Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Paper Stars - Chapter Eleven

Chapter 11 – Secret Glances



Paolo tailed Nadine as they walked through the busy aisle of the market. He never took her eyes off her, afraid that he would lose her. He's not afraid of being lost in the market. He have been here several times before, and he knew how to get his way out. What he is scared of is that Nadine might get lost in his sight. He's scared of not seeing her near him.

“Paolo?” he heard her call. He saw her turn around, and waited for him to walk up to her. “I'm OK. I'm not going to be lost. I've been here a lot of times.” he said. Then, he let out a nervous laugh. Nadine smiled at him, and then reached out her hand to him. “I'm not used to not seeing you within my sight. Will you hold my hand, so that I'll know you're still with me?” she said. Paolo let out a giddy smile as he took her hand. He could feel his own palm become cold as he touched her with her warm soft hand. He felt his heart beating fast as he felt her. He felt like being dizzy just being with her. As she looked around the market for the things she need to buy, he never took her eyes off her. He secretly gazed at her, admiring her from where he is standing. For him, her sweet, innocent face is like that of an angel - an angel which saved her when he almost died. Maybe that was the reason why he was so drawn into her.

“I think we should go to the other side.” she said. As she looked at him, he immediately wiped that loving smile on his face. “OK, whatever you say... you're the boss.” he said nonchalantly. As Nadine looked away from him, she let out a smile on her face. She loves trying to catch him whenever he secretly glances at her. She loves how his expression changes immediately. She wondered why Paolo was being like that to her. All she knows is that he loves tailing her, it was like she is the mother duck, while he is her duckling. It's not that she is complaining, instead, she loves that thought that Paolo always follows her around wherever she goes.

They went to one of the stalls in the market. While Nadine was busy haggling with the vendor, Paolo was looking around. At another stall, near to where Nadine is, he saw a white dress hanging on it. “Wow...” he mumbled as he walked up to it. The first thing he thought of while he looked at that dress is Nadine. She would look beautiful in it, beautiful and angelic. “Sir, you want that dress?” the vendor asked. Paolo smiled, and nodded his head. “How much is that one?” he asked. “350 pesos. But I can give it to you for 300.” the vendor said. He wanted to but it. He reached for his pocket to get some money, but as he looked on his hand, he saw that he only had a Php 100 bill on his pocket. He let out a sigh of frustration, and looked at the vendor. “Maybe next time, I don't have enough money with me...” he said in a disappointed tone. He lowered his head, and then walked up to Nadine weakly. “Let's go.” she said, handing him the bag filled with rice. Then, she noticed the sad look on his face. “Anything wrong, Pao Pao?” she asked. Paolo let out a smile, and shook his head. “I'm OK. Let's go.” he said as he took the bag. As they were walking, his mind is still on that white dress he saw. He really wanted to buy it, and give it to Nadine. He was into that thought, that he didn't realized that he bumped into Nadine's back.

Nadine looked back at him, and gave him a worried look. “Is there something wrong, Paolo? You're not with yourself...” she said worriedly. Paolo faked another smile, and shook his head. “Nothing's wrong. Mei guan xi. Don't worry about me.” he said. Nadine could only give him a skeptical look. He knew Paolo from head to toe, and she knows when something is bothering him. “Paolo... you have to tell me the truth.” she said as she folded her arms. Paolo flinched as he saw the mad look on her face. “I wanted to buy something back there... but I didn't have enough money...” he said. Nadine let out a sigh, and then reached for her wallet. Just as Nadine was about to give him the money, Paolo stopped him. “But I will but it when yo give me my salary... don't worry about it.” he said. “What is it that you want to buy, that you looked sad?” she asked. Paolo smiled at her. “It's a secret.” he said. Nadine could only sigh, and shake her head. “OK... are you sure you don't want me to buy it for you?” she asked. “Bu yao. No way.” he said. Nadine smile at him, and folded her arms. “OK, then, shall I buy you your favorite rice cake? I'm starving....” she said. With that, Paolo smiled, and nodded his head.

--

Paolo was busy cleaning the front desk, when Melody came in. “Hi Paolo!” she said in a flirty tone. Paolo looked up at her, and then he ignored her. He continued to clean the desk. Melody leaned over the desk, showing him her cleavage. “Hey... how are you doing?” she asked. Paolo shyly looked away from her. He did not dare to speak to her. When Melody noticed that he doesn't even want to bother with her, she pouted at him. “Why are you like that Paolo? Every time I'm here, you pretend that you don't see me!” she said.

