CHAPTER 2

#2: Viva San Jose

Dear Diary,

Do you love me? Me? I love you. I also love Graciano but this is just our secret ha, you just keep quiet, if you make noise, I will shave you. Do you want that? By the way, I am writing to you today to say or write that I really have no hope in Graciano. I no longer really depend on that driver of ours. A big HMPPP for him. I will find another man too. I hoped I was different because he loved me that was because I was the son of the gobernadorcillo.

Love, Hermosa

I woke up early today because we were going to church. Do you know what it is now? Feast in the town of San Jose. I will wear fancy Filipiniana to show them all our luxury. Just kidding, I wore fancy so I wouldn't look ragged in front of a lot of people.

There are many people in the church today. We are in front because Father is gobernadorcillo and should be in front. Gabrielo smiled ahead in front of the people. It's just a fake one. Do not fall for that person. Next up is Leonardo who is yawning now. My older brother Leonardo is really worthless. Father followed listening intently to Father Trillo's sermon and Mother beside. I am at the end.

"levantémonos todos y saludemos al gobernadorcillo Juancho Solidad" Smiling he told us. [Let us all stand and greet governor Juancho Solidad] The people in our town stood up. Father stood up and came forward so that he could deliver his speech.

"Viva Gobernadorcillo!"

"VIVA!"

"VIVA FAMILIA SOLIDAD!"

"VIVA!"

Because of their shouting and applause, Leonardo came to his senses. I secretly laughed at what happened. Father raised his fist so that the people would stop shouting. If they shout, you think they are good, when our family turns their backs, they will surely think that Father is stealing from the treasury, which is not true because if you go to our place, it is beautiful compared to other towns and clean. It's just that you know the people. They are judgmental.

"Good day, my friends, thanks for helping us to our mass." Father's introduction. "We are now celebrating the feast of San Jose! Viva San Jose!" "VIVA!" "Thank you so much for your overwhelming support in our family. Thank you to the people behind the construction of the hospital here in town, none other than the MONTEALEGRE FAMILY!"

When he said 'family Montealegre' he really shouted that and he happily pointed to the family. I looked at the Montealegre family and saw Mr. Montealegre, his wife, my fiancée and his two son now smiling at our family.

Even though I didn't want to, I still smiled at them. I do not want to ruin our family just because of my attitude. The people may also think that I am snobber if I ignore them.

Father said much more to the Montealegre family but to sum it up, it was just gratitude. I noticed that my father seems to worshiped the Montealegre family. What is there in that family?

There was a festival in our town so we did not go home immediately because there were bands that raged in the town and there were also performances.

So we are now headed straight to the plaza. Mother, Father and Gabrielo are together in the chariot while Leonardo and I are together. Do you know who the driver is? Graciano, my beloved.

"Hermosa, are you happy with your future husband?" He asked me while smiling as he almost tore his lip.

"I'm really not. I don't really love that Montealegre." I said seriously while looking out the window. I do not see myself being cared for and in that house that Montealegre.

My true love is none other than our driver today. I looked at him now seriously taking the road to the plaza where we would go. I really don't understand why I fell in love with him even if there's many man out there, right?

He was my childhood friend and then he knew all my actions and deeds. As we grew up, he moved away from me and I knew the reason. This is because my family belongs to the wealthy group and unfortunately they do not belong there.

"His name is Gallardo." He said laughing. "Then do you have another lover?" He asked. I turned to him and smiled.

"Yes." Smiling, I said.

"Really?" He said smiling and messed up my hair. "Who is the lucky gentleman?"

"None other than Gra--" I stopped immediately because I almost mentioned his name, fortunately because he was just serious about what he was doing, he didn't heard me. "Why do you even need to know?" I stared at him.

"I have a surprise talent later. Get ready." He said cheerfully. I smiled at him.

"Make sure I will enjoy on your talent."

-

We are now in the plaza. We are also now with our personal guard to guard us in case the rebels will attack. Older brother Gabrielo is a general of this town so this is how he protects us.

I'm glad today, do you know why? Graciano is just next to me. He is seriously holding an umbrella for me because the hot sun is shining at this time.

"Are you okay?" I asked him because he had been holding the umbrella for a long time me and he is not complaining. He also stands up well so I'm sure he's tired too. He is just a human like me.

"I'm fine, Señorita." He seriously said. I pouted. I am not saddened by his well-being. I feel sad because he is serious. He is not really a serious person and he is happy go lucky man. I'm sure the reason why he changed is because they are under our family.

"Graciano, why do you keep calling me Señorita? Don't be so formal to me. Do you forget we are friends?" I scolded him. "We used to be friends and play then, and now ..."

"Señorita, your family is here now. Do you want us to get along and talk like friends? Let's go around?" He asked with a smile.

As he smiled, his good looks were further subdued. I'm not sure if he is of a different race but he has a look. The tip of his nose, his chocolate eyes anf deep. His hair is also chocolate colored and it is thick and he is a brunette.

I was about to answer with a sweet yes but suddenly a gentleman, also Father's man, spoke.

"Now, let's move on to our next contest! It's none other than ... PAINTING!" He said cheerfully.

Suddenly the thick curtains that had previously blocked were lowered. I saw my older brother Leonardo happily standing in one of the paintings.

