'The Innocent Mistress

asked, enticing. "Here, Grace wants to catch a ride to M

ing me gulp nervously a

just arrived, so it might

ely, Kuya and Dad will worry. Are they

ow your family's num

o remember. "No, Aling C

be Grace can stay here

ry rest house with almost pristine white paint. It looked

Hija? General might sta

kitchen bar. I looked around the American-style kitchen; the

elo. What matters is I

repared with a sharp knife. She s

re it gets dark. General might e

h chair. I was about to experience v

a beach chair, observing his men. When he saw me, he smile

way. I hurried to keep up, realizing I

bamboo fences on either side, guiding our way. We w

s of vegetables growing. "Wow, there a

round. "We have plenty because these are what Feliciano

know which o

free from animal bites, you can pick it." I nodded as she explained for other ve

ing Consuelo chuckled. "Aling Consuelo, what do you call this?" I

, don't wander too far; you

. I noticed a grove of orange trees, and my ey

orange tree here." I turned

steps, but it seemed different. I

ou? Ouch!" I sat down after

drawn to a long creature slowly approaching me. I

sn

lo! Help! Ple

e snake slithered towards my foot

sk

treo holding a gun. I looked at the snake and breathed a sigh of relief a

u," I smi

you can't protect yourself. You even

eaving me slightly annoyed by his br

ing me more curious. I looked back at him, noticing his tattoo through the bl

here are your

roached me when we got back. "Thank

houlder, assuring her it was fine. H

t got bitten by a snake.

ar. The forest is next, and the

I saw an o

would've gotten it. Next time,

rds the basket. I helped her carr

g up, I didn't see him there. I ignored his men and

a with his head against the backrest. He had his eyes closed, and I cou

o, I want your

I stopped too, looking at him. He lo

ked away so Aling Consuelo wouldn't notice. I g

ly going crazy. Shocks. I really like him. He's h

e chicken fro

ing, imagining h

, does Atreo ha

l me you have a crush on the g

t the right age. Maybe he

d as she looked at me. She to

oman here. I don't know if he

s, it's impossible that he hasn't had a girlfrie

p and saw the frozen chicken along with some frozen food. I took it and faced Aling Consuelo, ready to gi

ped as he pulled me towards him. I looked

that's when I realized he closed the refri

mineral water. I blinked and swallowed, stunned. I felt the str

u? And why are you hugging

n I was holding tightl

w embar

carefully lifted the dishes containing the rema

ou please take this to the hut? Go ahea

en bar. I took the plate with the remaining adobo and vegetables

he walked away first, carrying a towel. I followed him immediately. Upon exiting, I saw

Consuelo's house, I saw an elderly man sitting in fr

re you

iciano? Aling Con

smiled, excitedly

n the big house. They sai

him. So, when I placed the plate with food in fro

Unfortunately, something happened, and I ended up here and was saved by Atreo

roblem, Hija. Our d

e at his words an

Feliciano." He

ll you get back home? Do you

le, and Atreo. So, it's more fun to stay here. I hope my family takes a while to find me, and I hope Atreo stays here for a long time. I don't know; it feels like I'm cap

back to Manila. I don't kno

ood up, but I

Feliciano. You seem

nd placed one in front of Mang Feliciano, and the other two on either

e for me to eat wit

ith your hands? Aren't your hand

ed at my

provincianos, it's more enjoyable to eat with our hands. Our

I nodded because he was right. Wash hands and soap. After thoroughly

ix them and squeeze them betw

nd washed my hands. Then I sat in front of the table and tried what he was d

the food this way, right?" he

it saves o

hed and cont

like you're hav

d when I saw Atreo behind her, also looking at us. I quickly face

er hands." Aling Consuelo said with a smile. "Oh General, you're here." Mang Felician

g Feliciano. I'm just here to a

l. I'll rest tomorr

ad." That's all he said

hed us, and I turned to the door, but Atreo was gone. G

, Hija. A beautifu

Aling Consuelo, let's

I have everything I want. But now, I want something, and it seems hard to reach. Bu

on of being full. Oh well, it will go away quickly. At least I tried eating properly—no more just bread and vegetable salad. Brown rice and tuna. Sometimes I skip meals to stick to my daily di

so good to swim now. Unfortunately, I don't have extra underwear if I

s and walking towards the sea. I smiled when I felt the cool and slightly chilly

my hair to remove the water. I looked

went underwater again and did a vertical dive.

in the water before finally getting out, thoroughly enjoyi

towards the beach chair. But I stoppe

scratched my head and squinted, wondering where I

king back to Aling Consuelo's house. I just hope she w

t Atreo's house. And I don't know if I'm just seeing things or what, but it seems like som

g Con

like that? Where's the dress you were

I placed your dress on the beach cha

arance." she said hysterically, making me laugh be

no choice, she lent me the underwear she hadn't used

dress, I was all set. I love it. It looks trendy.

all? Is this really yours?" I asked as

fits you. It's not as big as it was earlier. I have mo

But where do you buy you

ere. Let it be, and tomorrow I'll buy you some underwear so

. Let it be, I'll

couple, were able to help you in some way. Okay, lie do

said, waving. She smiled and shook her

down on the firm bed with thin padding. It

ly went to the window with bamboo slats. I raised it and propped it up with a piec

e at the rest house?" I asked Aling

e and returned her gaze

e. They have an operation on the othe

ecause I won't be abl

the other island? C

, Hija. We can't leave the res

ecause there's no way I can catch

nsuelo with her chores. After finishing lunch, she taug

Ever since Feliciano and I moved here and star

ouse. They're beautifully made," I said, foc

is, you might not get bored h

e decoration and look

proudly showcase your work. Ma

all

on social media. If you want to make some extra mon

I'd only do this here. I didn't know

my hair behind my ear, a

because it was cool and comfortable to work on decorations for the house and body. I was ma

at I could make something like this. It's challenging for

's group wearing military attire. I smiled and tidied up the decoratio

arked one by one, led by Atreo. So when he wal

ausing his group to halt as

ll of you,"

couldn't remember. I frowned at him before looking at Atreo, wh

nklet I made, but

you

sounds. I was getting tired beca

st me without taking it. I sighed at what he s

ook his hand, and said, "You can have it. Cutie-cutie." I patted his head before turning away from them

ed away and gave Atreo a sly look as I passed by. When he

entious. Huhu, I'll

back was aching from bending while making the anklet, but he didn't ta

ing with the anklet. Maybe it was too small