WARNING!!!
This particular chapter contains sensitive contents which some people might find offensive, disturbing, or traumatizing. This chapter contains scenes of depression, verbal abuse, bullying, and suicide. I don't mean to trigger some people here. Reader discretion is advised. If you have any mental health issues, please don't hesitate to contact the NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS HOTLINE of your country.
For the second time, everyone was flabbergasted by the Apo Mumbaki's words. They don't know whether to laugh or cry. But Lakandula, who had been keeping his temper, suddenly spoke with a voice full of disdain, "It is better to forbid her to become a Katalonan, than have the Hiraya's noble bloodline be tainted by the likes of you."
Raha Sitan frowned at Lakandula and observed him for a moment. He then said the most outrageous thing Lakandula would ever hear in his entire life: "Bagani Hiraya, remember to tell your servant not to meddle in our affairs. Although it's rare for you to bring your servant, it must have been due to old age. I remember how you would boast about having your own servant when we were still friends. " He spat out the word "friend" as if it was poison, almost coughing the word up to the extent that it disgusted him severely.
But Lakandula was enraged by the first sentence. He levitated his own sword and commanded it to attack Raha Sitan.
The latter only stared blankly at the sword, and when it came near him, he simply flicked it away with his fingers. It astounded both the Katalonans and Lakandula. They clearly cannot compete with Apo Mumabki's abilities. So, how are they going to beat him?
"Bagani Hiraya, your servant is bringing shame to your tribe," Raha Sitan said.
Amara couldn't take it anymore, so she mustered up her courage and spoke to the Apo Mumbaki, "Ugh! For the love of Apo Bathala, he is my father, you idiot!"
Raha Sitan was silent at first when he heard this, but he let out an "Oh" and said to Lakandula, "Is that so? I mistook you for a servant. Pardon me, father-in-law. "
Even though Lakandula was unharmed, hearing Raha Sitan call him father-in-law made him want to cough up his own blood in astonishment. This person is truly outrageous, and the rumors about him have always been true!
Apo Bagani Hiraya was also deeply affected by this; the only word he could utter was, "Shameless!"
Even the other Katalonans were stunned; they couldn't believe what they were hearing. How can this Apo Mumbaki be so audacious in the presence of the Hiraya Patriarch and Tribal Leader?
Raha Sitan burst out laughing when he saw their reaction. He appears to be enjoying the view right now, as if he had expected it all along. His gaze was drawn to Amara's. The corners of his lips raised in a mischievous manner. "My wife, did you like the way I kissed you? The way my tongue explored your--"
"Shut up, Raha Sitan!" Amara said in between gritted teeth.
Gosh, did he really have to say that out loud? It's embarrassing!
"But you liked it, and I can do more than that, my dear wife."
Amara only grimaced. She will never let him think that she liked the kiss. Never!
"I-I didn't like it, it was not good enough!"
Raha Sitan raised an eyebrow at her. "Why do you say so?"
"Ading ko, stop talking to him," Lakam wanted to stop her, but she ignored him.
"You call that a kiss?" exclaimed Amara. "Your kiss reminds me of a baby learning to walk, and I'll never consider marrying you!"
"You dare to offend my father and the Hiraya Patriarch; I'm sure they won't grant you their blessing because you have insulted them. Furthermore, you did not adhere to the custom. You had to court me first, then perform the Harana, and then we had a three-day wedding ceremony. You must also be wealthy in order to marry me. I don't want a destitute husband! "
Everyone was completely silent until Manong broke it by snickering at the perplexed Raha Sitan.
He was dumbfounded for the first time as he gazed at Amara in amazement. "My wife, we will not need the wedding ceremony since Apo Bathala gave you to me; we also don't need your Apo's approval because you are rightly mine; and I am not bragging, but I am wealthier than your Apo Bagani," he coughed and said to her.
Lakandula roared, "You are not going to marry my daughter; I won't allow it!"
"But father-in-law--"
"Shut up! Don't you dare call me that!" He then turned to Bagani. "Apo Bagani, please do something. We can't let that evil person be part of our family."
"Who even said that I wanted to be part of your stupid Hiraya family?" Raha Sitan asked in disgust. He then smiled sweetly at Lakandula, but his smile held a malicious intent, that it felt ominous to the eyes of anyone who saw it. "I am taking her away, father-in-law."
Hearing Raha Sitan's words, Amara immediately hid behind Bagani and Lakandula, not daring to spare a single glance at him.
There's got to be a way for her to escape!
She scanned her surroundings. Her eyes then settled on a path that leads to the mountains.
That's it!
Amara remembered hiding there before. She will reach the end of the Hiraya tribe if she continues past that peak. A little village is beyond that, where she might live a tranquil life away from the novel's key events.
This is her opportunity. While Apo Bagani is distracting Raha Sitan, she will flee as fast as she can towards the peak.
"Enough with your nonsense, Apo Mumbaki!" Bagani Hiraya shouted. "No matter what you do, I will never hand my granddaughter to you!"
