Chapter 2: Soldiers of Maharlica

I woke up facing a gorgeous man whose eyes were closed. I stopped myself from tracing his eyebrows down to his nose.

'But why does he look so familiar? Where did I see him again?'

My mind was foggy. When I came to my senses and realized who he was and where I was, I felt like a bucket of ice-cold water was poured on me.

I immediately sat up. The splitting headache struck me and I groaned in pain.

'Why did I drink so much last night?!'

I looked down to see if I was wearing any clothes.

'Thank goodness I am! But—'

'Why am I wearing a guy's sweater?! Is this his? Oh my gosh! Did we—'

'No, we didn't, right?!'

I tried to remember what happened last night. But no good. It only gave me a headache.

"Good morning, Rathna."

I jerked when I heard him speak.

"Good morning?" I stammered with sarcasm. "How could you! What am I doing here? Why am I sleeping with you? Did we—"

I paused and tried to re-gather my composure. He sat up too, but unlike me, he did not insinuate the same anxious feeling I had.

I looked at the sweater I was wearing. Obviously not mine and probably his.

"We didn't, right?" I plead with hope.

I would go insane if I did sleep with him!

"Is this your sweater? Why am I wearing this?"

A small annoying grin formed in his mouth. "Why are you freaking out? It should be the other way around."

"What?!" I exclaimed.

He leaned closer to me. "You, lady, will have to take responsibility for what happened last night."

He got out of bed and left me appalled.

"What do you mean by that? What do I have to take responsibility for?" I asked anxiously.

'Please tell me it's not what I am thinking!'

"My body is precious to me."

'Body?! Why is he suddenly mentioning his body?'

"And I don't sleep with just anyone. Especially with someone I just met for the night. So I'm telling you, you will be held responsible for doing that to my body."

I gulped.

'What did I do? What did I do to his body?!'

"You're a guy! You're strong! You should've resisted!" I screamed because of frustration.

"I would have resisted if I could," he said with a small smile forming on his lips. "But darling, I couldn't."

'What?!'

He left the room and I grew even more frustrated. I grabbed my hair with both hands.

'This isn't part of the plan!'

'No! Let's think positively! I think this is a good thing! This is a good thing! It'll make my plan go quickly.'

I looked around the room. The ceiling and the walls were sable black.

Near the overlooking window was a magnificent-looking telescope. With excitement starting to boil in my blood, I padded from the bed towards it.

I wanted to touch it and try looking into the sky with it, but I stopped myself. If something happened to it, I could never afford to pay for the damage.

I retreated away from it. I gently rubbed my sole on the fury charcoal black carpet. The brown marbled floor was also beautiful. Even the lamp on his bedside table looked exquisite and expensive.

His bedroom alone was breathtakingly gorgeous.

I looked around for the dress I wore last night, but I couldn't find it.

I went downstairs and I set foot in the living room.

The place was humungous I could easily get lost inside.

Luckily, finding the kitchen was easy.

"Where is my dress?" I immediately asked as soon as I saw him.

He was setting the table. It was a surprise he didn't have butlers or maids to do things for him.

"In the trash."

"What? Why the fuck did you throw it?"

"Because I'm still thinking of how to make you pay for what happened."

"Why are you acting like you were tortured by it?" I cried. "I'm sure you had a fair share of pleasure."

He literally stopped for a second. A wide smirk formed on his mouth.

"Maybe I did. Right," he vaguely replied.

He sat down and motioned me to also sit down. So I did.

He laid his phone near me on the table, so I raised my eyebrows at him to ask what he was doing.

"I'm asking for your number."

"And why would you?" I mumbled.

"Because I want to? I think I have a reason now, given what happened last ni—"

"Fine!" I cut him off mid-sentence. "Can you please stop mentioning last night?"

He let out a low laugh.

I took his phone, and I remembered I still hadn't memorized my new number. Of course, I had to use a different phone for him.

I took my phone to have a reference for my number. When I finished, I handed his phone back to him.

Good. At least we will have a bit of connection even after meeting only once. My plan was unexpectedly sailing so smoothly.

After we ate, he gave me a box. Which I think came from delivery.

When I opened it, there was a sundress inside. A simple sleeveless sapphire dress with pretty seam details. Simple. Not daring. A conservative type of dress, I must say. Type of dress I liked.

"I don't like this type of dress. I want the sexy, suggestive ones," I commented.

"It's not the dress that makes you sexy. It's you that makes the dress sexy."

