"Please don't complicate this further, rebel."

Guelio chortled a little, finding something amusing in what Alphonse just said before looking him straight into his eye with a confident smirk. "Interesting calling her a rebel with a harsh tone when I'm confident you sympathize with them as well."

He looked towards Adrienne. "Let me handle this, mademoiselle. I think I have this under control."

Adrienne, though still pumped with argumentation adrenaline, decided to back down a little, though clearly wanting to join in the conversation. "I sure hope you do, Monsieur"

Alphonse looked back at Guelio, still holding fast. "And how did you deduce that, Señor?"

"Well.. for starters, you're working in the Museo-Biblioteca, an admirable job, by the way, which would give you knowledge about the history and heritage of the Philippines. Obviously, no matter what perspective you are in, you know that this land was shaken from its foundations and built according to the standards of the Spanish."

"Si, I know that. Every learned man knows that., but not every learned man is a revolutionary."

"But there's something different in you. When you looked at the letter, I saw something in your eyes."

"And what could that be then?"

"You hesitated to call me a rebel. You hesitated to act because you yourself sympathize with our movement, the plight of the nation. No Spanish man will subjugate themselves to Don Paterno, let's face it."

"Yes, that's horribly true"

"And yet being under Don Paterno, you have heard about the great culture in the pre-Spanish times, from the Antigua Civilization. You read the works of Gat Rizal, and I'm sure you have read some of the other Propagandists' works. Your eyes were opened to a world without the Spanish, and you saw we were perfectly competent to rule.

Guelio paused, letting himself breath. He also let the words sink in for Alphonse.

"You are a Filipino, you were born in this generation of reform and enlightenment. No matter how you look at it, this is not the government our people deserve. We deserve self-governance and we deserve independence. You know that in your heart."

Alphonse hesitated for a moment. It was like Guelio was reading into his brain, or he was playing with the sympathies every struggling Filipino has with his brethren, including himself. Alphonse knew that every man in the colony could feel the raw emotion, not least the natives themselves. 

Ever since the Cavite Mutiny in 1872, where three native priests was garroted as punishment handed down by a Spanish kangaroo court, the tenseness of an already restless territory reached a fever pitch. Now, independence movements were sprouting up everywhere, from the Propagandistas, who were sons of the Principalia and fighting for reform by the power of the quill and brush, to the Katipunan, nativist democrats who aim to overthrow the colonial government by the bolo and the rifle in secrecy. 

Surely, it was a dangerous task to work against an almost omnipotent colonial force, but fighting for a cause greater than oneself, especially for one's nation was something many people have died doing, and many people would die to do. Now, he, Alphonse Trinidad, was being given a chance to do so.

"That letter right there, that's one step in the journey towards our independence and our freedom. If you choose to give me back that letter, you'll be part of legacy that will last a thousand years."

"And if I don't?"

"You'll have to bear with the fact that you have betrayed your own fellowman for the rest of your life. You also may have made the revolution come earlier, considering if the letter comes out the Spanish finally have a clue that the movement is stronger than what they thought, and they might do something about it."

Alphonse thought long and deep about it. He knew this would get him into a lot of trouble. Though he knew that with that trouble, came change. With that trouble, came the liberty his oppressed ancestors have desired for years. The family of his mother, set aside and thrown out of their hometown, and for what? A plantation to line the pockets of the filthy Spanish businessmen and friars? It was now his time to help usher in a new tomorrow, for himself, for his brethren, for his country.

"¿Te unirás a nuestra causa? Si somos esclavos o libres depende de ti. [Will you join in our crusade? It us up to you, if you would be enslaved or free.]"

Alphonse, outstretched his hand giving the paper back to Guelio.

"Estamos ahora los guerreros de un ejército en avance. [We are both soldiers of an army in advance.]"

Guelio accepted the paper and pocketed it.

"Ahora, nosotros contra el mundo [Now, we are against the world]. Welcome to the Revolution, kapatid."

~~~ 

Guelio exited the the building an hour after he went in. He, along with Adrienne, talked to Alphonse about his current plan regarding the propaganda. Alphonse would be the main distributor in the area of Kiapo, since he lived there. He would also be the group's contact in the area regarding activity in the area. The pamphlets needed articles telling them about the goals of revolutionary movement, so Alphonse decided to write one or two before the printing began. 

Guelio for his part, would visit the Museo-Biblioteca  periodically to catch up with the news, as well as to just read the books in the Library itself. He would also compensate for Alphonse' work as well as help him join other revolutionary social circles. Apparently, his affinity for strategy was something he shared with others, like Guelio.

While they were discussing, Adrienne would throw contemptuous glares which would make Alphonse uncomfortable. One of them was so sinister it caused him to stare back before Adrienne kicked his leg. She later apologized, though not before kicking him one more time, and Guelio's arbitration. Alphonse for his part warmed up to Adrienne by giving her an anthology of works from Victor Hugo and Cheateaubriand, which she accepted, albeit begrudgingly.

As they left, Guelio waved goodbye at a smiling Alphonse, who went back into the building to finish his day's work. As they walked towards the carruaje, both walked silently. When they finally reached it, Guelio pet the steed while Adrienne stayed outside.

"Guelio, how did you do that?", asked Adrienne.

"Do what?"

"Do.. that! From a bad situation, you get something good out of it. Even better than good, you converted one to our cause. How?"

Guelio hopped on to the seat for the coachman looking at Adrienne with a confident smile on his face. "It takes just a little bit of skill, charm and luck."

"But back there, it was mostly luck, and that's thanks to you."

"How was that though? It seemed like you could've handled it yourself."

"Well you helped establish strength in numbers. You helped me bargain better, since the alternative would be you whooping his sorry ass. You were the back-up in case my plan failed, and thankfully it didn't." 

Guelio smiled as he said this, before his face changed to a more serious expression. "Besides, he had it in his heart to join our side. For a people betrayed and oppressed for so long, even those we least expect will revolt. We all will. We're Filipinos."

Adrienne understood that, and gave Guelio a little smile before boarding the carriage.

"Sunduin na natin ang mga kaibigan natin. Baka kung saan-saan pa sila mapadpad [Let's find our friends already. God knows where else they might end up.]"