Arranged Marriage

17 February 1916

I brought her to the shore, we're alone - together but seems apart and miles away. I was expecting things about us but she was asking me of him again - his whereabouts. I left speechless."

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Then he went forwards, quickly read the contents to as many as ten pages.

" Mag, did he anyhow shared a bit of his story? You may be have forgotten some. It appears here that he had been into a lot of pains but this woman seemed so senseless of not finding out how much he loved her. Huh, I got to go for a while, I'll be back after an hour. Albrecht and Baldur will stay here to continually read these journals for you." Then he kissed her forehead.

" Don'y stay long outside, you come back immediately." She told him while he rushed outside as he waved his hand on her.

"Hmm...he urgently met his men this hour, why?" She thought.

"Knock! knock! I'm the next storyteller called for duty.

" Haha! kuya! ( kuya is a Filipino's label for older brother) She accidentally called Albrecht that way while slowly laughing and holding the bondage on her wound.

"Aha! I slowly become "kuya" and I'm a puppet these days, you're enjoying with my company, ha. Okay which page shall I read then. Oh dear, hmm...haven't thought that Sr. Sibal have so many stories untold though I noticed him before when I was still young, he oftentimes sigh at the balcony."

"Really? I'm curious if who's that woman he felt in love with and who's Chuck that woman fell for."

"This is interesting!" He smiled while picking out his old-fashioned eyeglasses.

" What? at your young age." She smiled.

" Ows! age doesn't matter to blurry eyes, heh! just keep quiet." Then Albrecht seriously scanned the next page that George had marked with. But he laughed again looking at her smiling at him wearing his old fashioned eyeglasses.

"Knock! knock!"

" Shh...yes? who's that?" Albrecht answered.

Someone knocked on the door and Albrecht looked at her still smiling and covering her mouth.

"Its Amado, she's bringing something for Magee." Baldur said from the outside.

Magee signaled for "no." Instantly she was looking at the empty bed next to her.

"Ah, I'll just get out to pick it for her. She's yawning right now and sleepy." Albrecht winked an eye to her.

Then outright Albrecht got out and Amado handed to him the camote tops juice.

" Thanks Amado."

" I'll go then, I'm part of the meeting. The lieutenant now have waited for me." He whispered then left Albrecht who was inanely holding a mug of juice.

He looked at Baldur sitting beside the door holding his hand gun.

" Brother, why he risked his life preparing this juice to a married woman." Then Albrecht shook his head and brought the juice inside.

"What do you have in mind, kuya?"

" Nothing, I don't like to be malicious like you - thinking so much."

" Hmm...look at me. When you were assisting them on my wound that separate bed is already there, right? He must have thought something."

" Yeah! I got it. Its because you are silly!" He whispered. "Here, when he comes back tomorrow, tell George to flap his bed away for a bit then just allow Amado to come in so he could see that you married couple stays in one bed. Is that a brilliant idea?"

"Wow! you think better now. Hmm...I'll tell George about it.

" Hey, let me see his veggie juice, I'll teach George on how to prepare it for you."

" I won't drink it and please help George to prepare its formula, I told him already."

" Hmm...Amado's a good man and educated. Its just that he really wanted to extend help, that's it."

" Whatever. But its good to be cautious, Ina Lolita always remind me of that. By the way kuya, please continue reading the next page now."

16 March 1916

" She was inside her room and told her to just go with me at the seashore (even if we drop by there several times). I was saddened again by the arranged marriage I've had with her...."

"Stop, Albrecht, are you not rephrasing the lines, don't put some joke on it."

"Of course, not! I simply read what I see, and why?"

" Lolo Sibal wasn't married, never been." Magee intensely blurted out.

" But its here! its here! Where's my eyeglasses.

"It says, " I was saddened again by the arranged marriage I've had with her." Then he looked at her with twirling big eyeballs. She laughed unceasingly holding her bondage while looking at him and called Baldur.

"Baldur! Baldur!"

" Yes, what happened? Oh Albrecht, what's that you're wearing? haha! Shh...Magee, quiet, your wound. Its not good for you to laugh too much. Albrecht, you stay outside."

"Huhumm..." Magee then yawned while still smiling.

" See that! she's sleepy, its not anymore my fault." Then he removed his old-fashioned eyeglasses. "Hey, goddess. I'll go now, you sleep tight." Don't worry too much to Sr. Sibal, I saw him very happy staying with us before, get it?" Albrecht then kept his eyeglasses and tapped her shoulder.

" Hmm...you'll be used to him he's really that comic." Baldur smiled.

The foggy night had chilled her again but put her to silently sleep and Baldur still waited for George. In another passing minute, the door opened and George came in while putting his handgun inside the cabinet.

" She'd slept well. Albrecht made her laugh too much, I was thinking its effect on her wound." Baldur sighed.

" Hmm...that old guy's doing the same thing here." Then George smiled.

" Amado came but Magee didn't let her in. Albrecht received the mug of juice."

" I see. Thanks Baldur." He nodded before Baldur got out.

"He came here for that juice again. Hmm...what's up with him. Interesting guy." He smirked while staying beside her bed.

"She's not inside in her cocoon now, good so I can see her face. Then he slept leaning his forehead on her bed."

It was midnight when he was awakened by her laughter. He stood up and slowly covered her mouth. Then she woke up and slowly removed his hand away.

" George? Why?" Magee asked.

" You laughed too much, I'm worried of your wound. Its a silent harm.

" Ah, its Albrecht, I dreamt of his funny eyeglasses." She smiled at him and slipped off in her cocoon but spoke.

"Amado came." She whispered.

"Baldur also told me of that. How's the journal reading?"

" Albrecht's not serious on reading them, hmm...would you believe that he'd read one page only, its on March 16, 1916."

"Don't worry, we'll read the whole journal tomorrow." George whispered but she's not anymore responding.

He just went to his bed and arranged his mattress the put his back flat on it while putting his hands as pillow.

" Hmm...I got it now. Its maybe the reason why he kept on coming" He smilingly thought while closing his eyes.