Señorita and the Katipunero (Book 3)

7. Sala chatters

“Who is this again?” Hermana Alex asked again. They were discussing in the sala along with Beta Jaime.

“Alpha Alex as I have introduced earlier this is Sambag the tayho. However, King Pat had a mishap in his teleportation that someone’s soul is now residing in his body as well. Alas, Leo is in control.” Trish explained. Leo now had a good grasp of the situation. It seemed that this Hermana or Alpha as they call was the head of this household. It was a bit weird as he knew this hacienda was ruled by a guy.

“Ah, I see. So how do we call you? Sambag or Leo, chico?” Alpha Alex asked him. Leo looked around confused about who she was asking. The Sala was quite large for the five of them. Heck, their whole Bahay Kubo was much smaller than the sala alone.

He looked left and right to find if anyone would answer but none did. “Are you talking to me Señora?” apparently, he looked lost. He even swallowed his saliva as he said this.

“Yes, boy I am referring to you.” an annoyed looked was plastered into their faces especially Alpha Alex who said it. He was wasting her time.

“I am so sorry señora. You may call me Leo. I am the son of Tonyo and Luding. I am a simple Filipino native.” Leo explained his origin. They all got flushed red upon hearing the names. It seems those names had something bad connected to it.

“So, you are their son. Interesting. Trish as the next gamma. This will be your next mission. Help Leo here to get back to his body. Call every albularyo you may find if needed. I want this settled before the noche buena (Christmas Eve feast).” she instructed Trish with authority and ease as if she was used to doing this on a daily basis. Leo looked at Alpha Alex and then Trish who seemed to be on an internal battle of stares.

“Hermana, please have mercy on me. Noche buena is already two weeks away. I could not do it in that short span of time. Unless you give me more pack members to help.” Trish pleaded via mind link. It seemed her Hermana Alex was contemplating on it.

“Alright, you may ask any of our pack members for help, but they should be willing to help. Remember his parents are suspected to be against the crown. Everyone knows about it.” Alpha Alex granted her request. Trish had let out her long-overdue breath. She did not know she was holding it up until she let it out.

“Whatever you are thinking Leo do not do it. I am telling you, you will make things much worse for us. I do not like the tone Alpha Alex has spoken already. Just agree with her, please. I beg of you.” Sambag warned him again. Sambag knew very well Alpha Alex and her temperament to the Indios. They had wreaked havoc into their land before and ever since then she was wary it might happen again.

“Pshhh, nothing will happen to us. Trust me. My soothing voice will do the trick.” Leo claimed. He showed off his arrogance and now he was exuding his overconfidence.

“Pardon my intrusion Trish and Señora Alex. However, I refuse to get back to my body just yet. I need to find the killer of my parents and stop it from happening. I have been an orphan for far too long already.” Leo asked again. He was blunt and cold. Any person who heard him would not give an ounce of empathy.

He knew he was not in any position to ask for a favor. Yet, he pursued his personal vendetta.

“Excuse me! And who are you to tell me that? Meirda! Beta Jaime take him away from here. One day in the cells will serve him a good time. Maybe then he will know how to talk to us.” Alpha Alex ordered him. She got furious. No one dared to talk to her like that, not even her sisters.

“Now what?! You made it worse as I warned you. I do not like the cells. Meirda! It is too cramped for Indios and us it will be too small. Ugh. I hate you, Leo. For once, can you listen to me?” Sambag was thrashing in their head that it was giving them a headache but Leo ignored him and carried on.

“Alpha Alex, maybe we can be a bit lenient to him. The cells might be too harsh for him. How about he works in the fields. We need the extra hand to harvest the corns.” Beta Jaime as they called him answered. Leo was liking this guy more than Claudia and Alex.

“See Sambag, we still have someone who will defend us. Just stay calm. I know what I am doing.” he said to him coolly. “Do you think the fields are better? Wait till you see it. You might just beg to go to the cells.” Sambag hissed at him. Leo knew full well the fields and he was much ready for it than any cell.

