Hermana* Auring and I sat by the dinner table, enjoying the simple yet satisfying meal we have. I took a spoonful of papaya and moringa leaves with steaming rice. As I put the food in my mouth, she attentively watched me with a wide smile that showed a perfect set of white teeth and dimples on both cheeks. During her prime, I can say that she was a very beautiful lady.
(Spanish term for "Sister")
"Here. Eat some chicken." She placed a chicken leg on my plate and another serving of rice.
I gulped.
Poor chicken.
I hope its soul is in heaven now.
"Burp...oops...excuse me..." I shyly told her.
"I think I'm full."
She frowned and gave me a slice of mango and leche flan*. My stomach felt ready to complain, impending a visit to the comfort room. I've already eaten two cups of rice yet she still thinks that I need more feeding.
(Creme caramel, a dessert from Spain)

"Eat these. They are a tasty match!" she proudly stated.
"A-Alright!" I could not complain anymore since she is just so decided to fatten me up.
Antoine never came out of his room for dinner. I did not worry because he always had his stash of imported French biscuits in his room.
Maybe I could sneak in and get two or three cans. I've been desiring to get a taste of those with white chocolate filling.
After dinner and some time in the toilet, I helped Hermana with washing the dishes.
"Before you sleep, make sure that all windows are closed." she firmly instructed me. "And, never come out of your room after midnight. We do not know what creatures are roaming after that hour. Keep your rosary at all times wherever you go."
"Are there...ghosts?"
"Oh, Dear. There's even more! Do you know that the antique statue of San Pedro moves at three in the morning? For real! I saw it once when I got out." she began to detail her sightings one by one, making all hair in my body, even the tiniest ones stand. "And, do you see that Cross in the corner? For so many times, I saw that overturned!"
Oh my Lord!
I may be used to seeing ghosts and spirits but imagining myself waking up with that sight might makes me want to pee in my underpants!
As I proceeded to my room, I kept on turning my head; left and right, front and back, for fear that a statue might be following me. I came inside my room, very much relieved that no cold and wooden hands tagged me.
I jumped on my bed really exhausted. It did not take me too long to fall asleep.
The large clock by the living room made an eerie alarm. It was so loud that it woke me up from deep slumber.
It was midnight.
I saw that my window was partially open.
"What the heck?" I blamed myself for forgetting. "Should have locked it."
I was about to close the window when I saw Antoine outside. I instantly hid under the sill so that he won't see me. Moving to the side, I peered to check on what he is doing. He looked around and proceeded to go behind a big Narra tree, where his hideout is.
This hideout was well-designed. He and his late father had a tunnel constructed below, leading to a storage area for weapons and other items to hunt down evil spirits and demons. It also has a secret passage going to a hidden forest.
"Is he hunting? Alone?" I thought. "What is he thinking?"
Then,I remembered telling him about the three aswang* folks who greeted him in the rice field.
(In Filipino folklore, a shape-shifting monster who feeds on human flesh)

He really took my words for real. If he did, he is in great danger. Those three, as I have read from an old book I got from my late grandmother, are one of the oldest and strongest breed of aswangs. Even the most trained hunters will need company to finish off this kind of monsters.
There is no way I will allow my main character to die!
I proceeded to the altar where a large image of the crucifix with the suffering Jesus Christ nailed on it. I made the sign of the cross and said an apology prayer in my mind as I pulled a thorn from the head. A cabinet at the bottom of the image's feet opened. I took the rifle and took the bag of bullets to follow him and be his backup.
The hut looked cozy as the moon shone above it. I peeked behind a mahogany tree and took a glimpse of Antoine sitting and observing behind a rock. His distinct eyes with the color of gold had a faint glitter in contrast to the darkness of the night.
He took out a wooden spike and a string of garlic.
Aha!
We have been looking for those!
Hermana could not see where the garlic is when she cooked the chicken stew that is why the soup became bland!
Now I know who the culprit is!
So carefully, I tiptoed and sat beside him. I gave him a gentle tap on the shoulder.