Hundreds of Hiraya Katalonans arrived after Bagani's remark, encircling the nearby areas. Some people were even on the roofs of the buildings. They all pointed their swords at Raha Sitan, adorned in gilded armor and with resolute expressions.
Good, there's a lot of people now. There is a chance for her to escape!
She was about to make a run, but her eyes caught Raha Sitan taking out a strange looking black doll.
His playful laugh filled the air, and his eyes seem to shine like rubies. "I was planning to spare your life, Bagani Hiraya. But I think you should cease to exist now, and take your useless servants with you to Kasanaan."
Amara panicked and began shaking her head while she tugs on Lakam's arm. "Kuya Lakam, please drag our father and our Apo Bagani, we should escape now!"
"Calm down, Amara, it's just a doll," Lakandula said.
But Amara exclaimed. "It's not just a doll, it's one of his skills he used during the war of Light and Darkness. He's going to summon the dead!"
Raha Sitan amusingly raised an eyebrow at her. "My wife, I did not expect you to be this knowledgable about me."
Her face turned pale. That's because in the novel, Raha Sitan would take out this doll to summon a thousand Maranhigs. He would then control these creatures to fight his enemies.
But this doesn't make sense because this particular scene did not happen in the novel. Lakam and Raha Sitan were not even supposed to meet right now.
They would only meet halfway through the story.
Was it because she tried to stop her death that the supposed scenes changed entirely?
Then what will become of her now?
"Lakam," said Bagani Hiraya, there was a hint of heroism in his voice. "Take Amara with you and run towards the mountain."
Amara shuddered upon hearing this. Although her plan was to escape alone, she has no choice but to drag Lakam with her.
Who knows, his "main character buff" might save her life from Raha Sitan.
However, there's something inside her that feels guilty, as though it's entirely her fault that the Hiraya Tribe will be annihilated.
"Apo Bagani, please don't say something ominous. We should all escape."
She can't stand people dying because of her. Especially that it reminds her of the death her lola Mercedez.
Should she have just died instead of these people?
When Lakam seized Amara's wrist and pulled her away, she was no longer able to think straight. "Ading ko, we must listen to our Apo; we must depart!"
She's being stupid right now, but she can't help to ask Lakam. "But how about our father?"
"Our father and our Apo are strong," said Lakam as they run. "I'm sure they can handle that monster."
They soon arrived in the highlands, where they came across a few Maranhigs who had been awoken by the Apo Mumbaki. They have no idea what is going on right now.
Amara felt agitated out of nowhere. Something terrible is about to happen. At this point, even Lakam, the male protagonist of this novel, may perish as a result of her existence.
Remembering little Gaki, Amara asked, "How about Gaki and our dear mother, kuya Lakam? Are they okay?"
"They must've already evacuated--!"
Lakam was immediately cut off when something slammed to him and tackled him to the ground. Amara was thrown a few meters away when his hand that was supporting her slipped.
"Kuya Lakam!" she shouted. She wants to run towards Lakam, but she abruptly stopped when she saw Manong on top of Lakam and trying to stab him with a dagger.
Lakam seem to be struggling as he firmly held Manong's wrist. "Amara, run!"
Amara adamantly shook her head. "I can't leave you here, kuya!"
But Manong turned to Amara and smiled at her in a menacing way. "You don't really need to run, princess Amara. Because my Apo is already on his way to get you."
That was the moment Amara's feet moved and dashed off to nowhere.
If Raha Sitan is on his way to get her, does that mean he easily defeated Bagani Hiraya?
But that doesn't make any sense!
Bagani Hiraya is also an immortal, so how could he lose?
And how about her father Lakandula? Is he alright?
"It's because you don't want to have sex with me that's why I cheated on you!"
Huh?
Why is she thinking about the events from her past life now?
Amara quickly shook her head to dismiss it, but it continued to ring, refusing to go away.
"You're not even doing your job properly, you useless b*tch!"
Then she heard a giggle she recognized. She never wants to hear that laugh again.
"Amara, Amara! Amara has no one. Why, why, why? Because she's just an orphan!"
No!
"Amara, go back to the province, your lola Mercedez passed away."
"Just stop---Ah!"
Amara was not able to know that she reached a cliff. Her foot slipped and she fell down.
She was going to prepare herself for the crash when she felt her hand being grasped.
It was chilly and trembling frantically. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she raised her head to look at the person.
It was Raha Sitan. His teeth were gritted and his scarlet eyes were almost blazing. He was attempting to pull her up.
"W-What are you doing?" Amara exclaimed. "Let go of me!"
"My wife, I'm trying to save you here!"
"Why would you save me when you're going to kill me in the end?"
Raha Sitan stilled and stared at her with a complex expression.
"Marry me and be my dear wife if you don't want to die."
Amara smiled sadly at this. She then spoke firmly. "I wont be marrying you, Raha Sitan. Goodbye."
With that, she used all her strength to free herself from Raha Sitan's hand and fell.
She watched as Raha Sitan's face turned into despair. She didn't know what happened after that because everything had turned black.
But her eyes sprang open when she heard someone shouting at her.
"HOW DARE YOU DISOBEY THE WILL OF THE SUPREME GOD?"