At Dawn's Burial

When Albrecht returned, he was already with Fr. Matias. The Captain called out all the soldiers and guerrillas' to attend the send off requiem mass for an old woman's soul. The silence led the daughter to pour out in front of her mother's grave. Empathetically, Sr. Sibal tapped her shoulder and seated next to her till sunrise.

" Yagpanaw da kanmo inâ." ( Your mother has traveled now.) Sr. Sibal said.

" Oo Mano, ako da lang sini." ( Yes uncle, I'm all alone here.)

While in the wooden house Albrecht has jokily said.

" Baldur, you need to sleep now. Why you keep eyeing to our lady guest? What the...do you like her?" He moved closer and put his arms around his younger brother's shoulder and hideously laughed.

" Shh...your mouth again. No, nothing. It's just that she's too helpless. I just feel it.

" Ah, yeah! we never knew what her background was all about. By the way, is she staying with us?"

" No. I requested Henry to tidy one of the kubos near him. I assigned him to guard that lady and if I'm available, then I'll go visit her often."

" Wow! that sounds amazing brother, haha! can't help thinking oddly, haha."

" Um!" Baldur jokily punched and clipped his arms around Albrecht's neck while Edward smiled and seated near them."

" Hey, stop that boys, can I have a coffee, please. By the way Baldur, Henry brought the lady. You may get her pack and give it to her. Huh! I pity her, so much. Albrecht, you ask some clothes from your sister that she can share, the lady needs some, I guess." The Captain sighed.

" Yes Dad, Albrecht replied."

Then Baldur hurriedly ran to the second floor and took out her pack then proceeded to the Kubo assigned for the lady.

He knocked on the door and found her sitting on the bamboo flooring.

" Hey, Good morning. I'm Baldur, 23 years old, one of the insular soldiers, the Captain's youngest son and...married. What's your name?" He smiled at her

" I'm...Mayumi, 21 years old, a native of the next province." She smiled on him while she opened the cover on her face and shake hands with him.

" Wow! she's simply beautiful." He seriously thought while controlling his heartbeats.

" I..I just put a cover on my face, because...." Then she was intervened with Baldur.

" Ah, it's okay.....we can understand. Somehow, it's your culture's way, it's alright, It's practically meaningful for us too and so with respect."

" Thank you, Baldur. By the way, you're too young to be a soldier. How is it." She smiled while Baldur seated in front of her, just a meter away.

" Hmm...exciting." He smirked and handed to her the stuffs

" So, I need to sleep Baldur but let me know if how's being an occupant here, but wait. I'm terribly sleepy." Then the lady put her head on the floor but Baldur lifted it up and put his hand temporarily while Mayumi closed her eyes. Baldur's heartbeats almost blasted while his left hand was folding his shawl so to create a pillow.

" She let my heart beats faster. No one has made me feel like this, huh! No, I'm married. I'm getting out. I'll just get my military shawl later today when she wakes up. I'll go back to the wooden house and tell Albrecht to send some food here." He thought then quickly moved out in a speed of light.

" Oh, Baldur, what happened to you? it looks like that the chilli powder were spilled on your face, that much, this early - what happened. You won't lie, I know. You're telling me now...now." Albrecht seated beside his younger brother and pretended to be a priest, waiting for some confession.

" Albrecht...Albrecht....I need coffee. It's too cold outside, please make me a mug of it."

" Terrible! okay!" Then Albrecht stood up stamping while Baldur smiled looking at him so curiously dead for his brother.

" I'm getting 24 and belongs to the old school. My married life taught me a lot of lessons. I need to verify my emotions. I also need to be rational." Baldur thought while Albrecht placed a mug of coffee in front of him.

" Here. What happened."

" Hey, haha...nothing. I just missed my wife. That's it." He smiled to Albrecht while sipping his coffee.

" Really? that's so suddenly.

" Yeah. You even missed Madelleine these days, right?" Baldur counteracted.

While they we're discussing, Edward was listening and felt guilty again. He knew that Baldur didn't love Amanda but for the sake of his younger sister's pre-arrangenent with George, he risked to grab Amanda away from George and got tied on her.

" My son...I'm so sorry. I failed to block your idea on it. You should have a life to enjoy but I allowed it to happen. I panicked that time for your sister while waiting for her man and so your decision has numbed my head but it sucked up after you were done marrying that Amanda. You only got hell from her." He thought while sitting on a couch.

After a while, Baldur seated next to him while bringing his mug of coffee.

" Dad, how are you."

" I'm just okay, son. I'm just worried of you tied up with that Amanda. I know you're not happy with her "

" Haha! Dad, you're telling me that again and again, don't you get tired of it. I told you I'm just alright, there's nothing to worry about my marriage, she's already my wife."

" But you don't love her."

" Hmm...I might reach that far. By now, I'm filling my heart to miss her this much. Feeding my mind that way might help, who knows." He stood up and patted his stepfather's shoulder.

" Baldur, share to me with your deepest thoughts one day. I'll wait, my son." The Captain whispered to him

" If that time comes, Dad. I'll tell you."

Then Baldur went up and slept while the Captain slept on the couch as well. He thought about his future and the thought of Ananda leeching his son's properties, life and health.

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