Just how far a lie could go?
How far are you willing to go to keep that lie as if it's the truth?
A lie after a lie. You try to cover up a lie by making up another lie, and the process never ends.
When you're caught up in the middle of a lie, sometimes you forget it's a lie and you will start believing the lie. And when you start doing that, chaos will follow.
It's funny to think how the word LIE sits perfectly in the middle of the word BELIEVE. Maybe because the two are meant to go together. A lie is meant to be believed. And there will always be a lie in everything you believed in.
So what am I saying?
I don't know. I'm just wondering. If I knew then, what I know now, would everything be different?
--
Inside the Commander's quarter, I stood in attention, both my hands at my back, while the Commander was in front of me, red-faced because of fury and veins popping out on his neck because he's almost screaming at me. The other four members of my team, including the Captain, are standing with me in a row.
"Your gun, Paul, was found near the bank by Gan."
"I apologize, Sir!" I apologized with that same discipline of a soldier.
He kicked my right leg and I ground my teeth to stop myself from bending over to ease the pain. Two of his men are lined up at the back of his chair wearing their blue uniform with the Commander's logo on their chest. Those uniforms and the logo just mean they are soldiers personally assigned to the Commander. And those soldiers will not care about anything but the Commander.
"Fool! Stupid! You piece of sh-t! What would've happened if someone else found it? Is saving the prince more important than Soma to you?"
"I--" I felt Loor tug me from my side. It's a signal for me not to talk back. So I refrained myself from talking although I really want to reason out.
"Just what exactly are you doing with that prince? I thought you had him under control? Then why is he personally leading the investigation?" He's really mad and I think my ears might bleed because of how ear-shattering his scream is.
But wait...
The prince is personally leading the investigation?
He kicked me again on my left leg. I stopped my breathing because of the excruciating pain but I maintained my firm stance. If I move, I know he will get more furious.
"I apologize, Sir!"
The Commander gave my team an earful. Especially the captain. The captain was reprimanded for being not able to control his member's recklessness. The price of being the leader. I feel a little guilty that he was scolded because of me.
And after that, he left us inside his own quarter. The six of us breathed out loudly together with relief as soon as the Commander left.
Geraldine immediately checked my legs. "That will make a bruise."
"I'm sorry guys," I felt guilty. "I'm sorry, captain." I noticed the captain had a bandage on his right cheek. I heard from Loor that he got the wound when they shattered the glass door of the bank.
Captain Mauro gave me a pat on the shoulder. "A team does everything together. That includes being scolded together."
He left us after saying that. Geraldine had this unknowing smile on her face. "The captain is so cool. If I was the leader I would have smacked you on the face!" she squeaked.
"Just don't mind the Commander," Gulu advised. "The Chief found out that we were almost found out on that heist. He gave the Commander an earful."
"Plus, the Chief found out about the intruder," Loor added.
"What?!" I gasped. "How did he know?"
Geraldine just shrugged her shoulders at me.
"That's the mystery. He just somehow knew," Isagani answered.
That's odd...
Only the five teams can actually contact the Chief. And the Commander made sure no one of us would talk. So how did the Chief know?
Anyways, so that's why the Commander gave us an earful. I just hate how the Commander always vents on us when the Chief is angry at him.
"If I didn't save the prince, our plan would've been wasted. I just did what I thought was right." I know I just sounded like I was trying to justify my mistake.
I'll admit that it was stupid of me to throw my gun without even hinting at my team. It was my automatic reflex to throw it so that Neuron won't see I have a gun. If Isagani wasn't the one who found it, the gun would've been traced by authorities, our illegal smuggling of firearms would've been discovered, and then-- I can't even imagine what could've happened.
What a relief Isagani found it.
Loor just gave me a pat on my shoulder and Gulu nodded at me before they left together. Isagani, meanwhile, went near me. "Remember why you're here, Rath."
I nodded. Isagani has this charisma that makes you listen to him no matter what he says. When he's serious like this, it seems like what he says is that of a Biblical reflection, there's that realization that will suddenly hit you just by using normal words and normal sentences. Just like now.
That one sentence felt like it woke me up from a deep slumber.
If Captain Mauro isn't our leader, Isagani would've been our captain. I bet.
I watched his back as he left. And then some brat suddenly put her arms around my shoulder.
"Baby, we need to talk."
I just rolled my eyes at her.
We went inside our room. That familiar smell of old woods in our small room mixed with Geraldine's perfume greeted me. That same old carpet, same old creaking bunk bed, and old sheets and blanket. This has been home for me for twenty years now.