"What...what are you doing here?" he was a bit shaken due to my unexpected presence.
"I thought you might need some
help."
" It's too dangerous here...mmph..."
I covered Antoine's mouth when I saw a shadow moving near the hut. The shadow turned into a black dog, with the size of a horse. It jumped on the hut's roof and started to drill a hole on it with his proboscis.
No doubt.
There is a pregnant woman inside and the aswang's purpose is to eat the unborn fetus. Two more black dogs emerged and guarded the door. Antoine took his rifle and began aiming at the one on the roof.
He was about to pull the trigger when suddenly, the window opened.
"Who's there?" a man, probably the husband, yelled. He stuck his head out from the window and looked around.
The two dogs pounced at him and dragged him out. The woman screamed for help.
"Silly, silly man. Change in plans." He covered his face and grabbed a bolo*. He ran to where the monsters are.
(A large single-edged knife used in the Philippines)
"Hey! You!" He waved his weapon and pointed it at the biggest aswang.
"He leaks of fat and bad cholesterol. No good. Let him go." he preached as if those monsters could be so health conscious.
The monsters hurled the man away in disappointment.
He was almost dinner.
"Go and protect your wife and child. " he ordered. The man ran inside the house and closed the door and window.
"Can you promise to leave and never eat humans again? Antoine asked in a sarcastic tone. "Like, good dogs? Won't you even consider being vegetarian?"
The black dogs growled angrily at him and their eyes turned red like burning coal. Black liquid fell from their mouths.
Surely, their answer is "no".
The three attacked him all at once.
It was quick.
The three monsters lay dead on the ground with their heads decapitated from their bodies. Antoine began collecting the corpses, preparing to burn those so that there will be no evidence of their existence.
What an unusually strong man!
I felt so much pride with his ability.
He is my Obra Maestra* after all.
(In Spanish language, this means "masterpiece")
From behind, I heard someone stepping on a twig. With a quick turn, I saw one of his servants. He bared his fangs and charged to attack me. I aimed my gun at him but he was too quick to grab me by the throat. I fell hard on my back. He raised his fist to hit me but Antoine stopped him from doing so. He gripped and threw the monster farther from me.
I coughed heavily as I struggled to breathe.
"Stay here." He assisted me to stand up and move to a dense shrub. "These will be pungent but you have to put this on." he explained to me while placing the string of garlic around my neck.
"Hail, Master!" His servants, the ones we have met on the rice field greeted. They surrounded us with evil grins on their faces.
"As I thought." Antoine told them. He removed the cover on his face and addressed them. "Let's make a deal, shall we? Leave this place and all is a truce."
"We don't make deals with food." the oldest aswang said as he quickly pushed Antoine against a tree. He attempted to impale him with his long nails but my main character was able to dodge. So effortlessly, he carried me in his arms, hauled me on his shoulder like I am a sack of hay, and began running.
"A-Are we in a bad situation?" I stammered.
"Yes." he honestly replied. "No worries, we'll get out of here alive."
"Mommy dearest!" I shrieked in panic. "This is more real than I thought!"
"Real?" he said with a hint of wondering. "Yes. As you can see, they are."
Out of nowhere, the other two were quick to attack us, sending us rolling on the ground. The eldest one jumped up, ready to pounce but Antoine was quick to shield me. He winced as his right arm was scratched, tearing his skin open that I could almost see some part of his flesh. With a trained hunter's presence of mind, he took a handful of soil and threw it on the enemy's eyes for a moment of distraction. He picked me up so swiftly that I felt as light as a ragdoll, and moved me meters away from our predator.
"Your blood tastes nice, Master." he sneered as he licked his finger and wiped the dirt from his face. "Maybe that woman you are with is more palatable. I am going to rip her stomach and feast on her liver. Her scent is just so-"
Before he could even finish talking, Antoine tackled him down. He took out a hidden gun from his ankle and shot the the one who tried to strike from behind. With incredible speed that my eyes could not follow, he threw a knife at the other, hitting him bullseye at the heart.
