37 Chapter 9: 'Mission: Capture Leila's heart Attempt No. 1 '

In the dead of the night, four men went out of the car that is parked beside a tree a few meters away from Leila's house. The only light in this street is coming from the street lamps and the moonlight.

The four men are currently wearing a barong Tagalog. One man is holding a bouquet of flower and a chocolate, another guy who seemed to be an eighteen year old boy is holding a guitar, another man is holding a beat box and the last man who seems to be nearing his sixties only has himself and doesn't hold anything at all.

Well, you might be asking who are these men, right? Your guess is right. It's none other than Nicolas, his father, his brother, Nathan and lastly Luis who had been also dragged in this so called mission as the trio didn't know how to play the guitar.

"Father, are you sure about this? Do you think this will work?", Nicolas asked doubting that if his father's plan will even work.

"Don't you worry, son. Your father's plans before never failed even once. I'm sure you will capture her heart through this", Gen. Adrianno said as he assures Nicolas about this plan of his while patting his own chest.

"I get the point of serenading her. In fact, I don't disagree to that. But, tell me, why do I have to wear a barong Tagalog?", Nicolas said as he grits his teeth in protest and trying to control the growing irritation inside him.

"Son. That is the traditional way of serenading a woman. In fact, that is how I captured your mother's heart. So, I'm sure that this plan of ours will be very effective", Gen. Adrianno replied assuring him that nothing will go wrong in their plan.

"Father, that was thirty years ago. Today is year 2019", Nathan which rarely speak reminded his father that his plan is already outdated.

"He's right, father. Maybe we should have moved in a modern way", Nicolas tried to reason out with his father.

Nathan and Luis both nod their head indicating that they agreed with Nicolas' suggestion.

"No, can do. If you want to be cool and look to be in the modern era then put this on", Gen. Adrianno said then puts sunglasses on Nicolas, Nathan, Luis and also to himself.

"See, you look like James Bond. Though, you are wearing a barong Tagalog instead of a three-piece suit", Gen. Adrianno said while nodding his head in satisfaction.

"I feel like, I look more like a blind man instead of James Bond. And besides, father, it's already eight in the evening, who wears sunglasses at night!", Nicolas said while trying to minimize his tone then he put down the sunglasses that his father puts on his eyes.

"Hmp, you have too many complains. Is that what the military taught you? Tonight, I am your commander and as your commander you only have to obey orders, you don't have the right to complain. Now, get your *ss out of here and started moving. Move!", Gen. Adrianno said then point his index finger towards Leila's house.

'Fine, fine, I'll move you don't have to shout', Nicolas thought in his head but just decided to stay silent and started walking towards the gate of Leila's house with Nathan and Luis in tow.

He's kind a nervous right now as this is the first time, maybe the last time that he will do this in his life. He look back again towards his father's direction trying to plead for another way out but, his father's expression is still stern and serious just like what he always used to express when they are inside the camp.

Nicolas sighed then said in his heart, 'Fine, let's just get over it'. Then, he nods towards Nathan and Luis' direction instructing them to start playing their instruments.

Luis started to strum his guitar and Nathan started to beat his beat box in tune with the guitar.

Nicolas started singing with his voice being out of tune due to nervousness.

"O, light, in the dark night

You're like a star in the sky

O, light, in the quiet nig-"

Nicolas started to sing but he couldn't even finish this Filipino folk song when suddenly water is splashed down to him that drenched his whole body that comes from the second floor of Leila's house then he heard a voice coming from the inside.

"Mother, why did you spill the content of your chamber pot at the window of our second floor again? What if somebody is walking outside then you accidentally spilled it? He would be very angry if that happens", Leila's mother said to her mother-in-law which is Leila's grandmother with her unhurried and full of patience tone.

"Oh, so this is the window. I'm sorry I have a very bad eyesight I thought that it is the door to our comfort room. That seems to be the reason why I heard a croaking of a frog, I thought it was only my imagination. It appears that, that sound comes from the outside", Leila's grandmother said then put her hand on her forehead.

"Goodness, I'm now really too old", she added while still rubbing her forehead.

"Come, shut down the window as the cold wind will enter inside your room", Leila's mother said then shut down their window.

Hearing all of this Nicolas felt a shiver run down his spine. He saw his father along with his brother and Luis which is running away from him and hurriedly went inside their car.

He only came back on his senses when the cold wind touches his skin that causes his body to shiver. Then, he also hurriedly went towards their car and tried to open their door but, his cruel family locked the door barring his entry. So, he furiously knocked on the door and threatening them to break the car's window if they won't open it.

Mission: Capture Leila's heart

Result: Attempt No. 1 fails

Author's Note:

•Barong Tagalog is an embroidered formal shirt and considered to be the national dress of the Philippines. You can visit this site for more info.

http://www.seasite.niu.edu/tagalog/cynthia/costumes/barong_tagalog.htm

•The folk song that Nicolas sang is entitled as "Aking bituin" or "My star" in English but in the Philippines it was more commonly known as "O, Ilaw" or "O, light". So, for my Filipino readers you are all familiar with this folk song.