'Is he saying I'm sexy?'

"So are you saying—"

"I'm saying, wear that and get the hell out of my house," he said to cut me off. "My generosity ends here."

I just scowled at him.

--

Phone in my ear, I sprinted from the border to get inside the camp. I ran past the tall trees, and another series of trees before the wood fences of the camp came into sight. I didn't even have the time to explain to the guard.

As soon as the gate opened, I ran to get to the breakfast tent. I must get there before my name was called by the Commander.

"Fuck! Was I called already?" I answered Geraldine's call while running.

"Faster, Rath! We're on P now!"

'Shit! My surname starts with P!"

"I can't make it!"

I was already out of breath, but I had to make it. Breathing hard, I arrived at the tent.

Unfortunately, the name drill was done, and the soldiers were already having breakfast. I had to rest my weight on my knees because I felt like I would die out of suffocation.

Right at that moment, my eyes landed on a hawk-like pair of eyes, and I immediately straightened my back and placed my right fist on my chest.

"Commander! Pablo of Team One, Sir!"

"You're late."

He had that usual stoic expression on his scarred face. He has this long-lined scar that added to his fearful aura.

"I was out on a mission last night, Sir."

"That doesn't excuse you from missing the name drill. You will work in the kitchen as punishment."

'Kitchen duties, fuck!'

Although I badly wanted to complain, I had to zip my mouth and nod my head to agree. I roamed my eyes around to look for my team. Someone raised a hand, and when I spotted Geraldine, I found my team.

I sat with them.

I was part of Team One along with Geraldine, Isagani, our Captain, and two other guys named Loor and Gulu.

"How was last night?" Geraldine whispered.

I elbowed her to tell her we should talk about it after breakfast.

I gazed at our team captain. "Isn't this unfair? Why do I have to be punished? It's not like I wanted to spend the night out."

"Why are you complaining to me? Complain to the right authority."

I scowled at him. He knew I couldn't complain to the Commander.

After breakfast, Isagani was nowhere to be seen, so I had no choice but to ask the others for help.

"Brat, help me, please. You know kitchen duties are the worst punishments! I can't do it alone."

I even clung to her in desperation. She mercilessly pushed me away. She pretentiously looked down at her wrist, although she wasn't wearing a watch.

"Oh my! Look at the time! I forgot I had to do something at the HQ."

And she left! That brat!

I looked at Loor and Gulu, who were the only ones remaining at the table. Sensing my intentions,

Gulu stood up. The ringlets of his curly hair juggled when the wind blew.

He scratched his nose with his index finger. An indication that he's about to lie.

"I have an errand to do."

'Seriously? I thought we were a team?'

I looked at the only person left while fluttering my eyelashes. He smiled at me, and the mole at the corner of his eyes moved.

"Next time, don't be late." He snickered at my misery. "Even if I want to, I can't help you. The Commander gave me a mission. Besides, you're only washing a couple of hundred dishes."

I was already exhausted even before starting.

"And another couple of hundreds after that, and another after," I recited my misery.

Loor also left me while shaking his head in amusement.

'My misery is their joy, huh!'

--

After my kitchen duties, I was on my last legs for the day. However, I still had to report to the Commander's quarters about what happened last night with the prince.

When I didn't hear a single comment from him, I went to my room. The Commander's silence was always discouraging to me.

I lay on the bed, and it felt so refreshing to feel like my back was finally breathing. I peeked at the calendar hanging on the wall of the tiny room.

I only had less than two months to complete my mission. If I failed, my purpose in life would go down the drain.

"Where were you last night?" I turned to see who spoke.

'Ah... the Captain's right-hand man.'

His striking slanted eyes took the breath out of my lungs. He had a tiny scar on his left eyebrow, and that part was hairless.

His eyes could look brutal because they looked cold. However, they were contrasted with his other soft facial features, and together, they created this image that was both friendly and impactful.

No wonder he was famous among Somaras in the camp. While he supervised the team, I was the one usually tasked to do the hard stuff like when we had to take someone's life. Especially Mirando's life.

"Doing my mission," I responded.

"The Chief was looking for you since last night."

He reached out his hand towards my head, so I automatically took a step back, heart disturbed and beating erratically.

"There's something on your hair," he reasoned when he saw my reaction.

I immediately brushed off whatever was in my hair.

"The Chief was looking for you last night."

"He's here?" I exclaimed in surprise.

