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                                           Chapter 1

          "Huhuhu... Uncle where are you... why did you leave me... you told me we're boarding the train for Manila... where are you uncle..." the cry of a pitiful  but very handsome seven-year old boy as he kept looking around the train station for his uncle. The child continued crying, but wherever he looked, he just couldn't find him. More people flocked to the station to board the train for Manila. With his exhaustion from crying and walking, the boy sat on a long bench. He tried to stop himself from crying but he just couldn't. Shortly a beautiful young girl approached him. She looked at him for a while and decided to sit beside him. The young boy noticed the beautiful young girl who sat beside him on the bench. 

Hesitantly, he took a chance and asked, "Hey, have you seen my Uncle Eric, huh?"

           "No... I'm sorry but I don't really know your uncle. Ah... so you've been crying because you're looking for him, he left you didn't he?" she asked. "Wait, what's your name, I'm Althea, you?" she asked again. "Wait, is your tummy aching, huh, you're hungry aren't you, okay you can have my other McDonald's Hamburger; anyway, my grandmother bought me two."

          "Really, you're giving me one, I'm really hungry. The truth is I haven't had breakfast yet since I woke up. Is that delicious huh, this will be my first time to eat a hamburger," his embarrassed admission.     

             

          "Really, this is your first time to eat this, okay, let's eat together then," the young girl offered and started eating her hamburger. "I guess your uncle didn't take good care of you, that's why you haven't eaten any hamburger."

          "No, my uncle took really good care of me. He normally buys me ice cream and bread from street vendors because it's very delicious and just cheap. He just never bought me any hamburgers before. He then started eating the hamburger she gave him. "Thank you really, my, this is really delicious, this hamburger is for the rich kids isn't it?" the boy noticed.

          "No, I don't think so, I saw some poor looking children eating burgers too at the market near our place."          

          "Hey, I've been noticing for a while now, why are there so many children selling flowers and it looks like a lot wants to buy from them, huh?" the boy asked and continued chewing.

          "Huh, it's Valentine’s Day today," answered the amused young girl. "I guess you didn't know that too."

          "Huh, I've heard that before, but I just didn't know much about what people normally does on Valentine’s Day."

          "Okay, it's like this Valentine’s Day is the day of hearts, of people who love someone, something like that," she explained. "Like my parents before, during this day, my dad would give my mom a lot of red roses because he loved my mom."     

          "Ah, okay, but why did your father love your mother huh?" he asked again.   

          "I'm not sure, maybe because my mom was beautiful and kind, but they're both gone now, God took them to heaven. So, I'm just going with my grandmother and grandfather to America, there they are they're buying tickets. We're going to Manila."  

          "So you're going to receive a lot of roses then," the young boy said.

          "What made you say that, huh?"

          "Because you said, if the girl is beautiful and kind she will receive a rose, so probably you'll receive a lot of that now."

          "Huh, me, beautiful?" the girl asked slightly surprised.

          "Of course," the boy added and looked at the beautiful girl he was talking to.  

           Shortly, a huge man approached the two. "Are you the granddaughter of those two old couple who are buying train tickets?" he asked the young girl.

             "Yes I am, why?"

             "Your Althea then," the huge man abruptly dragged the young girl away. The girl screamed but the man covered her mouth with his hand and walked away with his captive.

             "The young boy looked at his new young friend being dragged forcibly and he quickly reacted by chasing after the huge man. And when he caught up with him, he immediately kicked him from behind falling on the ground instantly and releasing the young girl. The young boy gallantly took her away from the man. The girl still looked horrified at what just happened to her but managed to speak and thank her new young friend.

          "Thank you so much you rescued me. My god, you're so great. You only kicked him once and that bad man easily fell to the ground. I'm so impressed, are you a martial artist, huh?"

           "No, not really, maybe I just got lucky. Maybe his uncle didn't care enough to give him vitamins, that's why he fell so easily," the boy admitted and joked a little at the beautiful young girl smiling at him.

           From behind them, the grandmother slowly approached the two talking to each other.   

           "Who's that boy you're talking to Althea? What's that in your eyes, did you cry huh?" asked the grandmother who wasn't aware of what actually happened to her granddaughter because of the young boy's fast rescue and heroic acts.

          "A man just tried to kidnap me grandma. Luckily my new friend here kicked him hard rescuing me and immediately took me away from him."

          "Really, come here Althea, let's board the train now, I'm afraid he might come back. Maybe he is one of those who did something bad to your mom and dad," said the old woman who was horrified with what she heard from her granddaughter.

          "Come here Althea, the train is about to leave anytime, we have to board the train for Manila now," urged the grandfather who have just approached them.

          "Thanks again, we're boarding the train. I have to leave you now, huh," the young girl told the young boy. "When I returned from America, I'll try to see you. I hope you're here so we can talk to each other again," the young girl said and walked to board the departing train.

          "Okay, I'll wait for your return."

          Inside the train, by the window, the girl slightly stuck her head out of the window asking the young boy. "Hey, what's your name again?" she asked loudly as the sound of the departing train became louder and louder while gradually increasing its speed.

          "Me, I'm Xandro, Xandro!" answered the young boy aloud as he slowly run after the departing train with the young girl on board.

          "Huh, Xando is your name?" the beautiful young girl asked again loudly at the handsome young boy. 

          "Yes, I'm Xandro!" he shouted back at the young girl.

          "Okay Xando, wait for my return!"

          "Okay, I'll wait I promise!"

          After a short while, the train disappeared from afar, and the boy sat once again and worriedly waited for his lost uncle.

    

                                                      Chapter 2

          After almost fourteen years have passed and inside a boarding house.

  

          "Hey Xandro, wake up..." the soft whisper of an elderly woman. 

          Xandro started waking up from the sofa in the living room he was resting. Slowly he sat and looked at the elderly woman who woke him up. He thought for a moment and suddenly remembered. "Lady Lucy I'm sorry but I still can't pay my rent today," he informed her apologizing. Xandro worked as a waiter in a big restaurant. But the owner of the restaurant and his family decided to close it down for they were migrating to Canada. He received his separation pay but he lent it to one of his co-waiters for the hospitalization of his wife. And Xandro was left with little cash. He intended to use it while he was looking for a new job.

         "You always pay your rent on time, Xandro," the elderly woman said. "But I only woke you up to thank you for catching the thieves that tried to sneak in to my store. I'm leaving to purchase some supplies and I just want to thank you before I leave. Just pay your rent when you already have the money. And I know you'll find a new job soon. You always do." And after Lady Lucy thanked him she hurriedly left the house to buy supplies for her small store. All her merchandises were easily sold out, that's why she usually went out of her house early to go to the grocery store to replenish her store and so her loyal patrons won't transfer and buy from other stores in their neighborhood.

         Xandro stood up and headed to his room. After he had changed and combed his hair he went out and saw his friends back in the living room. They were eating pizza.

          "Xandro, take some Shakey's Pizza," asked Roland the son of Lady Lucy.

          He then sat near him and ate pizza with them.

          "How are you, did you already see the girl you're looking for?" Lester his other friend asked him.

        . "No, I haven't still, but I believe, I'll see her again someday," Xandro answered chewing on the delicious Shakey's Pizza Roland gave him. And after he finished eating the pizza that his friend gave him he immediately stood up and bid good bye to them. "I've got to go now and try to find a new job so I can pay Lady Lucy my rent for this month."

         "Good luck Xandro," Roland and Lester told him.

                                                                                                         Chapter 3

           Xandro rode a jeepney that was going to the market. After he got out from the jeepney he was riding, he saw a guy who was running fast and rushing towards him. He was carrying an expensive bag. Suddenly, he heard a woman shouting for help. "Help me that man snatched my bag, snatcher!"

          When the snatcher neared Xandro, he immediately grabbed and pulled the expensive leather bag away from him. Trying to catch her breath and looking at Xandro in front of her on the street, the woman, in Rolex Watch, who had been chasing the snatcher, immediately spoke to him. "Thank you really for recovering my bag, only that thief got away!" the woman thanked the young man. "This is so important, because all the collections from my Appliance Center's sales are in this bag. I was about to deposit this in the bank when that snatcher suddenly pulled my bag away from me. How can I thank you huh, what's your name?"

          "Xandro, I'm Xandro, that's nothing; you don't have to thank me, really."

          "No, maybe you need something, wait what's your job, I'm also looking for a Driver/Delivery boy for my Appliance Center," admitted the woman.

          "Really, it's a perfect timing, I'm actually looking for a job now, and I happen to know how to drive. I can do that job easily," the young man immediately answered. 

          "Wait, I'm Veronica, here is my calling card and in it are my name and the address of my shop. It's just far ahead. Just see me there, so you can start immediately."

          "Thank you, really, I'll drop by immediately this afternoon, I'll just go home for a while to get my Driver's License. 

          "Okay then, I'll be expecting you at my store this afternoon, bye," the woman said her good bye and walked away.

          "Bye, and thanks again," Xandro thanked the woman once again. 

   

                                                         Chapter 4

          When Xandro had returned at the boarding house, he immediately took a shower. All soaked up, he immediately grabbed the Rejoice and shampooed whistling. Xandro couldn't help but smile at the thought that he could possibly have a new job at the appliance center. Xandro started soaping himself; he scrubbed his entire body carefully.  He used Safeguard Soap to make sure that all the germs in his body would be removed. Xandro took his time showering and after he was done he immediately rinsed. He dried himself using the towel that he bought at Robinsons. I'll probably get a new job now, feeling fresh, he thought to himself and immediately went out of the bathroom to change clothes. Which one will I wear; I have to look good so I'll get the job immediately. I'm wearing this Levi's Jeans and the light blue polo of Bench. Afterwards he looked at himself into the mirror. That looks handsome enough, he smiled looking at his reflection in the mirror. I'm ready for the interview later. He sat on the side of his Salem Bed and casually wore his Nike Rubber Shoes. He stood up and looked at himself in the mirror for a moment and smiled at his own reflection. Xandro grabbed the Axe Perfume and sprayed all over his body, inhaling and liking the smell of Axe on him. You look and smell good. Slowly, he walked out of the house and headed towards the road. He walked fast, so he'll reach the jeepney's waiting area soon enough. In just a short while, a jeepney stopped right in front of Xandro and hurriedly he climbed up sitting at the front seat. The jeepney started moving fast and Xandro looked into the mirror, he looked at his shiny black hair, checking if the strong wind didn't mess his hair up. Gatsby really works, my hair still looks great. After a while, he reached the place that Veronica told him about reading the big signage on the top of the building.

          "Veron Appliance Center," Xandro read while he was looking up. I hope I'll get accepted, so I can immediately start working here. Calmly, he walked towards the big glass door and opened it slowly. Inside the store, he immediately saw Veronica who was talking to a uniformed lady. Veronica saw Xandro; she smiled at him and signaled him to take a seat at the elegant sofa inside the store. Xandro smiled back at her and sat looking around the whole place. He saw a lot of branded appliances like Toshiba TV, GE Refrigerator, GE air con, Samsung DVD, Sharp washing machine, microwave oven, blender, coffee maker and a lot others. In one corner, Xandro saw a woman typing in her computer. He looked at the girl with a shiny black hair reaching up to her shoulders. He couldn't see clearly how she really looked like from his angle, but he could tell that she was beautiful, really beautiful. He couldn't quite explain to himself what he felt looking at her from where he was sitting, but he felt something for the girl, something familiar to him.

          "I'm sorry I made you wait, I just asked one of my employees, rather your co-worker to run an errand for me," Veronica welcomed the man who recovered her expensive bag.

          "Huh, co-worker you mean I'm already hired, right now.... no more interviews or something huh?" he asked a bit embarrassed.

          "No need for that, with the way you helped me earlier and besides I'd already talked to you, you have my full confidence," she answered.

          "Really, here's my resume and my Driver's License ma'am," Xandro said and gave Veronica the envelope he was carrying.

          She examined its contents and immediately glanced and signaled the woman that Xandro was looking at earlier. The woman noticing Veronica stood up and walked towards them. Xandro stood face to face with the woman; she smiled at Veronica and looked at Xandro for a moment. "You've got company Veronica, what is he, a new employee, huh?" she asked immediately.

          "Yes, he was the one I was telling you about, the one who helped me recover my bag from that snatcher," Veronica told her friend. "Here's his resume, file this in your records, huh. By the way, this is Lynette, a friend of mine; she'll be your supervisor Xandro."

          "Good afternoon Ma'am," Xandro greeted the beautiful woman.

          "Good afternoon," the woman greeted back. She looked at him carefully for a moment, left and walked back to her table to file Xandro's records.          

              "Don't worry Xandro, your supervisor is kind, she's been a friend of mine for a long time now and she had just returned here in our country," Veronica confessed.

          "Really, I hope we get along well," Xandro answered.

          "Okay, just sit on the sofa and when a client comes in just offer him a seat or just smile at him. My other employees will attend to whatever he wants to buy," she told Xandro and walked towards Lynette's table. Xandro noticed that Veronica looked like she was teasing Lynette about something, but he couldn't quite tell what it was. They just looked so happy about something.    

          Shortly, the customers started coming in and the Salesladies immediately welcomed and entertained them. But nobody bought anything, the visitors just came in and asked questions about the appliances. So Xandro just sat his time away inside the appliance center, and he couldn't stop himself from glancing at Lynette while she was typing with her computer on her table. When Lynette glanced at him, he looked the other way and smiled a little. Xandro felt good looking at Lynette, he felt like they've known each other for a long time, even if he hasn't even talked to her that much.

          Shortly after, one of the Salesladies called Xandro and instructed him. "You're the new driver, right, will you please load up this Toshiba TV in the Delivery Van. The customer had already paid for this, just talk to him about the address where he wants his purchase to be delivered, okay," the Saleslady told Xandro.     

          The Saleslady pointed to Xandro the TV and immediately he carried it heading for the door. But before he got through the door, he glanced back at Lynette. She noticed him and smiled slightly. Smiling back at her, Xandro made sure he looked good and manly while he was carrying the Toshiba TV on his right shoulder and immediately loaded the TV inside the van.

          "Careful with that, it might get scratched or something," the male customer reminded Xandro. "Just deliver that at this address, okay."

          "Okay, ah... your address is just near, I definitely know this place. Don't you worry I'll make sure that this will be delivered on time and in good condition," he firmly assured the customer of Veron's Appliance Center.

          The customer left and Xandro climbed up to drive. Xandro was so happy he had a new job even if they hadn't really talked about how much his salary was. Before the van started moving, he noticed Veronica was looking at him and looked like she was pinching Lynette on her waist and was teasing about something. Veronica's smile was contagious even from afar, and Xandro couldn't help but smile too, even if he didn't really know what the girls were smiling about. Carefully, Xandro drove on the road obeying all the traffic signs because he didn't want to be humiliated in front of his boss, just in case. He drove on the streets and passed the majestic hotels of Metro Manila. He continued driving for some time and finally, he reached the customer's address. He rang the doorbell and a little boy came out to meet him.

          "Mom, our new Toshiba TV is here, come out now! Okay, you bring that Television inside our house, so I could watch immediately," the joyful boy told Xandro.

          "You step aside a bit, so I can get this thing inside, wait where do you want me to place this, huh?" he asked nicely.

          "Here, on our old TV rack, put it there," the little boy, who was carrying a pack of Chippy, instructed Xandro. "Do you know how to connect the antenna; my older brother isn’t home yet."

          "Of course, wait; I'll connect this on the back."

          "Wow, the reception is so beautiful, it's very clear, isn't it mom," the little boy asked his mom who just came out from her room.

          "Yes, it is. It's good your dad chose this brand, it's so clear and the colors are so alive," the mother of the boy commented and praised.

          "Yes it's very clear and the sound is great too, it doesn't sound like a tin can, just like our old TV before," the boy said and smiled a little.

          "Hey, did you get tired, carrying the TV, huh? Son, go and get a glass of Tang Orange Juice inside the refrigerator so this young man could have a drink."

          "Thanks, I'm really thirsty."

          "Here, you drink this Tang Orange Juice, this is really cold and tasty," offered the happy child.

          "Yeah it's really refreshing and delicious, thanks," Xandro uttered after he drank a little.

          "Are you really a delivery boy, huh?" the mother of the boy wearing a gold necklace asked.

          "Yes ma'am."

          "Really, but with your facial features and the way you carry yourself, you look more like an actor to me from a movie rather than a delivery boy.  Maybe you've got a camera hidden somewhere?" she teased and looked around the house.

          "No ma'am. I just look like this because I inherited a lot from my father's looks, he's an American."

          "I see..."

                                                                                                  Chapter 5

          

                             

           After his first delivery, Xandro immediately left the house and drove back for Veron Appliance Center.  He was so glad the customer's family was pleased with the TV that he delivered. He was even amused that the lady thought that he was an actor posing as a delivery man. Suddenly, ahead of, him he saw the back of a man walking on the sidewalk to his left. His stance and walk looked so familiar for Xandro. Suddenly, the man turned around preparing to cross in the corner of the road. He was stunned with what he saw. The man looked a lot like his long lost Uncle Eric. "Uncle Eric, is that you, huh?" he asked aloud looking at him from the Delivery Van he was driving.

          "Xandro is that you?" the surprised man immediately asked aloud from the sidewalk looking at him driving in the middle of the road.

           "Yes it's me uncle!" he answered aloud. He immediately pulled over to the side of the road, went down and hurried to his lost uncle.

           The two stared at each other intently. "It's really you Xandro, goodness you've grown up a lot," he exclaimed and embraced his long lost nephew. "Please forgive me Xandro I didn't really mean to leave you at the train station back then."

           "I know you didn't leave me on purpose uncle, the truth is I was worried that you weren't able to come back because something bad might have happened to you."

          "Yeah you could say it that way, why don't you come with me to a Fast food for a moment so I could explain everything to you son." 

          "Maybe next time uncle, I still have to take this vehicle back to the Appliance Center. It's my first day at work and I really don't want to disappoint my new boss. I think it would be better if you just come with me so we could talk inside the van."

          "Yeah, you're right; I don't want you to be reprimanded because of me."

           In the delivery van, Xandro looked intently on his uncle; he has aged a bit and had a few white hairs growing on the side of his hair. He felt so happy he found him again even if he still hadn't heard the reason why they got separated back at the train station.

           "You know son, more than the reason why we got separated, I have something more important to tell you about your true identity," Eric immediately stated.

           "Huh, is that so Uncle Eric?" the surprised question of Xandro. About my true identity, why is there anything that I need to know about my real identity. When I was still a young boy, I remember you telling me that my father was an American and my mother was a beautiful Filipina from the countryside. Is there anything you haven't told me uncle, huh?"

          "Yes son there is, and it's really important."

          "Okay then uncle, tell me everything about it now, I'll listen carefully."

          "I'm afraid you won't be able to take it son. I suggest that you do take this vehicle back to your workplace first and then you can come with me to my house so you could also meet my wife and my children."

          "Really, you already have a family uncle, how many children do you have now, huh?

          "Two rowdy seven-year old boys, twins, I've got two twins."

          "That's great news uncle, so fascinating, I've got cousins now and they're twins."

           The truth was, deep inside, Xandro was still worried and nervous with what he heard from his uncle earlier. He just kept quiet and went on driving calmly, and once in a while glanced at his uncle that he truly missed for a long time.  

          Moments later, the two reached Veron Appliance Center. "Uncle just sit here in the van, just wait for me, I'm not really sure if I'm already allowed to accept my personal guests inside the store, I'm just new here."

          "Okay son, just do everything you need to do inside the store and I'll just wait until you'll be allowed to go home."

          Xandro immediately jumped out of the van and went inside the store. He looked for the saleslady he had talked to earlier and instantly handed her the signed delivery receipt. "Here's the signed receipt."

          "Thanks, okay I'll take it from here," the Saleslady said and walked back to her assigned post. Xandro was left sitting on the long and elegant sofa. He looked for Lynette on her table, but she wasn't there. So he decided to just look around the store. Momentarily, he noticed a small office with a slightly opened door and thinking that it might be Veronica's office, Xandro slowly stood up and walked towards it to inform Veronica of his return from his delivery. As he got near the door, he realized Veronica was talking to Lynette. He hesitated whether he is going to knock and come in. Should I come in or not, maybe they're talking about something really important. I don't really want to disturb their conversation, he thought.

          "Are you going back to that old train station again hoping that you would finally see your Xando, huh Althea?"

          "Yes I'll take my chances, maybe this time I'll find Xando there waiting for my return. He promised me that he would wait for me until I've gone back from America," Lynette answered.

          Xandro couldn't believe what he just heard from Lynette.

          "Hey Miss Lynette Althea Jones, you two were just kids then, maybe, unlike you, he had already forgotten you."

          "No, I believe Xando will fulfill his promise to me while he was running after the train I was boarding then. I'm going back there and maybe this time I'll find him there waiting just to see me."

          "Yeah, you’re right. Maybe Lynette didn't hear me well because of the loud sound of the moving train. She thought I shouted Xando when I shouted my name Xandro to her. Xandro was so happy with what he had just learned. He just couldn't believe that he had finally found Althea, the girl that he had been dreaming to see for a very long time.

          "I think it would be better if I accompany you to the old train station. There are just too many criminals roaming around nowadays, that train station has long been abandoned," Veronica advised her friend. "And why see him at night, didn't you tell me that you two met up in that wonderful morning, huh."

          "Nothing, it's just that I had already been there in the morning but he didn't show up, so I thought maybe he is already working and he is only free at night. So I'm trying again tonight."