She tugged on his sleeves, and then turned him to face her. Seeing that Melody was wearing a sexy dress, his eyes widened with shock and fear. “N-nadine! M-melody is here!” he shouted. In an instant, Nadine got out of nowhere, which ruined Melody's mood in flirting with her crush. “Oh, hey, Melody. Why are you here? I've just gave your mom our payment for this month.” she said. Melody folded her arms as she looked snottily at her. “I'm here to remind you about your payment next month!” she said at her. Then, she glared at Paolo, who immediately hid behind Nadine. “You don't have to remind me that. I know my schedule.” she said. She let out mock smile at Melody, which made the latter more irritated. “Fine!” she snapped at her. Then, she turned around, and left the two.

As soon as Melody left, Nadine looked at Paolo, who was still hiding behind her. She doesn't know why every time Paolo sees a sexy girl, especially Melody, he always gets scared. “Are you OK?” she asked. Paolo nodded his head. “She's gone now. Stop hiding behind me.” she said. Paolo lowered his head as he stepped aside. Nadine smiled at him, amused at the way he reacted a while ago. “Why are you so scared of girls?” she asked. Paolo shrugged his shoulder. “I don't know. Maybe even before, I am already scared of girls.” he said innocently. “But I'm a girl. Mom's a girl too. Why aren't you scared of us?” she asked. Paolo looked at her for a long time. “Yin wei... ni shi tian shi.” he said. Nadine folded her arms as he heard what he said. “What's our rule, Paolo? No Chinese, right? Can you repeat what you said, in our language?” she asked. “I said... because...” He stammered as Nadine looked closely at her. “Because?” she asked. “Because...” he said. Nadine fold her arms as she walked up to him. “Because you're not as pretty as they are!” he shouted at her. He knew Nadine will get mad at him for what he said, so he immediately ran away from her after saying that.

“Paolo! Take back what you said!” Nadine shouted angrily. Paolo hid at one corner, watching her as she became furious. He let out a sigh, as he flinched. “Why is it that when I want to tell her what I really think about her, it's always the opposite that comes out of my mouth?” he thought. He didn't mean what he said. The truth is, she is the prettiest girl he ever laid his eyes on. Melody could never compare to her. He peeked at her again, and saw that she's not mad anymore. “Zhun shu tian shi... You're my only angel...” he whispered as a smile formed in his lips.

--

“Nadine...”

Nadine looked back, and she saw Martin running up to him. “Oh, hey Martin!” she said. Martin stopped in front of her, and he catch his breath. “I'm glad I found you here at the shore...” he said. She looked at his hand, and saw him holding a string with crabs on it. “Crabs?” she asked. Martin nodded his head, and then gave it to her. “For you. We caught these one a while ago. I know that you love crabs.” she said. Nadine let out a smile at him as she took the crab. “Thanks, Martin.” she said.

Meanwhile, Paolo was walking down the shore when he saw Nadine and Martin talking. He stopped walking, and looked at the two. He saw Martin giving Nadine some crabs, and he saw Nadine smiling at him. He knew Martin have like her for so long, and that Nadine have always been rejecting him. Even though that is a fact he have known for a long time, he couldn't help but feel jealous whenever he saw Martin around her.

Nadine looked away from Martin, and saw Paolo looking at them – more like glaring at them. “Paolo!” she called. She waved her hand at him, but Paolo turned his back on them. “What's wrong?” she thought. “Is Paolo all right?” Martin asked. Nadine looked at him, and shrugged her shoulder. “I don't know. Maybe he is in a bad mood.” she said. Then, she lifted up the crabs on her hand, and smiled. “But I know he won't be in a bad mood anymore after I cook him his favorite crabs.” she said. Then, she looked at Martin, and smiled. “Thanks for the crabs again.” she said. As she turned around to leave him, Martin could only flinch. “But... those crabs are for you...” he said. He scratched his head, and then took his leave.

--

“Here are the crabs!” Marina said as she placed the plate of crabs on the table. “Wow! This looks delicious!” Nadine said. She looked at Paolo, and saw him glaring at it. “What's wrong with this guy?” she thought. Nevertheless, she found him amusing as he glared at the crabs before him. She took a big piece of the crab, and then placed it on his plate. He turned his glare from the crab to her. “Taste it. It sure is delicious. Mom's ginataang alimango is the best in the world.” she said. Paolo looked away from her.

