Chapter 27: Heart in the Dark (Erik's POV)
Chapter 27: Heart in the Dark
The midday heat in Plaridel felt like a gentle caress of sunlight on my skin, but the murmurs in the marketplace were thick with unease. "Have you heard? The Spaniards are sending more soldiers to the forested parts of Bulacan to hunt for terrorists," a vendor whispered to Georgia as I arranged crates of vegetables at our stall. Five days had passed since Georgia and I began working together, and our daily routine had settled into a steady rhythm—selling in the morning, cooking in the afternoon, and resting at night. Yet, as I laid out the fish on the table, my mind wandered far, restless with thoughts of my true mission.
I was brought here by Hiyas, the diwata, for a purpose I still couldn't fully comprehend. She told me I must guide Hustisya, Plaridel's hero, to correct her path. But how could I do that? Hustisya was resolute—willing to kill Spaniards to save Filipinos. I could see her fierce determination to protect her people, but I also felt the anger burning in her heart. I feared that if I confronted her, she'd see me as an enemy. My mind was at a loss for where to begin. My situation was impossibly complex. As I sorted the fish, my hands moved on their own, but my heart was heavy with doubt.
A sudden, sharp slap on my back snapped me out of my deep thoughts, making me jump. "Erik, what's on your mind again? Come on, let's go home and cook!" Georgia said, her smile brimming with energy but laced with a hint of mischief. Her eyes sparkled under the sun, and despite my fatigue, her vibrancy coaxed a smile from me.
"Alright, fine," I replied, waiting for her to lead while I packed up the remaining goods. As we walked home, I worried about Lola Maria. "Did she eat breakfast? We left her alone this morning," I said, my voice tinged with concern.
"Lola? She's fine. But thanks for caring," Georgia answered, her tone soft with a touch of gratitude. Our steps fell in sync, and for the first time, I noticed how comfortable we'd become with each other.
On our way, I stopped in front of a small shop by the roadside, its display of pots, plates, and kitchen tools neatly arranged. "Georgia, let's buy some stuff for the house," I said, my voice confident.
"What? I don't have any money, Erik!" she protested, her eyes widening in surprise. "Do we even need those?"
"I'll pay," I said, pulling her into the shop. "We need decent kitchen stuff. The ones we have are practically falling apart."
When we got home, Lola Maria was stunned by the new pots, plates, and utensils we brought. "My goodness, Erik! Where did you get the money for these?" she asked, her hands cradling a gleaming pot as if it were a treasure.
Georgia "tattled," laughing but with a hint of unease. "Lola, Erik wouldn't listen! He insisted on buying them!"
"New ones are better, Lola," I explained, smiling despite Georgia's sharp glance. "I use them too, so it's okay for me to spend."
I invited Georgia to cook with me, and she agreed, her smile returning. As we prepared ingredients in the new pot, Lolo Pedro, Georgia's grandfather, came in for a glass of water. I noticed his weary face, his hands scratched and bruised. "Lolo, are you okay?" I asked, concern in my voice.
"I'm fine, son," he replied, but his smile was forced. "I was fixing the roof. The rainy season's coming, and it's full of holes. We get soaked when it rains."
When Lolo left, I quickly grabbed my wallet from my bag and handed Georgia a bundle of cash. "Georgia, use this for the roof," I said, my voice firm with determination.
She gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Erik, no way! I'm not taking that!" she protested, pushing my hand back.
"Georgia, ten thousand isn't much, but it'll help. I'll work again to earn more," I explained.
She smacked my head, not too hard but enough to startle me. "That's not the point, Erik!" she shouted, her voice thick with frustration. "You've spent enough on new stuff! I don't need your money!"
I couldn't understand why she refused. "But you need this! I know it's not enough, but—"
"You don't have to do everything for us!" she cut in, her eyes blazing. "It's enough that we have food and you help us. Stop adding this!"
Truth be told, this was the first time I'd held so much money, and I didn't know what to do with it. Hiyas told me to use it all while in Plaridel, so I wanted to help Georgia's family, but she felt like she was taking advantage of my kindness, and that's what she wanted to avoid. "I don't think you're abusing me," I said, trying to reason with her. "We work and cook together. For me, it's fine."
But she grew angrier. "I can't, Erik! I can't accept your help, no matter what!" she shouted, storming off to the kitchen, leaving me bewildered in the living room.
