The Murder

It was the town fiesta at Santa Fe, everyone was enjoying the day by going to the church and riding the attractions in the Plaza.

Marie and Edward were strolling down the streets watching people enjoy the revelry. The couple stopped by at a food cart.

"Try this," Marie offered a stick of Fish ball to Edward, who gladly accepted it.

"I never tried this one though," the young man remarked

"Marie, let's go" Edward whispered when his eyes grew big

"Mom," the young man murmured, it was Agatha walking at the plaza together with her bodyguards.

"Edward, where are you going?" the rich landlady asked

"I'm going home" Edward answered, leaving Marie who was shocked of what her boyfriend did.

Marie was stunned and walked out like nothing happened, but her heart was full of sadness and despair when her boyfriend did such unacceptable thing to her, she walked towards their home, but sat in the bench where the old man Mang Caloy usually sits. She looked into the old man's humble abode, trying to whisk away the pain she was having.

Minutes later, a vehicle stopped in front of her, opening its door. It was Mang Caloy, together with Ninotchka, Chloe and the old man's bodyguards. Caloy noticed the gloomy young lady and patted her head.

"What's wrong?" the old man asked

"Papu, we'll go home now," Ninotchka and Chloe interrupted, leaving the old man.

"Mang Caloy," Marie uttered, "Edward just left me when Madam Agatha arrived."

"He's your boyfriend right?" Caloy asked, to which the young lady nodded. "You don't expect a son of a landlady to introduce you. Imagine that you're here and he's living in that modest mansion"

"But he loves me, right?" Marie asked.

"I don't know, it's up to you, but he might be after your virginity" Caloy frankly answered, going near the lass "I told you that once you entered the relationship, always be reminded of your place."

"I know he will defend me Mang Caloy" Marie cried "I know he would."

Mang Caloy looked at Marie straight in the eye, gasping a sigh. Seemingly he saw a glimpse of Edward standing just a meter from them.

"He is there," the old man remarked "I'll leave you here with him, just call me if there is something wrong."

As soon as Caloy went inside his house with the gate still opened, Edward came and sat beside her, slowly holding her hand.

"I'm sorry for what happened," Edward said.

"I don't know if I could understand you," said Marie, whose voice was breaking down "But that was painful, denying me in front of your mother."

"I was stunned by what happened," Edward tried to reason out

"You know what is painful?" Marie asked him, "To try and fight for our love even though it's painful!"

To console Marie's despaired heart, Edward wrapped her in his arms, feeling the love and comfort she wanted. They thought that the night was just silent and simple when Doña Agatha came with her bodyguards.

"Just as I thought," the landlady said, stunning his son.

"Mom, I can explain" Edward reasoned out again, visibly shaken and unable to stand.

"There is no need to explain my son" the landlady said, staring at Marie from head to foot "Well, you're the Ms. Nueva Vizcaya, am I right?"

"Yes, Madam" Marie stuttered

"Well, beauty queens are like that, hooking up with rich men," the landlady uttered when she noticed Caloy standing at the gate. She raised her eyebrows, glancing at the old man. "You must be the one they are calling Caloy."

Mang Caloy stood and gawked at the landlady. His bodyguards went out, preparing to defend their master.

"Agatha Serrano, am I right?" the old man asked.

"Your philanthropic efforts have been the talk of the town."

"I see, how strange"

"Since you're here, I am inviting you to a party at my mansion tomorrow," the landlady extended her invitation.

"I will be there, if this girl is also invited," the old man responded, patting Marie's head.

"That could be arranged," Agatha quipped, "See you tomorrow."

The landlady left the area and Edward had no choice but to come with her, Marie started to shiver and sat down.

"Are you okay?" Mang Caloy asked.

"That's the most powerful person in this province, and you talked to her in that manner," said Marie.

"She's no God," Mang Caloy laughed, "I could even talk to the Pope in that manner."

