Màu nền Màu tối Mặc định Xám nhạt Xanh nhạt Xanh đậm Vàng nhạt Màu sepia Vàng đậm Vàng ố

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Celestine's POV.

Hapon na ng makalapag ang eroplano namin sa airport sa Cuba.

Nagmamadali akong kumilos, I have been trying to contact Stephen's phone number pero hindi ko iyon ma contact.

Did he change his phone number? I also sent messages to his IG pero hindi niya pa nasi seen iyon. He didn't block me but is he busy?

Dahil hindi ko sigurado kung nasaan siya ay napagdesisyunan ko na lang na magpunta sa ospital. Maybe may idea si Georgy or baka may maabutan akong comrades nila roon.

Mabilis na pinahinto ang sasakyan na lulan ako sa isang kanto, hindi na kalayuan ang ospital dito.

Mabilis akong bumaba ng sasakyan ng makita kong nahihirapan ang driver ko makipag usap sa mga ito.

Pagkababa ko pa lang ay nakita ko ng mas maayos ang uniporme nila, they are part of Cuba National Police, marami sila roon.

"What's happening?" I asked kaya naman napalingon ito sa 'kin.

"Sorry miss, you are not allowed to enter."

"Why? My hospital—"

"You cannot enter the military war zone."

"What warzone?" mas na confused ako.

"Are you from here?"

"I am!"

"Clearly you're not, two days ago, the rebel started a mass killing, our military people are trying to hold them off."

When he said that ay nakarinig ako ng malakas na pagsabog na siyang nagpabilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

"What's that?"

"Just go miss, it's not safe here."

"But there is a hospital there!" sigaw ko rito. "There are patients and residents."

"We already moved the patients, some residents left too-

"All of them?"

"No." Umiling ito. "Who are you?"

Mabilis kong inilabas ang ID ko at pinakita sa kanya.

"I am a Doctor, I own the hospital, now answer me, we're you able to move eveyone?"

He looked at me hesitantly.

"No."

"What?!"

"Well, all patients are secured and move but some of your residents are hard headed, Filipino people mostly, they decided to stay and help with medical staff, to aid for the wounded soldiers."

Napalunok ako, I was so busy with my life, with everything na hindi ko na napagtuunan ng pansin to.

Hindi ko magets kung bakit hindi sinabi sa 'kin ni Georgy ito! But knowing him, if he can handle it, he'll do it himself.

"You have to let me in."

"No!"

"My people is in there! It's either you'll let me in and help there or nobody will stay and help your army."

Nagsukatan kami ng tingin. I am very persistent now.

Ilang minuto itong nag isip before they decided to let me in.

Hindi na pinapasok ang kotse kaya naman naglakad na lamang ako papunta sa ospital.

Sobrang tahimik ng paligid. Maya't maya kong naririnig ang palitan ng bala, ang pagsabog sa kagubatan.

I couldn't think properly dahil kinakaban ako para sa mga tao ko, at lubos na nangingibaw ang pag-aalala ko kay Stephen.

Sigurado ako, he is there, isa siya sa mga nakikipagpalitan ng bala sa mga rebelde, fighting for these innocent people.

Nung marating ko ang ospital ay hindi ito katulad ng dati na may mga nurses at doctor na naghihintay sa harapan para sa ER.

Madumi at makalat ito.

Pagpasok ko pa lang sa loob ay rinig na rinig ko na ang sunod sunod na pagdaing ng mga sugatang sundalo, ang pag tangis ng mga sundalo dahil namayapa ang kanilang kapwa sundalo at ang mabilis na mga lakad ng mga doktor at nurses ko na piniling maiwan dito.

"Miss president." One of my nurses called me. "Tatawagin ko po agad si Dok Georgy."

In less than five minutes ay humahangos na lumapit sa 'kin si Georgy.

"Why are you here babae?!"

"I should be asking you that! Bakit nandito pa kayo, bakit hindi kayo lumikas?!"

"Look around you, when they heard the bombing, yung ibang doctors mo na born and raised dito ay nagtakbuhan, umalis agad! We helped with transporting lahat ng pasyente but nung aalis na kami ay nagdatingan ang mga sugatan na sundalo, mga sibilyang nadamay, we could just go and make sure we are all safe pero we can't, we can't leave them..."

"Because 'yon yung sinumpaan natin, we will save lives." I finished him off.

Georgy is a mess, may dugo ang suot niya at mukhang kakagaling lang nito sa operasyon.

"Why are you here? Hindi ba't ikinasal ka na, ako ng bahala rito."

Instead of answering him, I removed my Chanel coat at tinali ang buhok ko.

"I had another reason why I'm here pero ngayon, let's save who we can save."

"Emergency, I need—" Napahinto si Trina, she is pushing a stretcher, magulo ang buhok nito at tila pagod na.

She is an OB but she is doing her best to help.

"I'll take this." Mabilis kong sabi bago ako lumapit sa duguang sundalo sa stretcher.

Georgy and Trina just nodded.

Sa paglipas ng oras ay siyang pagbuhos ng mga sugatan at napaslang na sundalo sa ospital namin.

"Sa tingin mo ba, nandoon din yung grupo ni Stephen?" I asked Georgy. "Wala pa kasi akong nakikitang pamilyar sa 'kin, umuwi na ba siya ng Pilipinas?"

I wished, I really wished na sana at this point, umuwi na lamang siya. I hope he is somewhere safe.

The bombing and gunshots are still continues kahit padilim na.

I was playing with my hand, natatakot ako, kinakabahan ako dahil hindi ko kakayanin kung isa siya sa mga dadalhin dito ngayon.

