Drowned by Love

Without the knowledge of George everyone in the wooden house and all his men were in search of him. Aside that he's gone mysteriously, with his boots and uniform dangled on his bed, he's supposed to prepare a meeting as part of such council of war in the neighborhood - with the leader of Gabok. It would be a big insult if he could not personally appear albeit planned out formally. Likewise, Magee stayed quietly anxious if what she has done that made him sulked out again. Thereupon, Baldur and Henry just thought of plan B if they can't really find the lieutenant before twilight. The plan B is to install another american soldier from the team and act as the lieutenant.

" This could be okay." Henry nodded and scouted potential army from the soldiers' places to stand as lieutenant then returned to Baldur.

" Its Martin. He volunteered." Henry said. They then tried to swiftly prepare for the travel.

Meanwhile by the sea George was kinda fasting for just reading while smiling and laughing alone delightedly. He wasn't anymore cognizant of the time that he's running a little shortage with his appointment with the Gabok leader.

" Oh dear, I'm drowned in love with you. Apparently, I need a little help from my Dads if what would I do when I'm getting crazy now." Then he smiled and turned to the next page of the journal.

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10 June 1938

Edward sent me another letter, this time, for the record, it contained 17 pages. I cried mostly upon knowing that she saved every single centavo I sent her. To retrospect, before I left her in Manila, I left her fifty pesos and 20 pieces of 50 centavo coins. Yet eventually, Edward found out that she eats bread in the morning with a glass of water (since its already the most delicious food in the universe). But I worried the nutrients it could give her in the absence of the mouthwatering sayote leaves. Edward then course through his support on her with the trustworthy fencing teacher. But she's almost vegetarian, aside from being a bread lover, she longed for appetizing veggies at the mercado. Its maybe the result of always watching his goats and horses eating grasses in Tikaban.

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"Haha! I can't control from laughing Amá Sibal was actually funny in expressing descriptions. I hope Magee's around. Hmm, but she doesn't like to see me doing some romantic advances on her. Anyway, hmm, next thrilling page."

" The dormitory had commotions in the morning of June 1. Magee's room was almost ransacked but the offender was caught because when she has heard that her door was attempted to open she thought that if she'll shout for "help!" no one will rescue and everyone might be scared, so instead, she loudly shouted of "fire! fire!" and almost everyone competed to get out running and so the offender was caught in the act, haha! My tummy aches in no time. My little girl is really wise and brave. I can't imagine how she did it and Edward was also laughing. Well, its just part of the 17 pages letter. Another thing, Magee also sent me a letter ( she's not aware that her biological Dad's eyeing on her 24/7). Her letter was written in mandaya--manobo-tagalog telling me about the handsome guy that she has to marry soon....

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" Oh! my.....I can't get over this. I'm dying, my beautiful woman was looking for me around here in 1938. But hey, I have to be with my focus."

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..... is he someone reliable? I was laughing, yes on my reply, I said he is reliable and the best guy in the world. Then she asked if how did he look like? then I took George's picture sent to me by Chuck and described to her his handsome guy of the future ( though it was a side view picture). She never knew that this is a different arranged marriage. The three fathers built a house for them first, sent them to school and make them thrilled about each other. Yes,I appeared as historian of love around. I just wonder if why Magee doesn't have any opposition, haha. Does it mean they were matched in heaven? I know in my heart George would love Magee. I'm pretty sure of that. No guy would ever reject her because it takes another centuries to find like her. Besides, she does not rebel, she easily forgives, she's not interested of people's bad past, more of helping to ease emotional pains and she'd just adorable by telling me if I do wrong to her pets, he wants me to ask forgiveness too, haha. He doesn't like to talk about other boys. She only wants to talk about his future 'handsome guy.' We already had a correspondence with Chuck and Edward regarding our children's wedding. Interestingly, I loved their granite house for them and hope they'll find it livable and fill it with cute children like them. Its actually a gift for them, from us. The granite house and a one hectare land around has a legal paper that I worked so hard to be theirs. The granite house was built for 10 years by their fathers and Chuck's quarterly salary were poured out for his unico hijo's granite house. All the supplies, dispositions, expenses and manpower were also shed by Edward as counterpart. Its a gift to their wedding soon.

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"Wow! this is so touching. I mean..." He was teary eyed with so much gratitude from heavens for the three great Dads in his lifetime and for having a sweet and amazing woman for his timeless love.

