Chapter IX

Menin's messages to Ronn, whose heart was bleeding freely, received no response two years later. Her boyfriend's fury was too much for her, and she knew in her heart that she was doing nothing wrong and that she would never do something she would later regret. When she went on vacation with them, she requested Ronn's father for a phone number so she could call Ronn and talk to him. She tried to chat with the young man more than a hundred times, but she always failed.

Every day is equivalent to a year. She was eager for Ronn to return home so they could chat, explain, and get along. She was prepared in case he invited her to marry. She had already graduated from college with a BS in Accountancy and was working in a bank, so she was ready to establish a family, and Ronn was the one she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Is she still interested in being with Ronn? Is Ronn still in love with her? She was asking herself questions in search of answers. How much longer will she have to wait for Ronn?

Ronn does not want to rest; he is always with him in patrolling the country's oceans. They are constantly confronted by pirates, kidnappers of foreign visitors, and foreign fishermen. Their patrols frequently lead to battle, and he is almost murdered multiple times, but he reminds his Commanding Officer not to warn his family of his condition, no matter how bad, as long as he is alive.

Ronn has progressed four times in rank in the last six years, from Third Class Petty Officer (PO3) to Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCP) (SCPO). He is on his way to becoming a Commissioned Officer; but, if he had used the connection of Commodore Guevarra, who is now the husband of his aunt Fely, he might already be in the rank of Ensign or Lieutenant, or even higher. But he didn't want that; he wanted him to put in the effort to achieve the award. So, his family was overjoyed, especially his father. He could only talk to his father on the phone; he wanted to go home, but Menin's emotional suffering for him was keeping him back.

They were able to build their house with her monthly wage and are also coping with the difficulty in some way. Hubb became irregular with his studies, so their father assigned him to his buddy Brig. General Agoncillo to train in the Army. Rocc, on the other hand, is a college student who went insane and was sent back to their house. He went back to farming and fishing. Gerr and Zedd are currently at college. Zedd was in the BSEEd program, but Gerr got into the PMA because she wanted to be a soldier. Mari has finished a two-year program and has joined the Marine Corps. Terr and Armn were in high school, and Alli, Gean, and Feil were in elementary school. When he went, the youngest was Armn, and three more siblings followed, totaling eleven siblings. Ronn simply smiled at the thought of their father's zeal. But that's okay since the merrier, the happier the brothers and sisters are in the strong interaction.

He fantasizes about having a large house, especially now that he has eleven siblings and wants to spend time with them all. He will, however, build a house in the barangay of his paternal grandfather, a barangay surrounded by seawater, an island with two barangays. He didn't want their town to build a house, especially if Menin's was nearby. He wants to forget about the girl, or perhaps she's married and no longer a single woman now.

When he was injured in battle, he was granted time to rest but he doesn’t to go home for a vacation leave, instead, he uses this opportunity for schooling and various Navy courses, such as a year of study to become a naval officer. He has attended school twice in his more than four years in a remote location, courses that will raise his rank. He desired to make those who had insulted him look like just a soldier, and he desired to be looked up to and admired by those who had violated his dignity, including Menin.

Various pretty girls liked him and flirted with him over those four years; there were socialites, nurses, engineers, architects, policewomen, students, instructors, and so on, but none of them paid attention to him. Except for one who doesn't pay attention, doesn't express her feelings, but is always looked after, especially when he is injured in battle. A stunning Princess from the province covered by their fate. Princess Nerih Ellih was the only daughter of the richest Sultan in their country; she was a good doctor who serviced patients for free, especially when they were taken to the hospital they owned, which her father called after her Princess Nerih Ellih Hospital, abbreviated as PNEH in their area.

The Princess, as a doctor, personally attends to Ronn whenever he is injured in a fight, and his room is so special that he can't afford the expenses here, especially since it is a private hospital. The Princess did not want to reveal how much she adored the young soldier because she was worried Ronn would reject her, and she had heard that he did not pay attention to the women in their neighborhood, including international tourists, which further fueled the Princess's affections and delighted her heart. Ronn is also aware that the doctor Princess likes him, and it's not like other ladies are obstructing his ability to observe that he despises her. The doctor, on the other hand, is strange, but he is also doubtful because he is just a humble soldier and the Princess doctor is very gorgeous and very wealthy.

"Why are you doing this to me?" the young soldier wondered of the Princess Doctor.

"Ha…ah…eh…, I'm a doctor, you're my patient, so I have to take care of you," the Princess stammered and confusedly responded to the young soldier's inquiry, which made her like melting just by his stare.

