Phone in my ear, I sprinted from the camp’s 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 is called by the Commander.
“F--k! Was I called already?”
“Faster, Rath! We’re on P now!”
F--k! My surname starts with P! And if the name drill is already on letter P, then I’m already late!
“I can’t make it!” I am already out of breath as I keep on running trying to reach the tent as fast as I can.
Breathing hard, I arrived in the tent. But unfortunately, the name drill was done and the soldiers are already eating breakfast. I had to rest my weight on my knees because I felt like I would die out of suffocation.
But then my eyes landed on a hawk-like pair of eyes that 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.”
Although I badly wanted to complain, I had to zip my mouth and nod as an agreement.
I roamed my eyes around to look for my team. Someone raised a hand and when I spotted it was Geraldine, I found my team. I sat with them.
I am 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 knows I can’t complain to the Commander.
After they finished eating 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.
But she had the audacity to push me away. She pretentiously looked down on her wrist, although she wasn’t wearing a watch, to look at the time.
“Oh my! Look at the time! I forgot I had to do something in the HQ.”
And she really just left! That brat!
I looked at Loor and Gulu, who are the only ones remaining on the table.
Gulu suddenly stood up. The ringlets of his curly hair juggle whenever the wind blows. He scratched his nose with his index finger. An indication that he’s about to lie. “I have an errand to make.”
And then he left.
Seriously? I thought we were a team?
No choice. Loor is my only chance. I looked at him while fluttering my eyelashes.
He smiled at me and that made the mole at the very corner of his eyes move a little bit too.
“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 hundred dishes.”
Is he kidding me?!
I feel like I’m already tired even before starting.
“And another couple of hundreds after that, and another after.” I recited my own misery.
Loor also left me while shaking his head in amusement. My misery is their joy, huh!
“I f--king hate you!” I screamed at him and I just earned a laugh.
Sh-t!
Fortunately, other Somaras (female soldiers) were also assigned to wash the dishes.
--
After my kitchen duties, I feel like I’m on my last legs for the day. That’s how worn off I am after that nightmarish dishwashing job of hundreds and hundreds of kitchen utensils. But still, I have to report to the Commander’s quarters about what happened last night with the prince. I have to report to him the progress of my mission.
And after that, in which I didn’t even hear a single comment from him, I went to my room.
I laid 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 have less than two months to do my mission. If I fail, my purpose in life will go down the drain.
The only reason I am living my life right now is to bring down Mirando Gruna. That’s why I need to do everything to make it work with the prince.
“Where were you last night?” I turned to see Isagani at the doorway. Then I got out of bed.
His striking slanted eyes make him look so good. He has a tiny scar on his left eyebrow, and that part is hairless. But it’s not really noticeable unless you really stare at his face. His eyes could look brutal because it looks cold and emotionless. However, it’s contrasted with his other soft facial features, and together, they create this image that’s both friendly but impactful as well. He’s actually famous among Somaras in the camp. He’s the Captain’s right-hand man in our team. While I’m the marksman and the main fighter of the team. I usually handle the main job. Like killing someone. Especially killing Mirando.
“Doing my mission,” I responded.
“The Chief was looking for you since last night.” He suddenly 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 tried to brush off whatever was in my hair.
“The Chief is here?”
Why didn’t he join the soldiers for breakfast?
The Chief rarely visits our camp. It’s because we need to be dreadfully careful not to get caught. If our mutiny is made known to the world, especially to the royal family, the years and years of hard work and efforts of the people here will be wasted. We’ve worked for so long. We slowly planned everything for so long. We cannot afford to lose everything.
Our Chief actually holds a very high position in the palace. He is the People’s Representative which is a very high position, higher than any other rank, and only below the prince and princess in title, but actually stronger when it comes to power. His position can be considered the most powerful next to the king. And the only reason Mirando had let him live was because of the support of the people. From what I heard, no one beats the Chief when it comes to having connections.
He is a very important figure to us because he is our founder.
