Chapter 49: The Gift
Just minutes after our arrival at the City of Dreams, a five-star hotel in Manila, General Romeo's men immediately sprang into action.
They were like bees busy in a hive, each with their own task, from arranging decorations to preparing the guests. In the middle of the chaos, my female comrades—fellow soldiers I had served with in the camp—pulled me away with smiles on their faces and a spark of excitement in their eyes.
"Hurry up, Flora!" one shouted, pushing me away from General Romeo.
I was separated from him before I could even process what was happening, surrounded by the women.
"Let's get the princess ready!" another soldier cried out, her voice playful yet filled with genuine joy.
They pulled me into a room, and though I struggled in my confusion, I was powerless to stop them. "This is the General's order, Flora! Just follow it!" one said, her smile nearly bursting with happiness.
When we entered the room, my jaw dropped in shock. I had expected the usual weapons, guns, or anything combat-related—the things I had grown accustomed to in the camp.
But this room was different. I was greeted by a breathtaking changing room adorned with soft fabrics, large mirrors with golden frames, and ceiling lights that looked like stars. The scent of flowers, perhaps roses and jasmine, filled the air, delighting me instantly. It immediately reminded me of the flower gardens in La Trinidad. Hotel staff hurried in, carrying boxes of makeup, brushes, and other tools I never imagined seeing on a "mission."
They sat me down in a plush chair in front of the mirror, and before I could ask a single question, they began applying makeup to my face.
"Why are you doing this? What's going on?" I asked, but their only answer was, "The General's orders, Princess. We're just doing our job."
"Princess?" I whispered, baffled. But I had no time to think.
"The General only gave us ten minutes, so please stay still so we can finish," a staff member said, a hint of urgency in her voice. I had no choice but to comply, knowing they had to follow orders, even as my heart raced with questions and nerves.
A few minutes passed like a dream, and the transformation was complete. When I looked in the mirror, I could hardly recognize myself.
I was wearing a white gown that looked as though it were fashioned from clouds, adorned with pearls that shimmered in the light and diamonds that sparkled like stars in the sky. The fabric flowed over my body like water, and every movement I made felt carried by magic. My hair was styled in soft curls, and the makeup gave a strange, ethereal glow to my eyes. I looked like a movie star—I never knew I could be this beautiful.
"Is this real? Is this really me?"
I held the hem of the gown, and in my sheer joy, I slowly twirled in front of the mirror like a dreaming child. I smiled, and for a moment, I felt the childhood dreams I had long forgotten—dreams buried by life's tragedies—come rushing back to life.
But as I spun, I noticed a shadow outside the door. It was General Romeo, standing there, peeking into the room with his eyes fixed on me. I turned beet-red with shame. He saw me dancing in front of the mirror, acting like a child playing princess!
I stopped instantly, looking down and clutching my gown, not knowing how to face the embarrassment. How mortifying, he saw me dancing, I whispered to myself.
He entered the room, wearing a white tuxedo that gave him a striking, handsome look. His posture was full of authority, yet there was a softness in his eyes as he gazed at me. He didn't speak, but I noticed a flush on his cheeks—something I never expected to see on a man like him.
A moment later, a hotel staff member entered and handed him a tiara decorated with diamonds. He slowly approached me, and with every step he took, my heart hammered harder. "Enjoy yourself tonight, Flora. This moment belongs to you," he said, his voice deep and full of sincerity.
"General, what is happening? Why did they dress me like this?" I asked, still confused. But before I could continue, he placed his finger on my lips, signaling me to be silent.
"Don't worry about the details for now. What matters is that you enjoy tonight," he said, his voice gentle but firm. I didn't know how to respond. My mind was full of questions, but my heart told me to simply follow. General Romeo placed the tiara on my head, and in 그 moment, the world seemed to shift.
"You are the princess tonight, so enjoy it," he said, turning me toward the mirror. When I looked, I was nearly moved to tears. I never imagined I would see myself like this—like a true princess.
"Happy 18th birthday, Flora," he added, and it was then I realized that all of this was for my birth anniversary.
"Wait, you remembered my birthday?" I asked, incredulous.
"I admit my greetings are always late because of how much I handle, but I have never forgotten your birthday," he replied with a smile of genuine care. "Ever since I forced you to become a soldier, you haven't experienced joy. I've given you nothing but training and strict orders. I remember when you were a child, how you would dance in front of the mirrors at the orphanage, pretending to be the princess of a palace."
I turned crimson with embarrassment and immediately covered my face. "Please, General, don't remind me of those humiliating things!" I cried out, nearly jumping in shame.