He's mad at her. He's mad at her for talking to Martin that afternoon. He's mad at her for accepting his gift. And since the crabs came from Martin, he is mad at the crabs. “Come on, eat it now, Pao Pao.” she said. Paolo glared at her again. “I'm not hungry!” he shouted. Then, he stood up from his seat and stormed away from the table. Angry, Nadine stood up from her seat and called at him. “Paolo! Come back here!” she shouted. “Nadine... stop it. Maybe he is in a bad mood.” Marina told his daughter. “But ma... he just couldn't walk out on us like that!” she said. “Just let him be. You know Paolo can be a little kid sometimes. Just let him be by himself to think things through, all right?” she said. Nadine could only let out a sigh, then she turned back to her seat t have some dinner.

--

After dinner, Nadine went to her room to do some accounting. She needed to budget their month's profit in order to pay their debts. “Goos thing I gave those guys their salaries...” she thought. She looked at her ledger, and saw that she is still short from what she needed to pay their debts the following month. “What should I do now?” she asked herself. Then, she let out a groan of frustration.

Just then, her mom came inside. “Nadine...” she called. Nadine looked at her. “Mom?” she said. “Someone wants to give this to you.” Marina said, giving her a small white envelope. She opened it, and saw some money on it. Nadine looked at her mom. “This came from Paolo again?” she asked. Marina nodded her head. “He gave that to me as soon as he received his salary from you yesterday. He said he's sorry that he have to get 500 bucks, he needs to buy something.” she said. Nadine could only let out a sigh. “I wonder why he always have to do this. He worked hard for this, he doesn't have to give it to us.” she said. Marina could only smile at her daughter. “Maybe it's his way of saying thanks for letting him stay here. Nadine, dear, I know Pao Pao pissed you off tonight... but can you forgive him? You know that he isn't always like that. He is a good boy...” he said. Nadine nodded her head. “Maybe I was shocked at the way he acted a while ago... don't worry about it, mom. I'm not mad at him anymore...” she said. Marina smiled at her daughter. “You know what, I can hear some cat rummaging through our kitchen. Can you check out on it? And better talk to that cat afterwards.” she said. Nadine laughed, and nodded her head. “I sure will, mom.”

--

Paolo looked around the kitchen for some food to eat. The only thing he could see at the kitchen are the crabs that Marina cooked a while ago. Although it sure does look tasty, those were the last thing he wanted to eat. As he opened the fridge to find food, he heard someone turn to oven off. He paused as he began to feel scared. “G-ghost?” he thought. Then, he slowly turned around, and saw Nadine heating the crab they had for dinner. Nadine looked at him, and smiled. “These are the only food left in this kitchen. Everything is back out there.” she said, pointing at the kitchen on their small inn. Paolo could only sigh in dismay.

He sat on the table, and waited for Nadine to finish heating his dinner. A few seconds later, Nadine came in with the plate on her hand. Paolo just looked at the crab that Nadine served her, hesitating whether he will eat it or not. “You should try it. After all, I accepted it from Martin because of you.” she said. Paolo gave her a confused look. “For... for me?” she asked. Nadine smiled and nodded her head. “I know you love them as much I love it. So, I accepted it. For you.” she said. Paolo looked away from her, smiling to himself. He took his spoon and fork, and began to eat. Nadine could only smile in amusement as he ate hungrily. After a few minutes, Paolo have finished his food. “Aunt Marina really cook great!” he said as soon as he finished. “See, I told you. I wonder why you hated it at first.” she said.

Paolo could only smile at her. “Because those came from Martin. I hate Martin. I hate seeing him around you...” he thought. “Well, forget it. As long as you're full, I'm happy.” Nadine said. Paolo looked up at her shyly. “You're not mad at me anymore?” he asked. Nadine smiled and shook his head. “How can I stay mad at you?” she said. Then, she reached out for his hand, and held it. “Paolo... thank you. You know, you shouldn't be giving me all of your salary. You worked hard for it...” she said. Paolo smiled, and shook his head. “I really don't mind, Nadine. I'm glad that in my own little way, I was able to help you. Besides, where should I spend it? I live here for free. I eat here for free. I don't need it. As long as you let me stay here with you, then I'm contented.” he said. Nadine smiled at him again. “But you took Php500 from your salary?” she asked.

Paolo looked away from her. “Uh... yeah... I want to buy something.” he said. Nadine let out a laugh at his reaction. “OK. I won't ask what is it that you want to buy. If you want, I can go to the market with you tomorrow so that you can buy it, all right?” she said. Paolo looked at her again, and smiled. “You don't have to. I'll ask Manong Lito to accompany me. It's a boy thing.” he said, winking at her. With that, Nadine let out a smile.

Being around Paolo made her forget all of her problems. She love staying beside him, and she loved his childish ways. Somehow, she wished she could stay forever with him, and that he will always stay as childish as he is.

Labels: original story, Paper Stars