Summer Nights

Chapter 4

What I saw stuck in my mind. It has been a week since I stopped going to the Montenegro mansion. We are also busy harvesting mangoes in the morning. I sleep for two hours in the afternoon, and at four o'clock in the afternoon, I start making beaded bracelets again. It is not made of shells because I no longer go to the beach. It was close to the mansion.

I stay close to it. First, I lost my first kiss. And secondly, my chest tightens when I see Manuel kissing someone else, or maybe it is because I'm just shocked that's why.

I showered and got dressed. I sat on my bed and took the money I had saved in the big purse from under the mattress. I started counting and found out that it was eight hundred pesos.

"The uniforms at Stella Maris Academy in town are 550 pesos. I still have 250 pesos. I will budget my money. "I said to myself and combed my hair.

I only saved the whole harvest because sometimes we buy groceries from Grandma Tessa.

I put on a brown vest and let down my still, slightly wet hair. I took a bag from the kitchen and said goodbye to grandma.

"Grandma, I'm going to town. I'm going to buy school supplies."

"Just tomorrow Aurora it's already afternoon. "

I shook my head at grandma.

"Grandma, don't we have a saying? If you can do it now, why not? Besides, I'm done with the bracelet, grandma."

She took something from his pocket and gave it to me. "I have 200 more here. Add it to your money."

I took it. "Alright, grandma, I'll buy this grandfather's dish and medicine."

"No, add it to your budget. "

"That's right, grandma. You are still coming next week. We'll still be able to harvest mangoes."

"Oh! You are young; you're smart. Just go and take care."

"Yes, Grandma!"

I took the rocky dirt path, and sometimes there was even mud. It was inevitable that my slippers would be covered in mud.

I am sweating profusely from walking. I was happy to buy a five-piece notebook. I also chose two pens and a piece of paper because my budget is only 250.

I also chose fresh fish at the fish market. I saw a new fish.

"How much is the fish?" I asked the bearded man.

"It's free! Just give me your number!" he winked at me.

Come on! Is that all? "Alright! Number 29! That is my birthday!"

The man stopped and scratched his head.

"Shit, where does this girl planet come from? She would be beautiful, but she's slow." He whispers.

"Yeah? What is wrong?"

"Nothing!"

"Where's my fish? I gave you, my number." I blinked when he got angry.

"That's not a number!"

"But that's what you said. It's your trick. Besides, I gave it to you. So, you should give me the fish."

"Oh, here it is! That's it! That's fresh. Don't go through here again!" He seemed forced to give me a pound of fish.

I'm happy to go home to our village. Because I spent a long time at the market, it was late when I got home.

The sun had set but a good thing was there was a lighted post, so I could still see the road. It was hushed, and I could only hear crickets.

A tricycle suddenly stopped by my side. It's Domeng!

"Are you going home, Aurora? Get on."

I smiled and nodded.

"Thank you, Domeng! It's tiring to walk." I took a breath and entered the tricycle.

I heard crickets and the sound of the leaves of the trees colliding because of the violent wind; it seemed like it was going to rain. Looking at the road without lights made me nervous—only thick trees on the side and long grass.

"Domeng. Isn't this the way?" I was nervous because he didn't move and looked straight ahead until he turned to the dark part of the hive.

I know how I feel. You know the situation is not good when you are nervous and afraid.

"Domeng! Put me down!" My eyes got hot, but my body got cold because of the nervousness.

"Shut up! I've been fantasizing about you ever since." Domeng's face is far from the one I used to know. "It's good to see you alone." His voice seems to have become a demon.

I closed my eyes tightly and grabbed the steering wheel of the tricycle, reaching for the brake to stop.

"You little brat! We might crash!" he shouted as the tricycle started.

"Stop it! You are bad! I will report to you!" I scream here. But I tasted a slap! My face tilted, and I felt the metallic liquid flow from my mouth.

"Report if you will still live!"

I cried even though the tricycle was running fast; I didn't think twice about jumping to get out of the tricycle.

My body fell on the rocky and muddy road. I immediately felt pain and hit my elbow on the stone. I held it and watched the tricycle stop. Domeng got down there and ran at me.

"Help!" I shouted and quickly ran. I can no longer feel my breathing and my heart beating.

"Get back! I'll kill you!"

I covered my ears so as not to hear his devilish voice.

"Help! Help me!" I cried.

Even though my body hurt, I tried to run fast. I was about to return when Domeng grabbed my hair and pulled me. I fell on the cracked ground and immediately ran over me.

"Don't Domeng!" I begged him without saying a word as he kissed my neck.

"You smell good!"

"Don't, please!"

"I will taste you, you child. You are delicious-" he suddenly fell to the floor; I immediately got up and fixed the dress strap.

My body was full of mud, and I had blood on my other knee. I covered my ears and closed my eyes tightly. The muscle tremors are palpable. Because I was so scared, I didn't know what to do but cry out with grief and fear.

I heard a familiar voice.

I heard shoe footsteps. Someone stood beside me and touched my hair.

"D-Don't! Please-" I cried and kept shaking.

I Couldn't look up because I was afraid.

"It's me, Manuel," he growled huskily. I stopped crying and slowly looked up.

My lips trembled, and more tears came. The tight chest eased, and the fear disappeared. His jaw tightened, and I saw blood on his fist.

I raised my hand to touch his face, but I couldn't do it because of the pain in my body and the shaking. It remained in the air, but he reached his hand and brought it to his face.

"Let's go." He said and grabbed me on the ground. I felt the warmth in his arms. He buried her face in his chest.

"I-I'm going home. Grandma is worried-" I stopped what I would say when his lips touched my forehead.

"I'll take care of it. Go to sleep first." I could feel the controlled anger in his voice and shaking his hand. He still seems angry about something and wants to get away.