"Why do you treat me so special, every time I have an accident and have to go to the hospital, you are always the one who takes particular care of me?" with the young man's authority in the princess's treatment of him.

For a brief period, the young doctor was motionless, thinking about what she had always memorized in case she came to this point: will she admit to the young soldier the true reason, the reason of her heart, why the young soldier is a special patient? She altered the subject and focused her response on the young man's situation.

"You have two severe wounds on your waist and left cheek caused by the pointed nail of the exploding bomb," the young doctor explained.

"Surgery is required to restore your face while it is still not healing; we need consent or waiver from your parents, but your CO says it is not necessary and we will just wait for you to wake up," the doctor said in a lengthy statement.

"Thank you, and you waited for me to wake up before making your decision, that's what I told my CO, as long as I'm alive, even if it's serious, they shouldn't tell my parents about my situation," the young man responded weakly.

"But what if," the young doctor responded since the young man abruptly interrupted.

"What if I died?" It's as simple as that. "I don't want my parents to worry about me anymore, and I don't want to add to their burden," the young soldier explained.

"What's the deal with you? Is your life important to you? Don't you feel sorry for those that care for you?" The doctor was rather consumed with the interrogation. She couldn't bear thinking way, especially with tears flowing down her cheeks. She was blushing as a result of her unpleasant feelings for the young soldier. And it didn't miss the young man; he was taken aback for a moment, but he knew the young doctor adored him. The princess would have turned away since she couldn't suppress her affection for the young man, especially given his state and what he had spoken to himself.

"Do you love me, doctor princess?" he asked the young doctor. The princess was a fearless woman, she immediately supplanted even the people you believed were arrogant, when they were flirting with her, she immediately blocked even those like her who were also rich and influential, when she didn't want her to rely on them anymore. Wait a minute, she doesn't admire anything about them because there's someone special who holds her heart.

"Do you love me?" the young man inquired one more. "I'm not in the habit of scratching, especially not scratching," the young man stated. The girl was worried that the young man would keep his word and stop yelling.

"Do-don't you still realize, I'm a woman, and it makes me sick if I'm the first to declare my affection for a man," the girl snarled. The young man drew the girl, and she practically slid into his face, which astonished the princess.

"Do you love me?" said the young man, his gaze fixed on her eyes and lips.

For a few moments, the girl closed her eyes, nervously anticipating what the young man would do to her. She waited for the young man to kiss her, but nothing happened, so she stared, their gazes meeting as if they were conversing, waiting to see what their bodies would do next. In the young man's gaze, her heartbeat has become mild and quiet. The young man pressed his lips against the princess's lips, and the girl closed her eyes, anticipating what the young man would do, the lips she expected to touch did not, but his grip on her lessened, making her apprehensive. She was hesitant to open her eyes for fear of offending the young man by telling him how she truly felt; perhaps the young man felt the same way about women. She almost shouted when she opened her eyes, so the young man softened and let go of her because he lost consciousness.

She promptly alerted her staff emergency and gave the young soldier CPR; she was restless and slightly confused, much to her team's surprise. To her amazement, she was held by the hand of her assistant doctor, and only then did her calmness and concentration return. Everyone admires her character as a doctor, and it returns to her her professionalism in dealing with circumstances like these. The young soldier received appropriate treatment and attention, but he lost strength owing to the so-called pulse reaction of the heart "Heartbeat Synchronizes," which is frequently felt by loving hearts. The young soldier's condition was stable, so the princess and her friend returned to her office. She was accompanied by her close friend, a childhood pal, and her assistant doctor, who couldn't take her smile off her lips.

"Why are you smiling like that?" the princess said of her companion.

"What are you asking me with those smiles?" Haammmnnn! Is there anything more I should know, Princess? " She bowed to her pal.

"I shall spank you!" exclaimed the girl, smirking.

"Our Dear Princess will scream now because of love!" a friend teased. The princess grabbed the friend while laughing and acting disgusted with the friend.

Princess resentment: "I despise you!" "Are we friends?" allegedly repulsed childish hatred. "Your trick, I was about to die of worry when you smiled and tormented me! hu! hu! hu!" The young princess was already crying because she remembered her former aspirations and was still thinking incorrectly about the young man. Her buddy was both astonished and relieved by what she witnessed with the princess. So, she hugged her and comforted her as she sobbed. If anyone knew the princess doctor well from her childhood and experiences, as well as her secret love for the soldier, it was she alone, for her entire existence had become an open book to her alone.

"How come you took out the air and kissed Prince Charming?" joked a buddy.

