"Buenas Noches, binibini." he whispered as he watched the young maiden drag her feet towards her room.
A crazed woman was on the loose, his best friend's having trouble in paradise, and then there's the strange woman. Klay.
Fidel's eyes darted from Ibarra's worried expression to Klay's retreating figure. The taller man pursed his lips, wanting nothing more than to dispel the tense atmosphere.
"A-amigo, how about we head out and have some wine? It's been a long day, after all. Why don't we…unwind? Enjoy the night breeze?" He motioned for the garden, hoping Crisostomo would take the offer. His best friend stared at him for a while, until he heaved a sigh and went down.
Fidel took one last glance at where Klay had gone. Something felt weird.
Lying flat on her back, Klay was very much stressed at the turn of events and could not sleep. Not a wink.
So, because this is Maria Clara Infantes after all, she made her way to the sitting room (thankfully no one was inside the estate because she once again forgot her panuelo).
Klay managed to grab the guitar nearest to the window, thanks to her lamp and the faint light from below, and decided it was time for a song.
She's a Filipino. Karaoke is part of her culture.
Of course, she's not going to sing those karaoke-worthy songs a typical Filipino hears (though she did consider it). For now, she'll settle for the softer acoustic of OPM.
Klay strummed the guitar, relieved that it was in tune, and began to play the chords of the song she's chosen for that night. Though she knew there was a chance they could hear her singing, Klay could care less simply because she is done. Besides, she'll be home soon so what's the point if they hear her or not?
Mr. Torres did promise a portal home, so hey, a little farewell song wouldn't hurt a soul.
"I knew it was there, though I tried to hide it." MYMP is such a great band; just vocals and acoustic guitar. Simple and easy. "But the feeling just kept on shining through; haven't known you that long."
From down below, the two friends were looking up at the window. "So I try to deny it, but the feeling was much too, much too strong." They paused from their conversation, surprise evident in their faces.
"I-is that Miss Klay?" Fidel asked. It wasn't long ago he just complained and basically condemned the woman and her tendency to stick her nose into things that do not concern her whatsoever.
"Could this be love? Deep down inside, tearing me apart…I feel it in my heart." the voice was definitely female, accompanied with the undeniable sound of a guitar. "Since when did Miss Klay know how to play a guitar? Sing? Did you know about this, amigo?" Fidel asked.
Ibarra shushed his friend. "No." he waved his hand in his friend's direction, signalling the man to be quiet. Fidel frowned.
"Constantly, you're on my mind." Their eyebrows rose. The woman was singing in english. Was the woman doing this on purpose so as not to be understood by other people? Suddenly, their curiosity was piqued.
"Thinking 'bout you all the time. I can't sleep no matter what I do, I just keep on thinking 'bout you." The two men shared a look once more. A love song?
Was Miss Klay in love? With who?
(and why are two men suddenly so interested in her non-existent lovelife to begin with?)
"Why do I feel this way? When I know you have someone, that you're seeing each and every day?"
Fidel couldn't stop his jaw from dropping as Ibarra ran a hand through his hair. Miss Klay's in love with a man…w-who's taken? Madre Mia, someone stop her! Has no one told her infidelity is a grave sin equivalent to death (as it should be)!?
Fidel widened his eyes at his friend, hoping to convey his message. He was right!
For all the things he's warned his friend about Klay, Fidel was a hundred percent positive the woman had no good intentions. Fidel knew something was not right when Klay popped out of the blue; he would feel anxious and nervous around the maiden, after all.
Whenever she was in his presence, Fidel could feel his guts twist and he always found himself on the tips of his toes. She was nothing like the women he's ever met, that's why he's positive Klay had wicked plans. After all, she's always caught up in whatever trouble there is in town.
(He chose to ignore the fact Klay was also the one who's done good without expecting anything in return, even in her own times of trouble.)
"Should I play this game-of just being your friend? When I know that's not where I want it to end?" Fidel stared at his friend, who was listening intently to the maiden's voice.
(Fidel dismissed the fact that Klay's voice was surprisingly sweet.)
Could it be?
But, it can only be…
Klay was singing about her feelings of loving someone who was clearly taken and…well, if you put two and two together, it can only lead to one result.
(And why did Fidel suddenly feel his heart throb?) Fidel rubbed his temples. He gently put his wine down. It's best to take slow sips for the night; he's been drinking the wine as if it was water ever since (Klay began to sing) their conversation started.
"How could this be wrong, when the feeling's so strong?" Yep. Klay was totally singing about his friend. How could she not!? After all, she's always by his side, always caring for his friend. Sure, he's known the woman for a few weeks but his gut hasn't failed him yet. It's been sending him signs that the woman was not to be trusted (i.g labored breathings, erratic heart rate, feeling clammy and sweaty). Definitely signs of mistrust.
(Was it really mistrust, though?)
"Tearing me apart, I feel it in my heart. Constantly, you're on my mind…" Klay wasn't really thinking much; the song was always the first one she would sing when she decided to play her MYMP collection. Oh, if only she knew that there were people down below thinking way too much into her words.
"Thinking 'bout you all the time. I can't sleep no matter what I do, I just keep on thinking 'bout you."
With his newfound revelation, Fidel hasn't stopped staring at his best friend. Did Ibarra know? Surely he must. If that's the case, then the next step is to have Klay leave the estate to avoid any more sinning. Just the thought of Klay and his best friend having an affair left a bitter taste in his mouth (and a little sting in between his ribs).
