2 Montfort Family

I saw Tessa one time when she went out from one side of a wing with a young man, who wore a brown mask. She talked and laughed with him. Probably he is one of the valets or hand help. I was looking from the window above, where I was trying to check on one of the paintings, when he looked at me and as if scared to be seen, I hid myself. Haha! Like a child I felt a strange feeling inside. Now, I still feel different, if I’ll have the chance, I’ll ask Tessa about him. But we still have lots to do…Where am I now? Yes, the wing that I need to check on whether it still needs paint change or restoring.

Hello, Sir!, I said when the courteous butler interrupted, No, no, no! Rolando is much better!, he insisted. Okay! Rolando, can I ask why Ms. Uhm! Tessa, often visits the wing there? I asked innocently. Oh! Yes! One of the relatives who owns this castle lives there, Rolando explained. Really! He must be 100 years old now, how come he is very young? I added. Oh, well!, he is the nephew from the second generation of the Montforts. He’s name is Louis (Luwey). Alright! I replied. Madame Tessa will introduce Sir Louis to you, in the mean time, I’ll leave for now, lots of preparing to do for tonight!. Rolando, slightly bent down and then left.

Okay, then! I wondered. While walking near the wing that seems to appear as an extension of the palace but separated. I knocked once then twice, no one’s in, I peeped through the little hole in the middle. Hmm! Maybe, I’ll come back later, I said to myself. But the door opened and I felt the need to check on this side of the castle. Hello! Good afternoon!, I’m Maria from the restoration company, can I come in?. Since there’s nobody’s home, I led myself in and looked around. It’s amazing how the chandeliers, carpets and walls are different from the other side where we are staying. Paintings are colorful and more grotesque. Some are abstract, human bodies, others are about nature complimenting with the humans in it. Visually the….the young man I saw came while checking up on the wall near a lamp and an old-fashioned clock bigger than me. Louis was already standing behind my back when I realized he was there. Oh! sorry, there you are sir! I said surprised. Yes! Maria, right! He replied fixing his brown skin-toned mask Yes! Aunt Tessa told me about you, I am Louis Paulino Montfort, just call me Louis for short. Okay, Louis! I added smiling. I better be going, I just visited the place to check on whether we still need to add other stuff for your side of the castle resto. Thanks, I’ll head off! It was a pleasure to meet you Louis!, I said walking out of the door. The pleasure is mine, Maria! Goodnight! Louis said cordially while holding the door knob, still looking at young Maria walking her way back to the middle side of the castle.

Wow! That was awkward! Okay guys, what have you done lately, are we through with this part, pointing at the left side of the middle castle, I said to my team while they are making the plasters and paints for the colors needed for the walls. We’re good, Nica replied, so how’s the place you checked, was it restorable? She added quickly. Well, I can handle that part, I just need to repaint the walls and probably the staircase and it’s good as new, I added. Joms!, can you hand me the brush, please, I said trying to help out with the finishing touches on a stair handle. Everybody are quite relieved with the news that the castle needs a little restoring than what they thought when they started to accept the job from a Madame Teresa. Paolo and Sheena were already fixing the scaffolding set-up so they can start plastering some part of the ceiling. Mike started with the combination of paints while I tweeted my mom. Alright, guys! Finish things up and we’ll continue tomorrow, it’s almost six o’clock, and we need to meet here at seven sharp tomorrow for the briefing on how to restore this part of the ceiling. Mike, please keep the paints and stuff on a proper place where it’ll not be touched. Put a sign up front and the corner to advice the palace staff about our work. Thanks!. Good job, guys! Eat your dinner, I’ll just finish this and I’ll see you later!, I said deliberately, to check on the right wing I visited earlier to get more details on the place.

I wonder what Louis is doing right now?, Hmm! Silly me! Why would I….I said thinking about how he looked at me, with those eyes as if looking through, inside me…I hesitated to continue walking and decided to leave when…Hi! Maria!, a voice familiar to my ear called me. Oh! hello, Louis, right?, I said happily. Yes! So what are you doing here? Have you eaten dinner yet?, Louis concerned. Oh, ah not yet, I was just running another round to check on your place to see what I needed to do to restore its natural beauty!, I added very much inspired about the idea of restoring Louis’ place. Okay! You can come in then, if it’s okay, you can eat dinner with me, if you don’t mind?, Louis hesitating. Really! I would love to!, I answered confidently.

