Chapter 56 - You Turn Me Into A Statue With Those Eyes

The plan is set. Revolution is on its way, and tyranny shall be eradicated. 

The people, the real 'people of the nation' who plowed and cultivated the lands all day, growing crops to increase the economy to what it is now..... They were severely mistreated, hit on the back like slaves! No more! It is time to act, to bring back the power to them!

To free them.

And only violence can do that. Only strength, strong manpower, and gunpowders. The people must see red in order to move towards progress. The people must be toros. 

Andres had grown up as the adoptive son of the leader of the Toros. His parents had died from the famine and poverty while he was just 4 years old, and he was taken in by the rebels. His new Papa had thought him the values of fighting back, of not letting himself be stomped on by the Conservadors.

Strangely enough, his Papa was not always a warrior for the rights of the people. He was an intellectual, someone luckily born with white skin and can easily mingle with the mestizos and those of a high-ranking. But he was not of mestizo lineage himself, or if he was, it was too far off his ancestral tree for his parents to remember. They have used this skin color to its maximum benefit by spending all the money they can to enroll him into good schools, so he can have a good life.

And his adoptive grandparents had died working just for that future. His Papa hated it, hated how his parents had to do this and conform, even hiding themselves in public when they are with him so no one will know his true lineage. And so, he started the movement, and evoked the hearts of the people to join.

"Andres, you must not let yourself be blinded by the lavishness of the higher ground. Everyone who enjoys a life of luxury with no hard work is an enemy." His Papa always told him when he was young. "We must defeat this system that separates the rich and the poor, the whites and the colored, and give freedom to our people. Do you understand?"

"Si, Papa." The tiny boy answered.

His Papa raised him to be smart, independent, and steadfast in making decisions. He has a gentle demeanor that can pass him as an aristocratic gentleman, but behind closed doors, he hates them and slams his desk with his iron-like fist. He was trained both mentally and physically to be a weapon of the Toros, to be the key that will open the doors of revolution.

His aim was not really specific, only to befriend a rich heir and stole all his inheritance. Andres acted friendly with all his classmates, until he had caught a fish with his hook.

And it was a very big fish, the smartest and the most affluent classmate he had. 

"Herr Storitz. May I sit here?" He asked with a bright smile.

"Oh... Of course." The boy with large spectacles and pale white skin nodded, still busy writing with his fountain pen. 

This boy doesn't even try to hide his opulence. All his outfits suggest it, from his dainty little cap with owl feathers down to his fine silk socks. He had also heard that both his parents are scientists and of noble lineage.

He was the perfect target.

"My name is Andres. Nice to make your acquaintance."

"Mmm--hmmm as well." He answered lazily, still focused on his notebook.

It was quite difficult to get close to Franklin Storitz at first. He has no patience for niceties, and is only interested in science, books, and scientific books. And so, Andres changed tactics and used this interest of his to gain a connection with him.

Eventually, the fish stopped struggling and lighten up to him.

Friendship grew until he even sympathized with his 'family situation' back at Colombia and gave gifts and some coins. Andres would return this with goods that he just quickly found in the Toro headquarters. Coffee was Franklin's favorite, he looked forward to receiving it, as well as sweets and cheesy goods.

They became partners in conducting experiments with coffee. That is when Andres learned about the real Franklin, the one beyond that astute and refined looks, and his prestigious upbringing.

He was a man who loves to laugh, even for the simplest of matters, and would do anything for a friend.

A dear friend of his heart. 

Soon enough, Andres began to feel guilt. But not enough to sully his father, his family's plans.

He just wished that.....

Franklin wouldn't be attached to him that much.

One night, they went pub-crawling, walking down the busy streets. He loves visiting this area of Potsdamer Platz and Tiergarten, this midpoint between East and West Berlin, because it is always livelier and busier here compared to Charlottenburg where the academy was. They listened to a beautiful lady sing a song about two people dancing, and soon memorized the song themselves.

He was the one who offered the pub-crawl, because his Papa just sent him and message. He would have to move quickly soon, as their enemies are slowly closing in on their hideouts and headquarters. Things are looking grave back there, and they are in dire need of assistance.

They need money, and they need it now.

His guilt is increasing everyday, and he is torn between his friend and his family. He asked Franklin to drink so he could somehow forget about his worries, and if not, then find a way to open up the topic of money with him while he is intoxicated.

His worries did not disappear, and he stayed sober.

But just as he was about to open his mouth, Franklin beat him to it. The guy with large spectacles leaning on his shoulder as they walk over the dazzling lightposts of the streets and the pale moonlight shining over them said in a slurred way. 

"Andres.... I don't want you to leave yet. You are too fun." 

Andres tried to hide his flusteredness from the words and pretended to be a giddy drunk by belching. "Hic! I do not want to as well."

He looked down, silently saying, not to Franklin but to himself. "But mi familia.... mi family me necesita....."

His family needs him. And nothing should replace family, nothing should replace the ideals he carry that was passed on by them. 

Franklin nodded. "It is only you who can feed your family, huh? Eldest of seven, one madre y no padre." 

(I have no siblings, I have no mother.) That's what he wanted to say. 

He wanted so badly to tell the truth, but he can't.

