Love in the Hacienda [Completed]

Chapter 6

"These are all bananas. Mga saging na saba 'yan," turo ni Alejandro sa tabi-tabing puno na iyon na nagsisilbing lilim nila ngayon. They were out walking a few kilometers now from his pick up truck pero mahangin naman at may lilim ng mga puno.

May kasama silang dalawang trabahador doon. "Malapit na nga pong pitasin ang mga ito, eh."

"What do they mean?" whispered Winnie to Alejandro's ears, not quite understanding deep Tagalog yet kahit na lumaki sa mga Pinoy na magulang.

"They said the bananas are almost ripe for picking," pag-translate ni Alejandro.

"They're a lot. I didn't realize Hacienda Castro was this big," manghang-manghang kumento ni Winnie.

"It is. Hindi biro ang labinglimang ektarya ng lupa," Alejandro boasted. "Tito Anselmo is a rich man."

"My parents wanted a life out abroad," kwento ni Winnie. "I knew that was why they sold their shares here a long time ago. This was the first time I ever stepped foot here. I never even got to know the place until now... They had to die for me to be back here, back where it all started for the family. I'm glad I did. I'm glad I'll be connecting back with everyone here like Clara. Thanks for bringing us around, Alejandro."

Hindi maka-relate si Clara dahil unang-una, hindi siya natutuwa na nakahawak ngayon sa braso ni Alejandro si Winnie.

"Nauuhaw na ako. Can we go back?" medyo inis na tanong niya. She tried to look elsewhere para hindi makita ni Winnie ang inis sa mukha niya.

"Oh, I have water in the truck," Alejandro said. "Let me just go get it."

"Sasama na ako sayo," Clara said.

Winnie looked like she wanted to come, too. Pero nagmadali ng maglakad si Clara para hindi na ito makasama pa. Alejandro was way ahead because he walks quicker than everyone else.

They have already walked a few meters at medyo malayo na kina Winnie at sa mga trabahador ng tawagin niya si Alejandro. "Hold up!"

Alejandro turned to look at her. "We're almost there. Come on."

At ng sabay na silang maglakad, she bravely asked. "Do you like my cousin?"

"What? Saan nanggaling 'yan?"

"You've been very... accommodating with her. Sinamahan mo siya kaninang umaga sa bayan at ngayon ay itino-tour naman dito sa hacienda. Tell me. Do you like her? Don't worry. I won' tell."

Alejandro was quiet while walking, not even pretending to listen to her.

"Alejandro!" untag niya dito. "I'm asking you a question."

Sa wakas, nasa harap na sila ng truck. Alejandro opened the back seat to get a bottle of water at iniabot iyon kay Clara. "Drink up," utos nito. "Namumutla ka na."

"Actually, I'm not thirsty. I just want to be alone with you," she said straight out.

That caught him off guard. "So you don't want water?"

"Nope," tipid na sagot niya.

Alejandro opened the water bottle himself and drank from it instead. At ng matapos na siyang makainom ay ibinalik iyon sa likod ng sasakyan.

"So tell me, do you like my cousin?"

"Clara, I don't know what game you're playing but that is none of your business. Why do you care anyway? Kaya ka ba sumama ngayon para bantayan ang pinsan mo? Don't worry. She's in safe hands."

Nainis siya sa sagot nito. So gusto ba nito ang pinsan niya? "Why can't you just answer the question? It's just a simple yes or no. Do you like Winnie? Yes or no?"

"Clara, I barely know the girl. And she's young. She's what? Barely eighteen or just turning eighteen."

"But I'm also young. I'm only two years older than her."

"And your point is?"

"You used to like me then? Even when I was young. So how can I be sure that you don't like Winnie?"

"Do you really hate me that much that you don't even want me for your cousin? What if I want her and she likes me, too? Pati ba naman iyon tututulan mo, Clara?" Alejandro looked pissed now.

"So you do like her?"

"I didn't say I do. I just am curious whether or not you hate me that much to not want to do anything with me at all. Parang inis na inis ka tuwing nakikita mo ko sa bahay ninyo."

"Because you're always with her at kakakilala niyo pa lang!" she said, exasperated. "She was just here yesterday pero parang matagal na kayong magkakilala. It pisses me off."

Natigilan si Alejandro sa narinig. "Why does it piss you off?"

"I... I... don't know," she responded, unsure of what to say.

Alejandro was queit for a moment. "Then, don't meddle with how I help other people. Because unlike you, I like being of greater value for others. Hindi ako makasarili na kagaya mo."

"What did you say?" galit na tanong niya ngayon. That hurt! Ginagalit ba talaga siya ng binata ngayon?

Alejandro tried to walk away pero hinila niya ang braso nito.

"Alejandro, I'm still talking to you."

"You know my name now?" wika nito as he turned around to look at her now and how her hand clung onto his arm. "This is the first time I ever heard you say my name again ever since..."

"Ever since when?"

"Ever since what happened between us... at my house a year back."

Parang napaso si Clara at dali-daling binitawan ang braso ng binata.

"I don't know what happened but I really thought you had feelings for me back then, Clara. I really thought I could change your mind and live here."

"Aren't we over that?"

"We are," he whispered. "Kaya huwag mo ng pakialaman ang kagustuhan kong makatulong sa ibang tao, Clara. I want to help Winnie get to know the place. I really feel like she genuinely wants to get to know the hacienda. So please, just don't get in the way."

Iyon lamang at naglakad na ito muli palayo.

She didn't know why but she was hurt. Hindi niya alam kung dahil tinawag siyang makasarili ni Alejandro o dahil gusto nitong tulungan si Winnie o dahil parang wala na itong pakialam ngayon sa kanya.

But one thing was made clear - Winnie is a threat to her life now.

She seemed to stealing the attention of everyone and everything that was once hers. At hindi siya papayag. She seemed to have come here in the hacienda with a mission. Pero hindi nito maaaring maagaw sa kanya ang pamilya niya at ang hacienda.

And even Alejandro.

She may not want him pero ayaw niyang nagpapatalo. Hindi maaaring mapunta kay Winnie si Alejandro.

She's Clara Isabella Castro at kahit kailan, hindi pa siya natatalo.

A/N:

Again, sino ditong Team Winnie? Team Clara?

Ano kayang dapat gawin ni Clara para makuha muli ang atensyon ni Alejandro pabalik sa kanya?