Sometimes, the victim of the abuse also abuses others. They are choosing someone they thought weaker than them, and they are torturing them—which is not an excuse to bully others! Still, Doña Consolacion has no right to torture others, especially me!
#17: The Abusive Victim
"CRISOSTOMO!" This piece of shit is annoying me! I can't find him anywhere! I can't even feel my legs! It felt jelly because I keep on running. Like on running man challenge. As if I am in the marathon!
"Listen up! I am warning you! If I don't see you this day, we'll break up!" I shouted. I don't even know if he is able to hear me, or if anybody hears me. I just want to let this shit out to make myself somehow feel better.
"Five...four...three..." I am having a countdown here as if we are about to welcome a new year, "okay! We just broke up!" I said smiling, but I am pissed.
I am walking back home since I am pissed at Crisostomo and I also heard that we have a visitor. The Captain-General. I'll meet a new character!
[MOOD BY: 24KGoldn]
[Yeah]
But then, I have another a freaking new problem. You see I am not a local here; so it is not a surprise to tell you that I am not familiar with the road.
Motherfucker, where the hell I am?
"Why you always in a mood? Fuckin 'round, actin' brand new. I ain't tryna tell you what to do. But try to play it cool. Baby, I ain't playin' by your rules. Everything look better with a view," I just sang out of frustration, "shit! Where the hell I am?"
[Why you always in a mood? (Mood)
Fuckin 'round, actin' brand new (new)
I ain't tryna tell you what to do
But try to play it cool (cool)
Baby, I ain't playin' by your rules (rules)
Everything look better with a view, yeah]
I remember that I have some magic tricks. Whenever I sing, my body functions well, and then I will just unconsciously remember the road. Magic, right? I've done this for a couple of time, whenever I am with unfamiliar set in our shooting.
"I could never get attached. When I start to feel unattached. Somehow always end up feelin' bad. Baby, I am not your dad (no). It's not all you want from me. I just want your company. Girl, it's obvious, elephant in the room. And we're a part of it, don't act so confused. And you love startin' it, now I'm in a mood. Now we arguin' in my bedroom~"
Because of this lovely song, moodable mood, my body can't resist to dance—or twerk if you may allow. I just hope that no one sees me here because Maria Clara would literally be in a bad image, all thanks to me.
By the way, where the heck is Crisostomo!
"We play games of love to avoid the depression (depression). We been here before and I won't be your victim—" I was cut off because someone interrupted.
"¡Eh, tú! ¡alto ahí!" (Hey, you! Stop right there) The woman with the luxurious dress and expensive accessories shouted while pointing her fingers at me. She looks rich, but I am richer in the real world. And to add up, I don't think that she has a class, because she is shouting like a crazy.
I pointed at myself because I don't understand what she is saying. She looks familiar too, perhaps I saw her in some gatherings, I just don't remember. She is in the second floor of her house, and just viewing me at her window. Maybe she saw my talent, singing and dancing!
Oh my god, I just lost my dignity!
But well, I cannot blame her. I am good at it. I am a total performer after all!
She called one of her securities, she conversed with him using Spanish language, so I couldn't understand them. After that, the securities come down and approached me. They aggresively hold my arms, as if they are arresting me!
"What the hell?!" I shouted, but they don't care about me or my words, "oh come on, talk to me! You are not robots, and I would highly appreciate it if you will mind to share what's going on, minions!"
"Doña Consolacion wants to talk to you," the tall, armed guy answered me.
Oh, Doña Consolacion! I know her for sure. She is one of the characters. I would say she's mean, she's not nice, and she's the one who hit Sisa, and forced her to sing and dance. She may be evil, but that's the result of being abused. She is experiencing domestic abuse by her husband. That's why, I think, she's projecting her frustrations to others.
Anyway, am I here because I changed the fate of Sisa? She didn't become crazy because her sons are still with her, safe and sound. Am I here instead of Sisa? Will Doña Consolacion... torture me?
They pull me aggressively like I am a criminal! At first, I am using all of my force to stop them from pulling me. I even sat down, and they are pulling me like a kid now.
"Hija de puta," one of the guards said. Is he cursing me? What the hell I am Maria Clara de los Santos for pete's sake! I am so offended that's why I stood up and lash on him, but he punched me at my stomach!
"Fuck you all!" I shouted to him. I touched my stomach because I feel like I can no longer walk because my whole stomach hurts. The guards looked at each other with wide eyes, and then they looked at me with blazing eyes. They kicked my back so hard, to the point that I lost my balance, and my face faced the floor.