Is he an artist? I was amazed at his work. Even people were surprised to see Leonardo in a contest. Especially my family. Mother smiled and Father just widened his eyes, I do not know what was on his mind. Gabrielo, on the other hand, clenched his jaw and I saw fire on his eyes. What is wrong with being an artist?

"My brother's work is amazing." I said happily and applauded.

"He really is. While you are not." My dear is already joking. I stared at him.

"Painting is not really my talent. My talent is writing. Haven't you heard of that?" I arched my brow at him.

He laughed but he also immediately stopped when my family was just next to me. "You are a really good writer, Señorita, do you remember when I read your diary?" He said laughing.

My cheek blushed when he mentioned that. By the way, since we were friends then, I entrusted my diary to him. I let him held my diary then to get a flower FOR A MOMENT but when I came back he was already reading my diary.

"You are really annoying!" I was annoyed with him. If you think that I am a modest young lady like Maria Clara who wrote in the novel of my admired Doctor Jose Rizal, you are wrong. I am a strange woman.

"My dear diary, do you love me? That is your constant introduction, Señorita." He said with a smile. "My team and I won the arnis game, I didn't want to spread it but they are too weak and I am not." He says what I wrote before.

"You really are annoying! Haven't you forgotten about that yet?" I stared at him. "Someday I will be a famous poet and when you call me I will not look at you."

"Oh, Señorita! Maybe later you won't be that poet because of what you said." He looked seriously in my eyes. "I'm a lucky person. If you fight me you will see."

"Just shut up! I'm taking back what I said. I just want you to just shut up and be a GUARDIA supposedly." I just looked at my brother's work.

I do not understand, despite the beauty of his work I see something wrong with it.

-

"Señorita Hermosa, I just want to remind you that we should be here for a while because we did not say goodbye to your father properly." Graciano remind.

He is following me now as we walk through the colorful and beautiful view of the plaza today. Many sell toys, clothing, food, and flowers. The area is really noisy and crowded.

There are also children chasing, I remember my youth. The beauty of our town because my father and mother are good, they fixed our town.

"Don't worry, Graciano, I said goodbye to Leonardo. He will take care of me. I rarely roam around and then you still do not want to roam with me!" I complained to him.

He just returned my frown with a sincere smile. "Señorita, it's not that I don't want you to be happy, I'm just wondering if you will be scolded for our escape." He looked around us. "If you want, let's go and visit! I have memorized this place."

He walked ahead and I just followed him. We first went to the clothing market. Clothes are not expensive but they are beautiful. I looked at it in amazement, one by one. Unbeknownst to me I smiled as I looked at a red dress.

"Do you want to buy it, Señorita?" Graciano asked me with a smile. He adjusted my cloak so that no one would recognize me. "Fix your cloak, I recognize you for that."

I tapped his hand because I could not bear the heat on my face, because my heart beats so fast! "I have no money, Graciano."

"I have, Señorita, do you want to buy this dress?" I smiled happily at his question. I was happy that he bought me a dress, even though I knew later I would have to pay for it. I'm just really happy, maybe because I love him.

Next we went to the clogs store. I have a lot of fancy clogs but I just really wanted to take a walk so I came here. As we went there, I saw that the clogs are beautiful too. Looks like I'll buy again.

"Just choose Señorita as you wish, I have some money, don't worry." Smiling he said and he started to select a clog. "In a battle, your gun must always be full of ammunition. That means you must always be ready. Now you are not ready and you have no money." He smiled.

The clog has a tulip design on the tread, which is also nice but I feel it does not suit me. The one who suit for me is the one with the red rose design because that is my favorite flower, not the tulip. This is only for those who are feminine people amd calm.

"It suits you." He said and then stood up. He looked me in the eyes and then smiled at me. "That's what we should buy." I suddenly realized what he had done. Why did he touch me on my foot? That's bad! Not pleasant! My future husband should only have to touch it.

I could not understand myself why I did not complain and I remained in my position. I also don't understand why I seem to like what happened. Can we get married then?

"It doesn't suit to me." I said and looked at the other clog. "I think that red rose design suits me better." I pointed to what I was saying clogs. He took it and looked at the clog I was wearing.

He smiled. "The two clogs are both suitable for you so we will buy two." He said at once go to pay for the clogs. Does he have a lot of money? It's embarrassing.

Next we went to the make-ups shop and I frowned because I don't use it. It is only used by the beautiful ladies and I ... I do not belong to them.

"Let's not be here." I yell at him. If I used that, I would just look like a clown unlike Mother and Clara. They are the real blessed ones, I am not.

"Why not? I noticed that you don't use lipstick, most women use it, why don't you?" He asked me. I looked at the ground.

"Because, I shouldn't use that, I'm not a gorgeous" I hide the sadness in my speech. I do not want to look pitiful, I just say my opinion to myself. He approached me and gently lifted my chin.

You're beautiful, who told you you were ugly?" I was shaken by him and forced a smile.

"No one told me I was ugly, I was the only one judging myself." I said and headed to the lipstick market.

"You are beautiful, Hermosa, you are beautiful outside and inside. That is why you are different from all the young ladies." He said seriously. He should not just add the reason I am the son of the gobernadorcillo. "Because of your attitude."

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