Isabelle hides behind the stairwell. It's Judge Frollo! He walks on to the altar and kneels on the hard ground. Like everybody, the gloomy judge prays. Like a few people, he prays for the peace of the souls of his dead friends.

Isabelle decided to go up the bell tower when he passed by the stairwell, not wanting to meet any trouble. She watches the city of San Lorenzo from the window. San Lorenzo looks so sleepy tonight. Only a few lights are up, showing that the city's not yet in a complete slumber; not yet in a complete slumber from the suffering of the country it's on.

The exact thought of Filipinos suffering brought a throbbing ache to Isabelle's heart. She wonders when her beloved Philippines will be free; when the people will be free. The half-Filipina, half-French noblewoman has nothing to do but to pray earnestly for the freedom of her mother's country.

Esmeralda is not doing well in her sleep. She tosses and turns over. Her mind is very restless from a terrible dream.

In her dream, she sees Monsieur Joseph and Clopin chained up on a prison cell wall. Three guards enter the room and pick up both men. A flash hits Esmeralda.

She appears in a scaffold. There her family and Isabelle's whole family are being beheaded one by one. Whatever she can do, she can't do anything for she's paralyzed. All she can do now is resentfully watch heads fall into baskets, blood dripping from the block and headless corpses being dragged away.

In real life, she's struggling and screaming. Bella and Jean wake up to her shrill screams. Both of them tugged Esmeralda. She wakes up much to their relief.

"Esmeralda, are you alright?" Bella asked as Jean goes out of the room to fetch a glass of water.

"I'm fine."

"What was your dream?"

"I was in a wide place full of flowers and grass. I was just picking them using a basket." She lied. Surely Bella might tell Isabelle of the dream. One slip of her tongue about her terrifying dream, she'd bring Isabelle to bouts of worrying.

"That's... not so bad. What else happened?"

"That's all I remember."

Jean comes in with a glass of water. Esmeralda thanks her and takes the glass. Surprisingly, she drank the whole glass's contents in a few seconds. Perhaps she was very thirsty from struggling and screaming too much.

"Esmeralda, I advise you pray before returning to sleep. It will help you sleep better." Bella said.

"I will." She gets out of her bed. She kneels in front of the humble altar on the right. Throughout her long prayer, Bella whispered to Jean of the dream she never knew was a lie.

Judge Frollo performs the sign of the cross to end his prayer. He gets up from his kneeling position and goes home. Isabelle sees him getting on the carriage. Alas, she seizes her long-awaited time. Once she arrives, Esmeralda is praying while Bella and Jean are talking.

"Wh.." Bella quickly shushed Isabelle.

She, using her lips, pointed at Esmeralda who is praying. It is a superstition for Filipinos to not use their finger for pointing at a mountain, an abandoned house, a tree or a small mound. This will be taken as an insult by the engkanto or mythical creature residing in the said place. Thus, they'll curse the person. That's why Bella is used to having the behavior.

Isabelle reluctantly sits at Bella's bed and asks in a whisper, "What happened?"

"Esmeralda was dreaming. I asked her what happened in her dreams. She replied she was picking flowers in a place full of it using a basket."

Isabelle glances at Esmeralda. Her best friend looked so focused on praying; so focused that she greatly resembles a statue.

"Do you think there is something to come?" Jean asked.

"Only God knows." Bella replied.

"Well, it's up to God to whatever will happen to us." Isabelle added.

"I agree." Bella said.

"Where have you been by the way?" Jean asked.

"I wrote my diary in the bell tower. When I was done, I went downstairs. Judge Frollo appeared once I set foot on the ground. Luckily, I hid behind the stairwell then I went up back to the bell tower whilst he walked up to the altar. Later on, he left. I went downstairs again and now I'm here, again."

"Are you sure 'Judge Deadly Eyes' hasn't seen you?" Jean asked, trying to control her laugh.

"Judge Deadly Eyes?"

"We call him that becuase whenever he's angry, he has those eyes. He points those deadly eyes at some of us who make a mistake." Bella replied.

"Not only does he get mad at servants. Frollo would sometimes point those eyes at anyone who angers him." Isabelle said.

"Well, his loathesome temper might have a dark past mended on him." Esmeralda said, coming to sit with them. "I intend to discover his past; the roots of his self-righteous life."

