Behind Uniforms

Behind Uniforms---- I was taught the adage, "no retreat, no surrender." Pero minsan pala, hindi lahat ng gyerang napupuntahan ay dapat inilalaban. Sad as it is true, some are just meant to be given up along the road. And the saddest part for me, is being one of those wars. Isinuko na lang ako. Ipinatalo. Hindi man lang ipinaglaban ng taong mahal ko. I am Adrianna Orteza, a soldier. And this is the story of the greatest war I've been in: the war for and of love. --- "Per adua ad astra." Through earth and the heavens above, I will fulfill what I sworn. --- P R O L O G U E I stood firm in attention, my gaze locked on the empty wall behind my interviewers' back. Hindi ko man sila matitigan, ramdam ko pa rin ang talim ng tingin ni Lt. Col. Magdiwa, at Colonel Catapang sa akin. Of course, they have to roleplay as tiger officers to intimidate a scaredy-cat applicant. Kung matatakot ka sa kanila, hindi para sayo ang cadetship. Dahil hindi para sa mahinang loob ang pag-susundalo. I kept my composure still and steady. I am living up the image of a snappy cadet that I aim to be to make them see how determined I am to be part of the Cadet Corps. It's past 3 am. Tumutulo ang pawis ko mula sa sixty repetitions na squat thrust na pinagawa sa akin at nanginginig na rin ang mga muscles ko pero hindi ako nagpatinag. Pangarap ko ang maging kadete. Pangarap ko ang maging sundalo. At kahit anong hirap ang daanan ko, hindi ako magigiba ng kahit sino o ano. "Adrianna Orteza." Lt. Col. Magdiwa called out my name. "Simply, CC-0418075... We have one last question to determine if you will pass for cadetship or not." There was an immediate silence that fell on the room as I waited for my interviewers to speak. "As a future soldier, are you willing to die for this country?" It was Colonel Catapang who spoke now. I knew it. I've heard the previous interviews of my fellow cadet candidates at ito lagi ang huling tanong. Their answers replayed in my mind, echoing the rhymes of unison. "Sir yes sir! I am willing to give my life for our people and country's sake!" "Sir yes sir! If my life would give this country freedom, I will gladly render it!" "Sir yes sir! Because we are soldiers born to die!" I can feel the heat of my blood rushing in my entirety. Walang naibang sagot. Walang pangit na sagot. Lahat magaling kaya naman sobrang higpit ng kompetisyon. I blinked before giving them my answer. "Sir no sir." My answer seemed to startle both interviewers as I saw them in my peripheral vision, both stunned. Napaayos ng pagkakaupo ang dalawa at tumikhim. "Pardon?" Tila gulat na gulat sila sa aking sagot. Malamang dahil kapag no ang isinagot mo, ligwak agad. Talo ka na. Wala ka na sa laban. But I have not finished speaking what I believe in. "As a soldier, it is our duty to defend our motherland with all our might. If I die, I will not be able to fulfill that magnanimous duty that the people of the Philippines bestowed upon me. Hence, I will not die for our country sir. I will live for it. And as long as I do, with every fiber of me, I will protect this land." ----- C A S T S Lee Min Ho as Cpt. Travis Villareal Kim Ji Won as Cpt. Adrianna Orteza Jung Hae In as Lt. Commander/Major Anton Gonzales C o p y r i g h t Copyright © 2017 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 pure 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.