Love in the Hacienda [Completed]

Chapter 3

"Ito ang taniman ng niyog. Masarap dito ang hangin dahil nasa medyo mataas na parte tayo ng lupa. I think this part houses around 400 coconut trees all planted around 3 meters apart. Mas matanda pa sayo ang mga puno dito."

"I know that," Clara sarcastically responded.

She and Alejandro were both on horses now habang tinatanaw ang kahabaan ng niyugan nila. She didn't realize it was this big at ganito na karami ang mga niyog na puno doon. She only ever visited this a few times noong bata siya.

Back when she didn't know about the city life.

"We can rest here. The horses are also a bit thirsty," Alejandro declared and got down his horse. Kumuha ito ng painuman ng kabayo mula sa baon at itinali ang kabayo niya sa isang puno doon. 

She did the same and got down her horse para maitali ito sa tabi ng kabayo ni Alejandro.

He got a pinic mat at inilatag iyon sa ilalim ng katabing puno. And then, he sat down there to rest.

"Sit down," utos rin nito sa kanya ng makitang nakatayo pa rin siya at nakatitig lang sa binata. "I don't bite."

She just shrugged at umupo sa tabi nito dahil na rin sa pagod. 

The man took out water and fruits from the basket na nasa likod ng kabayo nito kanina. "Here, drink and eat up. Mahaba pa ang daan pabalik. We're in the farthest west of Hacienda Castro. Those fences you see over there, that's Deogracias already."

"So malayo tayo sa bahay?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

"Yes, I just said so, right?"

"Are you... planning to rape then kill me?" tanong muli niya.

And that made Alejandro laugh. It was a genuine laugh. At nagulat si Clara ng makita ang masayang mukha ng binata. He always looked so serious and sometimes pissed kaya namangha siya na lalong gumwapo yata ito noong nakangiti.

"You're funny," kumento nito makalipas ang ilang minuto ng pagtawa.

"Why did you come back? You've lived in the city for years. Pero bumalik ka pa rin dito," she asked, genuinely wanting to know. Alejandro was well-known in their area. Gwapo ito at galing sa isa sa mga pinakamayamang angkan doon. Nakapag-aral ito sa Maynila at may kakayahang mamuhay na lamang doon pero bumalik ito matapos makapagtapos ng kurso. 

"My heart is here," makahulugang wika nito. 

"You mean, your family."

He just shrugged. "My father died early at alam kong responsibilidad ko ng tulungan ang Mama ko sa pagpapatakbo ng hacienda. She's alone when my father died and I didn't want her working the long hours. And I like taking care of my father's legacy. Ilang tao rin ang nakadepende sa hacienda para sa ikabubuhay ng pamilya nila. I like knowing my life serves a purpose far greater than myself."

"Wow... that's admirable," she responded back. 

Katahimikan na ang sumunod na binasag naman niya muli. "Any girlfriends I should know na baka nagagalit na ngayon dahil magkasama tayong dalawa sa isang liblib na lugar?"

Alejandro just looked at her, and then down her lips. "Any boyfriends I should know na nagagalit na ngayon dahil magkasama tayong dalawa sa isang liblib na lugar?" He looked dead serious na para bang papatay ito ng tao pag sinabi niyang meron. 

"None," she answered timidly. 

"Never had?" paniniguro nito. 

Umiling siya.

"But you're beautiful," puna nito.

"I know," mayabang na sagot niya. Clara knew how pretty she was. Tall and slim, she can get any man she wants. Her hair was silky and long, with some curls that give off such a sexy vibe.