"Will you really do that, Esmé?" Isabelle asked worriedly.

"Yes."

"I really don't want to interrupt you but we should be early tomorrow by sleeping now." Bella said. Esmeralda nods. Four of them drift off to sleep.

Jose regretfully got himself ready for the day. Instead of going outside, he stays in his room; lying down on a bed like a corpse in a funeral. He orders Homobono to cover the window which let in the teasing sun. There he felt more at a deep connection with mourning and tranquility; there he felt of being inside his dead mother's womb.

He can't believe the fact his mother, Señora Josefina, died for him and his sister. The doctors advised her to abort both of them. She refuses and gives herself up to God. To God she prays more for the safety of her dear twins and less for herself. All of this saddened Don Jose. When he expressed his doubts about God to her, she won in their religious debate.

The time comes for his fear to come true. His precious wife leaves the world as their children enters the world. Don Jose was so deeply depressed he almost kicked his bucket. In his dreams, his wife advises him of their children; the only things she left in this neutral world. Don Jose rises up from his pool of suicidal thoughts and takes up his paternal duties. Thus, he named Josefita after the mother she never got to see. He replaced the "n" with an "t" to avoid confusion.

Now it's Jose's turn to overcome the nightmare he's living. As if the saying "Whatever happens to the parents will also happen to their children" is the life Jose is having right now.

Suddenly, Homobono enters the room.

"Don Jose..."

Nakakaasar naman ang pangalan ko. Sa lahat ng mga titulo sa mundo, bakit 'Don' ang pinili para sa pagtatawag sa mga mayayamang lalaki katulad ko? (My name is so teasing. Out of all the titles in the world, why 'Don' is chosen to be adressed to rich men like me?) He thought.

"May bisita po kayo. (You have a visitor.)"

"Sino ba iyon? (Who is it?)"

"Si Tandang Felix po. (Tandang Felix.)"

Jose gets up from his four-post bed. He goes down together with Homobono. Tandang Felix is sitting down on a chair. Both meet each other's gaze. Tandang Felix's dark eyes brighten up while Jose's brown eyes dimmed. The young man sits in front of the old man.

"Jose, kamusta ka na ba? Nabalitaan ko na inilibing na ang ama't kapatid mo. Kaya sa'yo na ang lahat ng yaman ng ama mo . (Jose, how are you? I heard news that your father and sister were buried. That's why all of riches of your father are yours.)" He asked, attempting to shine light on Jose's regretful day.

"Totoo po iyan, Tandang Felix. Hindi lang ang ama ko ay ipapalit pati na rin ang aking kapatid. (That's true, Tandang Felix. Not only do I replace my father but my sister as well.)" He replied bravely.

"Ano ba ang gagawin mo? (What will you do?)"

"Lalaban na ako para sa mga Pilipino. (I'll fight for the Filipinos.)"

"Mabuti naman. Sasama ako sa'yo. (That's good. I'll join you.)" He commented happily. Finally, there's somebody joining Jose on his journey.

"Don Jose, sasama po din ako. (Don Jose, I will also join.)" Adrian said, ignoring protocol as a servant.

"Ako po din. (Me too.)" Homobono said.

"Hanggang sa aking huling paghinga, lalaban ako alang-alang para sa kalayaan ng ating nagdudusang bayan. (Up to my last breath, I'll fight for the sake of the freedom of our suffering land.)" Edgar said.

Jose got up from his chair to tell them something like a general giving a speech to his army before they battle with the enemy.

"Mabuti naman na hindi ako nag-iisa. Kagabi, inisip kong pumunta sa gobernador-heneral at makipag-usap sa kanya. (It's good that I'm not alone. Last night, I thought of going to the governor-general and talk with him.)"

Jose goes up to his bedroom. His servants and Tandang Felix follow him. The young, radical man got a piece of long paper, his feathered pen and a inkwell from his wooden desk placed on the left side of the room. He goes down with his eager companions back to the living room. Jose puts down his things on the small table and gets ready to write.

"Kaya ngayon, isusulat ko sa papel na ito ang lahat ng mga petisyon natin. (That's why today, I'll write in this paper all of our petitions.)"