          "Wait Lynette, I suddenly remember it's mom's birthday tonight and she is expecting to see you. Maybe you should just see him tomorrow night. But tomorrow I promise I'll accompany you to the train station. I'll just wait for you inside my car, but we'll only wait until ten o'clock. Remember we still have to work the following day."

          "Okay, we'll go to your mom's birthday first tonight and we'll just go together to the old train station so you could meet Xando too just in case he shows up this time around."

          Ah.... should I just come in and tell Althea that I'm Xando. But I'm really worried about what Uncle Eric had told me earlier. I'll just come in just so I could see Althea even just for a short while and then I'll leave immediately to talk to my uncle, Xander finally decided. He knocked on the slightly opened door and greeted the two girls.

          "Come in..."

          "Good evening Ma'am Veronica, I just came in to ask your permission if I could already go home. Something came up and I really need to attend to it as soon as possible," Xandro informed Veronica and glanced at Lynette. Xandro looked intently at Lynette's beautiful face. And Lynette didn't realize it but she was looking intently at Xandro too.

          "Hey, would the two of you spend the whole time just looking into each other’s eyes huh. Oh Xandro I thought you came in to say good bye. Are you sure you still want to go home. Maybe you've seen something more important here and you no longer want to go home huh..." Veronica teased the two.

          "Huh, Okay. Good bye Ma'am Veronica, Ma'am Lynette I'm going home now. Bye again..."

          "Good bye Xandro, take care," Lynette said her good bye looking at Xandro's face.

          "Bye Xandro..." Veronica said winking at Lynette.

           Xandro then turned around and left the room, giving Lynette a last glance as he reached the open door. Xandro couldn't tell just how happy he was seeing Lynette up close. Earlier he found his long lost uncle and then he learned that Lynette was actually Althea, the girl that he had been longing to see at the old train station. But he suddenly thought about what his uncle had told him. What it could be that I have to know about my real identity, Xandro asked himself. He immediately headed for the main door. When he got through, he immediately called on his Uncle Eric inside the van. "Uncle, come down so we could already go to your house."

          Inside the taxi, Eric remained mysteriously quiet. Uncle Eric looks so serious, it must be so important for him and probably for me too, Xandro thought looking at his uncle.

          "It's good my wife and my children are watching movies at the mall. Probably, they'll go to a Fast food afterwards and they won't be able to come home early. We'll have enough time to sit down and talk, Xandro."

          "Is your place just near Uncle Eric, huh?"

          "In about twenty minutes maybe and we will reach my house."

          The two remained so quiet during the entire trip to Eric's house.

                                                                                                   Chapter 6

          "Your house looks kind of big Uncle Eric," Xandro instantly noticed as they got down from the taxi.

          "It’s just big enough for us to be comfortable and to accommodate a few guests. If I just hadn't lost you back then, probably you would have been living with us son."

          "But there's nothing we can do about it now uncle. What happened had already happened, and I'm just thankful and happy that you seem to have a comfortable life now."

          "Come inside our gate," Eric said as Xandro followed him from behind. "Wait, I'll just open our door with my key. It seems like my wife and my children are still at the mall, the house looks so quiet.

          When he had opened the door, the two immediately got inside the dark house. "Just wait Xandro and I'll turn on our light." And the entire house immediately lit up.

          Xandro instantly saw the interior of his uncle's house, it had enough appliances around. Eric asked Xandro to sit on his sofa.

           "Just sit there for a while, and I'll just go to my room to get something. Xandro waited and decided to look around the house from where he was sitting. He noticed a big picture of his Uncle Eric together with two little boys that looked alike and a woman. That is probably my uncle's wife and children, he thought. Xandro opened the TV and the six o'clock nightly news was shown. He watched for a while and shortly Eric went out of the room and approached Xandro with a small paper in his hands. When he got near Xandro, he immediately handed him the old picture he was carrying. Xandro took it from him and looked. A tear slowly felt from Xandro's eyes, he was holding his old picture with his mom and dad. When he and his uncle got separated at the train station, all that was in his bag then were his clothes. After fourteen log years, Xandro finally saw once again the face of his parents. He noticed his striking resemblance with his father and approximated that he was about as tall as he was.

          "Probably, you could still remember this old family picture, that picture was taken during your christening in a big church back then. Your father gave it to me when he visited me in my house before." 

          "It's good that you have kept this in good condition uncle, you had shown this to me when I was still smaller and I remember you telling me that I was still one year old when this picture was taken. Could I keep this uncle, I no longer have any picture left of my mom and dad," Xandro requested his uncle.

          "That's really for you, son, I have other copies of that in my family album," he answered as he sat down in front of Xandro after he turned off the TV. He then turned quiet and stared seriously at his nephew.

          "Uncle what is it that I really need to know about what had happened in the past and about my true identity?"

           "I don't really know how I'm going to start telling you, and above all I'm not sure how you're going to react when you hear the entire truth from me," Eric explained.

          "Okay uncle just tell me everything, don't worry about my reactions. I'll try to be as calm as I can be, just say it now."

          Eric took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I'm telling you the story... he was flying an--"        

          "Dad you're home!" exclaimed the seven-year old boy as he walked fast towards Eric. "Oh, you've got a guest dad, good evening sir."  

          "Careful with the shopping bags Rap-rap," Eric's wife told her other son as she entered the house. "Put it down gently on the floor."

          "Yes mom," the boy carrying the shopping bags answered. He then walked towards his father and Xander in the living room. "Good evening dad. And good evening to you too mister."

          "Good evening too," Xandro greeted back the two young boys.

          "Eric I didn't know you have a guest."

          "Yeah, wait didn't you tell me that the three of you might come home late because you're all going to watch a movie at the mall. What movie did you watch that it ended so soon, you all got home too early," Eric noticed.

         "No, it's just that the movie we're supposed to watch got rescheduled. I asked our boys to watch another movie but they refused immediately so we decided to go to a Fast food Branch and eat hamburgers, spaghetti and 'halo-halo' and then I bought some school supplies for the kids and some grocery items," narrated Eric's wife Cristina.

          "By the way, I'm with Xandro," Eric's introduction of his nephew to his family.

          "Xandro, Xandro the Xandro? Are you saying he was the one that you had left at the train station, the one that you had been looking for years now, huh?"

          "You're right this is him, really him Cristina."

          The woman couldn't say a word, she looked intently at their guest, it took her a while before she was able to compose herself. And then she went to a chair at the side and sat. She faced Xandro and started talking to him. "Please forgive me Xandro, I and my brothers had made a terrible mistake, we committed a sinned against you."

          "You committed a sin against me," wondering, Xandro asked Cristina.

          "It's true Xandro, she and her family had greatly sinned against the two of us," Eric butted in.

          "I'll explain it to him Eric," Cristina offered. "It's like this; we could say that it was I and my brothers who had caused Eric to leave you behind all alone at the train station.

          "It was your fault, how did it happen, I don't get it really..."

           "To start, I thought Eric got me pregnant, and when the news had reached my parents they immediately asked my brothers to follow your uncle at the train station to make him answer for my pregnancy. And when they saw him buying tickets that morning, they immediately grabbed him and made him face our entire family in our house. There, they forced Eric to marry me right away to avoid the humiliation that it could bring to our family. So they imprisoned Eric inside our house and guarded him. Repeatedly, Eric begged my family to allow him to go back to the train station, telling us that he had left his nephew, named Xandro. But my brothers and my parent's didn't believe his story. They did not allow Eric to leave the house for fear that he might be able to escape us once again, and just after a week Eric and I were married right there, inside our house," Cristina's long narration.

          "But what happened was, Cristina wasn't actually pregnant, it was all a mere false alarm. And the truth of the matter is, we had our twin after seven long years," Eric's statement looking at Xandro.

          "So... Xandro I hope that you could find it in your heart to forgive me and my whole family for all the sufferings that we had caused you then," Cristina's earnest begging for Xandro's forgiveness as she held his hands.

          "Let's just forget all about it Aunt Cristina," Xandro said and looked at his uncle. "Besides, looking at the two of you together now, I think Uncle Eric would have married you eventually on his own will."

          "You're right Xandro because the truth was we were only leaving for Manila so I could find a better paying job and not because I wanted to leave Cristina. I was still planning to go back and see her."

          "I knew that too. But my parents just wouldn't believe me so they did what they did," Cristina added. 

          "So Xandro, huh, you've already forgiven me, huh?" Cristina asked Xandro once again.

          "Yeah, it's all in the past now auntie and I'm also glad that I now have two handsome young cousins," Xandro replied as he looked at the twins who had been listening to their conversation all along.

          "Aha, so you're our cousin Xandro, that's great and now we have somebody else to play with. It would be fun playing with a cousin much, much taller than the two of us."

          "Yeah, you're older than the two of us. You probably have a lot of stories to tell us. Are you good at telling stories just like Dad huh Xandro?" Ron-ron asked him looking up at him.

           "Yeah I am," he answered. "And I can't wait 'till the three of us play together. And I'm just so happy I have the cutest cousins to hang out with." The smile in the eyes of the two kids looking up at him made Xander felt good inside.

           "By the way, it's almost seven o'clock in the evening; I think I should bring something to eat for the two of you Eric, Xandro. Before we left earlier, I cooked so Eric could eat when he comes home from his work," Cristina said as she stood up from where she was sitting. "So I'm leaving the two of you Eric, Xandro 

I'll just heat up the food in my kitchen."

          "Okay Cristina come back as soon as you can, I'm really hungry now," Eric's reply to his wife. "You know Xandro, after a week I went back to the train station to find you, but you weren't there. I asked the young vendors there selling all kinds of stuff if they had seen anyone that matched my description of you. One told me that he had seen you but you just disappeared one day and never came back."

          "Maybe he was one of the vendors I have befriended, you see while I waited for your return, I also sold stuffs like newspapers and candies so I could eat. Then one day I went inside the train to sell newspapers. I was so tired I didn't know I fall asleep and when I woke up I was already here in Manila. It occurred to me that maybe you were also in Manila, because this was our destination back then and hoping that you would try to find me here, I decided to live here and wait for you," Xandro's long narration to his Uncle Eric.

          "Wait, I'll just place this food on the table so you two could start eating," Cristina said.

          "While you were here in Manila Xandro, was it hard for you, it's difficult here in Manila, you really have to work hard to survive," Eric added.

          "It was really difficult at the start but eventually I got used to it. At first I tried selling newspapers once again and eventually selling candies like Stork, Candy Mint, and Snow Bear. Later I also roamed around the streets of Manila and sold Jack 'N Jill Pretzel, and Potato Chips and a lot others. And when I got bigger I worked as a porter at the market, a gasoline boy, until I became a waiter on several Fast food Chains like Jollibee and McDonalds, and to Mang Inasal Roasted Chicken. Wherever I was working, I just gave my best and worked really hard just like you always told me when I was smaller back in our province."

          "I'm so sorry you had to work on your own at a very young age. I know for a fact that it’s so dangerous for young children to be working so early in life out in the street. Young children should just stay and study in schools instead. Wait, did you go to school huh, son?"

          "Yes, because the tuition in public schools were just for free, but I only finished high school. You see, after I graduated I wasn't really sure what course to take then. Deep inside something was telling me that I was destined to do something else, I just didn't know what it was."

          "But once you decided to go to college just tell me and I'll help you out, okay," Eric offered

          "Yes uncle and thank you, but as of now, I really would like to just work first."

          "Xandro I want you to live with us here in our house. We're only four here, you can stay temporarily at the attic. It's spacious enough. And when the other room at the second floor have been cleaned you can move there if you want," Eric seriously offered his long lost nephew.

          "Funny, but I missed hearing your voice asking me to do something. If that's what you want uncle, besides I also want to be with you much longer and also I would like to know your entire family and be a part of it. I've been living all alone for years now, I have a lot of friends, but you're more important for me than any of them. You took good care of me and stood as my father since as far as I could remember."

          "You're also important for me son. And I want to continue taking good care of you, even if you're no longer a kid. Okay, let's eat now Xandro."

           "These looks delicious, fried chicken and stirred noodles is really my favorite," Xandro said and poured Sprite soft drink in his glass.

           "I remember this is really your favorite even when you were still a little child. Its good Cristina had thought of cooking this.

           "I'm glad that I had cooked your favorite Xandro, this is really delicious because I used fresh Magnolia Chicken," Cristina added. "We'll leave the two of you alone. Kids let's go upstairs so your dad and 

Xandro could finish their conversation. Don't forget to wash your face and brush your teeth before going to bed okay," Cristina told her twins as she stood and walked towards the stairs.

          "Good night dad, cousin Xandro," the twin said their good bye to Eric and Xandro.

          "Good night Rap-rap, Ron-ron," Xandro answered his new little cousins.

          The three went upstairs and when Eric felt that his family had gone inside their rooms, he immediately asked Xandro to go with him to the attic. "I'll take you to your temporary room Xandro and we'll continue our conversation from where we left off, before Cristina and my twins came in."

          "You go ahead uncle, I'll just follow you."

          The two immediately went upstairs going to the second floor and continued walking up the stairs towards the attic to talk.

                                                       Chapter 7

          Eric opened the door of the attic and invited Xandro in.  "Come inside Xandro." and turned on the Phillips Lights. 

          Immediately, Xandro walked in and noticed the attic's small door going to the back of the house. There were two small windows and one Salem bed in the middle of the room. Eric asked Xandro to sit down. "You may sit on that chair Xandro." and walked towards the small window. He stood there for some time looking towards the tall trees surrounding their entire house. And then he walked and took a chair and placed it near Xandro. Xandro looked carefully on Eric noticing his uncle's anxiety. He looked so uneasy while he was sitting in front of him. And then he stood up once more and walked towards the small window looking out. "Xandro, maybe this is the right time for you to know the whole truth about your real identity as a person and about everything that had happened to your parents."

          Xandro listened without saying a word looking intently at his uncle's face.

          "Probably, it would be better if I start at the time when your mom and dad first met, just listen and don't say anything until I'm finished telling you the whole story."

          "Okay uncle, I'll just listen."

          And Eric started his narration at the time when Xandro's parents first met....

          I'm happy I have gotten my license to fly an airplane and now I could finally fly wherever I want to go. Henry was thrilled while he was flying his small airplane at the top of the big mountains. He was flying for some time when he suddenly felt thirsty. He opened and drank the C2 that he brought with him. Shortly he noticed a massive white house on the top of the mountain which was filled and surrounded with tall trees. From the airplane he was flying, the massive house looked so fantastic for Henry. So he decided to fly his airplane nearer. When he got nearer, a large group of birds suddenly appeared flying out of the trees and onto the front of his plane. Henry maneuvered his plane away from the group of birds. Suddenly, Henry felt something hit and got caught in front of his plane and instantly losing control of it. His plane plunged downward cyclical. Henry fell downward from the plane he was flying. Henry felt the strong winds as he continued falling downward. He was so was so terrified and thought that it was his end. Suddenly he realized he stopped from falling and floated. He glanced to his right and he saw the most beautiful girl that he had ever seen his whole life. Shortly, he noticed that his beautiful savior had white wings. Her black and shiny hair was long and she was in a long white dress reaching up to her feet. Even if he was so afraid for his life, he couldn't help but smile at his angelic savior while she was slowly flying him downwards. Henry adoringly stared at her beautiful face while she held him with her arms as they got nearer the massive white house. He was deeply captivated by the girl’s beauty. Shortly, he felt his foot slowly touching the ground. Slowly, the girl released him standing on the ground and smiled at him. Still Henry couldn't speak, his eyes was still glued towards the alluring beauty of his flying savior. This girl is incredibly beautiful and she smelled great too. What perfume is she using, did she wear it because she saw me flying earlier, Henry thought, smiled asking himself. Afterwards, the girl slightly flew upwards standing. She continued floating in the air near him and slowly flew backwards. Gently, she continued flying backwards and standing and Henry was stunned with what he saw. Slowly, his beautiful savior flew down to a half broken body. After the two half broken bodies of the girl were attached to each other, her two wings slowly disappeared. Henry looked at her wide eyed and realized that her savior was a half-bodied human-like flying creature.

          "You're a half-bodied creature" horrified, Henry shouted loud.

          Shortly, the girl looked and walked towards Henry.

          "Don't come near me, please don't!" Henry walked backwards fearing for his life, turned around and ran as fast as he could away from the beautiful half-bodied creature. He ran and ran without looking back from where he came from, he didn't know where to go. He had run so far with his Adidas Shoes. He was still horrified with what he had witnessed. He kept on running until slowly he felt so tired and exhausted. Trying to catch his breath, he felt on his knees. Not far away from where he was kneeling, he saw his small airplane. It was burning, its parts was turned into pieces and was scattered all over the place. He was still catching his breath from exhaustion as he looked at what was left of his airplane. Slowly, he recovered from fatigue after his long run. Henry calmed himself down and thought deeply. If that girl didn't saved me from falling, I could have been gone by now. Maybe she isn't really evil, maybe there's a reason why fate brought me here. He stood up and looked back from where he came from. I should go back to that girl, I have to thank her for saving me from that fall, he silently decided. He walked back towards the massive white house. He walked faster even if he was still afraid of what she might do to him when she sees him once again. When he got near the house, he saw the girl, sitting and crying with her head down in front of a round table. He looked at her and the whole place for a while. Slowly, Henry approached her. The girl immediately noticed him and tried hard to stop herself from crying looking intently at Henry. She didn't say anything. Henry walked and stood on the other side of the small round table.

          "You came back, are you still afraid of me, huh?" the beautiful girl asked Henry.

          "No, not anymore, a little maybe," was Henry's hesitant answer.

          "Don't you want to sit down; are you afraid that I might eat you, huh?"

          "If you hadn't saved me earlier, I could have been gone by now, and if you want to eat me now, probably I don't have the right to get mad at you, maybe a little sulky, yes," Henry's hesitant joke to his beautiful savior.

          The girl smiled slightly after hearing what Henry said to her.

          "Sit down, I suppose you could see that it doesn't fit me to eat and fed on humans."

          "Certainly, it doesn't fit you," Henry answered fast looking and admiring the girl's beautiful face as he sat down in front of her.

          "I don't really feed on humans. Every day I only eat fruits, the chicken and the goats I'm growing in my backyard," the lovely girl narrated looking at Henry.

          "Really... you eat chickens and goats?" Henry in Jag jeans asked.

          "Yes, but before I start eating, I see to it that it is properly seasoned and cooked. In fact I like using many kinds of spices to make sure that my dishes taste really delicious," her hesitant joke looking at Henry's face.

           "Ah... it's good that I am truly saved from falling and from being a part of your menu."

          "And don't worry; my body doesn’t get broken into halves during full moon. It only happens when I no longer have a choice and if it's really necessary. Just like earlier, when I saw you fell down from your airplane," she explained further.

          "Really, you mean you'll always be this beautiful for me, you won't get broken into two halves right in front of me, huh?" was Henry's fast question.

          "Why, are you going to fall down from your airplane once again, huh?" her fast reply.

          "Oh no, that was definitely the last, just promise me you won't get broken especially when I'm looking at you this way, huh."

          "Yes."

          "Do you promise?"

          "Yes, I promise."

          "Wait, what's your name, huh?"

          "Aryanna, I'm Aryanna," the girl introduced herself.

          "Your name is so beautiful, just like you, and I must admit you're the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen my whole life. By the way, are there other people living with you here in that massive white house, huh?" Henry asked looking at the time in his Rolex Watch.

          "No, I'm all alone; I'm the only one living in that big house, for a long time now."

          "You mean there's only the two of us in this place right now, huh?"

          "Yes," Aryanna answered.

          "My... it's so scary..." Henry gently said, looking and smiling at Aryanna. "Come, let's get inside the house," Henry invited the beautiful owner of the massive white house.

          "Why, what are you planning to do inside my house, huh?" wondering, Aryanna asked.

          "We'll play scare games..." Henry softly joked. "Didn't you tell me that you cook delicious chicken and goats, maybe you could treat me with a heavy meal? I'm really hungry and thirsty from running earlier," he explained.

          "Come inside my house so you can drink and taste my dishes."

           Inside the massive and beautiful white house, Henry ate all the delicious dishes that Aryanna gave him. She really was a good cook. And after a few days of conversations and laughter, Henry and Aryanna became closer and more in love with each other. They got married. And after ten months a cute, handsome, and healthy baby boy was born into this world. And after another one and a half years, the baby boy, that Henry and Aryanna named as Xander became even cuter, handsomer and healthier. "Xander, dad is leaving you for a while, I'm going down to the city to buy your Johnson's Baby Oil, Johnson's Baby Powder, milk and your favorite baby clothes, you like those huh..." Henry lovingly told his baby boy.

          "Come back as soon as you can Henry, you know Xander wants to be with you all the time, he becomes so uneasy if he doesn't see you around," Aryanna, reminded Henry.

          "Maybe what you mean is, you feel so uneasy and lonely when I'm not around, hugging you like this," Henry teased and hugged the girl he truly loved. "Don't you worry Aryanna, I'll come back as fast as I can. I'll be home for dinner and I might take my younger brother with me. My brother likes beef steak  a lot, I'm sure he'll like your beef steak version too."

          "Okay, just be careful when you go down from the mountains, I'll expect you to be home by late afternoon. Xander and I will wait for your return," Aryanna reminded Henry.

          "Bye Xander, daddy is leaving now..." his good bye to his son, kissing him in the cheek.

          Hours after Henry had left, Anabelle felt and heard strange sounds around the massive white house. She peeked and realized that the day she had feared was about to come.

          "Henry your house is so beautiful and big and it's on top of the mountains. This whole place is just awesome," Henry's younger brother noticed and praised the scenery the moment the two reached the massive house from their long hike.