He rarely visited the camp. As the People's Representative at the palace, he had to be cautious of his activities. He was a powerful man, next to the king in power and connections.

And he was our founder.

"He asked that we should gather at the HQ."

Isagani and I headed to our headquarters to meet the Chief. The huge logo of our organization, which was called the Soldiers of Maharlica or simply known as Soma, greeted us.

I stared at the huge lion balancing a weighing scale resembling the symbol of justice in its mouth. There was always this kind of uneasiness I felt whenever I see our logo.

Maybe because it reminded me of my resolve. My revenge. My parents.

The headquarters was a large room, with a big round table at the center. This was where all of the crucial gatherings happened.

We saluted the Chief and the Commander by placing our right fists on our chests before the Chief told us to sit down.

The main five teams of the organization were on the round table. With Isagani and I joining, the discussion started.

These five teams were the most competent among all the soldiers. We were usually sent on a mission for the organization.

Usually to rob storage houses. We only rob storage houses of corrupt officials, and that included the royal storage house.

"We only have less than 60 days to make sure everything goes as planned," the Chief mentioned. "I need you to work harder than ever."

"YES, CHIEF!" We confirmed in unison.

The Chief maintained his gaze on me. His entire presence declared authority and demanded respect.

He had this rounded nose that was usually red at the tip like he was having sinusitis.

"Paul.." He called my code name, and it made me automatically sit up straight.

"Yes, Sir!"

"You know that the weight of our assassination lies on your mission, right?"

I nodded my head. For the king's assassination to succeed, my mission had to succeed first.

After meeting us, the Chief gathered all the soldiers. He gave us some inspiring and healing words.

After assassinating the king, we will abandon this country that scarred us for life. That was what the Chief promised us.

Before everyone was dismissed, Captain Mauro came to me with his thin lips slightly pressed.

"Paul."

I saluted. "Captain!"

He purposely held my eyes captive and said, "Remember to stick to your mission. Nothing more, nothing less."

Oddly, I sensed doubt in his voice.

"Yes, Sir. When did I ever fail the team?"

It bothered me that the captain was worried about my mission. My team knew that what I did best was to complete my missions successfully. I did not give room for distractions. Or even if I did, I still made sure that I would get the desired result.

Me, failing the mission meant team failure and Soma's failure.

I couldn't let that happen.

--

As days passed, I grew more anxious.

'Is that it? Is it over? He has my number. Why didn't he call me even once?'

'How will I meet him again and make it look like a coincidence?'

My mission had only one goal. It was to make the prince bring me to the palace of his own volition.

I looked at the paper printed with the steps I made to complete my mission.

Step 1, befriend the enemy.

Step 2, get close to him.

'How will I get close to him? How will I do that if I don't have an excuse to see him? Should I just lie that I'm pregnant with his baby? No, he's too smart for that. And it's only been days since we had se—never mind!'

'He will ask me to go to a hospital for proof. And if he finds out I'm lying, I'm doomed.'

I had thought of hundreds of excuses to see him, but I couldn't find anything plausible. So I just went ahead to see him.

After battling the dizzying elevator ride from the ground floor to the 85th floor—with nothing planned—I stood in front of his apartment. We stared at each other when he opened the door. Neither of us could process the thought that we were seeing each other face to face. Again.

He looked so casual, wearing a mustard-colored hoodie. His coffee-brown eyes, messy hair, and his startled expression somehow gave me a cozy feeling. I didn't understand why, though.

"What are you doing here?" He asked in a soft voice.

Good question! That was what I wanted to ask myself too.

"I'm pregnant!" I suddenly burst out.

'Wait—what?! What did I say?! I know he's not dumb to just take in what I said, so why the fuck am I being idiotic by coming up with this lie? Stupid! Stupid!'

He stilled for a few seconds.

'Should I take it back and say it's a joke?'

I was about to take back my idiotic lie, but then he showed a wide grin and opened the door. An indication that maybe I was welcome to go inside?

I pranced inside his luxurious apartment.

"So you're pregnant, huh," he teased.

I didn't know how to answer him. I couldn't nod or shake my head.

"With my baby?" he asked again playfully.

"Yeah, and you're taking responsibility."

I already lied. I should go with it as well.

He stood there staring at me without saying anything.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" I grunted as I felt uncomfortable with him gawking at me.

"I'm thinking," he replied indifferently.

"Thinking of what?"

"Whether to let you in into my life or not," he answered with a tone I could not decipher. "I'm weighing which one I will regret less."

"What?"