The Soldier and I

I

Philippines Year 1900

It was a hot and sunny day in the city of Manila, it's been two years since the Spaniards left the country. Ever since they left, the country felt peaceful all over again and the people were happy though, they are now finally free from the clutches and slavery of the Spaniards. They cannot control us now, they don't have rights to control our lives anyways. Well Emilio Aguinaldo just declared himself President in that day and also announced our independence from their 300 years of ruling and controlling to our country.

But it's not the end though, however we thought that we are free from being conquered but we are very wrong. because the Americans entered our country and conquered us that day, so we aren't entirely free from slavery and also they forced us to pay taxes from them. some other Filipinos agreed but some of them refuse to pay, saying that why should we pay them and they are being selfish about that.

It's only ten in the morning and the sun is so high up that my skin burned so much, I went to the bathroom to wash myself up and I have to work after that or otherwise my family will not be eaten later or tomorrow or the following day.

"Layla dear, please hurry up. you have work in exactly Eleven, Lady Theresa wouldn't be happy if you are late this time" My mother said to me reminding me of work.

"Yes Ina, I'll be quick. In a few minutes I will be done" I responded to her and I could feel her nodded her head to me, after washing up myself, I headed towards my closet and rummaging some proper clothes I could find. When I found something, I immediately change into it and I brush my hair and fix it. after that I wore my shoes and walk directly to the dining table where my Mother, Father and my 16 years old younger sister is there as well.

"Magandang Umaga, Ina and Ama. you too little sister" I said as I greeted them good morning, they greeted back in response and I sat in the chair starting to eat my breakfast. My parents and my sister didn't ask me anything and I was glad they didn't. after I ate my share, I stood up and greeted them goodbye and walk out to the house to start my day and work.

I arrive at the washing store in time and I wore my washing clothes, and start to work.

"Ladies, can all of you fasten up the work?! We don't have all day! the time is chiming and the clock is ticking. why are all of you work so slow?!, more costumers will arrive and more clothes will be washed and all of you work so slowly. you do not repeat this routine of working, do you all understand?!" The owner of the washing store, Lady Theresa shouted and scolded us. We nodded our head to her as she was a scary Old Lady to us.

I continued to wash a little faster to the clothes I've been holding when someone taped my shoulder and I turn around and I saw my Friend, Martha.

"Layla, do you think she will continue to be like this?" Martha asked as she is doing also her job.

I raised one eyebrow at her and said,"What do you mean by that?" I ask in confusion.

She then stops washing, and she held her one hand up to mine and whispered."I mean that, does she like being a scary Old Lady who likes to torment us every single day?. she's been like this ever since we entered the Laundry store" she said to me, "I don't know Martha, I guess she is just doing her job that is why she is so strict when it comes to our jobs. Maybe we just let her be her and let's just do our job Martha, do not speak to it any further or she'll be angry at you for not washing and talking about her." I said and she nods her head to me, I smiled at her direction and my focused came back to my work of clothing's.

The sun has going down and the moon and the stars are going up, it is now evening when we are done washing those clothes and my feet and hands are all tired and sore for hours of brushing and washing the clothes.

I change back to my clothes earlier and said goodbye's to my fellow work mates and started to head home, while I was walking to the now peaceful streets of Manila. I noticed two drunk Men holding a bottle of what it seems a beer, I ignore their gazes and continue to walk passed them. but my luck of passing them is low, when one of them grab my arm and pin me to the nearest wall they could find. I struggle to break free and they are so strong that they even grip my hands and my legs so hard so that I can't escape nor call for help.

"Let go of me!" I said as I continued to moved, the other man chuckled and lean his head not too far away from my head. "Well,Well, it seems that we have a little feisty slut doesn't it pal?" he said rather seductively to his partner.

The other man, who was the one who prevent me from.escaping and running, agreed to his words. "Yes partner, this lad is one of the heck of a girl. She is sure not to messed with us" he said looking at my body and he suddenly lick his lips.

I stared at it disgusted by his acts as he continues to look at my body seductively. "Let's have fun with her, shall we partner?" He said to his partner who was crazily laughing and enjoying this moment.

"You are right Partner, let us taste her by our own big mouth" he said and he move an inch to me as he attempted to kiss my lips, I struggled more and the other man started to rip my clothes and I started crying, I didn't know what do to now. This is it, I'm going to die, and it will end like this.

I continued to scream for help but the two men just continue to laugh at me and he moved his dirty hands into my breast up to my waist, I close my eyes not knowing what do to do because I am so scared that they might end me fast.

"Hey! What are two doing at the Lady?!" I heard someone speaking from behind, the voice was deep and so it is a man but his voice has American accent.

Both man stop what they were doing and turn around to see a American and not just an American, but a Soldier as he was wearing a military uniform.

And also, he is quite handsome though.

"I ask you what are you two doing to that Lady?" He ask again, rather scary this time.

The drunk men just shrugged and laugh at him,"Who are you to speak to us that way?!, you have no rights to stop us!" The man who hold me said to him.

The Soldier approach us and look at me, I was exhausted and my clothes are all rip out. well mostly of my clothes.

He then punch them in the faced and both of them stumbled and fly to the other side of the building, they struggled to stand up and wipe the blood off their nose.

"How dare you punch us?!" The other man said as he tried to approach him and give him a punch but he couldn't stand up as it was so painful to.

"Get out of here or else I will break every part of your body and turned you both to the authorities" He said rather in a threatening low voice as he hold me in his arms.

Both men were afraid and began running to the opposite direction.

The handsome man turn to me and worriedly ask, "Are you okay miss?" He said.

I just nodded my head in response and after that, my vision become blur and I passed out in the handsome Soldier embrace.

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1405 words