“Brat! "He lost consciousness, so his kiss didn't continue," the princess said, smiling and wiping away tears.

"There! I said it! a miracle is occurring to my friend!" she continued to tease.

"Heh! Stop it!" she mock-scolded her pal while smiling.

"You know best, Mr. Prince Charming, you're taking advantage of the kiss, it's out of breath," a friend joked, smiling.

"Even now you're completely insane!", the princess's blushing response.

They shared lunch in the hospital canteen, but the princess couldn't eat well because her thoughts were on the young soldier. She grinned as she glanced at the meal and just stirred it with a spoon, the one who was almost kissed by the man she loved. Her companion, who had just finished eating, had been watching her earlier when she was not even halfway there because she had been preoccupied with recent events in her life.

“Alive! Her acquaintance stated it fairly loudly, jolting her awake.

“Huh? Which one is it? Who is still alive?" The princess was perplexed.

"The fish you're eating!" she said, pointing to her plate while laughing. She pinched her friend's thigh.

"You're insane!" she exclaimed, shaking her head.

"How come we've been here in the canteen for over an hour and you still don't eat half of the food, you're just imagining it," her buddy pointed out.

She blushed and felt ashamed, so she stood up and didn't finish her lunch because her coworkers might be watching. Her companion is continuing taunting her on the way back to the princess's office, but she isn't paying attention because she is ashamed of her recent habits. What is happening to her? Upon arriving, she sat down and turned a blind eye.

"My dear princess is truly super in love," joked the pal.

“Mrs. Galvez, you're on duty, and your lunch break is over!" She was meant to drive her friend away, but it turned out she was on duty.

"Certainly, Doctor!" And she also sang a song from the chorus of the song "I'm In Love" as she exited a friend's office. Because it hit her, the young doctor only smiled at her friend's taunting song. "No matter what they say cause I'm in love, no matter what they feel cause I'm in love." The princess sighed, she is madly in love with the young soldier and will admit it if he asks her again.

The young soldier awoke at ten o'clock at night, according to the wall clock hanging on the room's wall. He tries to remember what occurred to him and the lovely princess doctor earlier. He remembered the last thing he did: he put the girl's hand near to his face and kissed her, then he forgot everything. Did he kiss the Princess? He had a thought. What was his reaction to what he accomplished, and why had his eyesight darkened so rapidly earlier? He had a lot of questions that he wanted to be answered. He closed his eyes again since his eyelids were still heavy.

When the princess glanced through the door, she noticed that the young man was awake, which made her heart joyful, but she was apprehensive to enter. She was both terrified and pleased to believe that the young man she adored was equally interested in her. She wasn't sure what to think or do, but when she glanced again, she noticed the young man close his eyes again; perhaps he was still tired and slept again, so she walked inside to check on his condition. She hammered his heartbeat with the attached syringe, and it was as if she could hear what his heartbeat was saying, which gave her indescribable happiness.

Because of the exceedingly pleasant aroma, Ronn knew the princess had entered. He was aware of its gestures, particularly the holding of its hand on his breast. He wanted to stare, but he was still apprehensive; perhaps he had done something wrong previously, so he could only feel what she was doing.

"You can stare," the female offered, knowing the young man was still awake.

"You can't pretend you're asleep since I can clearly see the movement of your eyes; perhaps you forgot I'm a doctor," she smiled. She lightly patted the young man's hand, but it still didn't blink, so she pinched it slightly to make it blink.

"Are you a real doctor? Is the doctor like that, causing harm to his patients?” The young man is said to have asked an indignant query.

"What is causing you pain dear?" Princess's response

"If not beaten, you're pinching me," the young soldier answered with a smile.

“Beaten?! You can be there when you find what you're seeking for if I beat you!" The doctor princess grinned, her heart bursting with excitement at their conversation.

"I only tapped you because you're pretending to be asleep right now," she smiled.

"What were you doing to me before?" The young man inquired. "Perhaps you're kissing me, huh?" the young man asked, his face serious but a little smiling.

"You are! Your chubby mug! "I'd rather kiss the one who is conscious than the one who is unconscious and dead," the girl retorted fiercely.

"The trouble is, because I'm naive and innocent of such things, you're taking advantage," the young man said innocently.

“Hmmph! You!!! Previously, my buddy teased me; today, you are the one to tease me, since..." the princess did not speak about the sequel because the young guy blocked her.

"Because of what, exactly?" Ronn inquired.

"Huh? Ah... eh..., simply!" gasped the princess.

"There is no answer right now," the young soldier responded.