"You never cease to amaze me," Marie shook her head.

"Go to Nentochka and borrow a dress, meet me tomorrow here, we'll go together in that Mansion," Mang Caloy instructed.

-----

The next night, Marie and Mang Caloy arrived at the Serrano estates. The young lady wore a red cocktail dress that she borrowed from her mentor. However, she was not the apple of the eye of the guest; it was Mang Caloy whom Doña Agatha approached.

"I'm glad you came," the landlady offered her hand.

"The feeling is mutual," The old man responded.

"I would like you to meet my business partner, Timmy Park," Agatha introduced a man, in his forties, with a cupid like face and light brown hair, dressed in a purple suit.

"Nice to meet you," Timmy greeted the old man. Caloy stared at him for a while before extending his hand at the same time gawking at the surroundings.

"I'm so glad you came" Edward said to Marie, when his mother interrupted.

"Well, to see you too," Agatha said "Do you know how to play the piano?"

"It could be inappropriate to ask," Mang Caloy shrugged Agatha's request to Marie

"Yes" Marie's tongue slipped to which Edward accompanied her to the grand piano. The lass started to shiver as she looked into the piano keys.

"Just think and imagine" Mang Caloy told Marie, who closed her eyes and played the piano. Suddenly everyone turned their head towards her, playing the classical "Ballade pour Adeline", however the landlady wasn't satisfied.

"Don't you have any piece other than that?" the landlady asked, and Marie played again. This time it was a nostalgic tune to which Mang Caloy smiled.

"I haven't heard that piece in a while" The old man remarked, prompting the landlady to look at him

"Why, what is that piece? I don't know that" Agatha asked.

"The Black Cat," Timmy answered "She might be an old school K-Pop addict"

At the corner, Edward embraced his girlfriend tightly, honored and proud of what his girlfriend did in the Piano.

"You were awesome," Edward was amazed of his girlfriend, kissing him on the forehead. "How did you do that?"

"I don't know someone just held my hands and guided me in playing the Piano" Marie answered when Agatha approached her.

"I don't know if you're somewhat a witch or what" Agatha said and spilled the lass with a glass of wine "You're still a trash in my eyes."

"What did you say?" Mang Caloy grinned.

"She is trash in my eyes," Agatha uttered once more, Marie was confused of how she would react to the statement.

"She's not a trash," Caloy defended the lass, "You are and low class."

"Let me remind you that this is my house!" Agatha raised her voice.

"And I am going home," Caloy rebutted, "Thanks for the food."

Caloy left the Serrano estates together with his bodyguards. Meanwhile, Edward and Marie ran outside the gates of the Serrano estate to escape from Agatha's wrath. They walked almost several kilometers away from the area, panting, grasping for air.

"I'm sure mother would really seek vengeance," Edward said "What's wrong with that man?"

"I just don't know" Marie answered when a group of men ranging from ten to fifteen members surrounded them

"Edward, go away!" one of the goons said.

"Who are you?" Edward asked, trying to shield his girlfriend from them. Unfortunately, he punched one of them, prompting the others to maul him, while the rest held Marie and dragged her to the side. A few seconds later two men jumped in and started to maul those gang who were holding the lass, another woman struck those who were mauling Edward, the three single-handedly fought all fifteen men who were threatening the lass and the lad, after which they disappeared like nothing happened, leaving the goons all knocked out. Marie rushed into her boyfriend's side, tending his wounds.

"Are you okay?" the Marie asked.

"Yeah, but who are those people?" Edward asked "They're so fast."

"What is important that is you're alright." said Marie.

----

Edward accompanied Marie to their hut in order for him to be assured that his girlfriend is safe. Inside the hut, Marie tended Edwards's wounds and bruises in the face, making sure that he would be fine.

"These wounds would heal soon," Edward said "But I am afraid of what mother will do to you."

"You shouldn't worry about me," Marie assured "I can defend myself"

Lita and Tomas went out of their room, anxious about their daughter's welfare that they confronted Edward.