(Fidel once again ignored the little nagging feeling in his heart that got worried at the idea of Klay being homeless.)
"Constantly, you're on my mind. Thinking 'bout you all the time."
Fidel has come to the conclusion that Klay was something akin to a witch. She's managed to disrupt his quiet afternoons with her (probably) timed arrivals. She's a puzzle he could never seem to complete; Klay's left him speechless countless of times and all he ever wants to do is make that woman eat her own words one of these days.
Oftentimes, Fidel ends up consumed with the many phrases and speeches that left Klay's pink lips, and the way her eyes would shine as she spoke-
Where did that come from?
Fidel glared at his glass of wine. It's the wine. Definitely the wine. It's making him dazed, and he's thinking too much, coupled with the dulcet soprano of the fair-
Fidel harrumphed, snatching his glass back and taking a big, loud gulp. Klay's definitely disrupted his peace, alright.
"I can't sleep no matter what I do, I just keep on thinking 'bout you." Klay should really consider the songs she's singing, even if she's going to go home anytime soon. If only she knew; both men were already theorizing on the groundless basis of a song, for God's sake.
Heaven above, bless their hearts.
Ibarra had already come up with many scenarios of the maiden falling for a man who's already promised to another ('who could it be!? How come she hasn't introduced me to him! Is the man so amazing that he's worth committing infidelity, Klay?') and that though they are not related by blood, or by anything at all, Ibarra would want nothing more than to meet the man his fake-cousin was besotted with so that he can determine if he's good enough for Klay.
If said man was worth breaking an engagement for, if it comes to that. Their time together may be short, but Crisostomo has grown fond of Klay. A little sister of sorts.
Fidel, on the other hand, should be whacked behind the head because he's reading into it more than Ibarra. He was halfway done with his glass (and about to reach for more) as he listened to Klay sing. He had to do something. His best friend was already under heat for attacking a friar (which Fidel would have backed up, if he wasn't playing the wise-friend card), housing a woman he is not related to, and now Maria Clara is apprehensive of her fiance's well-being!
Fidel should do something.
(Someone should also tell him he's being paranoid, honestly.)
"No, I don't want to start no trouble between you and I, and your lover…"
Both men inhaled sharply at Klay's (not) confession.
"Dios mío, Klay…" Ibarra whispered. No, no, no. The man probably tricked Klay into believing he loves her. That's the only possible reason Ibarra could think of. Klay is not a woman who would steal a man from their lover. She doesn't have to tell anyone; Ibarra trusts his intuition and it's telling him Klay is not a debauch woman. Klay's proven herself to be a woman of great intent and unyielding morals; she would never settle for anything less of her value.
He must meet this man at once. How dare he toy with the heart of his friend?
Klay's been meeting up with this…this…pathetic and loathsome excuse of a man. If a man is not content with their intended, then who is to say they will be content (-of course, this doesn't apply to everyone) with the person they're in an affair with!? And it could also be the reason why she's always going around town! Perhaps that's why Klay is far from her home! She's chased the man who's stolen her heart! Ibarra nodded to himself as he began to set up a plan to ensure Klay would not go to that man, at all costs.
He will not let his sister be ridiculed in any way.
(Someone should also address Ibarra's theories and debunk them as soon as possible, thank you.)
"But I must tell you what I'm going through: everytime you walk by I see love in your eye…."
Disbelief etched its way on Fidel's face. How could Klay mistake Ibarra's friendship for her as love? This woman is way over her head. If she thinks she could capture his best friend with her unique personality, her surprising wit and intelligence, her strength and courage, along with her round, expressive eyes, unblemished pale skin, rosy cheeks and pink-
Fidel rubbed his eyes. He was getting distracted…not that Klay was distracting. No, wait! That was the point! Klay is an obstacle in the grand scheme of life and he had the unfortunate task of making sure she would not get in the way.
Fidel licked the remnants of wine off his lips at the thought of being the poor soul that would be stuck at Klay's side. It would drive him to the brink of madness, but someone has to do it. It turned out to be him.
(Let's all ignore the fact that we all know Fidel just wants to be with Klay for the man's sake, okay?)
Up in the sitting room, Klay had her own musings and listening to her mind was much better than trying to decipher the ones that belonged to the two imbeciles men below. Now that she thought about it, Klay was amazed with herself with how she's managed to play the guitar with limited light. She found herself smiling as she sang, her happiness seeping into the song.
"You're on my mind…Keep on thinkin' about your love…" the ending part of the song was always a favorite of Klay. There was no actual format at this point of the song. "I can't sleep…mhm…I just keep on thinking 'bout you…" her finger dancing over the fretboard would bear consequences later on, but Klay was too busy following the beat of the song to care.
Do guitar picks already exist by this time?
For a while, they could only hear the precise picking of strings from above. Ibarra was halfway through with his plot regarding Klay's (null) affair while Fidel was…there.
He isn't a man that gets drunk so easily as the rest, hence his clear obsession with the red fermented drink. Though, the spurring emotions inside him were nursed by said liquor so one can safely assume that he is slightly inebriated as we speak. To be fair, drinking wine while jumping to conclusions is a sport only few have managed to survive.
Klay took a deep breath as the finale. "Constantly, you're on my mind…Thinking 'bout you all the time." what a great love song it was! "I can't sleep no matter what I do…I just keep on thinking 'bout you."
(Good Lord, someone pick up Señor Ibarra and Señor Reyes' brains off the floor, por favor.)