The Daba Times Newspaper

The fogs surmounted the place and as if freezing him so he had his pushups inside the bedroom and some physical exercises while waiting for her to wake up. When she got out from her cocoon and saw him - she covered herself again and told him to wear his camiso. He was hiding in the corner and kept on smiling.

Then in a short while.

" I'll go to sleep now, Mag." Then he was flat on bed and tried to fall asleep.

Knock, knock! Mag its me, Albrecht, here's your 'salabat'." Then the oldest brother came in looking at George on a separate bed.

" Such a poor husband. Here's the world of married, huh!" He sarcastically whispered to himself.

" What did you say?" She smiled to her brother, crosschecking.

" Nothing, Baldur warned me not to comment or meddle or sacrifice or curse - whatever."

Magee pinched his ear and laughed.

" Haha what are you saying...I've heard some." She insisted while Albrect seriously looked at her.

" Hmm...what if we all die tomorrow and you treat today as if just an ordinary day. Will you not miss a moment with someone the care you failed to give. You're already married, Mag."

She was looking at him and slowly absorbed the emotion that Albrecht has interpreted to her.

"But we are slowly taking ourselves there - with our 'carpe diem.' Its just one day at a time, small steps, I said there's nothing to be in a hurry with. Once love is sown, its never wasted, it keeps blooming where no season of time can change its way." She smiled at him meaningfully and added, "he's under my care now, likewise he's doing that to me."

" Hmm...I'm sure that guy is listening, he's breathing so fast, see that..." Albrecht smiled then George threw him a pillow and Albrecht was laughing going out.

" Hmn, you sleep now. We still have to read the journal later." Magee was smiling.

He stood up and got out of the house, took some bucket and he filled it with water from the stream. Magee slowly moved down from her bed and watched him from a distance. As usual, he watered and arranged the drainage of his angel fruit trees then after a while he proceeded to the daisies. There were so many colorful daisy flowers but he didn't prick anyone of those colored ones but carefully cut a single white daisy. She was smiling, seeing him do it then she slowly closed the window and returned to her bed.

Minutes later, George returned to their bedroom and brought her a single white daisy flower without any stalk and put it on her palm.

" I love you very much, Mag." They meet eyes and he was donning the flower to her tiny palm and kissed her forehead before he returned to his bed. With his right side facing to her while lying on bed, she was mesmerized and glued by his tantalizing eyes just as he dozed off by her lovely smiles. But she noticed that he was mindless without a pillow so she slowly slid down out of bed and took the one he threw to Albrecht that's already on the floor. She covered it with a clean cloth, motioned towards him; slowly lifted his head a little and put down the pillow with a unique casing.

" He slowly grasped his wrist while eyes closed."

" The angel fruit..." She smilingly whispered.

" Its...well...taken...cared." Then he smiled and loosened his grasp and fell to sleep.

She got back on her bed holding the second journal when she has heard an unfamiliar voice that Baldur was talking to.

"Who's that?" She thought.

With the passing minutes of conversation outside Baldur knocked on the door then opened it.

" Mag, see this newspaper. I'm so worried, Dad must not have done it. I told him already not to go back to Manila, but still. The Japs let the Captured Filipino and American soldiers walked, this is a death march! this is inhumane!"

" Brother! Shh..." She was teary eyed and lie down.

" Baldur...what are we going to do?" With her tears falling one by one.

" Dad...you should have stayed. But still he went there and surrendered just to report of his dead men left. Magee, he told me its the only way to exist. He really told me to hide here with you with Albrecht and George. He told me not to damn fight, not to hold guns and grenades. He said this place is enough for us all to survive." Baldur whispered.

Albrecht came in running and took the 'Daba Times newspaper.'

" Great heavens! Dad..." Albrecht bowed his head, clenching his fist and stamping it on his lap. Then he hugged Baldur while sobbing.

" Baldur. Calm down. Shh...its going to be alright. Let's assume he's not included those who were marching to death. Dad's the wisest. Just think of the map, the tunnels and the caves around that some we haven't even discovered yet. He have plans, just like when he told you someone will come for us. Remember that? So let's continue to be ghost fighters. Its George idea that Dad has approved. We'll focus on discovering more around. You are more knowledgeable on that since you assisted them before with Sr. Sibal. Though, critically, help us rewind the events before, the locations and directions. For now, let's not get down with this newspaper's headline of the death march. The makapilis and the traitors only wants us to be weaker. Let's keep going, brother. For Dad, he wants us to keep this ugly lady around with her man safe. Let's help them start a family, okay?" Then Albrecht tapped his shoulder and threw the newspaper on the door and got out heading back to the kitchen.

Magee was smiling while tapping Baldur's shoulder.

" Baldur..."

" I missed Dad, Mag, I missed my wife as well." He bowed down his head on the edge of her bed with tearful moments.

Magee clasped his left hand and pressed it.

" We can do this Baldur, we can."