           "I'm glad you like it here. It's really fantastic around her, our place is wide and the wind is really fresh," his answer to his brother.

          "Anabelle, I'm home! Where did you go, why didn't you meet me outside the house like you always do every time I come home from the city?" Henry asked looking at Anabelle.

          "I'm sorry, but I was doing something inside the house," Aryanna answered glancing worriedly around their house. "Hurry up and come inside our house Henry."

          "Aryanna, this is my younger brother."

          "How do you do..." greeted Henry's brother.        

          "Hurry up come inside the house now," fast, Aryanna commanded the two.

          When the three had entered the house, "What's wrong, you look so anxious and worried, what's the problem Aryanna?" Henry's worried question to Aryanna. "And why do you keep on looking outside our house. You look terrified, what are you afraid of?"

          "They have found me Henry; they've discovered where I've been hiding all this time. I'm afraid that you might get dragged into this whole thing. It would be better if you just leave the mountains and bring Xander along with you, just leave me here. I want you and Xander to be safe. It's happening; tonight they're all coming here to end my life..."

          "No! I'm not leaving you Aryanna. We'll all be together, no matter what. Xander and I can't leave you here all alone and in danger."

          "What are you and Aryanna talking about, I don't understand it but I'm beginning to worry now..." Henry's younger brother butted in.

          "Didn't I tell you before that Aryanna is not an ordinary girl."

          "Yeah, you had mentioned that before, but you didn't quite explain why," his younger brother answered.

          "Aryanna is a half-bodied creature, but she's a good creation, she doesn't harm humans," Henry assured his brother.

          "Are you kidding me Henry, how can someone as beautiful as this girl be a half-bodied creature, huh?"

          Henry and Aryanna explained everything to the worried young man. But after he heard the whole story, he wasn't sure if he was going to believe them or not.

          "Everything that we have told you is true, believe us," Henry said trying to convince his younger brother.

          "Run and go down the mountains Henry, while we still have time, just leave me here, this is my destiny. Take our son with you, Henry please..." Almost in tears, Aryanna begged Henry.

          But Henry adamantly refused and stood his ground. The horrible night came.

          "There's no more time Henry, we can no longer leave this house, I could sense it they're all here watching us close by... outside the house..."

          "The three of you, go and hide upstairs. Leave me here. Go upstairs and hide now please Henry..." Aryanna begged and begged Henry.

          "No! I've said it; I'm not leaving you here Aryanna. I'll stay by your side, no matter what happens...

Brother, here, take Xander with you and hide upstairs," Henry commanded his younger brother.

          "Okay Henry I'm taking my nephew, Xander with me, we'll find a place to hide upstairs." Hurriedly, Henry's younger brother ran up the stairs and hid.

          From their hiding place above, Henry's younger brother could see Henry and Aryanna downstairs. Shortly, they heard horrible and terrifying noises from the roof and several parts of the massive house. Suddenly, a large group of evil full bodied and half-bodied creatures came flying in, and scattered all over the house.

          "Have mercy, just me… kill only me. Please... don't harm my husband... please..." Aryanna begged the leader of the full-bodied and half-bodied creatures. Hurriedly, Henry ran towards Aryanna and covered her body with his, hugging her. Aryanna begged once more but they didn't listen to her. One horrible looking half-bodied creature came flying fast and grabbed Henry away from Aryanna and bit him in the neck with his fang. Very weak, Henry felt on the floor, trying to reach for Aryanna's hands. Right before Aryanna's very eyes, Henry died. In a second, several half-bodied creatures appeared and went flying towards Aryanna and bit her. After a short while, the half-bodied creatures released Aryanna, falling beside Henry. Aryanna looked at her husband for the last time and died. From where they were hiding, Henry's brother saw everything that had happened. Trembling, he held little Xander in his arms. He was in shock and didn't know what to do at that moment. He kept on looking downstairs and realized that Xander was also looking down at his parents, crying in his arms. In a moment, one horrible half-bodied creature noticed and discovered their hiding place upstairs. Fast, the half-bodied creatures flew towards them. In panic, and from the floor he was sitting, the young man accidentally released the little baby boy. Crying softly, Xander saw the half-bodied creatures flew towards them, nearer and nearer. Little Xander continued looking at the approaching half-bodied creature and when it was about to grab him, the baby boy suddenly shouted, "Xander!"

          Henry's brother was stunned with what he had witnessed. Xander's little body turned into a half from the waist up and started elevating from the floor, floating in the air. He floated higher and higher and to the young man's surprise a blue ray of light came out from Xander's body. The blue light moved and hit the gruesome half-bodied creature. Right before the young man's very eyes, the half-bodied witch screamed and turned into ashes. Enraged, the other full-bodied and half-bodied creatures came flying all together towards Xander. To the young man's amazement, the blue ray of light appeared and went shooting out from Xander and, one by one, hit all of the flying gruesome full-bodied and half-bodied creatures. And just like the first, many of the full-bodied and half-bodied creatures screamed and turned into ashes. And in just a short while, all of the gruesome creatures was beaten and killed single-handed by little Xander. Shortly after, the massive house blazed. The young man was still in shock with what he had witnessed that night, unable to move. Xander's half body went flying towards him. Horrified, he continued looking at Xander as he approached him from the air. Suddenly he felt something touched and held him by his shoulders. Xander carried and flew him out of the burning house. While Xander was flying him, the young man could see the little boy's half body flying in the air. He looked up and wondered how did the little boy was able to carry him, when he didn't have any feet nor legs when he flew him out of the burning house. He could feel something was tightly holding his two shoulders, but he just couldn't see what it was. While in the air, he kept looking up to find out what was grabbing him, but still he didn't see anything. Shortly after, not far from the burning house, Xander started flying him down until the young man's feet touched the ground. He was unable to stand, and fell sitting on the ground. He looked at the flying little boy and after he had gathered enough courage, he approached him and held his upper body. How could this little boy fly considering that he doesn't have any wings? He was still fearful but he tried to touch what was under Xander that held him earlier. Immediately and to his surprise, the young man felt Xander's two legs, and when he went lower, he also felt his two feet. Slowly, he realized that the little boy had invisible legs and feet. Xander was invisible from the waist down. His body was not broken into halves unlike the other half-bodied creatures.

          "Xander!" the little boy shouted once more as the young man held him carefully with his arms. And all of a sudden, Xander's legs and feet reappeared. Surprised and taken aback, the young man dropped, sitting once more to the ground still holding Xander in his arms. He cried and cried looking at the Henry's younger brother. The massive house continued burning. Worried that some full-bodied and half-bodied creatures might have survived the fire, the young man immediately carried little Xander in his arms. He ran and ran as fast as he could away from the burning house. He ran until he could no longer see the house. Exhausted and catching his breath, he stopped and looked intently at the boy he was carrying in his arms. Xander looked up at him and tightly, the young man embraced him.

           "From this day forward, I'll protect you, and love you like my own son, I promise," he vowed looking into Xander's eyes and embraced him once again.

                                                        Chapter 8

          After Eric had told the whole story, he approached Xandro. "That was everything that had happened Xandro, and I'd understand if you won't believe it, because I myself didn't believe your parents until I've witnessed everything that had happened on that horrible and sad day," Eric stated and sat in front of Xandro.

          "Then my real name is Xander and not Xandro, uncle."

          "You're right, and I only changed your name to protect you. I was worried that your legs and feet my turn invisible right in front of your friends if you, mistakenly, shout your real name, Xander. I chose the name Xandro because it sounds almost like your real name. Also, I decided not to tell you about your real identity because I wasn't sure what effect it will have in your ordinary life. As far as I was concerned, I wanted you to have a normal life, just like any other child back then.

          "And based on your story... I'm also a human-like half-bodied flying creature', is that it uncle?" softly, Xandro asked Eric.

          "No... No... Because according to your parents, right before they were killed by the full-bodied and half-bodied creatures, you're human. The evil half-bodied creatures, with black wings and a very long tongue, killed all the half-bodied creatures, with white wings and with a long blue rope in the middle of their upper chests, because of an old prophecy. The good half-bodied creatures' used their thin rope to get fruits from the trees and to pick flowers in the forests. The trees where they got fruits bear more fruits, and the plants they picked flowers from, flowered even more. They believed that a powerful man, who was destined to be the protector of the entire human race and will kill all of the black winged half-bodied creatures, will be born from the race of the good and white winged half-bodied creatures. And this powerful man will be borne by the princess of the good half-bodied creatures. And that princess was your mother Aryanna, the last breed left of their race back then. She hid and hid, while she waited for the arrival of the man who will love her and would help fulfill the prophecy. And true indeed, your father Henry came to love your mother. Henry loved your mother truly and deeply, in spite of her real identity. He loved you mother more than his own life, and he proved his love for her to the very end by offering to stand and die by her side.

          Xandro remained quiet and sat still with his head slightly bent down. He could feel the pain that his parents went through in the hands of the evil creatures.

          "I know how painful this would be for you, son, I for myself could still remember and feel the agony and pain that my brother and Aryanna had been through on that sad day. The most important thing is, you had immediately given justice to the horrible end of your parents."

          After Eric had left, Xandro walked slowly towards the small window. He wasn't able to stop the tears from falling from his eyes. After some time, he decided to leave Eric's house for a walk. Downstairs, he saw Eric sitting on the sofa. "Uncle, I'll be gone for a while; I really need to think about all of this. I'll come back, don't worry," Xandro asked Eric's permission to leave.

          "Yeah, you do that son. I hope that tonight you would be able to accept everything in your heart. Go on son, think and decide what you're going to do from now on," his answer to his nephew as he sipped his hot Nescafe coffee.

          Outside, Xandro walked and walked in his new Converse Shoes. He had already walked for quite a distance when he saw a long bench near LBC. He noticed no one else was around, alone, he sat for a moment. He convinced himself that everything that had happened in the past was a part of God's bigger plans for the whole world. What matters then was for him to muster enough courage to face everything and fulfill the responsibilities that fate had given him. Slowly he stood up, took a deep breath and shouted, "Xander!" Xander slightly floated from the ground. Slowly, he felt better inside. He felt his short hair grew longer. His short facial hairs disappeared. He tried floating upwards, higher and higher. He was standing up in the air, inclined himself slightly forward, raised his right arm above his head and flew upward and fast. He flew and flew, stopped, stood up straight and held his waists. I didn't know, flying feels this great and awesome, Xander thought smiling at himself. Shortly, he flew once again, faster and faster this time until he reached and stopped, looking down in the middle of the wide ocean. He could see the big and grand Aboitiz Super Ferry and the colorful lights around it. He also saw a small group of fishermen in their small boats sailing quietly with their bright lamps they bought from SM Mall. He felt immensely great and as free as a bird. He then flew in wide circles and in different directions. He flew faster once more, and later he turned and flew cyclical in the air. He had already flown so far; he decided to fly back to the city, to see once again the beautiful buildings and roads of Manila. He was amused by the lines and files of Toyota, Daewoo, Mazda, Nissan cars and many others in their bright lights. He stopped on top and admired the beauty and grandness of the whole of Luneta Park. He saw many park goers with their respective families. They looked so happy while they were eating Greenwich Pizza, roasted chicken and drinking Nestea, Sprite, Tang, and Coca-Cola. He was also amused by the balloons held by several vendors as the children dragged their parents to buy one. He noticed the water fountain in the middle of the big and long park looked even better and more appealing when watched from above. Many of the park goers were wearing Bench T-Shirts and Jag Jeans. And fast he flew once more until he stopped near the top of the Appliance Center he was working. He looked down on it and thought, tomorrow... tomorrow I'm going to see Althea once again; the only girl I love in this world. Shortly, while he was standing in the air, with his two arms relaxed on his sides, he couldn't tell what but something made him open his two palms, facing forward, fast and hard. Suddenly, he felt a strong force coming from the middle and upper part of his chest. And from here, a thin and golden rope went shooting out. It looked like golden threads intertwined together forming a thin rope. Xander looked carefully at it, it reached up to about ten meters in length and it moved in the air as if it was alive. Xander looked downward to see his foot, but instead of seeing it, he only saw the hollow inside of his right shoe, Xander just smiled, took a deep breath and suddenly the thin golden rope shortened and went back inside his chest. He decided to go back to his Uncle Eric's house. And fast Xander flew once again going to the house that will soon be his new home. He flew and flew and when Xander saw the window of Eric's room, he noticed his Uncle Eric was watching him, smiling at him. Xander stopped flying in the air and stood facing his uncle. He greeted by smiling at him, slightly bending his head down. Then he flew upwards going to the attic and slowly flew back in passing through the open door. As his shoes touched the floor, he noticed his feet have reappeared from the hem of his pants. He shouted gently.” Xander!" His hair shortened once again, returning to its old crew cut and his facial hairs growing back.

                                                     Chapter 9

          The following morning when Xandro went downstairs, he saw Eric and his twins sitting in the dining table. Eric noticed him and asked him to sit beside him, "Xandro its good you're awake, come here and sit beside me so you could eat breakfast with us."

          "Thanks uncle," Xandro's answer as he pulled back his chair.

          "Just wait and in a little while Cristina will come out with our breakfast."

          "Xandro you look great in your clothes," Rap-rap told Xandro smiling at him.

          "Is there a girl that you like in your workplace huh Xandro?" his uncle asked him.

          "Yeah there is uncle, and I really like her. I just hope that she likes me too," he answered Eric.

          "Don't worry about that Xandro; I'm sure she'll like you. You inherited a lot of charms and good looks from your father," butted in his uncle. "And what about you two young boys, will I see good grades in your report cards this month huh?"

          "Of course Dad, in fact our teacher praised us yesterday for topping our last exam," Rap-rap happily answered his father.

          "Yeah, we both had perfect scores," Ron-ron told his father.

          "Well I'm so happy I have the most intelligent twins any father could wish for," Eric just said praising and smiling at his twins.

         "And we're both so proud of the two of you. And now I want the two of you to eat and finish your breakfast so you two could go to school early," Cristina, who just came out from the kitchen carrying Purefoods Hotdog, fried Bounty Fresh Chicken, Gardenia loaf bread, and Eden Cheese, said. "Xandro go ahead and eat, this is your first breakfast with Eric after a long, long time."

          "Yeah you're right, I haven't thought of that," immediately, Eric said and picked three hotdogs, ham and fried milkfish.

          "I think I'm going to enjoy it here because your breakfast is always delicious," Xandro just said as he poured Nescafe Coffee in his glass.

          "Please hand me my Nido Milk Rap-rap," Ron-ron requested his brother.

          "Okay, here, let's drink up all our milk together Ron-ron," Rap-rap said smiling at his twin brother.

          "Okay since I'm in such a good mood now for finding Xandro, as of today kids your allowances have just increased," Eric said pulling out his Seiko Wallet from the pocket of his Freego Jeans.

          "Thanks dad!" happily the two kids said.

          "Mom, what did you put inside our lunch boxes?" Rap-rap asked.

          "What else, of course I put in Gardenia filled with Swift Bacon and Eden Cheese, Rebisco Sandwich and some Zest-o. Just buy something from your canteen for lunch, and be sure to include vegetables and not just meats okay."

          "Yes mom," Rap-rap and Ron-ron who were both in Swatch Watch answered together.

          Cristina was left all alone in the house that looked bright because of the Boysen Paints they used.

Eric drove his twins to school in his Mazda car. Xandro refused his uncle's offer to bring him to Veron's because he was going on a different direction and he didn't want his little cousins to be late for school. Xandro rode a jeep where many of the passengers were wearing Hanes T-Shirts and some had Seiko Wallets. When he reached the Appliance Center, Veronica and Lynette weren't there. He sat on the sofa and waited. Shortly, Veronica came in.

          "Xandro, it's good you came in early," Veronica said.

          "Good morning Ma'am Veronica," Xandro pleasantly greeted her.

          "Good morning too, Xandro, by the way, take this Nokia Cell phone it's yours. I want you to have this so I could contact you if there's something I want you to do in connection with your deliveries."

          "I had saved our company number in that cell phone, so you could immediately call us back here, in case you had some problems with your deliveries, okay."

          As they talked, Xandro kept looking at the main door.

          "Who are you looking for and you kept glancing at the door, is it Lynette?"

          "Nothing, I just looked, really."

          "Really... she'll come in later this afternoon, I asked her to do something important, and she’s probably at some restaurant talking to some of our suppliers."

          "Is that so?"

          "You just stay here and wait; I'll just go to my office and make a call."

           "Just go ahead Ma'am Veronica."

          Xandro sat down on the big and long sofa; he watched what was airing on the Samsung TV. I hope Althea finishes with her meeting early so I could see her. God... how I want to see her and hold her now, Xandro thought impatiently. In a short while, a new customer in Ray Ban and Adidas Shirt came in. Xandro immediately greeted him, "Good morning sir." Xandro in turn called the Saleslady for her to entertain the prospective customer. Xandro sat once more and checked the new cell phone Veronica had given him while the Saleslady did her work with the customer. The customer checked and surveyed the appliances, and then he approached a big and white GE Refrigerator. The Saleslady opened its door to show him what was inside of it. He also walked and approached the GE Washing Machine. The Saleslady pleasantly explained and showed him the special features of the said appliance. Moments later, Xandro saw the customer paid his purchases and left afterwards. The Saleslady immediately called Xandro and asked him to load up the big refrigerator and washing machine in the Delivery Van. After Xandro had loaded everything at the back of the van, he immediately climbed and sat on the driver's seat. He opened the Zest-o juice and drank. This tastes really great, Xandro noticed smiling a bit. "On to my next delivery..." Xandro said softly. He read the address of the delivery, and learned that it was for a house at Camella Homes Compound. I know this place. Xandro drove. While he was driving he passed by a busy Jollibee Branch. Jollibee, as usual, is filled with so many customers. So many customers flock in to this branch every time I pass by. When he reached Petron, he decided to refuel. Their service is good and fast, Xandro noticed and drove away. When he reached the house, he got off the van and gently rang the doorbell. This house looks great, and the color of the paint fits the design of the house, Xandro silently praised the house looking up at it. Shortly a beautiful lady came out running to meet Xandro.

          "Good morning, I'm here for the delivery Ma'am," Xandro pleasantly greeted.

          "That's probably the refrigerator and washing machine dad said he is going to buy this morning," the girl started smiling at Xandro. "Come inside." Xandro went inside following the girl.

          "Where will I put this down?" Xandro asked carrying the big refrigerator on his strong arms.

          "Put it down here," she immediately said pointing at a corner of the kitchen. Xandro in turn positioned the big refrigerator on the said corner.

          "Just wait, the big washing machine is next," Xandro said and left. When he returned, the girl pointed at the door leading to the back of their house. Carrying the big washing machine, Xandro went through the door and placed the appliance on the ground. "Camella Homes is really beautiful, even the back of the house is nicely done and finished with a bright looking paint."

          Looking at Xandro, the girl invited Xandro back in. "Come inside to our living room." Xandro went inside surveying the whole house.

          "Okay, I'm done. I've got to go, bye..." Xandro said smiling at her.

          "Why don't you have a seat first," she kindly and nicely offered glancing at their elegant sofa. Xandro then sat and looked at her for a moment. 

          "My... you're so strong. You looked so relaxed as if you were not carrying a heavy load on your big arms. You probably go to the gym all the time. Do you go to a gym and where?"

          "No Ma'am I just exercise and jog a lot around our place, particularly early in the morning," Xandro simply answered.

          "So outdoor exercise and jogging made your body look like that," she just said smiling at him.

          "Probably.... yes I think," Xandro immediately answered.

          "By the way how tall are you?" she asked looking at him from where she was sitting.

          "I'm exactly 6'2."

          "You're tall, muscular and definitely handsome," she told him her honest opinion of him. "I think you should pursue an acting career. Talent scouts would run and offer you everything just to get you signed. Why don't you try watching some television shows live at a studio. I'm sure they'll notice and get you. With your looks and charms, they'll probably cast you as movie action star doubling as a nightly soap leading man."

          "Really... I could work as an actor."

          "Of course, just give it a try. Aren't you interested, actors earns a lot."

          "Yeah... I heard."

          "Wait, how old are you, huh?" the beautiful girl asked looking at Xandro.

          "Me, I'm twenty-one, just two weeks ago."

          "By the way what kind of a girl do you like, huh?" slightly curious, she asked.

          "I'm not really that particular. I don't really have rules when it comes to that. I just want a girl that I truly love. That's it, I just want a girl that I really love and who loves me back," his answer to her.

          "That girl would be very lucky to have your love," she just said. "Here drink this cold soft drink."

          "Thanks..." after drinking Xandro stood up. "Okay, I've got to go, I'm still needed at the Appliance Center."

          "Okay... if we need another appliance we'll buy again at your branch," the girl told and assured Xandro.

           Xandro politely smiled at her and slowly walked out of the house. He climbed and rode his van. While he was driving on his way back, he passed by Chowking Fast Food. He was still needed back at the appliance center so he drove a little faster within the speed limit. Xandro continued driving the delivery van and later passed the biggest Billboards of Hanes, Levi's, and Penshoppe. He also passed by Mercury Drugstore. Carefully, Xandro drove and drove. He bent his head down slightly and looked at his Seiko Watch, worrying that he might have spent too much time on his delivery earlier and realized he didn't. I'm still on time; he thought, looked back at the long road and immediately saw a speeding bus far ahead. Suddenly, the big bus swerved left and right uncontrollably.  Xandro realized that the driver had totally lost control of his vehicle and started hearing the passengers screaming for their lives, panicking. Even the people around the road screamed pointing at the speeding bus on the sky way. Xandro wasted no time and immediately pulled over his van to the side of the road and stopped. He looked left and right carefully checking if anyone noticed him and realizing that every one's attention was focused on the speeding bus, Xandro shouted from inside the delivery van, "Xander!" Immediately, his short mustache and beard disappeared, his short hair grew a bit longer covering his ears slightly. After his transformation, Xander flew out of the Delivery van. Xander flew fast in the air and chased after the speeding big bus which was still swerving left and right at the highest part of the sky way. He chased and chased after it from above until it finally hit the fence of the sky way. The big bus had overshot the sky way and fell downward going to the road below. In panic, the passengers inside screamed loudly for their lives. In a blinding speed, Xander chased after the falling big bus and when he finally caught it, he lifted it with his two arms from under and middle part of the vehicle. Xander was slowly flying the big bus downward when suddenly someone shouted and cried, "Help, help, help!"

