172 Rice Looters

Inside room number 3, George tiptoed so he would surprise her but he's the one who's surprised when she murmured with eyes closed.

" The journal writing didn't coincide to the actual exit of room number 7, why? what do you think?" She still had eyes closed and George stepped on bed to lay down next to her as he uncurled her blanket and joined in.

" Hmm...I don't know either. But hey, don't ruminate too much on that, the construction blueprint maybe have changed or... " George paused for a while and put his head over his palms and looked overhead; watching the niters strolling by the granite ceiling.

Magee opened her eyes and turned her head - facing at him on a side view. She smiled and touched his nose.

" You labored too much today for that intruder underneath, but just remove my question away from your thoughts... and go, sleep now." She closed her eyes and doused of her adventure with Damian. With eyes closed her hand was left on his face.

The lieutenant smiled and looked at her like a shimmering star.

" She's too exhausted. Hmm...this is absolutely unfair, oh God...but yes, the seventh room. I should ask Amà, Dad Edward and Dad Chuck about this, I should be asking them all, huh." He sighed and have heard the sound of silence all over. Minutes after, he arranged her hair and gently touched her brows and eyelashes and his heart corrupted the heavy outpour of the rain outside. But he thought of her innocence at the moment, deeply scorned by the lighting and thunderstorm that brought him back to reality as he fixed their blanket and restfully gone to sleep.

Early morning, Magee stood up but George gently pulled her hand to get back on bed. He'd been watching her long before she woke up and hypnotically staring on her lovely face with random thoughts.

" Oh dear...I should make our breakfast now. You haven't enjoyed your meal last night, huh! But what is that hold seems pulling me off, hmm..." Magee smiled but she quickly turned her head on the door, facing to room number 4 after Damian's call have made the lieutenant moved out of bed too.

" Mama! Papa!"

They opened the door in an instant.

" Hey, boy...what happened?"

" I'm very hungry Papa." Damian was rubbing his belly.

Meanwhile, from a distance nearby barrio Makasido, a huge sound of bomb blast was heard all over Kabang and it's such a dreadful day.

" Mag! thinking of Henry and Elmar, what's happening to them right now? I'll go and bring some armed men stationed in the tunnel. Henry's team needs a rescue.

In the onset of fear and anxiety, Henry and Elmar's team were in trouble since the path they should have trudged the moment they could get the sacks of rice, was already manned by several soldiers - their opponents.

It was difficult enough for Magee to allow him for such travel to Makasido but the act of saving his comrades means not just for his fellow Filipinos but for his country. Yes, George is a Filipino and in his veins flow the compassion he had to give to anyone else, especially those that were suffering and undaunted with normal life in station 1. For that, she just watched and bade goodbye at the doorstep of the granite exit when the lieutenant and his men started the travel. It was scary seeing a loved one leave in the middle of the war, but his husband was a soldier and she couldn't make anyone else to understand him. She's the wife who had to support him, after all.

" He's going to be fine. If that situation could happen to him, those men would reinforce for him too. Hmm...I just need to prepare, anytime couldn't be all fine. This war is so damaging! But George, you're going to make it." Magee thought as she turned her head but she saw Damian sitting so silently at the stairs.

" Mama...let's pray, hopefully my father's men couldn't hurt Papa and the people he is with."

" Yes , Damian, it's not all for power, it's devastating peaceful lives. I mean this war! this is brutal!" Magee cried and gasping as she sat beside him but the child embraced her and said.

" I'm sorry, Mama. I'm very sorry. My father maybe didn't know how painful it is for you. Mama...you can shout at me, I'm a Japanese, too."

" No Damian! No! you are a Japanese, but this isn't your fault. You're a civilian like me. We equally suffer...and you're still young to get through this. But...I don't know with themi...why, why? Look at what the Filipino are doing...they're looters of rice! and those rice are ours. See how terrible it is for all of us Damian..." Then Magee was sobbing and weeping that much while Damian started to cry while putting his chin on her shoulder.

It was so heartbreaking, seeing a Filipina and a Japanese boy with tearful sighs.

Meanwhile, with George's travel, everything was almost fine not until they sighted more than 20 soldiers walking and were heading on their way. He calmly halted his men and instructed them to cover themselves behind big trees and no one had to start firing, not unless the opponents would do it first.