Love in the Hacienda [Completed]

Chapter 5

"Good morning, Ma, Pa!" bati ni Clara sa mga magulang na ngayon ay nag-aagahan sa balkonahe nila na tanaw ang front garden at ang main gate ng bahay. Outside the main gate lies a driveway na napapalibutan na ng mga nagtatayugang puno ng niyog.

But what got her attention was Alejandro in his pick up truck habang pababa doon si Winnie. She looked at her watch and saw that it was already nine in the morning.

"Hija, kumain ka ng agahan. Halika," anyaya ng ama niya habang nagbabasa ng dyaryo.

Her mom was busy enjoying her empanada at hindi nakita ang pagpasok sa driveway at gate nina Alejandro at Winnie.

"Winnie just arrived. Saan sila galing ng ganito kaaga ni Alejandro?" tanong niya and slid beside her mom's seat. 

Her mom looked up at kumaway kay Winnie na naglalakad na ngayon papalapit ng bahay, with Alejandro right behind her. Kakababa lamang nito matapos ipark ang sasakyan.

"May kailangan siyang bilhing mga pansariling kagamitan sa bayan. She asked Alejandro's help at pumayag naman," kwento ng Mama niya.

Winnie waved back and smiled. Hinintay nitong makalapit si Alejandro and then pulled his arms papasok ng bahay.

 Naningkit lalo ang mag mata ni Clara sa nakita. She grabbed a pandesal and some butter at kumuha ng kutsilyo para hatiin ang tinapay sa gitna. She, then, grabbed some butter and applied it on one slice of pandesal.

At saktong lalagyan din niya ang kabilang slice ng dumating sa balkonahe sina Winnie.

"Tita, Tito, good morning," masayang bati ni Winnie. "I got all I need."

"Mabuti naman, hija," kaswal na sagot ng Papa niya. 

"Hi, Clara. You're awake. I wanted to go eat breakfast with you but you were still sound asleep a while ago. I didn't wanna wake you up," Winnie said at umupo sa katabi niyang bakanteng silya.

Alejandro sat beside Anselmo. "Get used to it. She doesn't like waking up at 7AM. A city girl, indeed," kumento ni Alejandro.

And Clara remembered the day he took her on a tour and woke her up at 7AM. It was the very same day he proposed to her right after sex. Namula siya ng maalala iyon but tried to keep it to herself.

"I really was just tired from the party last night," pagdadahilan ni Clara. "But then, here I am. We can all have breakfast together now." 

"I don't like the city," biglang kumento ni Winnie. "I just hate it. I don't wanna be back."

"You're more than welcome to stay here for as long as you like, hija," sincere na wika ng ama niya.

Clara just looked at her father unbelievingly. How can they be so kind to her? 

"And Alejandro just offered to show me Hacienda Deogracias! He said I'll like it," masayang announcement ni Winnie. That irritated Clara all the more. 

"Oh, he's quite the tour guide," makahulugang wika ni Clara and looked directly at Alejandro.  "Baka ipatikim rin niya sayo ang kape niya na siya mismo ang nagtanim at nagtimpla."

Alejandro just looked back at her emotionlessly, then turned his glance at Winnie. "I can show you around Hacienda Castro, too. Kami ni Tito Anselmo ang kasalukuyang nangangasiwa ng taniman dito. We plant the same crops and should know the same things. So I can tour you around here first."

"Perfect, I'm free today! In fact, right after breakfast," masayang sagot ni Winnie.

"Me, too! I actually have nothing else to do!" Clara also responded, faking her enthusiasm. "I wanna see Hacienda Deogracias, too."