          Xander turned his head towards the origin of the loud cry and saw a young lady desperately clinging on the railings of the long sky way. She clang and clang fearing for her life. Suddenly, the young lady loosened her grip and fell downward going to the road. While in the air, Xander suddenly released the big bus he was carrying and flew after the falling young lady; Xander, with his arms on his sides, opened his two palms, facing forward, fast and hard. The thin golden rope went shooting out from the middle and upper part of his chest and immediately circled around the falling big bus, tying and lifting it in the air easily. Xander flew faster and in an instant caught the falling young lady. Flying, he carefully carried the crying beautiful young lady in his arms and noticed that a big crowd had gathered down the road, looking up and cheering at them. Many of them were taking videos of the whole rescue scenario with their modern cameras. The crowd was amazed at what they were seeing, they couldn't believe that at this digital age, they would see a flying man and that strong. They cheered and clapped loudly as they continued witnessing Xander's heroism right in the middle of the city. The grateful beautiful young lady just stared at Xander while he carried and flew her downward going to the road. "Thank you... thank you for rescuing me, mister," the grateful beautiful young lady thanked Xander looking up to him.

          "You need not thank me, it's my great pleasure and honor to help anyone who needs me," calmly, Xander answered the grateful young lady slightly smiling at her.

          "Who are you? What's your name?" the beautiful and grateful young lady asked looking at the handsome face of Xander.  

          "Xander, my name is Xander."

          "Standing in the air, Xander continued flying her downward while the golden rope lifted and balanced the big bus above, encircling it. Slowly and carefully, Xander lowered the heavy bus until its tires finally touched the ground. Xander took a deep breath and fast the golden rope shortened and returned inside his chest. The previously panicking passengers immediately got off the big bus and ran again on the road waiting for their hero's descent with the young lady still his arms.

          "Melanie! I'm over here!" shouted one happy and thankful elderly woman in the crowd.

          "Mom, Mom!" the young lady shouted back at her mother.

          Xander immediately landed the young lady near her mother.

          "Thank you so much for saving my daughter," the mother thanked Xander as she hugged her daughter in her arms.

          "You're most welcome Ma'am," Xander's fast answer and instantly flew up and away from the crowd  noticing a reporter holding a camera in her hand, followed by her cameraman, approaching him.

          When Xander was certain that no one was watching him, he immediately flew back in riding the parked Delivery van, and then immediately shouted, "Xander!" His short beard and mustache reappeared and his hair returned to his usual crew cut hair style.

                                                         Chapter 10

          Xandro drove back to Veron Appliance Center hoping to see Althea but when he finally reached it at noon, he realized Lynette still had not arrived. He sat on the long sofa and hoped Lynette would finally come in. He waited and waited but it was Veronica who came and approached him.

          "Hey, Xandro you're back. How was your delivery,? Did they like the appliances, huh?" she asked immediately.

          "Yes Ma'am, the girl liked the appliances."

          "Well I'm so happy to hear that. I hope they would become our regular customers," she said looking at Xandro.

          "Yes Ma'am Veronica. She told me that they would still buy from us the next time that they needed another appliance," Xandro's quick answer smiling a little.

          "That's good Xandro," she said happily. "It's twelve o'clock noon, you can take your lunch break. Just find yourself a Fast food you like and you can eat your lunch there. Take your time; don't worry about our store, okay."

          "Thanks Ma'am Veronica, I'm going out now. I'll be back by one o'clock," Xandro said looking at Lynette's table. Xandro immediately noticed Veronica was slightly laughing at him. He immediately looked away from the table and headed for the main door. "Bye Ma'am Veronica I'm going out now."

          "Yeah, you already said that earlier," she teased again.

          Xandro walked outside and chose to eat at a restaurant near their store. Inside, he immediately bought fried chicken, rice, vegetables and Coke. After he had received his food, he immediately looked for an empty table putting down his food on it and his Coke to the right. He sat, drank some water and started eating. A little hungry, he immediately tried his food and instantly liking it.  He continued eating and enjoying his lunch drinking from his glass of coke while looking at the other customers eating inside the restaurant.

                                                      Chapter 11

          Shortly after, one customer stood up and turned on the Phillips TV on one corner of the said restaurant.  Vaseline 2 in 1 Soap commercial was airing and shortly a News Update from a known TV Station was inserted and immediately getting the attention of all the customers inside the restaurant.

          "I'm here to conduct an interview to a very lucky eighteen-year old beautiful young lady who had been wonderfully rescued earlier by a new Superhero who, according to our sources and shown on our video, possessed an incredible strength and had the ability to fly in the air," the female reporter started. And when Xander's heroic acts video was shown on TV, the customers of the said restaurant was instantly amazed at Xander flying, chasing, and catching the young lady in the air, saving her from falling downwards to the road. The TV viewers immediately realized Xander’s incredible strength and power as he easily carried the young lady in his arms up in the air while his golden rope lifted and balanced the heavy big bus up above him. The customers stopped eating and continued watching the video of Xander flying in the air, easily lowering and landing the big bus on the road using only his golden rope with the beautiful young lady still in his arms. They were greatly impressed and amazed by the powers of the new superhero and became an instant fan. They all clapped happily and loudly from their tables looking at the heroic acts of Xander feeling so good and proud that a very powerful flying superhero would be first seen in their country, the Philippines.

          And in the midst of their celebration, the female reporter continued her interview with the young lady saved by Xander. "Would you like to tell all our TV viewers everything that had happened and how you got rescued by this flying Superhero?" the reporter asked the grateful young lady.

          "Yes, I certainly would like to," Melanie, the grateful and beautiful young lady, answered looking at the camera. "I was riding a big bus with my mother and many other passengers when it suddenly swerved left and right on top of the long sky way. It continued swerving and shortly hit the fence of the sky way on the side. Next thing, I was thrown out of my seat. I didn't know how, but I was able to cling on the sky way railings. And I clang as tight and as strong as I could so I wouldn't fall down. I was so afraid when I saw how high I was. So I held on as long as I could. But soon, both my hands were aching for clinging too hard. And when I can no longer endure it, I accidentally loosened my grip and immediately fall down really fast going to the road. I was so afraid, I just closed my eyes but in just a little while, I felt someone caught me. I stopped from falling. And when I opened my eyes, I saw a man beside me. I was so surprised when I noticed that he was flying in the air. I was saved by a man who could fly. I was unable to speak, just looking at him as he continued flying me down. And I was even more surprised when I saw, above us, that the golden rope from his chest was lifting the heavy bus we were riding earlier. I immediately realized that my mother was also safe, I was so happy we were all safe and in gratitude, I immediately thanked my savior, my hero," smiling narrated the beautiful young lady Melanie.

          "And what did he say to you, after you thanked him?" the lady reporter asked holding her microphone.

          "He told me that it was his great pleasure and honor to help anyone who needs him. And then I heard my mother calling my name from the crowd. My mother looked so happy hugging me in her arms thanking the superhero who saved me from falling."

          "Were you able to ask who he was?"

          "Yes, he told me his name is Xander."

          "Ah... So Xander is the name of this handsome hero," the lady reporter just said.

          Suddenly the mother of the grateful young lady appeared on screen and politely asked if she could already take her daughter home. The reporter agreed and thanked the beautiful young lady and her mother for the interview. 

          The customers in the restaurant were so amused and amazed at everything they saw on TV. The lady reporter continued her report. "You have just heard and saw my interview with this beautiful young lady that was rescued by our new hero. She said he told her his name is Xander. But on this momentous day I officially call him Super Xander!" This is Leslie Chan reporting for Newsflash," the lady reporter finally ended. And then the Vaseline 2 in 1 Soap Commercial was shown once again on TV.

                                                      Chapter 12

           Afterwards the customers excitedly and happily conversed among each other giving their reactions at their respective tables. Xandro immediately finished his food, drank his Coke once more, slowly got up and started walking back towards Veron Appliance Center. When he got back to the store, he heard the five Salesladies discussing among themselves. They were so excited and fascinated by the new Superhero they too saw on television. Only, they felt a bit disappointed they weren't at the scene when it actually happened. They really wanted to see Xander up close and personal. "My... if I had only known that there was a flying man earlier, I could have asked Ma'am Veronica's permission and ran out and watched too," one excited saleslady said.

          "Really... if Super Xander is again seen flying in the air, you need not ask for my permission because we will be going there altogether, except for our guard of course," Veronica's fast statement to her five Salesladies and approached Xandro.

          "Hey Xandro, did you see the news on TV? There was an extraordinary man seen in our country, according to the news, this man possessed incredible strength, in fact he easily lifted in the air a big bus while he was flying."

          "Yes, I had also seen it while I was having lunch at the restaurant nearby, I just couldn't believe it myself," Xandro's hesitant answer.

          "That was really genuine, in fact videos and videos of it have already been uploaded all over the Internet and my goodness its hits are getting higher and higher as we speak. And even other countries are in frenzy reporting Super Xander's sightings at this very hour," Veronica excitedly added. "I wonder if Lynette had seen this too... Okay you just stay here; I'm calling Lynette and ask her if she had seen it too."

          When Lynette's name was mentioned Xandro couldn't help but smile and wondered if she had indeed seen it too. Several hours have passed but the news about Super Xander's sightings kept getting bigger and bigger. Xandro remained seated while he watched the constant rebroadcast of the hottest and latest news about him. Shortly, a married couple entered the store and bought a Sharp Washing Machine. Xandro immediately lifted and carried it on his arms and loaded it on the back of their own truck. After the couple had thanked Xandro, he immediately went back inside the Appliance Center. It was almost five o'clock in the afternoon but still no sign of Lynette. Xandro was already feeling a bit impatient, longing to see her immediately. Shortly, Veronica came out and seemed to be talking to someone on her Nokia Cell phone.

          "Yes Lynette, I'm going there now, just wait a little and I'm fetching you," Veronica said to the person on the other line. "Bye..."

          "Hey all you, listen up take care of the store for me. I'm leaving to see Lynette near LBC," Veronica said her good bye to the Salesladies.  "Xandro, you just stay here. I'll just fetch Lynette, I'm accompanying her to the old train station, and she’s meeting up with her old friend."

          "Just go ahead Ma'am Veronica, we're all taking care of things around here," Xandro's fast answer, rejoicing deep inside him.

                                                        Chapter 13

          Xandro had immediately paid his previous rental balance at his old boarding house and at the moment was busy preparing himself for his meeting or what he considered his first date with Lynette.

          "Are you going somewhere Xandro?" the question of Eric who had just came in looking at Xandro who was applying Gatsby wax on his short hair.

          "Yes Uncle Eric, I'm meeting up with Althea tonight, the one I had already told you about before," smiling, Xandro answered.

          "So you're going to meet up with your beautiful and beloved girl."

          "Yes uncle, I hope I get lucky tonight and would really see her at the old train station."

         After he had given Xandro the big can of Fibisco Biscuits that he purchased for him, Eric immediately said good bye to him.

          "Xander!" softly, Xander shouted. His short mustache and beard immediately vanished and his short hair grew a bit longer. He flew fast out of the attic. He flew fast and straight going to the old train station wanting to reach the old train station at the fastest way possible. He wanted to arrive first at the closed old train station which was well taken care of and still brightly lighted. When Xander reach the top of the train station, he immediately flew downwards touching the ground and was just about to shout Xander when suddenly someone called out loud, "Xando!" from inside an old train. Xander immediately glanced at the direction of the voice and saw Althea, looking out from the window of the old train.

          "Althea," he called her.

          Althea immediately stood, and walked fast going to the train's exit. Xander immediately ran fast to meet Althea going down the train.

           "Xando, you came!" said the ecstatic Althea.

          "You too, you came finally!" Xander immediately took Althea's hands to assist her down. Intently, Althea looked at Xander's face while he was gentlemanly holding and assisting her down.

          "How are you?"

          "Good and very happy that you have gone back to see me," Xander's excited answer.

          A smile played on Althea's lips with what she heard from Xander. She could clearly see Xander's excitement and happiness as he looked deep into her eyes. Immediately, Xander held Althea's other hand after she got down from the train. Xander couldn't help but stare at Althea's incomparable beautiful face as he held her two soft and smooth hands. Althea looked up at Xander's face, smiled at him and looked down on Xandro's hands which had been possessively holding hers. Xander just smiled when he noticed what Althea just did but instead of releasing her hands, he squeezed it slightly looking handsome and proud in front of her. "You've returned, finally, Althea. I've waited a long, long time for this, to finally see you close to me."

          "Ah... let go of my hands first Xando..." smiling a little, Althea told Xander. Right after Xander had released her hands; she immediately stepped forward and hugged Xander. "Did you really wait for me Xando?" Althea asked softly.

          "Yes! Yes! I've waited and waited so many times!" Xander hurriedly answered and gently hugged Althea back. "And now that you've already returned, I'm not letting go of you, not anymore, you're staying her by my side!"

          "Do you still remember that bench over there Xando?" was Althea's question looking at the bench.

          "Yes... of course. I could still remember the two of us sitting over there. Come let's sit on it once again," Xandro's answer as he held her gently and guided her towards it. They sat on the long bench. Contented in their silence, Xander and Althea sat on the bench holding each other's hands. In just a short while, Xander took something. "Here, do you still remember these, Althea?" Xander asked and handed it to her.

          "Huh, of course, and you really brought that, huh," a little amused Althea answered looking at it.

          "You see... I just thought we started with McDonald's Hamburgers, so I decided to start all over again with the same brand of hamburgers, just to let you know that I have never forgotten you and everything about you ever since," Xander replied smiling at her.

          Althea immediately took the hamburger from Xander and started eating. Still amused, Althea kept on eating the hamburger that Xander brought for her.

          "Hey, are you not going to eat, you seem to be just watching, go ahead and eat yours too."

          So Xander started eating the other hamburger. The two held hands as they enjoyed eating the delicious hamburgers. Xander then opened a can of Coke for Althea and for himself.

          "Okay, let's drink this can of Coke together Xando, I'm afraid you'll just watch me drink this," Althea teased Xander a little. Shortly, Xander and Althea finished drinking their cold and tasty Coke sitting quietly beside each other, just enjoying each other’s nearness. Suddenly, Althea noticed something from Xander. "Did you bring something else for me, you seem to be hiding something at your back, what's that, huh?" teasingly, she told Xander.

          "Didn't you tell me before that if a girl is kind and beautiful she will receive a rose..." Xander softly said looking into Althea's beautiful face.

          "Don't tell me you brought me," a little excited, Althea said.        

           Xander immediately brought out the five red roses he was hiding at his back. "Here," Xander said giving Althea one red rose.

          "Goodness, this is so red and so pretty Xando, thanks... but why gave me only one huh, aren't those four for me too, huh Xando?" a little amused and wondering, Althea asked Xander.

          Xander just smirked and started removing the petals of the remaining roses. Xander kept pulling the petals and glanced once in a while smiling at Althea. Amused she watched as he continued pulling the beautiful rose petals. Finally, Xander finished all the rose petals. And then, like a ceremony, he gently threw the torn rose petals above, falling on their laps, on the bench, and on the floor encircling them. And when he was done he looked back at Althea and waited smiling a little.

           "You, I don't know what to say to you. Normally, when the girl arrives the rose petals are already on the ground or everywhere waiting for her. But you, you pulled it right in front of me. Goodness where did you learn that," Althea just said smiling at him. "But I must say, the old train station looks lovelier and livelier now because of what you just did."

           Xander just smiled at Althea and immediately held her other hand.

          "Did you come here often to see me Xando?" Althea asked softly.

          "Yes, I came here often just to see you. I waited and waited. And even if I failed for so many times, I never lost hope that someday we will be together once again," Xander confessed.

          "I had wanted to go back here in the Philippines to meet up with you. But my grandmother and grandmother prevented me. I love them both dearly, I owe them a lot and I found it so hard to disappoint and disobey their commands, their wishes for me. They took good care of me and sent me to school ever since mom and dad were both gone. But last time, they asked me to do something that I just couldn't do. I disobeyed them, for the first time.

          "They asked you to do something... what was it Althea?"

          "They asked me to marry Robert, the son of their business partner in America. I tried explaining to them that I'm already in love with someone else, but they just wouldn't listen. They ignored my pleadings, and hurriedly scheduled my wedding with Robert. They froze all my bank accounts and even my credit cards weren’t spared. So I found it so hard to come home to the Philippines. Fortunately, Veronica, a close friend of mine, came to my rescue; she helped me escape just one day before my wedding with Robert. Veronica paid all my fares back here."

          "I'm glad that you have a kind-hearted and helpful friend because if not for her, maybe I wouldn't see you again."

          "Yeah, Veronica is a good and very dependable friend; I could count on her at everything."

          "For years, I've been longing to see you once again Althea. I have never dreamed of being with any other girl but you Althea, only you... I love you Althea, I really, really love you. Am I correct with my understanding that I was the reason why you disobeyed your beloved and respected grandmother and grandfather, huh Althea? Am I the reason why you refused their command to marry that man? Do you love me as much as I love you Althea?" Xander softly asked looking into Althea's eyes.

          Althea didn't answer; instead she stood and looked blankly on the old train station in front of them.

          So Xander stood and held her other hand, pulled her and made her face him. Xander looked deep into her eyes, holding both her hands. "I love you Althea."

          "Really you love me Xando?"

          "Yes I love you Althea. I love you! I love you!" Xander answered sincerely and aloud looking at her.

          "Really you love me Xando, really?"

          "I love you! I love you. I really do!" was Xander's fast and really loud answer.

          "Really," Althea enticingly uttered once again.

          "Yes, I said! You're so... How could you be so annoying and so lovable all at the same time…?"

          Althea burst into laughter looking at Xander's serious looking face. Her laughter rubbed off on Xander. Xander started laughing back. They both laughed and laughed holding each other’s hands and looking into each other’s faces. They laughed and laughed. Slowly their laughter dwindled. Xander stopped laughing and looked at Althea's inviting beautiful face. Althea stopped laughing too but her enticing smile remained playing on her soft lips as she looked up at Xander in front of her.

          Slowly, Xander held Althea's shoulders. "You're so beautiful Althea...  I love you... I really do," softly Xander admitted to her.

          "I love you, I love you too Xando..." so softly, Althea finally admitted to Xander.

          Xander just couldn't stop himself anymore; slowly he pulled Althea towards him. Gently, he bent his head down, his face so near to Althea's. Slightly, Althea tilted her head upwards meeting Xandro's, she could feel Xander wanted to kiss her, she closed her eyes. Xander just couldn't avoid looking at Althea's beautiful face first, admiring it. He could see Althea wanted him to kiss her. Contented, he lowered his head to finally kiss her. Althea opened her two eyes, and was suddenly horrified with what she saw. "Vampire, Vampire!" she shouted hysterically and fainted.

                                                         Chapter 14

          Xander immediately held and caught the unconscious Althea. Holding her in his arms, he was so confused what just happened, until slowly he felt something strange inside his mouth. Xander caressed his lips. He was stunned with what he felt inside his mouth. "I have fangs... I now have sharp fangs...why did I grow these fangs!" bewildered, he asked himself. Xander couldn't explain what he was feeling at that moment, panicking, and not knowing what to do. Althea remained unconscious. Suddenly, he noticed a girl was running towards them, and realizing that it was Veronica, immediately, lifted and carried the still unconscious Althea and carefully laid her on the bench. Afterwards, he immediately ran away from the place and thinking he had run far enough, he flew upwards. Immediately, he held his mouth once again and instantly felt the sharp fangs that grew inside his mouth. From above, Xander saw that Veronica had already reached the unconscious Althea.

          "Lynette, Lynette what happened to you?" asked the worried and concerned Veronica trying to wake her up. "Lynette! Lynette, wake up!"

          Moments later, Althea finally woke up.

          "What happened to you Lynette, why did you faint?"

          "Let's leave this place Veronica, hurry Veronica!" Althea was still extremely horrified with what she had seen on Xander.

          She immediately held and assisted Althea as they walked towards her parked car nearby. In panic, Althea tried to reach the car as fast as she could and when they finally reached it, Veronica immediately opened her car's door for her, sitting her on the backseat. After she had closed the door, she immediately sat on the driver's seat and hurriedly drove away from the old train station.

          Flying from above, Xander continually worried about Althea and decided to follow the car as it traveled on the long and lonely road. "What's happening to me, why did I turn this way, why did I grow fangs?" Xander repeatedly asked himself, bewildered. Eventually and thinking that Althea was recovering, he stopped  following the car that the girls were riding and immediately flew back to his uncle's house. I need to talk to my uncle immediately. He needs to explain everything to me. Slowly, Xander felt that his fangs were gradually disappearing. Until it finally vanished, the discomfort disappearing. Xander flew faster to reach his Uncle Eric's house.

