LOVE HURTS

Jacky can't be contacted by anybody.

"I'm really disappointed and hurt. Before I can be married, my fiance may already be dead. The worse is I don't know that he as a student, is involved in gunfighting? I thought he is just a messenger of the Security Agency. Now, he and his family including my friends are in danger. I dreamed Juan in a casket lately" Jacky calling Joel crying.

Juan, Ruthie who is almost video calling Jacky daily, but can't contact her this time, she is never receiving their calls, texts, and any mode of communications.

Juan explained in the text, but it was never seen or read by Jacky.

One week passed with no communication.

Juan was also crying, and missing Jacky.

Juan thought the only way is to call through Joel.

"Hello Brother, Can I talk to you" Juan texted Joel.

Meanwhile, Ely and Luz are telling Jacky to talk it over with him, he could have reasons for things.

"Reasons, this is a matter of trust, he must have told me everything." Jacky sighed and sad.

Ely called Tony.

"How are you Brother?" Ely asked.

" We are now fine, except Juan, he is busy with finishing his studies and final requirements for graduation. How is Jacky? Tony asked also.

"She was also crying from time to time. She was disappointed. I told her to clear things up with Juan. I think she just needs time to think, don't worry, Luz and I are comforting her and advising her to talk to Juan. Ely said.

" Hello Rose, how are you?" Jacky's first call to the Philippines after the incident of the hostage drama in the farm office.

"Jacky, we are fine, thanks, that Juan saved us that afternoon," Rose said.

"So he is the hero that day? Jacky said with a sad tone.

" Jacky, I think you must talk to Juan for the details, he is working in a Security Agency and they are involved possibly with police works as force multipliers and possibly as assets of intelligence in that field of work. I don't know much, but I just suspect it. Try to talk to him, so everything will be clear for both of you. Or else he will turn to me, hahaha just joking." Rose said.

"Hahaha, I will tell Robert, hahaha joke. OK, I will friend. I will talk to him later." Jacky first time to laugh.

Joel was in the office giving instructions to his subordinates. They have special training as special forces for anti-terror.

He looked at his phone and see Juan's text.

"Hello, Brother. How are you?" Joel called?

Juan feels the vibration in his pants, the phone was silently vibrating, someone is calling. He went outside of the library "Hello Brod, Thanks for calling. We are fine, except I can't contact Jacky, I think she's really mad at me." Juan said.

"Is that so? How can I help? What do you think is the issue?"Joel asked?

" Brother, you are a military man, I think I can talk to you plainly. I'm in a classified position in my work. I'll walk first in the center of the soccer field, so no one can eavesdrop. I started as a messenger in the Security and Private detective agency, then I was promoted as a record and file keeper arranger. Then I was to summarize the reports of the supervisors in the field, I get familiar with the jobs of the guards, detectives, investigators. Then because as I go up the ladder, I'm at risk, my boss promoted me as his right hand, and I was issued a firearm, trained by the police and drug enforcement agency, that I secretly became an asset. Then, it just happened that I had uncovered a big drug operation that I was secretly awarded in the intelligence community. I went deep into the system, that I can't inform anybody, my father, siblings, even Jacky. I have an oath of secrecy.

It just gets complicated because I was one of the main assets that exposed a high ranking police official who is a drug lord protector. That's how the farm incident happened, paid to take revenge on me. Two drug lords, we're dead. And now those who are alive, we're being prosecuted. So it became obvious. I did not want to be involved but in this work, you can't get out except you finish the mission of catching the criminals. This also prepared me to be a lawyer later after graduation. We have two choices, fight the evil or just be silent and let others be a victim and ourselves. I don't know how to tell Jacky about this."Juan explained.

"I now understand you clearly Brother. Don't worry I will help Jacky understand. I'll talk to her tonight. Joel said assuring him.

" That's all Brother. Hope to see you soon." Juan said

"OK, yes, I'm excited to see you graduate, just be sure to clear the graduation grounds when I'm there. See you soon, Bye for now."Joel said.

" Mom, I miss Juan but I hate his secret activities. I'm hurt why he did not tell me anything about his work." Jacky complaining to Luz.

"We will never know anything except if we talk to him about it. Even his father has no ideas about that. Both of you will suffer if you will prolong this silence with him. Communication and forgiveness will help you solve this. Learn it as early as now because when you're married, many challenges like that will occur." Luz advises her.

"Tok, tok..."

Someone's knocking. Who is that? Jacky looks at the door security screen. "That's Joel! Mom, you double-lock the door, no one can come in even if you have the door pin code."

Joel entered.

"You don't want me to come in?" Joel kidding.

"Hey Brother, how is your day, I don't know you will report here today hehe" Jacky embraced his brother.

"It's good that I cooked extra today I feel you are coming. Luz said.

Then the door opened. Ely went straight to Luz and kiss her and embraced his adult kids as they do from their childhood.

" Jacky, Dad, and Mom. Let's eat I have something to talk to you all." I brought with me here pizza.

They sat in the dining table and Luz put all the food and Jacky the plates and spoons and glasses.

"I called Juan today".

Stopped.

Then Joel started to pray for the food: "Father in heaven, thanks for the food, the family, and give us the wisdom to discern your will, In Jesus Name, Amen."

"You called Juan today? Luz asked.

" What did he said? Jacky asked hiding her excitement.

"You won't talk to him, but you are so excited to know what he said?" Joel teasing her.

Jacky pinches him in the side.

"I'm excited too," Ely said.

Everybody laughed.

"OK, I understand Juan's reasons," Joel said.

"But I don't," Jacky said sadly.

"You won't because this is a military thing." Joel clarified.

"You mean Juan was connected with the military as a student?" Ely asked.

"Yes Dad., He has an oath of secrecy. Like me, there is classified information that we can not tell our family, our wife, or anybody for their protection." Joel said.

"Is that so? Well then, that's good that we know." Luz said.

"Brother, you mean that's military stuff? How did Juan been involved with that? How can we say for his family's protection, when they could have died just recently?" Jacky asked.

"OK, My phone automatically recorded and saved our conversation. So you want to listen to his explanation?"

Chorus: "Yes!"

And they laughed with each other.

As Joel prepares to play the recorded conversation all are excited to listen and are relaxed in their seats.

"Thanks for this information, Brother!" Jacky said.

"But you have not yet heard the reasons," Joel said

"I trust you because you said you understand him, I think I will understand also, then I'm thankful that I have a military Brother, who understands military stuff," Jacky said smiling.

"OK, so here it is..." Joel pushes the play icon on his smartphone.

Juan's voice in the smartphone speaker:

" Brother, you are a military man, I think I can talk to you plainly. I'm in a classified position in my work. I'll walk first in the center of the soccer field, so no one can eavesdrop. I started as a messenger in the Security and Private detective agency..."

They listened until it was finished.

Ely nodding his head. Luz also nodding looked at Jacky.

Jacky felt hurt now that she did not give Juan the chance to explain.

Love hurts.

She felt so guilty. She has no reason to be angry and she must have let Juan explain in the first place. She is now in tears...

Joel said, "now you know! Call him now, OK?"

"I will," Jacky said, "Good night, I'll go to my room."