OMG! What a dining table!, I shockingly said when Louis escorted me to the dining room, which is twice as big as our living room in Joanesberg. Haha! Please sit here and I’ll be on the end seat parallel to you, or if you like we can sit together, if that is alright with you? Louis shyly asked. Of course, not at all! I’ll be happy to sit with a cool guy like you! I wittingly said to hide my fear of being next to him. Okay, then, here you go! While he pulled up an antique chair for me and beside him, he pulled his own and sat like a child, enormously happy to be with his best friend. It’s weird though that the food is already prepared, chicken soup with sort of like pork barbeque, with salads and fruits, then a bowl of lemonade of some sorts and some desserts, Jello?...Hmm! I love jello! Yummy!. We ate together and chatted about so many things like the place, when the castle built and who built it. “But I’d like o ask you one question though, if it’s okay?, I said. Yes, what is it? Louis said bravely. What happened to your face?

Why are you wearing that mask? I asked continuously. Yes! This, he said while pointing to the mask, I had a couple of surgery before since my accident when I fell on a tree near the castle. It was a very tall tree, I wanted to get some flowers for my mother, but I slipped and fell hard, face flat, and broke my jaw! I don’t want others to be terrified, surgeries done were good but not that perfect to correct my jaw and face. I’m sorry! I guess it’s getting late, I need to rest too! He said sounding sad. Okay! Ah, I’m sorry , I should’ve not mentioned about your….I apologized when he stopped me with his finger on my lips, No, please that’s okay! He said, I’ll escort you to the middle ground Okay, thank you! I said mesmerized by his voice. Goodnight, Maria! As he kissed my hand and said his goodbyes.

Stop! Please, I don’t want you near me, I was running away from someone, in my silk long gown on foot and this man kept on gaining after me. His face disheveled, it was so scary like in the Jack the Reaper movie or Chucky. Please! Oh!, I suddenly woke up gasping for air, Oh my God! Huh, huh! It’s just a dream! I felt relieved that I’m still alive. I really wanted to jump out of the bed and shout for help, if the dream was real, but it’s not, so, back to bed. Haay! It’s never going to work out with me and Louis! It’s so weird I had to dream such dreams which, for as long as I can remember, been terrorizing me since I was little.

Good morning! Guys?, Sorry I was late, I don’t really feel very good! I said feeling sick. Are you alright, Maria? Mike asked worried. Yes, but I feel like my head is going to explode. I said holding my head. Okay! Probably it’s best to rest for a while, rest a day of two. You’ll be fine, for now off to bed you go girl!, Sheena said half smiling. Alright! Alright! You guys will be good!? I asked worried. Yes! We can finish up with the ceiling and the boys will work on the paintings then you’ll see for yourself after two days, okay! Nica added with surety. Alright, then. Thank you guys, I owe you one! Paolo, please tell Rolando to ask someone to fix my shower heater, I think it’s messed up. I said while stepping up the stairs and still holding my head.

What to do? So bored, aww! If not for this crazy head ache, I’ll be working at my masterpiece at Louis’ place. Too bad! I kind of miss that chats and …. Ha! What am I saying! It’s not you Maria, knock it off. When was the last time, you fell for a guy? Hmm! A decade maybe, ha, ha! I was nine years old when I had a crush with Leopold, was it Leo or L….I don’t exactly remember. He was so cute, I can see his eyes, hair and face, his face is like one of the BTS members, the Korean pop group, ah! I wanted to hug and kiss him, I always wanted to see him when he paraded the streets of St. Paul Vill. Then after a while, mom and I needed to leave for some issues to Joannesberg. Anyway! Where was I? okay, better sleep this off, maybe later, I’ll be fine! I added lying in the bed.

The door quirked a little being opened. Maria is sound asleep. Someone was checking up on the place then the shower room, seeing Maria lying on bed. This person wanted to come near her but hesitated. A hand went to touch Maria’s cheek, but Maria turned over to the left side of the bed. The hand stopped its trying to touch her and went out of the room.

Ooh! Yawn! Anybody here? I asked when I felt someone is in the room with me. Hmm! That’s odd! Maria picked up the phone and called the help desk. Hello! Good evening! I just remembered, did Rolando sent someone to fix my shower room, thank you!, Maria added feeling worried and sleepy at the same time. (Yes, Mr. Benedict already sent one of our maintenance staff over!, the girl on the other line said) Maria then lazily walked towards the shower room and turned on the nib. Perfect! It’s fixed!. Maria feeling the gush of water on her hands, she called help desk and thanked the girl on the other line.