The Young and the Beautiful

Chapter 9

I woke up that day feeling heavy and dizzy. I went drinking out with the boys again last night. Jose was still snoring when I stood up and prepared myself for another day in the military office. Seeing Andres in his state in the hospital made me want to finish the war, so despite of not needing my services, I volunteered to join the last mission to Davao.

I talked to O'Hara first thing in the morning, waiting for my coffee to kick in and explained to him what I wanted to do. O'Hara told me that I wasn't expected to do it.

"Agent Carter, we will be sending you south. In Davao province wherein the last of the Japanese are in the area, I need you to listen to them again and report to us in codes that we'll talk about over the radio or Morse code whatever's possible." He said. Trying my best to comprehend what I heard. The coffee started to kick and my mind became alert and awake.

"The troops will be with you like before when we rescued our men in the camp with your brother. You will be sent early morning tomorrow. So you better prepare." He added. I ended up accepting it. One last mission to help things end soon. We all deserve to sleep well at night and to live normal again.

I went back to my desk, grabbed a cup of black coffee and did send some telegrams and codes that Jose should be doing. He's still not here. The war is already ending but it didn't make a man out of him. He's still like a child.

I went to Camila's place that evening to say goodbye to her. I didn't say that I will be leaving to be back on the front. I only told her that I will be only going to help and survey some areas in Manila for future rehabilitation which sounded much safer.

"You should eat more soup, hijo." Máma Linda said. Scooping more soup from the pot of Chicken Tinola that she made. It's so good, the ginger really blended with the soup and papaya. I missed eating something that doesn't come from the army, now this is food, and not some gooey junk that the army gave us.

"Thank you Máma Linda. Your cooking tastes so delicious. It reminded me of my abuelita's." I replied. Flashing her a smile. I think she trusts me now, she realized that I mean no harm to Camila, which turned out to be a niece. She's a cousin of Camila's mother.

"Camila helped me today in the kitchen. She asked me to teach her to cook. Since we were given some chickens by my friend, I taught her how to cook this." She said. I shifted my face to Camila's direction smiled at her and praised her cooking. Girls love it.

"I'm glad you liked it Pancho. I asked Máma Linda to teach me to cook because I will be volunteering to help the children's orphanage tomorrow. A nurse friend of mine invited me there. It's too bad that you will be surveying tomorrow. I was looking forward for you to come with me again." Camila said. Máma Linda stood up and got everyone a slice of rice cake that she made. She gave me two slices then sprinkled it with grated coconut. I haven't eaten that for ages!

The other girls on the dining table around us can't stop giggling and whispering to each other. Were they talking about me? I thought so, Camila might have told her friends about me already. I'm sure that the other army boys would love to meet these lovely ladies, maybe I should introduce them next time.

After dinner, Camila walked me to the door and said goodbye. The slightly cool breeze air touched our skin and Camila's hair moved as the air slightly blows it. She looked beautiful. I don't know when would I see her again or if she's still going to see me again. I kissed her, and caressed her right cheek. She leaned in towards me and kissed me again. I held her hips and then she leaned on my chest then hugged me. It seemed like she doesn't believe my alibi. But since she understands me and knows how much I wanted this war to be over so she just agreed to what I said.

"You look so handsome with your uniform on. See you next week." She said. Then she fixed my collar.

"I can't wait to see that beautiful face of yours too." I replied.

I waved her goodbye, wore my army hat on and walked back to my barracks.

Before going to bed, I grabbed myself a drink and wrote letters to my parents, to Andres, and to Camila in case I won't make it.

I woke up the next day at around four thirty am before the sun rose and prepared all of the equipment that I will need in my mission. I stacked them all up and loaded it all in the truck. I faced a mirror and told myself that today I am not Pancho, I am Samuel Carter a son of a liberal arts professor, that's why I know and understand Japanese. I told myself to internalize my alias.

We headed to our assigned planes and saw familiar faces that I've had some drinks with. I saw James, and some other guys my age. One guy named Alfredo, a man of Filipino decent. He's from a family of middle class teachers, and was supposed to be one before the war. Then there's this Harvard alumnus Tom who studied law and a son of a statesman. He was planning to be a part of the government after the war. There were a lot of guys like me with different stories but all of us had one thing in common, we were all uprooted from the things that we want to do because of the war.

We flew in several military planes and land in Davao, on a broad daylight, I can feel how the sun felt right under my uniform. We were all afraid of the possible outcome of this mission. It may take us weeks before we can go back to Manila. If we're lucky we'll be complete. Davao was one of the last few places in the country that the allies reached for liberation. They arrived her some weeks ago, they just needed backup and someone to man the radios. The Japanese are retreating from more locations from the south every day until they reached Davao.

As we set foot towards the front, I can sense everyone's in fear. We may not say it but it's true. We heard several gunshots around the area. James helped me carry all the big equipment that I will be using. I went inside the tent office of the captain in charge.

"Good morning Captain Morales! I am Agent Carter, Captain O'Hara sent me here for the radio." I said as I introduced myself to my commander and gave him a salute.

"Well, Agent Carter, you may set up here, and I want you to write everything that you hear when you find out the frequency of the Japs radios. Then decipher it if it's in codes." He said.

"In case we will be needing more men, you are required to be in the front. Do you understand?" He added commandingly. He seems intimidating, but I went here to finish a war not to make friends.

"Sir, yes sir!" I replied.

I began my work and did what I was supposed to do. It took me almost an hour just setting it up alone and finding the frequency that the Japs are using. I spent a week on that corner and we were winning, but I was held in my position in case the Japs request for reinforcements. We need to counter combat it in case.

I was listening to the slightly unclear radio messages that the Japs are communicating to one another. But I can't understand what they are all saying they were speaking too fast or signal is not good. Until one sudden explosion hit my location.