Tale of Arcillana

Chapter 5

Cam’s Point of View

"Welcome to Arcilla, Camelle Arabella Montidalgo. As I told you, it is not what you think." My brother smirked as he said it. I haven't opened my mouth to utter a word. I was stunned by this astonishing place. He is right. I am expecting to see a lot of pump boat seashores. Well, there are but majority of the vessels are yachts.

My eyes were locked on the four big yachts I am seeing right now. There are printed surnames on it, just like on what we are using right now.

BUENAVENTURA

COSTILLANA

ALEJANDRO

SAMANIEGO

Who are they?

There's a limo waiting for us and men who wear a black suit in a row. They stood straight, smart, and alert.

I don't know what to say anymore.

I am thinking of who are Montidalgos in this island. Is one of our family members a politician? Or do Montidalgos carry a royal blood?

"Are we some kind of royalties, mommy, daddy?"

I chuckled when I heard Light's question. Our thoughts coincide though.

We hopped in the limousine way to our grandparents' home.

"Uhmm, sort of baby." Mom answered as she pinched my little sister's cheeks.

"I didn't know that this kind of island exists. I mean it looks like a foreign city. And barrier? What was that for?" I asked after breaking my silence for how many minutes.

"For protection, I guess," Dark answered. "Have you seen wonder woman? The Themyscira? It is an island country located amid a vast ocean. There's a barrier concealing the island. Arcillana looks like that." He added.

"But that is a fiction D. This is not a movie, this is reality," I argued. "And is this even part of the Philippines? Why am I not seeing it on the internet? Having this kind of place would be a great contribution to the country's economy, specifically in tourism."

It should be one of the most beautiful places that the Philippines could have.

"What's the use of a barrier in concealing the island if it was publicized in the first place, Sis?" My big brother butted in.

That makes sense. But why does the island needs to be concealed? That's the right question there.

"Yes, this is part of the Philippines. Half of it but only a few knows the existence of the island," Dad answered.

Half of it?

Is it even possible?

Now I am confused.

"What's the reason for concealing the island?" I asked out of curiosity.

"To avoid a world war."

I couldn't get my eyes on daddy after hearing his reason. Is he serious?

"The island is abundant in gold, Cam. Gold here is like weeds. They are everywhere. The island is not only rich in Gold but other minerals and natural resources. When other big countries will know the existence of the island, we are afraid that it might cause a world war. The island will be the center of the world and everybody will try to colonize the island. The Philippine government agreed not to disclose any information about the island because they will also suffer the consequences, after all, half of it is part of the Philippines. We are just protecting our people," Dad explained.

So that explained why I couldn't find bit information on the internet and why there's a need for a barrier.

"If half of this island was owned by the Philippines then the country had the power to rule over Arcillana?" I asked again.

I don't know why but I suddenly became a person of queries. I couldn't just let this slide. I couldn't just let myself drown in the beauty and elegance of this island.

I want to know more.

I should know more.

"Nope. Arcillana has its government. We have our rulers and lawmakers. The Philippine Government had never intervened in Arcillana's. That is part of their agreement." Dad further explained. I am getting confused once more.

"Agreement? What kind of agreement is that?"

"Yes, Cam. Arcillana and the Philippines had an agreement before. There's a different section in that agreement and I couldn't discuss it one by one. But one thing I could tell you, that agreement gave us freedom." Dad smiled.

"We are here." He added when the limousine stops from moving.

"Dad I still have a question." I protested when he is about to go out.

"Save it for next time, Cam. And there's a book about Arcillana's history in the library of this house. You can read that one if you want to know more about Arcillana." He answered.

My big brother, mommy, and the twins are now outside the limousine so I followed them.

I couldn't believe this! Is this for real?

"Woah. Mommy, daddy... Grandpa and grandma's house is so big! It is bigger than our mansion!" Light exclaimed. Her eyes are full of amazement and excitement.

I almost couldn't blink after seeing my grandparents' house. Is it even a house? No, it is not! This is not just a house.

I scanned the whole place and I couldn't help myself to amaze more.

There's a huge space in here. On our right side, there is a mini pond that has a lot of bonsais. There are several not-so-big trees and a gazebo at the end of it. On our left side, I can see a huge fountain. There are benches and tiny balls of lights were scattered. There is also a wide space for a parking lot wherein I can see five vehicles.

I looked at the front view of my grandparents' house. I moved my chin upwards because their house has three floors. That huge.

Wow, just wow.

"Welcome to your grandparents' humble home," Dad said while grinning. Humble my ass. Their house is bragging. It screams wealth!

I almost couldn't step my feet forward because of amazement.

"Cam baby, come on. Your grandparents are waiting for us inside." Mom said when she noticed that I was not moving. She came near me and held my arm. "I know you are still shocked. Who wouldn't be right? But I assure you that this place will accommodate you. It will give all you want and I know for sure, eventually, you will fall in love with this place." She said while smiling. She put her right arm on my waist and we both headed inside.

"Finally you are all here," an aged man greeted us. He is our grandfather. He could still stand straight but his looks could tell that he isn't getting any younger. Beside him is our grandmother who is smiling.

I and my siblings came near them and gave them a hug and kisses on their cheeks.

