**** First life after their death ****

You have underestimated me; you will pay for it.

You'll see yourself crawling back to me.

- Estefan Eustacio.

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When in Pueblo Y Vigan, the year 1761 - 1763.

SPANISH ERA

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It's so dark, it seems like the world is hibernating except for her who is lingering in an abyss. Most night skies were the darkest of greys, but this one was pure black. It was like someone shut off the stars and moon. She's seeing nothing but darkness. She tried to feel her environment but the only thing she could hear was the wedding bell and the piano.

She felt something soft and sweet. She asked herself, what is this feeling? It is as if something is gently brushing her lips. She slowly opened her eyes only to almost pluck it out of its socket. Her eyes could not blink after seeing a guy wearing a classy and extravagant uniform standing in front of her. He's kissing her but why is she responding to his kisses? Her eyes were fixed on the guy who kissed her.

'Who is this man? What is going on? Who am I?' a tiny voice on her mind kept on repeating questions. Out of confusion she abruptly withdraws herself. She pushed this audacious man.

"Who are you?" They asked in chorus.

The people inside the cathedral gasped in disbelief. What is wrong with this couple? After saying I Do's and exchanging kisses, they are now acting strange.

"Dios santo, salva estas dos almas. (Holy God, save these two souls.)" The friar uttered as he did the antanda of the Krus. They are both dumb-founded. Soon, they realized it was their wedding day.

They are both seeking an answer to this crazy whirlwind moment.  She just woke up, and now she's married? She's married to a stranger again. She recalled that she married Kalantiaw in her past life. Is she supposed to remember her past even though she has been reincarnated?

On the other hand, he is also at a loss. It's still vivid to him... that day Amaya killed her with the strange bracelet. When he gets a grip of his long-lost breath, he finds himself kissing a complete stranger.

He looked at his wife. He notices that the girl he had exchanged vows with is an attractive woman. He started studying her features. She has flawless unmistakably fair skin. Her long chestnut brown hair is shiny and wavy. Her eyes have an intense hazelnut color, it radiates brown sun-warmed with inner gold. Regardless of her beauty, he doesn't give a damn whether they are married. It's Amaya who he wanted to find, to make her life miserable. If he had reincarnated today, then maybe she is also reincarnated?

He promised to find her to get his revenge. But he must learn to adjust to his new life first.

"Que tu vida esté llena de Felicidad (May your life be full of happiness)" says the Friar.

A group of Hermanas freed a pair of white doves finally closed the nuptial of Gobernadorcillo. Estefan Eustacio and Leticia Aragon. Gunshots were shot as they walked down the aisle outside of the cathedral. Upon hearing the first gunshot Leticia collapsed.

He carried her as if she's the most fragile thing on earth. The memory of him carrying Amaya as if she's a piece of sack pooped out on his mind. He must admit that he's been a real jerk in his previous life, but it doesn't give her the right to kill him. His wrath against Amaya has started to run over his veins.

"Señorito su esposa está bien. Ella solo necesita descansar. (Senorito your wife is fine. She only needs to rest.)" says the doctor.

"Gracias señor. (Thank you, senor.)"

The la sirvienta, a woman working as the lady-in-waiting of the Senor’s Casa, guided the medico out of Eustacio Mansion.

"Cuida a señorita. Voy al capitolio. (Take care of senorita. I'm going to capitol)"

"Si, Senor. (Yes, señor)"

Estefan went to capitolio to find his live-birth records, and he will also look for his wife's record. He couldn't even remember her name. It's like he woke up from a coma, and he has amnesia.

"Felicitaciones, mayor. Escuché que la señorita Leticia se derrumbó, ¿cómo está ahora? (Congratulation, senior. I heard senorita Leticia collapsed, how is she doing now?)" Says the merchant.

Senorita Leticia must be her name. He thought that she had a wonderful name, and it perfectly suits her beauty. 

"Ella está bien ahora (She's fine now.)"

It took him almost a day to find his record. He's now holding an old book with his picture pasted on the first page. Estefan Eustacio is his birth name. He is the gobernadorcillo of Pueblo y Vigan. He came from a Criollo (Spaniards of pure blood) descendant. The gobernadorcillo was a municipal judge or governor in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period. He is the leader of a town or pueblo. His term of office lasted for two years. He knew that he was a born leader no matter how many times he'll be reincarnated.

"Señor, este es el historial de la señorita. (Senor, this is senorita's record.)" He nods in response to the servant. He stared at her photo; she has this captivating smile. He's unconsciously smiling.

Leticia Aragon is a daughter of Filipino merchant Andres and Spanish woman Maria Felicidad-Aragon. She is a mestiza 'tisay' or mixed raced individuals. Her name means "happy'' which is derived from Latin.

He brought the record for Leticia. When he came home from pueblo de historia, he's a bit confused. Someone he does not know is hugging his wife. "Esposa?" He called her with furrowed eyebrows.

"Yerno, vine a visitar a mi Hija (son-in-law, I came to visit my daughter.)"  says Andres, father of Leticia. 

"Buenas noches papá. (Good evening, dad.)" He was confused when he called him son-in- law, it took a second before he realized what the man was talking about. After faking a smile, he embraced his father-in-law.

"Ven aquí, es la hora de cenar. (Come here, it's dinner time.)" Senorita Maria joined them by butting in their conversation. 

They had dinner together. Both are silent since they had lent their ears to listen to their parents. They are sitting facing each other on the end of both sides are their padre and Madre de Familia.

"Finally, you two are married. You've been together for three years and we are happy to see you both."

Three years? Are they in love? Were these two a real couple but how come it feels like it is their first time seeing each other?

They just fake their smiles, at the back of their mind, it says everything does not make sense. They are still wondering who they are and why they wake up in this body while their mind is still stuck on their previous life. After their dinner, his in-laws left, and they were asked to visit Leticia's home. They are now lying next to each other, both facing an opposite direction.

"hmm..." She turned around. Leticia is hesitating whether she should give him a goodnight kiss or not. There is something that pushes her to do it. It is like she has no control of her mind. She knew that she should act completely sane while still remembering who exactly she is. If they are lovers for three years —according to her parents. The Leticia before is a sweet one which is according to la sirvienta, then she should somehow go with the flow.

"hmm..." He turned around, and to his surprise, he met her eyes. Her eyes were the softest brown infused with gold as if she held the new autumn growth inside. They were the forest floor that allows the gentle flowers to grow somewhere to rest and breathe.

"Good night." She moved an inch to give him a sweet kiss on his cheek.

He holds a steady heartbeat rhythm until the thought of her arrives, then its tempo raises into a new genre altogether, turning him into all shades of pink while his heart skips a beat.

He asked himself, ‘What is this strange yet familiar feeling?’ It was an experience that he used to have when he lived with Amaya...could she be… ‘No, it's impossible.’

The Amaya he met is not sweet, all he could remember was her image as a total havoc woman.