He finds his happiness in making shoes, he felt secured every time someone praised his works. Everyone loves his shoes very much, the design and the color so that his works began to be popular in their city.
The woman was very grateful when she saw his designs, "All this are your works?" she asked while looking the different designs
He smiled, "yes, as you can see" he stood up to present to her the price of the shoes "Their are quite expensive but I'll assure you that this are very usable and can use for long" he assured
The woman was very pleased to the designs and maybe the amount was reasonable so she bought a pair to try if the shoe maker was telling the truth. "I hope I can use this even for six months" she said when Herman gave the bag with her shoes
He smiled with so much gratitude because another customer appreciated his works and hoping that she will satisfy to the product she bought to his shoe store.
Herman Del Mundo, a shoe maker from his youth, he loves to make beautiful shoes and sell in a quite expensive price but no one argue with it because the price was very reasonable. Some of his customers asked for another customized pair of shoes and any customers from different places bought his designs and some of them are well - known celebrities, it made him became a successful shoe maker. He received some offers from huge companies that was interested to his designs and works but he chose a company that has a charity work. As times goes by, many clients was fascinated and loved his shoes then he met a sophisticated woman.
He approached her as soon as she entered his small shop, "Good morning Madame, how can I help you?" he greeted
The woman didn't answer him instead she keep on looking on the shoes, she just passed by him.
He followed her in every rack that she stand by, "My designs was originally from my ideas and also I know those designs was loved by some women" he said
She looked at him with a fierce eye, "How can you say so that some women loved your designs?" she asked
He was suddenly trembling on her tone of voice, "I'm sorry Madame if I offended you" he apologized
Then she suddenly smiled, "Did I scare you?" she said "Its look like that many of your designs sold internationally?" she keep on looking on some designs
He sighed, "Yes, I signed a contract to a company that has charity works in the community" he said
She looked at him in surprise, "Oh, so like to help other people?" she asked "No offense, but I thought you just keep your sale on yourselves since your shoes are quite expensive" she added
He just looked at her, "Before I became a shoe maker I'm a poor man who no one helped even I'm starving to death but their was an old man helped me and he taught me how to make shoes then in his last words, he told me to help others because that's the only thing I can do for him" he reminisced the last day of the man adopted him.
The woman smile and open her palm, "I'm Christine dela Rosa, I am the CEO where you signed your contract" she said while offering her hands
He can't believed what happened that hour, it looks like he saw a princess in her, he was speechless in front of her.
She was waited for a moment, "Mr. Del Mundo, are you okay?" she asked while looking at him
He was came back to himself, and immediately shook her hands, "I'm sorry Madame, I'm just overwhelmed" he smiled
She chuckles, "Oh I see, that's why you are spaced out for a moment?" she asked
"Yes Madame" he can't express his feeling that time, "I'm sorry, and thank you for appreciating my crafts" he said "Please free to look around" he led her way until they reached the storage room where his materials kept.
Christine looked around and she fascinated to the materials because it was a cheap one but it can last long, "oh I see" she continually checked the items "So it means that you gave more than a half of your sales for charity work?" she asked
He just nodded, "Yes, Madame" he answered shyly "I have no family and two more years I'll be an old man with no family" he added
She just looked at him, "if you want you can live in my mansion as my employee" she offered "some of our shoe makers lived there, for me to check their designs and works before I let it in the company" she said
He was very happy that time, "Thank you Madame, but I need to think it before I decide" he answered
"But why?" she asked
He looked around his place, "This place is so memorable to me, and I wanted to live here for the rest of my life" he answered
She smiled, "So you are that sentimental? I understand, but if you changed your mind you are welcome to contact me" she looked for a calling card and handed it to him "I will take my leave now, thank you" then she walked out
"Thank you Madame, have a safe trip" he said
Started that day, he was very inspired to make new shoes day by day and the CEO always visited him to check his works and designs. He made Christine as his inspiration to his works that made him one of the most popular designs in the shoe industry that made everyone jealous of him. Some of the shoe makers visit his place and ask for advice on how he made his crafts.
He smiled, "And last, you need to find your inspiration for you to make the best designs like you wanted to give to someone" he said
Everyone smiled, "It means Sir that you are making those designs like it was a gift to a woman?" a man asked
He nodded, "Yes, but all I can do is love her afar" he suddenly hurt to his own words, he tried to be back to be a jolly one "So that's all for this day, and thank you for visiting my shop" he assisted them to go to the living room to eat some snacks before they leave.
