Chapter 2: The Gold-Digger

"CARMELITA HAS REALLY NO SHAME, RIGHT? I heard that a young suitor has been rejected by her again because he is not very rich. Well, the young man is quite capable. Carmelita is just really ambitious," said one of the gossipers.

"Oh, yes. Poor young men. Carmelita's face is really thick," Gossiper 2 said.

"You bet. That girl became even more arrogant when she became the owner of Don Facundo's former resort."

"Oh, it came as no surprise to us that Don Facundo's resort would be Carmelita's; she's the old man's mistress, after all." Of course, it was said that the old man sold the resort to Carmelita before she left the country. But the truth is that it was a payment from the old man who told her to keep quiet and not spread the word that they were together. You know, Don Facundo's wife, Donya Marta, would also be hurt. The husband and wife are always fighting because of that girl."

"Is that true? That's why Carmelita is so arrogant. Her flirtatious style has also paid off."

"You are the ones who will suffer with your goods if you don't stop what you are doing. What you are doing is just gossip. Look at your fish and goods. They will rot because you are not selling them. Just like your mouths," a woman couldn't stop interrupting the conversation of two gossipers.

The two gossipers would have talked back to the woman who scolded them when they saw who was staring at them.

"Carmelita, Agatha, such beautiful girls. What would you like to buy?" The gossipers smiled wildly. It was a fake smile. 

"No, thank you. We might even get poisoned if we buy your products," Agatha said angrily. "Besh, let’s go." Carmelita was pulled by her expressionless friend, who looked at the two gossipers again.

The gossipers smile fakely. Carmelita just sighed as she followed her best friend, Agatha.

"There's no other things people can do here. They can't just find a good life. They really need to despise other people. The gossipers just spread rumors!" Agatha was furious.

The friends just left the fish market. Carmelita quietly followed Agatha. Carmelita could see that the people there were like bees again as they passed by.

"Besh, stop me. I feel like putting dynamite on this fish market. So many rotten salesmen and saleswomen!" Agatha exclaimed loudly. She raised her voice even more so that those who were gossiping about them would know that they were aware of what they were doing. 

"Besh, it's okay. Just let it go. Come on, let's go home," Carmelita told her friend.

"What? We haven't even bought what we wanted to buy? Oh, let them gossip."

"Don't worry. Let's go shopping with Cole and Dylan later. Let's just go home." Carmelita now pulled her friend into her 4X4 Nissan Navara pickup truck.

Her friend did nothing but obey.

~*~

"BESH, I WILL BE IN MY ROOM. You can take over from here," I instructed my best friend.

We have arrived home from town. As usual, we couldn’t buy anything because I rushed home. If I don't do that, my friend will explode because of the gossipers, and we will find ourselves fighting in the market again. I don't want that to happen anymore. I don't want Agatha to be affected by the townspeople's insults toward me.

"Alright, besh. But are you really okay?" She asked with concern.

"Yes, I'm fine," I replied, smiling. "I'm just going to rest a little because I'm going to accompany Cole to the port later to get the new furniture."

"Well, you haven't eaten yet," she said to me. It's already noon. It was lunchtime.

"I'll eat later, besh. You guys can eat without me." I didn't wait for her to answer and I left.

My house is just behind the beach resort that I own. This is just a simple three-bedroom bungalow, which is also the house of the former owner of the resort. The previous name of the resort was Facundo Beach. Today, it is the Mairaos Resort.

I first entered my room and lay down. I put one hand on my eyes and the tears that I had been holding back started to fall.

Since this resort came into my possession, a year ago, whatever stories the jealous citizens of Isla Marupok have woven.

I am Carmelita Mairaos, twenty-six years old. I was born and raised in Barangay Washington in Isla Marupok. I completed a vocational course in bartending.

My mother is dead and I never met my father. My mother and I never talked about my father, but the rumor was that he was a foreigner. It makes sense because my features are obviously mixed race. My eyes are bluish, my wavy long hair is naturally red, my nose is sharp, my lips are quite thin, I used to be white, but I've been soaking in the sun all day, so my skin is already tanned. I am 5'5" with a slender body and have been single until now. I don't even have a boyfriend.

My mother worked for Don Facundo ever since I was a child. She is a housekeeper at the resort, and when I thought about it, I helped her too. I also honed my bartending skills at the resort. I am very grateful to Don Facundo for teaching me.

He was my mentor and my father figure. But there are really many jealous creatures. The jealous people made a rumor that Don Facundo and I were in a relationship. Fortunately, his wife, Donya Marta, is good and kind. The lady is confident that her husband and I do not have a romantic relationship.

But it's true that Don Facundo has a problem, and that's what the couple always fights about, but it's not me. People became even more jealous of us last year when the couple sold the resort to me because they were going to migrate to the States. The news that spreads again is that Don Facundo is paying me so that I don't disturb the couple anymore.

What a shame. I was only able to lift a little, but my fellow islanders were still pulling me back.

"Mom, I miss you so much," I cried.

With the number of things I've been through, I can say that my heart has been shaped and somewhat hardened. But that doesn't mean that even though my personality is strong outside this shell, I don't get hurt anymore. I'm still not used to what they say, and no one can get used to being reprimanded or accused of something. Just once in a while, you have to swallow the wrong things others say about you because life must go on. The important thing is that you know yourself that you are not doing anything wrong.

After a few minutes of crying, I felt better again. I called Cole, one of my bartender/waiter/helper twins. We are going to the port to pick up the furniture I ordered from Manila.

~*~

WE ARRIVED AT THE PORT just in time because the barge arrived with the furniture I bought.

Isla Marupok is located in the farthest part of Mindanao. The only means of transportation to get to the island is by boat, barge, or other private or public vessels. It is a two-hour ride from the other port to the island.

The island is well developed, and many foreigners come here. Like other well-known beaches, Isla Marupok cannot be beaten by the natural white beach sand. In order to maintain and take care of the island, tourism does not allow the construction of tall buildings. The highest is probably the four-story hotels of other resort owners.

The island is also known as one of the surfing spots, so many surfers come to experience the big waves of Isla Marupok. A surfing competition is also conducted annually.

Actually, I've been to other places and tried to live in the city, but they say there's no place like home.

I was just waiting for Cole in the car when he texted that he was having trouble moving the furniture and there was no porter available. So I got out of the car to look for a familiar shipper at the port.

I saw a tall man not far away. He just stood in the middle of the busy crowd on the island. He was wearing a white t-shirt with many stains, shoulder-length hair, and a closed beard. He is also wearing denim shorts with holes and slippers. He was carrying a small duffle bag. I'm not sure if he is a porter or what, but with ]his body size, he can help a lot with lifting.

"Hey," I said to him. The man looked at me. He curiously pointed to himself. I was stunned for a moment when I saw him closely. Those eyes are familiar to me. It's like I've seen them before.

But before I could think again, Cole approached me. I saw out of the corner of my eyes that he was looking at the man who was looking eye to-eye with me now.

The man's beard is closed, so I can't see his face very well. But why do I feel like I know him? His eyes are really familiar. Where did I see him? Aside from the man’s elegance and unfairness, he looked handsome and rugged.

"Brother, come on. The one to lift is there," I heard Cole say, and he pulled the man.

I saw the surprised expression on his face at what Cole did, but he didn't say a word and just went along with him.