𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘:
Count on us
(1972)

"MY COUNTRY MEN, AS OF THE 21ST OF THIS MONTH, I SIGNED PROCLAMATION NO. 1081 PLACING THE ENTIRE PHILIPPINES UNDER MARTIAL LAW."

"What?" Corazon's horrified expression didn't deter. Jasper placed a hand on her shoulder as they listened intently to President Ferdinand Marcos address the nation. It's only yesterday that the Defense Minister of the Philippines, Juan Ponce Enrile, was ambushed on his way home, but it was a different car for security reasons, but was this the justification for declaring martial law? Politicians of the government are threatened day-by-day by communists. It's an unlikely part of their job, but it isn't a good enough reason to declare the whole country under military reign. What of the innocent civilians?

They heard hurried footsteps coming their way. Not long before, Zane was in the living room, in a hurry, panic in his eyes, seemingly out of breath, "We have to leave now. Or else we'll never be able to. The government has been planning this for months. They already detained foreigners who tried to leave the country yesterday."

Jasper moved quickly, but Corazon sat still, disbelieving and shocked. Their luggage was packed for only a few seconds; Zane took it while Jasper scoped the place by arranging it the way they arrived; everything was covered with white linens; it was only when Jasper turned off the radio that Corazon snapped back to reality. Jasper crouched before her, taking her hand, his voice gentle, almost careful, "We have to leave, darlin'."

"I—" Corazon's eyebrows furrow, clueless on what to do, "I can't leave," Her quivering voice was accompanied with uncertainty and doubt. All she could think about was her family and how their life would change within the blink of an eye—all over again. She left before, but she can't leave them again. She has this unnerving feeling that this new reign will not be kind.

Jasper places a hand on her jaw, cupping her cheeks, "I know, I know how difficult this is for you, but this isn't your fight anymore," Jasper guided her as she stood up, "Your mother wanted you to leave for a reason, this country has taken too much from you, don't allow yourself to repeat it."

Corazon had heard that before, "I cannot risk losing you again, Corazon. But this country has taken too much from you. As much as I don't want to be separated from you again. You'll be safer abroad." Corazon finally looked at Jasper, who was already patiently staring at her.

"Okay, okay," She repeats as she releases a breath, "We should go,"

She had left before, but this time, it was too unsettling. Is this why Alice told them they'd only be in the Philippines for two weeks? Corazon asked Alice why it was such a short visit, but Alice couldn't see why. Alice only told her that Corazon would only meet her father and mother when she goes home then on the ship as they boarded, leaving abruptly. The events that would lead them to depart early are too broad for Alice to see.

Corazon and Jasper stood on the weathered wooden deck of the cargo ship, their faces etched with a mix of anxiety and an unsettling heavy weight of emotions. As the ship slowly pulled away from the bustling port of Manila. Corazon clutched the railing as she looked up in the blank night sky that accompanied the moon. She purses her lips, and the moon once again accompanies her, witnessing her departure.

Beside her, Jasper stood tall and resolute. Corazon knows that Jasper is trying to be strong for her. She couldn't help but feel devastated. All she could think about was the safety of her family. This is her fault; she should have never stopped reading the news in the Philippines and never ended the contacts she had from the inside, or else she would have learned about this much early on.

Jasper places his hand on top of hers, "This isn't a one-woman job," Jasper starts. He knows that Corazon was already arranging and planning the things she had to do to aid the people of her country: "The martial law places the Philippines under military rule, and all constitutional democracy will be put to a halt. Joining a cause would most likely get all of you arrested. Only you will be left alive."

"There's too much risk for you, Corazon. Not only will they know that you are not human, but there will be too many people you'll be up against, these aren't just soldiers anymore, they are humans that are powerful politicians with a high political agenda. Killing them will only result in deeper consequences, and we both know that you will not be the one on the receiving end, they will find someone to blame." Jasper tells her and adds with a heavy tone of knowing, "I know you won't forgive yourself for that,"

Corazon knows that her actions have consequences, and she feels helpless, but Jasper's right. This isn't her fight anymore. One would think after being freed from the steel grasp of colonizers that the Philippines would finally have the opportunity to heal the wounds that it left behind, but it looks like the countrymen are the ones who would bring the country to further destruction, that's the problem of power and greed. Once a person has tasted, felt, and had it, it's difficult to think about all moral values. There's no right or wrong, only money and hidden agendas.

Home-grown tyranny.

Politics has always been dirty; an optimistic new politician who enters the board with pure intentions of making the country great again and helping its people will be crushed into a thousand pieces by those who had the same intention but were replaced with rotten goods that infect from the inside and out. Polluted. Corrupt. Contaminated.

Corazon reminds herself that she left with a justified reason: she rebuilt a life for herself after surviving a horrid destruction. She healed her wounds but wouldn't dare to open them raw again.

•| ⊱✿⊰ |•

THE RIDE HOME WAS SILENT.

