Ch. 4: Still Weak

TW: Some flashback that involves trauma

Xu Qiren blushed due to feeling embarrassed and went to take a bath. In any case, it's been days since she took one.

"I'll give you your clothes later, just make yourself squeaky clean and rest."

Xu Qiren obeyed the woman and took off her clothes the moment the woman left.

'Oh? How did you know Elena?'

'Hey! Let's play!'

'Are you Xu Qiren?!'

Excited and curious voices from the spirits rang out once again.

She smiled and answered patiently, "Yes, I am Xu Qiren, nice to meet you all. And, I just met Elena when I went out the 'bahay kubo'. Sorry if I can't play right now. I don't have the energy..."

'We can give you! Just drink the water.'

'Yes! Drink the water! Lindo said this water can heal and give you strength.'

'That's right! That's right!'

"This... I really need to rest--" Xu Qiren doesn't know how to explain her experiences and prefer not to defile their minds with such stories.

"Come on now 'naughties'*, Qiqi needs rest~ Don't disturb her beauty sleep."

The spirits wants to ask why she needs rest when she can have energy just by drinking the water she is soaking at, but still complied to Elena and left.

Xu Qiren sighed in relief and said thanks, in which Elena's voice floated next to her ear despite not being there, "No problem, just rest and be presentable. The birdies already brought your change."

Xu Qiren turned around and saw the 4 sparrows birds flying to her direction and placing her change clothes neatly on the dry ground.

"Thank you." The sparrows chirped happily and hang around her for a while.

She didn't mind it and closed her eyes with the birds chirping happily to each other.

The moment she closed her eyes, she saw her arms swinging with powder flying in the air, covering the man's face with powder.

She saw the man get red dots with blisters pouring out yellow and white pus, however contrary on what she expected it was not so severe and did not saw him fall down and screaming in pain. The man just frowned and grinned widely at her. 

"Do you think such petty tricks would harm me? At most I would just itch a bit," he then laughed, to the point she can see his tonsils and felt shivers all over her body. She felt that the man would eat her alive and wants to escape, but realized that she is still chained up.

"No, no, no..." Xu Qiren's voice cracked in fear.

"Don't hurt me. I know I am wrong, please don't... I am sorry, I am sorry, sorry father, I am so sorry father..." She kept repeating it as she knelt in fear.

Hopelessness covered her. It turns out that even if she knew it might come to this, even if she knew she is used to being in the receiving end, she would still succumb to fear. Begging for forgiveness to the person who harmed her for what she felt like a lifetime. 

It turns out... she is still weak.