“Did you miss me Mrs. Daniela? You seem surprised to see me. After you gave me the money, someone put illegal drûgs in my house. It’s like someone tried to get rid of me without my knowledge. But I am not that easy to get rid of. Not that easy.”
Cassie sat at the dining table, toying with her breakfast. She was sad about what had happened at the community. She told Esther that she had the feeling that her parents were keeping something from her. She asked Esther if she knew what Kulas had meant by the things he had said and Esther told her that her parents had already explained things to her.
“But I still feel like there is something they are keeping from me,” Cassie worried.
“Cassie, believe your momma and daddy,” Esther advised. “They know what’s best for you.”
During rehearsal, Miss Alfonso scolded Cassie for losing focus and forgetting her lines. She gave them a 30 minutes break and Kristoff took the chance to ask Cassie what was wrong.
“You still thinking about Novatas?” Kristoff asked.
Cassie nodded.
“Did you talk to your parents? Did they tell you everything?”
“Yes…but I still feel like they’re hiding something from me.”
“What do you mean?”
“They’re still acting differently now.”
“Well, if you need to talk to someone, am right here.”
Cassie gave him a smile. “Thank you.”
Marga sat by Maureen at the school theater, smiling at her aunt’s expense. She told Maureen that she was happy Cassie was messing up. “Seems like what happened last night affected her.”
“You’re right. I hope she’ll be alright.”
Marga gave her a look. “What? Why would you want her to?”
“Well, she’s the star of the play.”
“Maureen, I’ll be the star of our play,” Marga declared. “Remember that.”
“Huh? How will you do that? The play is tomorrow, Marga.”
“Then I better hurry.”
In Robert’s office, Robert suggested to his wife that they go on a vacation to forget all their problems. Mina told him that a simple hug would be good for her.
Daniela walked in as Robert and Mina hugged. “Should I get you two a room?” she mocked. “Or did Romina already get one?”
Mina left to finish up on somethings she had to do and Robert told his daughter that she was out of line again. Daniela complained that she had just found out about what had happened at Novatas, and she had come to offer her help. Robert told her stop with her accusations, adding that she leave Mina out of it if she and Carlos were having problems.
“I trust Romina. I trust my wife,” Robert stated.
Daniela scoffed. “That is your biggest mistake, dad.”
“If you have nothing good to say, it’s better to end this conversation.”
“Are you that blind when it comes to your wife, dad?”
Robert shook his head. “I hope you realize how your accusations will affect our whole family. It’s better if you talk to Carlos. You have issues to work out, so that you’ll stop taking it out on Romina.”
Daniela turned to leave. “Oh, you’re right, dad. Carlos and I are having problems. And your wife’s perfume is all over it.” She walked out, leaving Robert stunned.
Later on at the school theater, Cassie tried rehearsing by herself but she had trouble remembering her lines for the play. Marga came in and offered to help but Cassie declined. Marga then went ahead to guilt trip and mock her with what had happened at Novatas.
“Don’t blame me for that. Am not the one who said you were a mistake.”
Cassie got upset. “So this is the reason why you’re here?”
“Am just curious, and am sure you are too. But here you are, not doing anything to find out the truth. Does that mean you already know?”
“Yes,” Cassie shot. “And am not telling you anything.”
“Then don’t. I’ll just go back to Novatas. The people I asked seemed to know a lot. They didn’t tell me much but after what grandpa Kulas said, they might just want to talk.”
Daniela was all jumpy at the parking lot of Camila. She felt as if someone was following her. She almost had a run-in with a car. After she drove away, Alvin came out from his hiding place behind a van.
Robert went to Kulas’ house and the old man asked him what he wanted. Robert told him that he didn’t need to remind him the reason why he was there.
Kulas was unconcerned. “If you’re expecting me to apologize for what happened, then you’re just wasting your time.”
“This is the last time that I will let this slide,” Robert warned. “Just for the sake of our children. But if you ever say another word about Cassie, or anything that will ruin my family, then I hope that you are ready to face the consequences.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Am not the type of person who gives threats. Am just telling you what am capable of. And am reminding you. That you’re messing. With the wrong person.”
Kulas just stared in silence with a sullen expression on his face as Robert got into his car, and was driven away.