Our room is tiny. We have a double-decked bed, two cabinets for our clothes, a table at the very end of the room. And that's it! Geraldine's bed is at the top deck, while the bottom's mine.
Although Soma has a very noble purpose, we don't have the means to support that purpose. That's why we resort to stealing in order to fund the camp. Much of the responsibility lies on the Chief, he gives us the fund and the resources. But our Chief doesn't have unlimited resources. From what I know, there are also other court officials supporting the Chief, but their identities weren't disclosed to us. Nevertheless, their support isn't enough. That's why we help out by robbing banks, robbing storage houses of corrupt officials. That's how it's been.
We've been operating the camp like this for a very long time. But the king still doesn't know our existence.
I wonder if it's okay to support a noble cause with dirty means.
I took a glance at the picture frame on our small room table. It's a photo of Geraldine and me when we were chosen as part of Team One. We were so happy at that time. It's the dream of every Somaro and Somara to become part of the five teams, especially Team One.
Sometimes when things are so rough for me during our missions, I somehow find consolation in seeing our smiling faces on that particular picture. Maybe because it reminds me of my resolve. Of my purpose.
Geraldine offered to apply a cold compress on my legs. Her long wavy hair bounces whenever she moves. She has super black eyes and a small face. She's a beautiful brat I guess.
She raised one of her eyebrows at me when I handed her a piece of paper.
"Read it, freak."
She took the paper and as soon as she started reading she threw her back laughing like it was the most hilarious comic book she had ever read.
"What is this sh-t? Why is this so tacky? Cringe!" She laughed again and squirmed like she's having goosebumps all over her body.
So what did I expect from her? F--k this brat!
"What is this Rath? Steps on how to make the prince fall in love with you?" She giggled in between her lines.
I snatched the paper from her. "Will you help or not?"
She crossed her arms. "It's tacky and lame, I admit."
I fought the urge to throw at her the cold compress I am holding.
"But, it's logical. I mean, if you have to enter the palace through the prince, this is the logical way to do that. You have to earn his trust first."
"I am already working on that. I think Isagani's gunshot was a blessing in disguise. Thanks to that, the prince said he trusts me but not completely."
"Why is that jerk so complicated?"
Exactly!
"So you're almost done with step three."
Yah. And step four says, I had to make him bring me to the palace.
"But let's say you gained his trust. How does that guarantee that he will bring you to the palace? How will you make him bring you to the palace?"
I don't know either. But I will make sure and I will do everything, whatever it takes, for Neuron to bring me to the palace with his own volition.
--
I woke up in the morning because of the sound coming from the soldiers, who are probably on training. I saw that Geraldine is no longer in our room. I went to the field to watch some male soldiers jogging, following the implied line of the rectangular field.
I suddenly remember my exhausting trainee days. Chills! The training is so hard and so intensive that I'm never gonna wish to experience that again. Of course, even though my trainee days have come and gone, we have to maintain our physical dexterity so we still have to train and exercise every now and then, but not as disciplined and intensive as that of the trainees.
This is why it's fortunate that I'm a woman inside this male-dominated camp. I get to see muscles and abs, every now and then. I see the Somaros running in two lines, all wearing no shirts, abs visible.
Hmm, meat.
"Enjoying?"
I cleared my throat when the captain suddenly appeared. It appears that he's the one training them.
"No sir, I was just about to leave."
I immediately turned around. I'm afraid that he might--
"Did you miss your training back in the days, Rathna?"
Oh, sh-t!
"No sir," I immediately denied. "If you excuse me--"
"If that's the case, then gladly give me twenty."
Sh-t! No way!
I faced him again. "Sir, I was really about to lea--"
"Okay then, thirty."
"Sir, I really don't--"
"Forty. Say another word and I'll make it fifty."
F--k!
I forcibly closed my eyes out of annoyance. I need to calm down. I have to remember that he is my captain.
"I'm not wearing running shoes," I claimed, hoping he would reconsider and change his mind about making me run forty laps.
He took off his shoes and handed them to me. "Problem solved."
So, do I have a choice?
D-mn it!
I wore his shoes and started running behind the soldiers. Now that I'm behind them I noticed someone trying to fit in among the group of topless soldiers.
Is that Geraldine?
I silently laughed and ran faster to catch up with her.
"I see you woke up early to get yourself in trouble."
She turned her head on me then snickered. "Are you talking about yourself, Rathna?"