He gently took my hands and pulled them away from my face. "There is nothing wrong with dreaming, Flora. It is normal for a person to dream of a beautiful life," he said softly. "I cannot give you a real palace, but I can make you a princess, even if it's only for tonight."
Those words pierced my heart. For the first time, I felt the warmth of a family's care—something I had forgotten since the tragedies in La Trinidad. My childhood dreams—of being a princess in a kingdom full of flowers—were suddenly reborn. I knew I wasn't a real princess, that I had no wealth or power, but because of General Romeo, I felt that I wasn't alone.
I turned to him but noticed the serious expression back on his face. I pouted and complained.
"General, why are you scowling again? I don't want to see you looking unhappy with what you're doing for me!" I said, reaching up to hold his cheeks, forcing his lips into a smile.
"That's not true, why do you always say that? I'm just not used to smiling all the time, Flora. You're being abusive if you're asking me to smile the whole night," he answered, though there was a hint of playfulness in his voice.
"I'm the princess tonight, right? So you have to smile for me!" I said, and before long, he smiled back—a smile full of sincerity. That night, I felt true happiness, and every second became a memory I knew I would never forget.
A few minutes passed, and we were led to a massive hall arranged like a palace ballroom. The walls were decorated with flowers—roses, jasmine, and hibiscus—giving off a scent that made me feel as if I were in a garden. There were also soldier statues carved from ice, shimmering under the chandeliers. The guests, mostly my former camp comrades, greeted General Romeo and me with joyous cheers.
"Happy birthday, Flora!" they shouted, and the sound of their applause filled the hall. The atmosphere was electric with joy. People were singing, taking pictures, and on one side stood a long table overflowing with food—from roasted pig and peanut stew to expensive desserts I had never tasted before.
I saw my old comrades, female soldiers I had trained with, and even my sisters whom I hadn't seen in a long time. The joy in my heart was unexplainable.
"I thought you were in Albay? Why are you here?" I asked one of them, who was beaming at me.
"The General called me two days ago. He even pressured my superior just to let me return to Manila," she replied, her voice full of admiration. "Honestly, I knew you were the General's favorite when we were at the camp, but I didn't think you were this special—that he'd give you a gift like this!"
I smiled, but another comrade chimed in. "The General always gives us gifts on our birthdays too, but we've never had a birthday in a five-star hotel! The General rented the whole place for you, Flora. He must have spent millions on this!"
Another soldier put her arm around me with a mischievous grin. "You're so lucky, Flora. It looks like you've captured the General's heart! No man would bother with a feast this big if he didn't like the woman."
I blushed in protest. "Wait, you've got it all wrong! The General doesn't like me like that. He's told me that himself, and besides, he just treats me like family!" I explained, but their smiles only grew wider, clearly unconvinced.
"I'm kind too, but I wouldn't spend this much on a party for you!" one joked, making everyone laugh. "Who else could have a birthday in a place like this except for millionaires?"
Another comrade tapped me on the back. "Flora, use your head! It's normal for the General to say he treats you like family because that's what he says to us too. But look, you're the only one he gives special favors to. We used to be so jealous when he'd let you skip training because you were crying or struggling to keep up!"
I shook my head, but I couldn't deny there was truth in what they were saying.
"He treats you differently, Flora. Even if he calls you a sister now, it's not far-fetched that he might choose you to be his wife in the future. He's still single, right? Maybe he's doing this to make you feel that he loves you!" another added with a teasing wink.
It felt like a current of electricity flowed from my stomach to my chest. I looked at General Romeo, who was at the other end of the hall talking to some soldiers. My heart suddenly sped up, and I didn't know why. Questions raced through my mind: Does he love me as a woman? But it was impossible; he had stated clearly that he didn't like me and only saw me as a sister. So why was I so nervous?
I had accepted long ago that we were just family, but my comrades' words revived a question I didn't want to answer. To clear the confusion, I went to the side of the hall and took a glass of wine. As I drank, I tried to calm myself. Don't think about what they said, Flora. It's better for him that we are siblings, so I shouldn't think like this.
But with every sip of wine, my nervousness intensified. Moments later, General Romeo approached, took a glass of wine, and gently clinked it against mine.
"Don't drink too much, Flora. The party isn't over yet. I still have a gift for you," he said with a mysterious smile.
He raised his hand, and two soldiers immediately approached, handing him two keys. "This is for your new house. I want you to move into a proper condo near your school," he said. "And this is the key to your new car. I'll enroll you in driving school, but you'll have a driver for now until you learn."
I stood frozen, unable to believe him. "General, you're joking, right?" I asked, immediately trying to return the keys. "I can't accept this!"
