Love in the Hacienda [Completed]

Chapter 1

"Graduating from one of the finest universities in Manila is no joke, Clara. Kailangan talaga nating maghanda at magpa-party para sa buong bayan," proud na proud na wika ng ama niyang si Anselmo.

Clara was sitting in their grand dining hall that can sit around twenty people. Pero sa umagang iyon, tanging siya lamang at mga magulang niya ang nandoon. They were having breakfast - just egg, bacon at sinangag. 

Mabango din ang kapeng isinerve ng Manang nila. 

"Kaka-ani lang ng kape. What do you think of the taste? Bagong tanim yang robusta," wika ng ama niya.

"Pa, it's good. I like it," she commented habang sumisipsip ng kape. "But going back to the party -"

"There are no buts, hija. Nag-iisa kang anak at tagapagmana ng hacienda. You deserve a big graduation party."

"Oo nga, Clara. As soon as your graduation is done, we will fly back here ASAP. Okay? My amigas will be waiting to hear about your comeback," pilit rin ng mama niyang si Isabel.

"Ma, Pa, I wanna have a simple graduation dinner at a posh hotel. The Manila Hotel o kaya at sa Sofitel or Manila Peninsula. I don't want a party here. All my friends are in Manila."

"But your family is here," mariing wika ng papa niya sa kanya. "Your fiance is here."

"Pa!" mariin ding pagtutol niya. "I haven't agreed to an engagement with Alejandro.  I barely even know the man."

"Kalaro mo siya noong mga bata pa kayo. He's a responsible, hardworking man. Alam mo bang sa pangangasiwa niya ay lumago lalo ang Hacienda Deogracias nila. At ngayon ang dami pa nilang nabiling karatig lupa. Hacienda Deogracias is almost twice the size of our hacienda, hija," pagmamalaki pa nito sa napipisil na ipakasal sa kanya.

"No!" she said firmly. Wala siyang problema kay Alejandro. He's smart, handsome and a good businessman. Pero hindi dito ang buhay na nararapat para sa kanya. At isa pa, she's dating someone. "I'm dating Tyler."

"What?" halos mabulunan ang mama niya. 

"Sino ang lalaking iyan at bakit hindi mo man lang napapakilala dito sa bahay?"

"He's a classmate of mine at taga-Maynila. I can introduce him to you sa graduation."

"A business student, too. Tell me. Anong negosyo niya?" tanong ng Papa niya.

"Well, wala pa as of now, Papa. But he's putting up his own studio dahil gusto niyang maging photographer."

"Photographer?! For goodness' sake, Clara! Anong ipapakain sayo ng lalaking 'yon kung magiging photographer lamang siya."

"Dad! Stop being so judgemental!" 

Ang munting kaguluhang iyon sa hapag nila ay natigil ng dumating ang isang matikas na binata sa harapan nila.

"Good morning, Tita, Tito," magalang na bati nito.

It has been a year since she went home and Clara almost forgot the face of this handsome man.

"Alejandro, hijo!" Kitang-kita ni Clara kung paano nagliwanag ang mga mata ng ama niya ng dumating si Alejandro. 

"Nandito ka na pala, Clara," bati rin sa kanya ni Alejandro. 

But she saw no warmth in his eyes. Syempre, matapos niyang tanggihan ang alok na kasal nito last year, siguradong nasaktan ang ego nito at hindi na gugustuhin pang makita siya. He was very vocal about wanting to marry her pero hindi niya iyon tinanggap because of two reasons: Una, naniniwala siyang hindi siya mahal nito. He didn't even profess his love for her. He just offered her marriage dahil iniisip nitong magandang istratehiya iyon dahil magkatabi ang mga hacienda nila. At pangalawa, ayaw niya ng buhay sa probinsya. She wants to work and live in the city as soon as she graduates.