Chapter 26: Light in the Shadows
The dawn's first light finally peered over Plaridel, yet an atmosphere of tension lingered following Hustisya's recent confrontation in the town plaza.
The Spanish police were drafting stricter plans for her capture, while the wealthy Spaniards sent covert letters to officials in Plaridel.
Meanwhile, in Georgia's humble home, the day began with energy and the hope of good earnings from selling flowers.
The next morning, Erik rose early, surprising Georgia when she saw him preparing his things in the living room, as the soft rays of the sunrise were barely peeking through the window.
"Why are you up so early?" Georgia asked, her eyes still heavy with sleep but brimming with curiosity as she fixed her hair.
"I need to sell early to earn money," Erik replied, his voice determined as he placed a small basket on the table. "More people buy in the morning, and I can't miss this chance to earn enough for lunch," he added.
Impressed by his diligence, Georgia smiled warmly, her heart touched by his determination. "You're so hardworking! You seem very experienced," she praised, her tone filled with admiration as she approached him.
"I didn't expect you to be so dedicated, especially since you just moved here to Plaridel."
Erik explained that, having grown up as a farmer's son in Ifugao, resourcefulness was crucial for survival. "In the province, if you don't work early, you don't eat. I learned that from my father, who woke before dawn to plant," he said, his eyes tinged with sorrow yet shining with resilience.
"We had no one to rely on but ourselves, so we had to be industrious."
Curious, Georgia asked, "What are you selling?" Her head tilted slightly, showing her interest.
Erik shared that someone provided him with vegetables behind the church, though he could not reveal that Hiyas, a diwata, was the source of the produce.
He accepted the goods without knowing if they came from others or nature's magic, having no choice but to sell them to eat.
He suddenly recalled his conversation with Hiyas: "Don't ask where the things I give you come from. You need to eat to continue your mission, so I'm giving you a chance to earn money."
"You want me to work while commanding me to do the mission? Wouldn't it be easier if you just gave me the money?" the young man retorted.
Hiyas suddenly struck him with a thin stick, ordering him to simply do as she wished and stop complaining.
Currently, he explained the vegetables he was selling to Georgia.
"I have wealthy friends who allow me to sell their products. After I sell, they give me a share of the profit—just enough for a day's meal and a little savings," he said, his faint smile hinting that he was keeping a secret.
Erik invited Georgia to join him at the church and to sell, and as a favor, the young man was ready to split the earnings, his voice brimming with hope.
"If you want, come with me, and when we sell, we will share the profits. It's easier together, and we might attract more buyers as a team," he said, his eyes sparkling with optimism as he adjusted his clothes.
Georgia was surprised by his offer, and her heart rate accelerated in shock. "Really? You're okay with sharing your earnings?" she asked, her voice laced with astonishment and slight hesitation.
"Of course," Erik replied, his smile expressing gratitude. "I still need to thank you for helping me and allowing me to stay here temporarily. This is my way of repaying your kindness."
After a moment, they sought permission from Lola Maria, who, though slightly worried, gave her blessing for them to go out and sell again. After receiving permission, they immediately left.
Minutes later, behind the church, they found three boxes of fresh fish and vegetables neatly arranged on the ground. Georgia's eyes widened in shock. "Where did these come from? There's so much fish!" she exclaimed.
Hiyas was also there but was unseen and unheard by Georgia, who remained unaware that the diwata provided the goods.
The girl was skeptical of the items and questioned the young man. "Erik, are you sure we can take these?" Her voice trembled with confusion.
Hiyas was sitting atop a box, staring intently at Georgia. She held her chin while thinking deeply. The young man noticed Hiyas's reaction, so he approached her and whispered, introducing Georgia, the girl who helped him get proper housing.
Hiyas sighed upon hearing Erik's explanation and told him that she couldn't intervene in his personal decisions, only reminding him that she was there solely to help him get food.
The young man thanked her, but nevertheless, he asked where the fish came from.
