Chapter 16

"FAYE..." I stopped and slowly turned to him. I looked straight into his eyes without blinking. Did he remember? Did he recognize me again?

He walked towards me and handed me a notebook. I looked at it, and it turned out he had just read the name written on the notebook I had left behind. I don't know but I suddenly felt sad, I thought he had remembered.

I couldn't speak and kept looking at the notebook, she must have been thinking that it was possible that someone's name was written in the notebook. "Ah, thank you. It's a good thing it's not lost, Faye would be mad at me," I said then tried to smile.

He just looked at me then nodded slightly. I turned around and started walking back to the mansion. I looked back at him but he was already looking at the window of Maria Florencita's room.

Not long after, Maria Florencita arrived with Mang Juan. Mang Juan moved a few meters away so Sebastian and Maria Florencita could talk. The two of them just stood in the middle of the garden.

I hid behind the tall plants. "It's already late at night, general, what prompted you to come here?" Maria Florencita asked politely, Sebastian just looked straight into Maria Florencita's eyes. It seemed like he was thinking carefully about whether he should say what was running through his mind right now.

"Is something bothering you, general?" Maria Florencita continued, Sebastian bowed his head and stared at the ground. He took a deep breath and looked straight at Maria Florencita again, "Nothing. Go to sleep," he said then adjusted his hat.

Sebastian turned and walked away. Maria Florencita just stood there and when Sebastian got on the carriage, she walked back to the mansion with Mang Juan.

It was almost midnight, I was sitting on the bed with my notebook in my hand. There was only one candle lighting up my cramped room. I didn't know why I felt something strange, as if Sebastian had something important to say to Maria Florencita earlier but he couldn't say it.

That look on his face was familiar to me. That's how he reacted every time he dreamed about his death. I was stunned by the candlelight, could it be possible that he had dreamed about his death again? But this time it was different, what would happen to him would be more painful.

I immediately wrote it down in my notebook. It's also a big puzzle to me why I'm in this story. It's also not clear how I'm getting out.

I closed my eyes, trying to remember the events since I entered the story in the first chapter of Salamisim. I entered here when the rebels attacked the prison. I entered again when the rebels ambushed Sebastian and his soldiers on the way. I entered again when Roberto pointed a sword at Sebastian's neck in court!

I wrote it down in my notebook and connected the events. Whenever Sebastian was in trouble, I was drawn into the story. I remembered what he had said before that I always came in times of trouble and that everything would be fine when I was there.

But why? Why Sebastian? Out of so many characters in this story. Why does everyone seem to have a connection to Sebastian?

I turned the page of the notebook and continued writing. I was able to escape this story when I was with Sebastian. I was able to escape when he first told me that he had a dream that he died in the cell. I was also able to escape when he said that he saw Roberto in a dream with a man whose face he didn't recognize. The light also disappeared after he said those things, which was why I was able to escape the story.

But my memory of this story disappears when I get out of the novel. Even in the flow of the story itself, everyone noticed that something seemed wrong. It seemed lacking and as if a character or thing was missing so the story was incomplete. Because even though I was here inside Salamisim, that was not written in the flow of the story itself so every scene and event was missing.

I need to know why this is happening. I have a strong feeling that Sebastian has something to do with it.

THE NEXT day, I was startled when someone knocked on the door. I got up with my eyes closed and opened the door, "Don Florencio is getting the chariot ready---Where is Arturo?" Orinina said in surprise, causing my spirit to suddenly awaken.

I was wearing a Chinese shirt but my long hair was loose and I didn't have a mustache! "Who are you?" Ornina continued, she even stepped back. I immediately closed the door. After all, no one else could know that I was a woman. Only Maria Florencita knew.

"A stranger has entered here!" Ornina shouted, causing the Garza family's personal guards to quickly run outside my room. I quickly grabbed the clothes I was going to wear: a black shirt, hat, pants, and shoes.

The bodyguards were trying to open the door. I wrapped my clothes in a sack and jumped out the window. "She's there!" a maid shouted. I quickly ran away and jumped over the mansion's high fence.