"Tama ang gagawin mo, Jose. (What you will do is right, Jose.)" Tandang Felix said to him. "Nadinig ko na ang bagong gobernador-heneral, si Carlos Maria dela Torre, ay liberal at may simpatiya para sa mga Pilipino. Dahil diyan, pinalaya niya ang mga rebelde kahapon. Ngayon, gusto niya pakinggan ang mga opinyon ng mga Pilipino. (I heard the new governor-general, Carlos Maria dela Torre, is liberal and has sympathy for the Filipinos. Because of that, he freed the rebels yesterday. Now, he wants to hear the opinions of the Filipinos.)"

"Ganoon ba? (Is that so?)" Jose asked, full of hope and disbelief. "Madali nga ang gagawin natin. Sigurado ako na uunlad na ang bansa. (What will we do is very easy. I'm sure that the country will already progress.)"

"Tama! (Right!)" The other men shouted.

"Huwag na tayong mag-aksaya ng oras. Sabihin niyo na ngayon ang mga petisyon niyo. (We should not waste any time. Tell your petitions now.)"

"Ang pananakit mula sa guardia civil ay dapat ipagbawalan na at ang mga masyadong abusado ay dapat tanggalin mula sa puwesto.(The abuses from the civil guard must be prohibited and the very abusive ones must be removed from their position.)" Edgar implied. Jose writes down what he said.

The servant man, who is about to enter an old age, petitions this because of his son. He already forgave his son. He understands why his own male offspring have to do such a thing to the man who sired his father. He understands that his son can't overpower and refuse the orders of his commander. Edgar petitions this so that no more Filipinos can suffer under the bloody boots of the civil guards.

"Dapat magbago na ang sistema ng edukasyon. (The system of education should be changed.)" Adrian said. Jose writes it down.

Adrian's inspiration for this are two people: his brother, Doctor Jaime, and his new master, Don Jose. From them, he knows how to read, write and develop a deeper and immense love for the Philippines. The young servant man wants education for everyone so they may use it against the Spanish.

"Dapat may kalayaan ang mga mamamahayag sa pagsusulat ng kahit ano sa mga dyaryo. (Journalists shold be free in writing whatever they want on the newspapers.)" Homobono said. Jose writes it down.

Homobono's brother, who was a journalist, was killed in cold blood whilst walking on the streets on a rainy night of June. The killers were never found. Assumingly, the killers were Spanish spies since Homobono's brother is passionate on attacking the Spanish government and friars with his papers and feathered pen. Homobono petitions this so that journalists can't be harmed ever again.

"Dapat itaas ang sahod ng mga Pilipinong nagtatrabaho at nagsisilbi sa mga Espanyol. (The wages of the Filipinos working serving the Spanish should be raised.)" Tandang Felix said. Jose writes it down.

Tandang Felix feels great pity for the Filipino workers although not being one. They are paid a small amount of money despite sacrificing half of their lives for their work; through this, they also sacrifice for their families.

The feathered pen produces six more petitions on the paper. Jose finally writes down his petition. His petition states that courts should look more carefully on the prisoners; especially the Filipinos. His only petition leaves a big space on the bottom. The bottom shall be left for the governor-general's signature in approval of the petition.

"Don Jose, puwede po ba akong umalis muna? (Don Jose, may I leave for a while?)" Edgar asked.

"Sige. Saan po ba kayo pupunta ngayon? (Alright. Where will you go today?)"

"Sa Simbahan ng San Lorenzo. Ipagdadasal ko ang katagumpayan ng ating biyahe. Ay! Siya nga pala, kailan ba tayo aalis papuntang Maynila? (In the Church of San Lorenzo. I'll pray for the success of our trip. Ay! By the way, when will we leave for Manila?)"

"Mag-imapke na kayong lahat sapagkat bukas ng madaling araw ay tayo'y bibiyahe sa Maynila. Pero huwag kayong masyadong magmadali dahil mayroon tayong isang mahabang araw at madming oras para sa pag-iimpake. (All of you should pack now for tomorrow early morning we'll go on a trip to Manila. But don't be so hasty because we have a long day and a lot of time for packing.)"

The servants and the old man nod as a response of approval.