Motherfucker, my million pesos face!
They brought me in front of Doña Consolacion, and they pushed mo so hard, so once again, I faced the floor!
"Deja de cantar!" (Stop singing)Oh, look at this lady! She is speaking Spanish well the fact is she can speak in our language. She is doing this to make me feel stupid. Well, she's the stupid one because she didn't knoe Maria Clara! "¡Odio tu voz y tu baile!"
"Deja de puta! I know that you can speak in our language. Stop making yourself brilliant, well in fact. You're not!" I rolled my eyes.
Her security guards look at each other. It seems like they hate what I said to their boss. Well, she deserves it. She is stopping me from singing and insulting me!
Well, I don't understand what she said but I know it's insulting. Her face looks like she is judging me.
However, I also felt bad because I should held back. I somehow know her hardships because of his husband, but I would't tolerate her being abusive! This should stop, and should not be projected to other persons!
"Why you always in a mood?
Fuckin 'round, actin' brand new
I ain't tryna tell you what to do
But try to play it cool
Baby, I ain't playin' by your rules
Everything look better with a view, yeah" I stood up and sang again and dance like what I did. I twerk to annoy Donya Consolacion.
All of the guards here dropped their jaw, and I saw how lustful they are looking at my butt. Earlier, they looked Friday the 13th vibes, but right now, they looked like they win in lottery!
"Pervert!" I shouted.
"Ahhh!" The Donya shouted and covered her ears "I told you to stop! And how dare you to say such things to me! I am older than you. Where is your manner?"
"Shit! She can speak our language. She's just acting," the other guard whispered but I heard it.
"See?" I said and faced the Doña. "He is with me. You are just acting as if you don't understand us!" I rolled my eyes again.
"What the hell! Why are you acting so rude like that? Don't you recognize me? Don't you know who I am? I am so furious at you! Get the whip!" She ordered. I laughed so hard when I heard her say it.
"Now watch me whip, now watch me nae nae," I sang again and dance.
Her bodyguards are smiling and dancing along with me. Look at them, they are not killjoy! I keep on singing it not until I literally saw a whip and it looks like she will hit me.
"No! You won't do that!" I smile widely to convince her and, I even hide at the back of one of his bodyguards, who seemed to be nicer now than earlier, after seeihg me twerk.
"Ha! I will. I'd like to do everything I wanted since I'm a doña!" She said and when she was about to hit me, I used that bodyguard to be my shield so instead of me, the guard faced the whip! Ha! If the Doña thought that she can hit me, well poor her, I am faster than the flash.
"Ouch!" The guard emoted.
"You silly woman! Come here while I am being nice!" Doña said, but I run to the other bodyguard and used him as my shield, so once again, instead of me being hit, the guard faced the doña's remorse.
"Ouch!"
"Hija de puta! Come here, little witch!"
"No, you look witcher like me. You look like Elphaba, and I look like Guhlinda!"
"What the hell, who are those?" She tried to hit me again, but I dodged it so she hit her vase and it broke into piece.
"Haha, deserve!" I said like a kid. I shut my mouth when I realized that I shouldn't say jt, because she's also having a hard time! I should be a bit nicer... even just for a bit.
"You really want me to kill you, don't you?"
"Don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like me?~" I sang, and I was feeling the moment, so tha doña grab the chance to hit me, and then wow! Congratulations to her, she succeed! "Ouch! You wicked witch of the west!"
"¡Basta ya!" (Enough) An old man with a general uniform shouted. Oh, this must be his abusive husband. My eyebrows automatically arched because I remember how cruel he is to his wife, "what are you doing? You shouldn't hit that young lady, you don't really have a brain!"
He is speaking Spanish, but I don't know why I am understanding the conversation, especially I have no background in studying the language. It must have been the wind... Or Simoun?
Behind that general is Simoun, who ks wearing his usual coat, pants, and jewelries. He is holding a treasury box, and he is still stoic as ever.
Perhaps he is doing some magic so that I'll understand, right? It's possible since he's a mysterious being. He might have powers.
"Go and apologize to this Binibini!"
"Why should I do that?"
"Because she is the daughter of Captain Tiago, Binibining Maria Clara!"
"Oh my Lord," the Doña said, then she lost her conciousness and fell.