"Edward let's talk for a moment," Tomas asked to which Edward agreed. The two walked outside with Lita, standing near the rice paddies.

"Edward, I know how you love my daughter so much, but you know where we belong and you know where you belong," Lita told the lad.

"Ma'am, I will fight for your daughter, I promise that," Edward assured.

"As much as we appreciate your thoughts, but we cannot compromise her safety just for this," Tomas said, "You know your mother very well and we don't want our daughter to be harmed by anyone."

"Please, let go of my daughter," Lita begged, "If you truly love her then let her go."

"Edward, please don't do it," Marie begged "Mama, Papa why are you doing this?"

"This is for your own good," Tomas answered.

"We don't want you to feel the wrath of his mother," Lita added.

"But we love each other," Marie tried to reason out with her parents.

"It's final," Tomas uttered, "Edward, you may leave, I don't want you seeing my daughter again!"

Edward stared at Marie for a while and left the area, Marie couldn't help but wail in frustration and disappointment. Who could've thought that her own parents would stop her from falling in love with a man that he is longing for?

"You should always remember where our place is," Tomas reminded his daughter.

"Papa, I love him so much," Marie cried "I love him more than anyone else."

"Get a hold of yourself!" Lita struck her daughter with her bare hands, "He is not for you!"

"Ma," Marie uttered, her eyes couldn't get a hold of the tears and knelt down, utterly upset.

Because of her despair and sadness, Marie locked herself up in her room, vowed never to go out until Edward would return. Suddenly, Marie heard a cricketing noise; she went into the corner to make sure that she is safe, all of a sudden a man jumped into the window, looking for her, she took a paddle and struck the guy, unfortunately there was another guy who held her arms and pinned her down the bed, stripping her of her dress, much to the two men's surprise, Marie legs were still available and kicked the two away from her with a huge amount of force, the goons were stunned by the strength of the lass.

Lita and Tomas quickly rushed in to Marie's room. The two were surprised that though their daughter was unstrapped of her clothing, the assailants were kicked off at a distance.

"My daughter" Lita wailed, embracing her daughter. Suddenly Doña Agatha came and confronted the Rafaras, together with a handful of guards.

"I have decided to force you out of this place," Doña said.

"You can't do that!" Lita yelled "We own this land!"

"Not anymore," Agatha uttered, "This is mine from now on"

"Riria Marino bought this land for us!" Tomas asked "She bought this for us farmers to plow and benefit."

"Riria Marino, eh" Agatha uttered. Suddenly all the farmers ganged up and made a barricade outside the Rafara hut.

"We have papers to prove that Riria Marino bought this land and distributed this to us" one farmer showed the title, the landlady burned it to the ground, drawing the ire of the farmers. Suddenly the guards shot the farmers; Tomas was accidentally hit in the head.

"Papa!" Marie cried, rushing into her father's lifeless body "Papa, wake up!"

"That serves him right," Agatha uttered "Listen, anyone who defies me shall face the same fate as this man."

----

The farmers were filled with fear upon witnessing the death of their leader and Tomas; everyone was shocked, terrified by the events. Some compared what happened during the time where warlords ruled the provinces. At Tomas's wake, Lita was in a state of shock, while Marie continued to entertain the guest and mourners in their home.

"What did we do for us to suffer like this?" Lita asked "We worked hard."

"Mama, I'm sure we'll find justice for papa," Marie consoled her mother.

"If Agatha is still around, there is no justice," Lita uttered.

"Ma, God is good, papa will get that justice," Marie assured.

Edward came inside their hand, offering his sympathies to the Rafaras; farmers were glaring at him as he approached Marie and Lita.

"My condolences," Edward uttered, prompting Lita to hit him in the face.

"After what your mother did, you have the guts to come here like nothing happened?" Lita cried pounding the lad's chest, wailing "Curse your mother, curse your mother and your family!"

