CHAPTER 9

THE inside of the Guerrero family mansion is also covered in mud. We walk into the living room, I follow Sebastian who is immediately greeted by their housekeepers. They are busy sweeping the floor to remove the mud. Others are carefully wiping down the furniture that was also submerged in the flood.

Some of the housemates started whispering when they saw me. I had a feeling that they going to start gossip us again. I shouldn't have come with him, but he said he had something important to tell me, so I couldn't help but want to know what it was. So here I am, going with him to their home.

We went upstairs. I couldn't help but look around for fear that Don Antonio would see us and think of something else. "Uhm... Sebastian, is Don Antonio here?" I whispered to him, he turned to me a little but he still continued walking.

"What do you need from my father?" instead of an answer, he answered me with a question. He opened the door of a room and entered there.

"Maybe he'll think about something else. He tell me to stay away from you? Well, you're the one coming towards me," I said then closed the door, he turned to me but his face showed no reaction. It was as if he was asking if I was serious about what I said.

I just laughed and sat down on a chair, "I was just kidding. Don Antonio is just being overprotective to you," I laughed but he still didn't react. He took off his coat and hat and hung them on the side. We were inside an office, this must be his or Don Antonio's office here in their home.

"Explain to Don Antonio that we have no relationship. He insists that there be something between us," I continued, he sat down in the chair opposite, with a table between us. That table was full of books, papers, and things.

"Just let him think what he wants," he said, making me frown. He looked at the pile of papers on the table one by one.

"What? It's not okay! It's unfair. Everyone will think we're in a relationship, but out of the two of us, I'm the one flirting and chasing you. You won't be affected because in their eyes, you're the handsome macho who women chase," I complained, it's really not fair. Women are always the ones being told to be flirty, but men get extra points for it.

He looked at me, causing me to not be able to continue what I was going to say next, "You're saying some words that are unusual." I bit my lip hard, but luckily he wasn't looking at me anymore because he was busy reviewing papers.

"Uh, I learned that in another country" I forced a smile, it was hard to get along with this character.

"You learn from the English?" he asked without looking at me. Honestly, it's boring to talk to someone who's obviously busy with other things.

I just leaned back in the chair and examined him carefully. "Do you know how to speak English?" he asked again, I wasn't going to answer him but I was surprised when he stopped what he was doing and looked at me. "Ah, yes, just a little" I replied with a smile then gestured with my finger to show how little.

He returned his gaze to the papers he was reading. "Then your family is rich because you can read, write, and speak English." Was he investigating me? I tried to remember my background that I had practiced before.

"Ah, no, not really. I-I just have a friend who is a teacher who was patient enough to teach me. He's also good at English," I swallowed, Sebastian is smart. He's a general, he can easily tell if I'm telling the truth or not.

"You said you learned English abroad?" he asked, then looked at me, my eyes rolling. Did he connect with that right away? This will ruin me if I don't think carefully about what I say.

"I-I said abroad, because my father often takes me with him to work and his friend, my teacher, is always with him" I tried to smile, he continued reading the papers again. He signed some while putting others aside.

"What is your father's occupation? And what country are you referring to?" I was stunned. He asked so many questions. I wasn't prepared for this. "My father is a... Trader and he often takes me with him on his trips to Hong Kong"

"Trey-der?"

I thought deeply. It was on the tip of my tongue. "Ah, it's like he's exchanging goods with other races. His customers are often Chinese people who live in Hong Kong" he just looked at me, he was probably piecing together my answers now and looking for a hole.

He looked at me for a few seconds until he just nodded, "Hong Kong is occupied by the English. I understand why you are proficient in their language" he said then continued to review the papers. I breathed a sigh of relief, fortunately the country I mentioned was Hong Kong. Hong Kong was occupied by the British or English so he believed me.

I thought his questioning was over but he ask's me again, "Where is your family? And why are you here?" he asked, I looked away from him then tried to show him that I was sitting comfortably in the chair.

"We are really from Bulacan. Only my father is with me, I don't have my mother anymore. I also don't have any siblings or relatives. My father had to leave for Hong Kong last year but I couldn't go with him because there was trouble there so he put me in a convent." Compared to before, I was more comfortable telling stories now. I had to convince him that I really had a background. I remembered that he had searched for me in Bulacan and discovered that I had no relatives there.

"That's why I really wanted to come here to Manila. I wanted to fulfill my dreams. That's why I took a risk and traveled here. I stayed with Aling Pacing and Mang Pedro because... because their daughter was my friend who I went to the convent with," I continued, the hidden key here being confidence.