                                                      Chapter 15

           Xander noticed that the light in the attic was still on. Slowly, he flew back in and found Eric sitting on a chair. Eric immediately noticed that there was something bothering his nephew and waited for him to talk and open up on his own. He carefully looked at him as Xander slowly approached him, but instead of sitting in front of him, he went to the small window, looked out and sighed. Xander stood, looking out on the window for a long time, deeply engrossed on his thoughts.

          "Uncle, don't you have anything else to tell me about, other than what you had already told me about my real identity?" was Xander's soft and lonely question to his uncle.

          "So, what I didn't want to happen, happened," Eric started. "Did you try to kiss Althea, huh Xander?"

          From the window, Xander faced Eric. "Yes uncle... and... and she suddenly fainted right in front of me. But right before she fainted, I saw her great fear as she looked at me. Extremely fearing my transformation, she screamed so loud, she saw my fangs uncle... The only girl that I love is horrified by me..." at his lowest, Xander softly told his uncle.

          "You're right Xander; there is still something that you need to know about you, about your real identity. I decided not to tell you about this before, hoping that Althea would let you kiss her, so immediately you would acquire the other great powers that are destined to be yours. What I really wanted to happen was for you to experience kissing Althea, not thinking of anything other than the love that you feel for each other, just like any other couple. But because you have already discovered the truth about your fangs, maybe it is now the proper time for me to reveal everything that you need to know about you, Xander. According to, your mother and father's story, Aryanna and Henry, when you reached your twenty-first birthday, if you feel the desire to kiss the girl that you truly love, your fangs will also grow, and you won't be able to stop it. But also on your twenty-first birthday you would have the opportunity to acquire your other great powers, completing your transformation. And you could acquire these greater powers by the kiss of your twin love. This love was already seeded in your heart even if you were still in your mother's womb. At the time that she had already kissed you and all your greater powers are within you, your fangs will grow once again if you feel the desire to kiss her again or if you feel the need to use your other greater powers on times when you need to protect and defend the entire human race against extraordinarily powerful creatures, more powerful than the ones you had already beaten when you were still a little child. And because of these new powers, the growth of your fangs would be short lived. Shortly after it has grown out, it will disappear on its own and you could immediately continue doing whatever it is that your heart desires to do. You could fight powerful creatures without a fang and above all you could kiss your true love without a fang. So you should immediately find a way for Althea to kiss you, at her own will. And I hope that Althea is truly your twin love. I really hope so son," the long and sincere narration of Eric.

          "About that uncle, if I indeed have a twin love. I'm very sure that it is Althea, because I never loved anyone other than Althea, only her," Xander's fast answer.

          "That's great son. I'm leaving you now, so you could rest. Don't worry too much, I'm certain that one day you could find a way to settle things between you and Althea," Eric assured Xander.

          After Eric had left, Xander remained by the window looking out to the tall trees outside. He could still picture out the excessive fear that he had seen on Althea's face looking at him, could she still accept me, the real me. Could she still love me in spite of my fangs?

                                                        Chapter 16

          While standing by the window, he shouted softly, "Xander!" his short mustache and beard reappeared. And his hair shortened. Slowly, he walked towards his bed and sat on the side of his Salem Bed. The night was deep so Xandro decided to lay down on the bed. What do I need to do so Althea could accept my real identity? What would I do to win back her love and affection? Xandro thought and thought but he just couldn't find a way. He was looking up on the ceiling thinking. He remained lying on bed and forced himself to think of ways to get Althea back...

          While he was flying, Xander kept on thinking how to get Althea's love back. Moments later, Xander saw the house of Althea. He remained floating near the top of Althea's two story wooden house and shortly flew near the window on the second floor of Althea's house. While he was standing and floating in the air, he saw Althea sitting, watching TV. He kept looking at her while she was seriously watching her favorite nightly soap. My love is so pretty but I'm worried that she might get scared if she sees me. Xander hesitated showing up in front of her. Suddenly Althea looked back and saw Xander standing and floating in the air right outside her window. She immediately stood, walked and pushed on the window trying to close it on Xander.     

          "Could I talk to you, even for just a little while, huh Althea?" he asked from outside her window.

          "We have nothing to talk about," she answered immediately. "I already know what you are. You're a vampire."

          "No Althea I'm not a vampire. I'm human too. It's just that I have fangs. But they only grow every time I want to kiss you," explained Xander."I love you Althea."

          "Your fangs grow because of me, but what about if you kiss another girl?" she asked.

          "It would grow still, but that's not going to happen," he assured her. "I only wish to kiss you and no one else. It's only you that I love in this world Althea." He wanted to tell her that it's only her kiss that could help him get his full powers. But he stopped himself knowing that he needed to get her kiss on her own will and not for any other reason or it will not work. But more than getting his full powers he just wanted to win her back. "I didn't know that I grow fangs myself. I only learned of this when I tried to kiss you at the train station. I love you so much Althea." Althea did not say a word after all that he had told her about his true identity. Xander called upon her once more. But Althea did not answer him. She turned her back on Xander. Saddened by her, turning her back on him, he flew higher and stayed right above near her roof. He thought and thought on how he could make her love him once again.                                                                                   

                                                     Chapter 17

          Shortly after, Althea screamed aloud. "Earthquake, Earthquake! I can barely stand, help me Xando!" Xander immediately flew, going through the window, inside.  He immediately carried Althea in his arms and flew her out of the open window.  Althea was hugging him fearing the earthquake. 

          "My love, I'm already here, you're safe now..." he pacified her. Soon the earthquake stopped.

          "I'm glad you arrived, Xander, I was so afraid inside my house."

           Althea embraced Xander once again. So Xander embraced Althea back, lovingly. Slowly, Althea recovered and started calming down, looking deeply into Xander's eyes. Xander, in turn, looked back into Althea's eyes smiling at her. "What about if I take you with me somewhere, would you like to fly with me Althea?" was Xander's soft whisper to Althea. Althea didn't answer and so Xander continued flying her up in the air. Althea was already feeling the cold wind on her skin from where they were flying. The moon was bright; Althea surveyed the whole of Manila, looking down at it.

           "It's really beautiful up here Xander; it's so fascinating to watch the lines of tall buildings of Manila. Even the annoying long traffic looks magnificent and fun to watch from up here," Althea said. In unison, the many cars stopped in every corner and in the same manner the large group of pedestrians crossed to the other side. The rhythmic choreography of the cars and the pedestrians crossing fascinated Althea.

          "It's really fascinating to watch Manila at night from up here, that's why I thought of touring you here," Xander answered Althea. Standing, the two flew to every spot they chose to see. Shortly after, Althea saw a big carnival. "Would you please fly me near that beautiful and bright carnival," Althea asked Xander.

          "Do you like it there, come hold on tight and I'm flying you fast over there," Xander's quick response.

          Althea immediately felt the strong winds blowing on her beautiful and slightly long hair. When they reached the big carnival, they stopped and Althea stared at the Ferris wheel. She watched it carefully. Xander noticed that Althea liked looking at the Ferris wheel as it continued turning around with its colorful lights.

          "You really like looking at the Ferris Wheel Althea," Xander commented looking at Althea by his side.

          "Yes, I really like Ferris Wheels even when I was still a little girl," Althea's soft answer. "My parents used to bring me here often, Dad liked the carnivals too. And every time he thought of visiting, he always took me with him together with my mom."

          "Really,"

          "My Dad had taught how to ride all the rides around here," Althea's confession. "But his most favorite ride was the Ferris wheel. When we were riding here before, I was really terrified and I would close my eyes especially when we're already at the highest part of the Ferris wheel. And dad would immediately tickle me on my side so I would be forced to open up my eyes. Then he said, 'Open up your eyes Althea, don't be afraid, be brave and face all the challenges in life.' And after I was able to open my eyes he continued saying, 'You know Althea, life is just like a big Ferris Wheel, sometimes you're at the highest level and sometimes you're at the lowest. But whichever level you belong, remember that it has an inherent big responsibility for yourself and for your fellow men. You should learn how accept it and fulfill it with all your heart and soul.

          And then he would gently embrace me kissing me on the head. From below, mom would happily look up to us eating her cotton candy. She really liked cotton candies. I had a very happy childhood Xando, until that dreadful day came; I lost both my parents in one day. 

                                                        Chapter 18

           Seeing that a tear was forming on the corner of Althea's eyes, Xander immediately hugged Althea tightly in his arms. "You know Althea, you're a bit luckier than me; at least you had seen both your parents. While I, for myself, grow up not seeing both of them even for just once. But even then, God did not forsake me, he gave me the kindest uncle who loved me and protected me like his own child. Probably you could still remember the first time we met; I got separated from him when we were heading for Manila. And because of that, I was forced to live on my own. But with the discipline that he had instilled in me, I was able to support myself. My uncle told me, 'Son you should learn how to fight life, dream, work hard and persevere to succeed. Remember that all the success in this world starts from a dream. Reach for your dream without stepping on anyone along the way. You should be fair and respectful at all times.'."

          Shortly after, Althea saw a big cruise ship from afar. Xander noticed Althea, so he immediately flew her to the great ocean. While they were flying, going to the ocean, the wind blew stronger and colder. The night was still bright because of the big moon. When they reached the ocean, Xander immediately stopped not far away from the top of the luxury cruise ship. The two saw the large number of passengers who were happily conversing, eating and drinking. The luxury ship was so fascinating to watch because of the many small lights surrounding it. Xander and Althea looked at the beautiful cruise ship for a long time. In a short while, they heard a mellow music coming from the ship, the kind of music that lovers usually dance to. Xander noticed that Althea was smiling while she was observing the young men and women as they danced with one another inside the ship. And from above, Xander whispered on Althea, "Would you like to dance Althea?" Althea nodded and smiled at Xander. The wind became much colder, so Xander embraced Althea even closer and slowly danced with her. Xander gently danced to the tune of the mellow music coming from the ship. He gently moved and turned Althea around holding her on her slender waist. Althea in turn looked up at him with her hands around his neck. The romantic music kept playing. Xander intently looked into Althea's eyes as he gently danced with her from above. As the wind grew colder in the middle of the night, the more Althea embraced Xander. They were so happy dancing with each other. They were so happy just being near each other. "I love you Althea..." his soft whisper to the girl he was dancing with. He then asked her softly, "Do you still love me Althea..."

          "The truth is the fear that I was feeling for you had already disappeared from my heart, I thought this man loves me deeply and he would never do anything that would hurt me. I still love you Xander," her soft confession to the young man.

          Xander couldn't help but smile at what she heard from her. So he looked into Althea's eyes for a long time. Xander was so captivated by the girl he was dancing with. Xander could smell Althea's sweet perfume and moved his body nearer to her. Althea was so beautiful and so fragrant. Fully mesmerized, Xander asked Althea. "Can I kiss you Althea?" Xander whispered into her ears.

           Althea didn't answer, and to Xander's delight, she gracefully lifted her head upwards and smiled at him. Xander lowered his lips near Althea's lips. He could smell Althea's fresh breath. He looked intently at her beautiful face. Xander lowered his lips some more to finally kiss her. Xander embraced Althea tighter. Their lips had almost touched when... one fell... a wooden floor made a sound... Xander opened his eyes. It was all a dream. Just a little more and I could have kissed Althea. What a waste... Xander stood up from his fall on the floor, and approached the big mirror in the attic. He looked at his reflection from head to foot. He thought deeply. I'm like any ordinary person, I go to church, I believe and pray to God. I also know how to love just like any other man and it just happened that I have fangs. Maybe the time would come when Althea would learn to accept my true identity. I love Althea so much and I won't allow myself to loss her forever. I know Althea loves me too; I just need to give her enough time to think and understand everything.

                                                         Chapter 19

          The responding police men couldn't see what was going on inside the big school service vehicle. All the windows were covered with small white curtains. There were already many people looking curiously around the big school service. It was also surrounded by a group of policemen. 

          "Brad, let's talk this over, tell us whatever it is that you want. What is your reason and you thought of kidnapping those innocent young students, talk to us!" the negotiator of the said hostage-taking asked the lone hostage-taker through his new megaphone.

            More and more curious by standers flocked the place. They gathered on a place the police allowed them to stay.

           "Brad, come on talk to us, have mercy on those children, Brad I suppose you're a parent too, just think of what the parents of those innocent children are feeling right now. I'm sure they're now extremely worried for the safety of their children!" the lead negotiator screamed again.

            Suddenly, a small piece of paper fell out from the big vehicle. Immediately, the curious by standers saw it.

          "Boss Chief, the hostage-taker just threw a small piece of paper!" the loud statement of one of the curious by standers pointing to it on the ground.

          The negotiator instantly commanded one of his police men to ran and pick the small piece of paper. The said police man immediately obeyed and hurried to pick the small piece of paper on the ground. And when he finally got it he ran back to the lead negotiator so he could start reading it. The lead negotiator took the mysterious paper from the hand of the gallant police man. In silence, the big crowd waited to find out what was written on it. After he got the paper, the negotiator started reading it quietly, 'hamburgers, fried chickens, noodles, dumplings, spaghetti, cake, soft drinks, mango shakes, French fries, chocolates, lollipops, candies, bubble gums, milky and fruity crushed ice, and rubber bands.' Afterwards he went on reading the message of the hostage-taker at the back of the same small piece of paper. 'Brad, these children don't know that they are my hostages, they are under the impression that we're having a small party and a movie shooting. Compose yourselves and don't be too obvious, just immediately buy everything that these children are asking, if not, we all know what's going to happen to them, clear!'

                                                         Chapter 20

          "Hurry up, take this paper, and buy everything that is listed in it and start calling media men. We're going to make it appear that we're just having a shooting. Hurry up while the children are still unaware that they're hostages!" the serious command of the worried negotiator in Burlington Socks.

           Immediately, the two police men, who were both wearing Ray Ban Sunglasses, left the place. The remaining police men started calling media men on their Samsung Cell phones. The big crowd stood in silence, watching every move of the gallant policemen. What everyone wasn't aware of, the hostage-taker didn't really have any plan to settle with the negotiator. All he wanted was to face and kill the mayor who stole his wife. His wife left him for the rich mayor who could afford to give her all the wealth and comforts in life that she wanted so much. The mayor gave her a new Toyota car and a Penthouse. His wife loves money and wealth more than anything in this world and she had no qualms leaving her husband and only daughter behind. This bad woman hadn't been home to her house near LBC for a long time. All those times she was having the time of her life together with her very rich mayor who lived in a big mansion. Since then, the hostage-taker became lonelier and lonelier. He stopped working; he no longer spoke to anyone and refused to talk anyone even to his own family. He stayed in their house all day crying, once in a while, and longing to see his beloved wife. He had even forsaken his own daughter, he no longer took her to her favorite Fast food Branch, Jollibee, like he used to before. The girl, at her early age, was forced to work on her own at the street fronting Mercury Drug, just so they both could eat endangering her life instead of focusing on her studies at school. One day the poor girl went home empty-handed and the two of them didn't have anything to eat. The young girl was so hungry, both of them didn't have any money to buy food. The poor girl in Islander Slippers decided to ask around their neighborhood if they are aware of her mother's whereabouts. She wanted to see her to ask money to buy food for her and her lonesome father. When a sympathetic neighbor, had told her about the current address of her mother, she immediately went there to beg for her mercy.  And when the hostage-taker learned about it, worried, he immediately followed his daughter riding a jeep. Near the big house of the mayor, he saw his daughter being driven away by the heartless mayor.

          "I just want to see and talk to my mother sir... she hasn't been home for a long time. My father had become sickly and lonely, so please tell her to go back to us. Dad and I are really hungry; we don't have money to buy us food. Have mercy on us sir... please let me see my mother..." in tears the poor girl begged.

          But the mayor didn't listen and drove her away once again. And when she refused to leave, he hurriedly called out his men who immediately grabbed the poor girl and took her into their black car. The hostage taker could hear the loud scream of his daughter inside the car. He immediately ran towards them but the car was too fast for him. He chased and chased after the speeding black car until he could no longer see it. The following day he heard of a sad report about the body of a young girl. He hurried towards the bridge and saw his dying daughter inside the responding police ambulance. He ran towards her and held her in his arms. 

           With sorrowful eyes, she looked at her father and said. "I love you dad, I'm hungry... I'm so tired dad... I'm sleepy, I'm sleeping now dad..." The poor girl died in his arms. He even saw the mayor looking at them acting like he never did anything. Blinded with tears, he held his lifeless daughter tighter in his arms. He screamed and screamed and in just a short while, ran like a madman away from the place. He was then confined at a mental hospital for a long time but when he slightly recovered, the hospital staffs loosened their watch on him. Even if he was at the mental hospital for a long time, the memory and the manner of the death of his daughter was still clear in his recovering mind. And when the staffs weren't watching, he immediately escaped the hospital to exact his revenge on the mayor. He planned of making the abusive mayor pay for his sins. His heart was filled with rage and hatred. He wanted vengeance and he thought of a plan of staging a hostage to force the mayor to face him. He would kill him immediately the moment he sees him. He had no plans of negotiating with the negotiator. He would just kill an abusive mayor, that and only that was his plan.

                                                       Chapter 21

          More people continued pouring in; some of them brought Rebisco Biscuits. Shortly, one by one a large number of media men arrived. Carefully, they started setting up their Sony Cameras so they could get the best video coverage. Simultaneously, they started reporting to their mother TV networks to broadcast all the developments in the said hostage-taking on an area the lead negotiator allowed them. 

        "Let's stage the pretend movie now. Who would like to lend us their Sony Cameras so we could start the shooting? Who wants to be the actors? Raise your hands."

           Immediately several by standers raised their hands, most of them were wearing Swatch Watches. The negotiator chose three lovely young ladies, the two were wearing Bench Perfume, and three dashing young men who used Master Facial Wash. "Okay, I believe you can all do this without any scripts, just make your own dialogues. I'll trust you on this okay. Just remember the lives of the innocent children lies in our hands."

          Instantly, some of the chosen performers had second thoughts but still in their desire to help the innocent hostages continued with the act. 

          "Go nearer the school service so the children could have a closer view," commanded the lead negotiator as the young children started opening the small curtains that were covering the whole service vehicle. The crowd could see the excitements in their little faces, they were so eager to watch the movie shoot the hostage-taker had promised them. Immediately one of the policemen brought the Sony Camera that he borrowed near the front of the big vehicle, he even waved to the excited children on it. Consequently, the chosen performers of the movie shoot immediately followed. They weren't sure what they were going to do. They just paired up among each other. Three couples of young men and women were agreed upon. 

          Immediately, one the young ladies cried and said, "You don't love me anymore. When you were still courting me, you used to bring me flowers and a bagful of Hershey's chocolates. And you used to call me every day. But now you don't call and worst you don't visit me anymore, you're probably visiting another girl and giving her all the flowers and Hershey's Chocolates that you used to give me."

          "I was just too busy this past few weeks with my work my love. And there's no other girl in this world that I would give flowers and chocolates. You're the only girl in my heart, I swear so please stop crying now."

          But she didn't listen to him and continued crying. The young children didn't seem to like the scene and the negotiator made a suggestion to the chosen actors. "The children didn't seem to like it. Perform acts for little children, something jolly okay!"

          In turn, the young men acted out a fight scene; they punched and kicked each other. They staged a great fight scene from a movie they all saw before. The fight scene was so great and so impressive, the young children started clapping. Noticing the reactions, the girls followed and staged a great fight scene among them. They also punched and kicked each other. The children were also impressed by the girls doing karate in front of them. The children alternated looking at the fight scenes of the young men and the young ladies in front of the big school service vehicle. Shortly after, the crowd saw the hostage-taker signaling to stop the make believe movie shoot, he thought the children were all convinced that there was indeed a movie shoot. Gracefully, the performers vowed facing the young hostages. Consequently, the young children, one by one, started closing the small curtains of the big vehicle. Immediately the crowd around it quieted, waiting for the next developments. The media men continued their respective news coverage. In just a short while, the food that the hostage-taker asked for the children came, even the rubber bands, cards, and spiders were brought. Shortly, the hostage-taker, from the window he was peeping, signaled to bring inside the big vehicle all the food and drinks and so the children could start their pretend party. Carefully, a few police men immediately approached it carrying all their purchases. Gradually, the big vehicle's door opened up. The police men were unaware of the exact location, within the bus, of the hostage-taker, for the door was just slightly opened. With their hands raised up, the police men behind the men bringing the food looked out. Without entering the big vehicle, the front men carefully placed all the food they were carrying inside it. Their hands went through the small opening, and carefully placed all the food inside. They were too careful not to upset the hostage-taker, fearing that he might do something crazy to the young and innocent hostages. And after they were done, the big vehicle immediately closed. Just right after the door was closed; the crowd immediately saw another piece of paper fell from it. Abruptly, one of the police earlier walked back and picked the new small paper and gave it to the lead negotiator who immediately read it quietly.

           'We're going to start with the party, and I am partying with the children I want you to call Mayor Donato and tell him that I am asking for a small amount of money for my new business and a scholarship for my young daughter. And I'm also asking from him the ownership of the small land where my small house is standing, everyone knows that he owns it. We'll party for about thirty minutes and after our party make sure that my idol mayor is already here or else I'll start killing my hostages.'    

           Immediately, the negotiator asked one of his men to fetch Mayor Donato knowing that the place was near them. Everyone remained in silence, trying to sense how the children's party with the lone hostage-taker was. The concerned and worried parents of the young hostages started coming in. Many of them couldn't stop themselves from crying worrying on the safety of their respective children. Some were slightly mad, growing so impatient and questioning their plans on how they are going to go about with the rescue of their beloved children.

          "Sir, are you really sure that the police man you asked to fetch Mayor Donato is still coming back, what if something tragic is already happening to my child inside!" the hesitant question of the mother talking to the lead negotiator.

