1700
The nearby Barangays of San Isidro and San Agustin are renowned across the Philippines as the most powerful and wealthiest barangays in the country, in part due to the leadership of two great and intellectual men, Rajah Benicio and Rajah Tavio, who rule their occupied territory. These two Rajaah's have been great friends for a long time, so it's not unexpected that the territory they oversee has risen at the same time; they were both compassionate and good-natured, and neither of them was thirsty for power. Considering their barangays are closer enough, they frequently meet and converse with one another. When the two of them interact, they always bring their children, Eulogio and Leticia were their names. They believe the two children will continue on their father's legacy to expand and develop their territory even more.
Rajah Tavio and Rajah Benicio may be seen conversing with their wives one afternoon at Rajah Tavio's spacious house in Barangay San Isidro. Rajah Tavio's wife is Lakambini Isabella, while Rajah Benicio's wife is Lakambini Leila, the wives of the acclaimed and respected Rajahs are referred to as Lakambini during those times.
"We will be at your place next week to plan our children's wedding, which will take place next month." Rajah Tavio, who managed to look at his wife Isabella before speaking those words, stated in the middle of their discussion. His wife Isabella keeps smiling and agreeing with what her husband said, despite the fact that she is known for being arrogant and never allowing the servants of their Barangay to touch his smooth skin because anyone who touches her will be punished, it might be either female or male. However, she hides that personality from her husband, believing that if he discovers that she is abusing the people under the authority of the Barangay led and loved by the Rajah she won't be able to handle it, fearing that her husband will forsake her and replace her with almost any woman.
"We will wait, but our greatest problem is that our daughter, Leticia is unaware of our plans, she had no idea that she would marry Eulogio, her childhood friend." Lakambini Leila, Leticia's mother, stated this. Her face was filled with worry about how her daughter would respond if she discovered their plans. Rajah Benicio became aware of his wife's tremors after she spoke such words so that he does not hesitate to take both of the woman's hands in his.
Eulogio is twenty-two years old, and Leticia is twenty years old, so they know their children are of the right age and they realize that by the time their children get married, there will be even more populous, expanding their scope and leadership area as couples presently occupy it. They also realize that by the time their children get married, they will be able to incorporate San Isidro and San Agustin, believing that more people would appreciate their partnership. Due to the fact that couples already rule it, their location has become far more wealthy, as has their breadth and leadership area.
Isabella let out a breath of relief, indicating that she didn't agree with what Lakambini Leila had stated. "What can she do? She is indeed fortunate in the thought that she will marry our son, Eulogio. He possesses all of the qualities that women want in a man—" When her husband Tavio stared at her negatively since he believed what her wife said to their guest was impolite, Lakambini Isabella didn't complete what she meant to say.
"Don't be bothered. I will be the one to communicate with my daughter, she does everything I demand of her, I am sure that she will never oppose me as well as our plan and I am aware that Eulogio and her have been close together somehow." Rajah Benecio remarked this to dispel the notion that his daughter Leticia would not like or disapprove of marrying Rajah Tavio's son. After that conversation, the four of them shook hands as a gesture that everything they had talked about was clear and couldn't be changed.
In the chariot outside Rajah Tavio's residence Leticia, the only daughter of Rajah Benecio and Lakambini Leila, waits for her parents to conclude whatever important conversation they are having with the Raja Tavio and Lakambini Isabella of the place to which they are now headed. She preferred to stay inside the chariot with his father's men ensuring her safety whenever they reached this place.
For some reason, the girl had been unable to return to that location for a long time and it is only now that she has returned to this place.
Sometimes, she even manages to elude her guards and roam the hacienda of San Isidro because she is accustomed to remaining in that way and there she met Sullivan, a dashing, respectful, and romantic young man.
When she remembered the young guy from San Isidro who had captivated her heart, she smiled softly and tears welled up in her eyes unexpectedly.
Flashback...
"Did you really think you will just stay in this place and not accompany us inside?" Lakambini Leila, Leticia's mother, asked her sixteen-year-old daughter back then. Perhaps she is concerned that her daughter would become bored outside of Rajah Benecio's house, but she is unable to intervene because Leticia refuses to interact and prefers to be alone.
"Would you like me to tell Rajah Tavio to let your friend Eulogio, his kid, out of their house? to have someone with you and communicate to you here in some way—"
"He's not my friend, mother; I don't have an arrogant friend, and I am not interested in talking to him since he will only brag about how rich and influential their property is." Before delivering those words, Leticia couldn't even complete what her mother intended to say.
His father regarded him with disdain because of her statements. "It's a good thing you are out here because saying that in front of my colleague Rajah Tavio will only disgrace our family. Leticia, there's a big difference between stating the truth and bragging, and if you don't want to kneel again on a Bilao full of salt, you should respect my friend's son. Let's go, Leila." After saying such words, Rajah Benicio, Leticia's father, took his wife's right hand and indicated that they were heading into Raja Tavio's house to talk about ways to provide a decent life for servants from underprivileged clans. Leila felt awful for her daughter, who had only glanced in one way when her father reprimanded her. She had intended to speak with his daughter, but it was too late; his spouse dragged her inside the Rajah of San Isidro's home.
"Don't allow my daughter out of the carriage; keep her secure." Rajah Benicio issued a command to the four warriors standing outside the chariot where Leticia was, only by bowing did the four individuals signs respond that they would obey their Rajah's commands.
When her parents eventually departed, the girl finally let out the tears she had been holding back, ignoring the fact that she didn't want to show weakness to her parents since she knew they saw her as a strong lady, she couldn't convince and lie to herself that she needed her parents' guidance and understanding at her certain age. She grieved silently for a moment, but her sobbing was disturbed when she heard a loud and deafening scream of an animal, which she couldn't figure out where it came from as long as she knew it made him shudder.
She then saw that the four men protecting her had vanished; perhaps they had determined where the sound was coming from, so she pondered leaving the chariot and escaping in that way without anybody knowing. She couldn't stand the fear of where that sound was coming from any longer, and all she wanted to do was get away from where she was before, even if it was just for a while.
When she was sure that she was far away from the Rajah's house, she sat down on a huge boulder and examined her feet; this was the first time she had stepped on the ground; it was disallowed for a Rajah's daughter to step on the ground because they were already considered as dirty, and for their ancestors, women's feet were the most important part of their bodies. She brushed away her tears once again for the fear that her father would chastise her if he found out that she escaped and stepped her feet on the ground for the first time.
After a few moments, she heard that very loud sound that she thought came from a wild animal again, she looked back in shock slowly, her everybody nearly shivering since she felt whatever that voice was coming from was just behind her. Instead of becoming more terrified, the girl's head began to warm up as she turned behind her and saw a good-looking young man imitating the sound of a fearsome creature.
When the man noticed the girl's reaction, he burst out laughing and almost passed out from it. "Is there something about bullying someone that is so funny?" Leticia's scathing inquiry led the young man to stop laughing, Leticia didn't know who he was or where he came from. However, she suddenly felt completely safe in the company of the young man in front of her.