I silently looked outside. We've already entered the private property of Escanor's. It's a 60-hectare hacienda. Our house was located at the very end. There were small huts where the workers stay if they do not go home especially when they were tired or when there was a lot of work in the hacienda. All their meals were free so their families were in peace if they can't go home.
I saw some familiar faces and I recognized some of them. I saw workers busy milking newborn cows. Cows, chickens, pigs, horses, goats. Those are the animals raised here in hacienda. Their population got doubled."Are you distributing eggs?" I asked Koko when I saw trays of eggs being placed in the truck.Koko turned to where I pointed. "Yeah, because the supply of eggs was in short and it was still too expensive. So your father thought of producing more eggs and selling them at a cheaper price so that the people would not suffer," he explained. "See that?" He pointed at a black and tall horse. One look, I know that it was expensive. "That's from another country. Your father become interested in breeding animals these past months.""If–" I stopped speaking when I spotted a very familiar person. My face became stoic. When Koko saw the change in my reaction, he looked at where I was staring. Not far away from us, there's a woman in a tight ponytail riding a brown horse. The horse stopped in the middle of the road and seemed to be waiting for us to approach."Samantha," I uttered my sister's name. Her eyes were looking at the passenger seat where I was sitting. Koko's car was tinted so she can't see me but she knows I'm inside."Just go straight Koko," I said coldly when he slowed down the car."Ahmm. Okay." The Jaguar returned to its previous speed. We passed her. I looked in the side mirror and saw how her smooth forehead wrinkled as she looked at the car driving away. I looked away from her and focused my eyes on the road. Our house can be seen from here."Are you alright? You look nervous." Koko snapped."I'm fine. It's just that, I don't know how to act."I've been gone for a long time. A lot had changed. I felt like I don't belong in this house anymore. That all the traces of me had completely disappeared. The car stopped in front of the big house. Suddenly, my hand started to sweat. If only I could run away..Koko gently tapped my shoulder. "Just be yourself Lauren. Show them that you're not the same as before. Show them that you can fight," he encourages me. I smiled at him. He's right."Thank you."Koko came out first. I took a deep breath before going out. Soon, the servants came out of the house. Their eyes widened while looking at me."Jusmiyo hija! Lauren, is that you?" an old woman uttered in full surprise."M-Manang Rosing?" I gaped when I recognized the woman.She cried in front of me. "Look at you! You've grown big!"All the house servants hugged and greeted me. They only stopped when Koko restrained them. They took my luggage and guided me inside the house."Do you want me to accompany you?""No, it's fine. I can do it. Thanks for picking me up Koko," I assured him.Koko stared at my face for a long time before sighing. He patted my head. "Call me if there's a problem."I smiled gently. I know he's worried. "Don't worry too much. I can handle myself.""Yeah right." He rolled his eyes in the air. I just laughed at him.I waited for his car to leave before entering the house. I'm home. I had mixed feelings at this time while looking around the wide living room. It's still look the same as before. The large paintings were still neatly hanging on the wall. The expensive chandeliers and the grand staircase. I saw some new figurines and furnitures but aside from that, nothing had change. It's still the same."Miss Lauren, your father has been waiting for you in his room." I was snapped out from my reverie when I heard a maid's voice, bowing slightly.I followed her to the second floor. I looked around. It's a miracle that I can't even see the shadow of my step mom.We stopped in front of a familiar door. It sink again inside my head the reason why I came back in the town of Asthad. The maid opened the door."Sir, Ms. Lauren is here. I leave you here for now." She smiled politely before leaving."Thank you." I looked around in the wide and dark room. I found a figure with his back on me. He was facing the window and his eyes were looking far away. Sadness and pain crept inside my chest upon seeing him.. again."P-Pa," I said in a raspy voice.His body tensed. "Lauren? Lauren, my daughter? Is that you?" he said in a trembling voice. His eyes lingered as he tried to looked around. He couldn't see me. He couldn't see anything. That's when the tears that I had been holding back started to flow out. Oh god, he's blind.I came to him and hugged him tightly. "Pa. I'm here.. I'm here. I-I'm so sorry." I cried on his shoulders."Lauren..." If my hug was tight, his hug was even tighter. He just hugs me silently while I cry. His tight and warm hug enveloped my body. No one can replace the security that it gives me."I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry if I left you." I've missed him. Now that I'm in front of him, I felt like I regret leaving before. I wish I could have stayed here with him. When I ran away, I didn't even think about