Chapter 1: the Change War Brings
'Aiyah, Philippines!' China nearly yelled, dropping the papers he had been perusing just seconds ago. 'What's wrong, Kuya Yao?' Philippines replied, looking at him worriedly as she was sweeping the floor. China had arrived an hour ago to check on his South East Asian sister. He looked quite bedraggled, and he looked quite different from when they last saw each other after the war ended. The last time they had met, China's hair was quite long – reaching at least his armpits – and often wore his mandarin jacket. The China that faced her now was wearing a shabby-looking uniform topped with a fur-trimmed jacket. The biggest change of all, though, was that his hair was chopped short – shorter than she had ever seen it. 'How could you ally yourself with that – that,' He angrily began, but his statement remained unfinished – as if he couldn't bring himself to say it. 'Who are you talking about, kuya?' Philippines asked, still sweeping the floor. 'You know who I'm talking about!' he answered, clenching his fists, 'I thought you were my sister, aru!' Philippines sighed and ceased her chore immediately, 'Sino po ba yung tinutukoy mo?' she asked in her own language, leaning on her broom slightly, 'Really, Kuya, I can't answer you unless you tell me.' China put a hand to his forehead. He remembered that his sister was sometimes nearly as dense as the man he was irked at. 'Why are you assisting AMERICA, aru?' he finally said. 'Alfred?' She asked, clearly confused. China quickly started swearing in his native tongue, succumbing to his rapidly deteriorating patience. Philippines heaved a deep sigh, putting her broom away and heading to the kitchen to prepare some tea to her obviously strained brother.
As she boiled the water, she wondered why Yao seemed quite cross. Well, he had just finished with a Civil War – add to his plate everything that happened during the Second World War. She couldn't really blame him for being stressed because of all that. She swiftly poured the water into one of the teapots China had given her a long time ago, brewed the tea, and arranged the porcelain on a tray before she brought it to the still-cursing Chinese man. 'Please relax,' she said, calmly setting the tray down in front of him as if she were unperturbed by the string of profanity he had just let loose in her house. China's body slackened slightly as he took the cup of tea, 'Xie-xie, Philippines,' he said, sounding exhausted, 'Why are you so angry?' Philippines asked, sitting down opposite him. He closed his eyes and remained silent, sipping his tea, 'This is good tea, aru,' he said as if he hadn't heard anything. Philippines decided to remain quiet and wait for his answer, rather than pursue it.
'Don't you remember what that – that,' he finally began, but this time, he found the words he was looking for, ' – that narcissistic, presumptuous, over-confident, intrusive, treacherous git did to you, aru?' he finished with a scowl on his face.
'H-Ha?'
With those words, Philippines drank her tea too fast, scalding her tongue and nearly making her choke, 'A-Ano?' she stuttered, 'K-K-Kuya!' China stood up and was at her side immediately, 'Are you alright, Maria, aru?' he asked, clearly worried. Philippines shook her head, ignoring China's inquiry, 'he—he's been helping me, kuya!' China retreated to his seat at her words, 'Philippines, you really don't remember? Have you forgotten every offense he's done agai –,' he started, but Philippines cut him off, 'since when did you take offense in my relations with Alfred? Isn't he your ally too?' She asked, concern filling her dark brown eyes. China looked away – she really didn't know?
'Las Islas Filipinas,' China said, addressing Philippines, 'that man made false promises to you. He tortured your people and bound them by rules his government had created. He hindered your freedom, aru,'
'But he didn't do it on purpose,' Philippines said indignantly, 'he only cared about my wellbeing! He knew I would benefit from it, and he eventually gave me my freedom back! You witnessed his return of my sovereignity; you were there at the ceremony!' China sighed and retreated to finishing his tea. But Philippines would not just drop a subject after it's brought up, 'He's atoned for the horrible things his men did to my people during the Philippine-American War. And believe it or not, he's really helping me recover from the war. Alfred is my comrade,' she insisted.
'Don't ever call him 'comrade,'' China blurted out, 'He is –,' he began, but what Alfred was to China, Maria would not know, for he was cut off by the front door opening loudly and a happy voice saying, 'THE HERO IS HERE, MARIA!'
