Chapter 6: The Telenovela
"You what?!!" boomed Walters.
Tomoyo tossed her hair. "I said, I hyped up the script."
The Señora read the script, frowning thoughtfully.
"Are you nuts? The story is perfect as it is!" yelled the director.
"But the story is already a cliché!" argued Tomoyo. "The rags-to-riches women who take revenge on their lovers but in the end get reunited with them is already boring!"
"But it's a time-tested ingredient in soaps already! We know that in this formula, we will not go wrong!" reasoned Walters.
"In my opinion, we should try something else. Something different. Something new. Something that wouldn't categorize us as stereotypical," she said. "Look at Betty Pinzon - Solano!"
"Excuse me?" said Walters.
"You do not know her?" said Tomoyo incredulously.
"Is there any reason why I should?" asked the director snobbishly.
"There is," the Señora answered for Tomoyo. "She is the female lead of the worldwide hit, Betty la Fea. It's an ugly duckling - turned - pretty swan story, and it caught the hearts of millions of fans all over the globe."
Tomoyo clapped her hands in delight. "You mean you've watched that too? Wow, I managed to watch that one just recently, and I'm already hooked on it!"
"Me too," said the old woman enthusiastically. "She's the breath of fresh air from the conventional beautiful leads in soaps!"
Eriol and Walters looked at the women back in forth.
"Why do I have a feeling that I'm just an alien in here?" groaned Eriol.
Walters nodded solemnly.
"Ok people, listen up!" said Walters, clapping his hands to call on the attention of the crew. "There's been a change in the story. A slight change. Let the Señora tell you about it."
The people looked at their big boss expectantly.
"There's been a change in the story, and it improved the plot, if I may say," said the Señora. "The plot will now be about Carmela, the eldest of 7 children of a poor family. She's fiercely ambitious, and will do anything to improve the financial status of her family. A butler of a very affluent family in Spain then approached her. She was offered the post of a music tutor to a young man who was the sole heir of his family's great wealth. Her job is to gain his confidence and then assassinate him. She will be paid a great deal of fortune if she does that. At first, Carmela didn't find that to be so hard, and since her student is indifferent to her, she felt no guilt in doing so. But as time passes, she learns to grow fond of him until she didn't want to push through with her original plans."
The people remained quietly listening to the old lady, absorbed by her story.
"However, the heir learned of her plans. This guy - we're talking about Eriol here - takes a potion known as the El Beso del Diablo. The potion is a kind of love charm, but is passed orally," continued the old woman.
"Meaning, through the lips," said Eriol in interest.
Tomoyo's eyes widened. "Hey wait a minute! I didn't write that! I wrote that-"
The Señora held her hand up. "So one night, he took by her surprise and passed on the potion to her. So he thought she was already under his power. But what he didn't know was that by then, Carmela was already in love with him, only he and even Carmela herself didn't know it."
The people clapped in delight.
"What will happen next will depend on the reactions of the viewers," finished the woman. "We'll start the taping tomorrow."
Tomoyo was shocked. The old lady tricked her! This wasn't suppose to be how the story will progress. She didn't specify anything about oral transmission of the potion!
But she didn't have the heart to tell the Señora off.
"I will just let this one go," she decided. "I'll think of a way to wiggle out of this situation later. I'll cross the bridge when I get there."
Nakuru looked at the plates of food before her happily. "Man, I'm going to gain a few pounds here!"
Spinel groaned. "All you think about is food, you brain-forsaken creature."
"Hey, what can I say? Live to eat is my motto!" She began eating.
Spinel sighed again and looked back at the script their master left on his bed. "Do you know that our master is going to be a lead in a soap opera?"
"Oh?" She didn't even look interested. Her concentration was on the piece of custard cake she was going to put into her mouth.
"And the Señorita is starring with him as his love interest."
Now that got her attention. "She and Master Eriol? How..how.."
"..cute," finished the feline sarcastically. "Tell me about it."
Nakuru smiled. "Well at least we'll stay here longer. I can't bear to be separated from these delicious foods so soon!"
"Is that all you can think about, Moronic Moon?"
"Yes, Sassy Suppi. Now please mind your own business. Why don't you go out to cool off? You might find a new mate so you don't have to miss Keroberos so much," said Nakuru.
"I'll scratch your eyes out," it warned. "Really, I will!"
Tomoyo finished the last of the greeting card messages then stretched. She was already very sleepy. Ever since those telenovela people came to Valle Rosa, she had felt what it was like to get tired again.
"The roses…I better check on them before I go to sleep," she decided. She slipped on her robe and walked outside.
To her surprise, she found Eriol standing by the gates leading to the garden. He turned around upon sensing someone else's presence. When he saw who it was, he smiled. "Konbanwa, Daidouji-san."
"Still awake?" she asked.
"I'm just looking for something to inspire me." He sighed. "I need some lyrics for the soap's ending theme."
"Soaps use the same theme in the opening and ending part," she informed him.
"I know, but I want to write a slow song for the soap. I want it to be in English," he said.
"And you think the roses will help you?" she asked somewhat coyly.
He blinked.
She immediately turned serious. "Well, people get inspired by different things."
He turned his attention towards the garden. "Believe it or not, I can sense Kaho's presence here."
"I believe you," she said quietly. "These are roses that Kaho planted herself. And she entrusted these to me."
"You took great care of them. They're lovely…"he said.
Tomoyo looked at him.
"But not as lovely as you are." He said, still smiling.
"Am I asking for compliments?" she said sharply.
"Why is it that whenever I act nice, you always snap at me?" he asked. "What is your problem?"
She fell silent.
"Daidouji-san?" he said softly.
"You know, it's getting late already. We must go in now."
"Daidouji-san!" He pulled her arm too much so she fell into his arms.
Her eyes closed in shock. At once she was aware of his virile scent and its hazardous effect on her.
"Daidouji-san?" His voice turned husky.
She couldn't move. Damn, she couldn't move!
Then suddenly, all she could see was pitch-black.
Tsuzuku