The donia was at a party in another house, he was informed before going to the Villagracias' estate, so Corporal Manuel decided to leave it with Gregorio. He looked around and saw the women servants looking like they were in a hurry, carrying things to another room and carrying another back.
"Uhurm, excuse me," he said.
One of the servants, Graciela, stopped and looked up at him and saw the dog in his arms.
"Oooh, you found Foo-Foo! Marcela, the officer found Foo-Foo."
All cooed and said gibberish at the dog, ignoring the corporal.
"Ahm, Donia Victoriana is not here, right?" Said the corporal. "I wish to see Gregorio. Where is he?"
"He left five minutes ago, sir. He took the auto-mobile to the South Harbor for Seniorita Francia."
"Francisita?!" shouted corporal, not aware that he did. "She is coming here? Now?"
"Her ship arrives in South Harbor, senior. This evening, I think."
The officer just stood there, staring blankly into space, his lips moving as if saying something.
"You can leave Foo-Foo with us," said the servant Graciela. "Or you can go back here later when Gregorio-"
"And Seniorita Francisita ."
"Yes, Marcela,' Graciela said, acknowledging Marcela's interruption. 'Later, when Gregorio is already home, to give him Foo-Foo."
The corporal blinked.
"Foo-Foo, right. I will come back later," he said and walked away, still holding the dog.
The sun had already set when the corporal knocked on the Villagracias' door and silently talked to himself, a fruitless conversation running around in his head: Will I see her? No, of course not, you fool. She's probably exhausted from the trip and is resting. Exhausted, why? She didn't swim the whole way, didn't she? Why you, @#$%^&! Don't talk about my Francisita that way! Since when was she your Francisita? You haven't even seen her? Maybe I will see her tonight. Will I see her? No, of course not, you fool!...
The door opened and there she was.
"Not a fool," he said softly.
"Excuse me?" said Francisita, answering the door and looking more lovelier than she did in the painting. "Umm I mean good evening officer, can I help you?"
Corporal Manuel stared at her for some time then blinked.
"I'm sorry, seniorita. I was expecting Gregorio to open the door. Ah there you are Gregorio," he said to the smaller man who sneaked in front of the young woman to hold the door open.
"Seniorita," said Gregorio. "Please let me be the one to open the–"
"Francisita!" yelled an imperious female voice from somewhere inside the house. "Let Gregorio, open the door. You still have to unwrap these things."
"Yes, mama. Excuse me," she said, smiling at the corporal and revealing a small dimple on her right cheek. She walked away from the door, out of sight.
But the Corporal was still standing outside the house, staring silently until Gregorio cleared his throat.
"You wanted to see me, officer?" asked Gregorio.
"Yes. Yes!I wanted you to have Foo-Foo. I found her with some children who were delighted to have a dog to play with. I guess the dog was able to get out of the estate and ran to a strange part of the city."
This good news delighted everyone and so the corporal took his leave and went home.
YOU ARE READING
Pinoy historical romance: Intramuros
Fiction HistoriqueThis is my small try at a romantic story of sorts. And I wanted to have a go on fiction with a Filipino historical setting. I probably made a mess of it, oh well. I'm also trying to do a sort of police procedural thing, but I know very little about...