He and the eldest aswang wrestled on the ground. Due to the monster's supernatural strength and the latter one's arm injury, he succeeded in pinning him to the ground.
Oh no!
This could not be happening.
I have to do something.
My main character badly needs my help!
Gathering all my courage, I sprinted towards them with a firm decision in mind.
"Stop! Leave now!" Antoine struggled to break free but the monster gripped him by the neck, trying to strangle him.
"Nope!" I refused while taking a handful of garlic on my neck. "Eat this!" I forcefully opened the monster's mouth and inserted the dreaded and stinky kitchen condiment.
He howled in pain, releasing his opponent without a second thought.
His red eyes looked at me in fear and scampered away to escape me and my ultimate weapon...
The powerful garlic.
"You are not going anywhere!" I shouted at him. I took the string out of my neck and threw it at him.
He burst into flames.
Just like firecrackers.
What a beautiful and lovely sight to behold!
"You are unbelievable." Antoine scratched his head and looked at me in disbelief. "How did you know that?"
I laughed proudly and put my hands on my waist.
"Haha! Of course I know something about the supernatural! Garlic is an aswang's worst enemy."
"You are well-read, I can tell." he stood up, shook off the dirt from his pants, and walked towards me. "I owe my life to you. How can I repay you?"
"That's nothing. You saved mine too. Guess what? Maybe we can be a team-"
Suddenly, I felt so dizzy and I struggled to keep my balance.
As I was about to fall, Antoine caught me and I landed on his chest.
"Maria Clara!" he called my alias with so much concern. "MC..."
I felt his heartbeat...
His warmth...
His breath...
It was so real.
"What if I just carry you home?" Antoine offered.
"No need." I answered while staggering like a drunk man. "I am just...fine!"
I stumbled.
Again.
The fight with the aswang* left me exhausted and dizzy that I can barely walk straight. He approached me and without any warning, lifted and carried me on his shoulder.
(In Filipino folklore, a shape-shifting monster who feeds on human flesh)
"Hey! I'm a lady. I can manage!" I refused and jumped out of his hold to free myself. "And besides, you should be more concerned about yourself. Let me check on that scratch."
He was quick to step back and avoid me.
"Later." he told me so discreetly.
"No-uh. Let me see." I persisted. With a swift grab of his arm, I rolled off the sleeve of his shirt, only to find some minor scratches, which I assumed to be deep. "You heal very fast!"
He rolled back his sleeve and shrugged his shoulders. "It was never that deep, really." he denied, even if I saw that he bled badly when he got injured.
He is really bad in lying.
"OK. Whatever!" I continued walking in very slow strides. He patiently followed me from behind.
It was still dark and I can barely see the road. I saw the house on the right side of the field and proceeded to it, wondering why Antoine's house became smaller and with iron railings.
"I am just too sleepy." I convinced myself.
"Do you have two gates?" I asked while trying to open one.
"I think you should not go there." he interrupted.
"Why?"
"Because that's the pigpen."
"Oh!"
I felt my cheeks burn red. Too good, it's a bit dark and he can't see how I blushed.
Maybe, he did not.
Or, maybe he did.
I really don't care as long as I make it out of this world alive!
"This way." he finally led me to the right direction.
It was about four o'clock in the morning when we reached the house.
"You may rest for as long as you want." he told me. "This had been very tiring for you."
I was not able to sleep at all. The ordeal really scared me and it made me realize that I am vulnerable in this world. Even if I wanted to close my eyes, the bloody scenes that I witnessed with my own eyes made me shudder. Without noticing the passing of time, I heard the clock alarm at six in the morning. I took a bath and proceeded to the kitchen, thinking of preparing breakfast or do errands for Hermana* Auring.
(Spanish term for "Sister")
She is already in the kitchen frying eggs while on the corner, Antoine is mincing garlic for the sinangag*.
(Filipino's version of garlic fried rice)
"Good morning." I greeted. "I'm sorry if I came late. Let me help."
