Night was falling over
Caracas. In the old cottage at Colonia Tovar candles were lit. Juana put down the photo
album she was browsing and looked at Mauricio, "I'm putting on weight, am I not? my
belly is beginning to show.." Mauricio said, "No, don't feel uncomfortable over
such trifle thing". he leaned closer and impulsively extended out his left hand
hovering over her belly. "What are you doing?" she asked startled. Mauricio,
looking like an innocent kid, said "May I.. put my hand on your stomach, please, I
want to feel your baby" "Nothing much is in there, you won't feel a thing."
she explained. He said "I just want to feel the life within".
Slowly.. ever slowly Juana took his hand and put it on her stomach. her hand covering his.
Juana looked lovingly at Mauricio, searching his face, and Mauricio innately stirred,
looked at her stomach underneath their hands, trying to visualize the life within, and in
her womb the foetus as if it sensed the nearness of it's parents began to throb
incessantly, seemingly more active than usual.
High above the city, Enriqueta and Manuel apparently the last people to leave the office
which is already dark, made for the exit. Manuel stopped at the door and looked at the
city below. Enriqueta said "Shouldn't we go?" "let me enjoy this beautiful
sight for a moment". "It's so beautiful isn't it?" commented Enriqueta,
"I like looking at the scenery at night." Manuel said he also like looking at
people at night, there is so much to tell about them. From their shadows we can see into
their souls, and he moved his hand sideways making a fleeting shadow over her face.
Enriqueta gave a little laugh and said, "Really? we seems to have a chemistry
together, huh?" After a while they moved on with Enriqueta offering Manuel a lift
home as he have only his two feet to take him.
At the cottage Mauricio told Juana it'd be wonderful if he knew his son is inside a
woman's womb, he'll love him and protect him until he is born. Realizing Juana was looking
at him with unblinking eyes, (love and wonder were written all over her face, everybody
could see that except Mauricio, of course - Anonymous), he quickly excused himself and
said, he was hallucinating a bit. Juana said maybe Mauricio was talking that way because
the night is late. Smiling, she thanked him for bringing her here to the cottage and away
from her problems. Mauricio said, "I'm happy to be here too.. with you", and
added it's time they should head for home and Juana agreed. Minutes later they were
outside in the car. Mauricio turned on the ignition a few times but the car refused to
start. Mauricio, not believing this is happening to him told Juana that he always has this
problem with the car. Try again Juana insisted. Mauricio tried, still nothing happened.
Aghast.. Juana wanted to know what next. Mauricio said they'll have to stay the night at
the house, help will come in the morning. With the tips of her fingers over her mouth,
Juana looked thoughtful and worried, and said if they sleep there abuela won't ever forget
what she told them at the office this morning, to which Mauricio agreed saying now she has
good reasons to believe her assumption towards them is correct. Juana said even a senile
absent-minded person will assume there is something going on between us, and the first one
to point fingers at us will be my abuela and your wife.
In the Perez living room, Salvador and Azucena were making small talks. he, admiring in
awe her courage and determination in bringing up her family, and she, about her problems.
Ana Maria came bustling in happy from her outing in the woods with her young suitor and
was dismayed to found Salvador there. As soon as she was seated, mama Azucena hurriedly
recapped the incident of the day relating to Juana and Mauricio and how she had bumped
into La Vega's wife at the church and how beautiful she was and how she (Azucena) has gone
to Mauricio's office to confront him and gave him a piece of her mind. Ana Maria was
annoyed, she didn't like it one bit mama telling those stories in front of Salvador and
began to raise a ruckus. Salvador tried to calm them down but to no avail and subsequently
he asked Azucena to leave them alone. She was reluctant, saying Ana Maria will have him
out of the house within ten minutes. She left anyway. Calmly Salvador began to give some
advice to Ana Maria, but she was not in the mood and in not so many words said she has
enough of his sermon.