Hiyas spoke softly but with authority, unheard by Georgia. "Stop asking where I got the fish and vegetables. Just be grateful that I'm helping. What matters is you have food and goods to sell," she said.
Even though he wanted to know, Erik could only trust that the goods Hiyas gave were not stolen, and he simply followed her command.
"She probably didn't steal these, but it's still strange how she got so much?" he whispered to himself, his face clouded with doubt.
Georgia pressed the young man further, her hand resting on the edge of a box. "Isn't it suspicious that someone would trust a kid with this much fish to sell?" she asked, her tone heavy with skepticism.
Erik assured her that it was fine as long as they gave a share of the profit. "It's fine. We just give them a cut afterward. My friend and I already agreed on the split," he said.
Within minutes, they rented a bicycle with a sidecar, carefully loading the boxes to avoid spills. Since they couldn't sell at the Plaridel market due to the heavy presence of Spanish police, they found a street spot instead.
Georgia pleaded with other vendors who had their own stalls to let them sell nearby, her smile sweet yet determined.
"May we sell here? Even just for a few hours!" she said, her voice earnest.
Fortunately, the vendors took pity on them and agreed. By noon, their wallets brimmed with coins and bills, having earned over three thousand pesos.
Georgia was thrilled, realizing that fish sold better than her usual flowers. "So many people want fish! This is easier than selling flowers," she said, her face glowing with joy as she organized the remaining goods.
Seeing the potential, she shouted to passersby, "Fresh and affordable fish! We also have fresh vegetables! Buy from us now!"
Erik, heartened by her enthusiasm, smiled. "You're so lively; you seem full of energy today," he said, his smile reflecting admiration as he helped sell.
After a few hours, they stopped early, cooking the unsold fish and vegetables for lunch and dinner later. The aroma filled their small kitchen. As Erik cooked, the girl approached him, and Georgia praised his cooking skills.
"You're amazing at cooking! Where did you learn this? You're like a chef," she said, her voice full of awe as she watched him slice vegetables.
The girl hesitated because they had used some of the fish they were supposed to sell, so she asked Erik, "Is it okay to cook the leftovers? Don't you need to pay your friend?" Her face showed concern.
Erik smiled as he explained, "We can't return these to him, and besides, we need to eat. Also, I'm happy to cook for all of you." His tone was warm as he placed the fish in the pan.
While cooking, Erik tasted the dish, the warm broth kissing his lips. Unsure of the flavor, he offered Georgia a taste.
"Try this. What do you think? Maybe it needs more salt to get the right flavor," he said.
Georgia savored it and praised him. "It's delicious! You're so good—you don't need more salt," she said, as she returned the spoon.
Since they finished their work early, Georgia continued studying inside the house using old books she had salvaged from the trash.
That evening, as Erik sat in the living room, he saw Georgia slip out, her shadow faintly visible in the moonlight. He followed the girl and asked softly,
"Where are you going?" His steps were cautious, filled with worry.
The girl knew she couldn't admit that she was patrolling as Hustisya, so Georgia evaded telling the truth. "Just something I need to do. Go to sleep," she said, turning her face away.
As she moved to leave, Erik gently grabbed her hand, his fingers trembling as he held it.
The girl was startled by his action, and Georgia pulled her hand away, her heart beating faster. The young man noticed Georgia's reaction and immediately apologized, explaining, "I'm sorry, but I'm just scared for you because it's so late and dangerous outside."
Georgia appreciated his concern but insisted, "Thanks, but I can handle myself. You don't need to worry," her voice confident as she fixed her hair.
Erik persisted, "It's not right for a girl to go out alone at night. Let me come with you." His face showed determination.
The girl shook her head, thinking, The young man is crazy! She couldn't take him to fight criminals.
Georgia laughed, teasing, "What could you do if someone blocked my path or did something bad to me outside? You can't fight," her tone playful yet doubtful as she turned away.
"I don't know if I can help, but I feel you need someone watching over you," Erik replied, his voice earnest.
Georgia blushed, embarrassed by hearing that Erik wanted to protect her, her cheeks warming and turning red. What is he saying? Why would he watch over me? Her mind was confused.
