Chapter 28: Crafted by the Heart
( Erik's POV)
The morning in Plaridel unfolded with serene tranquility, the gentle breeze carrying the scent of fresh fish and vegetables to our market stall. For six days, Georgia and I had woven our lives together, our daily routine a familiar melody—selling goods from dawn, cooking at noon, and resting in the evening, often punctuated by shared stories and laughter. Yet, as I arranged the crates of tuna and greens, my thoughts drifted far away, tethered to the moment I could confront Hiyas about my clash with Hustisya the previous night. The weight of my mission pressed against my chest like a stone, and I yearned for answers, for guidance, for anything to illuminate the path I trod.
Before we resumed our selling, I slipped away to the back of the church, the only place where I could speak with Hiyas. There, I found her seated beneath a sprawling acacia tree, her long hair caressed by the wind. She cradled a book, her eyes fixed on its pages as if the world beyond ceased to exist.
"Hiyas, we need to talk," I said, my voice laced with frustration and pain. "Last night, I faced Hustisya. I tried to stop her at the mansion, but she was furious with me for interfering. She nearly killed those Kastilas! I don't want her to hate me, but what am I supposed to do?"
Hiyas remained silent, her fingers delicately turning a page, her stillness slicing through my patience like a blade. "Hiyas, please listen!" I shouted, my voice rising, desperate for her attention. "Why do you act like you don't care? You ordered me to save Hustisya, to stop her from killing the Kastilas, but you're doing nothing to help me! I'm struggling here!"
Still, she offered no response, her gaze anchored to the book. My frustration boiled over, and I couldn't hold back. "What are you reading, anyway? It's like that's more important than what I'm saying!" I snapped, my tone dripping with sarcasm and exasperation.
At last, she lifted her eyes, their calm depths vast as an ocean. "This book was given to me by Laguna. It's called The Sorrow of the Flower," she replied, holding the book as though it were a priceless treasure. Her voice was soft, yet it carried a weight I couldn't grasp.
The title puzzled me. "The Sorrow of the Flower? What's so great about that? What's it about flowers?" I asked, my tone tinged with curiosity and impatience.
Hiyas explained, her voice a melody woven with wisdom. "This story speaks of people who love each other despite their scarred pasts, wounds carved by time and tragedy. Laguna gave it to me so I could understand human emotions. I slumbered for ages, Erik, and I've lost touch with the world's pulse. I need to learn about the human heart to truly comprehend and aid them."
I couldn't see how a book could solve our crisis. "If you want to learn about people, I'm right here to help! Just tell me how to stop Hustisya! Hiyas, you chose me to be a hero, so you should help me!" I pleaded, my voice raw with desperation and anguish. "I'm drowning, and it feels like I'm fighting alone!"
Hiyas sighed, but her expression remained unruffled. "What I'm doing now is part of my help," she said, her words drifting past me like a fleeting breeze. I wasn't convinced, and the sting of disappointment deepened.
"Then tell me—what does Hustisya need to stop killing?" she asked. Her question caught me off guard, and my silence was its own answer. I had no ideas, and the absence of a solution weighed heavier on my heart.
Hiyas spoke again, her voice grave and resonant. "If you can't stop her, Erik, Hustisya may die in the end." She closed the book and stood, her eyes piercing mine as if peering into my soul. "People need someone to heal their wounded hearts. Not every battle is won with strength or weapons."
Before I could respond, she handed me a necklace crafted from a strange stone, glinting in the sunlight as if alive. "Go out with your friend, the girl, and eat somewhere after you sell," she instructed, her tone an unyielding command.
Confusion swirled in my mind. "Huh? Why should I eat out with Georgia? What's this necklace for?" I asked, clutching the necklace like a key to an enigma I couldn't unravel.
She swatted my head with a stick, her voice tinged with irritation yet laced with care. "Just listen! You're too tangled in your problems. I'm ordering you to enjoy yourself and spend your earnings to have fun. The necklace—keep it safe and give it to your friend after your outing. Think of it as a gift of gratitude. She's helping you, so it's only right you give something in return," Hiyas added.
