3 Chapter 2: Changing Thy Name
At some point, you don't understand why you're heart is beating so fast in the most unexpected person.
#2: Changing Thy Names
"What if I fell in love with them? I'm not a heart of stone! What if we become close with ... perhaps Basilio? What if I care for him because he has a tragic life. Suppose he's like my little brother, what if ---"
"As your special someone or love of your life. To fall in love, romantic, that is forbidden. Specifically, you are forbidden to love Juan Crisostomo Ibarra." I already understood what he meant. I slowly laughed and applauded.
"Crazy! How can I fall in love with the people here? I know they're just fictional characters. Another thing, I'm not easy to fall in love with. I'm Manuela Carie Flores the most famous Filipina in the world."
He just looked at me like he's tired of my words. Look at this person, he doesn't seem to care about me.
"Now that you understand, I'll let you know what happened to the previous intruders who tried to change the story--"
"Intruders?" I cut him off.
"Intruders are the people who intrude in Noli Me Tangere because they're going to change the story. Like you, you are also an intruder but no one has succeeded yet. Now if you could please don't speak first," he said seriously and glared at me. "Shut your mouth."
So strict! I just stared at him.
"Let's start with Regenio Realonda a farmer. He was a relative of the real writer Jose Rizal but he did not know him personally. It was 1896 when Noli Me Tangere first opened the door to the real world because of the utter Regenio cried. I opened the door for him and gave him a chance to change it."
I kept thinking. Usually as celebrities, we don't really use our brains really well. But this time I'm super using it! I'm still stressed at school, plus the trouble here.
"He played as Juan Crisostomo Ibarra. In the beginning he gradually changed the story but in the end he was killed. Because of the change in the story, it will also change the character's behavior and some circumstances. In the case of Regenio, Elias betrayed him because he was so angry at him because I can say that Regenio is an arrogant."
I couldn't help but laugh. That's a very tragic story! Because of Regenio's arrogance, he was killed here in the story. Librarian stared at me so I stopped laughing.
"Don't laugh at that. I told you. It's dangerous for you to do this because the outcome of the story will also be based on your character."
I nodded earlier I was somehow confident that I can make it, but now nervous.
"Next was the doctor, Dr. Carlos Valenzuela in 1920. He acted as Padre Damaso and his mission was to change his character and make him a good man. In the beginning he succeeded but failed because--"
"Because of traitor again?" He gave me a look.
"I talk first. Just listen!" I nodded and acted like I zipped my lips. "Eventually the cases of Padre Damaso came out, the previous cases and his previous crimes. He could not afford to pay for everything so he admitted that he was not Padre Damaso and said that it was not the real world. First rule, Manuela. They are not allowed to tell the truth. No one believed Carlos so he was accused of being insane and scheduled to be killed but before he was killed he had returned to the real world. The second writer was defeated."
My head hurts here! Don't they have brain cells? Why did they forget the rules?!
"Third intruder was William Dela Tina, a teacher. He also wanted to change the story and he shed a lot of tears over it. The door of Noli Me Tangere reopened in 1965. He played Elias and he made a mistake when he saved the life of Juan Crisostomo at the end of the story. No matter how much he wanted to help Crisostomo he shouldn't forgot the rules."
"Are they stupid? Why do they forget ---"
"Fourth intruder, Julius Perez. A student in 1999," he told me and widen his eyes at me. "Don't react first. Just listen. It's my time to speak. He was the youngest to intrude here at the age of fifteen and play the role of Basilio. That's why he was scared when they accused him and Crispin of being a thief. He lost his goal of changing the story and said this wasn't the real world... Like Dr. Carlos, he broke the first law. So I remind you, be careful. "
"So I have to be really careful here," I reminded myself as well. I face the open window. "Okay. So please, trust me. I'm the best so--!" When I faced him he disappeared. Just like bubbles. Is he bubbles?
"Hello? Are you there? Mr. Librarian? Shookt! I forgot to ask his name!" I stomp in annoyance. Many have been intruder but no one have succeeded and I can say that it will be me. Just watch and learn you kidz!
"YOUNG LADY Maria Clara, you're awake. Do you want to get dressed?" Question of a maid who I think is younger than me. I looked at what I was wearing.
"Stupid! Do I look naked?" I looked at myself from head to toe. Her eyes widened at what I said and she immediately knelt down and apologized. "Hey! What are you doing? I'm not angry I'm just kidding!"
Of course, I'm in a different time and people don't have a sense of humor here. Also they are serious too. Maybe she was surprised by my attitude, well they will be really surprised because the first thing I will change in this story is the character of Maria Clara.
"I'm hungry. Please call Captain Tiago-- my Father hahaha. Why did I forgot he's my father?" I laughed awkwardly. My God, Manuela! Your mouth! It was full of surprises.
