CHAPTER 16: LILLIAN SISON

We are already here in America and currently walking in the streets. No one recognizes us because we are in shades and hats. Except for the older brother who is wearing a face mask. As we walked I noticed how thin and tired the people in here.

"I pity them so much to have a cruel ruler," Allaine said.

"Me neither, when I get back what belongs to my family, I'll help these people," I said.

"You can do it now," Allaine said and went to a fruit shop and bought. "Miss may I buy these apples, grapes, mangoes, strawberries, oranges, everything you sell,"

"Eh!! Seriously?! How many sir?!," the vendor surprisedly asked.

"All of it," Allaine said. What the?!!! That is so many.

"Please wait a minute sir," she said and packed all the fruits. After a few minutes passed she gave the fruits to Allaine. "2758 dollars, sir,"

"Here," I saw Allaine gave her 5000 dollars. Damn, how rich is he?

"Sorry, I have no exchange for that large amount of sum, I can't accept it," The vendor said.

"It's okay, you keep the change. This is my help for you ma'am," Allaine said.

He's right, I can still help them even if I haven't regained the throne. There are a lot of ways to help them. I kicked my older brother to tell them to help. He seemed to understand what I meant.

"Guys! Buy everything you want the pay is on me," he said.

They all nodded and bought everything they wanted. I bought a lot of clothes and gave it to them. As I was handing out clothes I noticed a beggar and she was very hungry.

"Little kid, here," I give her a piece of bread and I bottle of milk.

"Thank you, miss," she said and ate it. "Miss, can you tell me your name ?"

"My name is Jazlyn Laurel, what about you kid?" I asked.

"My name is Lillian Sison," she said.

"Do you want to come with me?" I knew this child could die here on the street. I can't let that happen.

"Pwede po?," I was surprised that she could speak in another language. "I mean, can I?"

"Sabi ko sayo pwede kang sumama sa amin. Pwede ka din mag-salita ng Tagalog kung gusto, maiintindihan naman kita. Nag-aral ako sa Pilipinas nung grade schooler pa lang ako. (I told you, you can. You can freely speak Tagalog and I can understand you. I study in the Philippines in my grade school before," I said.

"Ay, sorry. Hindi ko po kasi alam na marunong kayong magtagalog. (I'm sorry. I didn't know you could speak Tagalog)," she said with a smile.

"Come on," I said and brought her to Allaine.

"Who's that?" Shin asked.

"Lillian. I just saw her there in the corner," I said.

"I know what you're planning. You want to include that child in our group. Jazlyn, I'm telling you this. Don't. You. Dare. To use. That. Child. In. Your. Plan," Allaine said.

"What are you saying, Allaine? I'll just take her with us and take care of her. I won't use her in my plans," I said.

"Is that so? Sorry about that," Allaine said still not convinced.

"Come on. If you guys continue talking like that, you two might kill each other," said Shin. We left and went to a forest. What are we going to do here?

Soon we arrived at a steel gate. Obviously, no one can enter here. My older brother knocked continuously. Later someone looked at the height of the gate. Because at the top of the gate, there were rocks.

"Prince Shin, kayo po pala. Saglit lang po bubuksan po namin yung gate (Prince Shin, it's you. I'll open the gate in a moment)," said the man.

"They can speak Tagalog," I asked.

"Yes, we have to live here for now while we have not yet regained the throne," he said.

"Prince Shin? Throne? You mean Prince Shin Dongfang ?" Lillian said excitedly.

"Yeah, you're right. We're here to take back the throne from our evil cousin. After she killed Grandma she's been overthrowing America. We can't let this matter continue," Brother said.

The gate opened so we entered. They treated us with respect, especially my older brother.

"You know there is only one solution to your problem and that is to bring the real princess back here," Lillian said.

She's right I need to finish it but I have a better plan. "The real princess is back," I said.

"Really? Where is she now? Why aren't you with her?" she asked next.

"You already talking to her," I said.

"You are the princess? Then there is hope to save America again," she said. We went inside. It is also a palace, this was my grandparents' place actually. Only the one they trusted knows the existence of this place. Ever since I was a toddler, I only stay here. My grandparents don't want to be separated from me so I grow up here before I left the country. Brother said that our real palace is bigger than this.

"Jazlyn what's our plan? Are we going to attack them?," Royster asked.

"Not yet. I have a better plan," I said.

"What is it?" they asked.

"We have to pretend to work with them and know what they're going to do," I said.

"But your plan is too dangerous," Justine said. What a miracle, he hasn't been speaking since we left.

"They say' the enemy's place is the safest '," I said.

"That quote again. Then, what are we going to do to get into the palace?" Allen asked.

"We need to force them to announce that they need employees," Allaine said.

"But what are we going to do to push them?," Nyx asked.

"I'll take care of them," I said.

"What are you going to do?" brother asked.

"Secret," I said.

"All right, just be careful," he said.

"Yes, boss," I said.

"Wait, what if your plan doesn't work?" Kim said.

"Yeah, what if it doesn't work ?" Katelyn said.

"Then, we'll kidnap her, and then we will pretend to save her. We will get a favor from her to work with them. Except for being greedy, she's dumb though," I said.

"That's okay but who's going to kidnap them?," Allaine asked.

" It will be Dominick and Allen," I said.

"We can do that but what else can we do?" Dominick asked.

"Justine, Benedick, Allaine, Kim, and we girls will work. Because if it's all men, our plan will be obvious," I explained.

"Then, what's Stan going to do?," Nyx asked.

"He will be our guide," I said.

"When are we going to do the plan?" Allaine asked.

"Later," I said.

"Later! That's too fast, can't we just rest for a day?" Kim complained.

"We have to hurry before America collapse," Katelyn said.

"Aren't you tired from the trip?" Royster asked.

"No," Katelyn said.

"How about Shin?" Kim asked.

"He can't come with us. Remember, Ji knows him?," I said.

"I forgot," he said.

***

"Princess Athena, can I join you in your plan?" she asked.

"Lillian, you know I can't put you in danger," I said.

"But I can protect myself. I even learned martial arts when I was 6 and won the prize of the youngest martial art kid at 8," she boasted.

"How arrogant," I said.

"It's true,"

"It's still not possible. I brought you here because I don't want you to die on the road and I promised not to put you in our trouble, understood?"

"Okay,"

We went to the living room and talked. Be ready Ji. I'm back to get what belongs to my family.