CHAPTER 3

Jenny and Annabelle are preparing for their report to be presented in class. They sat on a round table at the students’ park.

“Good afternoon, girls!” greeted Fred. He was Annabelle’s very persuasive suitor. He might have been sun bathing when the Lord showered the world with perseverance. No matter how many times Annabelle turns him down, he never gives up and would still keep on courting her.

He was their schoolmate but he was taking a different class. Like the girls, he was also on his third year in college. He’s a son of a councilor who’s a very good old pal of Annabelle’s father. That’s why she also considered him to be her childhood friend. Fred was seemingly good looking and also intelligent but he’s slender and quite short. He’s almost at the same height as Annabelle. He is basically just not her type. She’s more attracted to men with big body builds; tall and muscular. She dreams of those tough arms where she could feel safe and secured from anything and anyone that could harm her.

“Someone like…like that soldier,” she brushed her head. “Why did I think of that man?” She remembered how her heart skipped a beat when she first saw him. How it beat faster as he drew near them. She remembered how she catch her breath, the reason of her stuttered speech in talking to Manong Ben.

“Hey, Anna!” Fred interrupted her.

“Oh sorry. I was just thinking about something. What were you saying?”

“I just came by to ask how you’ve been doing but I guess you two are busy with your report. I have to go ahead though, I have a meeting to attend to at"--he glanced at his wristwatch--"at 5pm. So goodbye then! You guys take care!”

“Okay, be safe!” Jenny responded.

After their discussion about their report, they decided to go home. As usual, they walked their way. Suddenly, they heard a deep voice not from afar.

“Hi girls!” They heard from a smiling man wearing a white sleeveless shirt. He’s with that tanned soldier that Annabelle had thought of earlier. He was now wearing a black shirt paired with a green walking shorts and black running shoes. He looked mysterious with his green cap. Annabelle thought that maybe that was their uniform. He was just staring at them. Annabelle looked away as she felt her face was turning red.

“He says hi,” Jenny shrugged Annabelle. “You answer?”

“No way!” she exclaimed as she just ignored the soldiers.

“Are you girls headed home? Let us take you,” the pale skinned soldier said.

“Anna, let’s be friendly with them.”

“You can talk to them if you want to. I don’t mind.” Annabelle didn’t care and just continued to walk leaving Jenny behind.

She then heard her friend talking to these men. “Yes sir, we’re headed home. But no, thank you. We’re fine. My friend already left me..so buhbye!” She then rushed and chased Annabelle.

It was a break time on Monday morning. Annabelle was walking towards the hallway going to her father’s office. He forgot to give her money for snacks. She was already starving so she looked for him to ask for it.

As she entered the main door, she noticed that her father’s secretary was not around. She is just usually seated outside the office.

“She must have went to the powder room.’

She then walked straight to her father’s office without knocking. She was surprised that her father had a guest. She froze as she realized who it was.

“Annabelle?” Teofilo was surprised as well.

She did not know what to say. Never in a million thoughts she’d guess that she was about to see that man that day specifically at his dad’s office. She felt uneasy again. He was there sitting in front of his father. He was undeniably striking with his green camouflage. His green fitted under shirt was peeking from his chest.

She heard him faked a little cough so she shyly looked down. She felt that she’s blushing and thought of a possibility that she may turn into a tomato head if she’d stay there longer. It was so obvious that she was looking at his body. She was thinking that it may be a good idea to just turn around, leave and just forget about asking for money. She can actually just ask Jenny for some.

But her dad butted in, “Annabelle, what are you doing here?”

“Uhm, Dad...I would just like to ask money for snacks,” she almost said it in a whisper as she was so conscious.

The soldier was hiding a little amusement with what he’d heard. She saw him and she felt more embarrassed and irritated.

“By the way, Miguel. This is Annabelle, my only daughter and my youngest child. She’s on her third year. Dear, please pay respect to Lt. Luis Miguel Saavedra. He is a soldier, an officer at the camp.”

“Good morning Sir,” the young lady greeted in a soft voice.

She was stunned as he stood up and asked for her hand. She stared at his hand before reaching out hers. Their hands touched with a soft grip as they shook hands. She was like elated as she felt his, drawn up to her elbows. She immediately let go as if she was burnt.

“Good morning. Nice to meet you, Annabelle,” the soldier greeted. His voice was so delightful to her ears. It brought another flutter to her body. She got more tensed so she just rushed to get what she needed there in the first place and left.