At the school theater, Miss Alfonso asked the audience to be seated while they resumed the rehearsal. Kristoff mounted the stage and Fatima told Miss Alfonso that Caasie hadn’t arrived yet.
“Where is she?” Miss Alfonso asked.
“We also don’t know,” LJ replied.
“She was rehearsing a while ago,” Kristoff added.
Miss Alfonso was worried about the lack of time for the rehearsal.
Sitting among the audience, Marga nudged Maureen, and she got up to her feet. “It’s true ma’am,” she said. “I think we need to do something.”
“And as a backup, I think this is where I come in,” Marga added.
On Miss Alfonso’s orders, Fatima called Cassie on phone but she didn’t pick up.
Marga glanced at Maureen, seeing her opportunity. “Romeo, don’t promise me the moon,” she began, making her way to the stage. “That keeps on changing because your løve…”
Fatima and LJ were taken by surprise at Marga’s antics. And so was Nica and Nadya, whose mouth was wide open in disbelief.
“Might be the same, leaving my heart broken,” Marga added. Now she stood by Kristoff on stage. Kristoff stared at Miss Alfonso.
Miss Alfonso stared at Marga in question.
“Ma’am, am just helping our class,” Marga explained. “The play is tomorrow. We can’t waste our time waiting for a diva who didn’t tell anyone where she was going. Am better than her.”
Fatima and LJ exchanged looks in the audience.
“I’ve memorized every line,” Marga went on. “You won’t have any problems with me.”
Miss Alfonso thought for a second. “Okay, Miss Bartolome, stand in for Miss Mondragon.”
“I was really nervous yesterday,” Jepoy said as he poured a cup of coffee at Camila. “I thought everything would be revealed.” He joined Mina and Bonita at their table.
“I can’t really take Mr. Kulas,” Bonita added. “Honestly, if I didn’t know them personally, I would think that he’s Daniela’s father. They’re both rotten to the core.”
“That’s why Robert and I have stopped Cassie from going back to Novatas,” Mina announced. “We are worried she might see Mr. Kulas again.”
“That’s a good idea,” Bonita commented.
“But when are you planning to tell Cassie the truth?” Jepoy asked.
Mina was silent for a while, glancing between both friends. “Robert doesn’t want to yet, and I totally understand. Telling her the truth wouldn’t make things better. And my daughter’s way too young to be burdened by this. We’ll tell her everything when it’s time, just not now.”
A phone call came in and Bonita asked Mina why Carlos was calling her. Mina was silent. She rejected the call. Cassie met Jepoy at Novatas and he asked why she was there since her mother had forbidden her to come there. Caasie told her Mina had never said so.
“If this is about what happened last night,” Cassie began. “Can you please explain everything to me? I have a feeling they’re not telling me the whole story.”
“Uh… don’t asked me, Cassie. Just ask your momma.”
“But uncle…” Cassie had a phone call and she excused herself to answer it. “Hello, Fatima.”
“Cassie, you need to get back to rehearsals right away. Marga’s taking your role.”
“What?”
Daniela parked her car at the company’s parking lot. As soon as she stepped out, she had the shock of her life when someone suddenly grabbed her hand.
It was none other than Alvin, her partner in crime. “Did you miss me Mrs. Daniela?” he mocked. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“What the hell are you doing here?” Daniela hissed.
“You seem surprised to see me, Mrs. Daniela. I feel like… you were very sure that you would not see me again.”
Daniela looked away guiltily.
“After you gave me the money, someone put illegal drugs in my house. It’s like someone tried to get rid of me without my knowledge. But am not that easy to get rid of. Not that easy.”
“What do you want?”
“I want money.”
“Didn’t I give you enough money before?”
“Why are you acting like this? I thought we were friends. Why do you wanna avoid me?”
“I don’t owe you anything anymore because our deal is over and done. I already paid you.”
“You only paid for the job you asked me to do. But you haven’t paid for my silence yet.”
“Well, too bad because I have nothing to give you. If you haven’t heard it yet, I am broke.”
“But you’re the daughter of the owner of Camila,” Alvin pointed out. “You have a job, so that’s your problem. But if you don’t want me to bother you, I’ll just go to Romina then.”
