The history

Chapter 3

5:57 p.m., as I finished gobbling my dinner, I washed my plates and glanced at the big tree once more. I'm enchanted by it.

6pm, people are coming out of their houses preparing for tonight's celebration. They are all heading to the plaza bringing foods and flowers.

The plaza is at the centre of the town.

Each year unfold the legendary story of this town and I want to hear it. I went outside, locked my doors when I suddenly heard, "AVICA!" someone called, "Come let's go the party!" she spoke excitingly.

It was a girl about 14-15 years old. My heart pounded so fast because of a jolt "H-how'd you know my name?"

"Vivian told my mom, Aunt Tessa, the whole neighborhood… let's just say the whole town. So technically, everybody in this town knows who you are. You're the only new one here anyway" she explained.

I haven't answered her and just kept staring at her with inquisitiveness. She suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me.

"Where are we going?" I asked while she's dragging me. She didn't  answered so I shouted,

"Where are we going?!" still no answer so I pulled my hand and yelled "Stop! Where are we going?!"

"Hwa min heorte ist" she uttered, eyes fixated at the plaza.

"Huh?" I grunted as we arrived at the said place.

"Where my heart is, that's what it meant. What's this celebration was all about." she said blanked face.

"The old Mr Robert Tyven's last words before he died in June 16, 1831. People around here celebrated the day he was born and they grieved the day he died and tomorrow it's his 150th death anniversary. The cursed death of Robert Tyven." she stated.

"Cursed? What happened?" I asked.

She pulled a seat and offered it to me, "Sit… listen to the story and you'll see. You're from the Morees clan right? So must've heard the famous Veronica Morees."

I stared at her with curiosity and spoke "Yes, but all I know was she died a very long time ago and my grandmother; Veronica's daughter, left this town for good."

She stared straight at me, "Do you know why this town named after her?"

"No", I answered bluntly.

The curtains of the plaza stage opened, "It's starting", the girl said.

"Come… Come… My fellow friends come…" the guy on the stage commenced wearing long sleeves and bulky pants,

"To those who have not known who I am, and that is you… Ms Morees…" he looked straight at me and I just nodded while the people were stunned to see me.

"My name is Adonis Herver your host for the night! Tonight, we're going to celebrate the 150th death anniversary of our beloved Mr Robert Tyven." He went to the center of the stage fixed his tie and started the story.

"Long time ago there was a young lad named Robert Tyven. Every girl from his city longed to be his lover. He's smart, he's handsome, lavish, wealthy and most of all a loving son to his mother and father."

"One day, when the young lad was having his little adventure out of the city, he saw this young beautiful damsel."

"Her skin was porcelain with white creamy tone, cherry cheeks, lips deep curved makes the world stop around her was as red as blood, her hair was woven into a braid cascading down her back like a waterfall, her delicate brown eyes reflecting the warmth of the sun was soft, the exact shade of a latte: she truly was a beautiful sight to behold… Lady Veronica Morees." I gasped hearing the name of my great-grandmother.

"He drew near to Miss Veronica and presented himself to the lovely lady. At the moment he touched Miss Veronica's hands; long and white and slender, he found no words to describe what he felt." He continued.

"Some call it madness, some say he's just crazy but to him, he felt love. He saw the world in Veronica's eyes and thought he would live with her forever. Day after day, Robert keeps visiting Veronica outside the city."

"They grab a cup of coffee in the morning, do picnics at lunch, and see the wonderful bright star at night. And day after day, they still couldn't get enough of each other. Conversation as deep as the ocean, dreams as high as the sky, and minds as open as the universe."

"The day they meet will always be filled with smile and laughter." He illustrated with enthusiasm.

"Not long enough, Veronica felt the same way Robert felt for her. But the sooner they fell in love, the sooner they knew Veronica was to be engaged with the Devu family's only heir, Laxhan Devu. The man Veronica was bound to marry from day she was born." The mood suddenly changed.

"Veronica was said to be the one and only settlement for the Morees long list of debt to the Devu family. Veronica knew all along about the arranged marriage with Laxhan, but she just can't tell Robert yet about this ineludible misfortune."

"She's afraid she'd hurt him and might despise her for this. But all of this never mattered to Robert for he already fell in love and ready to take on the world to fight for it."

"When the Devus found out about Veronica and Robert having a relationship, they hid Veronica never to be seen by Robert. Took her to the end of the city. A place owned by the relatives of the Devus."

Adonis paused,watched the crowd with suspense and spoke.

"But Robert as a very clever person with a lot of connection in the city, he managed to get information to where they have hidden the endearing Veronica."

"He went as fast as he possibly could to save his love. When he got there, he heard the workers of the family speaking ill of how they were treated and how the poor Veronica was never allowed to step foot outside, even at the garden."

"Hearing this he found an opportunity to bribe the workers with tons of money to make the maiden escape tonight. The workers were never loyal to the ruthless family so they agreed."

"Midnight came when all was asleep. Veronica put on her clothes and went to the biggest window she can find in her room. The window was facing the garden. No lights were found. Her room was at the 4th floor of the house."

"She can see nothing but pitch black below her. She jumped out for she was willing to die than to spend another day in the prison like mansion. As she jumped off the window she can feel the strong wind through her cheeks, her hair, and her dress."

"She jumped as if she can fly to freedom, she spread her hands like wings and let the ground decide. It felt forever falling. She was thinking nothing would catch her. But she didn't know a big pillow filled with a sheep's wool was waiting for her."

"It seemed that she fell into the clouds. When she was already safely landed, the gardener helped her stand up. 'Ah' she shrieked quietly."

