~Chapter 2: Unexpected Visitors~

Graciano loved Agueda so much that it hurt him to leave her for work or go to his study. He did his best to spend quality time with the child, but his work in the government kept him busy. He became governor of Cavite after Don Jubilo died, and his work required a huge amount of time and commitment. He did his best to improve the lives of the people he looked after, and the people grew to love him.

Agueda was a beautiful child. She looked exactly like her mother except for her tan complexion. Her nursemaid, Paquita, claimed that she got it from playing under the sun, which was completely out of line. Agueda was always indoors, so how in the world could she get a tan? Also, Agueda was too shy to play with the kids in the barrio. She usually kept to herself in her room, and played with the large dollhouse given to her by her uncle Generoso from Spain.

Paquita was a vixen for a nursemaid. She thought so highly of herself because Agueda's father trusted her. She would boss the other servants in the household and make them do things for her. The servants obeyed her for fear that she may tell Don Graciano lies about them. She would bully Agueda during her father's absence. Agueda never retaliated against her because her father taught her to respect and obey Paquita when he was gone. He made her promise him that she mustn't displease Paquita for everything Paquita did was for her own good. Agueda trusted her father's judgment and took Paquita's bullying as constructive criticism.

"Ugh, you're hair is pathetic Agueda!" Paquita exclaimed while she brushed Agueda's hair. "You 'oughtta cut it!" She snapped as she yanked the hairbrush down Agueda's hair. Agueda let out a shriek as she did that. "Leche*!I'm going to shave your head one of these days." She cursed while she removed the hair entangled in the brush. Agueda bit her lower lip, thinking that she should have shampooed her hair well so Paquita wouldn't have a difficult time brushing her hair next time.

Agueda couldn't understand the woman. There were days when she would praise who long wavy black hair, and then there were other days when she was itching to shave it off her head. The woman so fickle-minded and capricious that Agueda often found herself confused. She didn't know what pleased or displeased her. She was so ambiguous and difficult to understand. Nonetheless, Agueda kept all these in her and did her best to understand and accept the woman for who she was.

The Balmaceda household was always at peace whenever her father returned home from work during the evening. Paquita would often put up a caring and gentle front when her father was there. She would be nice to her fellow maids. She would offer to help out in washing dishes or serving Graciano. She would also praise Agueda in front of her father. She would tell Graciano how well behaved and obedient his daughter was to her. Also, she would talk nicely to Agueda. She would never mutter a curse when Graciano was around.

One of the rules Graciano established in his household was that the servants were not allowed to flirt, date or sleep with each other. Although the servants followed the rules religiously, Paquita broke the rules. Julio, the horse attendant of Graciano, flirted with Paquita. The servants of the household knew Julio for his lechery, and Paquita was curious enough to give into his demands. They would sneak out in the middle of the night into the stables and made love there. No one saw them except for the horses that woke up every time Paquita let out a loud moan. Although the servants knew of their affair, they kept their mouths shut. They knew that the shrew would black mail them if they told on her. Agueda never knew about the disappearance of her nursemaid in the middle of the night, but she did notice that Paquita's bullying grew worse each day. In the middle of Julio and Paquita's lovemaking one evening, Julio stopped. Paquita's face contorted and then she scoffed at him,

" Lost your touch eh?" She smirked. "If you're just gonna stare at me all evening, I'm gonna leave ya here 'cos I'm not here for nothin.'"

He grinned, "I didn't lose my touch Paquita." He said nuzzling her neck while she moaned. "I just wanted to tell ya somethin' important. I forgot to tell ya a while ago 'cos you were just too damned hot to resist." He said sliding his hand down her thigh.

"Then what is it?" She asked huskily. "I'm itchin' for ya, so make it quick!" He grinned as he kissed her mouth.

