Señorita and the Katipunero (Book 3)

5. Alexa

Leo was getting the hang of having a body of a tayho. He was taller than the rest and his hooves can walk and run better than his feet before.

“Chico, is this how it feels when you walk?” Leo asked Sambag. They were communicating inside their head. “Yeah, it does. How does it feel to walk on two feet? Is it really hard?” now it seemed Sambag wanted to try it as well.

“Nah, it does not feel as good as your hooves. Look at these killer nails and the strength of your muscles.” Leo chuckled at the thought of Sambag balancing to walk in two feet.

“Hey, Leo or Sambag, what are you laughing about?” Trish asked them.

“Nothing,” Leo answered back in a stern voice. He did not like being interrupted. “How far are we from the hacienda?” He asked them which startled Trish and the older lady.

“Say what again?” Trish could not help but question him. She thought she was imagining it.

“I said, how far are we from the hacienda? Hello, did something happen to your ears?” Leo pointed it out. He was a grumpy teenage boy. Trish on the other hand was quite carefree.

“Be careful Leo she is not someone you want to mess with,” Sambag warned him. It was like Leo was hearing a second voice on his head. An annoying voice to be exact.

“Nah, we can handle her.” Leo boasted with his new and stronger body.

“How did you know about the hacienda? I just said my house.” Trish was curious to know his reason.

“I remember this road, I was here before. I was going to Hacienda Jimenez.” Leo explained while Trish raised her eyebrows. There was this look on her that was suspicious of Leo’s background and motive.

“You? … are you ture you have walked in thit road? … who are you exactly?” Trish was now nervous and showed in her speech. The “s” had become “t”.

“Chica can you speak clearly. I am not sure what you just spoke.” Leo demanded to her. She just fell silent unable to speak.

“Let me take care of this Trish. Just relax.” The older lady paused for a while. “Leo, please do understand her. She cannot speak as clearly as everyone. First, let me introduce myself. I am Claudia. Trish’s older sister. This toddler is Alexa. Before we go any further, Trish wants to know how you knew about the hacienda? Also, where is your family? I assume you are not from the hacienda. I do not remember anyone as rude as you. You talked to everyone without a shred of respect.” Claudia’s tone was a bit different from before. It was now more of a mother scolding her child than the friendly tone she used earlier.

Leo swallowed back his saliva as he was scared of this older lady. Sambag chuckled at his reaction. “Served you right. I told you not to mess with her.” Sambag then went to slumber. He was satisfied with what Leo just experienced.

“Hey chico, help me out. Please! I can’t handle them both.” Leo pleaded with him but Sambag just ignored him. “Please wake up,” Leo said again.

Now Leo dreaded not listening to Sambag. He had to face these chicas alone and scared.

“So … Claudia, right? And Alexa?” Leo slowly spoke their names and carefully studied their reaction. As they slightly eased up he continued. “Well, technically I am still young at the moment and my parents are still alive for now.” He looked at Trish, who never spoke a word but was fuming unbeknownst to him. He had no idea why Trish was acting that way.

“As I was saying before. I need to see my parents. I need to save them. They will be killed in a few months right on my fifth birthday.” Leo seemed to get emotional at the thought of his birthday and his parents’ demise. He sobbed in the middle of the dirt road.

“Come now, we did not mean to hurt you.” This time Trish spoke again. Leo seemed to touch her soul when he showed her his soft side. There was a small tug of warmth inside Leo as she soothed him. She caressed his back as he cried. Trish got drawn to him.

Leo stood up and brushed off the remaining tears he shed. “I am alright now. Can we please visit them? I need to warn them.” Leo begged this time around. His hard exterior was gone.

“I apologize Leo. However, we need you to bring it back to the house. My wife will be mad if we won’t report to her what happened to Pat and Sambag’s demo earlier.” Claudia explained. Leo was astonished and thought he heard her incorrectly.

“Excuse me, did you say wife?” He was stunned as hell and did not know what to think of.

“Si! Mama is the best. You will see. Come now Tio Leo.” Alexa grabbed his hand and pulled her towards the hacienda, eager to tell her siblings about Leo.