“No. No, no, no, no.” Daniela stopped him from leaving. “I just don’t have cash right now.”
“But I know you have the means to get some.”
Fatima and LJ waited for Cassie outside the theater. They hurried in with her as soon as she arrived. Cassie apologized to Miss Alfonso for leaving without her permission, saying that she was sorry.
“You should be, Miss Mondragon,” the class advisor scolded. “What you did was irresponsible.”
“Ma’am, am very sorry. I promise it won’t happen again.”
“You’ve been distracted all day. Your focus is not on the okay. Come to me when you know you’re ready, and serious about your role.”
Marga approached Cassie as soon as Miss Alfonso turned to attend to Kristoff. “I told you to watch your back,” she mocked. “But you didn’t listen to my advice. Now look what happened.”
Cassie could do nothing but stare as Marga walked away and stood by Kristoff on stage. Daniela payed up Alvin to keep him quiet from talking.
Myrna was upset because she couldn’t approach Mina to ask for money because Kulas hadn’t been able to keep his mouth shut. Jessa suggested that she go and apologize to Mina.
“Do you think she’ll believe me?” Myrna asked.
“You even convinced your whole family that you have cancer. Lying to Romina would be easy for you.”
Daniela was beside herself back at the company. She had a flashback of the encounter she had just had with Alvin. Another flashback was shown where Daniela had payed someone to plant drugs in Alvin’s house years ago. Danny girl had even waited and watched as the police dragged Alvin away.
Kristoff sat dejected at the school theater. Marga came up and asked whether he wanted to practice with her so they wouldn’t make any mistakes later. Kristoff was silent, deep in his thoughts.
“Hello, Kristoff, am talking to you.”
Krisroff snapped out of it. “What?”
Marga sighed. “Am asking if you want to rehearse while we’re on a break, so we can impress everyone and avoid making mistakes.”
“Sure.” Kristoff reluctantly joined Marga on stage, and when she asked about the last line he had worked on earlier, Kristoff gave her a blunt answer.
“Kristoff, are you alright?” Marga asked. “You’re not yourself today.”
Cassie was coming in from the other side when she saw them talking. She stood behind a curtain and listened.
“You aren’t even playing the character of Romeo who is supposed to be in lövê with Juliet,” Marga complained. “You’re not yourself, Kristoff. You don’t even look interested doing the play when I am with you.”
Kristoff glanced at her for a second, and then he looked away.
“Is it because of Cassie?” Marga asked.
“Is she okay?”
“If you don’t want to do this, then just say it. Am sure that other guys would lövê to do this and have the role and me as a partner.”
Kristoff took offense at that. “You’re such a drama queen, Marga,” he grumbled. “Fine. Let’s rehearse.”
“Forget it. Am not in the mood. What’s up with you two that you’re behaving like this? You were not like this when you rehearsed with her. Do you like her?”
Now Kristoff was surprised by the question. “What? Where’s this coming from?”
“Come on, Kristoff, I think there’s no problem if you do.”
“Marga, am just really worried about Cassie. She’s my friend, and a lot has happened to her in the past few days. And now, she’s been replaced as Juliet. It’s just one problem after another. Am just worried if she’s really okay or not.”
“So you do like her,” Marga stated. “That’s why you care that much.”
“Marga, Cassie is just a friend,” Kristoff insisted.
Caasie, who still stood behind the curtain listening seemed hurt by that.
“Why are you asking these questions?” Kristoff asked. “Am just looking out for her. Like a big brother. Now drop it. Let’s rehearse.”
“Fine. If you say so.”
Savannah went to the front desk of Camila, asking to see Daniela. Mina and Bonita walked by the front desk. Mina was telling Bonita that she had been rejecting Carlos’ calls several times yet he still kept calling. Savannah heard her from where she stood.
“Well, why don’t you just answer it?” Bonita suggested. “Maybe he just wants to apologize.”
Mina picked up on the next ring. “Hello. You want us to meet? Okay, I’ll just text you the place.”
Savannah watched as Mina left the office with Bonita. She later went to Daniela’s desk, and told her that she had just seen confrontation that Romina was Carlos’ mistress.
“What do you mean?” Daniela asked.
“I saw Romina in the lobby,” Savannah began. “I heard her telling Bonita that your husband’s been calling her. They’ll be seeing each other later.”
