September 24, 1762.

It was another day with Spain in Manila. Yeah, we’ve been friends with each other for a long time now. I never got the chance to say how I really feel about him though. But, I feel safe and secure in my current state with him, as friends. And maybe as my guardian as well. He gave me my name. My own country name, Philippines. I am forever grateful to him.

We soon got over the whole ‘cave’ incident and pretended like nothing ever happened. He frequently visits me and sometimes comes for a sleepover with me. I’ve never been to his country before. Maybe I will someday… If I ever get the guts to ask him, that is.

Spain patted to the sand beside where he sat. It was a beautiful sunny day. Manila Bay was at its finest today. I could see that he was pleased with the scenery. Of course, this is my capital after all.

“So…” I started as I pursed my lips together, thinking of something to say.

“So….” He continued.

“Um, when can I… Go to your country sometime?” I asked him, looking at the sand and occasionally clutching the three pearls on my necklace nervously.

“Hm…. I don’t know… Whenever you want, I guess…” he looks at me, smiling as he thought about it. “Hey, remember when we met?”

“Yeah, its like this, right? The shore…. The waves… Your ship… Everything…”

“I remember it like it was yesterday….”

“Um, Spain… I have something I’ve been meaning to tell you—“

“Want some churros?” he suddenly asks me.

“Uh… Sure…” I said as I took one from his hands.

“Oh, uh… You were saying something?”

“N-Nothing.”

There was awkward silence as we munched on his tasty delicacy from his country. The calls of the seagulls and the waves tried to break the silence. As we were finally finished, Spain stood up from his seat, squinting. He was looking at the horizon.

An unidentified country fleet was heading straight for us. Spain grabbed my wrist but kept his sights on the massive army of ships. He had a scared look on his face and his legs were shaking.

“Oh no… Britain… Its Britain!” he says as he finally looks at me and shakes me.

I was puzzled. Britain? He never told me anything about this… ‘Britain’. All my life I thought Spain and I  were the only countries in the world. Spain never mentioned anything else to me except the fun times we had and our plans together for adventure in the future.

“Ow! Y-You’re… Hurting me!” I shouted as I squirmed out of his grip and into the water to greet the visitors. I waved my arms above me, my face plastered with the expression of hospitality. These are the newest countries I’ve ever seen, after all.

“Philippines! No!” he said as he tackled me and wrapped his arms around my waist, dragging me out of the water.

“What is wrong with you?!” I snapped as I took his arms off me, my whole skirt wet from my struggle.

“You HAVE to get out of here!” Spain said as he pointed the opposite direction away from the Manila Bay. But he got no further as a bullet was shot in between us, making a hole in the sand.

I looked at the hole then back to the water, they’re here. A blonde figure was in the water, recovering from the tension the trigger gave. He strides towards the shore, the water did nothing to stop him.

“So, you’re Philippines.. What a delight to meet you…” he said, his voice was as smooth as silk and I marveled at his yellow, blonde hair. He was handsome. He held out his hand for me to take. I did nothing. I was petrified.  I couldn’t tell what Spain was doing.

He then went in front of me, shielding me from the mysterious man and breaking my eye-contact with him. I heard the so-called Britain laugh.

“Oh, Spain…. This is the greatest Spanish fortress in the western Pacific? Are you serious?”

Spain said nothing. My heart was beating fast. He had a gun, an army of ships and a flag. And when it comes to a flag, it means that someone wants to take me away from Spain. I hyperventilated.

“You have no business here, Britain! She is MY country!” Spain shouted with all his might.

“Is that right? Heard you and France made a treaty to form an alliance against me….. Well, I’m just simply giving you a surprise visit, then…” Britain said calmly.

“Spain… You can drive him away…. Right?” I finally said as I gripped the sleeve of his shirt.

“Oh, he didn’t tell you?” Britain said as he now referred to me. “Spain’s broke. And I’m about to break him even more…”

With that, Britain’s men took the vulnerable Spain away from me, leaving me face to face with the new threat in my country. Where are all of Spain’s men? His thousands of men? His own fleet? Guess a lot has been changed ever since we’ve met.

“Such a beautiful face….” Britain said as he traces my jawline with his gloved fingers. My spine tingled all over.

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Fort Santiago, my most historical place ever. Britain and his men gently escorted me throughout the way. I don’t know what’s happening to Spain right now. I couldn’t do anything about it now. This was all so…. Sudden.

