The Lost Bride of San Lucas

[Prologue]

SIXTH of June 1868. All the people including principales, businessmen and those belonging to high society were patiently waiting for a young girl to come down from her room and one of them was Señorito Felipe, eleven -a year old.

Moments later the only daughter of the Monteclara family, Señorita Sofia Monteclara, was slowly descending. Loud applause from all the guests greeted him. His lips were almost torn at the warm welcome he received from the people.

The Monteclara family is one of the richest clans living in the town of San Lucas. Señorita Sofia's father Don Ireneo Monteclara was a good judge and was not tainted by any government anomalies. This man is also clean and good so he is highly respected.

Their family is also known and prosperous in the field of law and they are also one of the economic developers in the entire town of San Lucas.

Señorita Sofia was walking with her father and mother. Don Ireneo held his cane which he always carried with him whenever he had a walk. Their wealth comes from the businesses of farming, fishing, mining, bread making and they also have a large tailoring with its largest headquarters in Manila.

They also have several stations scattered in provinces such as Cavite, Bonbon (Batangas), Laguna, Bulacan and Tayabas (Quezon Province). They are almost at the same time as the Lucas family in the richest clans of San Lucas.

Doña Felicia was Don Ireneo's wife. He is the same age as his wife and they have two children. Señorita Sofia and Señorito Miguel, who are twenty years old, are one of them. Doña is beautiful and has bequeathed her white and smooth complexion to her daughter Sofia. She also taught her youngest child how to embroider and this is what they always do whenever Sofia doesn't want to go to bed at nap time.

The eldest, Monteclara, already has a family and a child. He graduated in law from the University of Sto. Thomas who has achieved high honor. He and his family live in Manila and work at the Real Audiencia, the country's supreme court.

Moments later the three of the Monteclara family were down. The eldest could not go home because he was working on a hearing at the Real Audiencia of Manila. Another reason is the very long flight from Manila to San Lucas.

The applause stopped when Don Ireneo began to speak, "Buenas noches a ustedes, compatriotas y amigos. Muchas gracias por asistir al duodécimo cumpleaños de mi unica hija Señorita Sofia. Sentémonos un momento."(Good evening to you countrymen and friends. Thank you so much for attending the twelfth birthday of my unica hija Señorita Sofia. Let's sit down for a moment.)

Everyone sat down. Don Ireneo's son's birthday party was in their spacious office. It was full of colorful curtains and the huge chandelier hanging in the middle of the office was conspicuous. The Monteclara family waitresses also spread out handing out wine glasses to guests.

Felipe's wide smile still lingered as he stared at Sofia intently. His eyes shone like stars and did not take his gaze away from the girl. She could not believe that she was in her twelfth year and that she was about to become a young woman. It seems like recently, the two of them are still chasing and hiding but now everything is slowly changing.

Señorita Sofia also smiled at the people so she caught the young man staring at her. Felipe looked away and Sofia hid her smile holding her red fan. He couldn't understand but his cheek was starting to heat up.

A festival organizer now speaks to guests in Spanish. He was also a friend of his father.

Sofia wore a very flamboyant red baro and saya adorned with a wealth of gold and diamonds. Her waist-length hair was also ponytailed with a gold pendant that her father had given her when she was six years old. A little lipstick was also applied to her face but I can still see its naturalness.

It cannot be denied that she is already a teenager. Gradually, her body improved and her breasts became slightly fuller, which she was happy because she was proud of her mother that her daughter was a virgin.

He glanced at Felipe again and found him talking to his father, Don Nataniel Lucas.

"FELIPE, son. Do you want Cariñosa to dance with Señorita Sofia? " its question to the child. It was announced that all the guests as well as the Monteclara family would dance the Cariñosa, so Don Nataniel invited his son to dance it.

Meanwhile, Philip did not expect his father to invite him to dance with his boy. He seemed to feel embarrassed and his heartbeat was also speeding up.

"P-Po, I'll fix you?" Philip asked his father anxiously. "Sure, don't you love?" Don's smile. "S-Of course ... I-I want to dance with Señorita Sofia of C-Cariñosa." She doesn't let her father know that she's nervous but her mouth can't really hide her true feelings. As a result, his heart rumbled even faster and his cheeks began to heat up.