The atmosphere became awkward as they both fell silent, a gentle breeze stirring their quiet moment. Georgia broke the tension and joked,
"Wait, are you saying that to look cool in front of me, aren't you?" Her smile was mischievous.
"No way!" Erik denied, admitting to her, "The truth is, I'm scared of going out at night."
He recounted being robbed once, struck on the head with a rock, and left on the street, which almost killed him. "That's why I'm afraid to go out, but thinking something like that could happen to you scares me more. That's why I want to come with you," he said, his voice brave.
Georgia blushed even more intensely at what the young man said, her heart pounding due to Erik's concern for her, but she still refused.
"No, thank you," she said firmly, stepping away.
Erik insisted, "Can't I come? It's not safe for you to go out anymore." He made a motion to reach out, worry evident on his face.
To stop the young man from insisting on coming along, Georgia gently tapped Erik's head. "Enough with your stubbornness! Don't follow me unless you want me to kick you out of the house!" she said, her voice authoritative, as she showed him her watch.
"I'll only be gone for an hour and will be back afterward. Go to sleep." She ushered him inside, and though reluctant, Erik complied, worry still etched on his face.
Georgia sighed as she left, her mind confused because for the first time, someone was actively trying to stop her from leaving the house, but her cheeks flushed when she recalled Erik's concern.
Minutes later, the streets of Plaridel were quiet but patrolled by Spanish guards. Georgia transformed into Hustisya as she patrolled the alleys.
In a dark corner, she heard cries for help from Filipinos tormented by local criminals—thieves and syndicate members raiding homes and shops at night.
"Will you give us the money, or should we kill you?!" the leader of the group shouted, his face covered in scars, brandishing a sharp balisong (fan knife).
Accompanied by four men, armed with stolen Spanish guns. An elderly woman fell, her head bleeding from a broken bottle, while her grandson sobbed, clinging to her clothes. "Don't hurt us! We have no money!" the woman pleaded, but the men laughed, grabbing and throwing the boy into the filthy alley.
Moments later, Hustisya emerged from the shadows, her pink hair swaying with the breeze, her red cape dancing like fire in the night, shrouded in a red aura.
"Stop harming the innocent!" her voice thundered like a storm, startling everyone. The criminals went on high alert when they heard her voice, but before they could open fire, the girl used her telekinesis—the air swirled around, and their weapons floated up, hurled far into the alley.
"The phantom of Bulacan, stay out of this!" the leader yelled, charging with his balisong. In a swift move, Hustisya vanished, immediately reappearing behind him. She wasted no time and knocked the man down with a powerful kick.
"You won't escape me!" she cried, her hands glowing with energy as she pushed another thief against the wall, knocking him unconscious onto the floor.
One criminal threw a small grenade, but with a flick of her hand, Hustisya redirected it, and it exploded right in front of the man.
Using telekinesis, she bound the other thieves to a wooden post on the side of the road with their own ropes. "Wait for the police—you will pay for your sins," she said, as she helped the elderly woman and child stand up.
"Thank you, Hustisya," the woman whispered, shedding tears of gratitude for her. But even though she helped, Hustisya knew their suffering in Plaridel was not over as long as crime was rampant.
After the fight, she reverted to Georgia, walking home through unlit streets, guided only by moonlight, the sounds of crickets in the night feeling like music to her ears.
As she walked home, she was surprised to see Erik walking toward her, her heart racing. "Erik?" she uttered.
He quickly rushed to her, grasping her hand with trembling fingers. "I'm glad I found you," Erik said.
"Why are you here?" she asked the young man.
"You've been gone for almost two hours, so I got worried and looked for you. I was afraid something bad had happened to you," Erik said, his voice thick with concern.
Georgia replied angrily, "Are you out of your mind? Going out alone to find me? It's dangerous to go out on this street!" Her face showed anger and worry.
Erik countered, "If you know it's dangerous, why do you still go out? I don't understand why you're so brave going out alone." His tone was puzzled.