"Jose, kailangan kong umalis na. (Jose, I need to go now.)" Tandang Felix said. Jose nods and bids him the Filipino way of farewell. With his trusty cane, Tandang Felix left the house and walked back home. His trip back home was, as usual, peaceful.

As Edgar left the ancestral home of the Diwas, his two fellow servants and new young master pack their stuff although Jose said they have a lot of time. But nonetheless, they start doing so.

For most of the time, Homobono is forgetful. The two other servants would call him "Don Ulyanin" at times. Homobono bitterly accepts his teasing title.

Adrian believes too much in sayings. He therefore believes in the saying, "Ang maagang ibon ay nakakakuha sa maagang uod. (The early bird gets the early worm.)" Another reason for him being so punctual is half-dark, half-fine. All the time, he was very punctual since he was an abused sacristan and is now a well-treated servant. As a payback from "Don Ulyanin", he calls Adrian "Ang Duque ng mga Kasabihan".

But at the end of the day, they each get the last laughs. Sometimes, their flaws saved themselves and their masters.

Edgar feels so calm today. His walk can be very envied by the rich children, who are not so free in mingling with the outside world; the world that is always below them. The breeze that is as fresh as a morning bath hits Edgar's Filipino, sun-kissed skin. The sound of his surroundings that enter his ears are like a kundiman or a Filipino traditional song. And the fact that he's to meet God spiritually in His House gave him the peace he felt from the day he became a servant. These three brought him true tranquility.

Weirdly, Edgar has arrived in what seemed like to be 5 minutes. He wastes no more time in entering the church. The servant goes to the back pew, the pew a few meters far from the big doors of the church. He prays. A young man kneels next to him and prays.

Edgar catches a glimpse of the man he knows. It's Doctor Jaime, Adrian's dear brother. Edgar keeps on praying. If fate gives him the chance, he may talk with him later on.

Esmeralda passes by the pew Doctor Jaime and Edgar are kneeling on. She goes up the stairs, leading to the bell tower. Quasimodo is there, happily gazing upon the busy city below his green eyes. His friend secretly creeps in and sits on the cobble stoned window sill a few inches next to him.

"Quasi..." His nickname brought him to pay attention on talking with Esmeralda. "I wonder what you did yesterday."

"Well, I rung the bells once when it's time to pray or go to Mass and swept the church grounds and helped organized in the preparations for a wedding that took place here for the whole morning. Then, Uncle Claude and Uncle Jehan visited me at noon. We ate in my room. After that, Uncle Claude asked Padre Draco if I can go with him. Padre Draco allows me. Three of us spent our afternoon with Padre Mathias in his home. In the trip, we talked about what Jehan did before he came.

At Padre Mathias' home, we and Padre Mathias himself talked about ourselves. Then, we met three men who will go to Manila."

"What a coincidence!" She interrupted. "Mateo told us yesterday that three men will go to Manila in two days time."

"They are the three men Mateo told you of." He said.

"Oh."

"Did you know that they will go to Manila to talk with the governor-general?"

"Really? Do you know who are they?" She asked, feeling more interested.

"Yes. Maestro Florante, a Filipino teacher of children, Julio, a Filipino student of a school runned by Spanish priests, and Chris, a Filipino farmer."

"They sound interesting."

"I know. I even got to talk with Chris in secret for an hour or so. I never knew we had so much in common. He was raised by his uncle, he worked as a bellringer when he was a teenager, he started building wooden figurines for children when he was 20 years old and he has no toes. He said his toes were cut off because of his landlord."

"Why?"

"Because he protested that the money he and other farmers receive are too small."

"But you're not like him, Quasi." She said, protesting a bit that both he and Chris have one difference.

"I know, Esmé. But we do have the same thing: we are not accepted very much by society because of our differences. And we have dreams of seeing people free like birds."

"At least you two still do something great in life." Esmeralda commented, holding one large hand of her dear friend. Quasimodo holds her two hands and thanks her for her comment.

"Oh. Esmeralda, did you know that Jehan and Julio also played fencing?" He said, slightly breaking away from her after a long pause.

"Really?" She asked enthusiastically. "Who won between both of them?"

"Julio. Because of that, Jehan took Julio to the city for a drink or two after the fight."

"How about Maestro Florante? What did he do?"

