Chapter 4

"Curious, curious about how beautiful you are," he said that made me stunned on my spot.

The wind blows and time seems to stop for a second as I felt his intense stare at me. My lips parted a bit surprised with his reason. I blink my eyes and slowly a genuine smile form on my lips amused with him.

I mentally laugh. I didn't know it was my fault.

"Tara na sa loob Eline" Nana Rita suddenly said and held my arm that pulled me back to my senses.

I slowly nod my head and let Nana guide me as we walk inside the house. I didn't look back, but my mind wanders on its own.

"Do you know those young men Nana?" I query while we're walking upstairs.

"Hindi ko nga masyadong familiar dahil madilim. Pero malalagot talaga sa akin ang mga yun kapag inulit pa nila" may bahid nang inis na sabi niya making me laugh softly.

"Kuya Red and Kuya Vinzon was like that too when they were still at my age. I still can remember- Dad send Kuya Red to Spain to ground him while Kuya Vinzon was locked in the barn here in Tierra Veloz. They always create troubles" I whisper reminiscing that time.

Kuya Redniz almost jumps on the balcony of our grandparent's house because he wanted to go back to the Philippines, but Dad won't let him. I can't blame Dad, they were too hard-headed and they always create problems and troubles.

"Habang ikaw naman ang pinaka masunurin at mabait sa tatlo" Nana Rita remark making me smile.

"Kuya Vinz and Kuya Red are both nice and kind Nana" I corrected her kaya natawa ito.

"Nakung bata ka, talagang pinag tanggol mo pa. Sayo lang naman mabait yung dalawang yun" she said shaking her head. I giggle and she opens the door of my room letting me enter "Maiwan na kita, matulog ka na dahil aalis tayo bukas"

I press my lips together and nod my head didn't dare to ask her kung saan kami pupunta.

"Yes Nana, goodnight po," I said softly before she close the door and left me inside my room.

I sigh and lick my lower lip still staring at the door. One of the rules that I'd learned- choose what question you will gonna ask.

I took a deep breath and walk towards the center table where I placed the small box that my father left for me. I sit on the single sofa and slowly open it, and my lips parted when I saw a silver peineta with flower designs and small diamond beads. And 'Dela Huerta' was engraved in it with small fonts.

My heart jump in so much happiness when I saw my name on the card, with a written note 'Welcome home, my daughter'. I am in glee but not until I saw a long list of rules that was written on a long paper...

I almost forgot that I never hold my freedom since I was young...

"Sigurado ka ba talaga na sasama ka hija?" Kuya Tobias ask while scratching his nape "Magulo pa naman sa farm"

It's obvious that he doesn't want me to tag along but he couldn't just voice it out directly to me. Well, Nana Rita offer me na sumama sa kanila para naman makalabas ako. I didn't insist but Nana asks me so I seize the chance and said yes. I wanted to see the beauty of Tierra Veloz, last night I busy myself searching about Tierra Veloz and I saw a lot of beautiful things about this place- and I wanted to try it.

I smile at Kuya Tobias politely and fixed my vintage-designed hat when the wind slightly blows in our direction.

"I can manage po, I'm not gonna complain" I assure him fixing my puffed sheer long sleeve fairy lavender outer dress just below my knee. My outfit perfectly complements the sunny yet cool weather here in Tierra Veloz.

I gaze at Kuya Tobias. Alanganin naman siyang ngumiti sa akin and then he scratches his head again before he opens the backseat door for me.

"Pumasok ka na, andyan na ang Yaya Rita mo" he said.

I glance in the direction of the main door and I indeed saw Nana Rita while holding a basket. My smile widened and I excitedly went inside the backseat after I remove my hat. I settle myself comfortably and fasten the seatbelt.

I don't know exactly where are we going but I'm sure this will be fun and I'm really excited right now.

Seconds later Nana sits beside me and then Kuya Tobias went to the driver seat. He starts the car engine and maneuvers the car.

"May dala akong pag kain, sabihin mo sa akin kung nagugutom ka Eline" Nana remind me.

I look at her and smile before I turn back my gaze out of the window. The view in Tierra Veloz was almost the same in Switzerland- a not cemented two-line road in the middle of these wide green fields. Tall and old trees are everywhere. I really like the refreshing chill and vibe that Tierra Veloz gives.

I open the car window beside me and I extend my hand to feel the cool fresh wind. My long blond ocean wave hair was slightly stirred by the wind, good thing my hair was into haft tie style kaya naman hindi ito na pupunta sa mukha ko.

"Alam mo bang nasa gitnang bahagi pa lang ng Tierra Veloz ang tatlong kilalang hacienda" Nana suddenly utter that made me look at her "Tinaguriang mayaman sa likas na yaman ang lugar na ito kaya naman tinawag siyang Tierra, sa dulo puro bulubundukin ang makikita mo kaya maraming turista ang pumupunta dito. Maganda dito hija, hindi ka magsisisi na umuwi dito"

Regret? Why would I regret it?