That afternoon, as we rested, I noticed workers outside delivering roofing materials, wood, and nails. Lolo Pedro was talking to them, and I'd joined him earlier to secretly buy the supplies. I stepped out to join their conversation. When Georgia saw me, she yelled, "Erik! What's this? I told you not to spend your money on fixing the roof!"
I just smiled, despite her anger. "Georgia, we've already paid. It can't be returned to the hardware store," I said, handing her the receipt. "Let it be. This is for you all."
She approached, her face flushed with fury. "I forbade you, Erik! Stop spending on us!" she shouted, her voice trembling, as if waiting for an answer.
"Georgia, calm down," I said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "This is for your family. Let me help."
That night, after dinner, we rested in the living room, but my mind was restless. My mission—to guide Hustisya—haunted me like a specter. I had no idea how to approach her. If she was set on killing Spaniards, how could I convince her to change her path? But I also realized it wasn't right to stay in this house, pretending to be just a vendor, letting days slip by.
After a few minutes, I made a decision. I left the house, slipping into a dark alley, and there, in the night's shadow, I transformed into Ifugao. My clothes changed—my simple shirt became Ifugao armor. I wanted to find Hustisya, to talk to her, despite knowing the potential danger.
I searched Plaridel tirelessly, my steps swift but silent. I ended up at a grand mansion at the town's edge, a wealthy Spaniard's home.
The silence was eerie—no lights, no sound. My heart raced. Using my strength, I leaped high over the tall fence, landing softly in the courtyard. There, I saw guards lying unconscious, their clothes dusted with dirt.
My pulse quickened. Something was terribly wrong. I crept into the mansion, gun at the ready. Inside, Spaniards lay sprawled on the floor, bloodied and pleading for help. Their eyes were filled with terror, some bearing bullet wounds. In the dimly lit hall, I saw Hustisya—her pink hair glinting in the moonlight, her red cape like blood in the dark. She held a sword, poised over a kneeling Spaniard, her face ablaze with rage.
"Hustisya, stop!" I shouted, raising my gun and firing at the sword to make her drop it. The sound echoed, and the blade clattered to the floor.
Hustisya turned, her eyes burning with fury. "Stay out of this, Ifugao!" she roared, her voice like thunder. "These Spaniards must die for their crimes!"
"That's not the way!" I protested, but before I could say more, she used her telekinesis to hurl a sofa at me. The force was immense, sending me crashing through the mansion's wall and tumbling onto the grass outside.
Hustisya followed, her steps radiating anger. "I warned you, but you ignored my plea to stay out of this. You'll pay for ignoring my warning !" she shouted, launching her attack. Her punches and kicks were lightning-fast. I blocked some with my arms, but her speed was nearly impossible to match. She levitated a gun from the floor, aimed it at me, and fired. The bullets struck my thighs, but I didn't flinch—the power granted by my diwata shielded me from bullets.
"Hustisya, listen!" I yelled, but she pressed her assault, using telekinesis to bind me with ropes. They tightened around my arms and legs, and she slammed me to the ground.
Pain seared through my back, but I refused to yield. With raw physical strength, I tore the ropes apart, my arms trembling with effort. In a swift move, I grabbed Hustisya's arm and threw her to the ground.
She gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "How did you do that?" she exclaimed. I realized in that moment her spirit-like power had failed. I noticed too—my physical attacks could harm her. "Hustisya, stop the killing! It's not too late!" I shouted, my voice thick with desperation.
She laughed, but it was a hollow sound. "And if I don't, what? What can you do?" she taunted. "You can't stop me, Ifugao!"
"We don't have to fight. Please, listen to me," I pleaded.
"No, you listen to me, Ifugao!" she snapped. "These Spanish devils must pay, and you, by interfering, are now among those I'll fight!"
She charged again, landing a powerful punch to my face. I fell to the ground, pain blazing across my cheek. I realized her physical attacks could hurt me, despite my diwata's protection. We fought on, trading blows, neither willing to surrender. The grass around us was torn, and each fall to the ground only spurred us to rise and fight again.
As the battle raged, police sirens wailed in the distance, forcing us both to halt. We knew we couldn't be caught there. Before fleeing, Hustisya warned, "Don't show your face to me again, Ifugao. I won't let you disrupt my mission to deliver true justice for Plaridel's Filipinos!"
I stood defiant. "I won't give up, Hustisya. I'll do everything to stop you, as long as you're on the wrong path!"
She vanished into the darkness, leaving me standing, my body exhausted but my heart resolute. I knew this fight was only the beginning.
End.