"Get outta here!" Kanor yelled at the lad, "Your mother is the reason Tomas died!"

---

Edward left the house in order to lessen the tensions. Eight days later, Tomas was buried. Lita, whose shock and grief was immeasurable, sat down in front of their hut, staring blankly at the rice fields that her husband used to tend. Marie sat down with her, offering a glass of water.

"Dad loves to tend those fields" Marie said "I wish he was still here with us"

"Marie, always remember that I love you" Lita told her, daughter giving a locket for her to wear

"What is this?" Marie asked.

"You have to look for your real parents, that locket will be useful in your search," said Lita "We are not your real parents."

"I don't understand," a confused Marie said.

"And no matter what happens, I will always be here for you," said Lita.

"Me too mama, thank you so much for being here for me" Marie returned the gesture, albeit her confusion.

------

Lita smiled at her daughter, giving her the comfort that she could give, that night Marie and Lita slept together in one bed, though they were still grieving after losing Tomas, they draw strength with each other, but one night, Lita acted differently, she doesn't want to eat the food, thus she locked herself into her room. The next morning Marie woke up, noticing that her mother was gone; she looked at the kitchen and the rice paddies, then went into their neighbors, asking about her mother, all of them didn't know where Lita had gone, the lass looked for her mother at the park and even in the church, suddenly Banjo rushed to her, panting.

"Marie, your mother is going to the Serrano estates" Banjo informed her.

"What would she do there?" a surprised Marie asked, but they were left with no choice but to follow after Lita, who is walking towards the Serrano estates.

At the Serrano estates, Lita stood in front of the house, grinning and fuming mad. She took some stones and threw it into the windows, inevitably showing her anger towards the Serranos.

"Agatha! Come out wherever you are!" Lita yelled to which the landlady went out of her house with Edward and Timmy.

"Oh, Lita it's nice to see you" Agatha said "What brings a hapless woman into a nice beautiful estate"

"Maybe she wants vengeance," Timmy suggested, drawing laughter from the land lady

"Revenge you say? What can a hapless piece of trash like you do?" Agatha asked, Lita suddenly drew a knife and tried to lunge at the landlady, but in just a split seconds, a woman held the latter's arms and shove her away.

The lady was as tall as Marie, had a considerable physique for a femme fatale, she has a light chestnut brown hair and japanese eyes.

"There is no challenge in dealing with this woman" The woman uttered "Want me to finish her?"

"Please do, Marika," Agatha nodded

"Mom, please don't do that," Edward pleads.

"Pests must be killed, rules are rules" Agatha answered, Marika slowly walked towards Lita and grabbed her in the neck.

"Sleep tight" Marika uttered, snapping Lita's neck, killing her instantly.

Marie arrived at the mansion with Banjo but she already too late, Marika was holding her mother's lifeless body, the lass was horrified and fumed as she witnessed her mother being thrown away.

"No!" Marie yelled, striking Marika with her fist. This time the aura was different, it was like the place was in fire. The femme fatale was taken aback, but evaded the punch and instead knocked the lass off.

"You'll join her," Marika uttered, grabbing the lass' neck when a dagger flew out of the blue, prompting her to drop the lass

"Gabo! Cynthia! You bastards!" she yelled, to which an aged man with debonair looks and hair together with a middle-aged woman came out of nowhere. Few seconds have passed Mang Caloy arrived and exchanged fire with Marika and Agatha's men.

"We're taking that girl!" Gabo uttered.

"Please do, take her to the safehouse, I'll follow you there," Mang Caloy requested "I'll catch up with you in Manila."

"What's with this girl?" Marika tried to ask, but Cynthia was quick enough to get Marie and the three escaped from Marika's elusive eyes, as for Lita, her remains was mercilessly thrown into the mudpit and Agatha burned their hut, the farmers out of courtesy and respect buried her remains beside her husband.