Before I could press further, Georgia burst onto the scene, her voice brimming with vitality and excitement. "Erik! The trike's outside; we can start loading the goods!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she surveyed the crates of fish.
"Look at all these blue marlins! These will fetch a high price, for sure! But are you certain we can sell these? They're so expensive!"
I smiled, reassuring her. "Yes, just like always. Let's sell them; we'll make a good profit today," I replied, though my mind lingered on my talk with Hiyas. We swiftly loaded the fish onto the trike, carefully arranging the crates to prevent damage. As we prepared, I noticed Georgia's smile, her energy a sunbeam brightening my morning. Despite the burden of my mission, her presence offered a unique comfort.
Hours later, we reached the markets in other parts of Plaridel. The crowd eagerly bought our goods, our fish selling out quickly due to their quality and price. "We sold everything so fast!" Georgia said, her voice bubbling with joy. "But Erik, we've got nothing left for home. What'll we cook later?"
"Let's just buy food for lunch," I answered, following Hiyas's directive to enjoy. "Come on, after this, let's go somewhere!" I added, surprising her.
"Go somewhere? Where?" she asked, her eyes alight with curiosity.
"You'll see," I said, grinning to mask my nerves. I couldn't admit it was Hiyas's order, but deep down, I was thrilled about the plan.
Back home, we found Lola Maria sweeping outside. "Lola, let's eat lechon manok!" I called, knowing it was Georgia's favorite. She entered with a beaming smile that seemed to light up the house. As I prepared the meal, I called Lolo Pedro, who was busy fixing the roof. "Lolo, come eat! The roof can wait!" I said, and he smiled, his fatigue momentarily eased.
At the table, we shared the lechon manok, pork, and rice, their faces radiant with happiness. Each bite was accompanied by laughter and stories. During the meal, Lolo remarked, "It's been ages since we ate like this. Sometimes, we only eat twice a day because life's so hard."
"Thank you, Erik, for helping us," Lolo said, his eyes brimming with gratitude.
I smiled, my heart warmed. "It's nothing, Lolo. If you love pork and chicken, I'll buy them every day for us," I said, delighting him.
Lolo suddenly mentioned a peanut business. "Someone offered me sacks of peanuts to sell. The profit's good, but sadly, I can't afford them," he said, his voice tinged with regret.
I quickly grabbed my wallet. "How much, Lolo?" I asked, ready to help.
"About ten thousand, including other supplies," he replied.
I handed him the money. "I'll cover it, Lolo, so you can start the business," I said, smiling.
Georgia slammed the table, her face ablaze with anger. "Erik, enough! I forbid you from giving us money!" she shouted, her eyes blazing.
I was baffled, my heart sinking. "But it's for Lolo, for his business," I explained, trying to calm her.
"I understand Lolo needs money, but I can't accept you paying for it!" she retorted, her voice thick with frustration. "We don't need you to always give us money just because we let you stay here!"
"Georgia, it's no trouble. You're letting me live here, so it's fine," I said, smiling despite the tension.
"You don't need to pay for staying here! I'm helping you because I want to, not because you're obligated to give us money!" Georgia yelled, her hands trembling with anger.
"I'm not paying you; I'm giving it willingly," I clarified, hoping to ease her.
She grew angrier. "If you don't listen, I'll kick you out!" she threatened, her voice sharp.
Lola Maria intervened, her voice calm but authoritative. "Let it be, Georgia. I see Erik's kindness, and it comes from his heart. But Erik, don't be too generous and give everything away. Sometimes, always giving doesn't help others."
Lola explained that they raised Georgia to be hardworking and resourceful. "If you keep giving her things, she might stop working and become lazy," she said, prompting Georgia's protest. "Lola, what's that supposed to mean?" she exclaimed, blushing with embarrassment.
Lolo praised my diligence. "Georgia's lucky to have a friend like you, Erik," he said, his smile sincere.
