Note:The word "Ate" is a term used by younger people to a woman older than them as a form of respect, on the other hand, "Kuya" is used to refer to an older man.
May 10
Military Camp,Filipinas
"Second Lieutenant Claire Alperez!"
"Sir," I gave him a salute.
I immediately sat on the vacant seat after Commander De Castro gave me his permission. I was called by our Battalion Commander, and I have no clue why he called me here.
"You're probably wondering why I called you here. Actually, I called you and your brother Captain Aiden Alperez to be here ASAP," he stated.
"Sir." Both of our eyes met, both screaming curiosity on why we're called at the same time. Aiden sat on the seat in front of me. We both glanced at each other before looking at Commander De Castro.
"Something came up, you were called by General Santos to go to Fort Del Pilar to engage in further conversation about Lieutenant Claire...or should I say Princess Leona Clara Isabella Felipe of Maharlika." I stopped breathing when she called me by my real name.
"Sir I—"
"Claire, Aiden, I've known the both of you since you came into this battalion. Your father, General Alperez, is a good friend of mine. I know where you came from, Claire, but I kept silent," Commander De Castro stated. He removed his eyeglasses and scratched his head. He looked at both of us as if he's looking at problems.
"So when are we called to go sir?" Aiden directly asked. I can't feel any fear of hesitation in his voice.
"I was supposed to ask the same question sir," I said.
"The two of you, why is it when it comes to some international bull crap it's always the two of you?" Commander De Castro asked, trying to be humorous. I chuckled before biting my lower lip inorder to stifle a laugh. Meanwhile, Aiden was maintaining his poker face—I know that face, his trying to hold his laugh too.
"I've been asking myself the same question every day sir," Aiden stated in a serious tone. I took a deep breath as I realized he wasn't joking nor trying to hold back a laugh. He was serious...dead serious.
Commander De Castro told us that we were told to go to Camp Del Pilar—the main Garrison of Filipinas—on May 12. Tomorrow is Sunday, which is the only day of the week that we're available. It's nice that we have enough time to pack our things and think about the possible answers for all the possible questions General Santos might ask us.
But I certainly think that he might question us further, he already knew about me and why I was transported from Maharlika to Filipinas. He would probably give us a very important mission to do and I have a strong feeling that it has to do with my homeland, Maharlika.
I was looking at Aiden who's entering the car now. He sat on the driver's seat. I was just staring at him, waiting for him to at least strike a conversation but he didn't. He just turned on the engine and started driving.
"Are you alright?" I check on him.
"I am," he answered plainly.
"You seemed different, as if you were mad," I chuckled, making fun of his expression, trying to at least ease the tension.
"Of course, I'm worried about you. Can you blame me?" He wasn't looking at me, he was directly looking at the road when he told me that. I smiled before taking a deep breath.
"Don't be such an over dramatic brother! You're forgetting that I'm Second Lieutenant Claire Alperez, one of the battalion's snipers and a trained fighter," I said with full confidence.
"Yeah right, as if you always win against me," he said in a sarcastic tone.
"Oh come on, a sniper rifle is different from a glock-17," I reasoned.
"Look, I know that time like this will come, I left home, I became a civilian, became part of AFF, therefore I have to face this…"
"Besides, we don't know why we were being called, maybe we're just escorting my twin or something like that." He wasn't convinced with what I just said.
"Are you scared they might bring me back home?" I teased.
"I'm scared that your life might be in danger, you might be kept behind closed doors but you're still a princess." I sighed while rubbing my temple. It's not really impossible but it's close to impossible, when it comes to being the target of assassination, call my twin sister the winner and not me.
"The thing is, I'm not really much of a use for them right now. I'm literally just here, just because…"
"Just because it's a family tradition to throw off the less capable twin to another country," I said bitterly.
"But that doesn't really matter anymore, what matters now is what I have now. So don't you worry about me, there's nothing that Claire Alperez can't handle," I assured him while giving him a salute.
"No, we'll handle it together, you don't need to handle it all by yourself," he stated. I can't help but smile with what he just said.
I leaned my head on the windshield. Staring at the city lights pass before my eyes as the car keeps on moving. My eyes—tired from all the paperwork and sudden dilemmas—started closing unwillingly.
"Ate Claire, wake up." A gentle touch, and voice made me aware that I was finally home.
"Sofie," I called before rubbing both of my eyes. Sofie, Aiden's younger sister—who's also a teenage girl version of him.
Her almond eyes smiled with her heart shaped lips. She was glad to see me awake. Her brother, who's now leaning beside her, is looking at me with a smile on his face.
"You should've just pulled her from her seat," Aiden teased, replacing his grin with a smirk on his face.
"Kuya," Sofie scolded.
"You know what Aiden, sometimes I would love to hug you but oftentimes I would love to punch you in the face." Annoyingly, I got out of the car and gave Sofie a little hug before giving Aiden a death glare. Sofie gently held my hand, trying to hold back her laugh.
"Ate,Kuya, I think it's best if the three of us enter the house… Nana Belinda cooked both of your favorites." My face lightened, and excitement replaced my worries.
"Ate, Kuya, I just forgot something, wait for me alright," said Sofie before rushing to go upstairs.
Aiden and I looked at each other. "Aiden, I hope that...that General Santos wouldn't announce something like me being separated from the both of you," I said in undertone. His smile quickly faded before looking away.
"I hope so too," he replied.
"LET'S EAT!" Sofie pulled the both of us to the dining table.
Aiden and I decided to do our best in matching Sofie's energy. We didn't want to tell her anything about what Commander De Castro told us.
"I love you both." Sofie smiled at the both of us. I don't wanna lose the sight of her smile.