Post by Chris Ravenna on Apr 4, 2019 7:14:21 GMT -5
Also available in MLWA: ntlwresfed.boards.net/thread/121/disgrace-2-character-development
March 26, 2019
A Local Diner in Salem, Utah
7:34 am
It was another morning, and Chris was sitting on a table alone drinking his coffee. He wore the same disguise as the first time concealing his true identity. He looked at everyone, and they had their own business not caring to their surroundings. Chris had nothing to say about it, but only a sullen mouth was stuck on his face. Everything went smoothly until a shatter of tableware occurred grabbing some of the customer’s attention including Chris.
Chris spotted a waitress who was responsible. He watched her picked up some of the pieces of the broken plate. He can’t help but entice the indirect charm of the waitress has, the slightly fair skin, the delicate black hair gathered from her yellow hood, rosy cheeks, beautiful make-up, cute black skirt, and white blouse and sparkling eyes. What interesting for Chris is that she looked different from the other people in her surroundings. He thought that she didn’t look like an American or any other Westerner, but somewhat a Latina.
SLAP!
The barks of the manager attracted everyone’s attention witnessing how that person humiliates the waitress. “And look at your hand, you got yourself cut by those plates over there. You must be stupid for sure.”
“I-I’m sorry, Ms. Brooks,” the waitress confessed to the manager as she tried to pick herself up and clean up the mess. But the manager protested, “No! Stay down, I’m not done with you!”
The waitress braced for the worst as the manager had something more to say about her, “Everyone thinks that you are a hard worker trying to climb up the ranks here. You’re just a lazy good-for-nothing immigrant going to steal the opportunities from our countrymen here. You deserved deportation back to your country.”
Chris heard of it before for he encountered it in the past.
“You came here for the job, but you never got it done. You are nothing but a lazy little piece of shit who begs us for money. Do me a favor and go back to the country where you belong because you’re FIRED!”
The waitress was horrified by the manager’s decision of terminating her job. She pleaded, “Please give me one more chance! I made a mistake. I tried to be careful this time!”
“No, no, I don’t need a clumsy worker like you. If I were you, I should apply myself as a prostitute. If you are desperate for some moolah here, then maybe you could use your body to make yourself living here,” the manager suggested. Some of the males began to prey on the waitress. Chris discerned it as he looked at the waitress’ humiliation on her face.
“Punyeta, are you saying that we are whores in nature?” Chris thought.
While some were whistling at the waitress and the manager turned her back against the failed worker, Chris stood up and grabbed a pitcher of coffee that was about to serve. He took the lid off and splashed it to the group of males wooing at her. The manager got a slap from Chris and became startled.
“What did you say again? Are you calling us a bunch of whores?” Ravenna shouted at the manager.
“Who the fuck are you?”
Chris removed the shades and the hat to reveal himself. Everyone was shocked that they recognized him. “That's Chris Eno, the one who humiliated Salem! Rumored has it, that he gave one man with scald burns and humiliated two women just because of the racism,” someone murmured.
While Chris' appearance deadened the crowd in shock, Chris crouched down and told the waitress, “Let’s get out of here.” Ravenna picked her left wrist and led her away from the scene leaving everyone in dazed for the fact they just mocked a person in front of the infamous outcast.
8:35 am
“Ikaw pala ay mula sa Pilipinas?” (So you’re from the Philippines too?) Chris asked the waitress which she nodded. She added, “Nandito ako para makataon lang na kumita ng malaking pera dito sa Amerika. Hindi ko namalayan na ganon pala ang pagtrato nila sa atin.” (I’m here for a chance to make good money here. I didn’t aware the way they treated us there.)
Chris and the waitress walked along the streets of Salem with seldom people minding no one but their business.
“Ganito na ngayon dito. Kaya naglakbay ako kung saan-saan sa labas.” (That how’s the society here works. That’s why I traveled somewhere else.) Chris explained reflecting his experience with the first promotion since his return.
The hostess was amazed at the fact that Chris is a traveler. “Sana makasama ako sa ‘yo. Gusto kong makita ang mga masayang lugar sa iba’t ibang bansa. Kaso nga lang, yung tatay ko.” (I wish I could travel with you. I want to explore exciting places in different countries. But my father.)
Chris looked at the waitress’ sighing in trouble. He presumed that she had weighed responsibility regarding his father. “Bakit?” (Why?)
The waitress revealed, “Nakasakit ang tatay ko, may tuberculosis. Nangangailangan ko ng pera para magpacheck-up at kung pwede lang mabawasan yung sakit niya.” (My father was sick and got struck with tuberculosis. I need some money for medical check-up and if only, a chance to recover.)