She couldn't figure out for herself why she felt that way, she had been with it when they were kids. But with each smile of Sofia, she feels that everything is eased at the same time the disappearance of the problems she faces. He had a suspicion in himself admiring that maybe he was with Sofia.

"Manang Paula, can you let Don Ireneo know that my daughter wants Cariñosa to dance with Señorita Sofia who has a birthday today?" command of Don Nataniel while smiling at the butler of his family and doncella (maid) of his children Señorito Felipe and Señorita Buntala. Next to him is Don's youngest son on his right and next to Señorita Buntala is Felipe. Lucas and his wife sat side by side at a round table.

Manang Paula, on the other hand, obeyed the order of her boss, bowed and turned around and went to where Don Ireneo was.

Manang Paula is almost forty years old. She has also been serving the Lucas for a long time and she has also been Doña Ritanueva's partner in caring for the two children of the Lucas since they were babies.

When he arrived at Don Ireneo's place, he approached him kindly, greeted Señorita Sofia and whispered what Don Nataniel wanted. All the guests were busy talking about things that the guests did not notice.

After he told Don Ireneo what his boss wanted, he returned with the response of the Don he was talking to earlier.

"Don Ireneo agreed to your request." Manang Paula smiles at Don Nataniel, Doña Ritanueva, Señorito Felipe and Señorita Buntala.

"Get well my child, show them all what you can do." Doña Ritanueva smiled at the child. "You can do that, brother!" Encouragement of Señorita Buntala.

It seems that Felipe just wants to swallow the ground. He was about to have a heart attack because he did not think that Don Ireneo would agree to his father's wishes. If anything, Sofia is young.

"Y-Yes, I-I can do it," That was all Felipe said because Manang Paula said, "Come on, Señorito Felipe." It smiled at the pet and hugged it.

Other guests are also starting to head to the center to perform the Cariñosa dance.

The folk dance named Cariñosa, meaning the loving or affectionate is a Philippine dance of colonial era origin from the Maria Clara suite of Philippine folk dances, where the fan or handkerchief plays an instrumental role as it places the couple in romance scenario.

When Sofia heard what her father had said, her heart seemed to leap with joy. She didn't expect Philip to want her to dance. He immediately went to the center and met his young man.

"H-Happy birthday, S-Sofia ... ah! Este ... Señorita Sofia, "Felipe greeted her.

"Heck, it's okay for me to call you 'Sofia' when we're together." He smiled at Philip.

Felipe was about to speak but a loud and startling music resounded throughout the office causing the guests to start dancing in the middle.

Felipe began to hold Sofia's soft hand. There seemed to be electricity flowing through their bodies as they touched each other. Felipe could not deny that his childhood was very beautiful, because that was where he admired Sofia even more.

The smiles on Doña Ritanueva's lips never faded as she watched her son dance the Cariñosa. While Don Nataniel applauded.

For the first time, Felipe could not believe that he was dancing with Sofia in front of so many people. This was the first time their hearts were beating at the same time every second.

While dancing, Sofia said to the young man, "F-Felipe, I-I want to tell you something," Sofia said in shock.

"W-What's that, S-Sofia?" He was also nervous.

"I-I want to tell you how I really feel about you, Felipe. I want to tell you and make you remember this day, that a Sofia Monteclara is ... "Should Sofia say that?

"Oh?" He frowned.

"I-I love you."

[Chapter 1]

"WHY aren't you sleeping yet, son?" Don Nathaniel asked his son. He visited it in his room and found it still open -eyed.

Felipe sighed as he stared at the ceiling. He is currently lying on his very soft bed. There are so many things on his mind that to this day he is still troubled.

Felipe's father approached him and pushed him on his bed while he stroked his hair. To this day he still treats it like a baby.

"Is Señorita Sofia bothering your mind again?" calm promise of Don Nathaniel.

Felipe sighed again. "Yes," he replied shortly.

"A week ago but he's still bothering your mind." His son remains silent. Don Nataniel just smiled because he was right in his suspicion. It is now the thirteenth of June.

Felipe just stared at the lamp on the small table. Only the lamp served as light in his dark room. At the same time as he stared at it, he recalled the memories that took place a week ago . . .

"F-Felipe, I-I want to tell you something," Sofia softly said.

"W-What's that, S-Sofia?" He was also nervous.

