10 - "Enlighten Me Then"
Dinner started at the stroke of seven with all of the usual attendees present, but there was a new addition to them now and it was the youngest member of the family.
Father Marcus and Father Julien were in their same seats and so were Sir Alfon, Madame Regina and Ysabelle. Mehak, who just arrived from an art class, decided to sit beside her Auntie in the left.
"I would like to make a toast, " Madame Regina suddenly announced before their meal began. All of their attention was now on her. She stood up, took her glass of champagne and raised it in the air. "To Father Marcus, for saving my son's life."
Alfon somehow looked troubled, thinking whether to take his glass or not, but in the end, he did after Regina added, "And to my son, André, for staying strong and for his good health."
Cheers!
All of the them chorused happily but mostly, the jubilant voices came from Regina, Father Julien, and Mehak. Marcus only nodded, while Ysabelle, conscious of the exorcist priest's presence, produced a faint smile.
God, how her heart was beating frantically now, especially when their eyes would meet from time to time. Marcus' civilian wardrobe didn't help her uneasiness too. With the black cassock out, he almost looked like a normal, handsome man for her; without the vows of holiness and celibacy. It almost made her think that she hadn't committed a mistake for kissing a priest. Well... technically it wasn't she who kissed first, but a kiss is still a kiss, and it brought about an unwelcoming effect on her heart, an effect of longing towards him, and that, technically, is a grave mistake towards a priest already.
"Thank you for the toast Madame, " said Marcus once everyone settled.
Regina shook her head and smiled sweetly back at him, "Not at all Father. I have always wanted to do that."
Ysabelle was looking at the exchange when Mehak tapped her shoulder. She leaned slightly just enough and Mehak whispered something in her ear whilst looking at Marcus, "Auntie, isn't that priest the man in your photo?"
There was considerable tone of curiosity with that and Ysabelle noticed it right away. Of course, the girl saw that particular photo so that didn't surprise her at all.
"Uhh... yes Sweetie, that is him, " she answered, her unease spiking up when she glanced at Marcus once again who was by now consuming a slice of chocolate strawberry cake.
'That is weird of him to eat the dessert first before the main course, ' Ysabelle made a comment in her mind.
"Wow! You mean I am now meeting one of your photography subjects?!" Mehak exclaimed, all giddy and with eyes twinkling. With the amount of excitement she abruptly released, it didn't fail to catch the attention of her father.
"What's the ruckus Mehak?" Alfon asked with knitted brows.
The girl wasn't afraid or intimidated with her father's stoic appearance. She had gotten used to it since kindergarten, so to cower behind her Auntie's side was not needed.
"Ah, nothing Father, " she sheepishly replied though, suddenly shy due to the puzzled eyes of the two priests looking at her. "I was just ecstatic to see one of Auntie Bella's photo subject in person."
"Photo subject?" was what Alfon echoed.
Ysabelle dropped the fork and knife she was holding and immediately waved a hand to dismiss the topic. "Oh, its nothing Uncle. Mehak was just talking about the recent pictures I took in the plaza days ago." She blinked twice just on impulse but the end result was devastating for her because her line of sight landed on the exorcist priest specifically. "The...the one with Father Marcus in it. No big deal actually."
Alfon tilted his head and exchanged fleeting glances with his wife. "So you mean to say you have met before here?"
The question was obviously directed to his niece, but then Marcus butted in and said, "Technically, Sir Alfon, we didn't."
Anticipating his next sentence, Ysabelle's breath hitched, when briefly Marcus glanced at her, breaking a small grin.
"But, your niece here is so enthusiastic about being a photographer that she snaps photos in almost everything without the consent of the subjects. She just took a photo of me and went about her way photographing other people."
Alfon chuckled lightly and commented, "Well, that sounds like you Ysabelle, alright. It doesn't surprise me at all."
Ysabelle's face blushed, but it wasn't because of her Uncle's remark, but because of the priest's clever observation of her. It didn't cross her mind that he had that kind of impression at all. Maybe that was the reason why he kept on staring at her while she was sitting at the fountain's base.
"Do I have the privilege of looking at my own photo, Ms. Ysabelle?" Marcus' sudden question made her blink twice again, but this time, to clear her wandering thoughts.
"Uh, huh?" she reacted, wide-eyed.
"I would like to see it please, " was Marcus' stern offer, giving her a look that tells he won't accept any refusal.
"Maybe...sometime Father, " Ysabelle responded, doing great lengths to stabilize the shakiness in her voice.
