14 Chapter 13: Pure Heart

When you're lost, you'll find someone who will help you light your way. But in my case, I am lost and a stranger messed up in my mind. I am now the most lost person ever!

#13: Pure Heart

"Listen to me, young women, an advice from an older man," he said and he looked at me seriously. "Don't be distracted. Don't focus on your goal. You must open your eyes. Widely. Beware of the real enemy, Emcee.

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. What was he meant by that? I looked at Crisostomo who is now thinking so deep, and not focusing on the mass. Elias already left him hanging.

"What are you saying? Do you know anything? How did you know my name?" I asked him but my eyes are still focused on Crisostomo. I don't hear any reply that's why I look at him.

Surprisingly, he is nowhere to be found. "M-mister?" He can't leave me hanging! I have so many questions in my mind and he must help me to answer them.

I stand up to find him but I can't still see him. He wears a fisherman outfit. Simple long sleeves and pants but I can feel that he is not an ordinary character here.

"Miss Maria Clara, why are you standing? What are you up to?" Marites asked me. I motioned her to shut up. I put my finger to my lips.

"Maria Clara, sit down. Padre Damaso is not yet done to his homily. You want him to mention you? Sit down and listen!" Captain Tiago said strictly.

Whatever. I am not afraid of something or someone that's why I still leave them even if they don't want to. I don't need the permission of anyone.

"Maria Clara!"

I run as fast as I can to find Mr. Mysterious. I don't care about them anymore. All I want now is to know the truth. I feel like I don't know everything in this Noli Me Tangere.

How could I know all of them? I just read it once and I don't memorize all of it.

"Mr. Mysterious! Where are you?!" I shouted. There's no one here because it's already evening and they are all in the church.

Maybe Mr. Librarian has many things to explained to me. Even though he explained very well, I feel like it is filtered so I must know the whole truth.

"Mister Mysterious? Where the fvck--- what the fvck are you?!" I shouted because I was shocked. I just saw a human rock. Is he... The rock?

Oh no! The fvck are you thinking about?

I saw the man looked offended because of what I said. He looked scared and sad at the same time. I come closer to him so that he won't feel discriminated against. I am not judgmental. I was just in shock.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You're not fucked up, I fucked up," I speak worriedly because I might hurt him again. He looked confused now. "I mean I am messed up." I sat down beside him. I didn't care if he has leprosy all over his body.

He distanced himself when I come closer to him. Wow. Look at this man. It seems like I am the one who has leprosy because he didn't want to come closer to me.

"Hey, Handsome! Come a little closer. I won't bite you!" I don't know why I am sitting here and chilling like a villain instead of finding the mysterious man.

Actually, I sympathize with him. Other people are judging him because of his disease but did they ever think that he is hurting too? Have they ever tried to understand his situation? People are selfish.

"Young Lady, I don't want you to be affected by my disease. You may leave now while you are not yet affected."

"Aish! So drama! I don't mind!" I smiled and I tapped my side. I am just sitting on the floor because there's no bench here. He followed me but he still has distance. One meter apart. "What's your name?"

"Uhm it's not important," he said awkwardly. "You are Maria Clara, right? You are the daughter of Captain Tiago. You are lucky. You are born with a gold spoon in your mouth."

I sighed. People think that if a person is wealthy, they don't have problems. It's very untrue. We also had problems, but not in financial. Like me, my problem is that I am stupid and I can't figure it out easily.

"Yeah, but you know what? It's easier if you have a simple life. Your problem is small and it's easy to solve. Poor people's problem is just that they don't have enough money but rich people have bugger problems. Like their business, it's falling like a London bridge, death threats like if you go out, you don't know if you can go back home safe and sound, in showbiz life you don't know who is your real enemy and friends," I remember so many people.

"You said a lot of things but I understand none of them," he said and sighed. I glared at him as if I am ready to punch him. How dare him! I said many things yet he doesn't understand a thing. "But I'm sure that their hardships are nothing compared to my experience.

I stopped for a moment because of what he said. I am insensitive. I didn't realize that he has a lot of bullying experience.

"Why? What did they do to you?" I asked. He sighed before he answers.

"I am four years living like this. Some say that I inherited this from my mom. Others say that I got this from jail. I am living in a Chinese memorial park. I am distancing myself from others but sometimes the captain is hitting me, it's not your father."

My heart breaks into pieces. How could someone live in the memorial park? He's alive yet he is living in dead people's place.

"Why did that outrageous captain hit you?"

"Oh. It's because I saved someone who almost fell from the canal. The canal is full of wastes, dead rats, and dirt that is why I felt like I must save the kid but the captain said that it's way better to fall from the canal than to be affected by leprosy."