"How did you become a member of the bandits?" he asked, which I didn't expect. Right from the start, he really thought I was with the rebels.

"What is your strong desire and hatred towards the government that made you join the traitors?" at that moment I felt he was serious about getting the answer from a member of the rebel group.

I'm already sweating. Why am I stuck in the hot seat? "N-nothing. I was just tempted by people I know so I tried it and of course I also wanted a change" I bit my lip. I wanted to bang my head on the table because the answer was so shallow and didn't make sense.

"You're saying your friends just pressured you?" he didn't seem convinced by my answer. He was shocked, I wasn't ready to answer all his questions one after the other. "Yeah, peer pressure, it seems like that" I tried to smile again to ease the tension but unlike before, he still didn't react.

"You are ready to die just because of the influence of your friends" he said then read again. I looked at him for a moment, I don't know why I felt pity. He had no friends his whole life so he didn't know what it felt like to trust and be trusted by a friend.

"That's what true friendship really means. Being together through thick and thin and never leaving anyone behind," I replied, he stopped what he was doing and seemed to think carefully about what I said. I knew he wouldn't understand because no one had ever trusted him.

We were silent for a moment, and I felt guilty. It was as if I had made him look like he had no friends and that was my fault because I had created his character as someone who didn't have even one friend. I stood up to somehow ease the tension. I started walking around the office, I stopped at a globe and slowly spun it around.

After a while, he spoke, "What will happen next from your vision?" I slowly turned to him. Does he really believe that I can see the future? Or is he just taking my word for it?

"All the crops have been destroyed. We will definitely run out of food in the next few days," he continued, realizing that was what he was dealing with right now. The papers spread out on his desk were steps he had taken to prepare for this disaster and he would probably send them to the governor-general.

I think deeply, I can't tell him what will happen next in my novel. He will definitely stop it or find a way. The people need to rise up so that more people will join Lorenzo's rebel group.

"The truth is, my ability is weak right now. I need to rest for a long time until my ability to see the future returns" I replied then swallowed nervously. The globe stopped spinning. He was about to speak more but suddenly a maid knocked and opened the door.

"Señor, your father is looking for you," she said then looked at me. Sebastian stood up and walked towards the door but stopped and turned to me.

"I'm going to see my father, use this opportunity to get out of here without him seeing" he said, I thought to myself. Is he serious? He brought me here and then left me to figure out a way to escape on my own? Wow!

He had already come down the stairs. Don Antonio was standing on the azotea while smoking tobacco. The maids were still cleaning the living room. When Don Antonio's attention turned to his son, I immediately took a painting hanging on the wall. Don Antonio's face was serious in that painting which I used to cover my face.

Sebastian turned his father's back so he wouldn't see me running down the stairs. He looked at me in surprise, perhaps not expecting me to use the picture of Don Antonio that he kept so dearly to cover my face.

I waved to him as I got down to the stairs and quickly moved along the wall until I was outside of their home. The maids who were cleaning there also looked at me but none of them tried to report me because Sebastian was looking at them.

I WAS wiping down every table and chair to remove the mud. Aling Pacing and Lolita were sweeping the floor and pouring water on it. Meanwhile, Mang Pedro was repairing the walls and roof of the Panciteria that had been damaged by the wind. I couldn't get what Sebastian had said this morning out of my mind.

He wants to know the reason for his death. But will he be able to handle if he find out that he is a bad character in this book? I'm going crazy thinking about what to do. I turned to Lolita who was pouring water on the floor to get rid of the mud. I have one more thing to fix. Lolita can't refuse Niyong.

After we cleaned up, I said goodbye to Aling Pacing that I was just going to the market. But before that, I stopped by the bookstore where Niyong was guarding. "Good afternoon," Niyong greeted, his smile fades when he saw me.

I slowly walked inside the store with my arms folded like a Doña. "Señor Sebastian is not here" he said, I looked at him then patted his shoulder. He was surprised by what I did, I knew what I was doing was not normal but since I was the one who was above them all, I would do what I wanted.

"Listen, I'm your boss now too" I started, he thought about what I said. "B-boss?" he asked in surprise and tried to avoid me. "Yes, boss or master. Sebastian is your boss, but there's something you don't know" I said then whispered to him.

"I am in a higher position than Sebastian. I am more influential and more powerful than him," I whispered, he immediately backed away. He almost threw holy water at me in fear.