"I-I want to tell you how I really feel about you, Felipe. I want to tell you and make you remember this day, that a Sofia Monteclara is ..." Should Sofia say that?

"Oh?" He frowned.

"I-I love you."

Felipe was suddenly released from holding Sofia's hand after hearing what his boy had said. He held it again so that it would not be noticeable that his heart was losing its nervousness. He turned to her family, smiling at her as they encouraged her.

"Why? Did I say something bad, Felipe?" Sofia asked incredulously.

Felipe was about to speak but suddenly the loud and startling music stopped. Felipe's cheeks were already red and Sofia saw that. Because of that, she smiled at Felipe's reaction to what she said. Suddenly, Felipe ran back to his family. Sofia returned to her family with a smile.

He leaned back suddenly from lying down. "I will admit that I was shocked by what he said, father. I admit that I was cowardly! " He did not expect that a grain of tear would fall on his cheek.

"It's all natural, son. Sometimes, we cannot immediately tell our true thoughts because we are driven by fear and anxiety. But I admire Señorita Sofia that she was able to confess her love to you child. Maybe ... there is a right time for you to also confess how you really feel for him. I know you love him too son and I am not against your love." Suddenly Felipe hugs his father tightly. Don Nataniel caressed his son's back and let him cry in his arms.

"Let it go, son. I'm thinking of reconciling you as well. When you finish school, I promise you that I will bring you back to our town immediately to ask for Sofia's hand," Don Nataniel consoled his son.

"Thank you so much, father! In return, I will improve my education and do my best to achieve excellence!" Sobresaliente is the highest honor given to a good student.

"Go to sleep, son and you still have class tomorrow. Remember, you will take a ship to Manila." He kissed Felipe's forehead and then carefully arranged the blanket. She smiled as she walked out of her son's room here at the Lucas Family Mansion.

It is six o'clock in the morning but Sofia is still looking for clothes to wear. She was not in a hurry because her class started at eight o'clock.

She is now facing a large dresser and here all her clothes are placed. She looked at the red baro and saya adorned with hundreds of gold and diamonds.

At the same time all the memories of her twelfth birthday suddenly returned.

When Felipe returned to his family, she also returned to her family.

"I'm glad to see your reaction, Felipe. Hopefully the time will come when you can answer my question as well. I can't deny, my strange love for you is starting to blossom," he whispered to herself as she walked.

She was not on his own so she was surprised when her father spoke. "Daughter, you seem to like dancing with Señorito Felipe." Smile of his father Don Ireneo. He smiled again. "Yes, I'm so glad he made me dance!" Don Ireneo could not understand his daughter's strange smile, it seemed to be floating in the sky as he recalled those times.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Sofia was shocked by her father's comment. She had to calm down first and hide her true feelings.

"N-Nothing! I was just happy for my birthday a week ago!" variation of Sofia's conversation. Don Ireneo smiled.

"Maybe ..." Doña Felicia replied to the conversation between the two of them, she was also smiling foolishly.

"W-What's that, mother?" He raised his fan and put it in his mouth with a relentless smile now.

"Do you, our daughter, admire Señorito Felipe?" Doña Felicia can already see her daughter's actions. There is nothing that a child can really hide from his mother.

She was embarrassed to admit but she nodded spontaneously something that surprised herself.

"I'm telling you, my daughter is really starting to get teenager!" Don Ireneo said excitedly.

"B-But I'm not ready yet, father! I want to study first and he too, so that when the time comes for us to reconcile, everything will be fine," insisted Sofia.

Doña Felicia was impressed by her daughter's intelligence. "Yes, daughter. I understand you. We are always just here to support you in your love-life. Your father and I are not against that, as long as you promise us that you will study hard." Sofia smiled and nodded at what her mother had said. She hugged her parents. "Thank you very much, mother ... father!" She smiles at them.

"I heard that Felipe will go to Manila tomorrow to study at the University of Sto. Thomas in Manila. Won't you take him to the harbor tomorrow morning? " Don Ireneo asked her daughter.

"I-If you want." Sofia smiled. Her parent nodded and smiled. "Thank you very much indeed!"

San Lucas

April 1876 (eight years ago ...)

SHE WAS SURPRISED by a palm caressing her hair. "Sorry, daughter! Are we surprised? " her mother asked, and Sofia shook her head in response.

