Love In The Line Of Fire

I woke up early because of the noise from my cellphone. It was an unknown number calling.

"Hello?"

"I have a mission for you, dear." It was a woman on the other line. I sat up despite being very sleepy because of this unknown caller.

"I don't have a time to play games with you," I was about to hang up when she said something that stopped me.

"You don't want to be free?" How did she know I wanted to break free from the group and be independent?

"Who the heck are you?" I only told Keanu about this through email. Adrian is our team leader, but I've never received a response from him.

"You don't need to know me. Will you accept my offer for your freedom?"

The only thing I could think of was who this person was. Especially since my freedom was at stake in this mission. It's impossible that they would agree to this so easily.

"What's the mission?" I asked.

"You can check your own email." After that, she hung up the call. I opened my email, and there was indeed a message from our organization. I wouldn't have believed it if not for the fact that all my transactions were done through this email address.

I opened the email, and the face of an old man appeared. At first, I thought I was going to kill this old man, but I was wrong.

According to the information, he was Ronaldo Naces, 68 years old, living in the small town of Santo Niño. I was shocked by the mission assigned to me because it wasn't easy. This was the first mission I accepted that was like this.

I need to pretend to be Anya Naces, Ronaldo's grand daughter.

I wanted to decline, but I've long dreamed of escaping the chaotic world I'm in. The picture of the place they sent was also beautiful. The surroundings were peaceful because Ronaldo was just a farmer.

This was the scenario I dreamed of - far from chaos and with a serene environment. Maybe starting from now on, I need to get used to calling him "Lolo" (grandfather).

"Anya?!" I turned off my phone as Tessa called out to me from outside.

"What?" I asked, furrowing my brow. I was surprised when she hugged me.

"I'm gonna miss you so much." I hugged her back when I realized that this was my first mission where we'd be apart for a long time. Not just long, but also far away from each other.

Since I was a kid, she's been with my side, so it felt heavy on my chest that we'd be apart.

We pulled away from the hug, and I saw that Tessa was crying. "What's wrong? Why are you crying? Do you think we'll never see each other again? You're crazy!"

"I read... I read that once you complete your mission, you'll leave." My lips parted in surprise at her when she say that, and I couldn't respond.

"If you're wondering how I found out, there was a package outside. I opened it because I was curious, but I didn't know it was for you. I was happy because I thought your long-held wish to escape our chaotic world would finally come true."

"Don't you want to leave?" She immediately nodded at me.

"Whether I leave or not, it's still the same. I'll still be alone, Anya."

I was taken aback by what she said.

"Come with me so we can still be together..." She shook her head sign that she did not agree with me before holding my hands.

"Anya, I understand you. We don't need to be together forever; I know you have a lot of dreams in life that you haven't achieved because of what happened to us. Just don't worry about me; I can take care of myself." I burst into tears and hugged her. I wish Adrian were here so he could be with Sabrina instead. I'll miss her so much.

I took the package, which only contained information about Anya Naces. It also had details about the people I'd meet in the place I'm going to. It said here that Anya hasn't returned to their hometown since she was 10 years old. She was adopted by someone who sent her to school in Manila. Since then, she's had no communication with her family or hometown.

So, it's easy for me to pretend to be her, especially since it's been a long time - 11 years have passed. I've packed my things. After staying here for several years, this is the day I'll leave the chaotic world I grew up in.

"Are you leaving already?" Sabrina asked, sounding sad.

"Yes, don't worry; I'll call you often."

"You said that, huh. Keep me updated on what's happening to you there. Don't be like Adrian, who seems to have forgotten us already."

"Promise." Before we made a pinky promise.

Sabrina helped me pack my things. "Are you still bringing this handkerchief? Wow, you've been carrying this around since we were kids. It's still alive." I smiled when I saw the handkerchief that Tan-tan lent me.

I never returned it to him because on that day, we got lost, and so did he. I wonder how he's doing right now. I hope he found his younger sister by now.

"This handkerchief seems important to you, huh. You suddenly looked sad when you saw it." I took the handkerchief from Sabrina and examined the stitched letters on it.

I didn't know the meaning of the letters, but I felt they were the initials of her real name. CH-OL-CA was written on it.

"Yes, because I'll return it to its real owner."

I'm still hoping that I might see him again someday. I know it's unlikely that I'll recognize him, but I wish...

Sabrina accompanied me to the terminal and helped me find a bus going to my destination. She stayed with me until I boarded the bus, and only left when it started moving.

"Goodbye, Beshy," I waved at her as the bus began to move, leaving her behind where the bus was parked earlier.

The trip took several hours before I arrived in the town of Santo Niño. The place wasn't too crowded. I took a tricycle going to Estrilla Village.

The tricycle ride was also quite long before we arrived. The tricycle didn't enter the inner part of the village because it wouldn't fit.

All I could see were rice fields, and there was a sign that said Estrilla Village on the small road leading in. The place was beautiful, really beautiful. I've never been to a place like this before; I only saw it in children's books when I was a kid. You know, the drawings of rice fields with small huts in the middle.

Up ahead, I could see the houses. I couldn't help but feel awkward, especially when almost everyone I passed looked at me. Of course, I was new here, so maybe they were just wondering who I was. There was a small store nearby, so I asked where Lolo Ronaldo's house was.

"Hello, where is Lolo Ronaldo Naces' house?" Before the old lady I asked responded, she seemed to be sizing me up.

"After this house, turn left. That's his house, wait, are you Anya?" I felt nervous about his question.

"Yes."

"It's good that you're visiting them, especially your grandfather, who's all alone now. Tsk, tsk, tsk, you didn't even visit them even until your father passed away." I felt hurt by what I heard. Why didn't real Anya visit her family?

"Thank you." I walked towards the house the old lady pointed out. I stood outside the house, looking at it.

The yard was beautiful, with various vegetables planted. The house was elevated, with a space underneath it. There was a bamboo bench and a table. The stairs leading up to the house were outside, a true provincial life.