17 Chapter 16: Another You
I am not protecting anyone but you, Crisostomo.
I hope you know it. I hope I can say it.
Chapter 16: Another You
"WHAT'S your name?" I asked the teenage boy again. His name rings a bell to me. I think I heard it somewhere.
"Oh, you can just call me, Julz. My full name doesn't matter at all. Let's just find Mateo," he said, and for the first time, he smiled.
He's right, that's why we just followed him. We walk for a couple of minutes or almost an hour or maybe an hour!
This stupid boy! He should just tell me that it takes a lot of time to where we are heading. We should just ride a horse!
"Are we still not at our destination?" I asked pissed at this young man, Julius.
"We're almost here," he calmly said.
"You! Stupid man! Are you kidding me? You are saying it earlier but we're still walking!" They are horrified because of my behavior.
Well, I am just shouting like a madman to this Julius! Fuck him! I'm tired of walking!
"Sorry, Miss. I didn't know you're weak. I thought you are strong enough to walk--"
"What? So this is my fault now?" I pointed at Julius.
"Sis Emcee is kind of scary when she's angry, isn't she?" I hear Crispin whispered.
"Shut up! I understand her. Julius made us walk for too long!" Basilio whispered too.
"Don't you have a brain? You should tell it to me first before---"
I stopped because someone interrupted.
"Miss Maria Clara!" Someone shouted. When I look at him, it was MATEO! As in The Rock!
"Hey!" I said happily! I immediately run after him. He smiles widely when he saw me. I am delighted to see him! Finally!
"Miss Maria Clara!" Marites shouted because I am almost close to The Rock.
"Don't! Young Lady!" It was Lorena. I just ignored them
When I am near to him, he distances himself. I frowned. "Hey! You're so sensitive. It's okay, we're friends!" I told him and I was about to hug him but Marites stopped me.
"No, Young Lady. I know that you're nice but don't do this. You will also have leprosy," she warned me. Yeah, it's true. His disease is contagious.
"Okay, fine." I rolled my eyes to Marites. "Can you leave us alone? I have some important things to discuss with Mateo. It's confidential."
Marites, Lorena, Basilio, Crispin, and Julius stared at each other. They nodded one by one and then slowly walk. The distance is I think 5 meters away.
I opened my small bag and I bring out what's inside it. It's five pieces of Spanish bread and I also get 5 pesos. I want to give him 20, but it seems like it's huge money in this timeline.
Well, in 2021, 20 pesos is just a coin. "Hey, Mateo! I brought you something to eat!"
I saw enjoyment in Mateo's eyes. He looks grateful and his smile shines so brightly. How could he brush his teeth even if he doesn't have money? Or did he need to brush his teeth? He doesn't eat well that's why he doesn't have tartar.
Why am I thinking about this?
"Miss Maria Clara, thank you for being kind and thoughtful. You don't have to do this," he said but he is already eating the Spanish bread I bought. Lorena baked it. He also accepts the money I gave him.
"But I want to. Also, I have a favor for you," I said frankly.
He bites the bread first before staring at me. "A favor? What is it? I am not sure if I can do it, especially that I have a disease and people despise me, but we'll see. As long as it's for you," he gleamed.
"Well, it's not a big favor," I told him. I am also touched because of what he said. As long as it's for me, he said. "Do you remember the necklace I gave to you?"
He stopped chewing when he heard me. Slowly, he shook his head. "No, no..."
My eyes widened! "No? What no? It's like days ago. It's not even weeks ago! Why don't you remember?"
"I remember it, of course, but I am sorry because I can't give it back to you," he said.
I am surprised because he already knows that I am asking for that, but I am more surprised because he said that I can't have it again.
"But why?!" I shouted hysterically. Marites and the squad also stared at me like they heard me. I looked at Mateo and he seems startled. "I mean, yes, I gave it to you, but as you can see, I have to take it again. I forgot that it's important."
"I'm really sorry. I already sold it to the pawnshop since I haven't eaten for days that's why as soon as you leave, I sold it."