"Ma'am, Captain Tiago's order is for you to get dressed because there's a big event later." Mrs. Fatty turned out to be with another fat woman but she was more beautiful than her and was well dressed as well.
"You're right there, Marites. Just a little patient you'll see the gentleman you love," she said teasingly. Oh my! Why she is creating an issue!
"Oh Isabel, my beloved cousin. Don't tease my little sugarplum. You'd better cook tinola for our dinner." A gentleman suddenly walked up to me. The maids bowed to him so I thought maybe he was Captain Tiago/father.
So Aunt Isabel was in front of me. Wow "aunt"? Are you her niece, gurl?
"Daughter! I know you're beautiful but I want you to prepare for tonight's event. It will be a glamorous night. Especially since Crisostomo is here," Capt. said with a smile. I just nodded at him.
Why does it seem like it's not in the script? Even the 'sugarplum' endearment he had earlier, it seems like Captain Tiago doesn't call Maria Clara like that, does he? Well maybe this is part of Maria Clara's story.
I'm Maria Clara here after all and Noli Me Tangere was not all about Maria Clara. It's about ... uhm ... it's about the torture of the past Filipinos by the Spaniards. If it was just a story by Maria Clara, the title would have been, "The Gorgeous Maria Clara".
"Maria Clara?" Captain Tiago and Aunt Isabel spoke at the same time. I went back to the trance of what I was thinking!
"What are you thinking?" Aunt Isabel asked
"I am thinking of ..." I'm not really comfortable that they call me Maria Clara because I'm super opposite of her character. I'm very liberated person! "Just call me MC. As in Emceee ."
It's a good thing that Maria Clara's initials are also MC, so that could be my nickname. Captain Tiago and Aunt Isabel looked at each other. As well as the maids here who seemed unbelievable what I said or they didn't understand me. Practice yourself to speak comfortably!
"Oh, because Maria Clara is too long. Just call me by initials. M for Maria and C for Clara. MC! pronounced as Emcee!" I still smile for convincing. I don't really know where I'm good at maybe I'm stupid.
I'm not good at anything, I'm just a fool. I am just pro at modeling, acting, socializing and judging other people's life. Hehe.
I'm really nervous here because what if they'll guess that I am not Maria Clara.Go Manuela, you can speak straight and comfortably. Captain Tiago smiled and looked surprised.
"Where did you learned that Maria Clara? That's a good idea we can call you easier but surprisingly, where did you learned that?"
"At school." What is with their faces? Aunt Isabel gave me a 'what are you talking about' look.
"Emcee, you don't go to school, but it's good thing you know that stuff," she said.
Of course! This is an old -fashioned version. Only boys are studying and then girls are just at home, cleaning, cooking and so on. Tss. Unfair!
Yes I do the cooking, yes I do the cleaning 🎶
"Then call me CT. Letter C for Captain and letter T for Tiago," the maid and Aunt Isabel smiled. I guess I was the only one who laughed.
It's ugly! CT? The pronunciation is 'City' HAHAHA are you City, Captain Tiago? City of gamblers yieee.
I really didn't think Noli Me Tangere brought me good vibes. Because when I read this? I just cried like there's no tomorrow.
"Then I'm AT, abbreviated for Aunt Isabel," she said smiling but I laughed. I didn't think that they will also have they own nicknames. I keep on laughing like there's no tomorrow. It's like I'm over the moon. Wait why is my happiness shallow? I'm going to get dressed, maybe Crisostomo is handsome.
-
I'm done getting dressed and I can say my outfit is super pretty. This is the social outfit these days. The extravagantness of my outfit as well as my hair? Perfecta! My hair is bun and it has pearls, around.
Maria Clara was really lucky that I played her role. They play Classical music, I just don't know what the title is because I'm stupid but I know it's Beethoven. You didn't expect that I know, right? Ha! I listened to our Mapeh!
After that, the music suddenly stopped, I also looked at the staff here and they also stopped. Time seems to have stopped. Suddenly someone walked in front of me. Mr. Librarian!
"The next thing you will witness is the beginning of Noli Me Tangere. Congratulations on your first change and that is the change of your name. May your success continue," he didn't even smile and just looked seriously and stoic.
"Isn't the first scene that Juan Crisostomo and Maria Clara won't meet yet? Can I change that? I want to see myself the fight between the two priests, right? Because of the chair?" He nodded at me.
"It's really now that you're going to meet because I'm the one who changed the scene. You should have come late and Aunt Isabel would have picked you up somewhere else but what I did was you arrived at this place yesterday. Just remember you know that with each change of scenes, the ensuing event and the related of that scene will change. "
"Copy Librarian, noted!" Smiling, I said. He changed the first scene for me. When I was about to ask his name, he disappeared right away. Rude Librarian leaves immediately. He disappeared like a bubble again.
