Chapter 7.1: A Lifetime of Friendship

It was the town's annual feast to celebrate their patron saint, San Isidro.

Hermana Auring invited me to go to Church and take a walk in the park afterwards. As we were about to proceed, we noticed Antoine sitting quietly in the living room, reading a booklet about exorcism.

"Join us! I brought the bag you gave me so that it will be blessed." I happily told him while posing like a supermodel.

Oh. Not at all.

I am very bad in posing and finding my perfect angle that is why all my attempted selfies were deleted.

Regardless of my awkward pose, he surely was entertained as his lips curled into a restrained smile.

"Don't go too near the friar. He likes pretty gir-" he suddenly stopped before he could finish the whole word which I guess should be "girls". "The friar likes...your...bag?" he stuttered. He moved the book higher so that I would not see his face.

"He likes bags?" I asked while sitting beside him and taking a peek of what keeps him seemingly busy. "Isn't that...weird?"

"Maybe."

I snatched the booklet he was reading and placed it on the mahogany table.

"You are going with us!" I ordered him. He looked at me, surprised with my persistence.

"I can't. I'm not welcome in the Church."

"Who cares?" I pulled his arm with all my strength and forced him to stand up with me.

"The friar hates me, Bianca. And, you know it."

"Would you like me to kill him?" I eerily suggested as this certain priest is just so evil that he could pass as one of the best villains in history. He is rumored to be a criminal from Spain who was granted parole in terms that he will serve the Church. But as far as I know, he molests women, abuses his servants and had a bad record of stealing lands from the poor. He was also the one who excommunicated Antoine for the fault of refusing to kneel before him, a holy man.

That was just a front.

The real reason was my main character petitioned a prayer and lit a thousand candles in honor of a lady named Cristina Maja. She is believed to be the white lady of San Isidro who had the terrible luck of being desired by the friar. Scorned by this lady, he had her family's properties and house burned, accidentally killing her. She still haunts the Church and is feared by many, yet she is famously known to be a protector of women, children and the poor. Legends say that if you have no money and dares to mention her name three times; bread, milk and a few coins will mysteriously appear by your door. Just be sure that there is no mirror around as you might see her horrible burnt form.

"And then, I'll break his bones and feed him to piranhas?" I continued to convince him. "Problem solved!"

"No, God forbid, no!" he instantly answered with an obvious shudder. "How violent." he murmured.

"Admit it. You want him dead." I tempted him even more because finishing that friar for good in my story is so easy once I get back to my world.

"That sounds murder. Don't go to Church at all. Just shop somewhere nice but be back before six in the evening." He sat again and continued reading. I took the booklet and put it inside my bag.

"There, you won't have anything to read at all." I sneered. "Hahaha!"

"Give that back."

"No-uh! Not until you move your lazy bones and accompany us this fiesta*! Won't you even treat us to some tasty food?" I winked at him, trying to use my charm to make him obey me.

(Spanish word for "feast")

The truth is I really want him to be my "tour guide" and "bodyguard" especially now that there is a big town celebration. I was so excited to see more of how it was done in the 1900s as compared to my time in 2020.

"I see." He took out his wallet and handed me money. "Buy anything you want. Is that enough? I'll get some more..."

"I don't need this. Don't you get it? I want you by my side!" I snapped because admittedly, he could be so naive when it comes with social skills and relations with women. "How could you be...so slow?"

"I'm so sorry...please don't get mad." he was quick to apologize and explain. "I was just trying to protect you from nosy people who sees me negatively as an excommunicated man by the Church. I don't want you to be involved with someone like me..."

"I don't care. Come!" I held out my hand to him. He stared at me with a wistful expression that reminded me of my best friend, Anthony. The longer I stay with him, the more I notice their similarities. The only significant difference I have noticed is this one I am with now is too withdrawn and had the eyes that could be dangerously hypnotic.

As he was about to hold me, he hesitated for a moment. Impatient of his indecisiveness, I firmly held his hand and pulled him towards me.

"Like lovers, huh?" Hermana Auring uttered. "You really match!"

"No!" I denied in a whim. "Oh my Lord!" I let go of his hand and turned my back at him.

She laughed at my childish behavior.

"You need to see a little more of the world, my child. Dress up!" She nudged Antoine to go to his room and change clothes. She gave him a gentle tap on the arm just like how a mother will do if her child misbehaves. "Make it fast for your girlfriend!"

"G-Girlfriend?" I could barely say the word. "We are just friends, Hermana!"

"Hush. Hush. Everything starts from friendship." she mumbled dreamily while stroking her graying hair. "I remember my late husband. He was so elegant and handsome, but damn his soul! He left me as swiftly like the wind for reasons I could not comprehend! Never imitate such idiot!" Her countenance was filled with anger and her aura turned red with rage. I and Antoine stared at each other with questioning expressions. "What are you waiting for, Child? Christmas? Dress up! Now!"

"Alright. I will." He followed her orders in an instant, comparable to a toddler scared of his mom's wrath. He turned again at my direction and caught me looking at him. To hide my shame, I forced a pout.

At the Church, he told us he'll wait outside.

While waiting for the mass, Hermana whispered something in my ear.

"What?" I inquired.

"Do you like him?"

"Who?" I looked around looking for a cute sacristan or priest.

"Antoine."

"No, Hermana. Impossible."

"Why not? He's sweet. And besides, only you could make him smile that way."

"Sshhh..." an old but elite looking woman interrupted as she pointed at the altar.

