"What is happening, Tiyo?" Isidro asked me as soon as the door shut behind him.
I chuckled as I unbuttoned my collar, sitting on the side of the bed. "What do you think, Isidro?"
He scratched his head and glanced at my shoulder straps. "You're a military officer now? What rank—Colonel?"
"Nope… a rank higher than that." I scooted up on the bed and lay down.
I had just returned to the Tiongson residence from the church and was beginning to feel tired, even as the excitement still lingered in my chest. I didn't even feel like getting out of my uniform yet.
"General?" he guessed again.
"General de Brigada," I confirmed, liking how the rs in the rank rolled off my tongue. "And in command of three islands—Marinduque, Mindoro, and Romblon."
I watched Isidro's expression soften as he chuckled in disbelief. "No… there's no way. How would you have pulled that off?"