The time resumes and Beethoven's song played again. The helpers were also talking here and suddenly I heard the voice of Captain Tiago or CT.
"My beloved amigos and amigas, thank you very much for attending on my little gathering. I called you because there is a very important person I would like to introduce to you. He is the son of a friend of ours who already passed away, the son of Don Rafael Ibarra, Don Crisostomo Ibarra from Europe, "said captain Tiago.
He was next to the stairs and from the stairs the star of Noli Me Tangere slowly climbed that I cried a lot because of the misery he suffered.
[PLAY THE SONG "SA ISANG SULYAP MO" BY: 143, meaning IN YOUR ONE GLANCE]
(Bakit kapag tumitingin ka natutunaw ako🎶
Bakit kapag lumalapit ka kumakabog ang puso ko🎶
Bakit kapag nandito ka sumasaya araw ko🎶
Lahat ng bagay sa mundo parang walang gulo🎶=
Why when you look I melt
Why when you approach my heart beats
Why when you are here my day is happy )
Everything in the world seems to be peaceful)
It was as if it slowed all around when he climbed up. I thought Mr. Librarian is here again but no. It's just Crisostomo but my world is really in slow motion. As Jose Rizal described, he is a handsome man.
(Bakit kapag nakikita ka parang nasa ulap ako🎶
Bakit kapag kausap kita nauutal-utal sayo🎶
Bakit kapag nandito ka nababaliw ako🎶
Nababaliw sa tuwa ang puso ko (ang puso ko)🎶=
why when you look like I'm in a cloud
why when I talk to you I stutter to you
why when you're here I go crazy
why heart goes crazy with joy (my heart) )
His hair is black and he combed it well like he was a good boy. His hair is not long and public school teachers will like his hair because it is short. Don't they blood get high when the boys have long hair?
(Sa isang sulyap mo ay nabihag ako para bang himala🎶 ang lahat ng ito🎶
Sa isang sulyap mo nabighani ako nabalot ng pag-asa🎶 ang puso🎶
Sa isang sulyap mo nalaman ang totoo ang sarap🎶 mabuhay punung-puno ng kulay🎶
Sa isang sulyap mo ayos na ako sa isang sulyap mo🎶 napa-ibig ako🎶=
At a glance I was captivated as if it were all a miracle
At a glance you fascinated me wrapped in hope the heart At a glance you know the truth of the pleasure of living full of color
At a glance, I'm fine. At a glance, you love me so much)
And that's it! Perfecta! He looked at me. His eyes are dark brown. I'm crying because why did his life became messy like that? He doesn't deserve that kind of life! His eyebrow? The thickness is like Zaijan Jaranilla, Santino? Filipino Actor.
(Bakit kapag kasama kita ang mundo ko'y nag-iiba🎶
Bakit kapag kapiling kita ang puso ko'y sumusigla🎶=
Why when I'm with you my world changes 🎶
why when I'm with you my heart is excited)
Wait! Why am I intimidated? I am Manuela Carie Flores! He should be the one to be intimidated because I'm the supermodel here! I am the most famous Filipina and not to mention but I was also the most beautiful celebrity last year! Before I study.
(Sa isang sulyap mo ay nabihag ako para bang himala ang lahat ng ito
Sa isang sulyap mo nabighani ako nabalot ng pag-asa ang puso
Sa isang sulyap mo nalaman ang totoo ang sarap mabuhay punung-puno ng kulay
Sa isang sulyap mo ayos na ako sa isang sulyap mo napa-ibig ako
Sa isang sulyap mo ay nabihag ako para bang himala ang lahat ng ito
Sa isang sulyap mo nabighani ako nabalot ng pag-asa ang puso
Sa isang sulyap mo nalaman ang totoo ang sarap mabuhay punung-puno ng kulay
Sa isang sulyap mo ayos na ako sa isang sulyap mo napa-ibig ako
Sa isang sulyap mo ayos na ako
Sa isang sulyap mo napa-ibig ako=
At a glance I was captivated as if it were all a miracle
At a glance you fascinated me wrapped in hope the heart At a glance you know the truth of the pleasure of living full of color
At a glance, I'm fine.
At a glance, you love me so much
At a glance I was captivated as if it were all a miracle
At a glance you fascinated me wrapped in hope the heart At a glance you know the truth of the pleasure of living full of color
At a glance, I'm fine.
At a glance, you love me so much At a glance I'm fine
At a glance you love me so much)
"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, it's so nice to be here. I am Juan Crisostomo Ibarra."
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