6 Chapter 5: Bonding With Crispin and Basilio

I just want to help ... But sometimes it gets worst. I just want to protect them, but it seems like I am putting them in danger...

#5: Bonding with Crispin and Basilio

"Young Lady, I'd like to thank you for the food," Crispin chewed. He is too formal.

"Yes, Miss. It's only this day that we've eaten so much. It seems like it's our birthday today," Basilio said with a smile on his face.

We are currently in the mansion. I was planning to take them to an expensive restaurant here but they insisted because they are shy.

"Don't mention it and besides, don't let yourselves starve, ok?" I glared at them. "I'm going to rally in church."

The two children looked at each other. By the way, I prepared adobong baboy (Filipino dish), pork porridge, lechon baboy as long as it was a pure pork dish. That's why these children enjoy it.

"Lady, why are you so kind?" Basilio asked. Oh if you only knew how kind I am. Hehe.

"I agree. After all, you have no responsibility to us," Crispin said and looked at the food. "May I bring this one? May I take this out? I'm sure Mother hasn't eaten yet."

"Crispin! We're already fed yet you want to take this home. It's embarrassing! Let's just buy Mother something to eat."

I kinda laugh because I remember so many people.

'You were invited to a birthday party, yet you still bring food in your home!'

HAHAHA. You were already free of food but you even take out. Just wow! But it's ok because it's Crispin and it's for his mother, Sisa.

I know they are poor and even soon to have tragic lives. The lives of the people here at Noli Me Tangere are unimaginable. If there's a 'too good to be true', there's a 'too bad to be true' and that is the Noli Me Tangere story.

"It's okay, it's for your mother! You're a lovely son," I said with a smile.

Just like me. Look at Mama Lilah and Papa Jordan who are no longer working because I am the one who made them rich.

It turns out that these two children are in the same situation as me, but they are just a poor version. Because they need to work.

Me? I'm working because my passion is modeling. By the way, their lives would be ruin if they stayed longer in the convent!

"Hey... kids! Don't go back to the convent, you'll just be damned there," I used my convincing powers to make sure they believed.

They stopped eating and looked at each other. "We'd love to stop working and just study but we can't do that," Crispin said as he stared at the floor.

"Yes, because we have to work. Otherwise, our father will hit us. And then another thing, we are not rich so we have to work hard," Basilio stared at me.

The stubbornness of these children!

"What if... what if... wait ..." shitness my brain, where are u? Here I am. Go function yourself! "What if you work here! Yes! You'll clean my room PLUS free food, there's more! There's a free take out for your momshie! Deal? Deal! Okay! That's a yes, ok?"

They looked at each other again. Do their eyes have magnets because they keep looking at each other whenever I say something?

"Sure, Miss. That's a good offer--"

"Crispin!" Basilio stared at him. "Lady, we want to, but we can't. The sacristan mayor and the priests will be mad to us and to our mother. We might get in trouble. Another thing, we don't just work in the church. We also want to serve God."

That is... nice! I don't think I can do something anymore. That was their decision and I have no right to interfere with them especially because their reason for working in the convent is significant.

"All right! Just take care of yourselves Avoid being in trouble. Also, come here when your small intestine has eaten your large intestine. When you're hungry! No, just come here everyday and I'll cook a food for you and for your mother-- "

I am not yet done talking when suddenly they hugged me tightly the reason why I didn't finish what I'm about to say. It melts my heart.... their hugs.

"Lady, we know we don't have the right to hug you but we can't help it. Thank you so much for being so kind," Basilio said as if he is about to cry.

"Yes, you're such an angel. A fallen angel indeed."

Oh my! In all the compliments I received, this was the most sincere. I felt that. I hugged them both as if they were my brothers. Is this the feeling of having siblings? I don't have brothers nor sisters so I don't know it.

-

The sky was dark and the atmosphere was peaceful. The only light is the moon and the stars in the sky. I'm already in Maria Clara's room and asleep.

