Warning: There will be curse words in this chapter.
Violette stared at the chandelier in awe, her jaw dropping onto the floor. Lucián couldn't help but feel annoyed with her behavior. It didn't help that all of the attention was towards them. It was odd for him to invite somebody into his house. He would often prefer to keep them away from his mansion.
"Niña, can you please stop staring at the chandelier? If you continue to do so, I have no doubt you'll be stealing it," he said that made Violette snap out of her thoughts. She gave him a puzzled look and replied, "Niña? That's not my name."
He rolled his eyes at her in annoyance and explained, "It means girl. Niña means girl in Spanish. Aren't you supposed to know that? You're from this colony, are you not?" She stared at him and said something that made him mentally facepalm.
"La ñina? Why isn't it raining then? It's too hot outside," she joked. As much as he wanted to chuckle, he didn't want to seem like he fully acknowledge her as an acquaintance. "It would be best if we stop with this petty conversation."
He gestured her to follow him as he walked up the wide staircase. She couldn't help but feel amazed to step on a carpeted staircase. She was so busy overthinking that she accidentally tripped causing her to cuss out loud. "Ay puta!"
Lucián froze upon hearing her curse. He turned his head to look at her and scowled. "I would advise you to refrain from saying those....inappropriate words. I am not fond of those absurd words."
She gave him an apologetic look and averted her eyes. As they descended up the stairs, her eyes caught the huge stained glass window that was on the second floor. It was beautiful.
On the stained glass window, you can see silhouettes of what seemed to be wolves howling to the moon. The sky was dark and the were multiple stars that gave color to the might sky. It was fascinating for her to see stained glass windows because in her time, those things aren't as popular as it used to be.
"Wonderful, isn't it?" Lucián suddenly spoke as he looked at the window. When they reached the second floor, they both stood in front of the window. Their eyes focused on it. "Wolves are such amazing creatures but unfortunately, they are seen as monsters."
He shook his head upon remembering that time when one of his dogs were mistaken for a wolf, causing his dog to get shot by a hunter. "To be frank with you, people are such terrible acquaintances. Animals, on the other hand are better companions."
"Honestly, same. But you can't deny that there are good people too. You just haven't found them yet," she replied as she glanced at him and looked away. He shrugged his shoulders upon her statement. "Humans are the deadliest creatures on this planet. Predators like bears and lions cannot compare to what humans can do."
"Why are we on this topic again? I'm sorry but why did you bring me here?" she decided to ask and change the topic. He suddenly acted nervous, his hands sweating. "Ah, of course."
Violette followed him as he turned to the right. The hallway was filled with paintings. All sorts of paintings of himself and different kinds of dogs. She couldn't help but smile upon seeing such cute paintings of these dogs. "Aw. Cute."
His cheeks turned red upon hearing her say that. "Ah, thank you?" She shook her head and said, "I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about the dogs." He scowled and avoided looking at her. He was quite mad about it.
"You seem fond of dogs, aren't you? Hm. That's out of the ordinary. I still can't believe that I'm in the past. I must still be dreaming," she commented. "I mean I do love to sleep so it's no wonder why am I'm here."
"That's reminds me. We haven't introduced ourselves to each other," she added making him sigh in annoyance. He didn't like introducing himself to strangers. "My name is Violette. Violette Delacroix."
He stayed silent for a moment before saying, "Are you french perhaps?" He turned his head around to find her shaking her head. "No. I'm not. Not quite. My grandfather is french."
He narrowed his eyes at her in suspicion and said, "You are not a spy, are you not?" She shook her head and gave him a puzzled look. "No, I'm not. What makes you think that?"
He didn't reply. He continued walking silently. He had a speculation in his mind as to why this peculiar girl was in his domain. There is indeed something odd with this girl. The way she acts. The way she talks.
In the Salvador residence, Alexandro paced back and forth outside of his father's room as he waited for the family doctor to give the news about his father's declining health.
When the door opened, he was greeted with a frowning doctor. He looked at Alexandro in pity before finally breaking the news. The expression of the doctor's face confirmed his speculation.
"My father is not getting any better, isn't he?" The doctor gave a nod before excusing himself to leave. He stood in front of his father's chambers, not knowing what else to do. He was extremely furious about everything.
Ever since that day when he went to the old man, things have been going haywire. He still wore the amulet around his neck but it gave him a bad feeling in his gut. "Mierda! What on earth is happening to me?"
He calmed himself down and decided to talk to his father. He went inside of the room to find his father on the bed, staring at the window. "Pa?" His father's eyes went towards him when Alexandro called him.
"Ah. Wipe off those tears on your face. A real man does not show his weakness. I would be utterly disappointed if I ever find out you've been crying like a child on my funeral," his father said as he let out a laugh afterwards. The gloomy mood stayed even after his father tried to uplift it.
Alexandro let out a deep sigh before saying, "It is not good to be jesting about your funeral. We don't want that to happen, would we?" He didn't like how accepting his father was in terms of death. He didn't want to lose another parent.
He noticed how his father was even paler than before. He was definitely getting worse. He feared that he would be gone too soon. "It will happen sooner or later. I already accepted my fate."