Georgy held my hand.

"He'll be okay, he is a good soldier."

"Nandito nga sya?"

Georgy smiled sadly at me.

"Yes, the last time I saw him was yesterday bago sila inatasan to hold the frontline."

"Make way, make way." Trina interrupted us again.

"I'll take—"

Napahinto ako ng makita ko kung sino ang nakahiga roon. Mabilis akong inalalayan ni Georgy.

"Jose!" I called him, he is one of Stephen's comrade. Mabilis kaming lumapit dito.

Nagulat pa ako ng magdilat ito ng mata.

"Great! Just great, off all time, you're here." Nahihirapan man ay nandoon pa rin sa tono niya ang pagiging sarcastic at masungit.

"Two shots, walang exit point yung isa, I can't see the other one, let's get him to surgery." Georgy said.

"No, no! I need my commander!"

"Sir, kailangang maoperahan ka na!"

"Don't bring me in, there is a bomb! There is a bomb in here!"

Mabilis akong pinanlamigan dahil sa sinigaw niya. In less than a minute, nagpasukan ang mga iba pang sundalo.

Saglit na tinanong si Jose.

Nagulat pa ako ng humarap sa 'kin ang isang lalaki, he is older, maybe around 40?

"I am Major General Sierra, we need to evacuate you and all of the people, there might be a bomb in your hospital."

Hindi agad ako nakasagot, I am trying to absorb it. How much time do we have left? Georgy started pulling me.

"I will try to operate him outside, lalayo ng kaunti—Celestine!"

"Huh?" Tila nabalik ako roon. "Si Stephen?" Mabilis akong bumaling doon sa general na kausap ko.

But instead of answering, he waved his hand and his soldier started asking everyone out of the building. He pulled out like a radio.

"Sir, sir, we need back up." I can automatically recognized the voice. Si Dayle.

"Back up is on the way," he answered, mabilis itong lumingon sa 'kin. "Take her away."

Mabilis akong hinawakan ng isang sundalo pero mabilis ko iyong inalis sa 'kin, he tried to pull me pero I was quick enough to throw him on the floor.

"I am not going, until you tell me he is okay. You can either shoot me or just tell me."

He looked shock. Napalunok ito.

"Sergeant, can you please pass me over to your Captain."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag pero at the same time ay nagsisimula na akong umiyak.

Rinig na rinig ko ang hingal at pagod at ang sunod sunod na pagputok ng baril.

"Yes sir?! This is Captain Connor."

Tuluyan na akong napaiyak. He is alive.

"Back up is on their way."

"Roger that sir, we sent Jose, there is a bomb in the hospital—"

Nahinto siya sa pagsasalita dahil narinig ko ang pagkakasa nito ng baril at pagpapaputok.

Please, make this stop.

"We are, but there is a woman in front of me that we will arrest anytime now."

"Then arrest her," he said, he sounded so exhausted.

"Who are you? How are you related?" the general asked me.

Mabilis akong nagpunas ng luha. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko.

"Just by looking, your girlfriend is here." The general said.

He was silent for a moment.

"Can I talk to her?" he asked. The general sighed before giving it to me.

"Bubba." I cried right away.

"Of all time, ngayon ka pa talaga umuwi."

"I didn't get married, I came back here for you."

"I know, but you need to get away from there, they have the detonator, they can." I can hear his frustration. "Bubby, just go, please."

"I will, please just, just come back to me."

"Celestine."

"Ipangako mo! You'll be safe, uuwi ka at babalik ka rito!"

Hindi ito nakasagot sa 'kin.

"Mahal na mahal kita, always remember that, and I really don't like making a promise I can't keep."

"Ano bang sinasabi mo?! Ano ba?!"

"Give the radio back."

"No! Why?!"

"I love you."

"I love you, I still love you so much, so please." Humahagulgol na ko. "So please, bumalik ka na rito sa 'kin."

Nagulat ako ng hatakin sa 'kin nung general yung radio.

"We can't find it," he announced.

"Then wala na akong pamimilian pa," he answered. "Track my GPS."

Mabilis na kumabog ang dibdib ko, naguguluhan na ako.

"I'll go inside there area, and once I'm in there, bomb my location."

"What?!" mabilis akong lumapit at nag attempt agawin iyon pero I wasn't successful. "Stephen, no!"

"Captain."

"This is the only solution, we can't move everybody right away, anytime they can push the detonator."

"Stephen, ano ba?! Paano ako?!" Nagwawala na ako pero hawak ako ng ilang sundalo.

Hearing him say this, hearing him give me up to do his job, is draining my energy and sanity.

"Thank you for your sacrifice."

"Are you stupid?! Why would you let him do it?! Stephen, please!"

"Take her away from that hospital." He is also crying. "Make sure, she is safe, that is my last request."

"Stephen!"

"Copy." The general said.

"This is Captain Stephen Connor, signing off."

After saying that namatay na ang radyo.

"No, no, you don't need to do this. I beg you!"

"Miss, ito ang mga bagay na hindi mo maiintindihan sa trabaho namin."

"Hindi ko talaga maiintindihan. How will you make me understand that you're going to kill the man I love?! Paano?!"

"Take her away," he said. "Track Capt. Connor's location."

"Please! Bitawan n'yo ko!" nagpapatuloy akong pumiglas habang hinahatak ako palabas ng mga sundalo.

"We found him. He is inside."

"Launch it."

A very loud bomb exploded. Loud enough to destroy my whole system.

Because I know, I am sure, he is in there.

He decided to save this country rather than to stay with me.