Albrecht ran and hiked around the room and fighting against the coolness of the chilling morning. But the room was a bit small so he felt dizzy till he dropped off on the bamboo chair, pressing his head. While having that physical dilemma,the cabinet has opened and someone has whispered.
" Baldur, Albrecht...are you inside?"
" George?"
"Yeah, it's me, Albrecht. Wait, I'll find the candle for a while brother - for a while." Albrecht was so excited to light a candle when suddenly, Amado knocked on the door.
" Albrecht! Albrecht! what happened? it seems you're having some nightmare! wake up!" Amado was very noisy as Albrecht took his handgun and angrily moved closer to the door. But George prevented him and pulled him back to sit down and he whispered so quietly to Albrecht
" Brother, I'll take my exit for a while at the window and would knock on the main door. Don't bother to open for me out there because he's already on deck, so bye for now, let's meet after 2 minutes." Then George slowly opened the window and quickly slid out and Amado was still very noisy at the bedroom's door. In a while, George was making a noise at the main door.
" Albrecht! Albrecht! are you there? George's voice.
Amado opened the main door and greeted the lieutenant.
" Sir, good evening...are, are you alone?" Amado asked.
" Yeah! I left my wife in station one, probably we'll be back to former station 3 later before proceeding to former station 2. I guess she would head on without me. You know, we needed privacy, so there. How are you? Be healthy always." As he tapped Amado's shoulder and quickly proceeded to the bedroom. Amado got out; he thought quizzically and even decided of going to station one where Magee was accordingly left by his husband. Indeed, Amado ran upstairs and took his handgun where George and Albrecht did not know about Amado's risky plan of seeing Magee. So Amado's shadow faded after informing the guards on duty that he'll be leaving for station one.
Meanwhile, inside the bedroom, Albrecht sat down calmly after hearing that the curious guy was gone.
" Thank God! that guy Amado are doing creepy conversations to me these days, huh! Allow me to breath for a while brother, I have so many news!you might be shocked so prepare yourself. But first, tell me, what did you tell to Amado prior of getting in?" Albrecht asked.
"Ah, haha, he asked me if where's my wife."
" What? what did you answer?"
" Hmm, I told him I left Magee at station one and...."George stopped from chatting when Albrecht ran heading to the entrance gate and asked the guards on duty of Amado's whereabouts and when they told him that Amado's heading to station one, Albrecht pressed his head and got back to the wooden house with sloppy shoulders.
" Hey brother, what happened, tell me." George asked.
Albrecht relayed to him the curious questions of Amado about Magee and so George just pacified him.
" I see. We cannot follow him anymore, it's too risky, there are more number of patrollers this time at the border. Hopefully he can strategically hide on his way going there. It's true, it's too risky because it's almost dawn. But we can't do anything about it anymore. Though, he'll be okay. C'mon, let's drink 'salabat' at the kitchen.' George said
Seconds after Albrecht's worrisome thoughts continued while Baldur emerged from the cabinet and joined them.
"Huhum. Oh brothers good morning! what happened?" Baldur queried to Albrecht while silently leaned on the wall.
Albrecht related to him Amado's recent suspicious actions and curiosities about Magee.
"Ah, I see. Why worry, he can get back safely if it's not yet his time. Besides, no one told him to go out there. Don't worry, if Magee is really there, let's say its true, I guess it's not a big problem, you know what I mean. But she's up there, the husband is damned so happy looking for'salabat' why worry of Amado, he can be fine. Yes, I agree to George it's already 5:30 am, so open the kitchen for us, chef." Baldur smiled and patted Albrecht's shoulder and the three proceeded to the kitchen.
Albrecht started the furnace and handed to them each of their bamboo mugs.
"This is really awkward. You guys don't need to ask me of anything, okay. Just allow me to sip the 'salabat'. George smiled.
" Haha, okay, just enjoy the salabat while Albrecht is still worrying.
" No, not anymore. I'm just silent and planning to tease this boy from the granite house. But first, enjoy your 'salabat'." Albrecht seriously blurted and looked at George.
"Wow! I like it. I feel like no one is putting me on a frying pan, haha!" George seemed tickled on his armpit by a hundred Japs.
No one from the siblings asked while the lieutenant was still sipping his 'salabat'.
" Why? why?" George curiously smiled and asked the two while they had their gazes on him, so straightforward.
" Nothing." Just enjoy your 'salabat." Baldur just restated what Albrecht had said.
The siblings were a little bit shock while watching at him teary eyed.
" Tears of joy. Thank you both. Hmm, I can't describe the feeling. This place was like a dream, I thought months ago. But it's not, its a beautiful reality and a perfect spot. "George whispered while clasping the mug with his hands.
The brothers just smiled and were still silent, allowing him to express and share his eager thoughts. It's what their Dad does when they need to reason out and explain things.
" I love her very much." George uttered.
The brothers then sipped their 'salabat' symmetrically and so disciplined to stay connected, listening - so still.
" She's a great wife. I see how responsible mother she could become and I wanna spend the rest of my days peering with her. I love her amazon attitude and it puts me at ease. I'm hooked with my feelings and yes, I become more crazy of her. I hope, you won't counteract with my thoughts." George smiled and awkwardly wiped his tears.
Baldur stepped on Albrecht's foot, a warning not to tease the flaring heart of their brother-in-law.
"Ouch! Why? Albrecht was looking to his youn ger brother and so noisy complaining as it ached.
" Nothing." Baldur smiled
George was laughing alone while glancing at the siblings and got back to their complete composure and looked at him again, so silent.
" I don't know. I just don't know. Everything was great, it's just like that, nothing more, nothing less."Then he smiled again like tickled by heaven and earth.
There was silence as the three were just looking at each other like their tongues were tied and Albrecht stood up and nestled his hand to George's head.
" We're happy for you, George. Always carry that love forever. It makes us so settled too."
" Thanks Albrecht, Baldur. Can I cook for her some veggies, Albrecht, may I use your kitchen for a while."
"Yeah, go on. I know your menu, those leaves climbing out there, and you can mix it with 'kadyos' beans. Wait here, I'll harvest them for you. Just boil the beans first, it takes almost half an hour to do it."
Then Baldur stood up and hugged him just as Albrecht did the same. George's felt so proud and the siblings went out and allowed him to be alone in the kitchen. He first boil the sweet potatoes along with the 'karlang'. After a short while, Albrecht returned bringing a bundle of sayote leaves, tomatoes, fresh lemongrass and George started to cook while Albrecht went outside and boiled some peanuts mixed with salt in a bigger pot.
" Why it's too many." Baldur commented.
" It's a celebration because my brother-in-law is happy , I'm going to share these to our men then I'll pack some for that girl. Of course, here's Dad's favorite."
" No, no! there you are again, his knees again. Stop spoiling him with that." Baldur complained.
" But wait, we haven't shared yet to George that Dad and Sr. Sibal are at the smiling skull's cave." Albrecht said.
" Not yet. It's a wrong timing. It's good that we have allowed him first to express his emotions. After he can finish cooking, let's tell him." Baldur whispered.
" Gracious heavens, you sounded like my older brother, huh!" Albrecht summoned him to stand up and get for some firewood.