I felt shy under the praise. "I'm not that great, Lolo. Honestly, I've been losing hope lately, alone in this big town. Thank goodness I met Georgia, and you took me in. I didn't want to sleep by the church. I'm driven to sell every day because I'm with Georgia," I said, smiling at her. "Thank you, Georgia. I promise I'll do everything to help you."
Georgia's cheeks flushed, and she averted her gaze. "Stop it, just eat!" she said, turning away to hide her blush.
Lolo said, "I hope your care for our granddaughter lasts, Erik. She's grumpy, but kind and loyal."
"Take care of Georgia, Erik. She's impulsive sometimes," Lolo added, sparking her ire. "Lolo, come on!" she shouted, her face crimson.
Lola joined in. "We love our granddaughter dearly, so we entrust her to you," she said, fueling Georgia's anger.
"Stop saying weird things!" she yelled. "It's like you're handing me over to Erik! I'm just letting him stay here, and he'll leave anytime!"
Lolo asked, "Why, don't you want Erik to stay? He's kind, rare for someone so willing to help. I'd prefer if he lived here with you."
She flared up. "Erik has his own life! He's supporting his family in the province! That's why he works here!" she shouted. "I can work to support you and Lola; we don't need to rely on him!"
Lola stopped her, apologizing for Lolo's words. "Forgive your Lolo, but it's not just about money," she said, holding Georgia's hand. "We're old, and we won't be with you forever. You'll need someone by your side."
Georgia's eyes grew sad. "Don't say that! You and Lolo are still strong!" she cried, standing and leaving the table. "I'm done; I need some air."
Minutes later, I saw her on the hammock under the mango tree, her face forlorn, her eyes lost in thought. I approached, my heart heavy. "Georgia, I'm sorry," I said, unsure why I was apologizing.
She looked startled, her tone still sharp. "Why are you apologizing?" she asked, a hint of petulance in her voice.
"I don't know what I did, but I feel it's my fault you're upset," I replied, my voice earnest.
She smiled faintly, though her feigned irritation lingered. "It is your fault! You're too kind! I'm annoyed because you pay too much attention to me. I'm annoyed because you worry when I go out at night. I'm annoyed because you care about my family!" she shouted, her hands shaking with emotion.
I scratched my head, confused. "Is that bad?" I asked, trying to understand.
"Yes, it's bad!" she snapped, her voice thick with frustration. "Don't you get it? I don't want to get used to your kindness, Erik! You won't be here forever! What happens when you leave?"
My heart ached, as if her words had been waiting to surface. "Are you kicking me out?" I asked, my voice soft.
She bristled, her face flushing deeper. "I'm not kicking you out! I'm saying, if you get tired of us, you can just leave and go back to the province! I don't want us to depend on you, because you'll leave someday!"
I confessed, "I do need to return for my family, but as long as you need me here, I won't abandon you. I'll take care of you, like Lolo said."
Her cheeks reddened, and she fidgeted, her hands restless. "Are you serious?" she asked, her voice trembling, as if she couldn't believe it.
I smiled, my heart brimming with resolve. "Of course. I'm ready to keep my promise to you," I said.
Georgia fell silent, bowing her head, covering her mouth to stifle a smile. She turned away to hide her flushed cheeks, but I glimpsed her grin. "Why do you seem shy?" I asked, smiling with curiosity. "Did I say something wrong?"
"Shut up!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with embarrassment. "You shouldn't humiliate a girl like that!"
"Humiliate? Wait, I'd never do that to you," I said.
"Are you serious about staying with me? Because if so, you'd have to live in our house with me," she challenged.
"No problem; we already live together," I replied, startling her. "We're like family, if you think about it."
She jumped up from the hammock, shocked. "Stop it! Don't say embarrassing things!" she yelled, her face blazing.
I was puzzled. "What's embarrassing?" I asked, trying to grasp her reaction.
I apologized again, my voice humble. I pulled out a flyer from a restaurant I'd picked up at the market. "Georgia, let's eat here," I said, inviting her, following Hiyas's command.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Why are you suddenly asking me to eat out?" she asked, her voice curious.
I couldn't say it was Hiyas's order, so I made an excuse. "I want to try the food there. It's my first time; come with me," I said, smiling to hide my nervousness.