His face was serious as he held the keys out. "Do I look like I'm joking? It's already paid for, and it can't be returned," he answered firmly.
"But General, this party is enough. You don't need to give such an expensive gift!" I complained, but he held my hand, his touch sending a strange warmth through me.
"Even if I don't have to, I want to do this for you," he said, pulling me away. "Come, I have one more gift."
I had no choice but to follow. We left the hall and took the elevator. Inside, he was still holding my hand, and though I wanted to ask where he was taking me, he stopped me. "Don't ask yet, Flora," he said. The silence in the elevator created a heavy tension.
When we reached the hotel rooftop, we were greeted by a garden decorated with flowers and lights that looked like stars. In one corner, musicians played soft, melodic music.
"Wait, General, did you prepare this too?" I asked, stunned. He smiled, though with a hint of shyness. "Yes, I arranged this for you."
Suddenly, an LED screen on the wall turned on, and I was shocked by what it said: For my beloved Flora, I love you 101x.
I covered my mouth in shock and stared at General Romeo's reddening cheeks.
"To be honest, Flora, I'll admit I know nothing about these things. I just let Abby handle the preparations, and I think she went a bit overboard, especially with that thing."
I could only shake my head; I knew Sister Abby had been trying her best to set the General and me up for a long time.
We stopped in the middle of the garden, and he turned to me, his eyes locked in a serious gaze. "Do you know how to dance, Flora?" he asked. "In palace festivities, the princess has to dance to complete the night, right?"
He placed his hand on my waist and slowly pulled me close. He invited me to dance, and as the music began, I could do nothing but follow his lead.
I couldn't look him in the eye; my heart was pounding too hard. I felt the heat of his body, and being so close to him made my chest feel like it would explode from nerves. Why do I feel like this? I asked myself. I loved General Romeo as a leader, as a guardian, but I no longer dreamed of him as a boyfriend. He was my inspiration, the reason I wanted to be a soldier.
I knew we couldn't be together, but why was I this nervous?
"Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked, his voice soft.
I couldn't answer him directly. "Who wouldn't be happy with a gift like this?" I whispered, averting my gaze.
The warmth of his body, the touch of his hand on my waist—it all made me tremble. After the dance, he invited me to sit. Waiters prepared food for us—steak, salad, and wine—which looked far too expensive for a simple night.
As I stared at the food, I noticed the musicians continuing to play and the garden surrounded by lights. How much did the General spend on this? I wondered.
"Flora, do you not like the steak? Is there something else you want to eat?" he asked, noticing my silence.
"It's not that, General. I like the food, but… surely you spent so much on this," I replied, shy. He put down his cutlery and stared at me, a hint of disappointment on his face.
"You don't need to think about how much I spent, Flora. Unless you're planning to pay me back," he said with a teasing smile.
I shook my head at that. "I don't have the money to pay for this, General!" I answered, my cheeks heating up.
He just laughed. "If money were important to me, I wouldn't have adopted a gluttonous child like you," he joked, but I immediately protested.
"I am not a glutton! And I'm not expensive to keep!" I shouted, nearly annoyed. As we bickered, his phone suddenly rang. He took it and read the message.
After reading it, he suddenly stood up, came to my side, held my hand, and pulled me back toward the garden. "I have one last gift for you," he said.
I didn't know what to expect, but I followed. He took a glass of wine and guided me to the edge of the garden. As we stood there, he said, "Money means nothing to me, Flora, as long as I see my family happy. So I'll ask you again—are you happy tonight?" he said, smiling at me.
"Of course, General. Who wouldn't be happy with what you've done?" I replied, but I couldn't explain the fluttering in my heart.
I couldn't look at him directly. Am I falling for him again? I asked myself. But I immediately dismissed the idea. He was my General, my respected guardian; I had accepted that he wasn't the man who would be my husband.
I suddenly gathered the courage to ask. "General, what about you? Are you happy tonight? I want to know if you're happy too," I asked, my voice nearly trembling.
He reached out and stroked my hair while smiling. "As long as I see you happy, I am happy too, Flora. I enjoy seeing you joyful," he said.
Those words felt like a strange light in my heart. But despite the joy, I felt a sting of pain. I couldn't explain it. I couldn't stop thinking about what my comrades had said, and I needed to clarify this once and for all to stop the crazy thoughts about the General and me. In that moment, I suddenly asked:
"General, do you want to marry me?"
He froze in sheer shock and suddenly spat out the wine he was drinking. He was coughing, caught off guard by my question.
