After All

The First Love

At their humble abode, Marie was at her room, dressing up and preparing her makeup in front of the mirror. Lita came inside and brushed her daughter's hair.

"You look beautiful," Lita remarked

"Thank you mama," Marie smiled, "I'm so excited for the party."

"Just remember, behave yourself," Lita reminded her daughter, "The visitors around that place are members of the high society."

"I will," Marie assured as she wore the powdered blue cocktail dress that Nenotchka lent her.

"I see that the Old Man Mang Caloy helped you," said Lita.

"He saved me from those drunkards who tried to harass me," Marie answered.

"That's the first time I heard him go out in that place and helped someone," Lita stated "Just be very careful with that old man, he is mysterious."

Lita left the room, leaving a curious Marie wondering about the mysterious identity of Mang Caloy.

It was six in the evening, when Marie arrived at the at the Serrano Estate, the place was like a palace in the eyes of those who live there.

She entered the lobby where the guests were staring at her from head to foot. Lucky for her, she is the winner of the beauty pageant and not just any ordinary daughter of a farmer.

Doña Agatha was so busy accommodating her guests, food was flowing both from the table and the trays that the maids are serving, it was a lavish party fit for a King or a queen, after all, her prized guest were scions of the powerful Marino clan.

Rina, Emi and Riho sat in front of the long table, beside the most influential lady in the province, the three enjoyed the night full of food and entertainment, Rina was browsing on her phone, checking for text messages when she noticed Marie walking down.

"Oh, here you are!" Rina exclaimed, offering a seat to the lass, "Come sit with me."

Marie stared at Rina, hesitant to take the seat. The lass was nervous. Her forehead started to sweat.

"Don't be shy," Rina smiled as Marie reluctantly sat beside her.

"Are Muro and Charee coming over?" Emi asked her almost step-daughter.

"No, they're busy," Rina answered, turning her head and staring at Marie "So, I heard you joined the contest to sustain your college degree?"

"Yes, my parents couldn't afford to send me to college, so I have to work hard," Marie explained, lowering her head.

"Well, I can offer you a scholarship for work if you want one" Rina offered, prompting Emi and Riho to raise their eyebrows

"Your not the mayor of this town, so why would you offer one?" Riho asked.

"Why not?" Rina responded, "I can do anything even if I am not a mayor of this town?"

Riho and Emi just stared at Rina, bewildered by her usual carefree attitude. As the dinner and conversation went on, one of the townsmen was also conversing with Agatha..

"You invited some of the richest men in the province, Madam, but we noticed you didn't invite that old man living near the plaza," Domeng, the town councilor said.

"Who?" A curious Agatha asked.

"That man named Mang Caloy," Domeng answered, "He arrived at our town six months ago, he has been helping people, he has two bodyguards and he is rich."

"I don't know him, so why would I invite him?" Agatha responded, sipping wine from her chalice.

"Mang Caloy helped me with all my expenses in the beauty pageant," Marie interrupted, raising eyebrows from the socialites.