Just then, Daniela had a phone call from Carlos, and she asked why he was calling. Carlos told her that he was going to meet with a client for dinner.
“What do you mean? Carlos.” Daniela was about to lash out at him when Savannah stopped her.
“Am just informing you that I’ll be home late.”
After the call, Daniela asked why she had stopped her and Savannah told her that she had to do it in person rather than on phone.
“I guess it’s time to find out the truth,” Danny girl declared.
Fatima and LJ were getting worried since they hadn’t seen Cassie for a while now. Cassie joined them a moment later and explained that she had been setting up the designs backstage.
“So is it final that Marga’s the new lead?”
“I already told our teacher that I wouldn’t be doing it,” Cassie said. “It’s okay with me. It’s my fault this is happening anyway.”
“Are you alright?” LJ asked. “If you have problems you can tell us, okay? We’re your friends.”
Cassie started at LJ in silence.
“Cassie, tell us the truth,” Fatima added. “This isn’t like you.”
“It’s nothing,” Cassie insisted. “Am just thinking about a lot things now. At home, with homework, with…”
“Marga?”
Caasie shook her head. “No. Not her.”
“So it’s Tope then,” LJ declared.
Cassie looked away nervously while LJ smiled at her expense. “Don’t tell me…” LJ turned to Fatima, giving her some kind of signal.
“OMG!” Fatima said excitedly. She went to sit closer to Caasie, hassling her. “You like Tope? Since when? Since when did you like him, Cassie?”
“Fatima, I don’t like Tope, okay?” Cassie declared. “We’re just friends. That’s all there is to it.”
“Really?” Fatima teased. “I can see you blushing. Just look at her cheeks. She’s blushing.”
“Why are you trying to hide it?” LJ asked, still smiling.
Fatima teased her all the more. “Wait, what do we call them, Chrissie? Chrissie, your cheeks is all pink.”
Caasie frowned silently, pouting her mouth in annoyance. Neil complained to Gino about how his father’s words had now left Cassie very confused. Gino told him that he didn’t understand his father, adding that he felt sorry for his mom since Kulas had been openly flirting with a customer.
Gino then received a text message from the guy who had invited them over for the gig. Neil worried that the job could be illegal and Gino told him to stop overeating because they were just going to be hosting a pageant.
Daniela and Savannah watched secretly from a car as Carlos met up with a woman that night.
“I knew it,” Danny girl hissed. “They think they can get away with cheating on me and my dad? I won’t let them get away with this.”
“Danny girl, just tell me what you plan to do.”
“No. I can handle this myself. Just promise that you wouldn’t try to stop me.”
“Yes, yes,” Savannah urged. “That’s the Danny girl I know. Come on, let’s do it. Are you ready?”
“Am always ready for war.”
Daniela got out of the car and followed Carlos into a restaurant. She grabbed a glass of red wine from a waiter and stormed over to where Carlos stood with the woman. Daniela grabbed the woman by the hair.
“Slut,” she hissed. “You filthy whøre. I always knew.” Danny girl poured the red wine on her.
The woman was taken by surprise. “Uh, what the hell’s your problem?” she asked.
Danny girl and Carlos both looked surprised now – Carlos, because he couldn’t believe what his wife had just done – and Daniela, because the woman she had just molested and harassed wasn’t Romina.
“This is just a misunderstanding,” Carlos pleaded with the client.
Mrs. Latienza was pretty upset. “A misunderstanding, Mr. Bartolome? This woman poured wine all over me, and you call it a misunderstanding?” She started walking away.
“Mrs. Latienza…”
“Save your breath, Mr. Bartolome. As for the deal with Primarosa, shove it down your throat.” She stormed off.
Carlos gave Danny girl a look. “What the hell’s your problem?”
Danny girl was still speechless, even as Carlos walked away, glancing at Savannah who was trying to foolishly hide herself behind a pilar. Myrna apologized to Mina for what her shameless husband had done the previous night.
She claimed that she had already talked to the miserable one-eyed-old man. Mina told her it wasn’t her place to apologize since she hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Kulas is still my husband,” Mryna began. “I understand if you don’t want your daughter to know the truth.”
Mina was confused. “What? What do you mean?”