"Did the captain make you run?" I grinned at her.
"Yeah, when all I did was stare for a couple of seconds at these men."
I chuckled. Naughty brat.
"Don't laugh. You're running with me. That means the captain made you run too because of these men."
I just laughed at her. So what did I get from peeking at these guys? Buckets of sweat from running forty laps. I really thought I might die because of exhaustion.
Geraldine finished ahead of me because she only did twenty. I shouldn't have complained in the first place when the captain asked me to run twenty laps! Geraldine was smart enough and I wasn't. When I finally passed the fortieth lap, I thought I would pass out. My stamina is no longer the same as when I was still training with the other soldiers.
Geraldine gave me a bottle of water. I almost hated the captain for what he made me do. We came back to our room and rested for a bit. Then the breakfast alarm went off, which means we have to gather for breakfast at the breakfast tent. We eat meals together every single day. Why?
Because everyone is too hungry to even set aside food for others. Our food is also scarce and that's why we need to eat together to make sure everyone will have a share.
A phone suddenly started ringing.
"Your phone is ringing," Geraldine told me. I took my phone but I saw that no one was calling.
"It's not mine."
"I mean, the other phone," Geraldine said with emphasis.
I looked at the other phone I am using for Neuron, which is on the table near the book called The Great Gatsby, which is Geraldine's favorite book.
The prince is calling me. I placed a finger on my mouth to signal Geraldine to be quiet before I answered the call.
"Go outside." I heard him say.
"Uhmm, outside?" Outside of where?
"I'm outside. The guard here won't let me in."
"What do you--" I stopped. No way! Does he mean Hermit Homes? "Wait, you're outside?"
I saw Geraldine stood up straight because of what I said.
"I'm not there! Uhmm.." I am racking my brain for an excuse. Anything! Think of anything Rathna! "Uhmm, I went out for a run."
What a relief! My brain worked and gave me something I could use as an excuse.
"Then finish quickly. I'm waiting."
What?! Sh-t. I forgot he is a stubborn prince.
"Neuron, look, how about this? Look for a coffee shop or whatever around the area, and I'll come meet you there."
"Why? I can just wait for you here."
I bit my lower lip. He just wouldn't listen!
"Uhmm, alright alright. I'll get home as fast as I can."
As soon as I ended the call I looked at Geraldine with worry. "He's outside my home."
"What? He's outside our camp?" She started panicking. "Oh my gosh! How? Did he discover our camp--"
"Stop, you moron! I mean, my home, the home he knows. Hermit Homes."
She hung her mouth open like she just realized what I meant. F--k! I can't believe her!
"So what are we gonna do now?"
"What else? Drive me there, brat."
I quickly ran through our wooden cabinet and looked for stretchable pants and a loose shirt. I changed into those and wore my own shoes. Of course, if I see him, I have to look like I was really out for a run.
"What about my breakfast?" She complained then pouted.
"Just pray, brat, that when you get back you still have some scraps to consume."
"I hate you," she mumbled.
We quickly went outside our room, then out of the Camp Rooms. Then we walked across the field to where the gate of the camp is. The camp is fenced with wood. Then after the gate, we have to walk across a small forest before we will arrive at the borders. Then after the borders, we have to drive the car to get out of the ghost village.
"Percy, tell the captain for me."
I threw the keys at her and she immediately caught it. "Don't forget that you have to be at the gathering tonight."
"I'll make sure I'll be back tonight."
We quickly entered the car owned by our team. And it was the fastest drive I've ever experienced in my life. Good thing that Geraldine is the best at knowing every road shortcut in Gracia City.
She dropped me off a few meters away from the road leading to Hermit Homes.
"Best of luck!" She cheered with no enthusiasm at all, before driving away.
I jog for a few minutes from where I am standing, and when it wasn't enough to make me sweat I did a few jumping jacks. I made sure sweats were dripping off of me. Then when I was ready, I mean, when my lie was ready, I started jogging towards Hermit Homes.
The road towards Hermit Homes is only a two-lane road. It's quite narrow but it's enough for two cars to pass by each other without crashing. There are trees on the side of the road, and there are lamp posts every six-meter distance. This would look pretty at night, for sure.
I could already see Neuron far ahead. He's leaning on his expensive-looking car, arms crossed, and looking down on the ground.
"Sir!" I called.
He looked up and when he saw me, a bright smile formed on his mouth.
I'm worried. I feel like the closer we get to each other, the more chances he gets of finding out the truth.