"Higher? You're the mistress of a government official?!" he accused and covered his mouth in shock. My eyes widened, these character are so judgmental. "I'm not a mistress!" I turned around, he was startled and took a step away from me.

"I mean, I'm your boss too so you have to obey everything I say. Understood?" I blurted out. His face still showed that he was confused by what I was saying. I just took a deep breath then pulled his sleeve and led him to the table.

I placed a book on the table, "This is your boss Sebastian" I explained, then took a pen and placed it under the book. "This is you, you serve Sebastian, right?" I continued. He nodded, afraid that I was being rude again.

I took a thicker book and placed it on top. "This is me, to all the people here, the treasures, the town, the sun, moon and stars in the sky. I created all of that" I explained, tilting his head the way he did when I said something he didn't understand.

"Y-you're a god?" he asked, as if he wasn't sure yet. I just closed my eyes at what he said, maybe he'd think I'd start a cult here. "I'm not a god. I don't have any powers. What I mean is--- Just follow me. Okay?" I held his head and nodded.

It's hard to explain. He might lock me in the stockroom again if I continue to make him understand that he's just another character and I'm the author who created them all.

"Ah, I understand, binibini. What you mean is that Señor Sebastian has completely trusted you with a mission and I need to follow in order to carry out the success of your plan," he said, still smiling as if he was very proud of himself.

What he said made me think, so I'm like Sebastian's right-hand? Well, I'm just the second boss. I just shook my head, I wanted to explain to him that I'm higher in rank than Sebastian but it seemed like he would only get more confused and our time would just be wasted. "What do you want me to do, binibini?" he said while saluting me.

"You need to improve your character and perform your duties properly," I said, tilting his head to the side again, "what?"

"BINIBINI, where did you get this much money?" Niyong's eyes almost popped out. He had been asking me repeatedly why I had so much money. We were currently at the market and I bought him new clothes, shoes and other things that would help him fall in love with Lolita again.

I waved the fan I was holding, made from a peacock's tail. "Just use it all, don't sell it. If I find out you sold it, I'll charge you," I said like a dona, and Niyong nodded her head in joy.

"Yes, señorita. I really can't help but think that you are the mistress of a rich official" he smiled, my forehead furrowed causing him to take back what he said.

"I'm just kidding, binibini. You're truly blessed," he said, I just nodded and waved my fan. We walked through the middle of the market with our heads held high as if I owned it all. People once again stepped aside and no one tried to greet us. I felt like the boss of a gang and my bodyguard was following me.

I stopped at a women's jewelry store. I picked up a diamond-encrusted headband and handed it to Niyong. "Binibini, I don't wear anything like this," he said in surprise.

"That's for Lolita," I said, then took ten more hair ornaments and paid for them. "Lolita?" he think, I just closed my eyes in annoyance. Two months passed in this story without any improvement in their love story because Lolita no longer liked him and he didn't care because he was busy following Sebastian.

"Lolita, the beautiful girl I introduced you to before," I reminded him, he think for a moment and then nodded. "Ah, yes. I remember that young lady."

"Just give it to her. Pick a nice flower for her too," I ordered, tilting his head to the side again.

"Why would I give her something like this? Maybe some---" he didn't finish what he was going to say because I was already getting carried away. The saleswoman also looked at us, as if Niyong and I were siblings and I was now lecturing him about the effectiveness of courtship.

"Do I have to do that? Is this part of the mission?" he still couldn't understand. I just took a deep breath then patted his shoulder again and looked him straight in the eye. "Yes, you have to make Lolita fall in love"

IT'S already 4:00 PM when we finish shopping. We walk home through the forest while I continue to give him tips on how to get Lolita's attention. He just nods but I know he's not excited because he doesn't have feelings for Lolita.

"You know how to sing? You'll have to serenade him tonight. I'll take care of Aling Pacing's arinola." I continued. A few moments later, a group of farmers arrived. Niyong immediately greeted them and looked for his father, who was left behind on the farm to finish planting.

"Binibini, I'll just help my father," he said, I nodded and smiled softly. "Okay, be careful," I said, he thanked me again for everything I bought for him and that they also had a delicious meal to share for dinner later.

I continued walking alone, tall trees surrounded the entire forest. I didn't know the way but Niyong earlier said that just go straight and I would reach the barrio heading to Panciteria.

