The Ruler of Westeria

TROW 16| Under Arrest

Third Person

Xiomara's eyes roamed around the wide town square of Terrasierra. There are tall establishments made of wood, huts and stalls covered with creeping plants and flowers. On an aisle, there were different type of merchants flaunting their products and services. 

At the center aisle there are different types of flowers that compliments the surrounding area where the Flos el Grande was located, the largest flower shop in Westeria. Xiomara could still remember she specially searched the type of flowers to be displayed there. Those were endangered spring flowers in the world. 

She can recognize the flower called the ghost orchid, night-blooming cereus, jade vine and flame lily. Those were some of the few rare flowers she meticulously researched for the relevance of the story. 

"Kayo ba ay sawi sa pag-ibig? Nagpakasal ngunit sinulot ng babaeng matalik na kaibigan ang iyong kasintahan? Hali na kayo't bumili ng aking gamot upang mabighani ang iyong iniibig hanggang hindi na ito tumingin pa sa iba!" Xiomara's attention shifted on the old man who was advertising his potion in the street. 

Nang mapansin siya ng matanda ay kaagad siya nitong nilapitan at pinakita ang hawak nitong maliit na bote na mayroong kulay rosas na likido. She narrowed her eyes as she tried to read the name on the bottle. 

Amor sine fine. . .

Endless Love. She remembered that potion because she named it herself. "Nais mo bang bumili magandang dilag?" She felt flattered upon his words but she knew better than believe it when he's just trying to overwhelm her into buying it. 

"Hindi ho, napadaan lang ako." Akmang aalis na ito nang sundan pa rin ito ng matanda. 

"Sa  palagay ko'y higit na kinakailingan mo ito dahil magiging sawi ka sa pag-ibig," apila pa nito habang hawak ang pulsuhan ng dalaga. 

The old man's eyes shined green for a moment, but Xiomara doesn't give a slightest damn about it. She just took her wrist from his grasp and walked away.

Sawi sa pag-ibig? Was that old man referring to her as Isla or as Xiomara? Nagkibit balikat na lang siya. She doesn't care when she don't even have any love interest. After all, love is just a lie. It was nothing but a delusion.

The old man smiled like nothing had happened. Kumuha ito ng panibagong bote at iwinagayway ito sa ere. "Kayo ba ay matanda na at uugod-ugod pero gusto pa rin tumirada? Ano pa ang hinihintay niyo? Bumili na kayo upang ang pagtatalik ay abutin hanggang umaga!" Napaubo na lang si Xiomara. 

Medyo nakakalayo na siya sa matanda pero rinig na rinig niya pa rin ang malakas nitong boses. She just shake her head and continued to walk. She knew that man. He's the old hermit who lived in the Whispering Forest. Kung paano niya nakilala ito ay sa pamamaraan ng panghihikayat nito upang bumili sa kaniyang paninda. 

She smiled and lift her cloak when she reached the center of the town square. Indeed, her imaginations did not failed her. Terrasierra looks like a living green forest, just the way she wanted it would be. 

She was strolling around when she noticed some of the warriors and people flocking on the sign board just across the street. As much as she wanted to know what's in there, she had no time. She must enter the palace to confront the person behind this. 

Binalik niya ang hood ng cloak niya at lumiko ng daan. When she was walking around familiarizing the area, she was bumped by a child. Muntikan na mabuwal ang bata dahil sa pagkakabangga niya rito, mabuti na lang ay nahawakan niya ito sa braso bago pa matumba. 

When the child lifted his gaze, Xiomara saw  him crying. Kaagad niya naman inalo ang bata at sinubukan itong patahanin. 

"N-nawawala p-po ako. . ." Mabilis na tumaas ang kilay ni Xiomara. Her eyes landed on the child's appearance. He was wearing ragged clothes, his hair was a little messy. Mukha ring kanina pa ito umiiyak.