“Ah, you were Carlos’ girlfriend, so am sure you knew what Kulas thought of me back then.” Myrna began with her emotional blackmail, telling Mina that even though they both had different experiences, people still thought of the both of them as whores.
“I don’t care what other people have to say about me,” Mina declared. “I only care about what they say about my daughter. I don’t want her to carry the burden of my past.”
“I understand, Romina, that’s why am trying to make it up to my children. I know you and Carlos aren’t okay, but talk to each other. Patch things up. You two were really close back then, right?”
Mina kept her surprise in check. “There’s no need for that,” she said. “I think it’s much better for us to stay this way.”
Neil complained about how he was unprepared to host the pageant and how he didn’t want to embarrass Gino since he was the one who had gotten him the gig.
“I’ve never hosted an event before,” Neil wailed.
“Am sure you’ll do a great job,” Gino encouraged.
Daniela and Carlos got home. Danny girl was apologizing profusely, pleading with Carlos to just talk to her. Carlos just gave her a look and went inside, and Daniela chased after him.
As soon as they had both gone inside, Alvin came out of nowhere and silently stared at the Bartolome house. Marga was showing off with her costume for the Juliet role she would be playing tomorrow. She invited her ‘baby-dragons’ to watch.
“Carlos please,” Danny girl was pleading as they entered the living room. “Slãp me, get mad at me, do whatever you want. Just don’t ignore me.”
“Are you guys fighting again?” Marga asked.
Carlos asked Marga to go to her room. “What’s the point of fighting, Daniela?” he began after their daughter had left. “You already did it. I don’t even know if I still have a job to go back to tomorrow.”
“Carlos, am so sorry,” Danny girl pleaded. “I just felt so jealous because I thought you were with Romina.”
“There you go again! How many times do I have to tell you that there’s nothing going on between us?”
“That’s why am saying sorry. I admit I made a mistake. Can’t you give me credit for that?”
“Can your apology fix this? I was new to that job, Daniela. Do you really want to ruin our future. All you ever think about is Romina. Don’t drag me into your obsession with her.”
Hearing her parents fight again, Marga cried in her room as she stared at a picture frame of her family. Cassie was staring at a photo of Kristoff on her phone. She had opened the contact and her hand hoovered over the ‘delete contact’ option, indecisive.
She had a flashback of Kristoff and Marga’s conversation at the school theater. Kristoff’s words rang in her head; “Am just worried about Cassie. She is just a friend. Am looking out for her like a big brother”
“We’re really just friends,” Cassie said to the photo of Kristoff on her phone. “I shouldn’t be affected by this ”
Esther came in with her glass of milk. Cassie took it and thanked her.
“Are you alright?” Esther asked. “Is there a problem?”
“No, am fine, nanny.”
Esther sat by her on the bed. “You know you can always tell me if you have a problem. Maybe I can help.”
“Am just confused, nanny,” Cassie admitted. “It’s about Tope.”
“What about him?”
Cassie was struggling for words. “Um… he’s rehearsing with Marga for our play at school. I was supposed to play the role of Juliet but Marga ended up getting it. I just thought it was me, but I was wrong. But don’t worry, nanny. Am okay.”
“Then smile for me. Smile.”
Cassie forced a smile.
During breakfast the next day, Robert told Cassie that he was proud of her and all of them were excited to see her perform on stage. Mina added that they had already dropped their schedules for her performance today. Cassie was downcast.
“What’s wrong?” Mina asked.
“Am sorry, momma and daddy,” Cassie began. “I won’t play the role of Juliet anymore. Marga got the role.”
Mina glanced at Robert. “How did that happen?”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s just a role. Besides, Marga’s also good at it too. So it’s okay if you can’t come because I will not be on stage later.”
“Cassie, listen,” Robert began. “No matter what role you have in the play, your mom and I will always be your number one fan. Our applause would be the loudest because we are very proud of you. Don’t be sad. We’ll be there for you, Cassie.”
Marga woke up from sleep, saying to herself that today was her day. She began scratching herself and she was appalled when she noticed that rashes had grown on her face overnight. She dashed over to the mirror. “What’s happening to me? No! Mommy! Daddy! No!”
Daniela ran in and asked what had happened, and Carlos followed a second later.
