He turned in surprise because the two women knew him. "Yes."
"I am Lindsye Marcelo," the woman with short ash brown hair and checkered dress introduced herself. "We've met at Averill's Party last year, remember? I am the daughter of Counsellor Marcelo of Nagcarlan. "
"Oh, Lindsye!" He took her hand in a formal handshake. "It's nice to see you again."
He couldn't remember anymore. He met a lot of women last year so he couldn't remember much of them.
Rather than accept the handshake, she kissed him on the cheek. "And that's my friend, Roxie."
Roxie also kissed him on the cheek. He was used to that kind of welcome but suddenly he was uneasy. The feel of another woman's lips on his skin, no matter how innocent, made his skin crawl. It made him think of his girl back at the mansion.
I haven't even kissed Callea yet my body and mind pledged loyalty to her. As if she owns me. This is the proof that my brother is looking for.
"Were you the one I spotted in Nagcarlan Church earlier?" Lindsey asked. "I was there because Mama asked me to give a donation for the church."
He nodded. "Yes. I am staying at Villa Celesta."
Lindsey and Roxie gasped in unison. Roxie covered her mouth with her hand while Lindsey pressed a hand to her chest as if what he declared shocked them. "Oh, God!" they uttered together.
"Why? What's wrong?" he asked.
"What are you doing there?" asked Lindsye, her face was full of anxiety. "That place is rotten and haunted. Many creepy things happened there. "
He didn't pay much attention to their remarks. He didn't want to add more fuel to the fire that Villa Celesta was haunted. He must also protectCallea. "I visited my fiancée. Callea Lopez. Do you know her? "
"That cursed woman," said of Roxie in a frail voice.
He gave her a sharp look. "What do you mean?"
"There is a rumor that she is a member of the cult who worship demons and evil spirits. That's why there are ghost sightings at the mansion. Nobody wants to go near that place during night time."
His eyes squinted. "Don't you think it is true?" Sure, some people got restless imagination. His Calle, a member of a cult? That was highly unlikely. "You don't know her."
"She's not worth knowing. Are you not afraid of that weirdo? "asked Lindsye and rolled her eyes. "No sane human being can stand the sight of her."
"Except that hunchback who is not human and all," Roxie spewed more insult. "They look like perfect characters in a cheap horror film." And the two laughed mockingly.
He curled his palm in frustration and pressed his lips toher. His Callea, a character in a horror film? No way! She was an angel. These two women looked more horrific to him with their thick make up. As if their artfully done faces could make up for their rotten attitude.
"I must be going. Enjoy your day," he said and turned away from the two. To his annoyance, he just left the skirt and didn't pay for it at all. He was still a gentleman and didn't want to engage in an argument with those two.
He did not want to see those two wicked women anymore. He must admit that he was taken by sophisticated beauties until a few days ago. Those women who knew how to dress up and say the right high fallutin' words. It was easy for them to other people whom they felt were inferior to them.
But they had no right to judge anyone specially Callea and Marina just because of what went through in life, appearance, or where I live.
He'd better leave while he could still can. He didn't want to hear any absurd things about his beautiful Callea. He was sure that those two women were just jealous because she snagged a prime catch like him.
But he still had another pressing issue. He needs to exorcise the ghosts of Villa Celesta recalls and protect Callea. If he couldn't fight off the evil spirits, he must take Callea away from the mansion to protect her.
"THANK you very much for a blouse and skirt, Señorito Deive. Now I look like Anne Curtis and Merian de Vera," Marina referred to her favorite actors she watched on TV as she pressed her new dressed to her body. "Even a hunchback like me would look good in these."
That afternoon when he arrived with groceries and other supplies. He did not forget to give somethings for the elderly caretakers of the mansion and Marina as well. Marina was happy because aside from the Lopez family, it was the only time that she received gifts.
"I am so thankful that you take care of Callea," Deive said in an appreciative tone.
The pink bolero looked goof on her. It was loose to fit the defect in her back. "No need to thank me. I will take care of Señorita Callea becase I owe her my life. If not because of her, I would be dead in the streets a long time ago. She's the first person who treated me like a normal human being, better than my how my own blood treats me."
Callea really had a good heart, far fro the negative perceptions of other people about her. She treat it people right with no discrimination on his or their looks and background. She loved taking care of people and Deive wanted to take care of her in return.
"Can you help me, Marina?" asked Deive in a hushed voice.
Her eyes widened. "Yes, I can. I am willing to do anything."
"Are there really ghost sightings in Villa Celesta? There are rumors all over town. Even the locals fear this place."
Marina threw back her head and laughed. "You are a city boy, Señorito. Why are you bothered with these rumors?"
"But I myself saw the bloody woman in the garden. I was personally scratched by her evil cat. And last night I heard the voice of the woman crying. I think they are the same. Who is she? What does she need from me? Do you think she has a message for me to deliver or I need to do things for her so her soul can rest? Do I have a third eye?"
Marina became serious and gently fold the clothes. "What did I tell on your first day here? Don't get out of your room at night whatever you hear."
"It means there is a ghost here? Callea knows about it? Because I won't let her live here anymore if she knows!" he growled.
Marina just turned her back on him. "Go to Señorita Callea, Sir. She had been worried sick about you.
It was so damn frustrating. It was not just his imagination. If Marina knew something, why not tell him to start with? As if his discovery was not important. Was she not worried about Callea? Or she was just scared that the ghost would do worse to her?
There seems to be a known Marina but why won't it directly to him? Like it just ignores the findings. Isn't it worrying to Callea? I fear it also could not only speak?
How could his angel stand living in that rundown mansion with ghosts? If the ghost hurt him on his first day, home much more someone who had been living there for a long time? Didn't he hear the cries coming for her room last night?
He steadied his resolve. He will not yield to fear. He was ready to protect his future bride.