGER CO-LEADS: CPT. GALVEZ, S. & CPT. ALCARAZ, J. "Co-leads?" Sofia whispered, the word tasting like ash in her mouth. "Hindi pwede 'to. This is a high-risk reconnaissance mission. I don't work with... with dead weight." "Dead weight?" Jax stepped closer, invading her personal space. He smelled like gunpowder, peppermint, and pure arrogance. "I saved your unit’s ass sa Marawi, remember? If anything, ako ang dapat magreklamo. Having you as a co-lead is like bringing a loud, angry firecracker to a stealth mission." "I am not loud!" Sofia snapped, then realized she had just proven his point when a few junior officers glanced their way. She lowered her voice into a dangerous hiss. "Listen, Alcaraz. I’ve been tracking this cell for six months. This is my mission. H'wag kang umasa na susundin ko ang orders mo." Jax leaned in, his eyes locking onto hers. The competitive fire between them was almost physical. "And don't think for a second na magpapa-under ako sa'yo, Galvez. This isn't the academy anymore. Out there, mistakes get people killed." "Then stay out of my way," hamon ni Sofia. "I can't do that," Jax countered, his smirk fading into something more serious, something that made Sofia’s pulse quicken for a reason she didn't want to admit. "Because whether you like it or not, we’re tied together on this one. Pack your gear. We move out at 0400." He tapped the mission board twice before walking away, leaving Sofia fuming in the heat. Galit siya, oo. Pero habang pinapanood niya ang paglakad ni Jax palayo, may ibang klaseng kaba sa dibdib niya. This wasn't just about the mission anymore. It was about who would break first under the pressure of the jungle—and the undeniable tension that had been brewing between them for years. Sofia gripped the strap of her rifle. Humanda ka, Alcaraz. I’ll make sure you regret the day you agreed to lead this mission with me. Pagpasok ni Sofia sa Briefing Room, ramdam agad niya ang lamig ng aircon na humahalos sa balat niyang malagkit pa mula sa field training. Nakaupo na doon si Jax, prenteng nakasandal at nagpapaikot ng ballpen sa pagitan ng kanyang mga daliri. "You're late by thirty seconds, Captain Galvez," Jax noted without looking at his watch. "I was checking the intel reports. Something you should try doing instead of counting seconds," Sofia retorted, pulling out a chair as far away from him as possible. Bago pa makasagot si Jax, pumasok na si Colonel Torres. Agad tumayo ang dalawa at sumaludo. "At ease," ang maikling utos ng Kolonel. Inilapag nito ang isang folder sa mesa na may tatak na Classified. "I’ll get straight to the point. This mission is a mess. We have reports of a high-value target moving through the tri-boundary. It’s dense jungle, hostile territory, and zero room for ego." Tumingin ang Kolonel kina Sofia at Jax. "I put you two together because you are the best. Galvez, you have the tactical precision. Alcaraz, you have the instinct for survival. But let me be clear: if I hear even one report of you two bickering in the field, I will pull you both out and court-martial your careers into oblivion. Understood?" "Yes, Sir," sabay nilang sagot, bagaman nagkatinginan sila nang matalim sa gilid ng kanilang mga mata. "Galvez, walk us through the insertion point," utos ni Torres. Tumayo si Sofia at binuksan ang digital map. "We insert via HALO jump (High Altitude Low Opening) para iwas radar detection. We land here, north of the river, and move stealthily towards the camp. Minimal engagement. We get the target, and we get out." "High risk," Jax interrupted, his voice dropping the playful tone. "The winds in that sector are unpredictable. One wrong drift and sasabit ang mga tao natin sa canopy ng mga puno. We'll be sitting ducks. I suggest a water-borne insertion. We use the river." "The river is heavily patrolled, Alcaraz," Sofia countered, her eyebrows furrowing. "Mas mabilis tayong makikita roon. My plan keeps us invisible." "Invisible but stranded?" Jax stood up, leaning over the map. "Kapag sumabit tayo sa taas, we lose the element of surprise trying to get down. In the water, we have cover and a faster exit route." "And a higher chance of being ambushed from the banks!" Sofia stepped closer, her hand slamming lightly on the table. "Bakit ba laging kailangan mong kontrahin ang plano ko?" "Bakit ba laging kailangan mong maging textbook, Sofia?" Jax’s voice was dangerously low now, using her first name for the first time. "This isn't a classroom exercise. This is real life. Real lives." "Enough!" Sigaw ni Colonel Torres. Katahimikan. Tanging ang ugong lang ng projector ang naririnig sa silid. Sofia could feel the heat radiating from Jax’s body, and the way he looked at her—half-annoyed, half-challenging—made her heart thud against her ribs. "You will use a hybrid approach," decision ng Kolonel. "Galvez, you lead the insertion. Alcaraz, you lead the extraction. If you can't agree on the middle part, then God help us all." Nang lumabas ang Kolonel, naiwan ang dalawa na tila nagpapakiramdaman. "Hybrid approach," Jax mocked softly, packing his things. "Looks like we’re stuck with each other’s 'bad' ideas." "Just make sure your 'survival instinct' doesn't get us killed, Alcaraz," Sofia said, her voice trembling slightly from the adrenaline of the argument. Jax stopped at the door, looking back at her with a cryptic smile. "Don't worry, Galvez. I’ll make sure we both make it back. Marami pa tayong hindi napag-aawayan." Nang makaalis si Jax, napasandal si Sofia sa mesa. She hated how he could get under her skin so easily. And more than that, she hated that for a split second, she wondered what it would be like to actually trust him.