Steel Hearts

Chapter 23

Chapter 23 - Unexplainably Angry

      Gumising ako nang masaya nang sumunod na araw. Dahil iyon sa naging matahimik at payapa kong tulog kagabi. Ni hindi ko nga namalayan na kinain na pala ako ng pagkakahimbing. It felt like I have been replenished and renewed deep in my soul. It must have been the work of the diwata alitaptap whom I have wished upon last night. I think that Bathala is finally giving me what I wished for now.

     I dashed to the formation of the trainees where the GAICS are located as of the moment. They were mixed alongside bald recruits but they always stand out. I was reminded na kahit ihalo mo pa sa basura ang pagmumukha ng mga ito, they will always be an exception. They will always rise above all because they are not created to fit in – they are here to dominate and stand out among the rest. And honestly, that is what makes them unique as soldiers.

      Nagsimula ang series ng trainings. Naging saksi lang akong tahimik sa mga ginagawa nila. I was noting everything down in my observation journal that I keep handy. When they were given a five-minute rest to tie their knots, lumapit ako sa mga GAICS upang obserbahan kung tama ang ginagawa nila. Chaos was doing it wrong so I tried to approach him.

“Mali ka. You should be doing left over right.” Suhestyon ko sa kanya.

     Hindi nya ako inimik o tinignan man lamang. He acted as if wala syang narinig or as if wala ako dito. Nakita kong nag tinginan ang mga GAICS bago sikuhin ni Azure si Chaos.

“What?” He snorted, looking annoyed at Azure’s action.

“Kinakausap ka ni Lieutenant Oridala, Captain.” Untag ni Azure na napalunok dahil alam nyang inis si Chaos sa naging paraan ng tugon nito sa kanya.

“I don’t need anyone’s help.” Saad ni Chaos at saka isinarado ang buhol ng kanyang knot nang pagalit at padarang.

     He looked at me with a deep set of eyes before he walked away from us. His expression looks so annoyed or pissed off. Napakunot tuloy ang noo ko sa inakto nya.

“Anong problem ani Captain?” Danger asked.

“Aba malay ko. Baka napikon mo sa mga kagaguhan mo, Azure.” Komento ni Caspian.

“Siraulo ka ba? Anong kagaguhan ka dyan e maayos ko syang tinanong?” Azure retaliated.

“All right, knock it off you guys. Focus sa training. Wag nyong intindihin si Chaos.” I ordered them just before the training sergeant comes again.

     I took my rightful place within the shadows once again. Naupo ako sa ilalim ng isang mayabong na punong mangga dahil may parang trosong nakatumba rito. Doon ako pumisan habang pinagmamasdan ang mga GAICS sa di kalayuan. Tinitignan ko si Chaos at inaaral ang kanyang mga ekspresyon. I don’t know what has been wrong or what’s off of him. Wala naman kaming pinag awayan. Wala rin naman akong maalala na may interaction kami na nakapag painit ng ulo nya. Our last conversation was when I aI saw him acting okay beside the other GAICS now. He was playing along with his brothers and treats them well during this training. So, sa akin ba sya galit? Ako ba ang cause ng inis na dinisplay nya kanina? If yes, anong ginawa ko para kainisan nya ako?

“Lalim ng iniisip natin ah.” A voice came from behind.

      I almost had a mini heart attack when Riego jumped to the picture and joined me in sitting under the tree. Napatitig ako sa mukha nyang napaka aliwalas. I don’t know and I am not quite sure if it was the bright sun, or if his face was really brighter today. He was wearing his athletic uniform at palagay ko ay kakatapos lang nyang tumakbo. I could see traces of sweat in his flawless skin and the redness in his cheeks.

“Ako ba yang iniisip mo?” He asked and grinned widely.

     Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay.

“Aight, here we are again with the mataray lady.” He chuckled and rubbed the tip of his perfect nose as he pouted. “Welcome back, Rilea. Ang bilis mong magbago ng personality. Kamag-anak mo ata si Rhodora X.”

      Ginusto kong matawa pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Ikinumpara ba talaga nya ako sa role na yon?

“Did you just compare me to Rhodora X?” Tugon ko sa kanya.

“Oh, did I offend you?” he sarcastically responded.

    Tinaasan ko muli sya ng kilay at umaktong nagtataray while I crossed my arms.

“Sige ka. Pag ako inaway mo, magagalit sayo ang mga diwata.” He threatened while pouting like a child.

