Code Geass: Juanjo of the Colonization

Turn 4: Warning

Manila, Philippines, 15??

It is safe to say that I have lost track of the time I became one of Raja Sulayman's citizens, and I'd like to believe it would be for the best.

Honestly, I'd still want to say more about my current situation, but this is actually all there is to it: I've started working as a cobbler since sewing is just about the one thing I could say I learned from my dear mother and I have to say I made a decent living out of it. The pay isn't really that high, considering that the demand for leather products is low, but growing up with my parents who are both merchants, I've learned to live way below my means, which enabled me to save up quite a hefty amount. That enabled me to live amongst the free people.

Now, being one of the said free people of the community, I would have to do a lot of things by myself, and one particular thing I disdain is having to cook for myself. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike cooking by itself, but it would have been way more practical to eat somewhere and just pay for my meal. Then again, everything else seemed to work out for the better so I'm not one to complain.

Having said that, one of the things I'm particularly fond of doing is my laundry... not that anyone is concerned with modesty like I was, but after washing the little clothes I have to wear by the river that runs through the kingdom, it's always a good time to bathe in it and let your worries wash away. In my case, it's a temporary relief because the thought that Monteverde or other fellow Spaniards could track me down any day always sits at the back of my mind. Still, I take what little peace I can in this cruel world we live in.

This current peace I have was interrupted several minutes ago when I realized I have swam across the river and several women arrived at the riverbank to do their laundry. It was fortunate that I was able to hide my body behind a large rock before they noticed my head that was still visible. I could not, for the life of me, dare to swim back to where my clothes are without exposing myself stark naked. What's worse is that they are completely aware of my predicament and I could do nothing but listen to them giggle all this time while my cheeks burned so hot that it's be enough to evaporate the entire river in seconds.

After a short while, I then heard the women greet someone who just arrived at the riverbank. I couldn't really hear what they were saying, but I didn't dare turn around to see who it was, lest they'd really see me here hiding behind this large rock. A little while later, I heard some splashing on the water, as if someone was swimming towards where I am.

"Fancy meeting you here, Spaniard," I heard a deep voice of  young man call to me. I turned my head and almost let out a strangled scream when I learned it was Rajah Sulayman.

"A-ah, Rajah Sulayman, buenos dias!" I stuttered, trying to hide my body in the crystal clear water.

"Hmph, let me guess, you were doing your laundry and thought it would be a great idea to take all of your clothes off and go for a swim, only for these women to arrive at the wrong time," Rajah Sulayman drawled. "You need not worry too much, Spaniard. Modesty is not really a thing as much as it is in the west as far as I know."

"Gracias, Rajah Sulayman," I thanked him. "That does reassure me a lot."

"By the way, I did not come here at my own leisure," Rajah Sulayman told me, his expression hard. "I came here specifically to ask you something, and I want you to answer me as honestly as you can... not that you have the ability to lie to my face, for that matter."

I let out a nervous laugh. "I'd be lucky if I were able to answer your question at all. I can't even say my real name out loud, let alone remember it at this point."

Rajah Sulayman cocked his head slightly because of what I said, but moments later, his expression hardened once again.

"Tell me, Spaniard," he spoke in a serious tone, "are you trying to kill yourself?"