Malediction

Almost

"I don't care if Amanda wants to fire me, I can't have Governor Elo die when I know I could stop it!" Sandra insisted to tell the Governor of his impending death despite our wiser choices. It was no joke when Jerry said something so morbid, it was already with a plan. "There's a chance she will not only fire you, Sandra. Your safety isn't guaranteed." I pressed. This young woman doesn't have to die young for such a noble cause. She remained unfazed. "It's okay, James. I'm not your little sister to protect." She sweetly smiled at me. "I'm a woman who can decide for herself. This choice is my own." She stepped back and turned her way back to the mansion. She climbed the stairs with her dark flowy hair. With one last glance, she mouthed the words 'Thank you.'

My worry for her has doubled because that was the last time I saw Sandra. It was from two days ago, before we parted ways after Amanda's scandalous visit to her affair. She has been unreachable since then. All that I can do now is wish for her safety, if she was still breathing.

"Sandra wouldn't do such a thing without a plan, James. She'll pull through." Tim said, trying to make me feel at ease as I sat on the floor. I sighed deeply. "I don't know anymore." I said, and tried to move on. I was thinking that maybe she went back to her hometown, or just away from this hell. Andrea laid her arms to my shoulders, letting them rest there. I sat on the floor and stretched my legs. She gently bumped her head forward to the rear of my head as she let her weight be felt back, pressing me to a bended shape. Tim decided to stay on the floor as well, for no particular reason at all. "She'll be fine." Andrea said in emphasis but with sympathy.

"Amanda's goons cannot move this much with the people gathering for the fiesta and Matilda's birthday is already happening." Tim explained further as he took away his camera's parts. He also had the cheap phone by his side that holds the evidence of children being exploited in the Pelaez' hacienda.

He opened his laptop, and inserted the memory card from the phone to its slot. It took more time than normal for him to open the files we needed. Without noticing our own actions, we had made Tim uncomfortable with the awkward silence and stares. "Let me work in peace." He asked, motioning us to go away. He didn't open his tabs until his screen was out of our sight. He gave us a quick side eye just to check if we were still looking through what he was doing. He may have thought that we didn't noticed, but we did. We did go away but not before Andrea's brows fused, totally baffled.

When we left him alone, Andrea was still looking in Tim's direction behind walls. "He never had any issue with us being with him as he worked before." She said, contemplating in the past. "Maybe he can't focus?" I guessed but with my unreliable memory, I can't really say for the fact. "No, he's hiding something." Andrea muttered to herself, as if she feared what she said. "Maybe it's the first time Tim experienced some technical problems while being with us, every person has their firsts."I said, trying to protect Tim from Andrea's observations. He was our closest and trusted friend. ”Not once did he make that excuse." She replied. "Something's going on with him."

"That can't be. He's Tim. He's our friend." I insisted.

"And we're covering the biggest scandal any journalist or photographer can be rich for." Andrea spat back. "Think practical."

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It was finally Matilda's birthday that day. Chatters of the society's upper class spread all over Casa Madrigal. The place was large but people continued to flock from every corner making it look smaller. Champagne glasses clicked and they cheered under her name. Everyone was happy for the party, but not all were happy for the celebrant. "Did you know that Elo turns a blind eye to everything?" One of them said, "With how Amanda moves, it's probably not her first time." They both laughed as they enjoyed the boujee way of life that they can only experience that day. Amanda passed over them, and they nodded and smiled. Hypocrites. It was just like a modern version of the medieval times of exclusive invitations and balls, ang gatherings. Everybody wasn't the way they seemed.

Outside Casa Madrigal, the common folk celebrated the only daughter's birthday as well with a fiesta they all awaited for. It was free. Oh dear, how they loved free things. It was just a few days in a year but people loved it and cherished those days of celebration and no work. The Madrigals' efforts were never in vain. People of the city of Leyte were always thankful and never missed to offer something in return.

