chapter 6

Do you know something about him? Tell me," I told her and she came back to her senses. 

"I have something to get from my room, do you want to come with me?" I nodded since I also want to see her secret room here.

"If that's the thing, come here."

We walked through the stair down the secret room, I saw earlier. She opened it with a key, it seems like she locked it when I tried to open it. 

A room full of books filled my eyes, there was a table and there was a painting placed in the wall, I walked closer to it and there was something written there, "WWII". I was amazed with the men drawn to the painting, he was wearing a general's uniform and the other one is wearing an Americana suit, in the middle was a woman.

"If you could see, that painting was made by my elderlies," she told me and I was much amazed since it has been kept for that long time. 

"Who are these people from the painting?" she smiled at me when I asked then sat on a chair before starting to talk.

"You seemed interested, young lady. Let me tell you the story," she said and she started to tell the story. 

"Avery Allecxiannie was a lady born during the American occupation, her mother was a Filipina who married an American general. Avery was a kind and pretty child, she was the most beautiful among her siblings.

That reason her parents wanted to fix her into a marriage with an American but she refused. He got a Filipino man to pretend to be her lover, but her parents still did not allow her. Until World War II came and Japan started to invade the Philippines," she heaved a sigh after running out of breath because of longer talk then continued.

"As a general, her father fought, but it happened that he was killed by a Japanese. They had a difficult living after that, she was brought to a club until a Japanese had his eyes on her and bought her. But his general wanted her as well, so he took her from the young Japanese man, which he did not like and made a fuss with his general.

The American her father wanted her to marry became a general and took his position in exchange that's why—" she was cut off by the sudden sound of a clock, I suddenly felt my head spinning and I found myself slowly losing my balance and fell off the ground. 

-- 

"Allecxiannie, hurry and come down, your fiance is here." a woman told me, she was wearing lots of gold around her whole body and a luxurious traje de mestiza.

"Mom, can I see him some other time? I don't really feel well," I pretended like having a headache, but she just glared at me, she seemed to not believe me. I sighed in surrender and was left no choice when she forced me to go downstairs.

"Before going down, wear this traje de mestiza, which I and your father bought and this hairclip as well, you need to look pretty in your fiance's eyes, daughter." I secretly rolled my eyes when she said it.

What's so fascinating about getting married and why would I even need to face this rather than my books?

I looked at the American soldier, sitting while talking with my father, he's a general. A cup of coffee was in his hand. I sighed heavily before greeting my father. 

"Good morning, dad and to you, young man as well," I greeted them both, without even paying interest. The young man stood up and greeted me back, which I didn't give attention to since he's not my type.

Mother told me to sit beside father while they talk about the upcoming wedding. If possible, I wouldn't want it to happen, I don't want to tie myself up with just some kind of love without being happy. 

I was just starting at my shoes, not even listening to whatever they're talking about.

"What can you say about your father's plans for the wedding?" mother asked me which caused me to get my senses back. I answered right away, I'll be dead if they knew I wasn't paying attention. 

"Your plan is great, father." I told him to make it look like I liked the plan but he asked me the same question.

"What's your plan, Allecxiannie?" he asked me which made me scratch my head. 

"I-I want invitations for the wedding, yes, right, invitation cards for the fellows to know about the upcoming wedding, what do you think?" I said and chuckled awkwardly, I can't think of any suggestion since I don't have any plans to attend it.

They nodded in agreement and told me it was a great idea. 

"Tomorrow, right away, I'll process the invitation cards so that the wedding will be held sooner, if we will be doing everything in a short span of time, then we'll be there," father said which made me surprised, it was a wrong move, they wanted the wedding to happen in a short time.

After the talk, the young man bid his goodbye and left. I asked them if I could go to the market with Olivia, my friend and is one of our servants. She's the only person I could tell my plans too. 

While walking, I told her that I'll be meeting my friend, Danilo and I'll be back.

I went to a coconut tree which can't be seen by lots of people, there I saw Danilo, leaning against the tree.

"The American my father wants me to marry came over again, I think I need a man to introduce himself as my lover so the wedding will be cut off," I sighed, good thing he's here to help me out anytime mostly when I'm in trouble.

"Don't worry, I'll help you out so that the wedding you've been refusing all this time will be off," I smiled and thanked him with what he said. 

Our talk lasted for an hour since we told each other, things about our lives, he was my very best friend. Among all that I knew, he was that only one whom I think would not dare to betray me.

When I came back to where I left Olivia, who wasn't there anymore, so I hurriedly came home so that father won't notice that I've been out for some time and I wasn't with Olivia. 

"You're here, Olivia said you suddenly vanished while she's with you in the market, where did you go?" father asked while Olivia was just looking down.

"I went to the river, father. I'm sorry, I haven't told Olivia," I was bowing my head as I reply, he nodded and that means it's fine. 

After that, I went up my room to continue what I was reading, Olivia came in and apologized for what happened.

"It's fine, Olivia. Next time, don't abandon me there," I told her and she nodded. 

A pat woke my eyes up. I realized I was still at the old woman's house.

"Are you fine? You fainted here..." she looked so worried. I held my head and nodded.