how he would feel. All I thought about was myself. To stay away from this place."Shhhh. I understand hija. You don't need to explain and apologize. I have a fault too."I pulled away from his embrace and stared at him. "Don't say that. It's not your fault."He did not speak but pointed in the direction of the bed. I helped him sit there. His body gave out. He also lose weight. His proud and mighty posture had gone. This was the reason why I came home. My father suddenly fell ill. What's worse was that he went blind. Samantha can't handle all the responsibilities that our father left, the Capitol and the hacienda as well as the citizens. My step mom has her own line of business so it's rarely of her to help."What did the doctor said about your condition?" I asked while massaging his fingers. I used to do this before. He said his hands were sore from signing documents all day so I used to massage them.Dad's face became sad. "They said they can't identify it. Several doctors have looked at me but they still don't have an answer. Elizabeth even tried the doctors in the city but just like before, they didn't know what kind of disease I have."I bit my lip. Koko told me this when we were in the car. The first thing Dad noticed was that his vision was getting blurry. Next, he said that his body was painful. And then one day,they found him unconscious in his office. When he woke up, his body became thin and he lost his vision. And as the days went by, he got weaker and weaker. Eye surgery was not an option either. In the current condition of his body, he will not be able to handle the process."A-Are you taking any medicine?""I am. But I feel like I'm not getting any better," he laughed jokingly.My throat went dry. I know that he's hiding it. I know that he was frustrated, that he wants to get out of the house and do the things that makes him happy."Lauren, you're hurting me."I blinked a few times then looked at his hand I was holding. "I'm sorry!" I didn't realize that I was breaking his hand.He laughed softly. He raised his hand and found my hair and stroked it gently. "I wish I could see you," he said in a low voice. "I am proud of you Lauren. You inherited your mother's courage. I was hurt when you left but I know that it was for the betterment of your life. And I hope that all the things you've learned outside of this town will be your weapon whatever the trials you will face in the future.""Dad..""Don't worry about me, hija. I'll be fine too. I still want to see my grandchildren with you.""Dad." I pouted. What's with this conversation?"But you don't have any boyfriend yet so how can I have a grandchildren?""Dad!"He started laughing and I can't help but to laugh too. I promise that he will get better. I will find a cure for his illness. I know that it seems impossible but it's better than just giving up.After I left Dad's room, I was surprised to see my step mom standing by the door. Her eyes were closed and her arms was folded on her chest. She was leaning against the wall and seemed to be waiting for me."Tita.."She glanced at me using her empty eyes. I don't know but my body suddenly felt cold. She turned to the maid who brought me here earlier."Sherly, you take care of your sir Anton.""Yes ma'am.""And you Lauren." She looked back at me. "Follow me."I silently followed Tita Elizabeth. Only the sound of her shoes could be heard between the two of us. Her posture was still good as before. Still beautiful despite her age. The jewelry attached to her body screams luxury."Come in," she said in a formal voice. I quickly looked inside. I think this is her office. He pointed to the long sofa. "Sit down." I can do nothing but to obey her orders.She took some papers and started reading it. Her brows were perfectly shaped while her lips were on red shade, her typical self. I just let her do what she was doing. I didn't dare to break the silence. After what I felt like a decade, she put aside what she was reading. She leaned back on the chair and looked at me. "So, how are you?" she asked to my surprise. She raised her eyebrows when I didn't answer right away."A-Ahm. I-I'm fine, Tita." Shit."I heard that you graduated college by yourself. Tell me, why didn't you touch the money that Anton was giving?"Really? Why was she asking that now?
I closed my eyes while tilting my head. I'm so tired. Sitting all day was boring as hell."Here, have a snack first," Koko said as he placed a soda and lasagna on the small table. We are now at their house. I decided to stop by here before going home."Koko, why don't you take the position of my father in the mean time? After all, you were Dad's apprentice.""What?" He laughed. "Tita Eliza is the Acting Mayor. Just take turns with you especially when she is busy with her business.""Argh. I can't handle the loads of paperwork. Samantha should be the one in charge in the Capitol because after all, she graduated Law." I frowned and leaned back on the chair. I can't believe I'm complaining now. But it would have been better if Samantha and I will change task. Maybe I should ask her when we meet. I took a bite before turning to Koko. His forehead was furrowed and he was deep in thought. "Is there a problem?"He looked at me. "It's just that something's off with Samantha these past weeks.
