PALAGAY KO MAHAL KITA

Chapter 2

SA loob ng Armory, ang tanging tunog na naririnig ay ang metalikong click ng mga magazine at ang pag-adjust ng mga tactical vest.

Madilim at malamig, pero sa sulok kung nasaan sina Sofia at Jaxon, tila nag-iinit ang hangin.

Sofia was focused. Masyadong focused. Paulit-ulit niyang tinitingnan ang kanyang sidearm, sinisiguro na walang dumi, kahit na malinis na ito.

"If you clean that any harder, liliit na 'yung caliber niyan, Galvez," Jax’s voice drifted from across the table.

Sofia didn't look up. "Busy ako, Alcaraz. H'wag ka ngang epal."

Narinig niya ang yabag ng boots ni Jax palapit. Tumigil ito sa tabi niya at ipinatong ang kanyang sariling rifle sa mesa. This time, he wasn't smirking.

Seryoso ang mukha niya, ang manggas ng kanyang fatigue uniform ay nakatupi hanggang siko, revealing the veins and the rugged strength of his forearms.

"You're nervous," he stated.

It wasn't a question.

"I am not nervous. I'm prepared," Sofia snapped, finally looking at him.

Pero dahil sa sobrang lapit niya, kailangan niyang tingalain si Jax.

"Your hands are shaking. Just a bit," Jax said, reaching out.

Before Sofia could protest, Jax gripped her wrist. His touch was warm, firm, and grounding.

Sofia froze. Ang ingay ng armory ay tila naglaho. "Bitawan mo ako, Alcaraz. Baka may makakita sa atin."

"Let them look," he whispered, his thumb grazing the pulse point on her wrist.

He could feel her heart racing—not from fear of the mission, but from his proximity.

"H'wag mong isipin na kailangan mong gawin lahat mag-isa bukas. I have your back. Alam mo 'yan."

Sofia pulled her hand away, but the ghost of his touch remained.

"Bakit ba bigla kang bumabait? Isang linggo tayong nag-aaway sa briefing room, tapos ngayon..."

"Dahil ayaw kong pumasok sa gubat na galit ka sa akin," Jax stepped even closer, forcing Sofia to back up until she hit the edge of the heavy metal table.

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a husky level that sent shivers down her spine.

"Galit ka ba talaga sa akin, Sofia? O natatakot ka lang na baka tama ako? Na baka... we actually work better together than we do apart?"

The tension was thick enough to cut with a combat knife. Sofia’s gaze dropped to his lips for a fraction of a second before she forced herself to look back into his dark, intense eyes.

"You're arrogant, annoying, and you drive me crazy," Sofia whispered, her breath hitching.

"And you're stubborn, bossy, and the only person in this camp who can keep up with me," Jax countered.

He leaned down, his forehead almost touching hers.

"Don't die out there, Captain. It would be too boring here without you."

Sofia could feel the heat of his breath on her skin.

For a moment, the rivalry was gone, replaced by an electric pull that had been building since their first year in the Academy.

"I don't plan on dying," Sofia said, her voice regaining its strength but her eyes still locked on his. "And I don't plan on letting you win our bet, either."

Jax finally smirked, that familiar, annoying, handsome smirk. "Good. That’s the Galvez I know."

He stepped back, picking up his rifle and slinging it over his shoulder. At the door, he paused and looked back.

"0400, Captain. Don't be late. I'd hate to leave without my better half."

Naiwang mag-isa si Sofia, humihingal at hawak ang dibdib niya. 'Better half?'

"Bwisit ka talaga, Alcaraz," she muttered, but she couldn't stop the small, traitorous smile from forming on her lips.

ANG langit sa taas ng tri-boundary ay kulay abo at galit. Sa loob ng C-130 transport plane, ang tanging maririnig ay ang ugong ng makina at ang pabagu-bagong pressure na humahampas sa katawan ng mga sundalo.

Naka-full combat gear sina Sofia at Jax, ang kanilang mga mukha ay nababalot ng tactical masks, pero ang kanilang mga mata ay nag-uusap.

"Check your altimeters! Two minutes to jump!" sigaw ng Jumpmaster sa gitna ng ingay.

Lumapit si Jax kay Sofia, kinabit ang kanyang hook sa static line, at tinapik ang balikat nito.

"Galvez! Remember what I said! Huwag kang lalayo sa akin!"

"Focus on your own parachute, Alcaraz!" balik na sigaw ni Sofia, pero bago bumukas ang ramp ng eroplano, hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Jax—isang mabilis at mahigpit na piga.

Isang tahimik na pangako na magkikita sila sa baba.

Nang bumukas ang likuran ng eroplano, sinalubong sila ng marahas na hangin.

Isa-isang tumalon ang mga tauhan nila. Sofia was next. She took a deep breath and plunged into the abyss of the clouds, with Jax jumping right after her.

Everything was going according to plan—until it wasn't.

Nang makarating sila sa 4,000 feet, biglang nagbago ang ihip ng hangin. Isang marahas na microburst ang humampas sa kanila.

Sofia pulled her ripcord, pero sa tindi ng hangin, ang kanyang parachute ay nag-tangled sa mga cords nito.

"Alcaraz! I have a malfunction! My chutes are tangled!" Sofia yelled into her comms, her voice laced with a rare hint of panic as she began to spiral.

"Cut it away, Sofia! Deploy your reserve!" Jax’s voice crackled in her ear, steady but urgent.

Sofia tried to reach for the reserve handle, pero ang bilis ng pag-ikot niya ay nagdulot ng G-force na nagpamanhid sa kanyang mga braso.

At ang mas malala, nakita niya sa ibaba na hindi sila sa clear zone babagsak.

Dahil sa lakas ng hangin, tinatangay sila patungo sa pinakamakapal na bahagi ng gubat—ang teritoryo ng mga kalaban.

"I can't reach it! I'm spinning too fast!"

"I'm coming for you! Stay still!"

Sa gitna ng panganib, nakita ni Sofia ang isang anino na mabilis na bumubulusok patungo sa kanya.

It was Jaxon.

In a move that defied every safety protocol, he tucked his arms and legs to increase his fall rate, aiming straight for her.

"Alcaraz, no! You'll crash!"

Pero hindi nakinig si Jax. Inabot niya ang kamay ni Sofia, ang kanilang mga gloved hands ay nag-abot sa gitna ng malakas na hangin.

Sa isang malakas na hila, niyakap ni Jax si Sofia, gamit ang sarili niyang katawan bilang anchor para patigilin ang pag-ikot nito.

"Now, Sofia! Pull the reserve!" Jax roared.

Hinila ni Sofia ang handle.

Ang reserve chute ay bumukas nang may malakas na snap, pero dahil dalawa na silang nakasabit sa iisang parachute, ang bilis ng pagbaba nila ay delikado pa rin.

"We're going too fast! We're gonna hit the trees!" Sofia shouted.

"Brace for impact!" Jax tucked her head into his chest, shielding her with his own body habang paparating sila sa naglalakihang mga puno ng mahogany.