Neophyte

Closer

The rest of the day became a blur for Metztli. It was difficult for her to concentrate on the lesson that Valentina was giving her. The young women were removing the husks from the corn while Valentina gave a lesson on the language. While taking off the husks, Valentina couldn't help but notice that Metztli looked thoughtful. "Amocualli (Something bad happened)?"

"Huh? Sorry what was that?"

Valentina stopped what she was doing and sighed. "If you want to learn the language, you have to start speaking it. It is the only way you can become proficient."

"Yeah, but I'm barely learning and the language is complicated."

"It is only complicated if you make it so. I want you to ask me questions on how to say words and responses." Valentina kept on looking at Metztli; she wasn't looking at her. Something was wrong. "It looks like you're still not listening. Something is troubling your mind."

Metztli flinched as she removed the husk from the corn she held. She didn't want to tell Valentina what was troubling her. The truth was ingrained in her mind; Guillermo and Valentina were the children of Mariana and Victoriano. It was still difficult to accept the truth; everyone had been deceived. Toypurina and her family were the only ones who knew the truth. What made it worse was that Metztli knew the truth as well. She was the type of person who didn't like to keep secrets. 

Since Metztli slowly earned Valentina's respect and trust, she believed that she was at risk of losing it by keeping the secret from her and Guillermo.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt Valentina gently shaking her. Metztli violently flinched. "Huh, oh sorry about that. What were you saying?"

Valentina sighed while throwing her piece of corn in the wooden basket. "Never mind. It would seem you wouldn't be able to pay attention. What's troubling you?" She could tell Metztli looked uncertain. "And don't lie to me. I could tell that something is. Now tell me."

Metztli looked at the corn she held and felt as if the inside of her body were on fire. "I have been thinking a lot about my family lately. I'm slowly becoming homesick." She felt disgusted with herself. 

"Oh right, you were a traveling herbalist, though you haven't done much healing."

"I guess you could say I wasn't given much opportunity. Vic-I mean, the Bishop gave me much freedom. I am privileged. I still miss my family." It wasn't an entire lie. Metztli felt homesick and missed her family. She didn't know how or why she was in the past, and how it was possible. Was it a possibility that something supernatural happened? Did the Mission have a secret portal or..

Metztli covered her lips. "Is there a possibility that the souls of those who died in the Mission wanted to show me what happened in the past history of the Mission?"

"You said you were a traveler and you miss your home. What of your family?"

Valentina's question got Metztli out of her train of thought, and she decided to ignore the guilty feeling of lying. She knew that it was Mariana and Victoriano's responsibility to tell their children the truth. The two believed they were protecting their children and the Tongva, but it was only a temporary measure. The Tongva would not be protected forever. Mariana and Victoriano didn't think of the long-term consequences. 

"My parents wanted me to travel since they educated me. I know that for a woman, it is unheard of, but after they experienced much hardship due to being born with the wrong skin color, they wanted me to be better. You could say that they wanted me to live my life and let me go."

"Wait, are you saying your parents sent you away, alone?"

Metztli's parents would never send her away if she were in her timeline, but she had to be convincing since she was in the past. "Yes, though it was painful for them. Before I was sent away, my father was very ill. He and my mother feared that he would not live, and my mother was old. My parents felt that since it would only be a matter of time before they left this life so they wanted me to travel and try to make a life they never had."

She looked at Valentina, who sat silently and listened. "So...you do not know if your family is still alive?"

"No, but with the conditions they were in, I have a feeling that they are no more." Metztli let out a humorless laugh. She despised herself for lying, but her parents were still very much alive, and her father was in the hospital. The young woman wondered if her father was still in the hospital or had gotten better. Her father was diabetic and, unfortunately, wasn't taking care of himself as he should have. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a hand on hers.

Valentina was holding her hand! Metztli couldn't believe it! However, Valentina's touch was strange; it felt comforting and warm. The touch created a strong connection that was difficult to describe. "I cannot imagine being sent away like that, even if it was for a better future. Still, I imagine that you have experienced dangers from traveling by yourself."

"Yes and no. My parents taught me how to survive certain situations, and I also trained myself in some self-defense moves. It helped me a great deal, especially against those who viewed me as nothing more than a mere weak woman." Metztli noticed that the sun was setting and knew that Esteban would be waiting for her. "Oh look at that, it's going to get dark soon and Esteban invited me to have dinner with him."

"I see. It would seem that he likes you."

Metztli felt her face turn warm and looked away. "I-I wouldn't say that! We-We're just friends!"

Valentina stood up, holding the wooden basket full of corn. "I don't believe he views it as such. Though I would be careful. No matter what, he is still some from the people who killed for our land. Come on, we have to take this to the village and you can meet with your FRIEND."

Metztli groaned as she took her wooden basket, not knowing that Valentina silently snickered.