The Beating of a Metal Heart [On Hold]

Chapter Seven: Way back... the explanations

Some years ago...

Mathilde Talia Linton was sitting on her grandfather's knees, as he looked down on her lovingly. He was an English businessman, the father of her father.

That made her, then, the adorable half-Brit, half-Filipina granddaughter. Bubbly and all around lovable... a far cry from what she became some years later.

"My dear Lia." he softly caressed the little girl's silky brown hair. "Take good care, now, my dear little beauty."

She, with eyes big and bright, turned to look at the noble old face of her grandfather Eustace Linton.

It made a sweet picture, an image of childish and pure love. He went on speaking, still stroking her hair, "I do not wish to lose you... I so desire this." he intoned, with a hint of sadness. "I love you, my Lia."

"Oh Grandpa." said Lia sweetly. "You know I love you too." and she laughed, the sound came out sounding like the chime of silver bells. She planted a kiss on the wrinkled forehead of her grandfather and embraced his thin frame.

"I love you Grandpa." she repeated. Without her noticing it, tears dimmed her grandfather's eyes. He quickly wiped them, and pinching her little cheek, he told her:

"Come Talia! It's music hour now, is it not?"

They linked their hands together, the larger one clasping the smaller one benevolently, protectively...the little hand holding on trustingly... little feet prepared to follow the wise, mellow footsteps undaunted.

They went to the grand piano, their grand piano, their life... and together touched the keys. Ebony and ivory; all cherished, familiar friends.

Heavenly music poured out from both their hands, resonating throughout the lonely house... breaking the melancholy that for ever had pervaded it.

Old Linton sat alone that evening, spent. His granddaughter was already deep in slumber upon his lap. With a sigh, he gazed at the child's sleeping profile. She resembled her grandmother, he thought, and he smiled. The eyes, the nose, the high cheekbones, yes! -- what a beauty she is, just like her grandmother. Rightfully so, the name that was given her: Mathilde Talia, the sweet little name, it was derived from his wife's: Lia Clothilde. Clothilde, the "battle maiden".

It was him who had bestowed her that name. Oh but her father never did like it, he permitted that she be given that name but never really approved of it. He thought that whatever affection he would show for Mathilde could only be directed to the memories she evoked, memories of Lia Clothilde.

It was true that life had been mostly distasteful after she died, after Lia Clothilde his life had been barren... but this little girl, this little angel he had in his lap, she had already become his world, the beam of sunlight that warmed and lit up his whole being.

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But no, I love her... Mathilde Talia.. She is my own, someone, something here that I am to protect.

He smiled, and went to sleep.

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The little boy looked at the little girl.

Ang ganda niya, galing ba siya sa heaven? he thought, smiling while carefully appraising the girl. Pretty, he noted.

The little girl was Mathilde Talia Linton, who had just come from England with her grandfather, wearing a white silk dress covered with "fuss and feathers" as she put it; frills and lace... and the little boy was Lothaire Mathew Victor, who looked quite dashing in a prince's attire. It was an occasion to which a mutual friend invited them, but they haven't yet been introduced, as the young host was nowhere in sight. The two children  were left on their own devices.

Little boy there wanted so much to introduce himself and ask for Lia's name.

Buti nalang sumama ko kay mommy.... kala ko naman kasi boring. he thought.

He couldn't have been luckier, I am staring at a pretty girl, and she's staring at me too.

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"Angel ka ba?" he ventured.

"Bakit naman?" she innocently replied.

"Ang ganda ganda mo kasi eh... sabi ni mommy, ang mga angels nakaputi atsaka maganda."

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She blushed. "Hindi naman." she managed to say. "Ano bang.... pangalan mo?

"Ako si Mat-mat." and he grinned.

"Lia." she said. She decided to tell him the little name that only her grandfather called her because something in his eyes were precisely like her grandfather's. She smiled back at him.

"Dun ako nakatira." Mat-mat pointed at a house just across the one they were staying in.

"Talaga? Kami yung bagong lipat sa tabi ng bahay nyo..." 

They both smiled at each other. The little girl giggled.

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And since that day, they became very good friends, sharing almost everything they had. Play hours, playthings, games, books... 

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All their lives.

Little did they know. They weren't able to guess....

what the future held for them.