--
Isagani and I headed to our headquarters to meet the Chief. The huge great logo of our organization, which is called Soldiers of Maharlica or simply known as Soma, greeted us. I stared at the huge lion balancing a weighing scale resembling that of the symbol of justice, in its mouth. There is always this kind of uneasiness I feel whenever I see our logo. Maybe because it reminds me of my resolve. My revenge. My parents.
The headquarters is just a large room, with a big round table in the center, and the huge flag with our logo on it displayed on the front wall. This is where all of the crucial gatherings happen.
All the members are called Somara for women and Somaro for men. All of us were trained to become fighters ever since we joined the camp. Those who were brought here as babies were already trained as soon as they started walking. The training is so intensive, and many have not made it and lost their lives in the process. But none of us fear death. What we fear is letting this country be ruled by bloody monarchs forever.
And what I fear the most is dying while Mirando is still sitting on the throne.
Everyone was already there as well as the Chief and the Commander.
We both saluted the Chief and the Commander by placing our right fist on our chest before the Chief told us to sit down. The five main teams of the organization are on the round table including both the Chief and the Commander. With Isagani and I joining, the discussion started.
These five teams are the most competent among all the soldiers. We are usually sent on a mission for the organization.
Usually to rob someone’s storage house. But it’s not just anyone’s storage house. We only rob storage houses of corrupt officials and that includes 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 came to stare at me. I don’t know how to properly describe him, but one look at him, you would already know he is someone of authority. Like his whole face declares authority. When you face him, you can’t help but revere him.
He has this rounded nose that’s usually red at the tip like he’s having sinusitis. It complements his round-shaped face. His hair is almost all gray. But an outstanding trait about his face is that his eyes look kind.
“Paul..” He called my code name and that 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 has to succeed first. I need to get into the palace legally because breaking in is next to impossible.
I have to get inside Mirando’s study to plant a bug in order to hear their plan of activities during the 30th anniversary because His Majesty is stubbornly keeping everything a secret.
This year’s anniversary will be different than the previous ones because the king will get out of the palace to celebrate, at least that’s what the Chief was told. This has never happened before. His Majesty never leaves the palace no matter what the situation is. That is the reason why we decided to create an opportunity for Soma to finally live out its mission.
This is the perfect event to assassinate the king. It is most likely that we won’t get another chance like this if we fail.
We need to know exactly where Mirando will be during that day to situate our plan properly. And for that to happen, I need to earn the trust of the prince.
And in order to do that, I’ve listed the things I need to do to get close to him.
After meeting us, the Chief gathered all the soldiers. He gave us some inspiring and healing words.
Most of the Somaras and Somaros are orphans, like me. Whose parents were slaughtered during the insurgency led by Mirando Gruna twenty-nine years ago to establish a monarchical government and proclaim himself as the ruler. Some were victims. Some have deep grudges over the royal family. Some were just abandoned by the world. Some just needed a place to feed and clothe them. Some were just very poor and Soma was their last straw of hope. That’s why we’re here. Hoping that we can bring a little change to this kingdom. To alleviate poverty and suffering.
And for good change to happen, we need to replace our king with someone that understands the poor. Someone that listens to people’s voices.
Most of us here want nothing but revenge; to bring down the royal family and restore the democracy this nation had lost long ago. And it is the Chief who gave us that chance.
When His Majesty is dead, we will abandon this country that scarred us for life. That is what the Chief promised us.
Before everyone was dismissed Captain Mauro came to me with his thin lips slightly pressed. “Paul.”
“Sir!”
I don’t know why but he had this unknowing look on his cold black eyes. “Remember to stick to your mission. Nothing more, nothing less.”
I nodded my head a couple of times. “Yes, sir. When did I ever fail the team?”
He just nodded his head and went away.
It actually bothers me that the captain is a little bit worried about my mission. My team knows that what I do best is completing my mission successfully. I do not give room for distractions. Or even if I am, I still make sure that I will get the desired end result.
There is much pressure on our team. Because among the five teams, we are Team One, we are always tasked with the most important and dangerous missions. And there is much more pressure on me because I am the main guy on the team.
Me, failing the mission, means team failure, and Soma’s failure.
I can’t let that happen!
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