Hermana Auring warmly smiled at me and waved her hand with a ladle. "It's fine. I'll train you to clean the house later. Sit there and relax."
"Hi!" I addressed the master of the house who is busy mincing garlic.
"Can I help?" I inquired. "Please?"
Antoine gave me two potatoes to peel. He never uttered a word the whole time we were in the kitchen.
While we ate in the dining room, he was unusually silent. Sometimes I would catch him staring at me. When I try to look back, he would shift his gaze somewhere.
"I need to go." he said as he stood up from where he was sitting.
"You haven't finished your food." I tried to stop him.
"I'm full." He went to his room and stayed there until afternoon. I wondered if I did something wrong to displease him.
"That's just him." Hermana held my hand to console me, probably noticing my sad expression. "He does not open up to anyone so easily and may seem like a snob but he is really nice. You'll see."
I know.
As seen in my dreams, I saw him as to be very kind and humble. If only "real men" im my "real world" would be like him, no girls would be crying. His gentle demeanor, incredible patience, and respect to women makes him stand out among all men.
Sadly, his kind rarely exist in my world.
Or, have completely disappeared.
Hopefully, I could turn this fiction character into a real one so that there will still be hope for mankind.
"Beautiful flowers!" I happily declared as I poured water on them. It became my habit to talk to plants because my grandmother told me that if I speak with them, they will produce more blooms. "Ooh! You've got a new bud there! Good rose!" I praised.
"Good rose?" I heard Antoine speaking beside me. "Will she answer back?"
"Yaiiks! How long have you been there?" I blurted out. surprised that I did not notice his presence.
"Ten minutes ago."
"You're a little sneaky, haha! Like a cat!" I quipped. My joke still kept his face deadpan. Both of us became eerily silent for a while.
"Can we talk?" he started. "I mean, we are already talking but can we go inside?"
"You can tell me anything, here. What is it?" I put the pail of water down and shifted my full attention on him. I looked straight into his eyes and smiled. "OK. Tell me." He was quick to break eye contact with me. A faint blush formed on his cheeks.
"It's...very important."
My heart's beat began to race.
Will he turn me away?
Oh no!
I need to be with him.
As much as I want to be anxious, I preferred to retain my composure and never show myself as a maiden in distress.
"S-Sure." I obliged.
We sat on the living room. My hand nervously tapped the round table and waited for him to start talking.
He opened his mouth, then hesitated. He clasped his hands together.
"Maria Clara." he muttered my name. "MC."
"Y-Yes?" I stammered.
"Wait here. I am going to show you something."
When he came back he handed me a book.
My eyes widened in shock.
It was the novel I created about him.
"Where did you get this?" I asked while flipping the pages of the book.
"I saw it on the spot you mysteriously appeared. Maybe it's time for you to tell me who you really are."
For unexplainable reasons, he sounded desperate and pleading. His stared at me like he was trying to get through my mind.
I just bit my lip and shook my head.
"I've read it. I want you to be honest. Why does it say almost every detail about me?"
"I don't know if you will believe me." I began to admit. It is his right to know and lying will do no good. "Do not be shocked, OK? That book is really about you."
Antoine let out a cough. Surprisingly, his reaction showed no trace of bewilderment.
He was so calm.
"Make it clear. Who is this author...Bianca Ann Torres?
"Why do you want to know?"
"Please, just tell me." he insisted.
"OK, I give up!" I raised both of my hands to surrender. "Alright, she is me. My real name is Bianca. Yes, I wrote about you."
Antoine removed his eyeglasses and stood up in haste. For a second, I thought that he will pounce at me. He inhaled deeply, pulled a chair towards my direction and sat beside me. He was so close that my face was inches away from his.
"Are you telling the truth?" His gold eyes glittered as they stared into mine.
"What will I get if I lie?" I reasoned while pushing my chair back as I was already feeling very uncomfortable with the way he acts. "Can you move farther, please?"
Instead of moving away, he took my hand and placed it on his chest.
"Miss Author." he said so sweetly.
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