Instead, he changed the topic, hoping Franklin would drop it. "Your Spanish is improving." 

His amigo looked at him with so much care and worry on those creased eyebrows of his. "Andres.... Is there anything I could do to help you? You are sure you do not want me to send money to your family so you would not have to go back and forth just to do so?"

He shook his head. "I truly must continue having one foot in Colombia and one foot here in Germany, my friend. There is nothing I or you can do. Once I get my degree, I must return to my homeland permanently to lift up mi familia's status in life as a doctor."

(Come on, Franklin. I don't want to talk about this, I don't want to remember my family when I'm having fun with you.) He pleaded in his head. 

But it was unheard. "Hmm... Then how about something to make you stay longer? If your family has enough money for a year, then there is no need for you to go back so soon."

He wouldn't drop it.

There's no choice but to do it, and strike while the iron is hot.

"Hah! If such money could come into my hands so easily, I would have done so. But a year of expenses is not just a bag of gold coins, mi amigo. I..... mi familia is just too large....."

"Then I'll pay it. I'll loan it to you, the money that can feed your family for a whole year!" Franklin's eyes twinkled brightly at him, blinding him a bit. 

(Stop smiling so brightly at me like that.)

"How? There's no need to---"

"Here is a cheque. I always keep one on hand..... Hmm.... Ah! Here it is! Mira, it is an account for my inheritance itself. You can write any number you want, and pay me back any time you want, no problemo!"

It's over. The deception must be done. 

Andres pretended to be surprised when receiving the cheque, when in truth, he was despondent. He tried to give Franklin one last warning. "Are you certain about this, mi compadre? You might regret this, the amount I need is no measly thing... It might take my whole life to pay you back!"

"I am certain! I am certain! You are my dear friend Andres, after all. I am sure you will not steal a single gold from me and return to me what you must!"

How foolish his dear friend was. It was too pitiful for him to put all his trust in him...

With a shaky hand, Andres wrote a number on the cheque, and place it in his chest pocket.

(Que Dios te bendiga por esta bendicion que nos diste a mi y a mi familiar.)

And eventually.... Thanks to this blessing, he would have to rejoin the Toros permanently now, as they start to incite the battle against the Conservadors.

He wanted to say his goodbyes in his favorite spot in Tiergarten.

"There was a sudden incident. My Mama is gravely ill. I would have to.... I would have to return. Permanently" He explained with this dialogue he had practiced on his head so many times.

He was a great liar, but the more time he spent with this friend of his, the more his skills weakened. He doesn't sound as convincing as he was before, but with how gullible Franklin was, it doesn't matter.

"Please don't go, Andres. I beg you." Franklin pulled on his left sleeve, revealing bull tattoo on his right hand, but he could only sigh. Even if Franklin catches a glimpse of it, he doesn't know what it means.

"I have to. My family is waiting for me." He slowly took his hand away. "Maybe one day, we'll see each other again when things aren't so grave....."

He highly doubts it himself. These are just fake assurances. He might even die in the war, but even so, he was well-prepared for it. He was also assured that with the large inheritance money, they could turn the tides and manage to take over the land and give it to those who rightfully should own it. Doing that will cost a whole lifetime of servitude to the people, so there really is no chance for them to meet again.

Franklin is crying, and he found himself crying too. He had two years to prepare for this moment, and yet, he still lost over his emotions. 

"Adios, mi compadre de corazon. You will always stay dear in my heart."

He tried his best to turn around, going out of this apricot orchard where they spent days talking and talking under the sun, making jokes and even picking some apricots to eat, or throw to one another. He will dearly miss---

"You're lying. You don't have a family. Your Mama, your whole identity..... It was all a lie, isn't it?"

Andres stopped in his tracks.

"What....?"

Franklin explained everything to him. How he had always known, how his parents were consulted by the other party themselves, how he tried to lure Andres into picking him as a victim to the best of his efforts. He wore richly because he wants Andres to see he was rich. He eased up on this stranger and donated because he wanted to believe he was gullible as a newborn baby. All of it was part of the Storitz' plans.

"Andres... You have robbed me. And robbers must have their hands cut off."

Andres stepped back in horror, shaking his head. But Franklin held on to him, saying:

"Andres, I do not want that. Leave the rebels behind. You don't have to pay for your crimes against me, you could just stay. Stay with me and you would not be killed." He said with crazed eyes red at the edges from crying and desperation. "Please, you can start a new life in Berlin! Forget about them, you can stay with me and we can live happily as before---"

"No!" Andres pushed him away, so strongly into the ground. "You'll let them murder my family!?"

One of Franklin's glasses broke, but he did not mind it. He shouted. "They're not your family! They're using you, Andres! Can't you see!?"

"You do not know them!" Andres quickly ran, as if trying to reach the harbor and Colombia despite knowing how far the distance was.

"Andres! Wait! Stop being so stubborn!" Franklin caught up, trying to pull him back, and they ended up on a tussle, rolling on the ground.

Both men are only gentle on the outside and actually hides brute strength, and so, they are evenly matching, trying to pin the other down. They were so busy fighting that.....

They did not notice a large, rusty metal crane was moving a statue straight towards them!