"I talked with Padre Mathias and Uncle Claude. Mostly, Padre Mathias and Maestro Florante were talking about reforms. Uncle Claude got bored. So, he decided to walk around outside. Because of that, we had a chat under the tree whilst Chris was above us, taking a simple nap. Our conversation lasted for three hours.

Suddenly, Julio arrived with Doctor Jaime. Uncle Jehan was carried in the house by both men since he was unconscious from too much drinking. Uncle Claude had to stay with him. Padre Mathias decided to bring me home. Both of us talked and talked while we were going here yesterday."

"Oh. So that's why Padre Mathias was the one who brought you here."

"Quasimodo!" A bright yet concerned voice spoke out. Padre Mathias' voice has shocked both Quasimodo and Esmeralda. Right now, the young woman's heart is heavily pounding from being shocked.

Quasimodo goes down the stairs to find his uncle, nervously tapping the stairwell railing. Even though he prayed to God in the front pew before coming at the foot of the staircase, his body is completely possessed by anxiety.

"Good morning, Padre Mathias." He greeted, trying to match the mood the priest is in right now.

"Good morning, Quasimodo." He greeted.

"What's the matter?"

"Jehan is not doing well. He's unconscious up to now. That's why Doctor Jaime and I are here since some minutes ago in this church." He replied causing Quasimodo to gasp.

"How about Uncle Claude? Is he alright?"

"Of course he is. Right now, he's still at Jehan's bedside. Julio was blamed for the incident. I had to defend the young student. So, Doctor Jaime and I went to the bar. The doctor suspects that Jehan was poisoned for my half-brother is turning pale, he's breathing slowly and is very cold.

Doctor Jaime asks the bartender if he knows Jehan. The bartender replies a positive yes and asked, 'How is Jehan Frollo by the way?'. Doctor Jaime didn't answer his question. He further asked the bartender questions. Had you been there, Doctor Jaime was really... intense in asking questions. This provoked the bartender. He had a heated argument with the doctor. All I did is to watch them until I thought of a plan. I finally stepped in when I had a thought or so to ask.

I asked the bartender if Jehan has enemies in San Lorenzo. He answered me, 'Several, Padre.' I asked him if that included him. He told us 'Of course. That man has not paid me once. Only his brother, the honorable Judge Claude Frollo, comes here to pay the heavy debts of his little brother.' I asked him if he was the one who put the poison in Jehan's drink. He told us to get out or we'll be kicked out painfully. Doctor Jaime said before we left, 'We are leaving now. But we are never going to leave this incident to be left in the land of forgotten things. I assure you that we'll never rest until the truth comes out whether you like it or not.' We left.

We told this to Claude. He calmed down a bit and apologized to Julio. To avoid further problems, Claude stays in the room where his brother is in. All we could do now is rely on God and medicine."

"That is really dangerous, Padre!" Isabelle exclaimed, who so happened to be in front of them the whole time.

She was supposed to go to Esmeralda in the bell tower to tell her best friend to get ready for mass. The other girls are already in the third pew from front to back. Who are only missing are the French girls.

"Indeed, Isabelle." Padre Mathias said.

"Is there anything we can do?" Quasimodo asked.

"Yes. Pray for him." Padre Mathias got thirty gold coins from his pocket and gave it to Quasimodo. "Give that money to Padre Draco or Padre Ronald. That money is for a Mass for Jehan's recovery."

"I'll give it to Padre Draco." He replied.

Doctor Jaime approaches Padre Mathias. The priest senses the presence of the young doctor and looks at him.

"Padre Mathias, umalis na po tayo. (Padre Mathias, we should leave.)"

"Sige. (Alright.)" He bids the group farewell and walks with Doctor Jaime back to his mansion. On the way, the two talked.

"Padre Mathias, sinabi mo ba kay Quasimodo ang sinabi mo sa tarantadong iyan? (Father Mathias, did you tell Quasimodo what you told to that bastard?)"

"Doktor Jaime, huwag kang mapait sa mga sinasabi mo. Nadidinig ka ng Diyos. (Doctor Jaime, don't be bitter with your words. God hears you.)"

