It's Only Her In My Mind (Hacienda Style)

Chapter 3

Don Sucaldito summons his household, as well as his servants into the living room. All of the people come and stood in front of the don.

"I call all of you today because I have a very important announcement," he tells the crowd in a pompous manner. "You see here, my son Hervacio, and the maiden Perlita Paras of Villa Sal. Know that I will have them get married after six months, starting from now."

Perlita goes pale, and Hervacio holds her gently. The people are agitated and excited of the news. It would do good because Perlita never has a lover, and neither does Hervacio. The don calls on his alipores and tells them that by tomorrow, they go to all surrounding villages, such as Fantasia No Cubierto, Villa Sal, and Villa de la Tonta Iluxonada Que Barbaridad to announce the wedding. When the crowd disperses, the don tells his son to accompany Perlita home.

Meanwhile, as the two leave, Don Sucaldito's youngest son, Juancho, goes out of his harem.

"Papa, what is this... this wedding caramba that you are announcing?" Juancho asks his father as he flings his hand.

"Juancho, Perlita's parents owe me a great amount of money. I will cancel the debts if she agrees to marry Hervacio as way of payment. With that, Perlita is the payment for the debt," the don explains.

Juancho frowns.

"Papa, that is very monstrous!" Juancho says. "Why! I cannot be wedded to a girl if I do not like her. I will marry a girl of my liking, not because of money. It will be my pleasure to marry Perlita instead of having her married to Hervacio!"

Don Sucaldito eyes his youngest son and raises an eyebrow.

"And what makes you think that Hervacio should not marry Perlita?"

"Papa, he never even had a lover before. How can you be so sure that he knows how to care for a woman?" Juancho asks.

"Because he is a respectful and a great gentleman, unlike you and your lady killer ways!" Sucaldito shouts at his son. "Just look at Hervacio! One can see how a man deals with a woman by the way the man deals with his mother and sisters. And Hervacio had always been the good son!"

"Oh, Papa, Papa," Juancho laughs. "But buying out a marriage is horrible! But I am sure that Perlita will be happy with me if I were to wed her."

"Caramba! Get out and do not come here until you have fed the chickens!" Sucaldito screams as he throws his slipper at his younger son.

Juancho evades the slipper and tells his father that it is the servant's duty to feed the chicken, not his. Then, he goes away feeling envious of his older brother for winning Perlita's hand.

Juancho had been in love with Perlita years before the wedding date had been set. He knew all about her because he killed time by being gone for days on end, squandering his father's money, flirting with women, and getting the latest gossip both among the neighbors and among the local government officials. He plans to find a way that Hervacio and Perlita will not be married.