"I noticed your smile not fading even eight years ago. I am happy that you are gradually getting closer to your dream." His mother smiled.

"Mother, I want to see him. Why didn't I live in Manila?" she asked his mother angrily.

"Daughter, we can't get away from our only princess." Doña's smile faded.

"But, my older brother can take care of me in Manila," Sofia insisted.

Doña Felicia was shaken by her daughter. "I know your purpose in Manila, daughter. I can't allow you to take a step unplanned. Remember, we didn't catch Señorito Felipe's boarding of the ship because the former left us at noon because the horse had a problem, I'm sad because even the last time you didn't talk to your youth. But let it be, Sofia. I know that the Señorito Felipe of your heart will soon return home. "

"When?" Sofia raised her head to see her mother's face smiling again now.

"I can't let you know first, Sofia. But I assure you that you will be happy that day." Sofia couldn't help but smile because she couldn't wait for that day to come.

"Get dressed daughter, look at yourself, you're still naked!" his mother joked something she blushed. Her naked body covered with a thick towel was clearly exposed throughout the room.

"Fine, I'm coming out of your room so you can get dressed properly." Her mother smiled. "My Sofia is really into adolescence. My two eyes can clearly see how much your body has changed," said her mother, causing her to be consumed with shame and deprivation.

She was able to tweak herself something that her mother was giggling at. Doña Felicia came out of Sofia's room smiling.

She did not fail to close her large window so that people could not see her body, and now the door of her room was closed.

At the age of twenty, her body had changed a great deal, her posture and physique improved. Her complexion became whiter and smoother and her breasts were just right for her age.

Many people notice her beauty and talent. As time went on, she became better at embroidery and solving math questions. He also has knowledge of human philosophy and he also has a little knowledge of law, as he also reads books related to those subjects. Although studying is prohibited for women, she really tried her best to learn something that she can be used in future.

She quickly dressed and put on the blue baro and cream-white saya. He looked in the large mirror just next to her dresser and sighed as she smiled.

"We will meet too, Felipe. Expect my presence on the day of the covenant of our families. Even though less than a century has passed I still have not lost my pure love for you, Felipe. I-I love you so much, my Felipe," Sofia whispered to herself while smiling in front of the mirror.

[Chapter 2]

"Daughter, Sofia, are you in your room?" Doña Felicia asked as she knocked on her daughter's door.

"W-Wait a minute!" Doña heard her daughter's voice in her room.

It's nine o'clock on Saturday morning. Her daughter always keeps locking herself in her room so she thought of inviting her daughter to shop at the market in the neighboring town. So he wanted them to leave immediately so that they would not have lunch on the road.

"Sofia, my dearest daughter, what are you doing there?" Doña would have spoken again but the closed door opened.

"Sorry, mother. I just fixed something. What is your intention?" Sofia asked politely.

"Can you come with me to the market, Sofia. I also want to take you for a walk because I know you were soaked in last week's activities. " Sofia smiled. "Then... what time are we leaving?" She would almost jump for joy because her mother would take her for a walk. At last she could breathe fresh air.

"We're leaving at nine-thirty, so hurry up and get dressed so that the intense sunlight doesn't catch up with us later," explained her mother.

"Yes, copy! Wait a minute mom, I'll just dress up!" Doña Felicia, on the other hand, smiled because she was watching her daughter who was very happy to be able to escape today.

Sofia turned around and Doña Felicia closed the door of her daughter's room. She also went to the large room where she and her husband, Don Ireneo, slept.

"SELIN!" Doña Felicia calls a maid who is mopping the kitchen floor. Sofia and her mother are currently opposite the kitchen door.

When Selin heard her boss's voice, she first squeezed the rag and then hung it outside. She also hurriedly washed her hands and immediately went to Doña Felicia. "Y-Yes? What can I serve, Doña Felicia?" She put her wet hand behind her back.

"Get dressed, join my daughter and me in the market," Doña Felicia calmly ordered. "Yes, Doña Felicia!" its observance. She immediately went to her room and got dressed.

Sofia was wearing a yellow baro and black saya. She braided her waist-length hair with a silver spindle and had a heart-shaped necklace and a white round pearl on it. She also wore a blue bracelet made of smooth wood and Felipe even gave it to her when they were children. It also has an engraved name so this thing makes it even more special to her. Because of her dress, her complexion was so dazzling that it grabbed the audience's attention.

