Love in the Hacienda [Completed]

Chapter 1

"Hi," tipid na bati niya. Pero hindi nakatakas sa pansin niya na parang lalong tumangkad at tumikas ang pangangatawan nito. He looks like a cowboy model sa mga Abercrombie & Fitch commercials.

"What brings you here, hijo? Nag-agahan ka na ba?" tanong ni Isabel sa bisita.

"Yes, tita, I just had coffee and breakfast. I'm here dahil gusto ko sanang itanong kung gusto ninyong sumabay sa pagpapababa ko ng mga niyog sa mga tauhan. I can just ask them to extend help sa lupa ninyo dahil nakita ko na ripe for picking na rin ang mga niyog dito."

"Oh, good idea, hijo! I was just planning to, pero sa dami ng ginagawa ko at nandito pa ang unica hija ko ay nakalimutan ko na," masayang wika ni Anselmo. "Come and join us for breakfast at mapag-usapan natin. Manang, maglagay kayo ng isa pang kubyertos sa hapag."

"Thanks, Tito, but i don't wanna intrude."

"You're not intruding, Alejandro. You know you're more than welcome in this family," makahulugang wika ni Anselmo at bumaling ang tingin kay Clara.

****

Clara was now in the balcony. She managed to escape breakfast from her parents and their visitor, kaya ngayon ay nasa harapan siya ng laptop at naghahanap na ng mga job openings sa Maynila para pansimula. She plans to work in corporate first at saka siya magtatayo ng sariling negosyo. Hindi pa niya talaga alam kung anong gagawin sa buhay niya pero since iyon ang ginagawa ng mga kaibigan niya, siguro gagayahin na lang din niya.

She's a party-goer and a social butterfly. Sa dami na ng parties na napuntahan niya at sa dami ng nakilala niya, alam niyang kaya niyang magtayo ng sarili niyang negosyo. After all, she has the backing of her father's money and connections in Manila.

"Deep in thought?" came a baritone voice behind her.

She knew who it was so she didn't even bother turning around.

The man walked, sat on a chair across her and smiled. 

"What are you doing here? Are you done kissing my dad's ass?" she asked him.

"How rude, Clara," kumento nito. "I just wanna help. Para sa aming mga taga-probinsya lamang, mahalaga ang tulungan ng mga magkakapitbahay." 

She noticed how he emphasized the 'lamang' dahil alam ng binata na minamaliit niya lamang ang pamumuhay doon. "May sasabihin ka pa?"

"I just want to welcome you back home. I'm happy you've decided to come back to Hacienda Castro."

"Who said I was coming back?"

" I thought you're graduating this weekend?"

"Yes, I am. Pero doon pa rin ako magtatrabaho at maninirahan sa Maynila post-graduation."

Nakita ni Clara kung paano nagsalubong ang kilay ng binata. 

"What? You think I'm staying here? Look at me, Alejandro. Do I look like I fit in here?"

And she saw how Alejandro dropped gaze from her eyes to her breasts and down her body. She was just wearing her yoga set - a white sports bra and deep blue yoga leggings that fit her curves perfectly. 

His gaze suddenly made her feel so warm and self-conscious.

"Fitting in here is not a matter of what you wear, Clara," he whispered back at her. "You are attractive and alluring anuman ang suotin mo. But I stayed here and went back after studying in the city dahil iyon ang kagustuhan ko. In my heart and mind, I knew staying back here and ensuring my family's legacy remains is my purpose. Ngayon, pag-isipan mo kung anong misyon mo sa buhay. Do you really just want to be known as another city slash party girl?"

Hindi niya alam kung iniinsulto ba siya ng binata o hindi. But the way he looked at her, it was like his eyes were worshipping her body. And she got a bit uncomfortable. "I have to do my morning yoga. Please leave now if you don't mind." Tumayo na siya at inilatag sa sahig ang dalang yoga mat.

"My offer still stands, Clara," makahulugang wika ni Alejandro. "You can just stay here and opt to not work a day in your life."

Iyon lamang at umalis na ito.

Did he just mean his marriage proposal to her a year back? She didn't know.

But she tried to brush it off her mind and concentrate on her yoga practice.

******

A/N: Hello and happy Sunday, mga siz!! Just wanna welcome you to another new series na ginagawa ko. This is based on old town love stories sa mga hacienda sa Pilipinas. 

This is a tribute to my family finally being able to buy our own plot of land to farm and plant fruit trees. 

I am a city girl, currently living in Manila for work. Pero palagi ko pa ring babalik-balikan ang probinsya. So this one's a celebration of a dream come true. 

Welcome to the story of Alejandro and Clara.