“Si, I agree with Beta Jaime Hermana. In the season of Christmas, can we be more forgiving?” Trish was now on his side as well. Trish was asking this for her own good as well. She could observe him closer rather than in the cells, where she would stick out if she visited him. Everyone knew her as gamma and it is above her jurisdiction.

“Look at that Sambag, both Trish and Jaime are on our side. My charisma is working already.” Leo told him again. Sambag just resigned at the back of their head. There was no way of winning from this jerk who stole his body.

“Claudia, mi amor, are you alright with this?” Alpha Alex became a softie when she talked to her. ‘Mi amor?! What is going on here?’ Leo thought to himself. The two ladies were calling each other endearing words known to be used for couples only.

“Si, that is much more fitting mi amor. Muchas gracias Trish and hermano Jaime.” Claudia responded to them. As soon as she said this. Alexa and a boy peeked from up the stairs. They looked alike except for the height difference.

“Mama, can we come down now? I want to introduce hermano to my friend.” Alexa said in an acute squeaky voice. There was excitement in it as well. “Si, niña. You and bambino (baby boy) may come down now.” Alex was the one who replied. Leo was now becoming much curious of these people.

“Muchas gracias (Thank you so much) Mama.” a thick Spanish accent was heard from the little boy. Leo was stunned at the sound. Clearly, these people were purely Spanish.

Four stomping feet were heard running down the wooden stairs. Each one trying to outpace the other.

“Hermano, faster I want you to meet Leo. He is a tayho. Have you seen a tayho before?” Alexa asked him full of respect. They were almost near the last few steps. “Reducir la velocidad el niño y la niña.” (Slow down, my son and my daughter.) Alpha Alex reminded them. Then they slowed down. They were very obedient children.

As soon as Alexa stepped onto the floor she ran towards Leo. She hugged him though she only reached his leg so that was what she got to hug. Everyone chuckled at her even her Mama Alex.

“Why are you laughing?” Alexa asked them. She raised her left eyebrow like a little lady.

“Nothing niña. You look so cute that is all.” her Mama Alex replied. She then let go of Leo and grabbed the boy’s hand which was shaking. He looked like he wanted to run the other way.

“Hermano Jose, meet Leo, my new friend. Leo this is my older brother Joselito.” Alexa made them shake hands. “It is nice to meet you Joselito,” Leo said.

“Si, nice to meet you, señor Leo.” Joselito then took his hand back.

“Are you coming with us to the school today señor Leo?” Joselito asked again. He had warmed up around him. He was no longer afraid after he felt the warmth from his hand.

“Sadly, no. I am going to the fields today.” Leo was quite enthusiastic even though it was a punishment. Both Alpha Alex and Claudia saw this. They looked at each other and wondered if they made the correct decision.

“Okay, bambino and bambina let us go back to the school. Joselito has a class at 10 am. Let us go.” Claudia said to them. Both of them grabbed one hand and left the sala.

“Trish make sure he helps on everything today. He may not rest until every last pack member is done. Entiendes?” (Understand?) Alpha Alex ordered her. She nodded and both Beta Jaime and Alpha Alex went out. Trish was left with Leo.

“So, what do we do now?” Leo asked Trish who seemed to be deep in her own thoughts. Leo snapped his hands in her face and it seemed to bring her back.

“Si,” Trish answered suddenly and Leo chuckled at her reaction. Trish frowned at his reaction. “What is it?” Trish asked him in a rude tone.

“Well, I was asking about what to do next but it seemed you were lost in your thoughts,” Leo explained. It gave her a sense of guilt that she blushed. She also apologized for her behavior.

“Let us go to the back of the house. We can then walk towards the cornfields near the river.” Trish explained. She started going down the stairs and Leo just followed. He was somehow being drawn to her even though they are very different. He felt something he could not explain.