Chapter 7 - Mr Joshua de la Cruz Interferes

Then with his drooping shoulder, with an embarrassed face, he said in a defeated expression, "Richclar... You failed us as your parents." Then he walked away towards his rice field... with him was his wife.

They stayed seated at the rice paddy for a very long time with their head in between their knees. The sound of silence was defeaning which was suddenly broken with the sobs of Richclar's parents. From a mere sob it became a cry... Then a weep as though someone died for they wept in misery... grieving for Richclar's unforgivable behaviour. They stayed there until dawn. It was already twilight time when they went back home using the back door as they were going to cook the meal. After cooking they ate and slept in their bedroom.

Meanwhile, Richclar went inside her bedroom as babes left their place when she was driven away by Richard, her father. Her conscience pricked her as she was alone trying to analyze the show she and babes created up front the party goers. But... She could not help herself... She wanted to reveal to the whole world who she really was. Was it her fault? Was she to be blamed? She was not fallen for boys for she, too, was a boy. Only that she was imprisoned to a female's body. She should accept her for what she was, her choice or preferences. Afterall, she had outstanding marks in her class cards. She was studying hard for them. Can't they be tolerant regarding her lover? Her babes?

She slept with this misery... that she was not accepted for what she was. She knew... for a very long time... for several years now.... SINCE she was still in grade 4 level in grammar school. She had been holding herself for revealing her true identity. By June, she would already be sophomore in college.. It was time for the revelation. Babes and I talked about it and we are going to face and their condemnation. She sighed deeply then she murmured, "Babes and I against all odds. " Then she was asleep dreaming how happy she was with her beloved Babes.

The remaining days of her summer vacation was spent in meetings with her fellow SK chairpersons. As they were in cold War at their home, she was at a lose when an overall chairperson had to vote one among them. Two of them among the 21 chairpersons should compete for the position. She was qualified to compete, thus she had to run. The problem was her parents who until that time would never talk to her. The support she needed should come from them. But, she seemed to be an invisible air in their home. Who should she ask for help?

In the city when the video clip of the victory party was watched by Joshua, he destroyed most of their appliances as he had to do something about his furiosity because like Richard and Clariss he could not accept that his Richclar was not only a tomboy but a lesbian.. Revealing her relationship with her fellow gender. He was even confined in a hospital as he suffered in head's concussion when he hit it to a wall. Good, the physician declared it to be a minor concussion only. If it was a major one, he might have lost his memory. After two weeks of confinement he was already discharged.

Two days after he was discharged, Richclar arrived in his place looking for him. Upon staring at her by the door, he was in daze, thinking of the right reaction he would have shown her. Would a confrontation needed in order to sexually educate this girl?

"Good morning, sir. Why is your head bandaged?" she asked innocently. Since he was in a daze, naturally he was unable to hear what Richclar was asking. So, she couldn't help but to pat him on his right arm. A high wattage of electrical voltage from her touch made him come into reality leaving his thoughts in that daydreaming land of nowhere. He shivered and replied.

"You're saying something?"

Richclar smiled and repeated. "Sir, I was asking about the bandage in your head."

"Aaaahhh, this? Well... I had an accident in my big bike." He lied.

"So, what brought you here, by the way?" Joshua asked.

"Sir, it is about my candidacy for the position of an over all over SK chairperson in my municipality." She told him.

"Really? Then I am happy for your qualification and of course Good Luck."

"Could you lend me a big amount for my candidacy. If ever I won, I am sure that I could return back the money to you. I shall use the money that you will lend me in excursions and socialization. You know what I mean." she explained.

"In one condition, Richclar." Joshua requested.

"What is it, sir?" She asked.

"Do you have a boy friend?"

"I don't have, sir."

"Then who do you have? I mean with your looks I don't think you were not in a relationship?"

"Oh, that? I won't deny it, sir. I have a babes in my life."

"I presume, this babes is a girl like you?"

She scratched her head then confirmed the female gender of her babes although Joshua knew her identity from the video clip he watched. As her head was staring at the floor, she was unable to see the glares that Joshua poked at her. Then he requested.

"Can you share your babes with me?"

As though an automated machine, her head was switched on to unbelievably look at him in his eyes and she was surprised when he winked at her meaningfully, giving her a deadly smile that forcefully changed the direction of her eyes to the garden at the front yard, that can be seen through the glass windows of the living room, where they were having their conversation. Those eyes that were penetrating in her soul made her heart throbbed like the noisy galloping of a horse.

Her heart that quickly beating messaged her eyes to observe the two bees sipping the nectars of the flowers at the garden. Would that be the situation they would have once she agreed to share her babes with him?

Then her insecurity attacked her as she knew that she could not compare herself to a real male. Mr. Joshua de la Cruz has some parts that she has none. Such part drove a woman to the extent of falling on her knees chasing a man to equally be in-love with her.

"Sir, sorry for the disturbance. I shall be going now. Please forget our conversation as though we did not talk today." She stood up and prepared to walk towards the door.

"Wait! I am just kidding. What I want is to talk with your parents first."

"Sir, my parents and I were not in good terms. As a matter of fact, I might be quitting in my studies this coming school year. I would be looking for a job to support my own studies."

"Just leave it to me. I'll talk to them tomorrow." He promised her, knowing that he had a contact number to her father.

The following morning Mr Joshua had visitors. They were Richard and Clariss. These two were too embarrassed to face him but because of Joshua's insistence, they were forced to go to him and they were gloomy.

"Accept our apology. It was an unexpected revelation from her. We even asked ourselves if it was our fault." Richard related to him their reaction on the sudden revelation.

"Let us not talk about it. Instead, tell me if you would like her to run for the position of being an overall chairperson among the SK's in your municipality." Joshua sought for their opinion about it.

"Who informed you about her candidacy?" Clariss asked him.

"She came to me yesterday. She was borrowing a money and promised to pay it as soon as she won being the chairperson. She told me so." He informed them.

Then he quipped: "She would be a working student as according to her, you treated her like an invisible air. Mother and father, not that I am meddling with your treatment with her, but do you think it will change herself to be a straight woman?"

The husband and wife remained wordless. They were just bowing their head staring at the floor drooping sadly.

To break the silence, Joshua continued talking." If you would punish her by not sending her to school anymore, then I have no choice but to interfere. As she was a scholar, I would let her stay here in my house so there would be no problem for her daily needs including her school requirements."

" Don't. Please don't do it for us. She is our youngest child, you knew how we love and care for her." Clariss told him.

" We would let her continue her studies but we would like to give in to your invitation of her stay here with you. You might be able to change her."