He unknowingly closed his eyes and fell asleep while embracing the journal. The sky goes along with his peacefulness and tranquility of the sea in front of him surges lightly until its almost dusk.

"George..." Magee was holding his face.

When he opened his eyes he saw her crying like he's dying.

" Mag." He quickly sat down.

" I...I thought you've collapsed and out of your mind. You're even bare, what happened to you?" She kept crying.

" Hey, hey...I'm still sane, just, just go up alone and go back to our house."

" No, we have an important issue to discuss it needs to be settled. Here, cover your body with this shawl, I'm so worried of you the whole day. You haven't eaten as well."

Her hands were trembling due to the fogs and cold wind around.

"Come, let's go back now." She went up first and waited for him inside the cave.

For the first time she hugged her husband that seriously and cried while he wiped her tears.

" Why you worried this much...I can't almost breath. I don't like to stay long with this, or else...." He smilingly said.

She immediately backed off and drew nearer to the granite secret door. Then she turned on the flashlight, opened the door heading to the tunnel. They both got out and she held his hand again and closed the door as she pulled his hand and ran ceaselessly while they're both laughing. He looked at her and spoke.

" Wow! such a great feeling to run along with you." and he smiled with so much gusto on his face.

They reached in the granite house almost 1900 hrs and she hurriedly prepared the table and boiled some water to drink and washed up. When done, she made a 'salabat' for him and they started to eat. He's really that hungry to grab everything he found on his plate.

"You're eating a lot, is our viand flavorsome?"

" Yes, what's this?"

" Its mushroom with a small amount of oil mixed with tomatoes and garlic. Good that you liked it, but since you haven't eaten the whole day so I will limit you only with that serving."

" But I like to eat more, its a one in a million taste." He smiled.

" Later, I just took it from Albrecht's kitchen when they're busy looking for you."

Then she had a bucket, put a hot water in it and prepared his towel.

"Go now and wash I still have to the fix the dishes." When he's done she followed and settled to relax with the lukewarm water. It took her longer to stay inside and when she's already getting out he saw him putting his pillow and blanket on bed.

" Yes, you stay there but you must behave. I will be telling you serious matters. You might not be able to sleep alone so you may stay on our bed tonight."

He smirked and started to settle himself on a bed with such a thicker beddings.

" Wow! its really nice here. Hmm." He stretched but felt a little curious about her treatment on him. It was more striking when she massaged his feet with a small amount of oil, pressing his toes and carefully pulled them to stretch.

" Why such this royal treatment..." He asked.

" Your men were facing the Gabok guerillas right now as their plan B because they did not find you within a day and Martin volunteered as the lieutenant."

He immediately sat down and stamped his palm heavily on the edge of the bed.

" I really forgot. But why they did it. Its a little risky."

" You're gone and they wanted to save everyone." She spoke slowly

He sighed while she bent his body on the pillow and covered him with a blanket. She went on the other side of the bed and leaned on her pillow and deeply breathe. She was watching the candle's flame as he was facing outside of bed. After a while they've heard successive gunshots in a not-so-distant place and it made him quickly sat down on the edge of the bed again.

" Shh...calm down. Relax. Its not good to decide when your heart is overwhelmed with worries. You cannot save them and might even add up to the situation. Sleep. Everything will be alright." With her firm voice.

It was enough for him to close his eyes and gone to sleep. The whole day exhaustion and hunger made his body so weak but even then - she was holding his hand. She loosened her clasp a little till she slowly moved, slid down and ran towards the wooden house.

" Albrecht! Albrecht!"

" Mag, hide here."

" What happened?"

" Martin was shot, and he's dead. Shh...did you find him?"

" Yes, he was by the sea of the cave at the smiling skull. He was reading the journal the whole day and forgot the appointment. How's the other?"

" Everyone's fine, except for Martin. There was a local sniper who really waited in the area before both parties came. I've heard Baldur and others with the Gabok leader still followed that sniper. But Martin's here now, peace be with him. He's outside with Fr. Matias, the priest stayed beside him with some few friends lamenting."

"Albrecht." She was teary eyed.

" Go back there now. Even if he comes, Martin will not rise back. Go, take care of your husband. He must be fine tomorrow."

" Hmm...what is that smell?"

" The coconut oil I found in your kitchen."

" Its not coconut oil, its a snake oil"

" What? I massaged it to his feet!"

" Ah, okay. Its good. Go! go! go back there, great heavens, my snake oil." He whispered and smiled to her sister despite the situation.