     I don’t know why he keeps doing that all the time. He really has a habit of pouting, I guess.

“Paano at bakit naman sila magagalit sa akin, aber?” Tugon ko sa kanya.

“Kasi gwapo ako, at crush nila ako. Kaya nagagalit sila pag inaaway mo ako.” He insisted.

“Ang pangit naman ng taste ng mga diwata kung crush ka nila. Pero sabagay, baka kasi mukha kang engkanto?”  I responded and his face suddenly became hard to paint.

      Natawa ako sa reaksyon nyang iyon kaya lalo syang natahimik.

“Does making fun of me make you happy?” Bigla nyang tanong na nagpatigil sa aking halakhak.

        I composed myself.

“If it does, sige lang. Tuksuhin mo lang ako, Rilea.” He smiled at me and I saw his eyes glimmer. “Gustong gusto kasi kitang nakikitang ngumiti o tumawa dahil sa akin.”

     He stared right into me and for that moment that I looked into his eyes, I felt as if he was so sincere with what he told me. Yung tingin nya, parang nagsasabi sya ng totoo. Na parang ayos lang talaga na gawin ko syang subject ng kalokohan basta ikatutuwa ko.

      Napamaang ako nang marinig ang pagtunog ng mga tuyong dahon dahil sa yabag ng kung sino. I was stunned when I saw Chaos standing in front of us.

“Lilipat na ng venue. Tara na.” He coldly told me, his gaze piercing right into my soul.

     Napatingin ako sa likuran nya at wala na nga ang mga trainees. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nalibang ako at hindi ko namalayan ang paglilipat ng venue.

      Chaos’ stare made me uncomfortable. It felt as if his stare is fiery and intense but also cold as ice at the same time. It made my knees feel weak. Napaka tingkad ng kagwapuhan nya sa anggulo kung nasaan ako ngayon.

“Y-yeah, sure.” Umiling ako at tumango agad, awkward ang pakiramdam habang tinitigan nya akong gumalaw.

       Tumayo rin si Riego at ginaya ako. Lalakad na sana ako ng hawakan ni Riego ang pulso ko at pigilin ako.

“Stay.” He said in a seriously husky voice, looking at me in the eye.

     Chaos’ gaze went down on Riego’s hand in my pulse. His teeth grazed as his jaw tightened. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero mukha syang naiinis.

“I said we need to go.” Sabi naman ni Chaos at saka rin ako hinawakan sa pulso upang hilahin.

      Riego did not let me go through Chaos’ pull. He instead pulled me back and looked at Chaos with a deadly gaze. Okay. What is seriously going on?

“Do you talk to your superior like that? You seem to be bossing around.” Riego gave a fake smile which only turned out to be a smirk.

“I was only saving her time because she might miss her duties if she stays here, sir.” Chaos abruptly responds.

     A fake chuckle escaped Riego’s lips. He looks annoyed with how Chaos is acting, and I am here just admiring the view of two Olympus gods in front of me – unsure of how I am to react.

“You really don’t know how to act properly, do you? What am I expecting from your kind, anyway?” Riego mockingly responded.

“What do you even know about us to expect something from me?” Chaos rebutted.

     Pansin kong kumakapal na ang tension sa hangin kaya naman nagising na ako sa pagkatahimik.

“Stop.” Saad ko saka iwinagwag ang dalawa kong kamay. “Wag nga kayong mag desisyon para sa akin. I will do what I want to do.”

     They stared at each other without breaking the tension that brewed. It was as if they are already killing each other in their heads. Pakiwari ko kung makapapatay ang titig, ay pareho silang puro na sugat kanina pa.

“Chaos tara na. Baka magsimula na ang training at hindi ko mapanood ang mangyayari.” I told Chaos, hiding the shakiness that I am feeling. I turned to look at Riego and gave him one last glance. “I’ll go ahead, sir.”

     He gave me a little nod and a small reassuring smile as a send off gesture.

      Nagsimula kaming lumakad ni Chaos at wala sa amin ang nagsasalita. He was walking beside me, paced exactly the same as mine. We reached a distance enough for me to have a view of the trainees. He stopped suddenly and cleared his throat.

“Dito ka lang at huwag kang makipag usap kung kanino kaninong mga unggoy.” Chaos told me, his eyes averting my gaze.

      Hindi ako nagsalita at pinagmasdan lang sya habang nakahalukipkip sa harapan ko. He noticed that I was staring all the while so he looked at me awkwardly.