"Pasensya na po pero ito ang katotohanan. Minura at ininsulta mo siya. Kaya medyong nag-away kayo. At bago tayo umalis, sabi mo sa kanya na, 'Alam ko na may konsensya ka. Balang araw, lalabas na ang katotohanan. Sabi nga ni San Agustino na parang leon ang katotohanan at huwag mo itong ipagtanggol sapagkat ipagtatanggol niya ang kanyang sarili.' Medyong kuminig ang katawan ko sa sinabi niyo po, Padre. (Forgive me but this is the truth. You cursed and insulted him. That's why you had a little argument. And before we left, you said to him, 'I know you have a conscience. Someday, the truth shall prevail. Saint Augustine said that the truth is like a lion and do not protect for it will protect itself.' My body trembled a bit over what you said, Father.)" He said, half-smiling at him.

"Hanggang ngayon, nakokonsensya ako sa ginawa ko at ayokong pagyabang ito sa Tahanan ng Diyos mismo. Oo. Pinaglihim ko ang sinabi ko sa lalaking iyan sa harap ng Mata ng Diyos. (Up to now, I'm feeling guilty over what I have done and I don't want to boast about it in the House of God itself. Yes. I did kept what I said to that man a secret in front of God's Eyes.)"

Doctor Jaime chuckled for a quick second.

"Huwag mo iyang sinisisihan. Tignan mo ang sarili mo. Naging matapang ka, nagsalita ka laban sa Simbahan at tumulong ka sa mga mahihirap. Ginawa mo iyan kahit alam na alam mo na mapaparusahan ka ng Simbahan. Pero sumunod ka sa tunay na utos ng Diyos at ni Hesus. Malay mo, ang lalaking iyan ay isang kriminal o makasalanang tao na hindi nagbayad sa kanyang mga kasalanan. (Don't regret that. Look at yourself. You became brave, you spoke against the Church and you helped the poor. You did that although you know very well that you'll be punished by the Church. But you did followed the true will of God and Jesus.)"

"Totoo iyan. Hindi ko talagang sinisisi sa mga ginawa ko. Pero, sinisisihan ko na hindi ko pinili ang aking kamatayan. (That's true. I never regret what I had done. But I still regret not choosing my death.)" He said then sighed scornfully. "Mula doon, naranasan ko ang naranasan ni Jonah mula sa Bibliya: ang paggiging takot mula sa kamatayan. Nalaman ko na ang tao ay takot mamatay dahil takot silang mahatulan ng Diyos at ni Hesus, ang kamatayan ay masakit, masasaktan ang mga minahal mo sa buhay at may mga gagawin pa sila sa buhay. (From there, I experienced what Jonah from the Bible experienced: fear of death. I learned people are scared to die because they are scared to be judge by God and Jesus, death is painful, the people they loved in life would be hurt and they have other things to do in life.)"

"Hm. Totoo naman po iyan. (Hm. That's true.)" Something rang inside Doctor Jaime's mind. The thought of Jehan dying hit him hard. At the same time, that also hit Padre Mathias' mind.

"Doktor Jaime, mas mabuti pa na tumakbo na tayo. Tumakbo na tayo para sa buhay ni Jehan. (Doctor Jaime, it's better if we run. Let's run for Jehan's life.)"

"Tara. (Let's go.)"

Padre Mathias and Doctor Jaime ran at the fastest speed their legs can exert. Like carriages or carts, people make way for them. To them, it's unusual to see a priest and a doctor running very, very fast. A few were left to scratch their heads. The tsismosas or female gossipers were left to gossip about it.

Edgar, who was on his way home, saw the running pair. He's lucky to have a small chat with the doctor earlier.

He had told him about the deaths of Don Jose and Señorita Josefita. The doctor asked if there's any good news since he's very rigid due to his French patient who is walking on a thin tightrope between life and death. Edgar responded through saying his brother, another servant, their master, the "Crazy Old Man of San Lorenzo" and he shall go to Manila by the following morning to meet the governor-general and discuss about reforms with him. He also assured him Jehan will come back alive soon. Doctor Jaime told Edgar he knows three men who are on the same boat with him. Edgar promises him to tell this to his master and bring them along.

Doctor Jaime leaves him without another word. Edgar too left the church by that moment though there was going to be a mass.

Edgar decides to leave the spot he's standing on.

Quasimodo, on the other hand, enters the sacristy and gives the money to Padre Draco who is preparing himself for a Mass.

