Love in the Hacienda [Completed]

Chapter 14

"A-Alejandro...," was all she could say. 

"I never knew you would stoop this low, Clara. I've always thought of you as a spoiled brat. Pero kahit kailan hindi ko alam na kaya mo 'tong gawin. At sa pinsan mo pa talaga. What made you hate Winnie so much?"

"Alejandro, I didn't want this to happen! It was a misunderstanding. Believe me," pagtatanggol ni Clara sa sarili.

"And you?" pagbaling ni Alejandro kay Tyler. "You're a good-for-nothing bastard. I think the best thing to do is for you to get out of here as fast as possible dahil kapag nakita ko pa ulit ang pagmumukha mo, ipapakulong kita sa ginawa mo."

Tyler was clearly ashamed of himself. He didn't even bother defending himself. Instead, he just walked out and left them both in that quiet corner.

"Alejandro, believe me. Hindi ko ginusto ang nangyari," pagmamakaawa niya sa binata. "Please, huwag mo akong isumbong kina Papa. Please, Alejandro."

"Really, Clara? At iyan pa ngayon ang nasa isip mo. First of all, I am not a child like you na parang bata kapag naagawan ng laruan. Second, hindi kita isusumbong just because nagmamakaawa ngayon. I am doing this para hindi na dumadag pa sa sakit ng ulo ng mga magulang mo."

She was dumbfounded at what he said. It hurts. So bad.

"I didn't know na ganito na pala ngayon ang moralidad mo matapos mong tumira at makapag-aral sa Maynila. I never knew you would stoop this low, Clara. Winnie is so much of a bigger person than you will ever be."

At sinampal niya si Alejandro. She didn't know why. Anger? Jealousy? Frustration? A tear escaped pero mabilis niya ring pinalis iyon.

"Don't you dare insult me like that again. Kung mas gusto mo si Winnie kaysa sakin, then by all means, go to her!" Iyon lamang at tinalikuran na niya si Alejandro.

She didn't know why pero masakit na malaman na mas pinipili nito si Winnie kaysa sa kanya. They just met a few days ago. Hindi pa nila kilala masyado si Winnie but why is Alejandro acting so protective of her?

"Clara!" tawag ni Alejandro sa likuran niya.

But she didn't stop walking.

"So you're walking out now? Why? Are you going back to the city? To escape your own sins?"

Hindi niya ulit ito nilingon. She kept walking just as far from him as possible.

"Saan ka pupunta?" paghabol sa kanya ni Alejandro at hinila ang kanang braso niya.

"Far from you," she responded in anger.

"I bet you wouldn't even know how to commute going back to your house," sumbat nito sa kanya.

True enough, she didn't know how. Pero bahala na! "You don't have to care about me from now on. I know Winnie's undergoing surgery so you can just wait here all you want. I'm leaving."

Huminga ng malalim si Alejandro, obviously composing himself. "Nag-aagaw buhay ang pinsan mo... and you're choosing to leave."

"I don't wanna stay in a place where I'm not wanted. Besides, I barely know Winnie. And what happened to her is not my fault," giit pa rin niya. "So I would rather leave."

"You're staying," seryosong wika ni Alejandro.

"What makes you think I'm gonna listen to you?"

"You're staying here hanggang matapos ang operation. I'll take you home so you will stay here with me until I decide it's time to leave," he firmly said and locked his hands around her right wrist.

"Who do you think you are?" sigaw ni Clara sa binata.

Pero hindi na nagsalita pa si Alejandro at hinila siya pabalik sa operating room ng pinsan. With his strength, she had no other choice but to follow dahil napakahigpit ng hawak nito sa kanya. 

Her parents were in the chapel kung kaya't silang dalawa lamang ang naiwang bantay sa labas ng operating room. 

Alam niya sa sarili niya na kasalanan niya ang nangyari. That's why she wanted to escape. But Alejandro was firm to show her the consequences of her actions. 

She saw her cousin, unconscious habang napapalibutan ng mga doctor at nurses. 

It was a sight to behold and she felt more than sorry for what she's done.

Alejandro's right. 

Winnie might be a better person than her after all.

*****

A/N: A sweet chapter before your good night's sleep. Thanks sa pagsubaybay sa istoryang ito na sinimulan ko pa noong 2022. I promise to finish this story this year para sa lahat ng mga fans ng Alejandro-Clara love team. Hehehe! 

For now, just wanna show a sneak peak of Hacienda Castro.