“Leave us…” Britain said as we were about to enter the prison cell. His men followed diligently and left. “Now, as I was saying… You… are going to be Spain’s ticket to his crippling blow…” he whispers in my ear.

“No! Ugh! Get away from me!” I screamed and I tried to make a run for it. His hands gripped my shoulder painfully, making me stop as tears form in my eyelids.

“I don’t want to hurt you… I just want to keep you away from Spain until he comes begging for mercy….”

With that, he releases his grip on me and his hands unexpectedly slithers down my waist. I tried my best to hold back my screams with a muffled cry. He kisses me cheek lovingly, trying to calm me down. I could do nothing but be vulnerable to his hands.

His kisses got closer to my lips. Closer. And he finally reaches it. And that was it. My first kiss, stolen. Stolen by a stranger who wants to conquer me because of a bitter rivalry between other countries. His hands cannot control themselves and went inside my shirt. I gasped and that made his tongue enter the confines of my mouth, exploring it happily. His tongue urged mine to dance with him, I did it in fear. I feel him smile in the kiss and unexpectedly, he pushed my hard to the wall beside the prison bars.

He lifts me up in order to wrap my legs around his waist. His eye level was in exact to my necklace now and he speculates on it. He tilts his head from side to side, as if this thing was new to him.

“Let me guess…. Luzon… Visayas… and Mindanao….” He panted as he looks into my eyes. “What happens if I take all of these away from you?”

Anger rushed through my veins. He couldn’t take my country without a fight. I slapped him in the face and he immediately dropped me, landing on my own two feet on the floor. His men rushed to the scene, as if watching everything that happened and came to tend to their leader.

“I-I’m alright….” Britain said as he rubs his cheek from the impact. I huffed and opened the prison bars myself and let myself in before they do.

“She has a strong swipe.” Britain whispered to himself as he looks at me from the prison bars.

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October 8, 1762

I was awakened by the screams of panic by the British men outside my cell. Oh, how long has it been since I felt the grains of sand on my feet. The smell of the waters in my nose. And the arms of Spain around me.

 “Sir! Sir!...” a soldier shouted as he handed papers to Britain in panic who’s guarding me outside my cell.

“What is it?” he replied, annoyed.

The soldier handed him the said papers and immediately, Britain skimmed through the pages. His face gradually changes from annoyed to frustrated. He looks at me and then unlocks the gate of my cell.

“Go..” he said, gesturing me to come out.

“But sir—“ his soldier tried to change his answer.

“I said! Go.”

I did what he has told me, hesitant and doubting to see my freedom. What if its just a trap? A ruse to find a way to kill me with valid reason. And then, at the arch of Fort Santiago, I see Spain, waiting patiently for me outside. My face lightened with relief and immediately, I ran to him, my tears streaming from my cheeks in happiness.

“Spain!!” I shouted to catch his attention.

“Philippines? Philippines!!” he said as he opened his arms for me to enter.

“I’m so sorry!” he said as he places some of my hair behind my ear as I hugged him.

“Sorry for what?” I said as I nuzzled my face on his chest.

“For… Getting you involved in this mess and… for taking so long…. What did he do to you?” he then got to the question which made me gasp. He looks into my eyes. I tried my best not to let him get the feeling I’m trying to imply.

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February 10, 1763.

It was the signing of the Treaty of Paris. It seems to me that there was another country who’s involved in this. France. Although what did he do? Anyways, we agreed that the whole thing didn’t happen and yes, even Spain. We were back in Manila Bay, waiting for Britain to depart from us.

“Alright, set sail for Batavia and India… After this, we’ll go back home…” Britain shouted as his troops got back in the ship. He was still in the water though, as if waiting for us to change our minds and let him conquer me once more. Psh, as if.

“Well, this is awkward..” He started.

“It is.” Spain said as he puts an arm around my shoulder and turns me away from him.

“Farewell to you, Spain…. Philippines.” Britain replied as he looks at Spain and then to me. There was hurt in his eyes. It felt kind of weird but… I feel bad too. I don’t know why.

Spain starts walking with me by his side. I couldn’t help but look back at Britain who’s still standing at the same place in the water. Like the treaty said, we’ll pretend like nothing ever happened.

First kiss? Erased.