"Puta!" The general said. The guards immediately rescued the doña, and they brought her to a room. The general faced me, and he forced a smile, "my apologies, Binibining Maria Clara. My wife is not in the good state of her mind. I hope thatbyou forgive her, and we will forget this moment. I am hoping that this issue will end here, and will not reach Captain Tiago. I am asking a favor, please do not tell this to him."
I just rolled my eyes, right in front of him. I don't care if he's mad or whatsoever. I know hiw badly he treat others, especially his wife.
"Don't worry about it. Worry about your marriage life," I told him, and turned my back. I met the eyes of Simoun, and I rolled my eyes at him too! "You too. I hate you!"
He didn't help me find Mateo as soon as possible! If he had helped me, probably I have my necklace now, because we might stopped Mateo from selling it to a pawnshop.
-
"Do you remember my rules and regulations? What are you acting like that?" Mr. Librarian asked while we are walking back to our mansion. I don't know the way, thankfully he saved me.
"What?" I asked and I wrinkled my forehead. I can't believe this man! I didn't violate any! Not even falling for someone! I am not in love with Crisostomo, I have been saying it for the nth time!
He closed his eyes, and he opens them again. He closed it again, and opened it again. What a crazy! Maybe he's using illegal drugs! I am waiting for his answers yet he gave me this unexplainable actions of his!
"I told you to behave. I told you to stay away from any fight. What is this now?" He said coldly but I can feel that he's upset.
"No! I don't cause trouble this time. It's just Doña Consolacion's fault. You know what? She's like Elphaba from the Wizard of the Oz! I hate her!" I said and I closed my hands as if I'm gonna punch something.
"Well, you can't do anything about the character's attitude—it's Rizal's doings, but you know that you can change the story," he calmly said, "and well, you changed another part of the story. Instead of torturing Sisa, you were the one she tortured.
"Ha!" I exclaimed. "It's hard to change someone's behavior, especially if there's a reason why they are acting like that. Like any other character here in the story, she's abused too. However, the bad thing about her is that she is being abusive too."
"I appreciate that you are viewing the Doña not just a bad person, but also a victim," Simoun replied, "but please, behave properly and always, always be safe. I cannot save your ass all the time."
"Whatever!" I said while my hands are in the air. My cheeks suddenly turned red, especially because she told me that he appreciates me. Does it mean he thought of me as a kind human being? "Oh! By the way, how the hell are you? I'm glad that you're still alive!" I said and laughed. I haven't meet him for a while now, especially he chose not to help me find Mateo.
"You and your mouth," he is looking at me now and he rolled his eyes. What a gay! "Of course, I'm alive. I don't die. I am the one who should ask you that question. How are you? Where is the necklace?"
I stopped walking when I realized that I have a bigger problem than fighting with Crisostomo and Doña Consolacion. Shocks! About the necklace! I almost forgot about it!
"Mateo sold it to the pawnshop! I'm so messed up!" I shouted and I started walking again to follow him. He didn't stop walking. He didn't wait for me!
"So? Whose fault is that?" He asked with his usual cold tone. Is he Elsa's boy version? Is this Frozen? "Just make sure that you'll get it or else—"
"Or else what? Simoun? Do you think I'm scared? Oh! Is Simoun really your real name?"
"Yes. I think I told you that already. You're changing the topic" he said with a wrinkled forehead. "Or else... You'll be locked down in this story. You will live in here...forever."
#
BONUS
THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW
IT WAS in the middle of the night when William went home in their little cottage, outside of the town of San Diego, but not that far.
Near enough to enter the town, but far enough not to hide from the main character, Simoun Ibarra.
When he went home, he was holding a plastic of fishes that he and Elias caught. He was friends with Elias, and he have been fishing with Elias for quite a long time, longer than Elias may know, because the story keeps on repeating, and everytime there's another intruder, the memories of his friend Elias, erased.
"What took you so long, Sir William? Dr. Carlos have been waiting for you," Jerome said. This Jerome was the one who is with Basilio and Crispin last time. He was also the one who helped Manuela Carie to find Mateo.
William put the plastic to their table. He removed his long sleeves and changed.
"Why? Is there something happened?" William was nervous. He felt like something bad happened, that's why the doctor is looking for him.
"No, no, he just wanted you to ask something about the new intruder, Manuela Carie or Emcee," Jerome said. He get some plate to the kitchen, and prepared a rice, and a dried fish for William, "actually, Sir, I met that lady."
William stopped for a while and he waited for Jerome's words, but he didn't continue, so he just asked.
"What happened? How come you met her? Didn't I tell you to stay out of this?"