Everyone shook his hands as they said thank you for the tour, "We are looking forward for your upcoming designs Mr. Del Mundo" a man said
"Thank you Sir, and I am also looking forward for you debut in the shoe industry" he answered
When everyone left, he sat on his couch in his room looking Christine's photos "You will be my inspiration, always" he said to himself and fell asleep.
As times goes by, he became more popular because of his designs and even Christine adore him because of that. She visited him in his place to give her gratitude to him because he made their company top one in the market.
He was very surprised to her visit, "Good morning Madame" he was very excited when he opened the door and saw her
"May I come in?" she asked
He opened the door wider, "Please, have a seat" he said and a little nervous
She walked through the living room and sat down to the couch, "Mr. Del Mundo, thank you for your support and hard work for the company" she said
He sat down opposite to her, "No Madame, I am the one who was very thankful because you made my designs known more not only in the local but also internationally" he answered
"Because of that, I wanted you to join us with my husband and other investors for a dinner tonight, I am looking forward for your positive answer" she said
He was very nervous when he heard the word husband and that made feel the pain, "Madame, I don't think that I am suit for that occasion" he answered
She put the card on the table, "I am hoping that you will be there tonight, goodbye" she stood up and left
He just looked the card and thinking if he will go there or not because Christine's husband is also there. He thought about it until evening comes and he decided to go there and pretend that everything will be fine. When he arrived there, he was very amazed to the place because that was his first time to go to that kind of place. Everything was fine when they started their dinner meeting and he restrained himself to react on how Christine's husband treat her. When the meeting was over for almost two hours, they said goodbye to each other and Mr. dela Rosa offers him to have a ride but he refused.
"Thank you Sir, but I can go home alone" he answered
He looked to his wife, "Are you sure? Don't be shy, my wife wanted to send you home so that we are complacent that you went home safe" he said
He smiled to them, "Thank you Sir, don't worry about me" he said "I will give you a call once I arrived" he turned his back and left them. When he arrived home, he immediately lie in the bed without changing clothes thinking how sweet was Mr. dela Rosa to Christine, "I can only love her from afar" he said to himself while looking in the ceiling, as he close his eyes he didn't notice that she fell asleep.
In the next day, he work on his new designs of shoes while waiting for Christine until evening but Christine didn't show up. Another day had passed but she didn't show up again, he waited her day by day but still she didn't show up. The next day, he decided to visit her in the mansion where he supposedly offered to live to check if she was okay. When he knock on the door, a maid in black uniform greeted him with a smile;
"Good morning, I am Herman Del Mundo, one of the shoe maker under Madame Christine's company" he introduced himself
The maid opened the door wider, "Please come in Sir" she said
He walked forward, "Thank you" he said, when he came in he was very shocked on what he saw, two pictures on the altar. He can't helped himself from crying, his tears flowing to his cheeks as he saw the picture of Mr. and Mrs. dela Rosa "What happen?" he can't accept the thing that they are together the night with dinner.
The maid approached him, "They were killed in a car accident, we don't know the details" she said "their son is the new CEO of the company after they died" she added
He looked down and walked without saying anything to the maid, he looked depressed and thinking about Christine and his regret that he didn't told to her how he feels for her. He came to his home and sat on the floor, bending his knees thinking on how he can revive her from ashes then he remembered about the survival game. He immediately stood up and looked for his sketchbook then he travel from his place to Nagisa City to look for Second and First. It is very easy for him to find them because they are very known in the city, when he knew their house he pretend someone that needs help. Sebastian helped him but in surprised, he suddenly attacked him;
"Wait, what happen? I didn't hurt you" Sebastian said with shock as he dodge his attacks
He stooped a while, "I challenge you, First and Second will not intervene our fight" he attacked him continuously
Penelope wanted to help him but, she was repelled by something like barrier every time she was trying to help, "Sebastian!" she was shouting from outside but Sebastian can only read her lips.
"I need to win, I need to whatever it takes" he said to his mind while dodging the attacks then he noticed the fork in the table. He hold it very tight then he hit him and unexpectedly he was knocked out and Sebastian ripped his sketchbook, as he ripped it he heard his voice;
"I need to revive Christine, I'm sorry Christine I didn't say how much I love you as you appreciate my works" in his mind he can saw the beauty of Christine.
Unconsciously, Sebastian's tears fell down to Herman's body when he realized that he did that because of his love one but it's too late. As minutes passed by, Herman's body vanished little by little, "Wait!" he shouted "I'm sorry, I'm sorry" he said as he cried.
Penelope made it on his side and comfort him, "It's over Sebastian" she hugged him while crying