"You really look like your grandfather when he's in his teenage years, Vonn Andrew. You are both tall, masculine, and good looking." My grandmother said while holding my brother's face. She then looks at me. "My beautiful granddaughter, the descendant of Venus. You resembled a lot of your mother hija. You both are a goddess." She said. She's referring to Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty. "And of course! Our little Montidalgos," she mentioned while her eyes are at the twins.

"Grandma, me, and Dark are not little anymore. We can do adult things like what mommy and daddy are doing." My little sister argued. She sometimes speaks like an adult.

"What exactly, my grandchild?" Our grandmother asks. I bet she is going to brag that Dark hacked a police station's record last night like what she told us while on our way here.

"Dark hacked several police stations in Manila. He identified those bad guys," she said while giggling. Our grandparents are shocked by what they hear.

And I was right.

"Well, Light hacked the school records. She was involved in a cat fight with the principal's daughter because she couldn't take that she only received the bronze medal. Well, in fact, Light's grades were higher than our classmates'. It was kept on the principal's personal computer. Too bad, my twin sister is also good at hacking. We found out that Light ranked next to me originally and she should receive the silver medal, not just bronze." Dark mentioned that causes us to drop our jaws. I blinked my eyes not just once to digest the information. We had no idea about it.

"Eh D!! I told you not to mention it!" Light exclaimed. She's now diverting her gaze to everyone.

"But you told them what I did last night L," Dark rebutted.

"But we never did a promise not to tell anyone about it while you promised me not to spill to them what I did D. It is a different scenario. You are not keeping your promise. I hate you!" Light raises her voice in her last three words. She runs to me and hugs me. She's sobbing. I rub her back to make her feel at ease. She's probably thinking that we are mad at her.

My intuition was right. They are having secrets from us.

"What kind of thing you are teaching your children, Carmilla, Richard?" My grandfather asked our parents.

They didn't teach them that. Kids nowadays are curious. And Dark was born intelligent.

"We didn't teach them anything about hacking dad," my father retorted. He averted his gaze at Dark. "When did you learn to hack?" Dad asked my little brother.

"When I was seven Dad." He answered.

Woah, that was two years ago already! They are now nine years old.

"How about you young lady?" Dad asked referring to Light.

"Just *sob* recently dad *sob* D taught me how to," She answered.

I doubt if Dark taught her willingly. I know my little brother.

"That's because she's so annoying daddy. She's pestering me every single hour. She said she'll stop if I would teach her how to hack." Dark defended himself. Light pouted her lips. I couldn't help myself to chuckle.

Dark could get easily annoyed when someone is bothering him. That's his attitude.

"Okay okay. Hacking is a serious matter and it is not suited for your age. You are just a kid. Can you promise me not to hack any system anymore?" Dad said. The two nodded in unison. "And you," he shut his looks at Dark. "Stop wandering in an unknown source. Got it?" He said. Dark nodded once more.

Among the four of us, the twins are most likely to have an interest in technology. Our big brother loves his career and he's not planning to quit just to handle the company. While I have no preferences yet. I still have two years in high school. I should enjoy myself first and explore in what field my interest goes.

"That is enough Richard. Let my grandchildren rest first. They travel far. I know for sure they are tired." Our grandmother said. "Olivia," she mentioned. One of the maids moves forward. She wears a different uniform from the others. Maybe she's the head. "Send my grandchildren to their respective rooms." She ordered. The lady named Olivia averted her attention on us. She bowed down and straightens her back again. She leads the way.

She led us to the corner of the first floor.

"Wow, they have an elevator!" Light exclaimed.

"The last time I went here there's no such thing like this." My big brother commented. At last, there's something new to him this time.

"Maybe because they are getting old, you know bones," I said. My brother just shrugged his shoulder.

"Your rooms are located on the third floor Young Ladies and Young Masters. I will send your things in an hour. Your clothes to wear at the party are in your rooms." Olivia said. We already reached the third floor of the house and we are now walking in the hallway. I can see a lot of paintings plastered on the wall.

Olivia opens the second door here on the third floor. "This is Young Lady Light and Young Master Dark's room. The first door we passed through is the theater room." Light enters their room while hopping. She couldn't hide her excitement. Dark immediately closes the door so I haven't taken a look at it. That kid!

We left the two in their room and continue to walk along the hallway.

"This is yours Young Lady Camelle," Olivia said and opens the golden door where we stop.

Woah! No way!!

That's my initial reaction after seeing the inside.

"I'll go ahead, Olivia. There's no need for you to accompany me. Just send my belongings here." My brother said. Of course! I know for sure he already knows where is his room here. He's been here twice already.

I am not new at expensive things. We owned a mansion back in Manila but I couldn't just help my amazement seeing these kinds of things.

The room is quite huge for a single person. It is way bigger than my room in our own house. And this room screams elegance and wealth! That's what I am seeing right now.

I dropped myself in the bed.

Aaahhh I felt so much comfort.

I feel ashamed of myself for thinking that Arcillana is one of the islands in the Philippines that has a lowlife kind of setting. Everything I witnessed today slaps me hard.

I am excited to see what more Arcillana could offer to amaze me. This island is not typical at all. I could attest to that.

Arcillana is something really special yet mysterious.