Dream Girls #2: Maria Arabella, Fashionista to Probinsyana

~Chapter Twenty-three~

Author's Note:

My apologies for my readers waiting for too long on my next chapters. Honestly, I was lost thinking about some scenes and it happened that I need to re-read the story from the first to last chapters so that all of the events are inclined. Nawalan din po ako ng time dahil naging busy rin po ako. Now that I'm up to my new chapters, enjoy reading, stay safe as always, and happy valentine's everyone! xoxo
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How should I explain those things that happened these past few weeks? Our first encounter was unpleasant and appalling. Now that I'm thinking about it, it wasn't a good feeling. I thought Donya Digna was overreacting to her but I was wrong. She was cold and presumptuous. And when our eyes met, I saw her empty eyes with complete disgust.

Living on the same roof with her gave me stress. She's distant and doesn't seem happy when I'm around. She's different to talk to and doesn't seem interested in anything I've said. That is why I planned on how to control her. Frankly, I wasn't completely happy with my decision. But I wanted her to learn that not everything she wants will go her way.

For some reason, I had been rude to her and her attitude became worst. Even her relationship with Ariela bounds to get tensed and go south. I wondered why and my curiosity grew bit by bit until it became more like irrepressible.

I did things when I'm with her. Things I've never done before. Katulad ng pagluto sa kanya ng agahan bago ako umalis ng bahay. It's a command sometimes to change her healthy lifestyle. I also dealt with work on time to get more time together. Para malaman ko rin kung anong pinagkakaabalahan ng dalaga. But I didn't allow her to go out of the hacienda without my permission unless kung ito ay magpapaalam muna sakin upang siya ay may kasama.

Sometimes, I can't tell what she's feeling aside from she's broken. She revealed her thoughts from time to time, but there's still more I don't know about her. Minsan napapaisip ako kung parte pa rin ba ito ng trabaho ko? At bakit ba lagi ko itong ginagawa? I should remind myself to stay vigilant of her but I didn't do what I logically should. It was when I found out recently that it is not a job anymore but out of my care. Until I was consumed and get ill. She took care of me and felt her warmth nearby. It's something about her that made me safe and secure. And my burgeoning feelings towards her had increased.

When I found out she's leaving, I felt so many emotions swirling in me. Anger, sadness, and doubt. That is why I informed the guards and gave her name na huwag papalabasin sa labas ng hacienda without my permission. I also contacted Mang Kanor and make up an alibi that she wanted to visit the river just to postponed her departure. Luckily, it went well ngunit hindi pa nagtatapos doon. I'm afraid that what if she left again? It feels like disappointment, abandonment, and torment on my part.

That is why I came up with an idea to go to Sto. Niño together with her although I'm not yet fully recovered. Lots of things happened while we were here together. May mga bangayan hanggang sa nakakausap ko siya sa matinong usapan na walang halong galit paminsan-minsan. Maraming bagay na rin akong ipinaramdam sa dalaga ngunit tila hindi pa rin ito malinaw sa kanya.

"Bakit? Si Lola nanaman ba ang dahilan kaya ayaw mo akong paalisin? Kaya ba pilit mo akong isinama dito para hindi ako makaalis?" Her eyebrows were in sync na may lakap na pagka-inis sa boses nito.

"No, and yes," tapat niyang sagot kay Arabella dahilan para maalarma siya ng mapatayo ito sa inuupuan nito. Mukhang hindi yata nito nagustuhan ang kanyang sagot. Agad rin siya nitong tinalikuran dala ang tasa papuntang kusina. Napatayo si Aries at agarang sinundan ang dalaga.

"Bella," nagsusumamong wika niya, kasabay ang paghawak sa pulsuhan nito.

"Aries...." Natigilan si Aries nang sa unang pagkakataong iyon ay humarap sa kanya ang dalaga. Punong puno ng hinanakit nang tinitigan siya nito.