At the cottage Mauricio was taking out some blankets from the closet saying that it's time
to buy a new car. Juana measuring the living room with her legs back and forth suggested
he give the car to her uncle for repair since he can do wonders with anything that runs on
engines. Juana rubbed her hands together briskly and put them to her mouth and blew as if
trying to make herself warm. Abang Mauricio looking concerned came over and asked her to
put on his jacket and proceed to put it on her himself. She said no rather meekly but was
happy at the show of concern by Mauricio. Later Mauricio called the towing team and was
disappointed to learn they couldn't help since they are out of town and there was a
landslide. Mauricio said to Juana that he is going to get some firewood outside so they
can be comfortable over a fire, and left.
In her bedroom, Amparo awaken to find Rogelio standing a few feet away looking at her.
"How long have you been there" she asked suspiciously. He said long enough to
find out she doesn't attract him anymore. A bitter quarrel ensued. Rogelio said their
marriage has been a mockery and it's time it stop, he has decided to leave her for good,
nor the children neither her father can make him change his mind, he's not backing out. he
packed his bag and made for the door. She implored and she begged him to stay and salvage
their marriage, but he remained unmoved. Alfredo was there too trying to make his father
change his mind about leaving, but he was adamant and left. Amparo picked the phone to
call her father, Alfredo stopped her by saying, when the tempest died you'll forgive
father and be back together again as a family, but grandpa will never forgive father.
Think first and be rational for awhile, if you think you still want to call grandpa then
be my guest.
Juana was cackling worriedly to Mauricio about the whole situation. She said the first
time she ran away from home she had good reason, she was angry with her family then.. now
her reason is lame, and if they find out I'm spending the night with you they'll have a
fit. Mauricio seemed at loss what to do, called Carlota to say the car wouldn't start and
he has to sleep at the cottage at Colonia Tovar. Carlota offered to come and fetch him,
Mauricio declined saying she doesn't know the place and tend to lose her way. Carlota
suspiciously inquired whether he was alone. He said he is, he came to the cottage to be
alone to do some work and think on how to save the magazine. He hung up, and Juana
commented he was lucky his wife swallowed his story. Mauricio handed his phone to her so
she could call her family. She firmly refused saying that she couldn't think of anything
to say to them especially when being stranded in a lonely cottage with nice mountain view
in the cold of the night with Mauricio, some 80 kilometers away from the town. Then Juana
saw Mauricio trying to make a call "whom are you calling?" she asked. Your house
said Mauricio. "What? are you insane?" and she jumped and covered the distance
to Mauricio in split second trying to wrest the phone away from him, and she wailed like a
spoilt kid thumping her foot up and down begging abang Mauricio to stop. But the
connection was made. Ana Maria's voice came through inquiring who was calling this late,
"is somebody pulling a prank here, is that you Juana. I heard noises in the
background, speak to me, where are you".
Juana had managed to take the phone from Mauricio, She made a face at Mauricio and cutely
stuck her tongue out. Left with no choice she had to say something to mama."Mama, I'm
alright, I cannot come home tonight.. I.. I..". Her mother said it's ok to come home
as she already knew what grandma did. "No.. it's not that.. it's.." and it was
at that moment the phone's battery chose to conk out. In the Perez home Ana Maria was wild
with worries when the line died. She was thinking the worst had happened, Juana was
kidnapped since she heard some kind of commotion at the end of the line. She didn't know
what to do, Azucena joined in from the kitchen to share the worries. Salvador was having
his hand full trying to calm them down.
Outside Manuel arrived in Enriqueta's car, They were certainly having a good time
together, laughing and smiling on ends. "Well thanks for giving me a lift, I don't
know how to repay you". he leaned closer towards her as if to kiss her. laughingly
Enriqueta moved away to the side of her seat, the horn blared when she accidentally
touched it and laughed again saying "pardon me". Taking the cue, Manuel
stopped.. he smiled and asked, "sure you don't want to come in the house?"