          "Don't worry Ma'am, we are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of all the children, I'm sure my men who I ordered to fetch Mayor Donato are returning soon. Besides, I had already talked to Mayor Donato earlier on my cell phone and he promised that he would immediately come to help us with the negotiations," answered the negotiator as he tried to pacify the worried parents.

          "Just make sure that that mayor is really coming. If anything bad happens to my only child, I'm holding you all fully responsible, do you understand!" the enraged father of one of the young hostages warned the lead negotiator.

          "Yes sir, just relax, I'm definite Mayor Donato is coming over shortly, excuse me but I still have to follow up my call once more," he answered and turned his back, walking away from the angered father of one of the hostages.

                                                           Chapter 22

          "Children, look all the food that that you had asked me is already here, so now let's start the party!" pleasantly, the lone hostage-taker announced.

          "Yeheey it's party time!" one excited child shouted.

          "Who among you ordered Jollibee Spaghetti?" immediately the hostage-taker asked.

          "Me sir!" answered the young child at the back of the big vehicle.

          "Me too, I ordered that too."

          "Me too, I had also asked for that!"

          "Yeah right, all of you asked for Jollibee fried chickens and spaghetti. Just wait on your seats and I'm giving you all," laughing a little, the hostage-taker stated.

          "Wow this is so tasty, my Jollibee Fried Chicken is so crunchy!" immediately the small boy in Hanes T-shirt said.

          "My, this is really how I want my spaghetti, a little sweet, this is so delicious!" said the young girl carrying her Hello Kitty Stuff Toy and near the hostage-taker.

          "Okay, there, I've already given you all, is it fun children?" smiling, the hostage taker asked.

          "Thank you really, Mister. You're so kind and so rich!" butted in by one of the children as he chewed the tasty Jollibee Fried Chicken.

          "Yes, I'm really rich, just eat and eat, and if you want another serving, just tell me okay. We still have lots of mango shakes here," his immediate answer looking constantly on his Swatch Watch.

          "Do you have an appointment sir, I notice you've been looking on your watch quite often?" noticed one child.

          "No, this Omega Watch I'm wearing is just new and looking at it amuses me," his fast answer.

          "I suppose your watch is really expensive sir, isn't it?"

          "Probably, the one guarding me before was rich, I borrowed it from him but I'm returning it soon; besides, I for myself have lots of expensive watches too."

          "Someone was guarding you sir?"

          "Yes, rich men like me, have many bodyguards."

          "Maybe, you're house is really big, isn't it?"

          "Yes of course, it is really big, and we have lots of rooms too, more than one hundred."

          "Wow, you just have too many rooms, to think that we have only one room in our house. I suppose, there are many of you living in that house."

          "Yes, there are so many of us in there, and we have many employees too, more than fifty and all in uniforms, even I and my companions in that big house have uniforms too," the amused answer of the hostage-taker.

          "Wow, that's too many employees." 

          "Okay children; just continue eating your food. Why don't you try eating the halo-halo this time, those are really tasty and the ice cream on top is delicious too," once more, the slightly impatient hostage-taker stated.

          "This Chowking Fast Food’s milky and fruity crushed ice is really tasty, this is the one that my mom and dad usually buy me every time we go out," said the boy in Converse Shoes.

          "These Jollibee French Fries is really tasty, I'll ask mom and dad to buy me once again tomorrow," said the child who drank milk mixed with Milo that morning.

          "Wow we really have Chowking Dumplings and spaghetti. In our house we always eat this, these are also the favorite of my brothers specially my handsome uncle," added the boy who keeps on eating Presto Ice Cream during snacks at school.

          "What a waste... we forgot to ask for Pringles, it's okay at least we didn't forget to order Jollibee Hamburger, Jollibee Hamburger is really delicious specially when paired with Coke," said one child carrying a Sony PSP and had Lego Toys in their Camella Homes.

          "In our parties at home Coke is always the star," added one child in Swatch Watch.

          "Huh, even in our parties at home Coke is always the star," commented one boy whose bag was filled with Fibisco Biscuits.

          "You two really, in any parties you go Coke is always the star!" laughingly, answered the boy whose teeth was so white because of Colgate Toothpaste.

          The hostage-taker looked down on his Omega Watch and  turned around for a moment writing something on a small piece of paper.

          "Just keep on eating children, we still have a lot here!" stated the uneasy hostage-taker as he tried to drop the new small piece of paper.

          "Mister, by the way, where is our usual school service driver, huh?" asked one child who liked Oreo paired with Bear Brand Milk every morning and near the hostage-taker.

          "Huh, his daughter got sick, so he requested me to replace him in the mean time. And his daughter is now recuperating for he had already bought her enough medicine at Mercury Drug. He really wanted your excursion to push through and he said he like all of you because you're all nice kids," the fast answer of the now impatient hostage-taker and finally dropped the small piece of paper with his new message outside the big vehicle.

                                                          Chapter 23

          "Sir, there's another piece of paper that fell from the big vehicle!" the loud shout of one curious by stander.

          One policeman immediately ran to get it. When he got near, as manly as he could, he carefully looked towards the big vehicle trying to spot the exact location of the hostage-taker from where he was standing. He   bent down picking it up and hurriedly ran back to the lead negotiator handing it to him. Immediately, the negotiator read. "Brad, you still have three minutes left, if not, you already know what's going to happen to these children. I'm killing them two at a time!"

          The entire Football Field turned silent. They all worried for the safety of the young hostages inside the curtain covered big vehicle. The lead negotiator kept looking around waiting for the police man he had ordered to fetch Mayor Donato earlier. Suddenly, the curious male and female by standers saw Mayor Donato who just arrived.

          "Sir Mayor Donato is already here," stated one of the policemen.

          Hurriedly, the negotiator ran to meet the mayor who had just arrived.

          "It's good you have already arrived Mayor Donato, I'm worried our hostage-taker is getting more impatient and irritated by the minute," confessed the lead negotiator. "Mayor, I'll order some of my police men to accompany you, you might need help and protection, just in case," offered by the concerned negotiator.

          "I'm taking care of everything, don't you worry I can easily handle this. Okay, just stay here and wait for a short while and I'm definite, those kids will be jumping out of the vehicle, one by one, like nothing bad happened to them," he added and immediately walked towards it.

                                                       Chapter 24

          Right after the mayor got near the big vehicle, the door immediately opened. He looked back to the large crowd waving at them and carefully peeped inside the big vehicle.     

         "Brad, I'm coming in okay, let's talk. As we all know, all problems are solved through a good conversation," he spoke and started climbing inside the big vehicle. When he got in, the hostage-taker immediately meet him in his big sombrero hat covering his face looking down the floor. The mayor cordially smiled at the hostage-taker looking at him. And immediately, the hostage-taker smiled back at the mayor whose face was still partly concealed by the sombrero he was wearing. The mayor glanced carefully first at the young children as they continued eating the tasty food that was prepared for them.

          "How may I help you, just tell me and if it is within my means, I'll immediately give it to you, just release those innocent young children..." carrying the sandwiches, he softly whispered and asked the hostage-taker for the mayor didn't want the children to know they were all being hostage inside the big vehicle. Slowly, the hostage-taker removed the sombrero hat off his head.

          "You!" uttered the extremely stunned mayor.

          "Yes, it’s me!" and the big fist of the hostage-taker flew instantly towards the mayor's jaw knocking him out to the floor inside the big vehicle.

          The young children cried and screamed at the unexpected commotion right in front of them. They cried and cried looking at the unconscious mayor and at the sudden change of the hostage-takers facial expression. They all panicked. The hostage-taker looked down carefully on the unconscious mayor. The cries and screams of the young children became louder and louder. Suddenly, the lone hostage-taker started laughing hard. He laughed and laughed loudly looking down on the mayor. Once again, his lunacy resurfaced. He turned around and faced the crying and screaming young hostages.   

           "Keep quiet, my daughter is sleeping, psst... silence you might disturb my sleeping daughter..." he whispered to the crying children.

           But the young children's cries and screams continually grew louder inside the big vehicle. "What, didn't I tell you to keep quiet, quiet my daughter is sleeping!" he ordered and saw a baseball bat of one of the young hostages resting against the back of the driver's seat. He immediately grabbed it and started hitting hard, aimlessly, around the driver's seat damaging and disabling the door's control. The young children cried and screamed even harder.

                                                    Chapter 25

           Parked on the side of the road after he had delivered a big TV and Refrigerator, Xandro heard the news of the said hostage-taking from the radio inside his Delivery Van.  And from where he was sitting, he shouted, "Xander!" immediately his short mustache and beard vanished; his short crew cut hair grew longer covering his ears slightly. He flew out of the Delivery Van. He flew high and extremely fast.  And in just a short while, he was already at a high part of the sky looking down on the large crowd surrounding the big yellow school service vehicle in a big Football Field. He noticed the crowd was in chaos. The police men earlier started feeling more uneasy by the minute for they didn't know what to do hearing the sudden loud cries and screams of the innocent hostages coming from inside the big vehicle, suspecting that Mayor Donato had failed and the hostage-taker was already harming the young hostages. They couldn't see what was happening inside the big vehicle, the small white curtains still covered the whole vehicle. Xander flew slightly nearer towards it and immediately, the crowd of curious male and female by standers saw the superhero flying in the sky.

          "It's Super Xander! It's Super Xander!" abruptly, the big crowd and the policemen started clapping and cheering at Xander looking up at him. And afterwards they immediately turned quiet not wanting to disrupt whatever Xander was planning. They felt a sudden surge of hope as they saw Xander carefully eyeing the big vehicle. Instantly, they rose up their cell phones and started taking pictures and videos of Xander up in the sky with their cameras. 

         The curious male and female by standers stood still and as quiet as they could, look up and anticipating his every move. Xander flew nearer and nearer the big vehicle. While he was floating in the sky near it, Xander wondered how he was going to handle the situation knowing that lives of the innocent young hostages were in great danger in the hands of the lone hostage-taker. A few moments had passed but Xander still couldn't think of a good plan. So he tried to relax himself thinking that it would help him think better. He took a deep breath with his two arms relaxed on his sides, he opened his palms, facing forward, hard and strong. But instead of the golden rope, a blue ray of light appeared and went shooting out from the middle and upper part of his chest. Surprised, Xander looked carefully at it while it was moving up in the sky as if it was alive and looking like a whip. In just a short while the moving blue light suddenly straightened and headed to the back and middle part of the big vehicle, instantly hitting the roof of the big vehicle. Rapidly, the blue light created a small hole at the roof of the big vehicle. And it did not emit smoke and a sound. Suddenly, the blue light vanished and the thin golden rope appeared and shoots out from the upper and middle part of Xander's chest replacing it and swiftly heading towards it. It immediately went through the small hole that the blue light created earlier. And right after the rope got through inside the big vehicle, Xander's eyes involuntarily closed while he was floating in the sky near the big school service vehicle. And he was stunned with what happened next, he could now see clearly what was happening inside the big vehicle. He saw the pitiful young hostages crying loudly on their seats. The thin golden rope continued moving inside the big school service vehicle, and surprisingly the children and the hostage-taker didn't even notice it inside for the rope imitated the white paint of the roof camouflaging it. Slowly, the rope inched its way going to the middle part of the roof of the big vehicle. From outside the big vehicle and above the sky, Xander saw the uneasy and irritated lone hostage-taker. He carefully calculated his next moves, not wanting to commit any mistakes knowing that the lives of the innocent hostages, who were crying for a long time, were in his hands. Once again the cries of the young hostages grew louder and the hostage-taker became more furious than ever. With the baseball bat in his hands, he reacted on the loud cries, he turned around away from them hitting aimlessly around and near the driver's seat. Slightly, the thin rope moved some more forward near the furious hostage-taker. Suddenly, he turned around and looked down on the unconscious mayor. 

          "You killed my daughter, and in revenge, I'm killing your child too!" his loud shout looking furiously at the unconscious Mayor Donato. He turned around from the mayor and walked furiously towards the crying and screaming hostages and immediately pulled a young boy from his seat mistakenly believing that he was Mayor Donato's child. Madly, he dragged the crying and screaming boy towards the unconscious Mayor Donato. "Now, you will know how painful it was to see my beloved child died in my arms!" shouted the mad hostage-taker as the child tried hard to free himself from him, crying. He immediately pushed the boy on top of the unconscious Mayor Donato. From outside the big vehicle up in the sky, Xander clearly saw the hostage taker and realized his intention to harm the crying young child near him. Xander wasted no time, and made his camouflaged rope moved forward circling around the hostage-takers body. Tightening his grip, Xander pulled back the hostage-taker from his waist dragging him backwards. The hostage-taker was dragged towards the middle part of the big vehicle. The children watched everything that was happening inside the big vehicle. Once again, the hostage-taker tried to reach for the baseball bat on the floor near him with his left hand. Seeing it from above, Xander pulled him farther backwards and tightened the rope's grip tying up the hostage-takers two arms. Furiously, the hostage-taker tried to free him from the camouflaged rope. But the rope was just too tight around him. Slowly, the hostage-taker got tired trying to free him from the thin golden rope.

           "Psst... quiet my daughter and I am going to sleep. Quiet... quiet..." he said looking at the young children with his sleepy tired eyes. Finally, the hostage-taker fall asleep and some of the children started cheering a little, not knowing though who just saved them from above the big service vehicle.

                                                         Chapter 26

          The big crowd outside the big vehicle still wasn't aware of what just happened inside. Xander, through his thin golden rope, then tried pushing on the button controlling the door of the big vehicle to open it. But because the hostage-taker had damaged and disabled it with the baseball bat, Xander wasn't able to open the vehicle's door from inside it. Up in the sky, as the clueless crowd continually watched, Xander took a deep breath; the golden rope shortened and returned hiding inside his chest. Afterwards, he swiftly flew down going to the side of the big vehicle and right after he landed on the ground in front of it, he immediately opened the closed vehicle's door with his strong hands. And easily, Xander succeeded in opening the door of the big vehicle and immediately went in looking at the young children inside it.

          "Children, you're all safe now, you're all free to leave," stated the pleasantly smiling Xander looking at them. Slowly, and one by one, the young children started approaching Xander as he stood inside near the open vehicle's door. Immediately, one cute little girl walked towards Xander and embraced him kissing him on his right cheek. Amused, Xander in return hugged the cute little girl and carried her in his right arm. With the little girl in his arms, Xander walked back towards the open vehicle's door. The curious male and female by standers' hearts exploded with joy when they saw Xander stepped out of the big school service vehicle carrying the cutest and smiling little girl in his right arm. The other young children followed soon and, one by one, started jumping out of the big vehicle's door. Immediately, the jubilant parents of the rescued young hostages ran to meet their beloved children jumped out of the vehicle all shouting their heartfelt gratitude to Xander for his quick and successful rescue of their young children.

          And in the midst of their jubilation, one curious by stander suddenly screamed aloud, "Airplane! An airplane is going to fall on us!" The big crowd in the big Football Field was stunned; a big airplane was plunging down going to the ground where they were all standing. It was plunging down to their direction rapidly. Xander looked up and saw the rapid plunge of the big airplane. Xander wasted no time, and as fast as he could, he flew upwards meeting the big airplane and when it got near him he immediately caught it lifting from under and middle part of it. With the big airplane still on his hands in the sky, slowly and carefully Xander started flying down to land it on the ground when suddenly another horrified curious by stander shouted, "Airplane! An airplane is going to fall on us!" Xander saw the second airplane rapidly plunging down towards the big crowd. Up in the sky, Xander released the first airplane he was carrying. With his arms relaxed on his sides, he opened his palms, facing forward, hard and strong, the golden rope went shooting out of his chest and immediately chased the then falling first airplane tying it to a tight grip lifting it easily in the sky. Xander flew faster upwards and wonderfully caught the second airplane that was rapidly plunging down. Xander was lifting the second airplane with his two strong hands from under and middle part of it while the golden rope easily balanced and lifted the first airplane. The two airplanes were successively attacked by a large group of birds that came from far away countries migrating to the Philippines to avoid the cold winter and to find food. Carefully and slowly, Xander flew down, carrying the two extremely big and heavy airplanes, towards the big Football Field. The thin golden rope first landed the first airplane and shortly after Xander descended landing the second. From their early astonishment, the large crowd amusingly stared at the big yellow school service vehicle and the two airplanes lined up in the middle of the big Football Field.

             "Super Xander is just incredibly strong... It was so fortunate for all of us here that Super Xander caught the two airplanes; otherwise, we're all gone by now..." the soft whisper of one grateful by stander. Instantly, the large crowd of the jubilant male and female by standers started clapping and cheering, even the negotiator and his police men clapped and cheered too as the rescued airplane passengers, who were screaming in panic inside the two planes earlier, started climbing down the planes' stairs, all running to get a closer look at Xander, the superhero who rescued them from their fall. Immediately the media men started covering, focusing their cameras on Xander's every move and on his face. Some of the media men hurried to the two airplanes and the big vehicle. Right before them was the still unconscious mayor and not far from him the hostage-taker. Immediately, the policemen climbed up to get the body of who they thought was already dead mayor and the sleeping lone hostage-taker. Simultaneously, the policemen started to carry the two bodies lying on the vehicle's floor. And simultaneously the two bodies started waking up. And simultaneously, the two stared at each other’s eyes. The mayor raised his right fist in fury. And the lunatic laughed hard at the mayor. The policemen then escorted the two down the big vehicle. On the ground the two stood near and looking at each other. Suddenly, the mayor tried to punch the lunatic. Fortunately, a quick policeman was fast enough to hold his wrist, twitching it behind him. The crowd was amused at the scene. Suddenly three new kids arrived and approached the mayor and the lunatic.

            "Hey, I remember the two of you, you're the father of that poor unconscious girl who this man, together with his goons, left at the bridge one afternoon while we were scavenging near it," the young man suddenly and loudly stated.

           "You're lying!" the mayor shouted at the young man.

           "No he's not, we saw you too!" the other two scavengers shouted in unison and staring at the furious mayor. The crowd was so happy thinking that the statements of the scavengers could finally put Mayor Donato in jail and pay for his atrocities. Some of the by standers thought that scavenging is a dangerous occupation for anyone.

          Immediately, the policemen invited the mayor to their police precinct to the delight of the large crowd of curious male and female by standers. The Mental Hospital male staffs, that had just arrived, immediately fitted the hostage-taker their sturdy white clothes for lunatics, so he could no longer hurt anyone or himself and hurriedly escorted him towards their vehicle. After they got him inside, they immediately drove him back to the Mental Hospital he had escaped from to receive proper treatment, medication and rehabilitation.

          The reporters continued covering, they all tried to capture in their cameras all that was happening in the big Football Field and simultaneously reported back to their respective TV Stations. And once again the large crowd of curious male and female by standers raised their cell phones and took pictures and videos of Xander as he walked magnificently in the big Football Field. The reporters, together with their respective cameramen, started pulling and inviting the young children and the airplane passengers for an interview. Immediately the smiling lead negotiator approached and shook the hand of Xander congratulating him. Immediately the excited crowd and the many reporters took pictures of the lead negotiator smiling and shaking the hand of Xander. Xander just smiled at the crowd as they took their pictures and videos.

       

                                                       Chapter 27

                  Xander was just about to fly when suddenly Veronica came and shouted, "Super Xander! Super Xander! Can I have my pictures taken with you too? Please....!"

          And out of respect for Veronica, Xander decided to stay a little longer in the big Football Field.  Overjoyed that he agreed, Veronica immediately hugged Xander and after she finally released him from her stars truck hug, "Go ahead take our pictures!" excitedly she ordered one of her Salesladies. 

           Immediately Xander obliged, gently placing his right arm around Veronica's shoulder. "Okay, there you are," the Saleslady said after taking the picture Veronica asked.

          "Can I have just one last picture Super Xander, and this time with all my employees," the last request of Veronica. Once again Xander granted Veronica's request and smiled. Althea, who had just arrived, stared at the man beside Veronica. She was immediately stunned realizing who Super Xander was. 

          Super Xander is Xando... Super Xander is Xando... she repeated in her mind. Althea was extremely confused at everything that she was feeling at that moment. One part of her was telling her to run towards Xander and embrace him tightly. But no matter how great the love she was feeling for him, the memory of that night kept flashing back. The thought of Xander's face with the horrible fangs, made her tremble a little in broad daylight. And instead of approaching and hugging him, she slowly turned her back and started walking away.

          "Hey, where are you going Lynette? Come here let's have our pictures taken with Super Xander," Veronica's fast call to Althea. But she ignored her and didn't even look back heading towards the Appliance Center with her head bent down.

          Xander saw Althea's reactions seeing him. He couldn't hide the sadness he was feeling. With a heavy heart, Xander flew upwards and away from the crowd. He flew as fast as he could, trying so hard to vanish from his mind the fear that he saw on Althea's eyes. And after a moment he decided to go back to the Delivery Van flying slowly through. He sat and shouted, "Xander!" his short mustache and beard returned and his hair shortened. He sat inside the Delivery Van a little longer and looked blankly in front still thinking about the girl he loved the most.

          When Veronica had gone back to her Appliance Center, she immediately saw and realized how sad Althea was. Concerned, Veronica talked to her but the later just smiled a little and looked far away.

          Still concerned, Veronica quickly showed Lynette her pictures with Xander. Lynette felt happy when she saw Xando, who she already knew was Super Xander, in the picture. Veronica's excitement while she was showing Lynette her pictures rubbed off on her making her able to finally laugh and looked happier.

          "At last you could laugh now, I was a little worried when you ignored me back at the Football Field," relieved, Veronica said.