"Probably when he comes back here?" Father Julien then inserted. He looked at Sir Alfon and Madame Regina waiting for them to respond.
"What do you mean Father Julien?" Regina said.
"We are leaving tomorrow morning Madame. Father Marcus has another exorcism to do in a town close here while I am needed in Vatican for the annual World Youth Day."
"Oh, really?" It was Alfon who said that, holding up his breath just in order to hide the pleasure gathering inside him.
"Yes, but Father Marcus hopes to come back here after his duty is done. You know, to investigate with André's case further."
And it deflated immediately.
"Well...uhmm... you are welcome here anytime Father. Don't worry about it at all, right Darling?" Regina stated, squeezing her husband's left hand, making it seem like they were sincere with their words.
"Uh, yes. Yes, " he answered albeit reluctantly.
"Thank you for being such a good host, " Father Marcus stated lifting his champagne glass and tipping it towards them. Only time will tell though if they are true to their word, but Marcus knew better. He knew that he'll have difficulty entering the Rogratiatto Mansion again, especially if his reason was for investigation purposes. He will just have to ensure that he'll get the right answers tonight with Ysabelle. Already setting up a good plan to visit her room later by using his picture as bait, surely she wouldn't refuse, especially when looking at his photograph was as harmless as capturing it.
Marcus watched the unsuspecting woman carefully occupying herself on eating the contents of her plate. She said nothing during the remainder of the dinner, but almost all attendees were, except for Mehak who volunteered on sharing information to her father and mother with regards to her school four-day tour activity. The details of it weren't specified yet, but her school administration has already distributed consent and waver forms with which either Regina or Alfon were to sign. The ecstatic girl also talked about her joy considering her Auntie Ysabelle would accompany her. Being the president of her class, documenting the tour activities was one of her duties. She wanted the photos to be professionally done, so she requested her Aunt to do it and the latter was as accommodating as ever.
The dinner concluded with a greeting of goodnight on each of the members and the priests. They went about their own way, but not before Alfon specifically reminded Father Marcus that André was still indisposed of. Although that created another disappointment, Marcus still nodded anyway, showing a reserved smile and left. When he reached his room, he sprawled in his bed and waited... waited for an hour or so until he called the timing safe for him to visit the target of his questions.
It may have been a timely reprieve that the topic about Marcus' picture was forgotten. That was what Ysabelle thought the whole time she listened to their conversation until she was back in her room, sifting through recently developed pictures in her mini studio.
She had this studio built the moment her interest in photography increased. It had been years ago since that happened and overtime, the design of the room had changed into a space fit for work and leisure. It was of decent size, with furniture mainly consisting of a sectional enough for taking a short nap, a single-seater leather sofa, two stool chairs, three rectangular tables as her work space and glass shelves to place her photo albums. What was different about this particular area though was the light fixture. The bulbs were colored red, making the room seem gloomy and dark, exactly just like the darkrooms of traditional photo studios.
Printing Complete
The popup message displayed in Ysabelle's laptop when one of the print was completed. She rushed to take the picture out of the tray and stared at it for quite sometime.
"Yes, this one would do good as a souvenir, " Ysabelle talked to herself, smiling.
The photo paper showed the controversial picture of the day showing Father Marcus bending low and handing the pastry rolls to the child beggar.
Excluding the issue that she had an undefined relationship with the model of the photo, she couldn't deny that it was one of the favorite captures she had in her entire life. She had decided to frame the picture and treasure it, and also she had decided to share a copy of it with Father Marcus. Upon learning that they will leave the mansion tomorrow, she hastily printed the picture, planning to give it to Marcus as a parting gift. The man would probably be happy, especially when he expressed interest on seeing it. It was just a gift of appreciation and nothing more. Just a harmless souvenir of his stay here in the mansion.
A soft knock came in front of her main door when she was putting the copy inside a white envelope. Thinking that it was just Mehak, she continued her work, writing a short message of thanks to the priest at the back of the envelope using a black pen.
To Father Marcus
Thank you for your help, not only for my cousin but for this child.
Yours, Ysabelle
Signed and sealed, she placed the envelope in a small coffee table near the sectional, but just as she did that, another cycle of knocking came.
Mehak was the only family member who usually barges in her room without consent. It didn't bother Ysabelle actually, and she was welcoming to it. This time however she made a mistake on concluding that it was her niece. When the knock came again, she realized that someone had come to visit her at a late an hour.
After exiting the mini studio and crossing the length of her bedroom, she opened the door to see who the visitor was. That's when her heartbeat jumped like crazy.