"No I'll take a rain check". She said. Manuel said he is not getting out of the
car unless she promised to have lunch with him soon, to which Enriqueta replied he could
come to the office and if he is lucky and she is in a good mood and not busy they'll have
lunch together. Manuel got out of her car, smiled and bade her goodbye. He walked towards
his house leaving Enriqueta as in a dream. She leaned back on her headrest.. smiling and
cringed her nose sweetly (did I tell you I always go crazy when she cringes her nose -
Anonymous).
Inside, Salvador said he should leave them alone, and if there's anything he can do he is
only willing to help and they know where to contact him. At the door he bumped into Manuel
and wished each other good nite. After Salvador had gone Ana Maria told Manuel what had
happened and pleaded with him to do something. Manuel just looked at her and told her to
stop worrying. After awhile mama Azucena made her exit. When she was gone, Manuel said he
didn't want to say it in front of mother, but I know where Juana is and with whom.
"Who?" asked Ana Maria, almost in disbelief. "Mauricio", said Manuel.
Both of them looked at each other deprived of any speech.
In the cottage Juana was holding a pillow on her head, walking to and fro restlessly.
"Please stop acting this way, I was just trying to protect you". Consoled
Mauricio. "You're making me crazy" said Juana, " my family will kill me if
they know I spend the night with you in this fantastic cottage". "But they know
you're safe with me". "To them it's better if I'm with someone else rather than
with you". Said Juana. "But I won't do a thing to you and they know that".
said Mauricio looking hurt. Juana said, "That may be good to some people, but to
others that's the worst thing that could happened". "What?" asked Mauricio
failing to understand what she was hinting at. (Obviously Juana would like it better if
Mauricio do something to her I might be wrong though - Anonymous). "No, nothing.. I'm
famish, can you get something to eat?" Juana said, changing the subject. Mauricio
obediently went out. "safe with you huh? yeah.. right!" muttered Juana under her
breath.
A little later they were seating at a table eating canned food. Mauricio asked Juana if
she wants some more. Juana said no, she had enough, she doesn't want to eat too much lest
she'll put more weight than she already has. Mauricio said Juana isn't fat, to him Juana
is beautiful. "Strange.." said Juana, "usually men don't like looking at
fat women", to which Mauricio replied pregnant women are not fat, they are just plump
and beautiful. To him they are beautiful and he likes looking at pregnant women. The he
added "Look at you.. how far are you into your pregnancy now.. two and a half
months?". Juana was suspicious and said, "How do you know I was two and half
months gone? I didn't tell you I was pregnant when I came to your house to take photos
that night of the party, did I?". Cornered, Mauricio tried looking for suitable
answers, found none and was relieved when Juana said it doesn't matter as long as she is
dear to him and is willing to take care of her.
They continued eating silently. Mauricio looked at her, thinking "if only you knew
and if it's up to me, I'll take you to live with me and watch after you.."
And Juana was thinking "He is so handsome and he worries about what I am
eating".. ooh he is looking at me.. he is looking at me! Why is he looking at me like
that as though he is trying to look into my soul. Maybe he is looking at me because he
likes me, if he doesn't, he wouldn't have kept my painting or could it be that Desiree was
lying..?"
Mauricio kept looking at Juana, still thinking" has she seen a doctor, should I ask
her that". Juana feeling uncomfortable under his scrutinize asked "What?".
Mauricio said "I thought you were going to ask me something". Juana said,
"No.. No.." and they continued eating silently still looking at each other.
Mauricio said "When you've done eating, I'll show you to your room so you can
rest". Juana asked how many bedroom are there in the house. Mauricio made a sign with
his forefinger and said, "One!". Juana tried to gulp down one spoonful of
whatever, apparently disturbed at hearing there was only one bedroom in the house.
Continue today.
Note: This is by far the longest summary that I've written, took me 90 minutes. If you
like it then the time taken was well-spent. See ya!
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