"Stop!" the bodyguards shouted, they even fired at me with their guns but they didn't hit me so I jumped to the other side of the road. They still didn't stop, they also jumped over the fence and chased me.

I passed through the forest, the river, and the muddy ground, but they still didn't let me go. They kept firing their guns, causing me to run even faster in fear.

After a while, I stopped because I was at the edge of a shallow ravine. Below it was a dirt road that led to town.

"Surrender!" shouted a bodyguard who was already out of breath chasing me. I can't surrender, Don Severino and Roberto will know I'm still alive. They will definitely punish me. I need to find Sebastian and talk to him about his dream. If he's still dreaming about his death, I'll definitely be able to get out of the story and change this novel again.

I just closed my eyes then hugged myself then jumped off the shallow cliff and rolled until I fell onto the dirt road. "F*ck! He's still alive!" shouted a guard, they were now standing on top of the cliff. They couldn't jump down there to follow me so they quickly found a way down.

I slowly got up, my arms and legs were covered in scratches and scrapes. I was covered in mud. I tried to stand up but before I could stand up, a chariot was approaching. It was already speeding towards me.

I just held my head and closed my eyes. But the horse quickly stopped and the coachman tried to calm it down. I slowly opened my eyes, I saw the man riding the carriage jump down. The coachman also got down and tried to calm the horse down.

The man knelt down in front of me and looked straight at me, "What happened to you?" he asked, I stopped when I recognized that voice. I looked at him in surprise, even he was surprised to recognize me.

"You..." Sebastian said. He was about to speak but we heard the Garza family's personal guards approaching. "Uhm, don't point me at them... please" I begged and quickly crawled behind a large tree. I leaned against it and covered my mouth.

I slowly peeked out from behind the tree, the personal guards stopped and saluted Sebastian. "Why are you here?" Sebastian asked. The personal guards of the Garza family stood up in order.

"We're just chasing a woman who broke into Don Florencio's home," a guard replied, still panting from the long run but trying to control his breathing.

"Did you see, sir, where the woman went?" asked another guard, Sebastian and Niyong, his coachman, looked at each other. "She jumped off the cliff and fell here," the guard continued.

Sebastian was stunned and pointed straight towards the road. "She ran to town" he replied, the personal guards immediately saluted and quickly ran towards town. I immediately continued running through the middle of the forest. I took the road back to the Garza family mansion.

I immediately changed my clothes. I wrapped a cloth around my chest, put on a black shirt with long sleeves and white pants. I tied my hair up and hid it under the buri hat I was wearing. There was a flame of fire left next to a tree, I immediately took the burnt part of it and drew it on my face to make a mustache.

From afar, I could already see the Garza family's guarded mansion. The maids were outside talking to other guardia civil. They were investigating what had happened, and Don Florencio, Maria Florencita, Ornina and others were also outside. They were talking to Roberto and his soldiers.

"Arturo is here!" Ornina shouted while pointing at me, making everyone turn their heads to me. They must be investigating who the woman Ornina saw in my room was. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down as much as possible so they wouldn't get suspicious.

Maria Florencita immediately came up to me and walked with me. "Where did you go? They've been looking for you for a while," she whispered, but we just looked straight at the road so no one would notice what we were talking about.

"I led them astray in the forest. I also buried my clothes there" I said, everyone was looking at me seriously, especially Roberto and Don Florencio. "I just told them that the woman Ornina saw in the room was Arturo's girlfriend" said Maria Florencita, causing me to turn to her in surprise.

I blinked twice. I couldn't believe it, Arturo and Tanya, who are both me is a couple!

"Arturo, where did you go?" Don Florencio began, we were now standing in front of them. "Ah, I was just feeding my duck's in the stream" I replied, even though I was closing my eyes because of what I said. Everyone looked at me in surprise.

"Arturo has some ducks in the creek," Maria Florencita replied, "So, who was the woman found in your room?" Roberto asked me, I just swallowed and looked at Maria Florencita. I just have to stand by what he told them earlier to make it more realistic.

"She's my girlfriend," I replied, almost judged by everyone by their looks. Some of the older housemates even shook their heads. "Hijo, it's not good to see you in the same room with a woman, even if she's your girlfriend," Don Florencio admonished.

