Loving you means losing at this game and I am a competitive person. I don't want to lose, that's why I'll choose not to love you.
#22: New Girl
SUNDAY came, it's raining and it's a hassle because I am still wearing a baro't saya or the traditional Filipino dress. The hem of the dress is getting wet and I can't move comfortably.
I am in the church with my so-called family. So it's Captain Tiago, Aunt Isabel, Me, Marites, and Lorena. We also have guards but I don't know what their names are and I am not interested.
Padre Salvi is the preacher and he's also boring to preach. If I could, I wouldn't attend church. Not that I'm an atheist, okay? It's just that the priests at this time are horribles. Captain Tiago forced me to attend church!
I am tired of listening to the preach of this hypocrite Salvi that's why I decided to stand up and I was about to walk out but Captain Tiago called me.
"And where do you think you're going?" He asked while raising his eyebrows looks like he is judging me already.
Hmm, is he a judge now? Why he is judging me like I will do something stupid?
"Out there. Here's boring," I simply said.
"Oh my god! Your mouth, young lady," Aunt Isabel said as she does the sign of the cross together with Marites and Lorena.
"Why? What's wrong?" I asked cluelessly. Damn did I do wrong?
"Your mouth is wrong. Be careful what you said. Do you want Padre Salvi to mention you? Sit down there!" He said as he pulled me to sit down.
Yes, we are a meter away but he managed to pull me simply so that others won't notice me.
"Hey, Dad! Stop it! Are you a kid?" I imitated what he told me the last time we talked to each other.
I mean, why does he want to pull me? Is he insane? He was using force against me and it wasn't right. If we were in the real world, I'll sue him.
"Sit down! Sit down!" He seems scared. The fudge!
"Yes, Miss Maria Clara?" I widened my eyes when I hear the precious name of mine. Kidding, that's not my name. My name is better than hers.
Manuela Carie Flores, the most famous and one of the highest-paid models in the whole world.
"What?" I asked back. I am starting to dislike this priest, Salvi. Why is he mentioning my name? Are we close?
"As I was saying, who do you think is more powerful? A priest who is a server of the Lord or an officer who always golds a revolver to kill?"
I grimaced. Why is he asking me such useless questions? And it's all about power again. Even if you are not in the real world and different eras, it's always about the power that talks.
I hate this world. I'll travel to Mars.
Kidding. I love Earth. It is our planet and our home.
"Well, for me..." The crowd is looking at me now not because I'm beautiful but because I looked tensed.
The reason why I don't like to join beauty pageants is that there's a question and answer portion. I just like modeling, the reason why I am a model, right? But thanks to Padre Salvi who is grilling me now. I despise him!
"The powerful one is the officer," I said with confidence because I am sure. Duh! In the year 2021, officers are more powerful.
I heard the crowd whispering with their seatmates. Oh, what is it now? I tried my best to avoid any chaos but they are chasing me, right? Simoun will be mad at me again. But so what?
"You think so? Why is that?" I can feel disappointment in his voice. Ha! Maybe he thinks that I am scared of him or any priests here.
"Well because officers or officials are using their powers to hurt poor people. They are using the powers in a very horrible, despicable, and terrible way. I believe even in the near future, that is still the case. There's no cure in that case because they are using their power or money to buy people. Money talks, you know," I said while explaining with my hands like I am a lecturer.
The crowd roared again. Are their lions? Wait, is that lions or tigers? Whatever it is. They are humans so they must not roar. Also, they aren't Katy Perry!
"Hey! Are you referring to us?" Someone who I think is an officer based on his proper posture and uniform, he is a higher officer. He is in the front row.
"Oops!" I laughed and held my mouth to stop myself from laughing. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to describe you. I am just stating the facts," the fact you. I mentally rolled my eyes.
"Wow! That lady is amazing," I heard from the back.
"Yeah. She's better than any other gentleman here. She is brave and I think she will be the best leader if she'll have a chance."
"Oh, I also think that way. Maybe it's a time now that we must welcome a woman leader," a fine lady said from the back.
"Oh! Hahaha! I think the same way, Miss Maria Clara. An intelligent lady, indeed!" Padre Salvi proudly said and clapped his hands like he is my father. He sarcastically smiled at the officer earlier.