"Oh, God!" she exclaimed with eyes wide, "Father Marcus!"
If she could squeak, she would probably sound like a hamster unable to free its belly from the tight ring hole.
"Ms. Ysabelle, good evening, " Marcus greeted formally. Taking in her appearance, he was relieved to see that she wasn't in her robe or nightgown. She was still in her sundress, minus the Converse sneakers of course, wearing a white fur bedroom sandal.
"Good--good evening too. Why are you here Father?" she asked, wanting to know the reason immediately. And how did you find my room? She had thought of that question too but didn't voice it out.
Marcus produced a short hum in his throat before he answered, "I did say I would like to look at my picture."
"Huh?" Ysabelle arched her brows.
They stared at each other for a brief moment, each waiting for the other to speak, until there was a sign of recognition in her face. Of course, he did say that during dinner, but she didn't expect that he would look at it tonight!
"Well, I uh... I have it in my mini studio, Father. Please wait here while I get it, " Ysabelle stated after releasing a defeated sigh. It seems that he was this much excited to see it huh? Anyway, she had the copy of the photo ready. She can just always give it to him and that problem will be solved.
"Can I come inside?" was Marcus' question when Ysabelle had just turned around.
She gave him a puzzled look then, unable to believe what he had just asked.
Seriously? He wants to enter a woman's room?
"I will just get the picture Father. I won't take long. You don't need to come inside, " was her stern reply, warning signals shooting up in her mind like arrows in the preliminaries of war.
"Please Ms. Ysabelle. I insist. Aside from the picture, I do need to ask you a few questions, " Marcus reasoned. He crossed the threshold and pushed open the door wider. It was a bold, risky move, but what the hell, he was adamant on getting answers tonight anyway, so any show of courtesy was out of the subject.
Ysabelle didn't need to confirm what questions he was talking about. She knew exactly what they were, and that was the very reason why she had to back away and put a wall in between them.
"I...I don't think I am the right person for you to ask that Father. Maybe you should find your answers in my Uncle or Auntie. Or André himself."
But her words were a big fat lie. Not one of them would want to give the priest answers too, and it seems that Father Marcus was aware of that when he said, "I know that they won't Ms. Ysabelle, that's why I'm here. To tell you the truth, I have great belief that you are the only person sane here to help me with my...predicament."
For a moment there, she saw a glimpse of turmoil and pain in his eyes. Why would a priest have that when in fact they are supposed to be worry-free?
It wasn't supposed to be her concern or even her business, but she was already pushed to the edge with no other options left, so in the end, she conceded. There was no harm sharing a piece of information or two with him right? Just as long as it didn't get to the point where it would concern her most prized secret.
"Very well, please come inside, " she said after releasing another sigh of defeat, stepping to the side and gesturing the open way.
This made Marcus smile, pleased of her wise decision.
The closing of the door behind her and the sound of the priest's boots with each footfall was damnable for her. She could feel the close proximity of their bodies and Marcus' eyes boring a hole in her back when she walked inside the mini studio.
"You don't use modern technology to print photos? It is so much easier than doing it the traditional way, " was what Marcus commented the moment he entered the red-lighted room.
Ysabelle, realizing what he meant, released a soft chuckle. This at least lifted a small amount of tension between them.
"Oh, no Father. You got it all wrong. I am using modern technology on this hobby don't worry. I just prefer using red light in this room. I have been accustomed to it for so many years that to put it away would be a hard change for me. And also, the red light is calming. A good way for me to take my mind off of things so to say."
She took the envelope from the coffee table and handed it to him. Her beaming smile got Marcus in his usual war all over again.
God help him, he knew he needed to know the truth this night, but being in the woman's bedroom now seemed to weaken his resolve. He couldn't be sure whether the reason he had for visiting her was because of André's possession case or because he just wanted to be with her. That plain and simple.
He cleared his throat and eyed the envelope in front of him. He had the notion that inside it was the photo, but he chose not to take it yet.
"Things?" he parroted, unable to hold back his curiosity on her cryptic words. "Hmmm... I don't see you as being the sulky type, Ms. Ysabelle. With you living in this place and with a family that provides and cares well, I don't think you have heavy problems at all. Don't tell me you are one of those few people who takes on the burden of the world in their shoulders?"
"Huh, " she scoffed lightly, thinking of his remark as silly, "You don't have any idea, Father."
Marcus quirk a brow. "I don't, you say?" he said and stepped closer to her as a sign of encouragement. "Enlighten me then."
God help him again, he doesn't even know where this conversation was leading to.