She seemed disappointed, her voice barely audible, but I caught it. "So you're only inviting me because you want to taste the food," she murmured, a flicker of sadness in her eyes. "I thought you were asking me on a date."
"If I asked you on a date, would you say yes?" I teased, smiling to lighten the mood.
Her cheeks bloomed like morning roses. "I'm not easy to get, but if you put in the effort and convince me, I might agree!" she retorted, her voice bold yet betraying her giddiness.
"Why are you blushing?" I asked, only for her to swat my head with the flyer.
"Don't ask me that!" she shouted, her face glowing redder. "Why aren't you shy about asking me on a date?"
"Why should I be shy? We're just eating out," I said, baffled by her reaction.
I didn't understand what was embarrassing about eating out; it was normal to grab a snack outside, especially since no one cooked at home back then.
"Don't you want to eat out?" I asked, my voice tinged with concern.
"Of course I do!" she replied, her tone brash. "Since you're so insistent, I'll indulge you. You've helped a lot, so fine, let's call it a date," she stammered, visibly nervous.
Having convinced her, I urged her to leave, but she protested. "We can't go on a date dressed like this! We need to look proper, or they won't let us into the mall or restaurant!" she exclaimed, pointing at our casual clothes.
I was confused. "Why not? We have money," I said, but I agreed to dress up so we could go. We changed—I wore a polo and jeans, she donned a simple yellow dress that accentuated her smile. As she got ready, I noticed her nervousness, her fingers playing with her hair's ends. "You okay?" I asked.
"Of course!" she replied, but her smile held a hint of shyness. "Let's go, or we'll be late!"
At the mall, the lights and noise infused us with vibrant energy. We started at the arcade, trying the claw machine. "Erik, grab that teddy bear!" Georgia cheered, her voice bursting with excitement.
I failed several times, but when I finally snagged the bear, she squealed with delight and gripped my arm. "You're amazing!" she said, her smile illuminating the arcade.
We ate ice cream, swapping stories on a bench. "You know, in the province, we rarely had ice cream. This cookies and cream is like heaven," I said, making her laugh.
"Wow, Erik, you're so simple!" she said, her voice filled with admiration. "I love this mango flavor; it's perfectly sweet."
We rented a spot at the baseball booth, aiming to knock down cans. "You got this, Georgia!" I shouted as she prepared to throw. When she hit three cans, she jumped for joy and hugged me. "I'm awesome, right?" she said, but quickly stepped back, blushing. "Oops, sorry, got carried away!"
I grinned, my heart racing. "It's fine, champ," I said, earning a playful smack on my shoulder.
We played basketball on a machine, competing to score. "Erik, you're done for; I'll get more points!" she taunted, her voice brimming with bravado. But when the game ended, I won by a point. "Not fair! Rematch!" she protested, making me laugh.
In the afternoon, I suggested eating at the restaurant from the flyer. The place was cozy, with candles on the tables and soft music. As we sat, we delved into deeper conversation. "What's your favorite food, Erik?" she asked, scanning the menu.
"Honestly, this is my first time eating this kind of food. In the province, it's just rice and a dish, maybe fish or veggies. I don't have a favorite," I admitted, shyly.
"Wow, Erik, you need to explore the world!" she said, smiling. "I love kare-kare; the peanut sauce is divine!"
We ordered kare-kare, sinigang, and crispy pata, and as we ate, we talked about our dreams. "In the province, I just wanted to help my family. But now, I want to see the world, like you said," I shared.
She smiled, her eyes sparkling. "That's a beautiful dream, Erik. I want to finish my studies and get a good job."
Back home, we brought lechon kawali and ensaymada for Lola and Lolo. "Thank you, kids!" Lola said, her smile radiant.
As everyone rested, I gave Georgia the necklace, obeying Hiyas's order.
"This is for you, a thank-you for helping me," I said.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "Erik, what's this? It's beautiful!" she said, touching the necklace. "You didn't have to, but… thank you," she added, her voice tender.
End of POV