"But, sir, I want to help," Jerome said.
"I understand you, and I appreciate the thought. However you are too young to be involved—"
"I am no longer young, sir," Jerome somehow raised his voice out of frustration, but he regretted it because Sir William was just concerned for his wellbeing, "Sir I am just fifteen because we were locked in this novel. I was fifteen in 1999. I do not know what year it is now, but I feel like I have lived for two decades now... please let me help, Sir."
William let out a sigh. "If that's what you want, I think I cannot stop you. Just always, always be careful, okay? You know how dangerous is Simoun."
"Yes, Sir. I know it too well," Jerome said, "anyway, I met her when she was finding Mateo. What do you think she needs from that old man with disease? I never remember Maria Clara finding Mateo? I just remember her giving her necklace..."
"Well, that's the case, Jerms. I think Emcee gave the necklace too, just like Maria Clara. However, that necklace is too precious now, and special as ever."
"I know that it's expensive, but what's the difference?"
"That necklace contains the real picture of Maria Clara, and the real Juan Crisostomo Ibarra. Aside from that, that's the only memory that Simoun have of Maria Clara, now that she's forever erased in this story, because of the entrance of Manuela Carie and getting the role of her."
Jerome nodded while analyzing the point of William. Simoun Ibarra is the real lover of Maria Clara. Now that an intruder entered a story and she is playing the role of Maria, she lost the real Maria Clara, and perhaps it would be forever knowing that no one has actually escaped from the story.
"Do you think there's a way to escape from this never-ending novel, Sir?"
"Yes, I believe. If there's a way to enter, there's a way to exit," William said. He started to put rice and dried fish on his plate, and started eating, "Dr. Carlos is peacefully sleeping. How was his day?"
They both stared to Dr. Carlos, who is now peacefully sleeping, lying on the floor with banig. Dr. Carlos is also an intruder like them, who is pretending to be a priest.
"Well, he's a having a hard time now, especially he is helping us, sacristans. Aside from the new intruder, Dr. Carlos is the one who truly helps Basilio and Crispin. When Crispin was suspected, he just give him money, so that he'll be saved. That's why he is sleeping deeply now, because he has a long day."
"Well, he is doing it ever since he entered the novel. It's not a surprise," he said while laughing.
They remained silent for a while, and William started to eat again, until he finished his meal. You will only hear the wind from the outside, and nothing more. The silence hurt Jerome's ears, so he decided to talk again.
"Do you have any plans how are we going to approach or invite Emcee in our place?"
"Well, I already approached her in the boat, and in the church. I am just waiting for her to figure out who the real villain is, and who are the ones who need to be saved."
"Well, it's hard to convince her if she herself isn't suspicious about the reality of this world, right?"
"Yes, so we will just wait for a while... for a perfect timing."
"Do we have the same thoughts as Regenio and Dr. Carlos?" Jerome asked.
"Dr. Carlos always agree with me. I think we have the same wavelength, like you," William said, "however, I don't know about Regenio. You know how arrogant he is, but I'll asure you that he's on our side."
"Of course," Jerome agreed while laughing, "the only villain here is Simoun, nothing more, nothing less."
They both laugh because Jerome was right. Simoun is the one who let them enter this world, and he's also the one who locked the intruders in this world. There are no guarantee answer if they can still exit in this world—they never find a portal since 1896, however they are constantly trying. For sure, there's a way. They just need tl find one.
They heard a knock from their door. The two looked at each other. William put his pointing finger to his mouth, silencing Jerome, but talkative Jerome can't control his mouth.
"Do you think it's Simoun? Is he able to find our hideout?"
"Shh!"
Jerome remained in his place, near dining table, while Dr. Carlos opened his eyes, even if he's tired, he is still alert. William, on the other hand went to the door to see who's on their door.
He didn't go there unprepared, he went there with a butch in his left hand. He looked at the little hole in their door, and he immediately opened the door when he see who's outside.
"Regenio!" Jerome said happily and ran rowards the door to hug the arrogant Regenio.
"Hey, don't hug me tightly, my top might have some dirt from your face. Have you take a bath already?" Regenio said and laughed. Compared to William and Jerome, he is wearing a nice clothes, while Dr. Carlos is consistently wearing a priest's outfit.
William didn't like what Regenio said, so he hit the top of Regenio's head, and he locked the door.
"You seldom visits us, yet you kept on teasing the kid!" William said while shaking his head.
"Oh, I told you for a couple of times that I am no longer a kid, Sir William."