The girl told herself earlier that she would admit to the young man that she likes him, but it appears that she is unable to admit it now that she is confronted with it. Others say her bravery is uncommon, so why is she losing her courage here in the young guy, especially when she sees his difficulties? It pains her sentiments to think of the weight and hardship endured by the young soldier in completing his duty to his country.

"Hey! Far be it from you to think, are you frightened that your boyfriend will find out that I almost kissed you?" the young man allegedly asked the princess with contempt.

"And who said I have a boyfriend?" The girl answered, a little perplexed.

"Do I know, so you don't want to answer my question?" said the young guy hesitantly.

"I haven't had a boyfriend since birth, and I don't like those that flirt with me, because…," the girl cut in.

"Because of what?" the young man said, serious. "Am I the reason?" he added. "Do you adore me, Princess Nerih Ellih?" the young man asked repeatedly. The girl couldn't respond with excitement since she didn't know what to say. Ronn's expression was sorrowful, and he was about to tilt because he was mistaken, but the girl answered.

"Yes! You are the reason of everything, I can't stand those who flirt with me here. Yes, I loved you from the moment I saw you when they brought you here to the hospital. You are the reason why my heart remains closed to other men and why my heart is constantly cheering," the princess replied one after the other. She didn't believe she could express all of her sentiments for the young soldier. When the young princess spoke, the young man fell silent.

"Why?" was all the young man said.

"Why do you prefer me over your suitors who are nearly as wealthy as you, beautiful, and clean look?" the young man added.

"Does there have to be a cause to love someone? If there is a reason, absolutely, I love you because you are the one for whom my heart beats, I love you for eternal reasons," the princess explained. The young man turned around and kissed the sitting girl on the lips, to which the shocked girl responded. Her first kiss was so tender from her first love. Ronn recalled not being able to brush his teeth since the hostages were liberated until he was hospitalized, so he stopped kissing the girl, which astonished the princess.

"Why do you appear dizzy, or did you just wake up?" the girl inquired, her pulse pounding.

"I'm sorry, I don't imagine I'll be able to brush my teeth for a week, it's embarrassing," the young man said in response to the girl's excitement. She kissed him on the lips and mashed her lips against his while smiling.

"I'm a doctor, not an actress, and I've smelled all the awful scents, all the dead, and even dead love," the girl smiled as she caressed the young soldier's chest. She couldn't hide her excitement and satisfaction in such moments. The young man stroked her hair and massaged her all the way up to her back, making the princess even more thrilled. The young man's thigh wound was still severe, but he ignored it, as if it had vanished due to the fragrance of the young princess who had held him. The girl vanished and reappeared when she saw her partner, a young soldier, still had a wound.

"I'm sorry, I forgot you still have a wound," the medical princess said as she examined the young man's wound to see if it was bleeding; fortunately, her hug was not damaged. "Go back to sleep so you can regain your previous strength; don't worry, I'll keep an eye on you until you fall asleep," the doctor said.

"And why should I be concerned now that I've answered the princess of this place?" the young man boasted a little, smiling.

"Could you please repeat what you said, Sir?" the princess requested, smiling.

"Oh no! There's no recorder here, that won't be replayed," the young man said, smiling.

"Oh no! "If you don't have any wounds, you can really taste a pinch from me," the princess exclaimed cheerfully. "Please take a nap," she implored.

"You're the one who needs to recuperate, you're so exhausted from work, I've simply laid here for a few days doing nothing, it's dull," the young man explained.

"Because your wounds haven't healed yet, Sir, and don't be stubborn, that's why you need to rest so that you can be cured," the medical princess said quietly.

"I'll follow you, darling princess!" said the young man, his face softened. "But first, kiss me," the young man added, smiling. He kissed her on the girl's lips, twisted her, and crushed her with a passionate kiss, and they would not have let go of each other if the nurse hadn't knocked on the door. After grooming himself, the doctor admitted the nurse.

"Good evening, Doctor," nurse Rochelle said.

"Good evening," said the doctor.

"I'll just check on Sir's condition," the nurse responded, smiling. The doctor gave a nod.

In the nurse's opinion, this soldier is so attractive that I wouldn't grow tired of caring for him even if I had a bath with him. Thrilled by the nurse's sentiments, the doctor realized that the nurse admired the young soldier who was her boyfriend. She couldn't reprimand him since he'd be noticed, and any son of Eve would be smitten by the young soldier's good looks. The nurse then said goodbye, and the two of them were returned to their room. She also bid farewell to the young man, and she kissed him again as if always just toying with kissing.