"'Don't be alarmed m'lady for it is I the gardener who'll help you escape this huge garden. This cushion was made by the worker from the stables. He mended it throughout the day and tried it repetitively to make sure of your safe arrival. Come, let me lead you to your beloved' he explained.' Veronica can't utter her words due to shock of the fall."

"The grounds were so dark however the gardener who worked there for so long thus far made him remember the right paths without source of light. He led the lady out of the garden through a secret passage he made that day to steer clear of the guards to meet her love, waiting for her outside with a carriage."

"Now, they met and held each other for a very long time. Said thanks to the workers and bid goodbye. They ran away from everything they ever knew just to be together. As they walk away from their written life, they found a very far peaceful town so far away where they stayed for good."

"They built their own house and in short time had their first child. A child full of purity, laughs with the sweetest sound, skin as warm as the morning sunshine: Avana."

"Years after they had a son named Cenon Tyven and another son named Maxwell both are little bundles of joy with an endearing face. Robert felt like they needed a bigger place for their family is growing. So with his remaining riches he bought a small town for his family."

"It was called Mi Deore Veronica, which means 'My dear Veronica', named after his cherished wife Veronica Morees."

"Years passed, people from different places went to the said town asking Robert if they could stay in his little town."

"For Robert has a good heart and the place is too big for his family, he let them stayed and lived there. The people owe everything to the Tyvens, and those people were now our beloved ancestors." Adonis held his chest and slowly closed his eyes while nodding like being thankful. He smiled lightly, the audience is smiling with him too and continued.

"Through the years, Robert's best friend; Rox Herver, knew about the town Robert bought. He visited this town and saw Robert. By that time Rox already finished his study in medicine and became a doctor."

"For they haven't seen each other for a very long time they renewed their friendship once again. Robert invited Rox to live in the town for good since the town needs its doctor."

"Without hesitation Rox agreed and built his house and clinic just near the plaza… where I now live." Adonis emphasized while pointing to the direction of his house. The people also looked at the direction he pointed and he continued.

"Rox was not just only the best friend or doctor, he also writes and records how Robert lived his life for the reason that Robert asked him to do so for his legacy."

"After Rox discovered Mi Deore Veronica, Laxhan also found out about this and how Robert started his family with his fiancé Veronica in his newly bought town. With rage, he planned to attack this town and capture Veronica." Adonis expressed with tension in his voice.

"Laxhan knew Robert is going out of town twice a month to get some supplies they might need out of town. When Robert was out, one single night, he and his army marched to the place, came, destroying the houses, sweeped every place, left no stones unturned, to search for Veronica." Adonis expressed shouting and with tensed expreesion in his face while people are feeling the tension to the story.

"He reached where the Tyvens dwell. 'THERE!...' he shouted whilst pointing at my house's direction."

"Everybody looked where his fingers pointed and he continued to walk towards the house."

"-thump thump-" Adonis expressed while stumping also his feet from left to right. "A loud beat from Veronica's heart as Laxhan was getting closer to where they were hiding, the basement."

"Laxhan found them while Veronica was tightly embracing her children. He grabbed Veronica, hugged her tight with the firstborn child, Avana."

"He pulled them out of the basement and tried to get them out of that place, but Robert blocked their way out."

"Robert unsheathe his sword and challenged Laxhan for a duel. Laxhan also pulled out his sword and ready to fight for Veronica's hand."

"As the fight was getting intense, Robert had a plan, he lead Laxhan out to the edge of the town. Where the old forest and the huge tree lies. The town was so dark only the moonlight shines them and the fire from the burning houses. But the light doesn't pass through the trees."

"Veronica was so worried what was going on with Robert and Laxhan out there. So she commanded the children to stay put as she follows the men. When Rox saw Veronica who was looking for Robert and Laxhan, went for them he followed Veronica also."

" It was almost an hour and no sign of the four Robert, Laxhan, Rox, and Veronica. So the chief decided to look for them with few towns men and Laxhan's few army while the others tried to stop the fire from burning more houses."

"Robert's and Veronica's children also came to look for their parents. At the middle of the forest, they found Laxhan dead with a sword struck in his heart and lying to the ground beside Rox's dead body leaning on a tree."

"While Robert was crawling to get to Veronica's dead body, covered with blood and deep wound in her chest. The chief and his men tried to help Robert, but they heard him suddenly said "hwa min heorte ist" which means where my heart belongs holding Veronica's right hand."

"He then died facing the ground. When the children saw their parents were dead, they knelt before them crying. When the chief turned Robert's body they saw he lost an eye. It looks like it was pulled out." Adonis pointed his left eye.

Adonis sighed and dropped his head and spoke. "They searched for it. Cenon the second child of Robert and Veronica went closer to see what was Laxhan was grippinng to his right hand. He opened it and stunned at what he saw. It was Robert's eye."

"The chief then immediately carried Cenon far from Laxhan's dead body. Everybody was frightened and took the children back to the house."

Adonis lifted his head, "No one else saw what really happened that night, but the four of them. The town's people buried Robert and Veronica's body by the tree where they both died. Laxhan's body was taken back to his manor and Rox's body was buried by the town's cemetery."

"The death of Mr. Robert Tyven touched our hearts for generations for he gave our ancestors a place to live, for his bravery protecting us from the Devu's attacks and.." Adonis paused "for his love for Veronica."

"Until death, they proved their love for each other, and this town is their legacy. Each year our ancestors remembered and made sure to pass on the story to the next generations of what happened to that miserable day."

Adonis lifted his hand closing his fingers to his palm "And tonight we at 12 am we will celebrate the great legacy of Robert Tyven; hwa min heorte ist!!" Adonis shouted.

"HWA MIN HEORTE IST!!", the people shouted with joy, zome with tears and some with rage. The plaza was field with cheers and applause as Adonis bowed before them.

Next chapters publishing soon. ^.^