When I look back at the official, it seems like he's familiar. I squint my eyes at him and I realized who is he. He's the husband of Doña Consolacion. My god!
I shamefully sat down at my seat because if gazes can kill, I am dead now because the official is glaring at me and his jaw is clenching.
-
AS DAYS passed by, Crisostomo is being notorious because of being excommunicated. Our break-up is also the topic of the town. I'm really famous, right? In the real world and even in this fiction world. I'm really the talk of the town.
Also, my other problem is that maybe, I will forever be stuck here in Noli Me Tangere because I can't take back the necklace of Maria Clara. I don't have any plans now to get the necklace, especially that I unconsciously oppose the officer or the husband of Doña Consolacion.
"Miss Maria Clara!" Basilio and Crispin greeted. I am in the kitchen, again, doing the stress-eating thingy. They are with their friend, Julius.
It's already afternoon.
"Wazzup? C'mon and eat!" I offered them the food I am eating. The apples.
"Thank you, Sissy," said Crispin and he sat down beside me. "Julius don't be shy. Sis Emcee is nice and she wants us to be full. Feel free to eat."
I raised my brow at Crispin, surprised but what he said. Look at this young man. As time goes by, he is being a feeler! He feels that he's the owner of this house!
"Yes, Julius. Just eat up. It's our treat since you are so nice to help us," Basillio added. Even him? Also a feeler.
Well, I'm not selfish and it's okay if I am sharing a small amount of my food with them.
"So, what's the news about my necklace?" I asked them while they are eating.
"Well," Crispin started while chewing. He drunk water first. "We thought that you let go of that necklace. We can't do anything about it. We are just sacristans and the owner of the necklace is Doña Consolacion."
"The grumpy doña?" Julius asked. His voice is deep and I guess he is a teenager. He is older than Basilio and Crispin.
"Exactly," Basilio joined the conversation. "Well, I think that we can help."
The amazement on my face was evident. "Really? How?"
"We'll ask for help from your past lover, Don Crisostomo. I believe that he can help us since he is also a powerful man."
"Yes!" Crispin almost shouted. "I think it's the best solution. Maybe he still has feelings for you," Crispin started to tease me.
"Shut up!" I rolled my eyes. "No need, I can do it." I exhaled.
I should do it because If not, I am forever stuck here. Forever Maria Clara and goodbye to my real self, world, and family.
"I think that she should do this alone," Julius seriously said. I raised my brow because the way he voice it out, it was cold and it's like a command.
"Huh! And why do you say so?" I raised my eyebrow at him. This young man! Youths are really different from children who were born in the '90s.
I already gave him food yet he is commanding me. Wow! What an attitude!
"Because it is your mission to fulfill," he said without blinking.
I bit my lips. Why do I feel like he knows something about my mission? Tell me that I am wrong. It's impossible because he is just a fictional character. It's just a pure coincidence. It's a coincidence that he is smart and it seems like he knew something but the truth he doesn't.
After all, he is just a teenager!! I drunk a glass of water but still didn't let go of the glass water.
"But Sissy Emcee! Are the rumors true? Don Crisostomo is dating Miss Victoria?" Crispin asked while his eyes are wide open, looks like he's interested.
"Crispin!" Basilio roared and glared at Crispin. "It's rude to ask such personal things. I apologize, Miss Maria Clara if Crispin is being an intruder."
I dropped my jaw because, at some point, I am affected. I am the real intruder here, nobody, nobody, but me and I don't need and want to apologize for being an intruder.
I unconsciously dropped of the glass water. The three young men shouted as if there's no tomorrow anymore.
"Ahhhhh!" It was Basilio.
"Oh my god!" It was Crispin.
"What's that, coconut?" It was Julius and it seems like he belongs to our generation! As if... as if he was born in the late 90s or early 2000s.
He... he is the only character who has a sense of humor here in Noli Me Tangere!
"Hey, you!" I pointed at Julius. He raised his both hands as if he is being arrested by policemen.
"It wasn't his fault, Miss. It was yours," Crispin attended to Julius and tap his shoulders because Julius looks shocked.
Because of what Crispin did, it looks like he is older than Julius.
"Yeah!" I am also shocked because of my actions. "I mean, clean this up, Julius."