My jaw dropped because of what he said. I felt the rage inside of me. That captain is really stupid! This old man is just saving the kid but he still chose to judge. What a stupid human being. Is he even human?

"If I were you, I push him to the canal so that he will experience falling in the canal full of garbages. Eew!" I said and I cringed.

Surprisingly, the old man laughed heartily. I smiled because I make him smile. His problem is really big so laughing is something that you can't buy.

"Have you eaten, Mister?" I asked him. He just shrugged.

"I don't have money and even if I have, they won't consider me as a customer because they don't want to be affected by my disease.

I let out a sigh. My heart is hurting because people are not treating him like a human. Well, even if he is just a fictional character, he is still a human. It's just that he is not real.

I put my hand in my pocket to search for my wallet but I don't bring any. Oh my, I forgot! I have nothing to give him. I can't leave him without giving anything.

Well, except for one thing. I saw the necklace hanging on my neck. I don't remember where I got this but my heart and mind are telling me to give it to Mr. Leprosy.

I remove my necklace from my neck and I immediately give it to him.

"It's all yours now. That's a gift from me. You can keep it if you want, or you can sell it if you want. Whatever! It's up to you!' I said while smiling.

I may not be the kindest person in the world, and I may have committed many sins, but I know that I have a heart. My heart is pure.

WHEN I went home, of course, I got scolded. What's new with Captain Tiago?

"You little brat! You don't think of us anymore, don't you? You humiliated us again! You leave the church even if the mass is not yet done! What would people think of you? A rude?! Do you want to be called like that?!"

"Cousin, that's enough," Aunt Isabel said while caressing my back.

Captain Tiago leaves us and he is still mad. Aunt Isabel faced me. "Why did you do that earlier?" She said frustratedly. She looked at Crisostomo.

Oh! He is here? I didn't notice him. He looked tired but he smiled when I look at him.

"I'll be leaving," Aunt Isabel said and leave.

It's only the two of us now in the living room. Crisostomo walked closer to me. "Sweetheart, why did you leave?"

I arched my right brow because of his endearment. Sweetheart?

"It's just that something happened." Oh my! Because I was distracted by The Rock, I forgot my goal! To find the stranger but familiar man! He knows my name!

"Is that so?" He holds both of my hands. I thought that he will ask me what happened but surprisingly, he just asked, "Are you fine now?"

"Well, yeah..." I am surprised by his attitude. He is the best man I ever met in my life because he is concerned about me. Unfortunately, he is not real.

He hugs me. He even caressed my hair. "You know that I am always here for you whenever your sad, happy, your angry, whatever your emotions are. I am always for you because I love you," he said.

I am surprised at how straightforward he is. As always. He is a real man and he is the dream of every girl.

I also hate how my heart beats so fast.

[ILYSB BY: LANY]

[Aint' never felt this way

Can't get enough so stay with me

It's not like we got big plans

Let's drive around town holding hands]

[And you need to know

You're the only one, alright, alright

And you need to know

That you keep me up all night, all night]

[Oh, my heart hurts so good

I love you, babe, so bad, so bad

Oh, oh my heart hurts so good

I love you, babe, so bad, so bad]

"Oh, Maria, My Love, do you want to come with me? Let's visit the place I am planning to have a school for children," he said showing his dimples.

Look how kind he is! I already read that Crisostomo is kind and honorable but it hits different I know him

personally.

"Sure! It is so nice of you to think of other children," I

said smiling. Actually, I am not that vocal person but

I think, he deserved to know it.

He smiled at me. "You know, Maria? I believe that youths are the hope of our country."

I stopped for a moment because of what he said. He really is made by Dr. Jose Rizal.

[Mad cool in all my clothes

Mad warm when you get close...to me

Slow dance these summer nights

Our disco ball's my kitchen light]

[And you need to know

That nobody could take your place, your place

And you need to know

That I'm hella obsessed with your face, your face]

[Oh, my heart hurts so good

I love you, babe, so bad, so bad

Oh, oh my heart hurts so good

I love you, babe, so bad, so bad

Oh, oh my heart hurts so good

I love you, babe, so bad, so bad...oh]

[And ya need to know

You're the only one, alright, alright

And ya need to know

That ya keep me up all night, all night]

[My heart hurts so good

I love you, babe, so bad, so bad

Oh, oh my heart hurts so good

I love you, babe, so bad, so bad...oh

So bad, oh

Oh, my heart hurt...

So bad...oh]

And when I was about to hug him because I am really amazed at what he said, Mr. Librarian showed up from afar. He looks seriously at me.

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