Rewrite the Star

Chapter 5 - Trouble

The crowd went silent as Lisuga made a speech in front of them. They were unsure at first, but when a touch of sunlight hit the ground, they cheered. Finally! The gods heard our prayers, the people rejoiced, and they started to prepare a lavish meal to celebrate Lisuga's presence.

Several days had passed and warrior Apo was finally free from his addiction and insanity. The sun shined once in a while and the rain hardly appeared. Most importantly, the people were given hope that the world they live in would return to its viridity. As a thank you, they would gather in the hall every morning and offered her gifts.

Lisuga drew half-smile. "My people, I appreciate your offer, but you need this more than I do. So please take this back to your home." Then people scooted out from the hall.

She sat next to Datu Paglinawan with her face looked so down in the dumps.

"Why the long face?" He said. "You didn't seem to enjoy their tribute"

"It's not like that." She stared through the window. "I feel like I am missing something. The sun still buries itself to the clouds and I don't understand why."

"The sun may be hiding a couple of times, but it doesn't mean that it will not show up and there is nothing wrong with gray and nubilous sky. In fact, since you came, we experienced more gaiety than glumness now. You have given us the reason to live longer."

She smiled sheepishly.

Then he caught spears of sunlight painted to the bamboo floors. "Oh look! I think you just found what you've been looking for." Lisuga's face brightened. "So, cheer up. I am sure they heard you."

The following day in the late morning, Lisuga was not feeling emotionally well. She stayed in her room and thought of her dream again. She was holding a dead man in her arms, but his face was vague. Strange, she thought. Who was that man? And why was I crying? It looked so real to me. She was awakened from her thoughts when a knock came on the door. She hurriedly fixed her hair and said, "Come in!"

Datu Dumagan entered the room with revulsion on his eyes. "We have a problem."