Marga showed her the rashes on her neck. “Look! This is what’s happening! What’s this?!”
Carlos checked it out. “These look like allergies,” he said.
Marga was appalled. “Allergies? No! I can’t have allergies. The play is today!”
“Don’t worry,” Daniela assured. “We’ll have it checked. Am sure it would subside soon.”
Marga was frantic. She went on with her ranting. “It better. I should be at school. Am the star. I can’t play Juliet looking like this.”
“Stop touching them,” Carlos warned. “It’ll only get worse.”
“But they’re so itchy. What do I do?”
Kulas was upset that his sons still thought he was wrong for the things he had said the other day. “All I did was tell the truth,” barked the misërãble swine. “My granddaughter was being åttaçked.”
“That’s the problem,” Jessa began. “People around us don’t like it when we lie to them. But when we tell the truth, they still get mad.”
“That’s exactly my point, Jessa. Am glad that you understand me.”
“I’ll still advice you to talk to your sons, just to clear things up.”
Kulas hugged her. “Thank you, Jessa.”
Myrna and Gino were coming in when they saw the scene. Annoyed, Myrna left. “Let’s come back later. Maybe we’re interrupting something.” Gino went after her.
Preparations was ongoing for the school play. Kristoff, who had donned his costume, apologized to Cassie.
” Why are you apologizing?” Cassie asked. “Did you do something against me?”
“Am sorry you’re not my partner anymore,” Kristoff said. “I know how hard you rehearsed.”
Cassie was silent for a moment. “It’s fine, Kristoff. I wasn’t even that thrilled to play the part anyway.”
Krisroff’s mouth was wide open in disbelief.
“And Marga’s pretty good,” Cassie added. “You guys are perfect. As Romeo and Juliet. Do your best. Don’t let me down. You might end up stammering,” Cassie added with a laugh.
Kristoff laughed. Cassie silently stared at him sadly as he was called over to check the lines for the play. Carlos had gone to see a doctor with. He informed Marga and Daniela that the doctor had said that Marga could be allergic to the detergent that had been used to wash her clothes. Hence, the rashes. Marga was still scratching her neck.
“So will I be able to make it to the play?”
“The doctor prescribed you some medicine. She would have to inject you for the rashes to fade away.”
“So I can still make it?”
“Yes baby,” Daniela cut in. “Am sure your rashes would have disappeared by the time we get to the school.”
Marga was smiling excitedly as Carlos gave Danny girl a look. Robert told Bernard about his plan to take his family for a vacation, adding that it would be a good way to keep Cassie preoccupied since she wouldn’t stop until she knew the truth. Bernard told him that the problem wouldn’t be solved by going on a vacation, and he couldn’t really stop Cassie from going to Novatas for a long time.
“If you want to keep her away from everything, why don’t you consider sending her to school abroad?” Bernard suggested. “That way, you’ll be able to solve the problem of her knowing the truth and fulfil her wish of wanting to be independent.”
Miss Alfonso was worried that Marga had still not shown up. She called Daniela and informed her that they couldn’t wait for Marga anymore because the play was about to start. She hanged up on Danny girl as she tried to tell her that they were already on their way.
“Miss Mondragon,” Miss Alfonso said, approaching Cassie.
Caasie turned. “Ma’am.”
“Do you still remember your lines?”
Cassie glanced at Kristoff. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Go change.”
Cassie’s eyes were wide with surprise.
“Make sure that when I come back, you’re ready, okay?”
Cassie looked excited and nervous. “Yes, ma’am.” Fatima and LJ gave her a thumps up.
“You can do it Caasie,” Fatima encouraged. “You’re better than Marga.”
Cassie was smiling to herself now.
Kristoff put his hand around Cassie. “You got lucky,” he teased.
With that bright smile still on her face, Cassie playfully hit Kristoff with her elbow. Back at the hospital, Marga saw an update of the school play on facegram, which stated that Cassie and Kristoff would be playing Romeo and Juliet.
“No! They cannot do this to me,” Marga wailed.
“Why? What happened?” Carlos asked.
“We have to go now. Immediately. If I don’t make it, Cassie will replace me. Let’s go. Daddy, mommy, come on.” Marga looked on angrily.
