It's already September, the air was filled with morose ambience when the Captain met everyone under the tamarind tree.
" The Japs' are becoming outnumbered, having been hiding for weeks seem enough to deem continue our mission. We'll be heading northwest and passing Gabok is a bit risky, the survivors there I know are like angry bees, they bite in no time if they're badly hit with surprises. So everyone must be very careful, Baldur said he lost track with them after the Japs' siege more than a month ago. Hopefully the few visible alive can still be our allies, if not, and if they have suspicions on us, its a terrible test on us. But note this, no one should fire on them, no one can be cruel to people who long have been hungry for freedom. So, we'll do what we can do to treat them as one of us around, and if possible, we'll bring them in. Likewise, one of our goals of going to Makasido, a barrio next to Gabok is to barter some of our root crops with rice and remember, I'll repeat it, Gabok people might obstruct and derail this mission, but I have assigned team heads to explain to you the specifics of the travel. Baldur, Amado and Henry are appointees to man each of their teams. Any question?" The Captain then asked. But everyone seem excited to go to Makasido and see if what they could get. Its the only place where the Japs allowed them to farm some rice though its also one of the places which is difficult to penetrate since the Japs' headquarter was just too close to the rice farm. In a minute, everyone have separated their ways after the Captain adjourned the meeting.
" Bro, he musn't go with this mission." Albrecht said.
" But he's insistent, let him guide the troop." Baldur smiled.
" George, what's your opinion? c'mon!" Albrecht's worrisome voice.
" Hmm...he must stay around, there's a lot of running, climbing and hiding this time. Can't figure out if how Dad can do all these things at his age, huh!" George sighed.
" Hmm...that's an option. But who could hold him back here, even in your dreams no one can stop him. Do something if you have plans of stopping him." Baldur bowed his head and sighed.
Then no one attempted to make a plot against the Captain. They just smiled and gone.
When George reached the granite house, she found Magee on her mini dress and braided hair while she smiled and messing her hand with the dough of flour she'd mixed with ' puso ng saging' at the kitchen table.
" Wow!" He exclaimed.
" Yeah. Its good to be back cooking this one." She smiled while he kissed her forehead.
" No, not so much with the cooking, its more of the cook." Then he stayed behind her surrounding her with his arms as he put his chin on her shoulder and sideswept her ear with his warmth.
" Aha...its another story. So tell me. I know when you're being possessed like that." She smiled and tightened his arms around her.
" Gotcha! Hmm....its all about Dad and his mission heading to Makasido. Will you allow me?" He carried her beside the pantry to wash her hands. In fact, while she remained quiet, he gently washed her hands while he stayed behind her, caressing her hair with his face.
" Why not. This is wartime but what will you do to help me ease my worries. That place is a bit far, how can you assure that you can get back alive. Tell me." Magee sounded so serious as George put a clean piece of cloth on her hands.
" Hmm...it seems you are in disagreement." George squatted below the pantry and sighed while he leaned his back on the wall. But she sat on the floor and watched him from sighing.
" You looked...too handsome when you sigh. Your eyes are too cute, blinking like stars and your lips are so naive, your narrowed nose steals me right here, your reddish face are frightened as they all perfectly tells me to say yes, you may go." Magee uttered and when he opened his eyes with gratefulness he gently held her hands with guards down and the night was mystified by their drowning moments again and again.
Midnight came and she wants to return to the kitchen to finish what she's doing but he slowly pulled her hand and sent her back on his arms.
" This is unbelievable." She smiled.
" You are the most unbelievable, thank you, for pleasing my plans and for gracing my heart always."
" Above all, you are irresistible, who would have known my cooking appointment turned out crashed by your side." Then he pulled her too close; too close where they could hear each other's breathe in a cold foggy night.
In the morning, Albrecht woke them with his loud call.
" George! George!" Albrecht's call.
George then immediately awakened Magee and they got out from the secret room and brought their towels, ready to take a bath. When he opened the door Magee was already in the bathroom.
" Hey George, what are you cooking. Wow! such a recipe for breakfast. But wait, the color seemed...ah, okay. This was left overnight here. Hmm...okay, alright." Albrecht smiled and sat down beside the table.
But Albrecht wants to righteously put justice to the recipe so he started a fire using charcoal and tried to save some portion of the dough and 'puso ng saging' where he can still use to continue what Magee wants to fry.
" Thanks brother." George smiled to Albrecht and George left him for a while as he took a bath after her.
" Haha...this couple makes me crazy, so cute. Hah! I don't know. I don't know if what would be the reaction of Magee if she'd know her husband will be going with his comrades in the field. Its a big war."
" Hey, kuya!" You're here! hmm, thanks for continuing my recipe, that's becoming outdated, see the color, hmm." Magee complained.
" Don't worry. We'll save it. I'll just remove the unnecessary parts exposed the whole night." He smiled at her.
She smirked and walked off towards the receiving area. They met there again with George.
" Haha! kuya is cooking right now, is this still part of bribing me, so cool." Magee smiled and pinched his cheek but he caught her small wrist and put it on his chest.
" I love you very much, Mag. No words can ever describe how much I value you in my life. that's why I will stay. We will be watch dogs around." He smiled and caressed her face.
" But no! I didn't tell you to do that. We agreed already, right. You go with my brothers." She reasoned out.
" No. I know you have plans of making your own mission that you usually stand as the General, Captain, lieutenant and sergeant, haha! I'm staying. I just feel it. You already missed the minefield." He thought then she replied with a smile.