Even the music on the radio wouldn't lift Corazon's spirits up, and Jasper is getting worried. Jasper hopes Corazon wouldn't pull herself away from him again. Everything came barreling down towards them again; he thought that after Maria was taken care of, everything would finally be peaceful, that they could start anew.

Jasper parked the car in the driveway while Corazon remained unmoving. Jasper called for her attention, "We're home," Jasper patted her knee, and Corazon nodded as she opened the car door.

Home. Corazon took a deep breath; her eyes widened, and a familiar scent engulfed her senses: citrus and eucalyptus.

The house doors opened, and Alice and the rest of the family were ready to greet them with bright smiles and open arms. But a figure wormed itself outside the house and squeezed her way to Alice.

"Aika," Corazon murmured in disbelief. Her hands went to her mouth, eyes wide as she stared at the woman, short jet-black hair, porcelain skin, and questionable taste in vintage clothing.

"Cora," Aika greets with a sly smile.

"Aika," Corazon repeated as she sped towards her friend, her sister, her creator, whom she hadn't seen for decades. Aika was surprised by Corazon's hug; she didn't know what to do; the last time they parted ways, Corazon didn't like to be touched. But Corazon's warmth against the cold welcoming grip around her makes Aika think that isn't the case anymore.

"Aika, it's been decades." Corazon pulled away as her eyes observed her. Not much has changed. "How did you find me? How did you even know where I live?"

Aika shrugs as she looks at Alice. Corazon can see the fondness in her eyes, "I don't, Alice found me, actually. In a bookstore in Denver."

"I'm glad you're here. Am I to assume that you're acquainted with everybody?" Corazon asks, seeing how Aika has already taken quite a closeness with Alice. "Not everybody," Aika looked at Jasper as she tilted her head to the side with curiosity.

With their luggage in hand, Jasper walks towards the patio, "I'm Jasper. It's nice to finally meet you, Aika. Cora told me a lot about you,"

"Only good things, I hope?" Aika bumped her shoulder to Corazon's. "By good, if you mean you're my mentor on how to get away with murder? Then yes." Corazon teases, and the family laughs in unison; this is her home, where she belongs.

"Then she should be the person we're thanking for how we perfectly executed our projects," Rosalie grins while Esme instructs Emmett and Edward to help Corazon and Jasper with their luggage.

It didn't take long for Aika to pull Corazon aside and discuss what happened when Corazon went back to the Philippines. Aika, with a dreaded expression, gave Corazon two newspaper cut-outs.

THE PHILIPPINES UNDER MARTIAL LAW.

It was published in the New York Times.

FILIPINO COMFORT WOMEN PLEAS FOR COMPENSATION OF JAPANESE WAR CRIMES.

It was published in the Manila Times.

"I thought it was over," Corazon mutters, almost speechless, "When they signed the reparations agreement in 1956, I thought it was over, I want it to be done, I wanted to leave it behind, that Japan has finally owned up to what they had done to us during the war—to me," Her voice cracked as she looked at the cut-out with glossy eyes. "I didn't even question it if it was true. I just want to move on, because it's worse that I have to live with what happened during the war for eternity. It's been twenty-eight years, but I don't think there's any amount of time to truly heal from it, it'll always be an open wound," Corazon releases a huff of disbelief.

"Is it so wrong of me to want to leave all of this behind? Am I selfish? To want to build a new life without traces of the past?" Corazon questions, looking at Aika with so much brokenness and vulnerability; she felt the ache in her chest, the tightening of her throat; it was suffocating.

"No, never." Aika purses her lips, shaking her head in disagreement as she places a hand on Corazon's shoulder. Still, she didn't remove it this time but welcomed the comfort of a friend and a sister. "You deserve the life you have here, you deserve to move on. You forget that you are the reason why the Japanese left without you, the war would have lasted longer, and more casualties would have occurred. You should be proud of yourself because I am, and I can see how much your family admires you for the strength and courage you possess."

Corazon then looks up, their eyes connecting, she questions, "Why are you really here, Aika? Be honest with me,"

Aika gives her a small, genuine smile, "I'm here to stay and make sure that we do all that we can to send help to the Philippines."

"And this time, it isn't just the two of us," Aika adds as she nods toward the vampires in the living room playing billiards. Corazon felt the weight on her shoulder lighten because, this time, she had her family to count on.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

━━ I am establishing a new rule that I won't update any chapters until the previous chapter I posted isn't receiving the amount of attention/hype (comments & votes) I would have preferred, so this time I know that ya'll actually want to read my updates. This might get a weekly update if I am satisfied with the feedback!

━━ I didn't really intend this chapter to be so relatable and aligned from the U.S election since this chapter was written months ago. But I think it fits. Also, if you're a Trump supporter, what the hell are you doing reading my stories when I write about topics/advocacies that don't align with yours, or you're completely against it? Please remove this from your library, as Trump supporters are not welcome here. Thank you. It truly reflects who you are as a person who you voted for to rule the country and the well-being of the citizens. Imagine voting for a felon, harasser, racist, and homophobe. I'm ashamed for you.