“This is Cresilda Rae Fenetria, and I am..” My lips formed an innocent smile.. To a fiendish one. “A serial murderer.” --- Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, unless otherwise stated, is purely coincidental. This story is not edited. You may encounter typographical and grammatical errors as you go on with the story which I will fix the soonest. Still, I guarantee you my honesty that the plot, characters, and the whole story is mine and not plagiarized. This story contains mature content, including explicit and suggestive language, violence, death, murder, sexual themes, and overall mature themes through the entire story. Legal terms, abuse, and debasements are ALL FICTIONAL AND INADVISABLE. I, putting mature themes on my novel, DON’T SUGGEST nor CONDONE what my characters do. Minor or not, please be guided and responsible for your actions. Read at your own risk. © All Rights Reserved 2022 Esmeray

Ika nga nila, huwag tayong magsalita ng tapos. Hindi natin alam ang mga mangyayari sa hinaharap, at mas lalong bilang lang sa kamay ang mga bagay na kaya nating bawahan. Ngunit sa isang dilag na ito, hindi iyon uso. Dala ang isang ngising puno ng kayabangan at kombiksyon, kaniyang sinabi, "Marami akong problemang mas dapat unahin kaysa sa.." ngumiwi siya at umiling sa kaniyang matalik na kaibigan, "pag-ibig na hilaw." Isang halakhak ang nakuha niya pabalik sa lalaki. Inakbayan siya nito at nagpatuloy mag-trote. "Isang pagkakamali ang magbitaw ng salita nang tapos," nagkibit-balikat siya. "Tignan natin." Balik sa dating gawi ang kaniyang buhay. Ni hindi siya nabago ng usapang iyon sa gitna nilang magkaibigan. Pagbangga sa mga mahihinang nilalang sa unibersidad, pagtingin sa kanila nang matalim, o pag-bibitaw ng mga malulutong na salita sa harap mismo ng mga ito. Pagsuway sa mga guro ngunit pangunguna rin sa marka sa klase. Oo, ganiyan siyang babae.. at tanging ang kaniyang nagiisang kaibigan lang ang nakaka-atim ng ugali niya. Nasa tamang agos na sana ang lahat para sa dalaga.. ngunit may dumating. Tila may ibang plano yata ang tadhana sa kanila. Ano naman kaya iyon?

Las Islas Filipinas, March 1831. Our laughs resonated the room. He lend his hand with a beam. “Deal?” I let out another chortle and nodded as I took his fat, callused hand. “It is a done deal, señor. I’ll be one of the sponsors of beverages in your restobar.” “That’s very nice to hear from you, sir. You are very young in twenty-five yet businessmen of any level flock into you just for a partnership!” He looked and sounded amazed, but his eyes spoke for him; he was using me and my business for his own good. “I’m deeply honored to have been granted one!” “As you should,” I said in an innocent way. “Do you want to have some shot first before departing?” I sounded genuine, for sure. He shook his head eagerly. Bingo. “No need, señor Reon. I shall go by now, my daughter might be waiting for me at the mansion. She doesn’t want waiting games.” He added a chuckle. I nodded and sighed as my hands travelled their way to my pockets. “Sure, then. Have a safe trip to Bacolod.” “I sure will,” he said with a bow and lively went out of my store. I sighed and went back to the counter. Ah, people and their avarices. They’d do anything, even lowering themselves just to have it. Well, I am no gentle businessman. They’d deceive me? I’ll lure them into the trap first. The tragedy from five years ago turned me into a successful, wise man—way different from before. I was caught off guard when I heard a slight harsh opening of my store’s wooden door. Expecting a drunk costumer, I sighed and went out of the counter. That couldn’t be the man I just had a deal a while ago. He should’ve opened the door nicely for “good impressions”. But to my horror, a fine lady in a brown and white baro’t saya was who I found. Hiding behind my wines’ shelf, she was cautiously looking outside. In a glance, I knew who she was. I smirked. Perhaps, people hate her, too? Of course. Who wouldn’t abhor this country’s iniquitous president and his daughter who acts too clean and prim? I waited for few seconds to pass before trying to speak in a warm way. The blessing is presenting itself to me.. and who am I to refuse? I have been seeking for revenge.. and the heavens are grateful enough to lend me a chance. “Ah, miss?” It was hard keeping up a casual talk and I knew my eyes spoke of menace and darkness. I had to lighten up the atmosphere by introducing myself to her and bidding her a proper good-bye, and an “until again” that was half-hearted to my side. I never expected for that “again” to be this soon because the exact same scenario happened but this time, it was a group of men chasing and telling her words that were below the belt. I had to pretend I really cared.. as a friend. “Reon!” She was panting and sweaty, holding her saya up tightly. Her cheeks were flushed because of the sun’s rays outside. I hurried to her and looked outside the windows. There were five farmer-like men that looked as if they were searching for someone, settled at the middle of the road, gazing at different directions with perplexed eyes. My gaze went back to her. She looked fragile and weak, catching her breath in an atypical way. My brows furrowed as I saw her hardly speaking and trying so hard to put back the normal pace of her breathing, but continuously failing because of series of coughs. My jaw tightened. For a moment, I had second thoughts whether to confront the men first or attend to this woman. But as our eyes met, with hers teary and excruciated, I just knew I was lending her a water and thinking that this isn’t one of her alleged actings. It took hours before she was fine. Her eyes were swollen. Her lips, too. She was still having a hard time breathing and still coughs every three minutes or so, but she looked better. “Sorry for that,” she said in a very hoarse voice. She chuckled. “I have asthma. All my life, I’ve been suffering from this but I got used to it already. We just ran a lot a while ago so it went that worse. But I am fine now, don’t worry.” I’m not worrying. I cleared my throat as I questioned my thought and nodded. “Be safe as you go home, Ivery,” I just managed to say. She smiled and nodded as well. “You, too. See you around.” I nodded and watched her go away. She was slow, but I think she is strong enough to make her way abode. But I saw myself looking out of my place’s windows, watching her ride a kalesa elegantly. Of course.. it was for.. it was because I should be the one to hurt her in any ways, and not other people. Because.. because I want my revenge. Yes! That’s it! I groaned and tapped my nape hard repeatedly. “Wake up, Reon.” I clicked my tongue. “It’s for the justice of your family.” “Kuya Reon!” “Reon, anak!” “Get out of here now!” “Kuya, tulong!” It was a peaceful night when my family’s screams and groans resonated the president’s mansion’s basement. With burning torches and rugged, armed men and their evil smiles, my