"Have you found the woman?" Roberto asked his soldiers. They all shook their heads, even the Garza family's personal guards.

"Don't worry, she's probably gone home. I'll just tell her that she can't come here anymore. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused," I said, Don Florencio just nodded, while the women and elders shook their heads. 

"Thank you, General Roberto, for coming here on purpose," said Don Florencio as he shook Roberto's hand. "That's okay, Don Florencio, I happened to be on my way to the barracks when I heard there was a commotion at your home, so I thought I'd take a moment to find out," said Roberto, then looked at Maria Florencita.

"Oh, Arturo, get the carriage ready. Guerrero's are waiting for us," I immediately nodded and followed them, but I was stopped when Roberto blocked my way. "You look familiar," he said while staring at me intently. I immediately bowed and looked away.

"Sorry, general, but I have to go," I said, then quickly went to the horse stables to prepare the carriage carrying Don Florencio and Maria Florencita.

It was TEN o'clock when we arrived at the Guerrero family home. Don Antonio and Sebastian immediately greeted the Garzas. They entered the mansion. I stayed outside and fed the horse in the shade. I saw Sebastian turn to me before he entered the house.

I walked to the Garza family's garden, there was a small stream there where colorful fish were swimming freely. I held my arm, it hurt even more because I hadn't received treatment yet.

Others will surely be surprised when they find out that I have a wound like this. I will treat it later tonight, I will ask Maria Florencita to help. A moment later, I stood up when I heard voices walking towards the garden.

Maria Florencita smiled when she saw me, "Manang, Arturo will be our guard," Maria Florencita smiled while caressing the mayor doma of the Guerrero family, Manang Conching.

"Oh, I'll spread some rice," the old woman smiled. She was the one who took care of Don Antonio and Sebastian from their birth until now.

Sebastian and Maria Florencita walked first, the Guerrero family's garden was vast. They are not fond with flowers, but that was the only memory they had of Sebastian's mother, so Manang Conching patiently cared for and made the flowers grow in the garden.

I was five steps away from them. They had been walking slowly for a few minutes but neither of them had started to speak. I'm sure Lorenzo was running through Maria Florencita's mind right now because this was one of the scenes in Salamisim where she was troubled by her feelings for Lorenzo even though she was set to marry Sebastian.

The entire garden is covered in sunflowers. Apart from Sebastian's mother's favorite flower, this flower is also my favorite. I looked at them again, Sebastian was the first to break the silence even though he wasn't very talkative.

How are you? That's what he would say. I'm good Maria Florencita would answer. Is something bothering you? Sebastian would ask because Maria Florencita had been silent for a while. She would smile a little and shake her head and say, I'm just wondering what's going on in married life.

I counted on my fingers until Sebastian finally started talking. They continued walking.

"How are you?"

"I'm good"

"Is something bothering you?"

"I'm just wondering what's going on in married life."

I smiled to myself, I was right. I stopped when they both turned their heads to me. I immediately stood up properly and pretended to look at the flower. They continued walking again. I knew there was nothing more to come because there was no more silence between the two of them. Maria Florencita could only think about Lorenzo until they returned inside the mansion to start eating lunch.

But I was surprised when Sebastian continued, "No one knows for sure what the outcome of married life will be. I know you're worried about what might happen when we get together," he said while looking at Maria Florencita, the young woman stopped and looked at him. He caught Maria Florencita's attention.

"I can't promise that you will be happy with me every day. There will come a time when our relationship will be tested. However, I will hold on to only one thing," he continued, then handed Maria Florencita a sunflower.

"Please accept my love," he added while looking directly at Maria Florencita. Maria Florencita slowly took the flower and examined it carefully. Her face showed surprise at Sebastian's words.

Even I was looking at them in shock. What happened? That wasn't in the scene. I don't remember Sebastian saying anything like that. Sebastian stepped closer to Maria Florencita and was about to kiss her.

I screamed, "Waaait!" they both stopped and looked at me again in surprise. I immediately approached and stared at the flower that Maria Florencita was already holding. I looked closely at Sebastian, how did he manage to add what he had to say and act according to what he wanted to do?