"Is... Hacienda Dela Huerta belongs to it?" I curiously ask instead.

"Oo naman, kilala kayong mga Dela Huerta dahil sa malawak na Abaca at Tobacco farm na pag mamay ari niyo" naka ngiti niyang sagot sa akin.

"Are we going on that farm?" I hesitantly ask.

She laughs and shake her head "Sa pataniman tayo ng mangga pupunta, sigurado akong matutuwa ka dun"

"I love mangoes" I giggle when suddenly the car halted when we were on the T-junction road.

I creased my forehead and slightly bend my head to see what's going on in front of us and there I saw a large two container van trucks enter the opposite road.

"Sinakop na nila halos ang daan" Nana mumble.

I look away and turn back my gaze out of the window. My eyes automatically landed on the ginkgo biloba tree that was planted in the middle of this T-junction road. It was surrounded by steel fences with an intial cardboard hang on its trunk. Somehow, I find the tree interesting seeing those padlocks in every corner of the fences.

"Nana-"

"Isirado mo ang bintana, Eline" Nana Rita cut me off when the car slowly starts moving.

I confusingly look at her wondering why she wanted me to close it. Without questioning her, I close the window beside me as the car back to its normal pace.

"Bakit ba nakaharang ang mga iyon doon?" Nana Rita voice out talking to Kuya Tobias.

"Siguro alam nilang wala si Señor kaya malakas ang loob" tumatawang sagot ni Kuya Tobias that made me look at him.

"Why? Is there something wrong?" I mumble unconsciously.

I felt that they both went silent so I glance at them. I tilt my head making Nana Rita glance in my direction but she didn't say anything to smile.

"You don't have to tell me if you can't Nana," I told her "Can I open the window again?" I ask instead.

She slightly smiles and nods her head "Sige na, buksan mo na" she replied that made my smile widened.

I busy myself watching the beautiful views na nadadaanan namin. I keep on taking pictures because I brought my DSLR camera with me. After haft an hour, the car halted, and then I saw a huge gate open bago umandar ulit ang sasakyan. My mouth gape when my eyes landed on those huge baskets of mangoes that were arrange in a parallel line.

"Wow, that so many..." I whisper to myself.

"Ipapakita ko sayo kung paano sila kumuha ng mangga hija," Nana Rita said beside me.

The car halted and I immediately step out without waiting for Nana Rita. I was too excited to see the surrounding. There are too many people here, and that was so fascinating. It's just awkward because they are all looking at me curiously.

"They are all looking at me" I whisper when I felt Nana Rita beside me.

Tumawa naman ito ng mahina at hinaplos ang mahaba kong buhok.

"Naninibago lang sila sayo, hindi kasi nila alam na may anak na babae si Señor Geronimo" she explained.

I unbelievably look at her "Really? They didn't know?"

She nods her head and then she held my back " Tara na, doon tayo" she instructs me.

I smile when I saw a mid 40's lady smile at me warmly. We walk towards the area where there are a lot of mango trees planted in rows. People there are busy picking those mangoes and putting them on the huge basket and I'm honestly so amazed right now because they all seem so happy with what they doing.

"Magandang umaga Señorita" a young boy suddenly greeted me and handed me a ripe mango.

My lips stretch into another smile and accept it "Good morning too" I greeted him back.

He smiles shyly and then he runs away. My gaze follows him but Nana Rita pulled me to walk again.

"They were nice..." I murmured seeing those smiles they give me.

"Pwede kang maging mabait sa kanilang lahat, pero hindi ka pwedeng mag tiwala" Nana Rita refute me, and then she held my hand that made me look at her "Tandaan mo lagi ang sinabi ng Daddy mo, hindi ka dapat mabilis mag tiwala" she meaningfully reminds me.

My smile disappears and slowly nod my head "Yes, Nana" I whisper.

She taps my cheek lightly "Dito ka muna, kakausapin ko lang sila" She said, and then she walked towards those people that working.

"Makinig kayong lahat, andito ang anak ni Señor Geronimo. Tandaan niyo ang mga bilin niya, mag inggat kayo sa mga salitang bibitiwan niyo"

A slight creased form in my forehead when I heard what Nana Rita said. Unconsciously I glance at Kuya Tobias beside me.

"So you are all following rules too?" I query.

"Dalawa rules lang Eline ang dapat namin sundin" he replied.

"And what was that?" I curiously ask.

Ngumiti ito and then he shakes his head "Malalabag ko na agad ang pangalawang rule kapag sinabi ko" he answers that put my mind in chaos.

What?