Love in the Hacienda [Completed]

Chapter 2

One year ago....

"Happy fiftieth birthday to my wonderful husband. Salamat sa walang sawang pagtataguyod sa pamilya natin at sa Hacienda Castro. Alam kong lahat ng mga tao dito ay nagagalak na makisalo at makisaya sa kaarawan mo, lalong lalo na kami ng anak mo. Mahal na mahal ka namin, Anselmo," mensahe ni Isabel sa asawa habang nakataas ang wine glass sa harap ng lahat ng mga bisita. 

Everyone was there. Lahat ng mga trabahador nila at pati na rin mga kamag-anak at mga kaibigan mula sa karatig-lupa nila. 

Clara just turned nineteen at she was standing awkwardly beside her mother habang nagto-toast ito para sa birthday ng ama niya. She stared at all the people in front of her. Halos ilang taon niyang hindi nakita ang mga ito. Tatlong taon na kasi siyang nag-aaral ng kurso niya sa Maynila at bihirang-bihirang umuwi.

"Mahal na mahal ko rin kayo ng anak natin," tugon ni Anselmo at niyakap silang mag-ina. 

She hugged her father back at mabilis ring bumaba sa makeshift stage na iyon para makaiwas sa atensyon ng mga tao. She didn't like people looking at her and asking her questions.

Dito ka na ba ulit for good, hija?

Kailan ka na ulit makakabalik dito, hija?

Ang tagal ka na naming hindi nakikita. Umuwi ka naman ng mas madalas.

She didn't know why people kept on asking her the same questions. She didn't like provincial life. Nagsawa siya dito dahil lumaki siya at nagdalaga dito. She only ever achieved full freedom when she was out of her parents' sight - in Manila.

Simula freshman ay tumira na siya sa isang solo na condo unit doon na binili ng mga magulang. And she loved her life there! The malls were big. The brands were all international. The parties were good and a heck lot of fun that this. And most of all, the people are just from all walks of life. 

Dito, pakiramdam niya ay kakaunti lamang ang mga taong gusto niyang makasalamuha o makausap. The city life is what's calling her.

"Ang lalim ng iniisip mo," singit ng isang lalaki na nakatayo na pala ngayon sa likod niya habang nakatingin sa mga magulang niya na nasa stage pa rin.

She turned around to look at Alejandro and smiled. He was a childhood friend. Pero hindi sila ganoong kalapit dahil umalis rin ito para mag-aral sa Maynila. At nang bumalik ito ilang taon na ang nakakaraan, siya namang pag-alis niya para magkolehiyo sa Maynila. Mas matanda lamang ito ng limang taon sa kanya. Pero minsan kung magsalita ito ay akala mo kung sinong awtoridad.

"What is it with you?" pagtataray niya.

"Nothing, you just look like you're thinking about killing someone in this party," sagot nito sa diretsong Ingles. Ito na ngayon ang tagapangasiwa ng karatig-hacienda nila. At tinitingala ito ng iba't ibang mga tao sa lugar nila.

And she examined his face in the dark. He is quite handsome, in a rugged way. Not like how city boys are. He looked more... strong, sturdy and experienced. Para bang kaya ka nitong protektahan sa kahit anuman.

"And now, you look like you're fantasizing about sleeping with me," bulong nito sa tainga niya.

And she stepped back sa sinabi nito. "Cut it out. I will never fall for you."

"Likewise," he said. 

That irritated her. 

"What?" tanong nito, na ngayon ay nakangisi ng makitang magkasalubong ang mga kilay niya. "Are you offended? Why? Are you used to men falling at your feet?"

Sinamaan lang niya ito ng tingin. "I'm done with this conversation." And she walked away from him.

Pero bago siya makalayo ay tinawag ng Papa niya ang atensyon niya mula sa stage.

"To my daughter Clara, you always make me proud. I'm so lucky to be a father to someone as beautiful and talented as you. Balang araw, alam kong mas lalo mong palalaguin ang haciendang ito. This is our legacy and I am sure you'll take good care of it."

Nagulat siya sa tinuran na iyon ng kanyang ama mula sa stage. At ngayon, lahat ng tao ay nakatingin sa kanya.

"Smile, sweetheard. Everyone's looking," bulong ni Alejandro sa likuran niya ng mapansing naestatwa siya.

Nagpatuloy si Anselmo. "And of course, I'd like to thank Alejandro, the son of my late friend. Maraming salamat sa paggabay mo sa pagpapatakbo ko sa Hacienda Castro. I could never ask for a better neighbor... and I hope you officially become part of the family, too.... someday!" makahulugang wika ng Papa niya.

Everyone cheered and clapped while looking at her and Alejandro now. Is her father insinuating something here?

She tried to smile in front of everyone. At nagulat na lang siya ng akbayan siya ni Alejandro at kumaway sa lahat ng mga bisitang nakatingin ngayon sa kanilang dalawa. This guy must be mad, she thought.

*****

7:00 AM.

Iyon ang sabi sa alarm clock niya ng marinig ang mga malalakas na katok sa pintuan ng kwarto niya. Clara was pissed. Late na siyang nakatulog dahil sa party at ngayon naman ay maaga siyang pinupukaw ng mga kasambahay.

Who could it be?

"Pasok!" sigaw niya habang nakapikit pa rin. God, she drank so much last night that her head was hurting.

"Good morning, sweetheart," bati sa kanya ng isang pamilyar na boses. Hindi siya pwedeng magkamali. It could only be Alejandro.

That made her open her eyes quickly to sit up and look at him. At hindi nga siya nananaginip.  "Anong ginagawa mo dito?" mataray na tanong niya.

"Obviously, I'm here to give you a tour as promised."

"What tour?"

"You forgot? Your father said I'll be giving you a tour around the hacienda ngayong Linggo. Ito lang din ang free time ko so kung gusto mong matapos na ito, magbihis ka na." He stood in front of her like he owned this place. That irritated her all the more.

"I don't want a tour. I don't need a tour! I'm just gonna get dark if I stay too long under the sun! At isa pa, hindi ka trabahador dito. I know this place better than you."

"But you haven't been here the last three years, princess. Marami ng nagbago. At sa tingin ko, wala kang kaalam-alam kung paano patakbuhin ang sarili mong hacienda."

"Bakit ba? I don't even wanna stay here for good. Why do I need to learn the ropes? Who are you to wake me up at goddamn seven AM asking me to change so you could give me a tour?" sunod-sunod na sigaw niya dito.

"Calm down. I was merely fulfilling a promise I told your dad," kalmadong wika nito. "If you don't want, then we can do it later this lunch."

"Lunchtime? Mas mainit 'yon!"

"It's either now or lunchtime. Wala ka ng makikita mamayang gabi. Madilim na."

"Ughhhh fine!" she groaned. Inis na inis siyang bumangon at tumayo mula sa kama. "I don't even know how you figured out where my room is."

"Your father showed me," sagot nito. "And I'm glad he did. You look fine in the morning."

She ignored him.

She was starting to think that her father was really pushing for them to spend time together. Pero dahil gusto na niyang matapos ito, she quickly went into her walk-in closet para magpalit ng damit.

But what shocked her was seeing herself in front of her full-length mirror. She was only in her nighties, falling just below her panties. And her nipples were clearly showing dahil wala siyang bra. And Alejandro saw all of her!!

"Kill me now!" she whispered to herself.

*****