" George, I'd like to take a bath. Perhaps, I can now stand by myself or maybe just give me a hand going there could help. By the way, what made you tidying this early." She smiled.

" Amado will be coming again for sure. Let him get inside and we need to talk about the upcoming mission next week. Some j.a.panese infantry will be coming in Tikaban, as of now they repelled the reinforcements. Hmm, we'll talk about it here inside." George said.

"Ah, okay. So its timely that I can get out now."

"But its alright if you'll just listen to our conversation. So, here we go, I'll take you there."

" No, no, I need to walk going there now. The wound is getting better anyway." She insisted.

But George still walked with her side by side in going out of their room."

Appallingly, Albrecht was indeed ready in his kitchen but trying to prepare a little fir his boiled ca.s.sava and grated coconut mixed with sugar.

"Wow! you were grating too early kuya, that's a great meal."

" Your lukewarm water is ready. Try if its just alright, tell me so I can add up an additional dipper of boiled water."

George was waiting for her to come out and Albrecht offered him a mug of 'salabat.'

"When you get back to the US, you won't have this anymore. I mean this lifestyle." He smiled at him.

"Well, its okay, though I'll be missing a lot of memories here. But of course, Madelleine's there and waiting for me, still a great life."

George was teasing him while sipping 'salabat' and they've got series of topic discussed.

She got out silently and George a.s.sisted her back to the room then he sat down on a chair, watching her.

" Hmm?" He asked since she was staring at him.

" Sorry but I'm not yet done, can you leave for a while." She awkwardly smile.

" Ahh, sure, sorry." Then he immediately left her.

Without the knowledge of Magee, Amado was already outside, bringing his juice for her again.

Knock! knock!

" Amado's here." George said.

" Ah, I see....let him come in."

She was already on bed sitting on the edge when George and Amado stepped in.

" George, come, please fix my zipper like you always do, I can't reach it again."

" Ah...yeah." Then he sat at the back of her and slowly zipped up the soft cloth while Amado was watching at them.

"Amado, thanks for that juice, my husband would make me some tonight, its a ha.s.sle on your part doing it for me, but they all tasted well, thank you for the kindness.

While Magee was talking to Amado, George was still busy arranging her dress at the back that made Magee so terribly conscious. Reasonably, George found out that the zipper began to open by itself so he needs to hold it for a while. But Magee turned her head and smiled.

" What happened, you said you will have an urgent meeting here, you're done there already. I'll explain later." Then she looked at Amado again and continued the chitchat. But still, George was left so focused on the damaged zipper. So he just hang down her hair to cover her back, stood up and moved closer to Amado.

But Amado was out of his concentration and frequently flips his head to Magee. Almost desperate with Amado's curiosity, George was p.i.s.sed off and Magee felt the same so she just got back to her coc.o.o.n and just folded her hair with a towel posed on her head and covered her face.

It began to relax George while Amado was seemingly searching for the missing bed beside Magee's bed.

The conversation ended and Amado got out as George thanked him for the juice he gave. Then George locked the door.

" Wow! this morning's really a mess. Of all the days your zipper was damaged in front of me."

Magee smiled while looking at him so desperate.

" Don't mind it, just give me another dress from the bag. Grab anything you see would suit me then leave me for a while. Just return after 10 minutes and everything will be alright." She teased him.

" I'll be back for the journal reading, mind you. Honestly, something made me interested to read it further."

" When you'll be back, we'll read it together."

He then grumpily went out then sat beside their door, waiting for her to call him back, pressing his head then ran outside and dived in the waters from the spring.

"Hey, George! haha! you don't have even a towel. Just wait, I'll pick you one." Then Baldur went to the clothesline.

" Here when you're done just grab this."

"Where are you going?"

" To my bean farm." Then he left.

When he was satisfied and has fully charged, he just wrapped himself going to the bathroom then proceeded to their bedroom.

"Knock!knock! I'm getting inside and I'm half-naked please hide in your coc.o.o.n." Then he rushed in.

When he's done he moved closer beside her bed; took the journal and start flapping the page to March 16, 1916.

"Hmm...you're now safe to get out from your coc.o.o.n Mag. Just be careful with your wound then slowly move." George whispered and she emerged from the blanket smiling.

" Good! So I'll continue from March 16....I was saddened again by the arranged marriage I had with her. Its never my fault, she was still 15 and I was already 40. I can't imagine her parents failed to pay me in cash so they offered her to me. I loved her then but after our wedding I was stuck up with pity on her. She even didn't know that she was wed and blinded with what marriage was. Lolita...when are you going to treat me as your husband when you kept waiting the naval man you admired and who was also as old as me. I hope you'll consider me one day.

-----------------------------------------

"Its loud and clear Mag. Sr. Sibal and your Ina Lolita were married."

"Its shocking, I can't believe on this!" She blankly stare to nothingness.

" But its here. Anyway, let's proceed."

24 March, 1916

I better hide in this place and pour out my sentiments. If I lie to everyone about this place, G.o.d will forgive me I know. I just pity the young girl crying for her first love that isn't her husband.

-------------------------------------

"Oh my....Mag, do you wish to continue? it irks my heart with pity."

Magee was teary eyed.

" Continue, I need the whole truth."

"Wait, last night when I read it, it says mid year Chuck will arrive. We'll go directly to June or July of 1916.

25 June 1916

She cleaned the house because she knew he's coming. I was very upset. I don't know what to do but I cried in a day or two around. When I returned in our house, she never even asked me if where I come from. I simply exist and a sponge to her, a shock absorber.