" Albrecht, I don't know how to exactly describe all these, but one thing for sure, you're one of the best cook I've ever seen in my entire life. A mixture of ginataang sayote young leaves, squash and banana saba in chunks with a lemon gra.s.s ribbonette and dried fish. Hmm...I've tasted it squarely and it's truly one of a kind. Who taught you on this?"

" The captain, honestly, he'd got all what it takes to be a cook of all times. But hey, you're firing me with your plan. Don't you dare to feed those soldiers digging below, the place is scary and they're having a quota, a target. If you get there, I'm sure they'll gonna stop and listen to your storytelling, that's procrastination. The captain will really scold us. That's given."

" They seem takes care of me due to the captain's order, and why?" She curiously thought.

" Here, please take these three big coconut sh.e.l.l bowls of viand in the long bamboo table. Start practicing to be careful in placing these bowls on three bamboo sh.e.l.l ports in the middle, so it will not tilt. Likewise, soldiers are too hungry now so you may take your share before they arrive. Some comes from the tunnel below and the rest from the Mabolo tree sculpting, you know, carving a living tree isn't easy so expect them to eat like real hungry ones. "

" I got it. No worries, I'll get a little share and will stay there... at the last seat."

" Where were you this morning? Haven't found you with us during breakfast. Sorry we were d.a.m.n busy with the exercises and meetings these days, our nights turned out a little sober with plans here and there."

" I noticed that too. That's why I just proceeded doing anything that could help everyone. I'm a native here so it's my duty to just consider myself in the household."

" Gotcha! It's helping me a lot. Tenants here just eat and leave all the utensils, so with you around, my dear bamboo and coconut sh.e.l.l utensils will live a longer way. But hey, by the way, did you try using my construction design in your bathroom?"

" Ah, yes. I forgot to tell you after I have tasted your 'ginataang gulay' but honestly, it's a great nook for me, thank you Albrecht. Thank you. But then how is it spoken in German?"

" What line?" He asked while finalizing the coconut sh.e.l.l plates on the table with wooden spoons.

" Thank you, how is it in German?"

Albrecht looked at her with sarcasm.

" Ah...it means, "ich liebe dich." As simple as that, for example, George gave you something, Jacob, Edmund or Michael or Bruno, etc., tell them with a smile, " Ich liebe dich"

"Ah, I see, Ich liebe dich Albrecht!" Then she smiled to him. Did I say it right?"

" Aha, yes..."bitte", sure, good girl!"

" What's "bitte"? Magee asked him again.

" That's in short for "you're welcome". Interestingly, Albrecht felt like being tickled by thousands of b.u.t.terflies inside a dungeon when the rest of the soldier's arrived with their tools and sloppy shoulders, exhausted and immediately seated while holding to their respective utensils. Moments later, there was a roll call followed by a short prayer led by Narciso before they finally had their lunch. Noticeably, the captain was not around and in lieu, George gave the directive for a week's preparation as they were fully informed during their latest meeting.

" Anyway, no one shall get out from the cave, except for Bruno, Narciso and Jacob who will be picking out the sacks of coconut charcoal and sweet potatoes from the contacts and they'll be dropping it soon down here, through the abyss. On the other hand, the captain, Anthony and Baldur will be around after five days from now or maybe within a week long.

" Hmm...by the way, the girl here has a suggestion, hope you'll be interested of it, Magee, go on."

" Madayaw na araw! I am proposing to conduct general cleaning within our sights. I will do it myself as volunteer since everyone's busy. And if you like this idea, just separate first your rifles, grenades and other weapons from your places. Or maybe put all those stuffs here on the table while I do the cleaning, with this I'm pretty sure, you'll fight for this war with an organized mental state. It's nice to sleep on pillows and clean blankets. I got an idea of digging and burying all the trashes from centuries that I may collect from your places. Don't worry, I will not disturb nor will seek your helping hands, I'll try to do it myself. Hmm...I'll be touching your things hopefully you include to separate your secret belongings. So anyone, please raise a hand if you agree on this?" Then she smiled.

Everyone smiled and raised a hand including George.

" I'd start cleaning after lunch today. That would be better, Ich liebe dich all."

The men in uniform stopped from eating, they turned their heads on her and covered their mouth from silently laughing. No one spoke yet George angrily glanced to Albrecht - the prime suspect.

Magee was stuck thinking if what was it on her last few lines. Albrecht stood up and proceeded to the dirty kitchen as George followed him.

" Are you crazy? She's just 20 and the captain wants her to be here. If you have been tired of guarding her for the past months up there, don't make her like an idiot now that she's already with us. Have a little respect. Go! tell her the real meaning of what you just taught! and keep the secret as secret, you know what I mean." You're a family."

" Yes, Sir!" Albrecht removed his ap.r.o.n and approached Magee in her place.

She was sitting blankly on her bamboo bed.

" Magee, hmm...I'm sorry, ah..."Ich liebe dich" means "I love you" and not "thank you". I kidded you thinking you'll not use it. I was shocked that you mentioned it in front of my comrades. I was shocked too and dumfounded. Please, don't tell the captain about this. It's, it's just a joke." Then he left while she was just silent, recalling those men in uniform was laughing at her during lunchtime.

She cried silently and decided to leave the cave. When all the soldiers returned to their respective posts and tasks, Magee just finished was.h.i.+ng the dishes then readied herself to get out.

" Dying outside is my punishment. It's okay, I've lived for twenty years already, not bad. But telling those men things I must not suppose to say means idiocy. That's why too much trust makes an indigent like me looks like a scratch. I felt very discriminated for I began to trust them, but look what I'm doing around. My country is at war and I'm just here inside hiding. I even stopped my studies and fooled Lolo Sibal that the school calendar had changed after I heard from the student leaders of UP that the j.a.panese infantry would come on December 8. Yes, they did and called us all in the tribe as ignorant. I thought of fighting against them but look where I am. I got stuck with these men around and told them all I love them. Well, there's nothing wrong with it, it's just that I looked like an idiot!" There she sobbed and wiped the last batch of teardrops while looking at the waterfalls.

" Which way shall I pa.s.s, right or left." She thought.

" Right." George moved closer and stood by her side.

" When you go to right, you'll immediately see the j.a.panese barracks in a distance. If you go left, you'll be seeing the jungle heading to the center of Kabang. Hmm...is Albrecht the only reason for you to revolt against us too? You can't leave without the captain's order, so please, don't resent too much. The j.a.panese had been looking for you even until now. That fiancee of yours was badly looking for you and here you are willing to surrender to him this easy. You'll be imprisoned there, don't you know that? Come, I am about to inspect your general cleaning proposal. Let's get going, we all must survive and don't be too sensitive, okay?" George wanted to tap her shoulder for consolation but opted not, thinking it would just mark down another discriminatory suspicion against her womanhood.

Then suddenly, a huge sound of mortar blasted just approximately 100 meters away from the waterfalls.

She immediately knelt, covered her ears and bowed on the ground.

But George was standing-still and put his hands at the back.

" See if you have successfully escaped from this doomed warzone, running men in uniform are just below us and abusing women, some are even looking to this waterfalls right now and checking all over. This is why you need to stay, Magee."

" George, I'm sorry if I offended you. Yes, I'll stay." She cried and ran towards her place.