          "Hey Xandro, where have you been, you could have joined us at our photo shoot at the Football Field if you came earlier. Wait, it's only you and Lynette who have no new pictures..." Veronica noticed.

          Xandro looked intently on Lynette's face and noticed her smiling a little.

          Xandro felt good that Lynette looked happy once again making him able to smile too.

          Immediately Veronica pulled Xandro and made him stood beside Lynette. “Why don't you put your right arm around Lynette's shoulder, Xandro? You two look good together, you're both very beautiful and handsome."

          Suddenly Lynette and Xandro stared into each other’s eyes. Xandro just smiled and immediately placed his arm around Lynette. And immediately, Veronica took their pictures.

          "You really Veronica, you come up with lots of ideas, I'm feeling a little embarrassed to Xandro now," Lynette stated and laughing a little,

         "No don't say that, the truth is, I also wanted to have a picture with you Ma'am Lynette," smiling, Xandro admitted.

          "Okay, back to work..." Veronica ordered everyone and so everyone went back to their respective posts.

                                                          Chapter 29

          A few days later, Xandro was sitting on the expensive sofa and waiting for new customers. While one of the Salesladies was busy entertaining a customer, he noticed Lynette stood up from her table and walked towards the water dispenser on one corner of Veron Appliance Center. He was so captivated by her beauty, helplessly he stood up from where he was sitting and walked towards her. Her back was turned to him as she was getting Nature's Spring Mineral Water. Xandro walked some more and nearer her and in a few steps he was standing just a few inches behind her. Slowly Xandro smelled the fragrant Bench Cologne she was wearing and immediately felt something. Xandro felt a sudden urge to kiss Lynette. Knowing what's going to happen to him next, Xandro hurriedly tried to control himself. He tried and tried but still his two fangs started growing, until they finally came out. "Hey Xandro, I didn't know you're there, are you thirsty too?" smiling and looking at his face, she asked Xandro.

          Xandro couldn't bring himself to answer Lynette. And as hard as he could, he kept his mouth tightly closed worrying that she would see his two fangs.

          "Hey why aren't you answering me Xandro?" Lynette asked the nervous looking Xandro and laughed.

          Xandro stared at Lynette's beautiful face laughing at him and slowly her laughter rubbed off on him. He laughed back at her with his mouth still closed and immediately felt his fangs growing shorter until it was finally gone. 

          "Hey, are you getting water or not?" she asked once again still laughing a little.

          "Yeah, yeah, I'm feeling thirsty too..." Xandro quickly answered laughing a little. Good I laughed; otherwise I'll be in deep trouble...

          "Hey, what are you two doing over there? Come, I'm buying food for all of us in the store," the statement of Veronica as she repeatedly looked back and glanced at the main door like she was expecting someone.

          "I can buy it for you Ma'am Veronica; besides, I'm not really doing anything at the moment," offered Xandro who also started looking towards the main door because of Veronica.

          "Okay, buy some Jollibee hamburgers, Greenwich Pizza, Coke and also buy some ice cream if there's still money left. Spend all these money so everyone including the Salesladies and our Guard could also eat. After Veronica had handed her money to him, Xandro immediately left. Outside, he walked fast going to Greenwich and immediately ordered. And then he continued to Jollibee and bought a lot of Jollibee Hamburgers and soft drinks, Coca-Cola. While he was on his way back to the Appliance Center, Xandro passed by National Bookstore and saw a good number of students buying books inside. He remembered buying a book on that particular branch when he was still a young student himself. Xandro walked faster going back to the Appliance Center. He bought Presto Ice Cream because the change was still enough to buy some. He used to buy a lot of Presto Ice Creams before because it was just cheap but tasty all the same. When he got outside the Appliance Center, he saw Lynette talking to a tall man. Xandro looked more intently and realized that the two were quarreling about something. Concerned, Xandro went inside and hurriedly placed on the vacant sofa all his purchases and saw the man harshly pulled Lynette's hand. Immediately Xandro rushed to help Lynette, twisting the tall man's arm behind his own back and held his other hand pinning it to his side. Immediately the tall man calmed down feeling the incomparable strength of Xandro. Sensing it, Xandro released the man.

          "We have nothing to talk about Robert, so please just leave. By the way this is Xando my boyfriend," Lynette introduced Xandro to Robert.

          Sizing him up, Robert looked Xandro from head to foot. Calmly, Xandro moved and stood beside Lynette putting his arm around her shoulder, smiling at her and stared back at Robert in front of him.

          "Ah... so this is Xando," he said belittling him with his stare, "the poor boy in the old train station."

          "Hey, don't you dare act that way in front of me. Who do you think you are to look down on anyone so easily," Veronica's quick defense of Xandro.

          "Stop meddling, this is none of your business and you're definitely not a part of our conversation!" furiously, Robert warned Veronica staring at her.

          "Hey what are you saying, he's one my employees and as his boss it's my duty to protect them while inside my store. You, you're not my friend and you're not even a customer of my store. You better get out of here before I ask someone, much, much stronger than you and you know who, to drag you out!" loudly, Veronica warned and commanded Robert.

          "Don't you think you're place is rather small to throw out someone like me!" was Robert's sarcastic remark.

          "Fine, if that's what you think. But at least this small place, this small business is listed under my name; whereas yours is under your parents'!" was Veronica's quick retaliation on Robert's sarcasm and insults.

          "Please Robert just leave us, I'm about to get married with Xando and there's nothing you can do," stated Lynette.

          "That is so right and I'm the Godmother just so you know," smirking, Veronica added.

          "What did you just say, you're actually marrying this man, we'll see what happens when your grandparents hear of this," Robert answered.

          "Fine, go ahead and draft your report. Why, don't you just face it, no one here likes you, not even me.

So shoo! Good bye!" Veronica butted in and laughed a little.

         "Brad, you heard it. Lynette had already accepted my proposal to marry her. Lynette loves me and not you, what can I do. Be brave, face the truth and learn how to accept defeat with class like a real rich man that you are," smiling slightly, Xandro stated looking straight at him.

          "Get out of here Robert," Lynette's firm commands.

          "We're not done yet Lynette; I'm not letting anyone have you other than myself!" Robert furiously assured Lynette, turned around and left Veron Appliance Center.

           "My goodness... he left at last," greatly relieved, Veronica simply said.

          "Ah... bye the way, thanks for helping me earlier Xandro," Lynette thanked Xandro.

          "That was nothing Ma'am Lynette," Xandro's fast answer. I love you so much, I won't let anyone hurt you... he whispered quietly to himself.

          "Ah... Xandro, is it okay if you ride along as my boyfriend once again just in case Robert shows up the next time," Lynette requested Xandro.

          "Yes Ma'am, I'm always here if you need my help..." Xandro answered looking at her.

          "We'll, I must say your acting, Lynette, Xandro, was quiet impressive. I was almost convinced that you two are in love with each other. Veronica then remembered the food that he had asked Xandro to buy earlier so she immediately called her Salesladies to gather on the sofa so they all could eat. 

          "My goodness this Jollibee Hamburger is just so delicious especially with this Coke I'm drinking now," said the Saleslady who was so thrilled with the foods and drinks in front of her.

          "We really wanted to help you send that man away. But we realized you were handling him so well so we just continued with our work," said one Saleslady to Veronica after she drank Coke.

          "I really like eating hamburgers and drinking Coke while I'm watching a beautiful movie," said the third Saleslady

          "We'll...  me too, I like eating burgers while watching a good movie," Veronica agreed.

          "Hey Xandro, join us eat the food you brought earlier," Lynette invited Xandro.

          "Thanks," Xandro answered Lynette smiling a little. He then sat beside Lynette.

          "It's good that you two are sitting beside each other Lynette, Xandro and so you'll get used to each other’s company. Maybe it could help convince Robert that you two indeed are in love with each other. Maybe, this way Robert would realize that he really has no chance on you Lynette and just find himself another girl," Veronica added once more. "Guard, you better eat now, I know you like Presto Ice Cream, and this is just too delicious."

          "That's true Ma'am Veronica I really like Presto Ice Creams!" the quick response of the guard standing from his post.

                                                        Chapter 30

          Lynette heard the loud and successive knocks outside her house and hurriedly walked towards the door. Right after she opened it, a man immediately came in and threatened her. "Come with us!" the unidentified man simply said.

          "Why would I go with you, I don't know you." Lynette refused hard.

          "Of course you don't; otherwise, they won't hire us to kidnap you," the man simply answered.

          "Kidnap, if it's just money, I'll give it to you myself. Just let me go!" she shouted at the man who started pulling her out of her house. "Let me go! Let me go!" Another man came in and helped drag Lynette towards her gate going into their get-away car.

          Veronica saw everything that was happening to Lynette from her heavily tinted car as she drove going to her house. Even before she got near Lynette's gate, the two unidentified men succeed in taking Lynette and immediately sped away from the place. Looking and tailing the speeding black car, Veronica immediately contacted the police with her cell phone and immediately after called Xandro. Xandro received Veronica's call while he was driving his Delivery Van on his way back after a delivery to a far away customer. Veronica told him on his cell phone that he cannot report to Veron Appliance Center because of Lynette's abduction. He even heard her cry in dismay when she finally lost the black car she was following and hang up. Xander hurriedly pulled over to the side of the road and parked. He shouted, "Xander!" He flew his fastest and immediately surveyed and searched the whole of Metro Manila looking for Lynette. He flew and flew, searched and searched but he just couldn't find Lynette, or the kidnapper’s hideout and decided to fly to Lynette's house hoping for anything that could help him find her. From the sky, Xander carefully watched Lynette's place and in just a short while, he noticed something on the ground inside her fence. He flew a little nearer and recognized Lynette's expensive bag, which she had dropped while she was being dragged by her abductors. From above, Xander immediately opened his palms, facing forward, hard and strong and the thin golden rope came shooting out heading towards the direction of the bag that Lynette had accidentally left. Xander tried to pick the bag with his golden rope, but right after it touched the ground, he was stunned. Xander heard noises, he was hearing so many and so much from everywhere, for a moment he thought he was going to go deaf, until slowly, Lynette's voice surfaced from somewhere.

          "Robert, are you the one who had me kidnapped, huh?" the furious question of Lynette to the approaching Robert.

          "I'm glad you still recognize me Lynette, I was under the impression that you had totally forgotten me because of that Xando. You really chose to marry him than me. Yes Lynette, I masterminded your abduction and it's your fault. I asked you nicely to reconcile with me, but you refused me just like that and right in front of that Xando!" Robert furiously ended.

          "What do you mean reconcile with you, are you making me laugh? When did we become a couple, huh? I never said yes to you, you just don't get it when a girl says no.  I don't like you and there's nothing you can do to change it. You don't deserve anyone; you're the most terrible person that I've ever met. You just suck-up too much on my grandparents so you could convince them to marry me to you," angrily Lynette answered.

          "You could talk all you want, but it doesn't really matter now. There's nothing you can do, the mayor who's going to marry us is on his way. It would be better if you just eat; just maybe you would realize that you would be better off with me than with that Xando of yours."

          "That's right, you better make Lynette eat all her favorite foods because this will be her last chance to taste all of it," laughing, Esmeralda intervened who had just arrived. "How are you my beautiful niece, are you surprised you see me here, huh?"

          "You're also one of those who had me abducted, Aunt Esmeralda?" in disbelief Lynette asked her aunt.

          "Yes, Lynette, definitely, but don't you worry because it’s not exactly our families money that I used to have you kidnapped. You know your excessively generous boyfriend Robert shouldered all the necessary expenses," laughing, Esmeralda confessed to Lynette. "So if I were you, you start praying now because this is certainly your last day in this world. You'll be dead moments from now. 

          "Wait a minute, what do you mean you're killing Lynette, Aunt Esmeralda. This was not a part of our original plan!" taken aback, Robert asked. "Our agreement was, you'll just help me find goons to take Lynette and push through with our marriage."

           "Yeah,  I told you that and because of your over excitement to marry Lynette, you immediately took my words for it," disdainfully, Esmeralda answered laughing a little. "Yes you are rich and you hold a high position in your family's business, only you're just too gullible."

          "Only, I'm not letting your hurt Lynette, don't worry Lynette, I'm going to protect you no matter what happens," the assurance of Robert to Lynette.

          "Really and how do you expect to do that huh, okay let me hear it," Esmeralda challenged Robert.

          "You would have to walk over my dead body first, before you can harm Lynette," the statement of Robert glancing at Lynette seemingly to impress her. "Okay men; arrest this woman and her husband Waldo, now!"

          But no one obeyed. Instead they went all laughing hysterically looking at him. "Hey, why aren't you following my orders? I'm the one paying all of you, I'm the boss and you're all here just to obey, am I clear!" Robert shouted aloud.

          But then again, they just laughed at him just like they did earlier.

          "You're too loud and noisy!" said the laughing Esmeralda. "Psst... come over here, would you please just punch this noisy man, goodness my ears is beginning to hurt because of his loud roar!"

          Immediately the man Esmeralda called approached and punched Robert hitting him in his face knocking him down. 

          "Tie him up and take him to another room," one of Esmeralda's goon quickly obeyed tying Robert with a rope and brought him to another room within the building.

         "What now Lynette, so you're next in line," the intimidation of Esmeralda as she approached Lynette who they tied on a chair.

                                                       Chapter 31 

          "How could you do this to me, you're my dad's sister, I'm your niece!" angrily Lynette asked Esmeralda.

          "Well, I must admit, your dad had always been good to me, even if I was an adopted daughter. Only, he learned that I was stealing in our family's businesses. I begged and asked for his forgiveness. And of course, he had immediately forgiven me but at the same time he also requested, commanded me to confess to dad and ask for his forgiveness. I knew very well how your grandfather is Lynette, I was very sure that he would never forgive me back then. And I was also certain that he would disown me then and threw me out back to the streets like a beggar. He never loved me, from the very start he never treated me like his real child. I don't want to experience poverty anymore Lynette, I knew how it was to live without anything to eat and shelter every day. And because of my fear of being thrown out of our house, I had your father abducted, thanks to my husband Waldo of course who was always willing to do everything that I asked of him. And if I wasn't lucky enough, it so happened that your mother was with your father on that day. And as easy as that I solved and ended my problems. The truth was I had long despised your mom back then. She was just new in our family, but mom and dad instantly treated her like a princess, while I was looked upon as a mere burden and another mouth to feed in their eyes. To some extent, I was also saddened by your dad's death, but with your mother, she just got what she deserved, well for her!" the long narration of Esmeralda at everything that occurred at that time.

          "So you're the one responsible for my being an orphan so early in life, you're the worst person in this world auntie! You're good for nothing, you don't deserved to be loved because your too selfish!" in tears Lynette berated Esmeralda.

          "Okay fine... I'm selfish; I'm the most selfish person in this room. What's more important now is, you'll finally be out of my way and your family's wealth will all be mine, right after I kill your beloved grandfather and grandmother. Lynette, they had returned to the Philippines, do you know that, huh?" confessed the hysterically laughing Esmeralda.

          "Have mercy on them auntie, grandma and grandpa are both old, please don't hurt them. Grandma had loved and taken good care of you, I had seen that, even just for her sake, auntie, please..." Lynette begged Esmeralda in tears.

          "Please stop now Lynette, I might just cry anytime," faking a tear, Esmeralda said. Immediately, Esmeralda called on one of her goons. "Okay, just silence this woman forever. I just want this done now immediately; this day is too exhausting, I still have two other old people to surprise!"

          Immediately, the goon who was called by Esmeralda approached Lynette. "She’s such a waste, do we really have to kill her Ma'am, she's just too beautiful," the hesitant question of the goon.

          "I don't think so, after she's gone, we'll be rich. Okay, do it now and we still have two others to take good care of today!" the fast command of Esmeralda.

          Suddenly, Esmeralda and Waldo, together with their goons, heard some commotion and loud noises from their other goons not far away. The group of Esmeralda immediately felt alarmed and apprehensive at what they just heard.

          Immediately Lynette felt a little relieved and hopeful, and silently thanked God deep in her heart.

          "Hurry up, find out what's happening out there, maybe the policemen had already discovered our hiding place. Run out and meet them, hurry up!" the fast and loud command of Waldo to their goons.

          Hurriedly, the men of Esmeralda and Waldo ran towards the place where the commotion and loud noises came from. Esmeralda, Waldo, and Lynette, together with the other ten goons, were left in the same area. "What are we going to do now Waldo?" the worried question of Esmeralda to her husband.

                                                       Chapter 32

          It was actually Xander who the men of Esmeralda were having trouble with and not the policemen that they had earlier thought. Earlier the beautiful ladies that the goons had partied and celebrated with ran off with all their expensive and modern weapons. And when they woke up all they got was their food, drinks and some gadgets. Xander stood, floating, before them. Hurriedly, the twenty goons grabbed anything they saw to protect themselves from Xander and lined up single file on the narrow aisle. The goon in front of the line, juggled the two large bowling balls on both his hands looking at Xander and said, "We'll see if you can handle these!" Immediately he aimed, and threw the two bowling balls on Xander. Xander just stood and waited looking at the two large balls rolling in the air towards him, but right when they were about to hit his body, the two heavy bowling balls immediately fell downward going to the ground as if there was an invisible shield protecting Xander's entire body. Xander just looked at the goon who stoned him with the two metal balls. Immediately he took some more heavy bowling balls and furiously threw all of them, one by one, towards Xander, but just like what happened earlier all the bowling balls fell on the ground.

          "You look tired treating me like a bowling pin, it's my turn to play this time around," Xander stated. Slightly floating, Xander opened his two palms, facing forward, fast and hard, immediately, the thin golden rope appeared and went shooting out from the middle and upper part of his chest and caught the first goon with it, tightly encircling him on the waist. The goon struggled hard to free himself from the golden rope but Xander simply whisked him towards the left of the narrow aisle. Xander then faced the second goon on the line. Immediately, the second goon aimed at Xander with his sharp Frisbee. He immediately released it towards Xander but when it was about to hit Xander's body the Frisbee fell on the ground, just like earlier. He threw and threw some more but it all went to the ground. Xander immediately caught him with the thin golden rope and whisked him to the right of the narrow aisle. Amused, Xander looked at the third goon on the line. He was holding in his two hands two unopened can of Coke. He wasted no time and simultaneously threw towards Xander the two cans of Coke but when it was about to hit him, the two cans dropped downward immediately catching them on top of Xander's shoes, balancing it easily by his invisible feet inside, one on each. Immediately Xander placed the two unopened cans of Coke on the side and said, "Let's not waste Coke, these are my favorites." The third goon tried to pick more cans of Coke, but Xander didn't let him pitying the unopened cans of Coke. Immediately he caught the third goon, with the thin golden rope, around his waist and whisked him to the left of the narrow aisle. Immediately, the fourth goon in the line pulled from both his pockets, fifty metal marbles, twenty five on each palm. and furiously threw all of them towards Xander but just like earlier, when they were about to hit Xander, all of them fell on the floor.  Xander, standing, flew immediately towards the fourth goon in the single file and kicked him on the chest and in turn the remaining seventeen goons in Ray ban Sunglasses, Hanes T-shirts, and Levi's Jeans fell on each other like falling dominoes. Immediately, the seventeen goons who fall like dominoes on each other stood up and fled running away from the building overwhelmed by Xander's display of incredible strength and powers. Xander flew the whole stretch of the narrow aisle and when he reached an open door, he went through it to look for Lynette.

          When Xander got through the open door, the goons that Esmeralda commanded to meet him immediately scattered around encircling him. Xander was standing and levitating in the middle of goons who all lifted large metal drums above their heads. One of the goons shouted, "Attack...!" and immediately and simultaneously they all aimed and threw the large metal drums towards Xander. It was raining twenty colorful large metal drums everywhere heading towards Xander. But just like earlier, just when the large drums was about to hit Xander, immediately they all fell towards the shiny red tiled floor. Xander simply laughed at the twenty goons. He then took a deep breath, with his arms relaxed on his sides, opened his two palms, facing forward, fast and hard, immediately the thin golden rope surfaced from the middle and upper part of his chest. Immediately, Xander aimed at the goon on his left, he hit him and fell on the floor. Then Xander hit the goon in front of him and the one on his right successively. The two fell on the red tiled floor. Overwhelmed by their great fear towards Xander, all the goons ran and fled away heading outside the big building and outside the large gate.

          Xander flew once more, much faster this time, and went through another open door in front of him. Right after he got in, he immediately saw Althea who was tied up sitting on a chair. Hurriedly, the twenty remaining goons met and confronted Xander. They lined up to stop Xander from rescuing Althea behind them. The twenty goons blocked Xander's way forming two lines of goons in groups of ten. "Kill him, kill that trying hard wannabe hero!" the fast and loud command of Esmeralda to her goons. The goons obeyed and encircled Xander. Immediately they all shouted and ran towards Xander in the middle standing on the white tiled floor and when they got near him in the middle, simultaneously they raised their right legs and kicked Xander in the middle of them. In just a second the ten goons shouted and held on their right knees in pain and scampered out of the building. Panicking, Esmeralda and Waldo raced against each other going to their waiting car.

          From where he was standing, Xander carefully assessed Althea's condition behind the remaining line of ten goons. Braver than the previous ten who fled away, they immediately scattered and surrounded Xander in the middle and noticing Althea's miserable condition, right after the goons made their first steps to attack him, he immediately rotated levitating in the middle and hit the ten goons, one by one, with the blue light stunning them and falling unconscious on the white tiled floor. Xander was surrounded by ten unconscious goons.

