Growing Affection (Probinsya Series #1)

Chapter 1

"Ate Avy, okay ka lang?" Athena's question brings back my consciousness.

Napakurap ako at nag-iwas ng tingin sa lalaki. I gasped, trying to consume some air. Bigla akong hiningal.

"Ah, yes! I'm fine Athena. Where are we going next?" I tried to divert the topic, takot na baka magtanong sya kung bakit ako natulala kanina.

"Kumakain ka ba ng bayabas ate? May bayabasan malapit dito."

I nodded my head and smiled. We stood up and get ready to go. Bago makalayo sa palayan ay nilingon kong muli ang lalaki. Suprisingly, nakatingin din siya sa banda namin. I don't know kung sa amin ba talaga siya nakatingin o hindi but my heart immediately reacted, beating rapidly this time. Agad kong iniwas ang paningin at dali-daling hinabol si Athena.

I don't know why my heart is reacting this way. It's my first time having this kind of reaction towards a man. Hindi naman ako takot sa kanya kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit ganun nalang ka bilis ng tibok ng puso ko just by merely looking at him.

That man occupied my mind the whole time we are looking for guavas. My mind can't stop thinking about him and my heart annoyingly reacts with a mere thought of him.

"Andito na tayo!" Athena excitedly announced.

I looked around and was amazed to see plenty of guava trees that's full of guava fruits. It almost looks like a small guava plantation only that the guava fruits aren't the typical guavas that are as big as a fist. The guavas here aren't that big but it's very sweet.

"Kaninong bayabasan to? Hindi ba tayo papagalitan ng may-ari?" I asked Athena while munching the guava and savoring its sweetness.

"Pagmamay-ari ng mga Vidal ang lupaing ito. Pero hindi naman nila tinanim tong mga bayabas, kusa itong tumubo dito kaya kahit sino ay pwedeng kumuha,"paliwanag ni Athena.

Hearing his surname makes my heart beat rapidly again. Anong nangyayari sa'kin? May sakit ba ako sa puso? I ignored my strange heart beat and asked Athena a few more questions.

"Just how vast is the Vidal's land? Gaano ba sila kayaman?"

"You can't imagine," madramang saad ni Athena.

"Charrr English," tumatawang saad ni Athena kaya natawa na rin ako.

"Seryoso ate, 'di ko ma imagine kung gaano sila ka yaman. Halos lahat ng lupain na makikita mo sa bayang 'to ay pag-aari nila. Kung ikukumpara'y nasa 1/4 lang ang laki ng lupang pagmamay-ari ng pamilya natin. Isa pa, hindi lang naman mga lupain at sakahan ang pagmamay-ari nila, meron din silang mga kompanya sa syudad. "

The Vidals are indeed wealthy. That Gavril guy is out of my league. I gasped at my thought. Why am I suddenly thinking about that guy? And what if he is rich? I shouldn't mind, right? Hindi ko naman siya kilala. Mas lalong hindi ko sya gusto, hindi dapat.

I ignored my thoughts and focused on what Athena is saying. The only problem is that our topic is literally the family of Gavril. Either way, I will always be reminded of him.

"Bukod sa sobrang yaman, ang mga Vidal ang  pinaka maimpluwensyang pamilya sa buong lalawigan ng Conception. Ang lolo ni kuya Gav ang gobernador ng lalawigan at ang papa naman niya ang Mayor ng San Miguel."

Now, I am even more intimidated by their influence and wealth. I just don't understand why someone who's part of a wealthy and influential family is working under the scorching heat of the sun like an ordinary farmer.