Now that Chris learned the waitress’ problem, he grabbed something out of his pocket and pulled up some cash. He gave it to her hand and said, “Pagpasensyahan mo na at ito lang ang kaya ko.” (Sorry but this is all I could give to you.)
The waitress saw on her hands, and it was $200 worth of money. “Naku, nakakahiya!” (No! It's too much!)
But Chris insisted, “Hindi, mas kailangan mo ito kaysa sa akin. Kaya sana matanggap mo ang konti tulong para sa iyo.” (No, you needed it more than I do. I hope you accept it as a little help for your father.)
“S-salamat!” (T-thank you!) The waitress placed the money into her purse, and they kept walking on the sidewalk until they reached the stoplight.
“Well, dito na ang destinasyon ko. Okay ka lang na mag-isa?” (Well, this is where I stop. Are you sure that you’re okay alone?) Chris asked.
“Okay lang!” (I’m okay!) The waitress replied as she raised her fist stating she is strong enough to be herself. Chris found it silly, so he snickered. It was bizarre for him for despite that some unfortunate event happened to him, he managed to grin. It appeared that the fates tried to cheer him up.
“Sige, paalam na ako!” (Okay, guess this is goodbye.) Chris waved his hand as he was ready to leave her. “Teka lang!” (Wait!) The waitress shouted urging him to hold on a second.
“Hindi ko pa alam ang pangalan mo. Gusto kitang pasalamatan sa pagligtas mo sa akin sa kahihiyan.” (I didn’t know your name yet. I want to thank you for saving me from humiliation.)
Chris turned about face towards her and answered, “Ravenna. Ako si Chris Ravenna.” (Ravenna. I’m Chris Ravenna.)
The waitress smiled at him and replied, “Ako pala si Marina.” (I’m Marina by the way.)
“Marina…” Chris uttered in a low voice. “Salamat, Ravenna!” (Thank you, Ravenna!) She waved him goodbye as Chris smiled and went to his nearby destination.
4:35 pm
Chris came out from a convenience store with his baseball cap and his shade on as a disguise. He carried some plastic bags of bought items to put inside the small box truck. As he arrived, he opened the door to the storage box. Suddenly, Chris heard a sound coming from inside.
Chris went back inside and flicked his flashlight on. He kept looking for something that caused a slight noise. He pointed the light to his pile of baggage, and he noticed that something moved. So Chris walked closer to it checking out from there, he found something, A LITTLE GIRL!
“Uy!” Chris shouted at the girl. “What are you doing here? Get out!”
Chris and the girl went down from the storage box. He was about to proceed to the driver’s seat until a girl was still standing on there. “Why are keep standing there? Don’t you have any place to go?”
The little girl approached Chris asking, “Where are you going, C-Chris?”
Chris became more intrigued, “How do you know my name?”
“Don’t you remember?” the girl asked. “I’m Angelina. You save me from those big meanies!”
“Angelina…” Chris uttered as he tried to recall if he countered that name before. He remembered the time when he was in Salem where he went up against a group of thug invading the house. Chris used his sniping skills to take down half of them until a grunt caught Angelina in their grasp. That dirty move forced Chris to lay down his weapon and get beating by the leader to a pulp. It was only Chris’ partner, Black Onyx saved him from the mess and successfully defended the home that Angelina stayed. Chris petitioned the official to find a better place for the tenants who settled in that house, including the girl. That was the last time Chris and the little girl have met.
“Shouldn’t you be with the others?” Chris questioned. “Your friends might get worried about you.”
“I’m bored!” Angelina explained. “My big sister was a bad person, the tall lady was gone, and I’m lonely. But when I saw you in the cemetery, I was happy. I found a new friend to lean on.”
Chris shook his head and told the little girl, “Sorry, kid. You should go back to where it’s safer. I’m going to take you to the police station and…”
“TAKE ME WITH YOU!” Angelina protested. “I’m lonely. No one wanted to cuddle me from sleep. No one wants to be my friend. I have no friends but you.”
Chris took pity on Angelina as the girl shed tears for she wants to be with him. However, Chris wanted to reject her request for it was for the best. But his 23-year old mind couldn’t resist the plea from an eight-year-old.
Chris sighed and whispered. “How can I raise this kid? I don’t even have experience as a babysitter.” He shook his head looking at the little girl in tears. “Fine. Get in!”
The girl ceased from crying and transitioned into bliss. She jumped for joy as she replied to him, “Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Chris asked the girl to calm down and added, “You can come with me, under one condition.”
Chris and Angelina entered the driver seat as they depart from Salem, Utah which they once called home into the new destination that lies upon them.