"Well, I was thinkin' that we oughtta leave this place and start a new life." She gaped at him. She opened her mouth to speak but he silenced her with a kiss. "I'm gonna steal some valuables from our wealthy neighbors next door you see. I won't be doin' it alone of course. I got Pedro and Dolfo to help me steal 'em goods. After we get 'em goods we'll come to pick you up here in the backyard so we can escape to Manila*. There we'll buy ourselves a home." She looked at him wide-eyed. "That is if ya wanna come with me." He said biting her lower lip.

"I'll come with ya," she replied hoarsely. "I'm sick of serving that brat and dealin' with those putas3. Also, I don't think I'd find anyone as good as you in bed. I'm sick of makin' love in front of 'em smelly horses too. I'll go with ya." He smiled mischievously.

"Tomorrow evenin' then, in the backyard. Wait for me after midnight." She kissed him hard and pulled him to her and they carried on with their lovemaking.

The following evening, Agueda had difficulty sleeping. She got up in the middle of the night to see that her nursemaid had disappeared. Agueda decided to go to the garden for a brisk walk. It was a warm evening. She looked up at the heavens and saw that the stars were like diamonds scattered on a huge black blanket, and the moon glowed radiantly in the image of Raphael Santi's Madonna and Child. She felt the night breeze brush through her hair and nightgown. She walked around the garden and marveled at the beauty of her surroundings. She watched the flowers sway as the evening breeze swept through them and carried their sweet scents into Agueda's nostrils. Agueda took pleasure and delight in the evening's beauty. She hugged herself, closed her eyes and began to hum a kundiman*, a love songone of the servants had taught her. She slipped into a trance wherein she felt one with nature, but it was interrupted when she heard a loud thud on the ground. She peered into the darkness and saw four figures talking in the garden. Three of the figures were dressed in black with huge sacks on their back. One of the figures wore a brown baro't saya* and carried a huge bayong* full of clothes and other belongings. After a while, she recognized the figure. It was her nursemaid, Paquita, talking with these strangers. One of the figures in black looked up to see her and pointed straight at her. Agueda panicked as the other three turned to look back at her. Paquita identified her, and walked toward her with the other three trailing behind her. Agueda moved back until she was cornered by all four of them. Paquita jeered,

"Agueda, go back to sleep now and pretend you didn't see anything. Shut your mouth up or ya'll be sorry you brat!" Agueda bit her trembling lip. The two black figures looked at her from head to toe with lust in their eyes. The other figure spoke up,

"Paquita, she's seen too much." It was Julio. Paquita looked at him with a puzzled expression in his face. "We'll have to do something to her to make sure she shuts up forever." The two other figures grinned. One of them whispered to Julio,

"She looks tasty Julio. I'd like to try a child for once." He licked his lips. Julio nodded at the figure. He approached her slowly; "hush, li'l one or I'll make it painful for ya." He said in a half-whisper. She was overwhelmed with fear. Her palms sweat, body quivered, her eyes and mouth wide open, her breath quickened and her heart raced a mile per second as the horrid man inched closer to her. She said her prayers to her guardian angel, and then passed out when she reached Amen.

When Agueda regained consciousness, she found herself back in her room. She sat up in bed and looked around her room. She gasped when she saw a handsome young man surrounded by bright white light sitting on her bedside. He smiled at her. To her surprise, the young man didn't frighten her.

"Don't worry about your nursemaid or those three men," he said gently. "They won't harm you again. I heard your prayers and came here to save you. I'll be here to watch over you dearest one. Call me out…" Agueda felt sleep creep into her body and his voice began to fade away, "Azriel…" He said as his words trailed out of Agueda's ears. She heard him say his name, but it left her mind the instance she shut her eyes and fell asleep.

*leche – a swear/curse

*Manila – the capital or New York of the Philippines; located in Luzon

*putas - prostitutes

*kundiman – a heartbreaking love song; the name kundiman came from the phrase "kung hindi man" in English it means "if I can't"

*bayong – a bag woven from palm leaves

*baro't saya – a simple Filipiniana outfit worn by the Filipina peasants. It consists the baro as the top and the saya as the skirt