"But still you're the youngest, so in our eyes you are still a kid, and will always do our best to protect you," Dr. Carlos said, and he sat down, "By the way, Regenio, have you eaten already?"
"Oh yes. We have a lot of food in our mansion," Regenio said, keeping the arrogant attitude. He went nearer to Dr. Carlos and he also sat down.
"Enough with that questions because he kept on bragging," William said, and he also sat down near Regenio, "how come you are able to come here? There is a curfew, you know? After all, you're an excomunicado."
Regenio laughed like maniacally. "Well, the Captain-General will erase my excomunicado status you know. He already said it."
They furrowed their eyebrows because of the changes. It seemed like Captain-General arrive earlier than expected. It must be the intruder's fault, Manuela Carrie Flores.
"By the way, what's your thoughts about the new intruder? Do you think she will succeed?" Dr. Carlos raised the important topic.
"Well, I don't think so because we've been trying it for years, and all of us didn't suceed. What's the difference with her?"
"Oh come on, don't you trust her? You know her better than us, Regenio," Dr. Carlos said, "I only met her once, earlier when I was with Padre Salvi, I can see her potential—her willingness."
"That, all of us went through," Regenio sakd while raising his pointing finger, "All of us cried and hoped that we can change the ending or the whole novels, but none of us suceed. We all have that fire in our hearts. But I think, like us, she will just ended up like us—stuck in this never-ending world."
"Maybe you are not optimistic like us because you are the first intruder, and you are tired of hoping," William concluded.
"Exactly," Regenio said and winked, "anyway, do you have beer here? I think I want some alcohol..."
"Oh come on. Don't tell me that the alcohol that you drank at the Delos Santos' mansion wasn't enough?" Dr. Carlos laughed.
"It didn't reached my stomach, it just reached bymy neck," Regenio bragged and laughed.
Jerome, being the youngest, went to the kitchen and get the coconut wine. Surely, the night would be longer than expected with the visit of one his so-called uncles, Regenio.
He prepared the drinks, potatoes, and some nuts. He also prepared the glasses of each one.
"But, trying is not bad, Regenio, right? I hope you would help us, despite of opposing views," Dr. Carlos said. Regenio laughed.
"Of course. I would love to leave this world, and experience the real world, and experience to get old, and experience to have my own family," Regenio said while his eyes are sparkling, "Even if I do not believe in Manuela's abilities, I still have this hope that I will be able to leave this damned world."
"This is all of of your cousin's fault, José Rizal, right? He's the one who made this world," Jerome said.
"Yes, and I promised to kill him if ever I saw him in afterlife," Regenio said.
"No, you can't do that. It would be double-dead?" William said and all of them laughed.
"Anyway, let's be focused on our goal. Who will approach Manuela if ever she figured the things out?" Dr. Carlos asked.
"I'd like to volunteer," Jerome said.
"I don't think it should be you, Jerome. No offense, but I don't think she'll believe you since you are young," Dr. Carlos said frankly.
"Well, I don't like to reveal myself as an intruder," Regenio said, because he have this feeling that they will tasked him to do it since among all of them, she's the closest one to Manuela.
"Okay, I'll do it," William said. He asked a favor to Regenio, but Regenio just lauged and reminded William that he is just pretending because it's his mission to do.
They compared the original Maria Clara to the intruder, and Regenio believed that the original Maria Clara is way better than the intruder.
The night continued with them, having a drinking session, and meeting on how they will approach Manuela. Surely, the woman would be shocked to know the whole truth about the world of Noli Me Tangere. They are trying not to shock her, but for sure she will be shocked when she knows the whole truth.
The truth that no one ever survived in this novel—not even the intruders.
The truth that the novel is more miserable than the Les Miserables itself.
The truth that they will live forever in this book.
The truth that no one ever escaped or exit in this novel—even if you die, you will live again and experience it all again, truly a repetitive world.
The truth that the real villain is nothing but the librarian himself, Simoun.
Before the sun appears, Regenio bid farewell to his friends. Another day to pretend that he is one of the fictional characters.
He's been doing this for years, because Simoun tasked him to do it.
It's his punishment for being so arrogant, but it seemed like Regenio never learned his lessons, and still arrogant as ever.
The other intruders are free to do whatever they want to be—although they are hiding from Simoun and the new intruder—because they are not punished. They are just locked up for being unsuccessful.
It seemed like changing the whole novel is crucial to Simoun. What might be the reason?