I scratched my nape because of what he said. This The Rock is pissing me off! I know it's my fault but... ARGHH!
"But don't worry, Miss. I'll do something. I'll go back to that pawnshop and then I'll ask about your necklace," he offered.
"Yes, please. Go to our mansion as soon as you get back the necklace. How much did you earn from it?"
"Fifty pesos, Miss."
My jaw dropped. 50 pesos? "Stupid! It's original and you know what? It costs a billion dollars! Why you sold it so cheap?"
"But... It's 50 pesos. It's no joke. 50 pesos is a huge number of money."
Oh yeah. I forgot about it. I just nodded because I felt that I failed.
"Just go to our mansion once you get back the necklace," I said hopelessly.
I slowly walked away from him then suddenly he called my name.
"Miss Maria Clara," I faced him. "Sorry to interrupt, but I have no money. I am so, sorry. I already use it to feed the children who work for Spaniards."
-
Okay, so now I am absent-minded. We are currently having a brunch and they are talking about Crisostomo who is planning to build a school.
I am with Captain Tiago, The Alcalde, Crisostomo, and many others who are also part of high society but I don't know who they are.
"Padres, ladies, and gentlemen, I am sorry but I have to go. The Captain-general sent me a telegram and it is written that he is coming at four p.m. I need to clean my mansion because he'll be resting at my place," Captain Tiago said.
Captain Tiago did run after saying it. Wow, is he that excited to see the captain-general? After he left, my other dad comes here. It's Padre Damaso. Eew! Dad? Really?
When he saw me, he smiled a little, but when he saw that beside me is Crisostomo, his smiles vanished His eyebrows furrowed and he looks grumpy. He sat down in the chair.
"So, what are you talking about when I wasn't here?" He asked but his tone is so strict like we must answer him and with one wrong answer, you'll die. He's a horrible fictional character after all.
"Mr. Ibarra was talking about the people who help him build the school and the architects who planned and designed the school," the Alcalde whose name is Herberto answered. I heard his name when they are talking earlier.
I gave Padre Damaso a disgusting look as I despise him when he laughed so hard. What's funny? I gave him a 'You-Need-To-Be-In-Mental-Hospital' look. His happiness is too shallow.
"Architects are nothing compared to me. I look down at the people who are hiring architects. They are just proving that they are stupid. You know what? I am the one and only one who designed our church."
So what? Do we ask for your opinion? This prejudiced priest! A judgmental person indeed. If he's good at designing, he should be an architect, not a priest! He's pissing me off!
"But we need a professional to do it so that Mr. Ibarra's school will be well built," Alcalde Herberto said.
"I second the motion," I said. They all stared at me. Here I am again, making a scene. Padre Damaso's eyes are like burning because I am opposing him.
"Professional? Are you kidding me? Well, the school is built with only four walls and then the ceiling of course. Isn't too easy? So tell me, does it really need to hire a professional?
This man is crossing the line! We all glanced at Crisostomo. He still looks emotionless like he doesn't care but I know, deep inside he is slaughtering Padre Damaso.
"Look at this Indio. Just because he studied abroad, he is full of himself. He thought that he is part of high society hahaha. What a comedian! The reason why his father was punished. His father died inside the jail."
Padre Damaso is a truly horrible, insensitive, terrible, awful, harsh, selfish, stupid person! I was about to burn him alive, with my words but...
Crisostomo aggressively jumped at Padre Damaso just to hold his both shoulders and he is staring at him like he can kill him anytime with one wrong word.
"Take back what you said!" Crisostomo said.
Oh my god! Is this for real? The Crisostomo I know is not aggressive and he is patient but right now, I think that Padre Damaso crossed the line.
"Why? What I said is true. Nothing but a fact," Padre Damaso said, and based on his voice, he despises Don Rafael, Crisostomo's father.
"You dumb! You are much worse than Crisostomo's dad. You are the worst human being here, so, please? Shut your mouth?" I said.
I'm sorry, okay? I can't help but speak out the truth! Padre Damaso's eyes look defeated. I knew it! Maria Clara is his weakness. She is his only daughter after all that's why he is affected.