"Yes, Sissy Emcee. We'll take care of this. You must go to your room and rest because you look exhausted. You need to sleep more, you look pale," Basilio said sincerely.
I furrowed. I don't know if I should be happy because he's concern or be mad because he slightly offended me. I look pale? I look exhausted? How dare him!
"You're right, Brother Basilio. I also noticed it to Sissy Emcee. Maybe the reason why she's being like that, I mean alive but looks dead, maybe because she's still into Don Crisostomo. She hasn't moved on that's why she can't sleep properly."
Because of Crispin's words, I feel like my blood rose, and then boom! I am so furious right now.
"You and your unfiltered mouth!" I said and I started to run to catch him.
"Ahhh! Sissy! I'm just concerned!" I can feel that he's nervous now and he started to run as fast as he can. If he can be the flash, then he would but he can't so I caught him.
"Ha! You punk!" I said and I tickle him. I can't hit him since it will be child abuse, and I am not here to hurt them but to save them.
"Sissy-- HAHAHA- Emcee! Stop HAHAHA!" Crispin said while laughing.
What is he saying that I can't move on? Ha! Only if he knows! Crisostomo and I were never a loving couple. It's just between Crisostomo and Maria Clara the original. I am just a proxy here so why the heck I can't move on right?
He's wrong! Totally wrong!
-
It's a rainy Thursday and as usual, I can't do something special here. So boring because? Yes, that's right. No Social Media!
But hey! When I was in the real world, I use to read books and when I have no time to buy from the bookstore, I am just reading it at Webnovel.
I am currently in my room and Marites is changing my curtains. She is cleaning my room as usual since she is a housekeeper/personal assistant here.
"Hey! Mareng Marites!" I called her. She faced me with a furrowed brows. I can't help but laugh since she's cute when she's doing it. She looks like a curious piggy.
"What Mareng?" She asked and I rolled my eyes. Yeah right, I am not in my era so I don't think that there's such a word here.
"Mare is a Filipino word used to call it to your friend when she is a godmother to your child or I am a godmother to your child."
Her brows furrowed more. "Do you have a child? You know that I am single and I don't have children."
I fake cried because I am so super duper frustrated with Marites! She has no common sense! I am crying fakely so hard!
"Huhuhu! Why!" I exaggeratedly said. "Why there's a people who have no common sense?"
"Young lady? Oh my god! What is happening to you? You are making me worry!" She attended to me so fast and hugs me.
"Just kill me," I can't believe Marites. I didn't know that there's a housekeeper who is this stupid! "I just want to ask you if there's a library here..."
But thanks to your IQ level, it makes me difficult to talk to you, bish.
"Oh, you want to go to the library? I know the library near here. It is owned by a professor. Let's go and let's read. It's fun to read!" She said with much excitement and she even clapped her hands.
"Yes! I agreed! Especially when the leading man is so hot!" I even jumped and dance the Dougie challenge. I grimaced when I saw Marites laughing. "What's funny?"
"Miss, you're so funny! You are so gullible," she continued laughing but later on stopped. She just smiled but it looked sad.
"What do you mean? Are trying to say that there's no library?"
Marites smiled and laughed again and shook his head.
"I mean to say is that I can't read. The reason why I don't know any novels and how does it feel whenever you read one," you can feel the sadness in her tone.
"You know what? Let's just go to the library!"
I believe that I have new mission and that one is to educate the people here. I will teach them how to read and write Alphabets.
That's what happened. We went to an old version library but at this time, it's just new. It is a Spanish-inspired library. The walls, the designs, and the ceilings look like ancients and I must admit that it's a bit scary.
There's a lot of ladies and gentlemen here and they are reading while sitting on the wooden couch here and there are also tables. Some are drinking teas while reading, others are just seriously reading.
"Hey, Marites! Pick the alphabet books, so that you'll learn the basics. Let's start from the basic, okay?---ouch!"
I was tripped because of the man in front of me! My brows automatically furrowed. What a stupid! Who's this b*tch?
"Are you blind? Can't you see that there's--" I automatically atopped from talking when I saw the man.
He is Crisostomo!
"Oh look who's here?!" I sarcastically said and I grinned. I was about to open my mouth to talk more when Victoria showed up and held the right arm of Crisostomo.
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