“W-what? Wala ka bang sasabihin dyan, ha? Ayaw mong umimik sa akin. Tss!” He blurted out.

“Did you just refer to Riego as a monkey?” I asked him.

“I did not mention his name. Ikaw ang nagsabi at nag isip nyan.” He denied.

       Nakita ko ang paglakad ng sarhento pabalik sa mga trainees kaya itinulak ko sya palayo.

“Sige na. Lumayas ka na sa harapan ko. Dito lang ako.” I assured him and gave him a nudge.

“I’ll keep my eyes on you.” He responded before walking back to the grounds of training.

     True to what he said, I could see him keeping his stare at me all the time. It was somehow making me uneasy to observe with those brown eyes staring right at me. Pakiramdam ko ay pinagmamasdan ako ng isa sa mga dyos mula sa Olympus. Bakit ba kasi ayaw nya akong tantanan? At ano bang problema nya sa pakikipag usap ko kay Riego? Wala naman akong ginagawang masama sa pakikipag usap kay Riego ah.

       Noong patapos na ang araw, ay sabay sabay kaming nag hapunan. Tumabi ako sa table ng GAICS at saka sila sinaluhan. Balik na sa sigla si Chaos. Wala nang trace nang pagkairita nya sa akin kaninang umaga. Sa totoo lang nga ay sya pa ang kumuha ng pagkain ko at naghain noon sa akin. Nang mapagdesisyunan ko ring magtungo sa gym para mag boxing at magpababa ng kinain, ay sinamahan nya pa ako. Sabay kaming nag warm up exercises at 6-minute na jog around the ring bago namin tahakin ang mga punching bag.

      Ilang minuto ko ring walang habas na pinagsususuntok ang makapal na punching bag pero hindi ako makaramdam ng challenge.

“Chaos, tara sparring tayo. Walang kwenta tong punching bag. Walang thrill.” Sabi ko kay Chaos na nasa speed ball ngayon.

      He smiled and nodded at my suggestion. We agreed to take our gloves off, at tanging hand wraps lang ang nakakabit noong sumampa kami sa ring.

“Any rules to follow to determine who wins?” He asked.

“Pareho lang nung dati. The first one who takes the other one down and sustains for 5 seconds, wins the fight.” I explained. “Ang talo manlilibre ng ice cream.”

     Inginuso ko ang ice cream freezer na nasa harapan ng gym. May maliit na tindahan dito sa kampo at gusto kong tanggalin ang init sa pamamagitan ng pagkain ng malamig.

“Ice cream it is.” He said.

      Nagsimula kaming magpaikot ikot. I tried to attack him but he dodged it successfully. Napansin ko na panay depensa lang ang ginagawa nya sa mga atake ko kaya naman tumigil akong umatake.

“Ano ba naman yan! Mas mabuti pang bugbugin ang punching bag kaysa sayo e! Umatake ka naman!” irritable ko syang inirapan.

“I am attacking.” He lied, smiling.

“Para mo naman akong minamaliit nyan e. Come on, use some skills! You are offending me here.” I suggested.

       He laughed and shook his head.

“Nah.” He replied. “I may kill you or injure you with my force and skills. Hindi ako tao, remember?”

      I rolled my eyes at him.

“Fine. Maybe I’ll just have to call Captain del Mundo to spar with me then. At least same kami ng skill set.” Bababa na sana ako ng ring nang bigla nya akong hilahin at ipina pababa.

    I tried to escape and wrestle with him to struggle to break free.

“Hoy madaya ka! I have my guards down!” sigaw ko pero hindi sya natinag.

“Then maybe you should learn your lesson. Never. Let. Your. Guard. Down.” He emphasized every word.

      I made a roll but he was quick to catch me in his arms and pinned me successfully without any way to escape. I am defeated! Nasa ibabaw ko sya ngayon habang hawak nya ang mga kamay ko paitaas sa aking ulo. Nakadagan ang bigat ng katawan nya sa akin habang magkalapit ang mga mukha naming. He is awfully close that my eyes are starting to cross. Nakakaduling ang lapit ng distansya naming dalawa.

“And one more advice, Ril. Never mention Riego to me.” he said. “Just the mere thought of you with him makes me unexplainably angry.”

     Napalunok nalang ako sa sinabi nya habang nakita ko ang pag kagat nya sa kanyang mga labi.

What. The. Hell. Rilea.

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