China's eyes darted towards the door, 'And look who's here,' he said, irritated. Maria continued to stare at China – that is, until a bespectacled blonde man wearing a bomber jacket entered, 'Magandang Hapon, Maria!' he said with an accent, but he did so with such mirth that it was excusable. 'Ah, Alfred!' She swiftly ran towards the American to hug him, 'I didn't know you were coming!' 'I had some spare time, so I decided to visit you~' America suddenly noticed that China was in the room, 'Ah, the Republic of China!' he said as if there were no problems in between them, 'I didn't know you were visiting Maria too, Yao.' China looked back at him with contempt evident in his gaze, 'Likewise, Yàměilìjiān hézhòngguó. And by the way, it's the 'People's Republic of China.'' He said scathingly, but Alfred was too happy to notice the nation's bitterness. 'Oh, I didn't know you changed your name, Yao,' he grinned, still hugging Philippines. 'Tch. How can you not know? You sent your ships into the strait of Taiwan to block mine a few months ago!' China muttered seethingly in his language – followed by a few more Chinese swears. 'I apologize; my visit seems to have been cut short, Philippines. I need to take my leave now,' China said, trying to contain his annoyance. 'Can't you stay a little longer? We can all have merienda now before you leave,' Philippines said, sounding genuinely concerned. She sounded as if the entire exchange between her and China hadn't happened. The latter sighed and shook his head, 'I'm sorry, but I have some business to attend to, aru.' He walked out of the room with his things in hand. 'See ya, Yao!' The United States hollered at China, taking a hand off Maria and waving it. 'Be careful, kuya! Come back again soon,' Philippines smiled. China looked back at them for a moment and nodded. He proceeded out of her house quickly. He suddenly bumped into a panting Arthur Kirkland.
'Ah, Good A-Afternoon, Yao,' he gasped. China nodded, 'Good Afternoon to you too, England, aru,' he replied. 'Is America in there?' China nodded once more. 'Ah, thank you,' England said as he straightened up and fixed his garments. He was about to enter her house until China shot out his arm and blocked his way. 'What the – Yao?' England said as he halted, looking at the man who obstructed his path. China looked him in the eye – his fierce brown staring into England's surprised green.
'You're aligning with him, I suppose?' China inquired with an irate tone.
'Who are yo – America?' The European asked. China silently nodded, waiting for his answer. 'Well, he's my former charge – I need to look after him, don't I?' The former replied, still with a startled look on his face. 'Predictable, aru,' The Chinese man put down his arm and began walking once again. 'We don't have to fight, China,' the often incensed Englishman said in such a placid manner. His interlocutor turned his head ninety degrees and stared at him. China noticed that look of shock was wiped from England's face, replaced by a sympathetic expression. The former averted his eyes, stating, 'I have to defend my people's ideals, so if you and the others decide to continue associating with that liar, I suggest you prepare yourselves.' With that, China marched away, leaving England to stare after him.
'I think we're going to have quite a war on our hands, aru.'
'Alfred, what did you do to Yao?' Maria asked the American as she pulled away from him. 'Huh? What're you— Can we have that merienda you were talking about?' He answered with a question that was completely off topic, a goofy smile still plastered to his face. But the Filipina would not be swayed by it, 'Alfred, please answer me, and don't lie. Yao seemed infuriated a while ago,' she said, crossing her arms and staring straight at Alfred, her umber eyes piercing his deep blue ones. Her face wore a look of anxiety and expectance. America didn't like it when she'd look at him like that. He sighed, defeated. His expression became one of utmost emergency, 'Well, I didn't want to involve you, but,' he began, looking away, 'I need your help in Korea.'