Doña Felicia, on the other hand, is wearing a blue baro and cream of white saya which makes it even more beautiful.

Don Ireneo was not at home because he went to a rich businessman in Laguna to negotiate because he wanted to expand his family's businesses.

Less than ten minutes later, Selin came out of her room and showed up to her bosses. She is currently wearing a green baro and yellow skirt. "Come on!" She smiles at them.

"Manang Nelia, you will take care of the whole Hacienda Monteclara while we are away," Doña Felicia instructed the butler of their family. She nodded in response.

Doña Felicia has already prepared their fancy carriage with their driver who is almost forty years old. When it was ready, the driver put the three on board and continued on their way.

FIFTEEN minutes later, Sofia's heart almost dropped as she peered out the window of the carriage to its right. Sofia and her mother are next to each other and Selin is opposite them who is talking to Doña Felicia.

He could not follow what his mother and doncella were talking about because he could not take his eyes off the place he was looking at. His eyes almost popped out while his jaw almost dropped.

He is currently overlooking a wide and clean river. "Son, that is the Dumacaa River. The cleanest and widest river here in Tayabas, "explained his mother. "We are currently crossing the Puente de Malagonlong," he continued to his son.

Puente de Malagonlong is a stone arch bridge with strong columns and a total length of 445 feet (136 m). The first arch has the same height and width of 36 feet (11 m); the second arch also has a height and width of 33 feet (10 m); the fourth arch is 30 feet (9.1 m) wide and the fifth arch is 18 feet (5.5 m) wide. The bridge has a carriage of about 6 m (20 feet) and six small balconies where modern -day tourists can stop.

Currently, it has become a bridge for tourists instead of for the highway after a new bridge was built like this. It is currently owned and operated by the local Tayabas municipal unit.

The bridge was built between the years 1840 and 1850 under the leadership of Father Antonio Mateos, a Franciscan friar who served as Ministro del Pueblo of Tayabas. In an account about a Spanish traveler Juan Alvarez Guerra, the bridge was built in 1841 under the administration of Gobernadorcillo Don Joaquin Ortega. The bridge was built by the people of Tayabas through forced labor. It is estimated that 100,000 blocks of adobe were used to build the bridge. An inscription on the bridge indicates that it was inaugurated in 1850 under the term of Gobernadorcillo Don Julian S. Francisco. And under this historic bridge is the Dumacaa River. The boundary of such a river is the Bay of Tayabas (Tayabas Bay) and its end is the ocean.

"I can't believe there is such a scene, mother! This place is so beautiful! " Sofia's astonished response to her mother. Selin smiled as well.

Soon they crossed the bridge and about half an hour later they reached the town market.

"You are just HERE, son and Selin. I will just go to the meats so that your clothes will not be stained with blood, "Doña Felicia instructed the two.

"Let me know if my son disobeys my order, Selin," he added. Selin nodded in response.

Sofia's mother smiled and turned her back on them with the backpack. Selin was also holding a bag full of fruits and vegetables.

Doña Felicia knew that there was a possibility that her son would travel here to the market so she did not allow her son to go for a walk because she was afraid that she might not find her son again.

Sofia's shoulder was swollen and numb. They looked for a tree to shelter because of the warming environment. The weather was hot and there were few clouds in the sky. Busy insignificant needle people all around the market. Some shoppers also belong to high social status.

The market has two columns, one on the right and one on the left. The center is a wide road through which carts of goods pass as well as wagons and wagons.

Sofia and Selin are in the right row now. Sofia was so bored from her seat, she was also blowing her red fan because of the heat.

Sofia sighed before speaking, "Why else would my mother and I come here if I can't go for a walk either." Sofia sighed at her doncella.

"Señorita Sofia, just understand your mother. I'm sure he only thinks about your safety and another thing, we don't know the ins and outs of this market, "Selin explained to his boss.

Selin Asunción is a young woman about Sofia's age and has only been serving the Monteclara family for five years. He is the son of Manang Nelia who is the butler of their family. They even came from a town in Cavite. Selin treated her boss, Señorita Sofia, kindly and like a sister. Moreover, they also always agree on everything.

He also knew what was in his master's heart. They know how to keep secrets from each other so that Don Ireneo and Doña Felicia would not know.