Blanket as the Culprit

It was almost twilight when they got out from the woods while he carried her on his arms.

" Hmm...what are you doing. You're pressing my muscles just because you felt guilty for this afternoon's ordeal, where I almost lose you, don't you know that?" He sounded a bit angry.

But she was just silent and hid her face as thickly covered by her hair and wrapped her arms around him.

"Hey, hey...don't cry...shh...we're almost on our door. Just keep hiding but don't cry."

When they reached on a rock button covered with dried leaves he stepped on it and the door was opened. It was very dark when they entered and he made sure to close it. They reached upstairs so tired but he bathe her without any resistance.

" It's a stab wound though it's not really that deep. The bloodstains of that young soldier's still on your dress, huh! this war hadn't made any better. But what are these leaves you put on your wound that stopped the blood flow. It's good. Hmm, it's amazing!"

" What? what's amazing, the wound?"

" No, nothing." He smiled at her.

" I was so tired defending my self. But he was just as tall as I am, and frail too. It wasn't his day as he was a bit comfortable since I hadn't shouted nor complained. I talked of their language, it's too little to get his trust and I guess my composure was enough as he put his gun, dagger and ammos while he undressed and..."

" Enough! I'll carry you back in our room."

" Nothing had happened. Why are you upset?"

" I didn't even bother to ask, why are you telling me those things."

" Just to ensure I am sharing the truth. I must not miss to tell you all, it musn't be shredded events. You should have trusted me , I believed it's better you hear all these things from me rather than people would. Perhaps, you need to listen too."

" And why you were there outside. I told you to hide here. It's wartime. It was the mitigating factor, if not with your presence they haven't found you, you're not hurt this way.

" The blanket was flown away by the heavy wind when I attempted to dry it up there. I hurriedly went down to pick it up but I saw the Japs coming and all I just did was to heavily step the rock on the ground so to close the door while they were running to catch me. It was maybe a mistake - but I couldn't correct it anymore.

He turned around while still seated on the edge of their bed while she's changing.

"Hakanori is there in the barracks right now. They were planning to search people in the wilderness. That soldier shared it, he thought he could silence me."

But he was very quiet as he bowed his head. It was the aftermath. Outright changing, she seated beside him and held his hand.

" We shouldn't fight. I'm as angry as you are, not towards you ,- but to this ravaging war. I'm very sorry for getting out. I almost forgot it's wartime as I casually got out to pick up the blanket. George, I'm very sorry. Don't be upset now, please."

" So...where's the blanket now. I saw you holding it even when you were already captured." He smiled.

" I left it in the scene, it's filled with blood, because of that blanket his dagger didn't hit me this deep. So, have you forgiven me." She sighed looking straight to the fireflies, shedding them light. Then he gazed at her on side view and spoke.

" No, not anymore. It's not really being angry at you, it's just, that feeling that your loved one was struggling and you can't do anything, the situation itself was so compromising. But just wanted to tell you this, I trusted you a lot. That's why when one of them pulled you it made me a little relaxed. I knew he couldn't get out alive. You are not anymore a civilian but a guerrilla." He smiled while lifting her hand and put it on his face.

" You're towing my ego in the skies, haha! Hmm, yes - I am a guerrilla. I already conditioned my mind to fight. I have so much to ask God later. My frail hands have been into fights. I hope the heavens will forgive everyone of us, fighting or not, this land is ours. We're not foreigners here, remember that."

" I have goosebumps with your statements, haha." Then he hugged her gently but naughtily and she spoke.

" Hey, the guests...it's long been overdue." She smiled and intervened his desire.

" Oh dear! yes. I need to bath and pick them up. Wait here, don't you ever follow." He teased her while going out from room number 3.

Meanwhile, at the wooden house.

" George! what happened? Albrecht and I were there after Dad and Sr. Sibal told us about it. We're all tensed but they told us to stay foot. How is it, tell us."

" She silenced one and I spanked two." But one of them survived. Magee's okay now despite a stab wound."

" Again." Albrecht murmured.

" Yeah. But anyway, Dad, Amá...I guess we'll go now, she's waiting up there. She even planned of just going here, but her wound needs a little rest."

" Yeah, it's okay, let's finally proceed." Sr. Sibal smirked.

When they reached the granite house and as they opened the door, Magee was at the receiving area beside the bar and happily saw her guests.

"Lolo! Dad!" You George should have told me who my guests are, haha! What a day...oh!" Magee attempted to stand but the folks just moved closer to her.

" Hey, hey...don't move, haha!" Sibal nestled his ha d on her head as he took their hands to ask for blessings through 'mano po.'

" Wow! you're so grown-up now, Magee. I'm happy seeing you already tied up to this handsome lieutenant around." The Captain smiled.

" Yeah, yeah...and so, you wouldn't like to hear tikbalang and aswang stories now, haha. Great Lord! you looked better and have gained a little weight this time - good. I'm happy for you, anak. Awon da sana kanak apo kisom ha. ( Hopefully, I must have a grandchild tomorrow, ha.) Then Magee pinched her Lolo Sibal's shirt and was awkwardly smiling.

Since George and Edward didn't understand what they were saying so they just smiled.

"Dad, I now remember having seen you many times at the dormitory. You were one of the expert fencers, thanks for guarding me out there. Lolo Sibal's journal was very informative, we discovered so many secrets because of it including your years of being there with me. But what a waste,you blocked me in the armed forces but still thankful to you Dad."

" Haha! you brave girl, you couldn't be a soldier, I don't like to risk your charm with us. Your brothers, husband and I are military men. Just stay in your beautiful granite house and obviously a rumor reached to me that you are busy knitting and sewing things. It's a nice diversion and besides your husband will be relaxed, leaving you safely inside."

The night turned out longer as they chatted and George excused her from them for a rest. When the three of them sat down, Edward moved closer to the bar and meticulously looked at the bottles surrounded by something on its cover.

"Hey son, what did you do to the wine bottles, haha " Edward commented.

"I'm sure Magee did it, not George. She's doing that at home before when her brothers were trying to consume the guava jelly in our jars, haha! that silly girl, it isn't George, I know."

George just smiled and grabbed a bottle of wine then offered it to his dads, then a second bottle followed by next after series of chitchat . It was midnight when the two stopped from chatting and George just aided them for a walk towards the doorless master's bedroom. Then he joined with his wife on bed, asking. But she was in deep sleep after a day's fight and has heard - nothing.