"What is this, Quasimodo?"

"Money for a Mass dedicated for Uncle Jehan's survival." Quasimodo answered, bravely holding back his tears.

"What happened to him?" Padre Draco asked, transforming his voice into a gentle one to console him.

"He...He went to a bar to drink last night. And then...he...he's now unconcious. Padre Mathias said he's poisoned."

"Well, it's good you gave me your money for your uncle's recovery." Padre Draco commented, putting the precious sum of coins inside his pocket.

"Actually it's Padre Mathias'."

"Oh. I see. I must be going now, dear boy." Padre Draco leaves him and the convent.

Quasimodo storms his room and cries in his pillow. The poor hunchback just lies down there and cries a sea of salty tears. The poor hunchback feels terrible of his uncle's fatal yet deserving state of health. Despite knowing the fact Jehan is a charming womanizer and a lover of drinking, smoking and gambling, he's still a good brother and uncle.

Padre Ronald, having heard the information he needed from the bell ringer and priest, goes to his room upstairs. He settles himself in his desk, gets a paper and feathered pen and writes down a malicious Spanish letter.

Mi señor, Enrique Frollo,

Nuestra misión es exitosa. Jehan ahora está inconsciente y tal vez muriendo. Por favor dame ciento cincuenta monedas de oro por el trabajo que he hecho.

Padre Ronald de Valladoid

(My lord, Enrique Frollo,

Our mission is successful. Jehan is now unconcious and maybe dying. Please give me one hundred fifty gold coins for the job I have done.

Padre Ronald de Valladoid)

Padre Ronald gets one envelope and inserts his letter inside it. The priest seals the letter with melted wax and stamps it using his stamper. The envelope remains resting on the wooden desk, waiting for it to be picked up once the Mass is over. Padre Ronald sits on his chair and warily stares at the white envelope.

Pedro enters the room in a playful manner. He's running around, waving his horse toy in the air. The young boy makes the small horse flying carelessly in the air. Pedro lands it on Padre Ronald's desk and plays it around. Padre Ronald simply giggled at the playing child. Pedro curiously looks at the envelope lying down on the desk.

"¿Padre, que es eso? (Father, what is that?)" Pedro asked, pointing at it.

"Nada para que te importe, niño pequeño. (Nothing for you to mind, little boy.)" Padre Ronald replied sternly.

"¿Es esa carta para Papa? ¿La estás diciendo a èl que me visite? (Is that letter for Papa? Are you telling him to visit me?)" Pedro asked eagerly.

"Tristemente, no. (Sadly, no.)" Padre Ronald replied sternly once more.

"¿Es para el Obispo? ¿La estás diciendo que siempre debería estar con Papa? (Is it for the Bishop? Are you telling him I should always be with Papa?)" Pedro asked eagerly again.

"No." Padre Ronald replied sternly for the third time, causing Pedro to be sad.

"Oh." He sighed sadly. Pedro walks out of the room, feeling busted.

"¿Niño, quieres jugar? (Boy, do you want to play?)" Padre Ronald said, trying to cheer up the boy.

"Ya no. (Not anymore.)" Pedro replied in a melancholic way. "Estaré en mi cuarto. (I'll be in my room.)"

Pedro disappears from Padre Ronald's sight much to him feeling guilty. He laid back deeper into his chair and sighed out of frustration.

A/N Carlos Maria dela Torre ruled the Philippines as governor-general from 1869 to 1871. It is true that he was a liberal and made improvements in the Philippines. His reforms also became one of the steps for Philippine freedom. #GoPhilippines! #GoCarlos! Because of his kindness to the Filipinos, he was removed from position by the Spanish. His successor reversed his reforms. #PartyPooper. Btw, I learned this from school and made some research about him on the Internet.

Giving money to a priest so he may grant your petition/s (like praying for the peace of deceased souls, announcement of marriages or marriage banns and etc.) in mass is a thing back then and is still thriving today.

#NoRegrets. Another plot twist is written. Stay tuned for more. Bye and have a great time!

02/09/2019 I made some changes, again. Please forgive me. Like what I said in some of my notes, I'm a fast writer and a procrastinator. Man. I gotta stop making changes. I must admit, I'm a super c**ppy writer. Bye! Have a great time!