I saw Crisostomo and he is about to punch Padre Damaso but I stopped him.
"Your hands will just be dirty. Stop it, Crisostomo. Let this fight end. I already shut him with my words!" I shouted to Crisostomo because he can't control his emotion.
Many people are stopping Crisostomo now from attacking the disastrous Padre Damaso. I saw Padre Sibyla just chilling in his sit. I eyed him to help Padre Damaso to sit properly now because Padre Damaso was messed because of Crisostomo.
Thank god, Sibyla gets what I want him to do.
For the first time, I thank Sibyla for existing here. I thought we will never be friends, well yuck! We are not even friends! We just helped both Crisostomo and Padre Damaso.
I thought Crisostomo will chill out but he shouted again. "My father is not a bad guy!"
Guess what? He snatched a knife from the table and he is about to point it out direct to Padre Damaso's neck but I went in the middle of them.
"Stop it, Crisostomo. Stop it! This is not you!" I shouted again. I'm not a calm girl so, it's understandable, right?
"Are you defending him?" He asked unbelievably.
"Definitely not!" I shouted again. He just stared at me like he is not believing me.
"But why are you protecting him from me? Am I the villain here?" He asked again.
"No! But..." I don't know how to tell him that Padre Damaso is my real father well in fact, I am not the real Maria Clara either.
He just shook his head and he walked away lifelessly. What was that?
Did he just think that I am defending this scumbag, Damaso? I lightly hit Padre Damaso's chest out of frustration.
"This is all your fault! Why you are my dad?"
#
Song Featured: Bad Things
Am I out my head?
Am I out my mind?
If you only knew the bad things I like
Don't think that I can explain it
What can I say, it's complicated
Don't matter what you say
Don't matter what you do
I only wanna do bad things to you
So good, that you can't explain it
What can I say, it's complicated
Nothing's that bad
If it feels good
So you come back
Like I knew you would
And we're both wild
And the night's young
And you're my drug
Breathe you in 'til my face numb
Drop it down to that bass drum
I got what you dream 'bout
Nails scratchin' my back tatt
Eyes closed while you scream out
And you keep me in with those hips
While my teeth sink in those lips
While your body's giving me life
And you suffocate in my kiss
Then you said
I want you forever
Even when we're not together
Scars on my body so I can take you wherever like
I want you forever
Even when we're not together
Scars on my body I can look at you whenever
Am I out of my head?
Am I out of my mind?
If you only knew the bad things I like
Don't think that I can explain it
What can I say, it's complicated
Don't matter what you say
Don't matter what you do
I only wanna do bad things to you
So good, that you can't explain it
What can I say, it's complicated
I can't explain it
I love the pain
And I love the way your breath
Numbs me of novacaine
And we are
Always high
Keep it strange
Okay, yeah, I'm insane
But you the same
Let me paint the picture
Couch by the kitchen
Nothin' but your heels on
Losin' our religion
You're my pretty little vixen
And I'm the voice inside your head
That keeps telling you to listen to all the bad things I say
And you said
I want you forever
Even when we're not together
Scars on my body so I can take you wherever like
I want you forever
Even when we're not together
Scars on my body I can look at you whenever
Am I out of my head?
Am I out of my mind?
If you only knew the bad things I like
Don't think that I can explain it
What can I say, it's complicated
Don't matter what you say
Don't matter what you do
I only wanna do bad things to you
So good, that you can't explain it
What can I say, it's complicated
The way we love, is so unique
And when we touch, I'm shivering
And no one has to get it
Just you and me
'Cause we're just living
Between the sheets
I want you forever
Even when we're not together
Scars on my body so I can take you wherever like
I want you forever
Even when we're not together
Scars on my body I can look at you whenever
Am I out of my head?
Am I out of my mind?
If you only knew the bad things I like
Don't think that I can explain it
What can I say, it's complicated
Don't matter what you say
Don't matter what you do
I only wanna do bad things to you
So good, that you can't explain it
What can I say, it's complicated