"W-What are you saying, Flora?!" he asked, his face turning bright red. I was mortified by my own question, feeling like I wanted the earth to swallow me whole, but I needed an answer. I took his glass and drank the remaining wine.
"Be honest with me, General. Are you doing this to win me over?" I said, my voice full of nerves. "You're always giving me favors, going out of your way for me. That's not normal for a General and a subordinate. I know you want to make me happy as a sister, but you don't need to spend millions for that. I'm confused by your special treatment of me!"
He stopped me, placing a finger on my lips. "Wait, do you think I'm doing this because I want you to be my wife?" he asked, his voice calm but serious.
I blushed and suddenly looked down in total shame. "It's normal for me to think that, isn't it? I'm still a woman. I can't understand what you're thinking, so I need to know what your real plan is for me," I answered, almost a whisper.
He sighed. "You know, Flora, you are kind, modest, and beautiful. To me, you are the perfect woman for—"
Before he could finish, I covered his mouth with my hand while pouting angrily. "Stop it, General! I've heard those compliments from you many times!" I shouted. "All I want to know is what you really want to happen between the two of us?"
He was silent for a moment, his eyes just staring at me. Silence enveloped the place as if waiting for something, and every passing second added to my nerves as I awaited his answer. He took my hand to remove it from his mouth and held it tightly. "What do you want to hear from me, Flora?" he asked, his voice full of wonder.
I was suddenly stunned by his question. What did I want to hear? Was it right for me to ask if he had feelings for me? What if he said yes? What would I do? I shook my head in shame. I realized I hadn't thought about what would happen if he said he wanted me to be his girlfriend.
"I... I just want to know the truth... I don't want anything else to happen," I whispered.
He suddenly gripped my shoulders, and I looked into his eyes. But I didn't expect what he did next.
He kissed my forehead, and at that exact moment, the sky lit up. The night was filled with light from the fireworks, colors of red, blue, and gold dancing above. I couldn't speak; my body was paralyzed with nerves. He didn't answer my question. Instead, he looked at the sky. A few moments later, as he watched the fireworks display, he suddenly sighed.
"I don't know why you think of those things, Flora. I told you long ago that I am a selfish man, didn't I? I'm doing this for myself, as a fulfillment of my promise to care for you as family."
"A selfish man?" I whispered to myself.
As I watched the fireworks, I noticed a sadness in his eyes. I knew General Romeo was not just a leader, but also a person with his own sorrows.
"Why do you say things like that? I know you are a good person, not a selfish one."
Perhaps he would say that he brings me along on these occasions so that he too can experience being normal, even if only for a short while. But despite that, he cannot be fully happy because of the weight of his responsibilities and past sins.
A few moments later, he suddenly hugged me, telling me to let him do it for his own sake. He said it was a selfish act to alleviate the loneliness he was enduring.
"I came from a simple town in Batangas," he began, his voice deep and full of memory. "A simple community where most were Filipinos striving to survive. My family were just makers of balisong (butterfly knives) and fishers just to have food for the day."
While hugging me, he told me of his past. According to him, at the age of seven, he received power from the diwata. But that power brought intense trials for him. One day, he was forced to use it to protect his family from the Spaniards. News spread quickly, and the Spaniards learned of his ability. To prevent him from becoming a threat, he was captured and forced to swear allegiance to the flag of Spain.
"I was so terrified then, Flora. I was just a child, knowing nothing of the world, with no ability to protect anyone. All I wanted was to save my family," he said, his eyes full of regret.
His family was imprisoned, and he was told to expect no mercy if he did not join the Spanish army. At age ten, he became a soldier, trained as a "puppet" of Spain. He was given a new life—a house, an education, and a chance for his family to prosper as honorary Spaniards.
"At first, it felt like a dream. I was happy, especially since I could provide for my family's needs, especially for Inday, my youngest sister," he said, and I noticed the softness in his voice when he mentioned her name. "She was affectionate, joyful, and very close to me. I became her guardian, teaching her things she needed to know. I promised that one day, I would take her to different places in the Philippines, that I would give her a beautiful life."
But that dream would never come true. As honorary Spaniards, they were forbidden from helping Filipinos, as it was considered supporting the rebels. Because of that, Romeo thought to encourage the people of his town to also become honorary Spaniards like him, thinking he was helping many people. He went through the trouble of handling the process and funded it himself, believing it would improve people's lives. Within a year, over a hundred Filipinos became honorary Spaniards, and their lives became prosperous.
He let go of the hug and stepped back to create distance between us.
