Steel Hearts

Hello! My pen name is formerly sereingirl, but now I use arbrilori. Feel free to follow me on w*****d and in here. -----     I was always taught to fight for humans with all of me. For life is a sacred sanctity, we must protect. But how do you even consider man, human? I am Lieutenant Rilea Oridala, a soldier of the Philippine Marines. Allow me to open your eyes to what lies, beyond the gates of steel hearts. - "Semper Fidelis." I will always protect humanity, But I will not surrender being humane. - P R O L O G U E I stood alongside the bravest men of the hour, blinded momentarily by flashing lights of the cameras in front. Pinipilit kong isipin na mga d**o lang ang mga tao sa harap gaya ng payo ni Colonel Magbitang, pero wala namang damong nagsasalita. Damn, I really hate attention. "2Lt. Oridala?" A random face blurted my surname amidst the crowd of strangers. I took a deep, sharp breath before stepping into the middle of the little stage. I was handed a microphone which I used immediately to respond. "Yes?" I tried to sound cool. "I am Grace Quintanar from Philippine Daily News. We have truckload of questions for you but before all of that, can you orient us of how to properly pronounce your first name?" A female journalist said. "It's Ree-Le-Ya." I responded. "Rilea." She repeated, everyone in the room so quiet. "Unique name you got there, Ma'am." "It's a combination of my Father and Mother's names." I explained for what seem like the thousandth time in my life. "Rico and Lea. Rilea." "Lt. Col. Rico Oridala, your father, he was killed during the Zamboanga Siege right? And he's a medal of valor awardee. Is he your inspiration in taking up the military path?" My heart ached as I swallowed back the lump in my throat. "Yes." Was all I can reply. I want to tell them more. I want to broadcast how he inspired me not only in being a soldier, but in being a human too. He is my inspiration in everything, for everything, meant him. "Hi, I'm Sela Hernan from The Philippine Planet. How does it feel to be the only female to lead the troops in this war?" Another stranger asked. "Overwhelming." Tugon ko. "It was a very big responsibility to shoulder on. Fighting these terrorists isn't a joke at all." "But you carried it out well. Congrats, Ma'am." "Thank you." I said. She passed on the mic to the next journalist in our first media conference after the war. "Lieutenant, I am Rico Ferdisan from The Time Has Write." The guy with an eyeglass emerged. I nodded to acknowledge him. "Ma'am with all due respect, being the only woman leading, aren't you in anyway scared?" He asked. Everyone awaited my answer as he threw the hardest question in the room. "Of course." I replied. I earned startled looks and confused expressions from everyone. My superiors looked at me with a knowing look. Probably these crowd have degraded me in their minds. I smiled remembering how I was once like them. But everything changed when my father told me that... "Fear does not make us less. It makes us way more." I said with sincerity. "If there's no fear, there can never be bravery. We should not be afraid to be afraid. Because the bravest ones aren't those who knew no fear, but those who have fears but still fight for what they protect." I earned a loud applause with a standing ovation. With a small smile, I exited the stage and hurried back to the open field. General Claridades stood by me with a proud beam in his face. "You ready?" He asked me with a tap on the shoulder. "Yes sir." The parade started with me and all the other team leaders leading the program.It felt surreal to stand alongside these men of gallantry. I looked at the sky and smiled. I wonder if he is proud of his Ril. I wonder if he smiles while he sees me. It would have been better to have him in the crowd, peeking behind the people. As we walked through the grounds of the camp there was a sense of familiarity and nostalgia. In there, I was welcomed by the the battalions and squadrons formed into platoons. It didn't feel strange as it was when I am on the press conference. They felt like home. I feel at peace. These anonymous faces have been with me throughout the fight. My brothers, my family, thicker than blood. As we marched to a halt, the National Anthem sounded. Hearing it seemed like the best sound there is. I felt prouder than I have ever felt in my life.  We gave our snappiest salute as the Philippine flag soared. When it reached the top of the pole, we turned to face the battalion of men-in-uniform. It was an amalgamation of the different branches of service. The army -- securer of the land. The navy -- the protectof of the seas. The airforce -- the rulers of the sky. I smiled as I stared at all their faces. Though they show no emotion, I felt how happy they are for the war has ended. But I am not an army officer. I am not a navy nor an airforce as well. For I am not only one. I am all of them. I am 2LT. Rilea Oridala, of Philippine Marines. And I am one of Marawi's liberators. -- Main Casts Ji Chang Wook as Capt. Chaos Stanton Song Joongki as Capt. Riego del Mundo You as Lt. Rilea Oridala Park Seo Joon as 2Lt. Danger Stanton Nam Joo Hyuk as 2Lt. Azure Stanton Lee Jong Suk as 2Lt. Mage Stanton BTS Kim Taehyung as 2Lt. Caspian Stanton C o p y r i g h t Copyright © 2019 sereingirl All Rights Reserved Forewarning: 1. Nakaka-bitin sa bagal ang update. 2. Nakaka-inlove ang mga karakter. 3. Nakaka-adik ang istorya. 4. Madaming errors kasi tamad mag-edit. Proceed at your own risk. This is a work of fiction. In all its aspect and content, it shall not in anyway, be considered or perceived as real happenings. Similarities to actual people, events, names of agencies, places and the like are purely coincidental and may be used fictitiously. Special Note: I am not in any way affiliated to the Philippine Military Academy, the Armed Forces of the Philippines,  the Government, or any other similar institutions stated in this story. The events mentioned are not necessarily true and happening. Officials, soldiers and personnels in this story are plain part of a fiction though some might be inspired by real life. Always refer to this statement before you criticize. --