The Sunsets' Kiss (C.E Series #1)

Kabanata 7

Blame

"Maam, okay na po ang kabayo niyo." ani Dante, isa sa mga tagapangalaga ng mga hayop sa bukid.

Nasa panghuling liston na ako ng aking botas nang iabot ni Greta ang isang cowgirl type na sumbrero.

"Do I really need to wear this?" Masyadong malaki iyon at magiging sagabal lang sa pagpapatakbo ko ng kabayo.

"Maam, mainit po kasi. Tsaka bilin po ito ng Lola Metis ninyo. Baka raw po kasi masira ang balat ninyo." I rolled my eyes in air.

"It's already 1:30PM, Greta. Hindi na nakakaitim ang init 'tsaka my skin doesn't get easily tan." Kung bakit ba kasi ganito ang kutis ko. I really want to have a tan-coloured skin. Ilang beses na rin namin iyong sinubukan ng mga pinsan ko. Lahat kasi sila ay morena na, habang ako nanatiling mestiza.

"Sige po, Maam. Pupunta na po ba kayo ng Daphne? Kasi ho kailangan kong tumawag sa Lola ninyo." Aalis na sana siya nang pinigilan ko.

"Wait, Greta. I'd like to have a quick stroll. Please, don't tell Lola Metis." I pleaded.

"Naku, Maam." A quick stroll with Maia wont hurt Lola Metis right?

"Maam, baka po kasi hanapin kayo saamin ng Lola ninyo tapos wala po kayo." ani Dante na nag-aalinlangan na rin.

"Just tell her, I'm asleep. I promise it won't take long, just thirty minutes. Sobra na 'yon." Mamamasyal lang naman ako sa hacienda kasama si Maia at hindi din ako magtatagal dahil pupunta ako ng Daphne, gaya nang napag-usapan namin ni Wendy kanina.

"Alam mo naman na hindi talaga kami maka hindi saiyo Maam eh. Pero promise po ha? Huwag po kayong magtatagal 'tsaka mag iingat po kayo." I almost jumped in excitement. Sabi ko na nga ba.

"Thank you so much." I looked at Dante then to Greta, I smiled. Di nagkakalayo ang edad nila, hm they could make a great couple. Napailing ako sa sariling pag iisip.

"Ingat po kayo, Maam. Dios ko! Bumalik ho kayo agad!" I nodded and hastily leaped to Maia.

I maneuvered the horse despite of the sludgy road. Umulan yata kagabi.

"Whatever. Ang importante ay magkasama tayo, Maia." I said to Maia as if she can understand me.

The panorama of the innocent pine trees from the top of the mountain was very noteworthy for its wondrous consecution. The fresh air engendered by the nature with the birds freely chirping in the trees and the serenity of the place had brought me into the world I was never been.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago sinubukang bumaba nang kumportable sa kabayo. Nilibot ko ang buong lugar at nang mapagtantong nasa hacienda pala ako ng mga Silvestre. I quickly maneuver Maia's direction when my eyes widened at her sudden dashed.

"Hey, Maia it's alright. Hush down." Hinaplos ko ang kanyang likod at unti-unti naman itong kumalma.

"Maam, ayos lang po kayo?" Tanong saakin ng isang lalaking siguro ay trabahante dahil sa suot nitong manggas at botas.

"Yes, I'm fine." Napangiwi ako nang nagsimula muling kumabig si Malia. Ngunit mas malakas at mabilis na ito ngayon dahilan kung bakit tuluyan na akong nawalan nang balanse.

I fearfully closed my eyes. Getting myself ready to wherever I will fall. This what you got for not following grandma's rule, Percy.

"Ah!" Sigaw ko nang inasahan ang pagbagsak sa putikan. Ngunit hindi iyon dumating. Unti-unti kong iminulat ang mata at halos lumabas iyon. Dios ko! Nasa langit naba ako?

"You trust your horse too much that you'd rather let yourself fall." I swear to God I am no innocent. I've seen pretty man on tv's but I've never seen nor met someone as inimitable than this man in front of me and wrapped me with his sandbag alike muscle.

"She was shocked." Dipensa ko nang makabalik sa katinuan.

"She's untamed, Miss and the unfamiliarity of this place terrified her. She's never been here, hasn't she?" He came closer to check Maia, which gave me a chance to scrutinize him. Hes wearing a white shirt, dark maong pants, boots and with his hair disheveled that made him more look superior than any other men in this place.

"No. It's her first time here."

"Dapat ay dinalasan mo muna sana ang pagpapasyal sakanya rito bago sinakyan." He gently and meekly rubbed Maia. It's like he does this everyday. Ang landing kabayo! Nakakita lang ng gwapo, kumalma agad!

"Silas!" Magsasalita pa sana ako ngunit mabilis siyang tumayo at inayos ang sarili.

"Don't come here again with your horse untamed." He said as if it was my fault that Maia, my horse is untamed.

Not done with my thing on him. He has unbothered thick brows and underneath his flamboyant eye lashes is a pair of deep brooding coffee color set of eyes.

"Tara na." I looked at to the woman who called out his name. Nasa may kalayuan siya kaya naman ay hindi ko masyadong naklaro ang kanyang mukha but she's clearly wearing a short shorts and a spaghetti strap.

"I'll go ahead." aniya at nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa babaeng tumawag sakanya. Nagkausap sila saglit at matapos ay inakbayan ang babae paalis.

My brows furrowed at inquisitive. He left without a permission from his overseer. With his outfit and skills of taming horses, hes probably a worker!

"Manong." In a spur-of-the-moment I
asked the guy who probably ages twice mine.

"Bakit po Maam?"

"Nandito ba ang boss niyo?"

"Yes, Maam. Bakit po?" Kapag nalaman talaga ng boss nila na may isang trabahador ang umaalis nang hindi nagpapaalam ay ewan ko nalang.

"Can I talk to him?" Nakita ko naman kung paano kumunot ang noo niya at di nagtagal ay namangha.

"Ah. No problem po, Maam. Boyet nasan si Sir? Nandito kasi ang girlfriend niya." Ngayon ay noo ko naman ang kumunot.

"Excuse me? I am no ones' girlfriend. Gusto ko lang sana itanong sa boss niyo kung pinapayagan niya ba ang trabahante niya na umalis nang hindi nagpapaalam? More so, umaalis kahit hindi pa naman oras ng uwian?" The Silvestre's are known for being strict disciplinarian towards their employees— hence, they remained faithful.

"Naku, Maam. Hindi po totoo 'yan. Strikto po si Sir." Faithful to the extent of protecting him and his incompetency.

"Kung ganon. Bakit niya hinayaang umalis ang trabahante niya? Ano yun special treatment?" Napalakas ang pagkakasabi ko nun dahilan nang paglapit saamin ng iba pa nilang kasamahan.

"Maam, hindi ko po naiitindihan ang sinasabi ninyo. Pero hindi po kami sumusuway sa utos ni Sir. 'Tsaka sabay-sabay po kaming umaalis, Maam dahil nag re report pa po kami sa opisina bago umuwi." I swallowed hard and felt guilt at the same time. Mukhang nahusgahan ko pa ang pamamalakad ng boss nila at ang katapatan nila bilang manggagawa.

"I'm sorry." Napayuko at mabilis na sumampa sa kabayo.

"You're being careless, Percy." Halos maihilamos ko ang palad sa mukha kung hindi lamang ako nakahawak sa tali. That hunk inimitable rude farmer is the one to blame why I had been unreluctant to the Silvestre's laborers.