I feel euphoria in my heart, I'm so happy. It is because I helped the two children. Is this the feeling of being helpful?

It looks like the surroundings are beautiful. Seems like no problem and the ease of feeling. If I only knew, I had donated to orphanages. If I have done it before, I've been happy for a long time. Or I should build my own orphanage because I can do it. I am wealthy and I will soon be a billionaire.

My imagination to build an isolation-- I mean orphanage was interrupted when suddenly someone violently opened the door. Who's that pokemon?

"Maria Clara!" Captain Tiago's whole face was red and his two eyebrows were almost touching because of the excessive encounter. "What's with you this day?"

Oh my! It seems like he already heard about what I've done to the priest Sibyla. I scratched my neck and tried to smile.

"Tiago, calm down," said Aunt Isabel who was behind him.

"F-father ... what you heard is--" I couldn't finish what I was about to say when he suddenly slapped me and it was so hard. The pain is indescribable!

"You didn't think of our situation anymore! You embarrassed our family!" He shouted the reason why my hands are shaking.

Why didn't I think of that! Why didn't I think of them, Captain Tiago and Aunt Isabel? Is that really a question Emcee? Of course you're stupid! You are really stupid! You are not saving Noli Me Tangere characters you are putting them in trouble!

"S-sorry ..." What can a sorry do? You stupid girl! Only modeling knows!

"Sorry? Maria Clara! I'm so embarrassed to go out! You're the talk of the town now! What happened to you and you've been like that!" Frustrated, he said and frowned. He is still sitting on my sofa but wooden type here in the room.

"Let Maria Clara explain. I know your daughter has a reason because I took care of her since then. Maria Clara, what's the compelling reason why you shouted at the parish?"

I bowed. How can I explain that to them? How can I say that I need to save two children from their bitter fate? I just looked at them. I tried to open my mouth to speak but I couldn't. I try it again but I failed again. I'm disgusted with my actions! Why can't I speak? Am I mute now?

"It doesn't look like she has a worthy reason," Captain Tiago interrupted. He stood up and looked at me seriously and then pointed. "Make sure you don't do it again."

After that, Captain Tiago left. Aunt Isabel was left here and hugged me. My tears kept flowing because she seemed to be babysitting me. She was like my mother and I was the child who was scolded. "What happened to you? Don't be afraid. Aunt Isabel is on your side as always. Whatever the reason is, I'll accept."

I was crying like a child. Why there's an exchange when you are too happy? Why should you feel sad right away? Why you can't be just happy? Can't I just be happy? This destiny is very kill joy. I'll throw a fistfight with it if the destiny piss me more.

My eyes are still VERY AWAKE here even though maybe it's three o'clock in the morning. I feel like I'm a Tarsier here in Bicol. Is it Bicol or Bohol? Just in the Philippines! Don't mind my thoughts I'm stupid!

Why am I taking it seriously? The Tarsier thingy! So that's it, I feel the hurtful words that Captain Tiago said to me.

Even though he is not my real father, I was still hurt by what he said. I'm still human, just famous. Suddenly a shiver came in my chest when there was a knock from the terrace door.

Maria Clara's room has its own a terrace, with a big window. Rich kid indeed! But then, I was scared.

Are there ghosts here? Is there anything written like that here? Thanks to my stupid thoughts! What time is it, you're still dramatizing because of what a fictional character told you!

"Maria Clara?" The voice is familiar. I think its...

"Crisostomo?" I hurriedly got up from lying down and opened the door to Maria Clara's terrace.

Wow, in a hurry? Are you that excited?

"What are you doing here?" I asked and there's excitement in my voice. Wait, why am I excited?

Instead of answering, he just smilled like crazy. I raised an eyebrow to him.

"I just want to make sure you're fine. I feel like you are still thinking about what happened earlier. I hope you don't think about that anymore and go to sleep peacefully."