The door creaked loudly when I opened it. I peeked inside and there was really no one. I finally entered. I first noticed the boots scattered on the floor. The usual habit of removing shoes and not minding arranging it. There were also many coats and leather jackets hanging on the walls. These are the clothes that Samantha loved to wear then and certainly up today.There was nothing much here. A chair, a table. Apart from the bread toaster and coffee maker machine, there was no other furniture nor appliances to be seen. I looked up at the stairs. That must be Samantha's bedroom. I was about to go up when something caught my eye. On my side was a long black curtain. It swung open slightly and I saw a shiny object. I touched and pulled back the curtain and it was revealed to my eyes the things that Samantha was hiding.Spear, bow and arrow, and different kinds of guns. But what caught my attention was a crossbow. Where does Samantha use these things? I took an arrow and gently touched i
I took the other route. I avoided going through Samantha's cabin as much as possible. No news had come out about what happened last night. As Koko said before, it was better to keep the wolves a secret so that the people will not get afraid. But what puzzles me was Samantha and her group. They were fighting one on one with wolves. With their bravery and courage to face those creatures, they were in doubt used on fighting them. Did they know the existence of wolves ever since? Samantha is a big mystery to me. The horse slowed down. My mind was wondering too far I didn't realize that we were already here in the border. There was a small fence made of cement. This serves as a sign of the extent of Asthad's territory. And now, I was facing the thing that saves Samantha and the others. This was the trap that they were saying. A chasm. And it's dark, wide, and deep. Regardless of that, I was still able to see what was at the bottom of the pit. The sharp and thick metals were covered in bl
I quickly reached the Plaza. There's a lot of people here and most of them were couples, young couples to be exact. I sat on the bleachers while looking around. I've only been waiting for Koko for a few seconds but I'm getting impatient. I looked up at the ice cream seller under the acacia tree. I reached into my pocket for a coin and bought one. I haven't tasted food like this for a long time. I was eating it furiously while one of my feet taps the ground continuously. My heart was still beating fast. I've been away from this town for a long time while Samantha grew up here and had been with Dad ever since. But why did they give me this information when I just arrived in this town? It should be Samantha, not me. When my eyes caught Koko's car, I easily stood up and approached him, carrying the book that the strange man purposely gave me earlier."What is this all about?" he asked me with a wrinkled forehead after getting off the car."Let's go somewhere else," I said and pulled his
After parking the car in the garage, I immediately went to the horse stable. It's still early so there aren't many workers in the hacienda yet. I picked a brown horse. I'm about to ride on his back when a black horse nearby suddenly caught my attention. He was in the other stable alone and his black eyes were looking at me. I returned the taken horse to his stable and approached the black horse. The horse started to wagged his tail. He let out a low grunt too as I approached him. I caressed its neck. This was the horse Koko was talking about before. I grinned. Looks like we'll get along well. I didn't think twice and immediately took him out of his stable. I love horses ever since and as I watched the horse in front of me, I can't help but to be mesmerized. This one was way bigger and taller than normal stallions. His legs and muscles look strong and sturdy and I'm sure that he can endure a long and fast ride. I climbed on his back. "From now on, I will call you Brigo. That will be
The Rogue slowly approached and encircle us around. I have my gun pointed at him and watching carefully his every move. The rain started to pour. I tightened my grip on my weapon as the rain grew stronger and I could barely see through it's thickness. Brigo was just next to me who was in a poor state. I can't ride him again because his wound was so bad and it's obvious that he's already weak from the amount of blood he'd lost. I kept thinking on how I could get out of this woods with my horse in his condition. My conscience can't bear to just leave him here. He came here with me so we should also go out of this forest together. But we need first to defeat the enemy in front of us. I need to face it and there was nowhere to run anyway. We need to kill it for us to escape. The Rogue jumped and immediately attacked us. I quickly dodged and when his large body passed by my side, I strongly thrust the dagger held in my left hand. The Rogue whimpered in pain. I immediately pulled the dag
Me and the brown wolf kept on staring at each other. It was only interrupted when four giant wolves appeared. They were stunned when they saw me. The brown wolf glanced at me once more before he faced the newly arrived wolves. I just stayed where I was standing while looking at them talking using the wolves language. From their posture and their expressive eyes, there's no mistaking it that they belong to a pack. The four wolves quickly left in the direction where the three wounded Rogues ran earlier. I think the brown wolf gave instructions to capture the three."W-Who are you?" I dare to ask.The wolf stared at me for a moment before gradually changing it's form in front of me. My eyes widened when a gorgeous man appeared in front of me."Hi," he greeted me with all smiles. I was dumbstruck. I find it hard to utter a word. I felt like I was stoned when he smiled at me. His brown eyes were now green. He has a red lips and his thick left eyebrow has a lining on it. My eyes went down