"H-hold on, I'm just going to the bathroom" Maria Florencita said, obviously wanting to avoid it because she was shocked by Sebastian's words and his intention to kiss her. She quickly walked back to the mansion. Sebastian was supposed to follow her but I blocked him.

"You shouldn't have done that," I lectured him, I didn't care if he sent me to prison or challenged me to a fight, but it would be harder for me to fix the story now. He just looked at me, as if he was reading my reaction and what was going through my mind.

I looked away, "Now, she was embarrassed. You were too impulsive. You shouldn't have said that directly" he shouldn't have gotten ahead of Lorenzo! Lorenzo Cortes is the hero of this story. He should have been the first to confess to Maria Florencita!

"Her name is Faye, right?" Sebastian asked, causing me to look at him again. I wasn't done lecturing him about his anger yet, but I was even more surprised by what he said.

"W-what?"

"Don Florencio mentioned earlier why they were late. They said a woman was caught in your room. That woman was chased by the guards in the forest," he said, I just swallowed. The news spread so fast here.

"He also mentioned that the girl was your girlfriend," he added, my eyes rolling. The fresh air in the garden continued to blow. "Why are you changing the subject? I haven't finished telling you---"

"You lecture me about lust but you yourself brought a woman into your room" he said then a small smile appeared on his lips. 

I'm closing my eyes in annoyance, why does everything I say backfire on me?

"I think she's the same woman I saw in Maria Florencita's bathroom," he added, causing my face to blush even more.

Why is he reminding me of that embarrassing incident again?!

"You mentioned last night that the notebook belonged to someone else. Maybe her name is Faye. I saw her earlier. She's the woman who caused a scene in court and ended up in prison with me," I couldn't speak. No matter how you look at it, our paths are connected.

"D-Doggie must be thirsty, I'll go first," I said goodbye to him then quickly ran away.

IT'S already eight o'clock at night, Maria Florencita is treating the wounds on my arms and legs. "Why did you jump off the cliff? Just give up, Tanya. I'll be the one to beg my father to let you go," Maria Florencita said, we were inside her room.

I wanted to tell her that Don Florencio and Don Severino were really allies, so I didn't trust her father. Besides, Don Florencio was talkative, he would definitely mention to Don Severino that I was at their house.

"They probably didn't suspect anything," I said, then lay down on his bed. I wanted to sleep on his soft bed, just in case the two of us were the ones who got the issue. "Wait a minute, I haven't put any medicine on this yet," she said, then pulled me to a sitting position and applied medicine to my long wound on my elbow.

"I heard Ornina and the other housekeepers talking about you earlier. They said you should marry your girlfriend because you've slept with her."

"What? How is that? I'm going to marry myself?"

Maria Florencita laughed. "I'm really sorry. I should have just said that the girl Ornina saw in your room was your sister."

I looked at Maria Florencita, she was laughing so hard at the events. I'm single in real life. I was also single when I got into this story. Even when I got married, I was still with myself?

"By the way, wake up early tomorrow so Ornina won't knock on your door."

"Is there work tomorrow?" I asked, Maria Florencita looked surprised and then bandaged my wound.

"What do you mean?"

"Is there work tomorrow?"

"Yes, there is no typhoon"

"Tomorrow is Saturday."

"What about Saturday?" she asked in surprise. I just closed my eyes when I remembered that days off weren't popular in ancient times. Workers came in almost every day, there were no bonuses or holidays. They only couldn't work when there was a typhoon.

I can't let it go. I should have a day off in this world. I turned to Maria Florencita, "Listen, I have something very important to tell you" I began, she smiled, she seemed excited about what I was going to say.

"What is it?"

I took a deep breath, "You need to start respecting workers' rights," I continued like a speaker at a seminar.

"Worker's rights?" his head tilted to the side, I took another deep breath. It seemed like I was going to have a long explanation. I started to explain to him the importance of two days off. Saturday and Sunday, it should be.

The workday is only eight hours, if it exceeds that they must increase the salary for those who work overtime. Sick leave and vacation leave should also be paid if the worker has been working for them regularly or for a long time.

"Are you a lawyer or do you serve in the court? You know so much about things that will further develop our country," Maria Florencita praised, even listing everything I said so she could show it to her father.