"It's unavoidable ..." I didn't say anything more because I keep thinking of what Captain Tiago told me.

Even if you don't want to think, you still think about it. Thank you for the conscience, it's unavoidable.

I looked at the full moon and the stars. The view is really nice! I would have enjoyed it if I had no problems!

"The stars in the sky is beatiful, aren't they?" Smiling, Crisostomo said.

"Yeah but of courseee duh! I'm prettier 1000 times." I rolled my eyes. He laughed at what I said. This punk! Did he think I was joking. I stared at him.

"Sure. You're the best and prettiest star I know," he said smiling. "In fact you're even brighter than the stars."

Oh my g! What is this fictional character saying! Manuela Carie, stay calm! You can't be in love with fictional characters, remember? I punch him. His eyes widened because of what I did.

"Hey you think I believe you with your words! Don't me. I know you're just hitting on me! Duh! Are you flirting with me?" Straightforward, I said.

"W-what?" He blushed ans hide his face. "N-no. I am not that kind of man," He defended himself. After that we don't talk anymore.

Like we used to do.... by: Charlie Puth.

Minutes had passed but still no one dared to talk. We are just staring at the moon, how beautiful it is and I am seriously loving the peacefulness.

We are 2 meters apart and he looked at me that's why my face automatically look at him too.

"Why you're quiet? I am not used to it." Is he saying that I am talkative?

"Just!" I didn't really feel like talking. It is still in my mind that Captain Tiago shouted and slapped me. It keeps replaying.

My heart jumped when I felt him take my hand and slowly kiss it. Oh my! Is there something like this in the original story? Why did he kised my hand? I felt the warmth.

"No matter what happens, I'm here by your side. I love you so much, Maria Clara. No matter what they say about you, I love you. No one has the right to protest."

#

Featured song:

[TALA BY: SARAH GERONIMO]

Ang ningning ng mga tala'y nakikita ko sa'yong mga mata

Tala, tala, tala...

Ang ningning ng yong mga mata'y nahanap ko sa mga tala~~

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Sa takbo ng isip

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Kapit lang ng mahigpit

Aabutin natin ang mga tala

Tala, tala, tala...

Ang ningning ng mga tala'y nakikita ko sa'yong mga mata~~

Tala, tala, tala...

Ang ningning ng yong mga mata'y nahanap ko sa mga tala

Maaaring kinabukasan ay mag-iba ng

Ihip ng iyong ninanais

Ngunit maaari bang kahit na pansamantala lang

Ikaw muna'y maging akin~~

Tila ako'y nakalutang na sa langit

Ngunit nalulunod sa yong mga ngiti...

At kung hanggang dito lang talaga tayo

Hindi pababayaan ang daang tinahak na kapiling ka

At kung umabot tayo hanggang dulo~~

Kapit lang ng mahigpit

Aabutin natin ang mga tala

Tala, tala, tala...

Ang ningning ng mga tala'y nakikita ko sa'yong mga mata~~

Tala, tala, tala...

Ang ningning ng yong mga mata'y nahanap ko sa mga tala

Hindi man ako nilagay sa mundong ito para sa'yo~~

Parang nakatingin ang buong daigdig pag ako ay yakap yakap mo

Ohhh...

At kung hanggang dito lang talaga tayo

Hindi pababayaan ang daang tinahak na kapiling ka

At kung umabot tayo hanggang dulo~~

Kapit lang ng mahigpit

Aabutin natin ang mga tala

Tala, tala, tala...

Ang ningning ng mga tala'y nakikita ko sa'yong mga mata

Tala, tala, tala...

Ang ningning ng yong mga mata'y nahanap ko sa mga tala

Ohhh... (Ohhh...) Ohhh... (Ohhh...)

Ang ningning ng mga tala'y nakita ko sa'yong mga mata...

Nakita ko sa'yong mga mata.

Ang ningning ng yong mga mata'y nahanap ko sa mga tala...~~