I was surprised when a group of men with their faces covered suddenly blocked my way. "W-who are you?!" They numbered about ten. I was shocked to drop the pasalubong I was carrying for Aling Pacing. Suddenly they grabbed me and pulled the black cloth over my face. I couldn't see anything and couldn't escape their tight grip.

They dragged me until they pushed me onto the grass. "What do you want?!" I shouted, both my hands tied behind my back. I felt like they were surrounding me.

"Is that the one you're talking about?" said a man who seemed to have just arrived. I heard footsteps coming from the grass. The footsteps became more frequent.

I was surprised when I felt the cold metal touch my neck. "They're using a woman as a spy now," he continued, I felt his warm breath near my neck.

"That woman also knows the secret word that we use in the group," said a man from a distance.

"He was also there in July when we attacked the prison. I helped her escape but she never showed up for me after that," he continued, is it possible that Berning is speaking now? That means the rebels kidnapped me now!

"She introduced to me as Angelita," Berning continued speaking from a distance, I felt the sharp knife on my neck again.

"But I found out her name is Tanya," said the man closer to me. I remembered that Berning had told me to meet him at the port at six o'clock in the afternoon the day he helped me get out of prison.

"What is your true identity?" said the man closer to me. If I'm not mistaken, it's possible that it's Lorenzo because he's the current leader of the rebels.

I can't speak, I could get hurt or die in the story. I don't know what will happen to me once I get out of this novel. "Kill that spy!"

"Behead her!" the rebels shouted one after another, I could feel their anger especially since they thought I was a spy who would put them in danger. My whole body went numb, they continued to shout and throw weapons near me.

"Stop!" everyone fell silent when the man next to me spoke. "We can also use her against the government," he continued, making me even more nervous. What was going through their minds right now?

"What do you want to happen, leader?" one asked, my suspicion was correct, Lorenzo was the one holding the knife to my neck now. He removed the knife that was stuck to my neck and helped me stand up.

I almost lost my balance because of my weak knees. "Continue to be the general's spy against us. Make him believe that you are loyal to your service. You will also inform us of everything you learn about their actions," he said, my mouth gaping in shock. I may not be able to see them now because of the cloth or sackcloth wrapped around my face, but I know that they are the rebel group in this story who will destroy the government's savagery and abuse.

I wanted to complain and yell at them all, but then I remembered that they could kill me right now in an instant. I need to think about what to do first and I can't die here.

"I-I'll follow you" was all I could say, no one spoke to them. They were obviously disappointed with Lorenzo's decision not to kill me and let me be Sebastian's spy but they would definitely still keep an eye on me.

"Make sure that the general or anyone else doesn't find out. Once that happens, we won't hesitate to bury you alive in the forest," he ordered, and a few moments later his men grabbed me and dragged me back to a place I didn't know about.

They pushed me back to the ground then removed the shackles from my hand and quickly disappeared into the middle of the forest.

I was walking home alone, drowsy. It was already dark, the trumpets sounded one after another, signaling the beginning of the curfew and the patrolling of the guardia civil. One by one, people were closing their windows and doors.

I was the only one walking awkwardly in the middle of the road, stunned by the emptiness. I couldn't believe that I was about to die at the hands of the rebels I was protecting because they were the protagonists of this story.

My hair is messy and my clothes are a little damaged from being dragged through the dense forest. I am also covered in dirt and some dead leaves that are stuck in my hair and long skirt. I can't believe Lorenzo can blackmail me too. What is happening to the male characters in this story?

A moment later, I stopped when I saw Sebastian, standing in front of Panciteria ala Pacita. It was closed but he was standing outside as if waiting for someone. I was still a few meters away from him but he had already seen me.

He immediately ran towards me and looked at me from head to toe in shock, "W-what happened to you?" he immediately helped me up.

"Nothing. I just got lost in the forest" we slowly walked almost in unison towards the Panciteria. He was going to hold me but that would have been a bit arrogant so he just chose to walk with me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, somehow my fear gone now that he was here. Even though he was the villain in this story, I knew he could defend me if any rebels came after me now.

"I just want to experience trusting and being trusted by someone" he replied, I looked up at him, he was wearing a white polo shirt now and his hair was a bit messy. It looked like he had been at home for a while but decided to come here.

"What do you mean?" I asked, he slowly let go of my hold and stood in front of me. "I want to give you my full trust, Faye" he said and at that moment I felt the cold embrace of the breeze in the middle of the dark night and the deserted street.

I understand what he wants to convey. For the first time, he wants to experience having a friend. A friend that I have managed to deny him as a writer.

.......