"Your death will make it harder for me to find my mother. You are aware of her whereabouts and yet, you would not tell me," Alexandro decided to bring up the topic that he have been thinking of lately. His father's face turned grim as soon as he said that.
"Oh. Her. Your m-mother? She's definitely something else," her father replied in a displeased tone. His gaze went back to the window as Alexandro started throwing questions at him. "Why won't you tell me?"
His father completely ignored him as he continued to ask him questions. "Why did she leave? Where is she? Is she still alive? Pa, why won't you answer me?" His father shook his head and smiled sadly before saying, "We are better off without her. It would be best for you to not know her whereabouts."
Alexandro opened his mouth to ask another question when they heard a knock on the door. "Señor, I apologize for interrupting but a lady named Helena is looking for Mr. Alexandro."
His father's eyes narrowed at Alexandro whose forehead was sweating in nervousness. "Helena? Why haven't you told me you have a lover?" Alexandro gulped and nervously excused himself.
He walked downstairs and to the living room to find a dark haired female admiring a family portrait. The girl noticed his presence and turned around to find him fuming in anger. "Oh, Alexandro. It has been a long time since we last met."
"Helena, why are you here? Haven't I told you to stay away from my house?" he said as he approached her. Helena's face was caked up with makeup. Her tan skin was covered with pale white foundation of some kind. She wore an expensive looking dress that didn't flatter her figure.
He stopped walking towards her upon seeing appearance. "What is the matter, love?" she asked with a puzzled expression on her face as she fanned herself. He stared at her in disbelief. Helena? Why did you-What in the world is this monstrosity?!
"It would be best if you leave, Helena. You will give me even more trouble. My father already have suspicions. I do not want him to know about our relationship. Helena, please leave," he said as he gestured her out of the living room.
But Helena wouldn't budge. She remained hardheaded. "What is the matter with you, love? You haven't been showering me with endearments." He wanted to pushed her away from him as soon as possible.
She grabbed him arm and clang to him like a leech. "Helena, now is not the time for this. I have important matters to attend to." It took him a long time to convince her to leave but he had to promise her to visit her often.
He stood by the door as he watched her retreating figure. He wanted to get away from her as far as possible but fate seemed to have other plans. He loved her dearly but for the past few months, she has been changing every so slightly. But this time, she is a completely different woman.
He was finally able to sigh in relief once she was out of sight.
Violette glared at Lucian who smirking. She glanced at the Traje de Mestiza that she was currently wearing before saying, "Why do I have to wear this? It's kinda itchy. It's so uncomfortable."
"People might mistake you for a whore if you continue to wear your peculiar clothes. My reputation would be utterly ruined if they ever find me with you." His statement made her even more furious. He suddenly remembered what she told him a while ago when he asked her for an explanation as to why she was on his land.
"Are you certain you are completely sane? You told me a while ago that you are from the year 2018?" He suddenly brought up the topic that was continuously lingering in his mind. She nodded her head in reply.
"That's the most ridiculous claim I've ever heard in my entire life. Even an Indio is capable of knowing that it is a mere lie," he added. His statement angered her. The way he said it was very insulting. She glared at him as she crossed her arms over her chest before muttering, "Racist asshole."
It was loud enough for him to hear that made the grin on his face disappear. His eyebrows were raised in shock before saying, "Pardon me but I am not racist. I'm merely telling the truth of reality."
She couldn't help but feel like punching him. As much as she wanted to do that, she knew that isn't capable of doing that.
She stared at him, imagining herself choking him or possibly killing him. This guy is unbelievable. Of course. I should have expected this. This is the past after all.
She couldn't help but think of how odd her dream was. She was puzzled as to why she was aware of her surroundings and how she was able to control her actions. Am I even dreaming? Time travel isn't possible. It can't be.
I think I'm going insane. I never even planned to be brought back in the past because I'm not really fond of the Spanish era of the Philippines nor am I into the old fashioned ways of living. As she was distracted with her thoughts, Lucián looked at her as if she had grown two heads.
He cleared his throat to get her attention before saying, "Your presence here would raise suspicions so it be best if you were to pretend to be a maid." Her eyes widened at his statement.
"What?!" she exclaimed so loud that made him cover his eyes with his hands. He raised an eyebrow at her and said, "If not a maid, then what?" She shrugged her shoulders and jokingly made a suggestion. "Your lover?"
His heart stopped upon hearing it. What? He shook his head and commented, "You're being too delusional." A memory suddenly rushed into his mind that made his heart ache. The wounds of the breakup were still fresh. It still lingered in his mind.
"As much as I hate you, I wouldn't want to be a maid. I will stand out even more because I don't know how to cook, clean or anything. I'm basically useless so don't expect me to excel in maid duties," Violette said in disappointment. He stared at like she had gone insane. He didn't even want to have a stranger in his house.
DEFINITION OF UNFAMILIAR WORDS:
María Clara gown, sometimes referred to as Traje de Mestiza or simply terno, is a traditional dress worn by women in the Philippines. It is a form of the Baro't saya. It takes its name from María Clara, the mestiza protagonist of the national epic Noli Me Tangere, penned in 1887 by Filipino national hero José Rizal.