"I thought I had helped them. But that wasn't the reality," he said, his voice full of bitterness. "Many Filipinos were angry at our family because of what I was doing. They called us traitors; when we passed through the market, they threw tomatoes and eggs at us. I couldn't understand then why dignity as a Filipino was more important to others than escaping poverty."
The rebels found out what he was doing, and one night, a rebellion broke out in their town. He was called to suppress it, and though he hesitated to fight his fellow Filipinos, he still helped because he was a soldier. They stopped the rebellion, but even then, he could not kill the rebels because he knew they were also Filipinos who only desired freedom.
The next day, he found out that the rebels had attacked their area. They killed all the honorary Spaniards, including his family—his relatives and siblings, including Inday.
"I nearly went mad with rage, Flora. I didn't care what their reasons were. I only wanted them to feel the pain I felt," he said, his eyes blank, full of agony. He had the captured rebels killed and searched for the one who killed his sister—and that was when his hands began to be stained with the blood of Filipinos.
"I realized I was a selfish man. I thought being an honorary Spaniard was the answer to poverty, but that was only temporary. Because of me, the people I wanted to help died—the people I dedicated a good life to."
"It is my fault they died, and now I am also the reason why many more Filipinos are dying," he said sadly.
An unexplainable sadness was etched on his face. I stepped closer to him and threw my arms around him in a hug. I didn't know how to help him, but I wanted to ease his sorrow. I cried in his arms and held him tightly.
"General, it isn't your fault. You are just a human who makes mistakes. You don't need to blame yourself," I whispered, as tears fell down my cheeks.
A few moments later, as I cried, he held my head and stroked my back. "Why are you crying, Flora?" he asked, holding my head to calm me.
"I'm crying because I'm sad for you. I know you won't cry, so I'll just cry for you," I answered, continuing to sob.
He smiled, gently stroking my hair, and after a few moments, continued speaking. "Three years after that tragedy, I became a General. I decided to take all the sugo to help me in my selfish goal—to make this country peaceful. When I went to Benguet, I learned about the sugo of La Trinidad—it was you I was referring to."
He said he was shocked when he first saw me in prison because I reminded him of his sister, Inday.
"My heart had turned to stone for many years, but when you came under my care, my view of the world slowly changed. I realized my family can never be brought back, but that doesn't mean I can't build a new one."
He admitted that everything he couldn't do for Inday, he wanted to do for me. "All I know is I want to give you a beautiful life, Flora," he said. Those words made my heart heavy, but in a good way.
"In that case, you treat me as special because I remind you of Inday? But General, I am older than you, so you can't treat me as the 'youngest'!" I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Aside from being selfish, I am also arrogant. So the one I consider my youngest can't be older than me," he replied with a truly genuine smile.
He held my arm and pushed me slightly away, but there was still a softness in his actions. "And one more thing, stop crying in front of me. You look ugly when you cry," he added, making me laugh even as my cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
In those moments, I got to know General Romeo even better—the man willing to give everything for his family, who remained strong despite his painful past. I admired him deeply. I knew I was ready to follow him for life, both as a subordinate and as family.
The fireworks stopped, and simultaneously, his phone rang. "It's over," he said, looking at me. "Did you like it?"
I didn't understand his question at first, and a few seconds later, I was shocked to realize that the fireworks were the "last gift" he had mentioned earlier. "Wait, General, you arranged the fireworks display?!" I shouted, incredulous.
"Tsk, you've been watching for a while, and you only found out now?" he answered teasingly.
I pouted. "You didn't have to spend that much to make me happy!" I complained.
He ignored my words and turned away, walking back to our seats in the garden. I watched him walk away and suddenly smiled because I knew how lucky I was to have met a man like him.
But before he could get far, I suddenly felt a strange presence. A cold wind gusted, and when I looked up, a massive white portal appeared in the sky.
From it, a monster with tentacles slowly emerged, its eyes glowing deep red and its form terrifying. My eyes widened, and I couldn't speak. It happened so fast, and before I could even grasp the danger it posed, I saw its tentacles heading straight for General Romeo.
My body moved on its own. I ran forward, my heart full of fear. "General!" I screamed as I threw myself in the way.
The tentacles struck me, and a powerful surge of electricity flowed through my body. "Ahhh!" I screamed, my knees weakening. I could no longer feel my arms, and my vision began to spin. I felt the tentacles pulling me upward, away from the ground.
I saw General Romeo reaching out for my hand, but he couldn't reach me.
"Flora!" he shouted, his voice full of desperation. Before I finally lost consciousness, I heard a laughing voice from the darkness.
"The night of joy is over, dear princess. It is time to show you the true reality of this world!"
End of Chapter.