'Korea? Did anything happen to Yong Soo and his brother?' Philippines asked worriedly. 'Well, they've been at war for a few months now,' he muttered, hoping that she wouldn't hear, 'and I've been assisting South Korea. Everything's been going well, but,' he paused, trying to phrase the information he had to relay. 'Yao or rather, the People's Republic of China has decided to fight for the North and is planning to attack my forces fighting for the south.' Philippines looked at him in disbelief. America immediately regretted telling her, but he really had no choice. She was silent, not knowing what to say. America hated it when she was too quiet; it was always a bad sign, so he decided to try lightening the impact, 'So will you help me? We can be Korea's heroes!' He tried to grin, but Maria slapped his arm with the back of her hand, ''Wag ka ngang magbiro ng ganyan! Seryoso 'to!' She scolded, but in truth, she appreciated the fact that America didn't want her in such a bad mood. 'A-Ah. Paumanhin,' he said, embarrassed. Philippines waved away his apology, 'No, it's alright,' she smiled, 'I know you're just worried about me.' She sat down on hour couch, 'So you're asking me to—to fight the one who first raised me? My own siblings. . .' she verified quietly, 'do I really have to?' she asked him. 'I wouldn't have gone to you if it weren't necessary,' he said with remorse evident in his voice. The girl said, her voice wavering, 'I'm sorry, Alfred, but I don't want to fight. Especially since the memories of the war are still fresh in my mind. . .' Alfred nodded, not wanting to drag her into another one of his wars, but he had no other choice. 'Maria, I'm trying to prevent another one of those wars,' he said, 'The Wang Yao who just left, the one who's fighting me and some of your other siblings – he isn't the Yao we know. I mean he's even siding with that commie: Russia!' Her elder brother was siding with the Soviets? Maria had met Russia quite a long time ago – before she had even met America. He was a tall and foreboding man who always seemed to carry a weapon with him. She knew that Yao was rather afraid of him, so it was quite odd that he would side with him. Philippines looked up at America. His face was serious and determined – it was the same look he gave her when he promised to return for her before he threw himself into the preceding war. She saw the conviction in present in his light, sapphire-coloured eyes. She wanted to help him, but she valued her family far too much. But then again, America was right; if China and the Soviet Union are involved, then there's no telling what could happen. If she truly cared, then she should try to stop them. She stood up, 'Fine; I've changed my mind,' she said, 'I'll help. I—I can't bear to see them fight with each other,' she looked down, 'I want to get Yao back.' America looked at the Filipina. He would despise himself whenever he'd cause her so much grief. He lifted her face, 'I'm sorry. I know how hard this is for you,' he murmured, feeling guilty and wanting to make it up to her, 'but I hope I can cheer you up just a little bit,' he gave her a soft kiss on the lips. She beamed at him when he pulled away, 'Thank you, Alfred,' she said, managing a small smile. He returned a grin, 'I'll try to make this war quicker than the last. I don't want you to suffer again because of me.'
And with that, the Mutual Defense Treaty was signed less than a year later, and Alfred's promise was made.
But the Cold War was just beginning. They had no idea of what was to come.
This story will revolve around the Cold War that technically occurred from 1945 [the end of the second world war], to 1991 [the dissolution of the Soviet Union]. But some say that it began during the Russian Revolution of 1917 when the Soviets came into power. The Mutual Defense Treaty was signed on August 30, 1951 in Washington D.C. It stated that if either of them were to be attacked by an external force, they would assist each other. The treaty is still implemented to this day.
The Chinese Civil War broke out after the Second World War between the Communist party, led by Mao Zedong [may also be rendered as Tse-tung], and the current government, led by Chiang Kai-shek. There were actually skirmishes before WWII, but it only escalated afterwards. The war ended with the communists taking control, renaming China and forcing the government to move to Formosa, or Taiwan. Until today, the situation between the PRC[People's Republic of China] and the RC [the Republic of China] are still not fully resolved.
Yes, the Philippines did technically meet Russia before America. According to the website of the Russian embassy in Manila, as early as the 1800s, Russia had expressed interest in developing ties in South East Asia to secure food and other materials for its new territories. An Irish-American was the first one to promote relations between the Far-Eastern part of Russia [The Kamchatka Peninsula] and South-East Asia. In 1813, Alexander I endorsed the plan of the businessman for trade and development, and in 1817, sent a diplomatic mission to establish a consulate in the Philippines - Russia's first in the region. The mission was declined by the Spaniards, but they had allowed the businessman to stay and act as Russia's unofficial representative in the country. For the rest of the 19th century until 1917, most of the communication was carried out by French merchants, the so-called 'free-lance consuls.'
After the October Revolution, the communication was continued by the Communist Party of the USA, Kominterns, and Prof-Interns [Red Labour Unions]. From the 1920s to 30s, there were some militants that had undergone training in the USSR, eventually joining events around the world such as the 7th Congress of Komintern in 1935. Many of them subsequently joined the communist party of the Philippines.
After the independence was granted to the country, she remained adamant with the abstained policy and refraining from establishing ties with socialist countries.
Translations:
Kuya: Older Brother
Sino po ba yung tinutukoy mo? : Who are you pertaining to?
Magandang Hapon : Good Afternoon
Yàměilìjiān hézhòngguó: United States of America [in Chinese]
merienda: Afternoon snack
Wag ka ngang magbiro ng ganyan! Seryoso 'to!: Don't joke like that! This is serious!
Paumanhin: Sorry
Commie: Communist
I hope you guys like it. :)