"I'm getting dizzy with the heat. Let me get some fresh air." I excused since the crowd, humid air and Hermana's matchmaking makes me nauseous.

"Would you like me to come with you?"

"No need. I'll be back soon."

I walked, almost ran, to the nearest exit. Due to my absent-mindedness or lack of oxygen, I bumped into a man. The impact, which I could say is comparable to bumping into a wall, made me dizzier.

"Are you alright, Señorita*?" he questioned with a distinct Spanish accent. Familiar with the voice, I raised my chin to see who is speaking with so much charisma that I expected to see a very attractive man.

(Spanish word for "Miss")

I was right.

He is dangerously handsome.

But looks like a purebred casanova.

A flirt.

A playboy.

A good-for-nothing!

Mariano!

Antoine's naughty friend!

"Y-Yes." I replied shaking my head a little to regain my wits back.

"How can I help? Just tell me." A pair of piercing gray eyes stared at me with so much interest. He was about to hold my arm when I stepped back to avoid his touch.

"Oh! I am really sorry. I have to go. Bye!"

"Wait, Señorita!" he called but I just chose to ignore him.

After three agonizing hours of mass and lecturing by the friar, we headed straight to where Antoine was sitting. Upon seeing us, he closed a new book he could have purchased somewhere.

He is indeed, a certified bookworm.

"How was the mass?" he inquired.

"I almost slept. Actually, I daydreamed the whole time so that I won't snooze. You should have warned me."

He let out a soft laugh. "That's even a short one."

"What?" I, too, began to laugh with him. "Honestly?"

"You two go to the park. I will go to a friend's house, alright?" Hermana Auring interrupted.

"Her-ma-na..." I stammered.

"I will be home before dark. So must you two." she said sternly while winking at him. He just stared blankly and cluelessly at her. She leaned to "whisper" on his ear, if that is how it should be called, as it was loud enough for me to hear. "Child, this is the time you make your moves on her. But stay a gentleman. Do not be naughty!"

Antoine's brows furrowed as she spoke to him. As our eyes met, his cheeks revealed a faint blush. Mine, too, felt so hot that maybe I was as red as cherry.

She finally left us, leaving us lost for words. We silently sat on the bench and observed people walking by.

"Would you like to go to the park?" he timidly suggested while looking down. "And, look for some delicacies that you might want to try."

"Of course! I heard there's a beautiful fountain in there. Some sweets and cakes would be nice too."

"Alright." he agreed with a visible sparkle in his eyes. "Shall we?"

As we were about to leave, the friar came out. People swarmed over him like he was a "god" and kissed his hand. We chose to discreetly stay away from him.

"Oh, the excommunicated one!" he shouted with a condemning tone.

We tried to ignore him yet his mouth was full of vile and nasty words.

"Is that woman with you, your woman?" he began his tirade of insults. He smirked, showing a set of crooked teeth with a tint of brown, possibly he got from smoking so much tobacco. "I assume she is an immoral one! A whore!"

Antoine gritted his teeth and turned to confront the friar. He is usually calm but I was surprised when he lost his cool with what the friar said.

"You don't know the word "respect". Didn't your Pope teach you that?"

"Stop. Don't mind him." I tugged his sleeve and gently pushed him to go.

"This lady deserves an apology from you, Padre*."

(Spanish word for "Father")

"Let's go. It's alright now."

The friar succeeded to humiliate me. People began murmuring and pointing at me with mocking faces. I felt so vulnerable and I could assume that he too, felt it. He switched places with me and held my shoulder to calm and protect me.

It was too late for me to notice that even though we lost the judgemental crowd, I still held on to him so tightly and even leaned on his chest. He looked at me with wonder yet did not say anything.

"Sorry." I let him go so quickly and fixed his shirt back in place. His lips quivered like he was about to laugh. He let out a cough instead.

"Are you alright now?" he asked.

"Of course."

A mother and a teenage girl walked by our side. She looked intently at him with her mouth wide open. The mother pulled her away from us and pinched her side. "Stop those eyes from sinning!" she scolded as they walked faster.

"Popular with the ladies, eh?" I teased.

"Didn't you write it that way, Author?" he replied with another question.

"That is why I am so proud of you! You are so perfect!"

"Bianca..." He stopped walking. "May I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"Never mind." he took his words back.

"What? Spit it out."

He avoided my stare and shifted his gaze towards a passing carriage.

"Tell me." I insisted. "Don't be shy."

"If you wrote me to be like this, somehow I could be someone based on a real person that you really liked." He held his breath, closed his eyes, and asked something really silly that made me cringe to the bone. "Do you also...find me...attractive? What I meant is...am I likable to you?"

"A what?" I inquired, almost screamed. "Are you possessed or something?"

He scratched his head embarrassed by his weird question. "Why did I ask that? Just, forget it. The humid weather just makes me lightheaded." He walked faster, making it hard for me to catch up.

"Hey! Slow down!" I tried to stop and comfort him. My reaction could have made him feel so bad and I felt so guilty for it. "Of course, you are attractive. Very, very attractive! Goodness gracious! You are so gorgeous and talented! Don't you know that?"

A smile formed on his lips that could melt any maiden's heart. "Do you think so?"

"Yes! You should be. You are my "Obra Maestra". My masterpiece!" I declared with so much pride.

Instead of being happy with my praises, his eyes became extremely sad.

I, too, felt his sorrow.

I did not know why.