I smiled to myself, "It's the first day of May, it's Labor Day so no one will be working."

THE NEXT day, I was surprised when someone knocked on my door again. I immediately pulled the blanket over me because the door was already open, "Arturo, get dressed. General Sebastian is calling for you," Ornina said.

It's only six in the morning, the sun is just rising. I'm standing on top of a low mountain. Niyong is standing next to me, also struggling to fight off his sleepiness, just like me.

"Where is your boss? He asked us to come here early but he's late," I complained while yawning. I tried to stretch but I just held onto my hip as if my bones were about to come apart.

We were surprised to see Sebastian carrying two sacks of rice that looked like nothing more than paper on his shoulders. He lowered them in front of us then looked at both of us, "From now on, I will train you here every day," he began, causing Niyong and I to look at each other in surprise.

We just thought Sebastian would talk to me privately to find out where my girlfriend was but it seems like there's something physical going on today. I raised my hand, "Uh, day off--- I'm not supposed to be working today. I also have work from Monday to Friday. I can't workout" I said, Niyong raised his hand as well.

"You need this training. Especially you..." Sebastian said while looking at me, "You need to keep a close eye on Maria Florencita" I just closed my eyes. If only he knew how I defended him from the rebels before and how I saved Maria Florencita from the thieves. I am definitely the more worthy of being a general than him and Roberto.

"I don't want to hear any more excuses. Carry a sack of rice on your back and start running two hundred meters," he said, leaving Niyong and me speechless. Niyong was thin and just a teenager, he would have to boil the entire sack of rice and eat it to be able to carry the sack.

Meanwhile, I am a short, malnourished woman. How can I run two hundred meters while carrying a sack of rice?

"The one who catches you two will have to run another two hundred counts," Sebastian continued, Niyong and I quickly went ahead of him in carrying the sack and started running.

A week has passed. Sebastian has been making us work hard every day in training. He no longer has a job at the general's reception because Roberto is currently in charge. He has a lot of time now.

Sebastian also trained us to punch hard with a sack of rice. We would also punch that several hundred times.

In the rice fields, he also had us plant a few hundred rice plants. He led us to fill a farm.

In the mud, Niyong and I fought over a rope. The loser would roll in the mud twenty times. He also taught us how to use arnis and swords.

Today, he will teach us how to use a gun. We are currently in a vast area covered with tall trees. There are three scare crows stationed in the distance. "Where is Niyong?" I asked, since we have been here, Niyong has always been ahead of us.

"My father orered him something," he replied as he loaded three long guns with bullets.

"Can he follow here?" I asked but he didn't answer. He walked towards me and then held out a long gun. The gun was heavy, I couldn't quite imagine how the marksman could shoot the enemy with its weight.

"Hold it like this," he said, then pointed the gun he was holding at the target. The talahib danced because of the gentle breeze. The sun was just rising, the sky was blue.

I imitated what he did but I couldn't hold it properly because of its weight. Besides, I was afraid to hold a gun, lest someone else get hit by a bullet because of me.

I was surprised when he put down the gun he was holding and walked towards me and stood behind me. "Watch your target carefully" he said, then grabbed my hand and helped me hold the gun.

I could feel his hot breath on my neck every time he spoke, "Don't take your eyes off so the bullet doesn't go astray" he continued, I just swallowed. He was behind me and he was so close to me.

"When you catch sight of it, then pull the trigger" I couldn't speak, I felt like I was frozen in place now. It was as if he was hugging me from behind.

He held my hand and we pulled the trigger of the gun together, a loud sound echoed and the bullet hit the crow scarecrow positioned far away.

"I notice that you don't seem to be used to fighting or handling weapons, even though you are Maria Florencita's bodyguard," he said, making me feel even more nervous. He grabbed my hand again and together we pulled the trigger of the gun to hit another scare crow.

"Maybe you're just not used to it. Or..." he said and we shot the third scare crow again.

"Perhaps you are hiding something behind that outfit," he continued. At the same time, the last gunshot rang out, accompanied by birds flying in the sky and a gentle breeze blowing that made the grass dance.

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