And all Madrigals could ever ask for are their votes for the candidates they support every election. Elo won by landslide in the previous one, just because the people of Leyte were there to blindly shade the circle beside his name.

Amanda in her elegant red designer dress was satisfied with how the celebration had started. She let out a soft sigh of relief as another surge of attendees came closer. "Come, come! My daughter is turning twenty-one this year. Isn't it so fast?" She greeted them. with enthusiasm.

I was there to guard Amanda, but my eyes only focused on the stubborn woman in a form fitting dress talking to the most prominent figures in the province. Andrea didn't follow any of my instructions that day, she went ahead on her own despite Manunulat's obsessive tendencies on her, just waiting for the right moment to execute his devious plans.

Men were flocking over Andrea. Her beauty was standing out despite her wearing simply. One of them became too touchy with her that I couldn't help myself but go from one corner to the other where Andrea was. She may have continually smiled but I saw uneasiness in her eyes. If she would let me, I could've done something about those dogs but Andrea had told me otherwise.

"If you cause a commotion, the people will think we are together. We can't afford to lose our cover. So please, let me take care of my own." Was what she said to me.

I can't help but feel mad and disgusted with the man. I felt my face was already burning. My fists were already hurting from my pressed clenching. I was at my limit.

When the man that had constantly flirted finally detached from her, I moved fast. He went out to the balcony, along with some other friends. With an oily snack, I squeezed the oil inconspicuously and let it rest a meter away from the balcony before he entered. As he walked with his head held up high, he stepped on the oil, causing him to lose friction with his shoes. He continued to aimlessly walk with his slippery shoes towards the end of the balcony and stumbled forward. He tipped over the expensively designed railings.

I could've just let him fall and break some bones but I felt bad for him at the last minute.

I caught the back of his coat before he fully threw himself to the ground three stories below. I was itching to let go of the coat, but with Andrea watching the commotion, I know I can't just let a person be injured. It was only her opinion that mattered to me. I sighed and pulled him back to the floor of the balcony and left him on the ground who was shuddering in fear. I walked away.

"We need to talk." I said to Andrea as we passed by each other. She looked at me with a piercing gaze. She knew I did it but I shrugged it off. I don't really mind the gaze, I was already nice for letting the flirt live. Andrea can't just talk to men freely like that. She can only do that to me. As I always say, Andrea is mine.

Amanda had another guard by her side so having me gone wasn't a big deal at all. Andrea followed me to a cleaning room where no one was present, but waited for me to go first.

She closed the door then walked closer to me. Her eyes were lined with anger at what I had done. "I'm so-," A slap across the face cut me short. "What the hell were you doing? You almost killed the guy!"

"He had that one coming." I mumbled, looking away as I held my slapped cheek with one hand. She shook her head in disbelief. "Just let me do my part, James. We're in public. They won't do anything but talk, okay? Leave me alone for now."

"But Manunulat…" I held her hand and looked down apologetically. I only did that because I wanted those kind of men to learn. And I need to look out for Andrea because the stalker can be anyone in Casa Madrigal that time. She wasn't in our hideout anymore.

"I'll be around people, okay? I need the intel." She told me before she left me alone in the cleaning room. I looked at her with a sad expression on my face.

I may have become too much.

I came out of the cleaning room with a heavy heart. I walked the two way path back to the party, contemplating on how I may have worried Andrea. I really wanted to not leave her alone, the bad feeling inside me just keeps creeping in. I wonder if she was back already?

I heard her footsteps, a clattering sound of heels hitting the tiles. I think I could catch up to her in time if I jogged a little bit. I followed the sound and became attentive to its every tap on the ground. Then it stopped. A little more rattling and heels weren't hitting the floor anymore. It was bare feet. Andrea would never show herself bare feet unless in it was me or family with drinks. I tried to sense the sound more. She was still walking, her footsteps audible in the empty hallway...

But wasn't it too heavy for a woman?