                                                       Chapter 33

          "I thought I'll never see you again, I'm so glad you found me Xando, Xander, if not I could have been dead by now..." Althea stated in tears looking up on Xander who was flying towards her. Xander slowly landed and embraced Althea in front of him, kneeling on the white tiled floor. 

          "You're free now my love, stop crying... I'm here Althea..." Xander gently pacified and comforted the only girl he loves and immediately went around the chair she was sitting and started freeing Althea from the tight brown rope that Waldo had used on her. In just a short while, Xander had successfully untied Althea. Althea stood up and embraced Xander once more. 

          "Are you still scared of me my love?" the quick question of Xander at the girl who had been hugging him tightly.

          Althea looked up at Xander and smiled saying, "No, not anymore. I will never ever fear you Xander, you had already proven to me how much you love me, I love you, I love you so much Xander."

         Instantly Xander's face brightened up at what Althea had admitted to him. With all the love in his heart, he embraced Althea in his arms. Overjoyed, Xander didn't even realize that he was already levitating upwards with the beautiful Althea in his arms.

          Esmeralda and Waldo continued on their escape and after they thought they had fled far enough, parked their black car on a deserted place surrounded with trees. The two stayed there for a while hugging each other and so worried of what's going to happen to them next. Not far away, in front of them, they saw a man who they swindled with millions a long time ago laughing at them. Waldo tried to open the car and immediately realized that they were trapped inside. They saw him call from his cell phone and afterwards sat and continued laughing at them. 

          Robert who managed to untie himself went out of the room where he was imprisoned and tried to go back to the room where Althea was and not knowing, that she was already with Xander. And when he saw them together, he immediately tried to flee from them. 

         Althea saw him and immediately told Xander that he was the mastermind and the financier of the goons who abducted her earlier.

         While he was still levitating and hugging her, Xander lowered Althea on the floor. Immediately, Xander, with his arms on his sides, opened his palms, facing forward, fast and hard. The thin rope came shooting out and chased after the fleeing Robert. Rapidly, the thin rope caught up with him inside the building. Xander hit him with the thin golden rope, whipping him. Robert got knocked down. Xander immediately flew towards him and with a rope he found, he tied Robert up against a round pillar inside the building. He then flew back towards Althea.

          "Let's go Xander, let's leave this place right away. I'm afraid that some goons of Aunt Esmeralda might arrive and attack us once more."

          "Huh, don't worry Althea, they're all unconscious now and the rest had long fled away from this building," smiling, Xander answered holding Althea's two hands. "Did they hurt you my love?"

          "Not really, but my hands hurt slightly, probably because Waldo tied me up tightly making sure that I cannot escape on my own."

          And so Xander immediately caressed her two hands supposedly to ease the pain away. "There... I'm sure the pain in your hands will be gone in no time, just let me hold it some more," grinning, Xander told Althea.

          Althea simply smiled at Xander looking up to him. Gently, Xander embraced Althea once more and slowly flew her outside of the building. Althea kept on looking and smiling at Xander as he continued flying her. In just a short while, they were already soaring in the sky. Xander was so happy that Althea, finally, had already accepted his true identity.

                                                        Chapter 34

          From the sky, Althea and Xander amusingly watched as the policemen started arriving to the place where Althea was hidden after her abduction from her house.

          "Hey that's Veronica down there with grandpa and grandma. Wait Xander, I'm calling Veronica to inform her that I'm already safe," stated Althea as she reached for her cell phone. "Hello, Veronica this me Lynette... I'm safe now with Xando... and we're about to go home to my house," Lynette informed Veronica while they watched, not far in the sky; the policemen started arresting the goons of Esmeralda and Waldo.

          "That's wonderful Lynette, I'm so glad you're free and happy with your Xando now," she teased her friend laughing a little.

          "Robert, it was Robert and Aunt Esmeralda, together with her husband, who masterminded my abduction Veronica."

          "Okay, I'm putting down my cell phone Lynette, I'll just make sure that this Robert gets apprehended right now," the quick farewell of Veronica. She immediately saw Robert who was mistakenly untied by one of the responding policemen thinking that he was one of the captives of the group who abducted Lynette.

          "Wait, arrest that man! Arrest Robert, it was he, Aunt Esmeralda and Waldo who had Lynette abducted by these goons!" on top of her lungs, Veronica shouted calling the immediate attention of the policemen.

          "Where's Lynette now, Veronica?" the quick question of Lynette's grandmother.

          "Lynette is free and safe now. And it seems that Xando had done it again," estimated Veronica.

          "Huh, but this is twice already..." noticed Lynette's grandmother.

          "Maybe, it's time that we give Lynette her freedom, let's allow her whoever she wants to be with, let's just be happy for her. And it seems that this Xando really loves our granddaughter Lynette. Who would have thought that we have almost entrusted our beloved granddaughter to a criminal," stated Lynette's grandfather staring at Robert in front of him as the police escorted him to their police car. 

           "We’re bringing this man to our police station, we'll make sure he will not be able to escape us," the police said noticing Lynette's grandfather angrily staring at Robert. Suddenly his phone rang and after a moment he put it back in his pocket and spoke to Veronica. "I just got a call, Esmeralda and Waldo has already been apprehended by our policemen. Someone they swindled a long time ago, reported and had them arrested."

            Relieved with the news of the arrest, Veronica, together with Lynette's grandparents, soon left the place.

          Xander and Althea was so happy that they were with each other once again. Smiling, Althea watched the face of her savior and hero Xander. She just couldn't believe that they're together once more, finally. Sensing her stares at him, Xander embraced Althea.

          "It's only the two of us up here Althea, I suppose you'll let me kiss you now..." smiling a little, Xander asked the only girl he loved. Althea didn't answer instead she just embraced him looking up to his face. So Xander slowly bent and lowered his head to kiss Althea. Althea closed her eyes. Xander lowered his head some more to finally kiss Althea on the lips when suddenly lightning struck and the mood and appearance of the sky quickly changed. Suddenly, three big Flying Saucers appeared from somewhere, it was surrounded with many lights. Three big aliens were attached on top of it. The three green aliens were so huge, their ears were big and pointed, rounded eyes, and had several lines on their forehead. The three gigantic aliens who all looked alike were attached, from the waist, to the big flying saucers. The tips of their five fingers were all rounded. These monstrous aliens had neither legs nor feet and were able to move and fly around through the big flying Saucers that were attached to their upper half bodies. At that moment, the sparkling flying saucers were attached to each other on the edges, forming a triangle and were surrounded with red, yellow and blue lights. Slowly, they stopped near the place where Xander and Althea was flying. Althea was extremely terrified with the three monstrous aliens that she saw, making her embrace Xander tightly. Xander assessed what the three gigantic aliens wanted from this world. It stayed motionless up in the sky, seemingly assessing Xander's actions towards them.

          "What are we going to do now Xander; this is the first time that I have seen huge flying saucers with three aliens attached to it in the middle and on top. What could they want from us Earthlings? I'm worried that they came here to conquer our world and turn all of us humans into their slaves," the worried statement of Althea.

          From the sky, Xander quickly started flying Althea downwards and away from the monstrous green aliens who had just arrived. Xander flew downwards faster and when they reached the ground, he immediately found a good hiding place for Althea and commanded her to stay there.

          "Xander, let's just escape, they look so fierce and cruel, something might happen to you..."

          "Stay here and hide, you're safe here. I'll try talking to them to find out why they came to our world," the answer of Xander to the extremely worried Althea. Althea hid and immediately Xander flew upwards.

                                                         Chapter 35

                                                              

          Xander flew fast going to the three gigantic green aliens whose half bodies were sparkling silver flying saucers and abruptly stopped in front of them. Xander looked too small compared to them.

          "What do you want huh Coke?" was Xander's loud question to the aliens.

          "We don't want Coke; we have that too in our planet!" the furious answer of one of the three aliens.

          "Ah, I know... you want Jollibee Hamburgers?" Xander asked once again.

          "We don't want that too; we have lots of that in our planet!" the second furious answer of the same alien.

          "Now I know you want Safeguard?" Xander asked loudly smiling a little and covering his nose.

          "What are we going to do with that?" furiously, the three aliens asked together.

          "Huh?" the loud question of Xander.

          "What are we going to do with that when we don't really bathe!" furiously, the three aliens responded together.

          "Pardon me sirs, but I didn't really know!" the fast apology of Xander. "What is it that you want then?"

          "We are mad at you earthlings because you waste water too much considering that we don't even have water to drink in our planet, and you earthlings just waste it bathing yourselves, you earthlings are the worst kind in the whole universe!"  

          "You mean, we humans should not bathe, just like the three of you, huh. I'm sorry but we humans could not avoid bathing because if we don't we will surely get sick. Medicines and doctors' fees are just too expensive nowadays. And that's why we always use Safeguard Soap to avoid diseases brought about by germs scattered in our big planet."

          "You talk too much, humans who waste and don't give importance to water should all perish! And so my green brothers let the fight begins!" Abruptly a white light came out from the edge of one of the three flying saucers and immediately targeted Xander. He immediately moved to his right and quickly avoiding it. Another alien fired a yellow light from the edge of the flying saucer that was attached to him and Xander was almost hit. Immediately Xander flew a little nearer to the three gigantic green aliens. He took a deep breath, with his arms on his sides, he opened his two palms, facing forward, fast and hard and immediately his blue light surfaced. Xander immediately aimed at the alien nearest to him, firing at his forehead. He immediately avoided it, and so the other alien got hit on the forehead instead. But it did not even made the slightest injury, the second alien looked like he was merely tickled laughing hard at Xander. So Xander tried hitting the flying saucer nearest the place where he was flying and instantly hitting in the middle front. Abruptly, it smoked and got badly damaged. Xander was overjoyed that the silver spaceship was vulnerable to the blue light from the middle and upper part of his chest. But Xander was surprised with what he saw next, the spaceship repaired itself and was then sparkling once again as if nothing happened to it earlier. Laughing out loud, the three monstrous aliens ridiculed Xander once again. Xander tried firing at the three tremendously big flying saucers which was attached to the half bodies of the three monstrous aliens. While Xander circled at the three aliens in the sky, he fired and rained on them with so many rays of blue lights hitting on many different parts of the flying saucers. Quickly, the parts of the three flying saucers that had been hit by the blue ray of lights were damaged severely. It started smoking simultaneously looking like it was ready to explode. But just like what occurred earlier, the three silver flying saucers repaired itself, restoring it to its original form and looked like Xander had just cleaned it for the three monstrous aliens looking much shinier than the first time Xander saw them. Slowly, Xander started getting intimidated by the three gigantic green aliens. The two attached flying saucers separated from the other one facing Xander and simultaneously fired two white lights towards Xander. The two attached silver flying saucers fired successive and so many white lights towards Xander hitting him on many different parts of his body as he flew on different directions trying to avoid their attacks. Xander became much weaker after he had been hit all over his body but his skin was not damaged. Then the three monstrous green aliens fired at Xander once again. He tried avoiding the white lights, but he just couldn't, the attacks were just too overwhelming and he was just too weak. He could no longer move from where he was levitating in the sky. The three aliens, who had reattached on the edges of their three flying saucers, saw Xander was floating almost motionless in the sky due to the punishment that they had bestowed upon him. Taking advantage of the situation, they flew nearer Xander. Suddenly, the three flying saucers detached from each other. The two separated flying saucers with the two separated monstrous aliens on top simultaneously flew towards the exhausted Xander. He was in between the two separated green aliens in the sky. And from the edge, quickly, each of the flying saucers released a huge and hot ball of lights. Slowly, the two balls grew bigger as it continually moved towards Xander in the middle. Xander looked too small in between the two huge light balls. Xander stood up in the sky and watched carefully the two huge and hot light balls. From the sky, rapidly the two light balls started rolling towards Xander in the middle. Seemingly, the two huge red light balls wanted to toast Xander in between them and sensing their plan, Xander extended his arms sideways pushing the two huge light balls away from each other. From the sky, Xander looked like he was trying to stop two red and slightly smoking planets from pinning him in the middle. While Xander's hands was touching the surface of the big light balls, Xander grimaced in pain feeling the powerful force coming from the two planet looking red light balls. He realized that his own strength was not enough to stop them from heating and pinning him in the middle. Xander's two palms started trembling from the heat and force that was coming from them. But Xander kept on fighting, pouring all the strength left in him to stop the planet like red light balls from pinning his body in the middle. Xander became weaker and weaker, his arms trembling more. Until Xander, powerless against the planet like red light balls, dropped his arms in exhaustion. Xander was pinned in the middle of the hot planet like red light balls. The heat that Xander was feeling made him scream in the sky, he was struggling so hard to free himself and flying away from them. But no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't free himself and helpless he stayed in the middle for some time. Xander could barely endure the punishment that they were giving him. Abruptly, the two colliding planet looking red light balls disengaged rolling to the opposite directions. Xander started plunging downward.  Weakened, he flew himself to the ground. Xander remained lying on the ground, feeling tired and weak. With all the punishments he received, he was catching his breath in exhaustion but his body remained undamaged, not a burn not a scratch. And from above, three monstrous green aliens watched and mocked Xander's condition on the ground. Slowly Xander's regained his full strength and immediately stood up from where he was lying, flying towards the three green aliens whose three huge flying saucers had reattached. He flew as fast as he could, formulating his next plan of attack. He flew faster and faster. Suddenly, the three green aliens released myriads of tiny droplets of yellow laser lights. The fast and heavy downpour of tiny droplets of yellow laser lights headed towards the thousands of people looking up, beneath them but vanished as it neared earth. Xander saw the wide rain of tiny yellow laser lights and immediately tried to avoid them, but the rapid and heavy downpour was too fast for him. He was caught in the middle of heavy rain of myriad of tiny droplets of yellow laser lights. Xander felt the heat and pain and trapped inside the heavy rain of yellow laser lights, he became weaker and weaker once again. The longer he stayed in the middle of the wide rain of droplets of myriads of yellow laser lights, the punishment intensified. Xander screamed aloud enduring the great suffering that the powerful half-bodied green aliens gave him but still he incurred no injuries not  a scar nor a scratch anywhere him. Xander tried to maneuver his way out of the wide span of the rain of yellow laser lights pouring down on him, but when he was about to escape, the span of the rain of yellow lights expanded and expanded continually trapping Xander inside. Xander was trapped inside the heavy rain of droplets of yellow lights. He was no longer moving inside the heavy downpour of the yellow light rain that the three aliens had created.  Suddenly, the rain stopped. In pain and exhausted, he flew downwards to the ground. He lay motionless and dying on the ground. Xander was easily defeated by the three powerful aliens.

      

                                                     Chapter 36

          Lynette saw all the punishments and sufferings that Xander endured, shattering her heart. She came out of her hiding place running towards the dying Xander on the ground. She looked and knelt beside the man she truly loved. Her superhero was now the weakest man on earth. Althea held Xander in her arms and her tears started dripping from her eyes. Notwithstanding the danger of the three gigantic aliens looming above them, Althea embraced the dying Xander tightly in her arms waking him up, "Xander wake up, wake up... please don't leave me. My life is in danger, wake up and protect me... If you truly love me wake up... wake up Xander... protect me..." the pitiful cry of Althea. But Xander remained motionless on the ground and with his eyes closed. Althea looked up and saw the three fierce gigantic aliens slowly approaching her and Xander from above. And in acceptance of her impending death with the man she truly loved, Althea embraced and slowly kissed the motionless Xander on his lips. Abruptly and instantly Xander's fangs grew, he opened his eyes and looked up at the crying Althea. Quickly the three gigantic and monstrous three aliens descended towards the two of them on the ground. Suddenly one of the three descending monstrous aliens released a gigantic blue laser light ball and quickly Xander embraced Althea turning her around with her back on the ground covering her body with his, giving up his back just to protect the life of the only girl he loved. The gigantic and hot blue ball of laser light hit Xander. And amazingly Xander's back was invincible to the heat coming from the gigantic blue ball. The blue ball continued pressing on his back and Xander stayed shielding Althea from getting hit. Slowly, the gigantic blue ball of laser light vanished.

                                                        Chapter 37

          Xander and Althea survived the impending disaster. Looking at her, Xander smiled at Althea. 

          "Xando, you're alive! Xander, you’re alive, I'm not losing you! I love you Xander! I love you!" was Althea's joyful and slightly tearful statement thanking God deep in her heart and looking at Xander's face.

          "What now my love, let's just continue this later, I'll just finish these three rowdy aliens. Xander immediately stood up and turned around. He looked up and assessed the three gigantic aliens, whose waists were attached to their wide Flying Saucers, in the sky. Abruptly, Xander's fangs grew. And instantly the fangs disappeared. Althea in turn rushed back to her hiding place. Xander flew upwards fast, really, really fast. Quickly, the three massive Flying Saucers separated from each other. The three dropped on Xander their wide and heavy rain of small yellow laser lights. Xander was caught in the middle of the heavy downpour of the rain of yellow laser lights and immediately, he rotated like a strong whirlwind. And because of the great speed of the wind that the whirlwind rotation of Xander had created,  a gap between Xander's entire body and the wide downpour of the rain of yellow laser lights around him was formed making them unable to go near and attach on Xander's skin. The gap became wider and wider. He continued turning around rapidly like a whirlwind and suddenly the wide rain of yellow laser lights completely disappeared. And Xander was left unscratched in the middle of the sky and in just a short while, the two monstrous green aliens released once again their two red balls of light. Xander saw them slowly rolling and growing towards him from two sides trying to collide against each other. Rapidly the now big and planet looking red balls of light rolled towards Xander trying to pin him once again in the sky. He waited for the two gigantic red balls of lights to connect to his two palms. And when it did, he used his new strength and powers to ensure that they can no longer pin him in the middle and toast him once again making them catapult back to the two monstrous green aliens that released them. The two gigantic aliens were hit by their own planet looking balls of light. Slowly, the three separated monstrous green aliens surrounded Xander. The three attempted to release three red balls of light but Xander did not wait for it to happen. His two fists ignited and slightly flamed. Rapidly Xander flew towards one of the aliens. And with all his strength, he punched the alien in his wide chest. The gigantic alien turned bright orange. Xander flew once more and headed for the second gigantic alien in the sky. When he got near, he rapidly punched him in the chest and just like earlier, the whole body of the alien turned orange. Xander flew once again, heading for the third gigantic green alien. And immediately, Xander punched him in the chest turning him into another bright orange. He immediately flew in the middle of the three separated gigantic aliens and watched as their bodies continued to transform into an even brighter and shining orange. And in just a short while, simultaneously, the whole bodies of the three aliens turned into a combination of red, orange and blue. The three gigantic alien bodies combined and exploded into the biggest of red, orange, and blue laser light balls. Xander was engulfed by the great ball of red, orange, and blue laser light in the sky.

                                                     Chapter 38

          Althea could no longer see Xander in the sky. She ran from where she was hiding. She was running and crying for the man she loved the most. Althea stopped and searched for Xander above. And in just a short while Althea saw Xander standing magnificently in the middle of the sky. "Xander!" was the loud and jubilant shout of Althea. She ran fast towards Xander. And Xander flew towards his beloved Althea on the ground meeting in the middle. Xander's feet did not touch the ground. He immediately held her waist, embraced and quickly flew her upwards with him. Althea embraced Xander in the sky as she watched the face of his beloved man. "You're still alive Xander! You're alive my love!" the joyful scream of Althea up in the sky. Xander embraced Althea back. He looked at the incomparable beauty of the girl he truly loved and embraced her once again.

          "Can I kiss you now Althea?" his soft question to Althea.

          "Yeah you may Xander," the answer of the laughing Althea looking up at him.

           Xander bent his head down to kiss her. His fangs grew once again. But his fangs did not scare her anymore. Instantly the fangs disappeared. And up in the air Xander hugged and kissed Althea with all his   heart and soul.

                                                      Chapter 39

          The following morning inside Veron Appliance Center, Lynette approached Xandro. "Good morning Xandro. Come over here, I have something to tell you."

          "What is it Ma'am Lynette?" the quick answer of Xandro who had just approached Althea.

          "I've got good news for you; Robert is already in jail for abducting me. Xando and I have already agreed and reconciled... we no longer have to pretend as lovers. And I also want to thank you for all your help to me..." the joyful confession of Lynette to the unrecognized Xander.

          "Really... that's great news, I'm so happy for you and for that dude Xando too..." the answer of Xandro and smiling a little.

           "Okay, excuse me Xandro, I've got papers to assess on to my table, and once again thank you Xandro..." Lynette happily showed her gratefulness to Xandro.

          Xandro simply smiled at Lynette, and then went out of Veron Appliance Center. He was going to deliver the many orders of one wealthy customer. He bought a refrigerator, TV, washing machine, DVD, air con, oven, vacuum cleaner, and a lot others. After he had loaded all the appliances inside the Delivery van, Xandro climbed up and sat on the driver's seat. He took a deep breath, looked in front of him, looked to his left and glanced at the beautiful Althea while she was working with her computer. That beautiful girl is finally my girlfriend now. He opened a can of cold and refreshing soft drink, Coca-Cola. Immediately, he drank and emptied it completely. He smiled a little, looked in front of him once again and drove to the address that was written in the receipt. In just a short while, he arrived at the address of his newest delivery. He immediately unloaded all the appliances inside the big house and went back to the Delivery Van. What Xandro wasn't aware of, the big house with an attic, and the parked elegant Pajero Car were gifts to them by Althea's grandparents and all the appliances were given by Veronica for the two of them. Xander boarded the Delivery Van once more. He sat on the front seat and looked ahead. He took a deep breath, smiled, and drove along the highways of Metro Manila with a clear mission in life, to serve and protect the human kind............  and to love Althea forever. 

                                                             

                                                                           

                                                           End