Blushing furiously, Georgia immediately ordered him home. "Go back! I was just visiting some women—we're safe there, so you have nothing to worry about!" she said defensively, insisting she'd been fine for many years.
"I grew up here, and I've been doing this for many years; you don't need to worry," she added.
Silence fell, the breeze passing around them until they noticed Erik still holding her hand.
They immediately let go of each other, blushing and avoiding eye contact. To dispel the tension, Georgia walked away, feigning defiance even though her heart was pounding rapidly.
"Let's go home and sleep so we can sell tomorrow. Stop worrying," she said, her voice tired but firm. Erik had no choice but to follow her.
The next day, they continued selling the fish provided by Hiyas, continuing their work and splitting the earnings for food at home. It was undeniable that their lives had become easier through teamwork.
At night, when Erik was asleep, Georgia secretly slipped out to patrol as Hustisya. In the town center, she arrived at a liquor store where abusive Spanish police were terrorizing people, demanding money with raised guns.
"Will you pay up, or should we drag you to jail?!" their leader shouted, pointing a gun at an elderly vendor's head. The inside of the store was chaotic—broken bottles, crying children, and pleas for mercy.
The Spaniards weren't just collecting money; they enjoyed abusing the people. A police officer yanked a crying boy's hair and slapped his mother to the floor. The woman lay crying with blood trickling from her mouth.
"If you don't pay, we'll enslave your children!" another shouted while aiming at an old man's head.
"Have mercy, don't do this to us!" the man begged, kneeling, his body covered in bruises from the police beatings.
"You won't get hurt if you pay," a police officer mocked.
"But we'll be buried in debt if we give you more money!" the man cried.
The Filipinos near the area were too afraid to interfere in the chaos and silently wept, feeling helpless against the police. A woman clung to her bleeding arm, wounded by a stray bullet from the police officers' reckless shooting.
"Help us!" a woman screamed, but the officers laughed, approached her, and pushed her against the house wall.
Amid the chaos, an angry voice rang out: "You Spanish devils!" Hustisya emerged from the darkness, her pink hair swaying, her red cape acting like a fiery beacon as she was enveloped in a red aura.
"Stop abusing my people!" she yelled furiously, her voice thundering and startling everyone. The police were put on alert, but her telekinesis sent their guns flying and liquor bottles crashing onto their heads, knocking some of them out.
More police arrived in a van, armed with modern rifles and a cannon that fired a steel net. "Kill that phantom!" their leader shouted, unleashing a barrage of bullets that destroyed the store walls. She immediately pulled the people inside to the floor.
"Stop that! There are civilians inside!" Hustisya cried, shocked by their reckless shooting.
She immediately charged at them, her body glowing with energy, vanishing and reappearing behind the police to knock them down with a kick.
The Spaniards persisted in trying to capture the girl, and the leader ordered the steel net to be fired at Hustisya. The girl's eyes blazed with intense anger, and with a powerful wave of her hand, she turned the net back on them, trapping them inside.
"You are the ones who should be caught!" she shouted, pushing them away with her power as dust and smoke swirled around.
The battle continued for a few minutes, with more soldiers joining, while the Filipinos continued to hide under the tables. Hustisya kept fighting until no soldier was left standing, ensuring that none of them were conscious.
After the fight, she returned the stolen money to the victims, along with the money belonging to the police. She told them to hide it first and only take it out when the police were gone.
Even though she helped, Hustisya was still deeply troubled, her heart heavy as she saw their pain and fear. A child clung to his beaten father, with blood on his face and his clothes torn.
"Get medical treatment immediately," Hustisya urged.
She knew that families like theirs were incapable of meeting the demands of the Spaniards. Her anger flared at the thought of her people continuing to endure foreign oppression in their own land.
"Why must innocent people like them get involved?" she whispered, unable to stop the tears in her eyes yet maintaining resolve in her heart. Although she helped again, she knew the abuses would continue as long as the Spaniards remained.
"I must act; this must end soon," she murmured as she slowly vanished into the darkness.
End of Chapter.