Óscar and Filipe couldn't stop taking selfies with the young gemelos that played them. Are all twins on this Earth loco like them? Imelda chuckled as she shook her head, and turned to the monitor that was showing the scene of the day she was forced to leave the orphanage.

~ Santa Cecilia's Church, 1917 ~

Óscar and Filipe clinging on both sides of Imelda as she stood at the front gate with a suitcase, facing Héctor.

"Be nice to him, ok?" Imelda said firmly as she looked down at the trembling twin, "I'll visit you every weekend, and adopt you before Héctor leaves next year, lo prometo."

The 13 years old twin nodded, and finally let go of Imelda.

"Please, look after them for me."

"I will, Imelda." Héctor replied as the twins clung onto him, "Buena suerte."

Imelda nodded, and left. Her life after that day was nothing but struggle. Finding a job was a real nightmare to her, no one wants to hire an uneducated woman. Few men have tried to court her, but she rarely has time to care. She doesn't want anyone to marry her out of pity, and she hates the idea of submitting to someone who barely has any love for her.

~ Santa Cecilia's Church, 1918 ~

Héctor marked the calendar, it's November 29, he'll be leaving tomorrow. Imelda tried to adopt her brother out, but…

"What does my unmarried status have to do with adopting them?" Imelda inquired the nun, "I'm their sister, it's not like I'm going to be their parent, "I have a house, and a job that could bring enough food to the table. Why can't I adopt them!?"

"Your house was an heirloom, Señora, with only 1 bedroom, and I don't think working at Señor Enrique's zapatería would pay enough for 2 boys, and-"

Imelda stormed out of the room before the nun could finish. The twin walked to her with questioning eyes, and she shook her head in reply. She can't take them home.

"¿Te casarías conmigo?"

"Qué!?" Héctor took a step back at her snap.

"Marry me?" he asked again nervously.

"I DON'T WANT YOUR PITY!" she snapped, she already felt bad enough! "NO QUIERO-"

"Hago te quiero..."

Imelda looked at him as the twins finally stopped crying, but still clinging onto her.

"You don't have to love me, Imelda." Said Héctor, "Just let me do this for you."

Imelda sighed, guess I got to share the same fate with those married women, she thought. She was young when her parents were alive, and they had a beautiful marriage, but she did remember all the stories their friend said about their marriage too. Being owned, beaten, rape, and then forgotten before being replaced.

She looked at her twin brother, she can't leave them here. How would she be able to trust any stranger that might neglect them? Or worse, separate them? She rubbed her brothers back, and then looked at Héctor.

Héctor Rivera, her funny childhood friend, he was a gentle, and kind boy. However, someday he'd grow into a man, he'd be just like those men, and why wouldn't he be? She was just a woman after all… She knew the tough reality of this world well, it is cruel, but she can take this.

"Fine, I'll marry you"

The wedding was attended by only Ernesto, and the twin. It ended quickly, and when they finally made it home, to her surprise, Héctor offered to sleep in the living room. He chased after all the gigs he could find, and accepted at the odd jobs he could possibly get.

And with that money that he worked his soul off, he bought them a second hand house near a cemetery that wasn't far from the plaza. The house was a mess, but she won't lie it was large. Ernesto moved in with them to help with the renovation, and after 3 months, their house is beautifully finished.

Imelda reached out for Héctor's hand before he went to his room. They didn't speak a word, but for some reason, she ended up guiding him inside her bedroom, y cerró la puerta.

~ 1921 ~

3 years old Coco pushed the door open, and rushed into Héctor's arms.

"Awww you're so cute on TV! Mija." Héctor let out a loud girito after he watched the scene, and held Coco tight.

3 years old Coco chuckled, and looked at the other scene she did. Maybe living my childhood again wasn't so bad after all, I got to record 'Remember Me' with Papá, and do many things I wished we did when I was little, Coco thought.

But filming the final farewell scene was the hardest one for them. They weren't supposed to know that it would be the last goodbye, and it being just a film didn't help at all. Héctor let go of Imelda, and Coco before he'll finally step up on the train.

"Cut!" Guillermo shouted, and Héctor rushed out of the train, gathering his family in his arms.

He sobbed as he held them tight. Soyel moved closer to place a hand on his shoulder.

"¿Estás bien? Hermano." Héctor flinched at that voice.

"I'm sorry!" Soyel quickly replied with his squeaky voice, and pulled his hand back nervously.

"It's ok, amigo." Héctor replied.

Héctor let go of his family as Guillermo walked closer.

"Are you ready? Amigo." The director asked.

Héctor held Imelda and Coco's hand tight. The next scene was his fateful night.

"Si."

Coco, and Imelda struggled very hard to hold their anger toward Ernesto as they watched Héctor, and Soyel filming the hotel scene. Guillermo had the whole crew drink the tequila that Héctor had to drink to reassure him that he won't die again after he drinks it.

And finally, they filmed the train scene. Imelda had to place a hand on Coco's shoulder to stop her from rushing into the set as they watched Héctor's back suddenly hunched down as he was clutching his stomach.

"Perhaps it was that chorizo, my friend."

Coco could feel her eyes grow warm as she watched her father collapse down on the street with his suitcase opened once it hit the ground. Ernesto picked up the red book, and opened it.

"Ernesto? Er…nes..to?" Héctor heaved on the ground with his eyes squeezed shut.

How could someone be that cruel? He was still alive! He might no longer be aware of his surroundings, but couldn't Ernesto at least comfort Papá in his last moment? Coco thought as Soyel walked out of the scene with the guitar case, and the notebook, but the filming still continued.

Héctor pushed himself off the ground, and struggled to steady himself as he looked around, and tried to take a step toward the train. Coco looked up at her Mamá, tears streamed down their face as Héctor started to cough blood. I can't watch this anymore, Coco thought as she finally sobbed in her Mamá's arms.

She could still hear him heaving, his hoarse voice calling hers, and Mamá's name along with a few footsteps before it's all over in one loud collapse.

"That's a wrap!"

Héctor sighed in relief. It's over, finally over, Héctor thought as he sat up on the ground. Death wasn't what scared me the most that night; it was the loneliness I woke up to… the fact that I'll never see them again…

Héctor's face, even through tears, lit up as his girl launched herself at him. He held the sobbing girl closed to his chest, and rubbed her back.

"It's ok, mija." Héctor stood up with her tucked in his arms, "Estoy aquí.".

He rubbed her back, and looked at Imelda who was approaching him. I'm not alone, not anymore, he thought as Imelda held him.

The crews wanted to throw a party, but just wanted to go home, there's no place he'd rather be. So he told Imelda, and Coco to go wait at the car as he went to change at the dressing room. He took off the first layer of the charro suit, and then suddenly…

BANG!

Vocab

Gemelos = Twin

Lo Prometo = I Promise

Buena Suerte = Good Luck

Zapatería = Shoe Shop

Hago = I Do

Estoy Aquí = I'm Here

1900 - 1920 weren't good times for woman guys, imagine being shoved with the idea of being ruled, losing freedom, or risk being struck, and beaten into your head from childhood to your wedding day! I mean, back then the husband did own the wives, and some were beaten, but even with the changes in time, and these things have died down, these ideas still left the scars!

My best friend literally believe that freedom could exist only in being single xD and having any types of commitment is a prison xD