Back To You [Completed]

Chapter 15

The sun was still hot as it was 3:00 in the afternoon. She was wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a sundress while holding a basket in her right hand. He promised her she can pick whatever strawberry she likes and however many she wants.

The entire farm was beautiful. It was just a little over ten-minute walk away from the cottage house. She asked him to not bring security so that they can have a little alone time in the farm. He was hesitant at first but she pleaded and reasoned out that nothing bad will happen to her in a strawberry farm.

So right now, they were completely on their own, exploring the area and checking out the farmers as they care for these cute berries.

"It's so beautiful," she whispered and breathed the cool breeze in.

"I just bought this estate three years ago. Five hectares of just pure strawberry."

"Wow, that's huge. That's one fourth of Hacienda Olivares," she said and turned to him. "Tell me, do you really need my father's hacienda?"

"Babe, that's ours already once you wore that ring." He pulled her to his side and started walking together. "I have plans for it. It's a family heritage. I want to take care of it."

She smiled.

"Besides, your family gave me the best gift and the least I could do is give back to them by taking care of that heritage... and you."

She looked up to him after he said that. Then, he squeezed her hand. "T-thanks."

Two farmers approached them. "Sir Anton, mabuti naman po't nakadalaw kayo."

Tumango si Anton at nakipagkamay sa kanila. "Yes, I've long wanted to be here in person again. Napakaganda ng buong lugar, Mang Elias. Napakaayos rin ng pagpapatakbo. Balita ko po, nakakuha daw kayo ng pwesto sa may palengke para magtayo ng sarili nating tindahan para sa kooperatiba."

Tumango ang matanda. "Oo, Sir. Sinwerte at kaibigan ninyo kasi 'yong may-ari ng pamilihan sa metro." And he turned to Alyssa. "Kaganda naman po ng kasama ninyo."

"Mang Elias, this is Alyssa, my fiancée," pakilala ni Anton sa dalaga. "Alyssa, this is Mang Elias, the estate's caretaker and his assistant Jeremy." Nakita ni Alyssa kung paano nanlaki ang mga mata ng dalawang lalaking nasa harapan nila.

"Ikaw po 'yong Alyssa kung saan ipinangalan ang farm?" tanong ni Jeremy.

"Huh?" Alyssa asked, confused.

Anton chuckled and had his boyish smile again.

"Kinagagalak po namin kayong makilala!" Mang Elias exclaimed. "Welcome po sa Alyssa's Secret Garden."

Her brows furrowed. At iniwan na sila ng dalawa. She turned to Anton to ask him about it. "This is Alyssa's Secret Garden?"

Nagkibit balikat ang binata. "Co-incidence." And he continued walking, dismissing the topic overall. "Tara, nagpatawag na ako ng golfcart para madala tayo sa area kung saan gumagawa ng strawberry jam."

There were questions in her head again, but she dismissed them all.

***

There was a little cottage house designated in the far-off right side of the land for jam-making where all the women were. At nadiskubre ni Alyssa na hindi lamang pala jam ang ginagawa mula sa strawberry. Some women also make syrups. At nalaman din niya na sa tapat ng cottage na ito ay may planta na gumagawa ng strawberry cocktail, something similar to wine.

Lahat ng mga babaeng nandoon ay tuwang-tuwa ng makita si Anton. Well, of course. Sigurado siyang halos lahat ng babaeng nandoon ay nagkakagusto sa binata. Lalo na 'yong mga dalaga.

Habang pinagkakaguluhan ang binata ng mga kadalagahan doon, nilapitan ni Alyssa ang isang matandang babae sa gilid na abalang nagaayos ng mga garapong paglalagyan ng jam.

"Hello po," bati niya.

"Magandang hapon po, Miss Alyssa." Ngumiti ito sa kanya. "Masaya po akong malaman na ikakasal na kayo ni Sir."

Ngumiti rin siya sa matanda. "Pero mukhang gustong-gusto naman niya ang atensyon ng iba." At sumulyap ulit siya kay Anton na ngayon ay nakikipag-usap sa mga babaeng empleyado doon.

"Nako, Miss Alyssa, hindi mo maaalis sa mga kadalagahan ditong humanga kay Sir. Napakabait kasi at napakagwapo pa. Nagpapasalamat kami dahil sa kanya, may trabaho kami dito. Kinuha niya kami mula doon sa malupit naming amo sa karatig bayan. Nang itinayo niya ito tatlong taon na ang nakakaraan, inilipat niya kami dito para magtrabaho."

Naantig ang puso niya sa narinig. Anton really is a good person, after all. "T-talaga ho?"

"At totoo pala ang sabi-sabi na napakaganda ninyo. Tatlong taon na kaming naghihintay na magawi kayo dito."

"Ho?"

"Syempre naman po gusto naming makilala ang babaeng kinahuhumalingan ni Sir na siyang ipinangalan niya sa buong farm. Napakaganda 'nyo po pala."

Lalong naguluhan si Alyssa sa sinabi ng matandang babae. Anton said it was merely a co-incidence na ang naisip niyang pangalan ng farm ay Alyssa. She glanced at him again and he was busy talking to the ladies. So nagpaalam siya sa babaeng kausap niya at nagtakbo papalabas. Naiinis na siya dahil pakiramdam niya ay may itinatago sa kanya ang binata na ayaw na ayaw nitong sabihin sa kanya.

She rode the golfcart at pinatakbo iyon kahit saan. Hindi niya alam ang pasikot-sikot pero she just went where her heart took her. Pakiramdam niya ay nasuffocate siya sa loob ng cottage na iyon.

Could it be possible that Anton knew her for more than three years now? Could he be pretending to just know her right after her parents' burial? But why would he do that? Hindi niya maintindihan.

She stopped when she saw a little pond. Ipinark niya ang gold cart at bumaba. She went to the edge of the water and looked at her reflection. She felt so lost. Hindi niya alam kung may mapapagkatiwalaan pa ba siya ngayon. She was doubting Anton now. Heck, she doesn't even know who she really is and her real parents. Is it high time she searches for them? Will it all make sense kung malalaman niya kung sino talaga siya?

She was deep in thought when a hand covered her mouth to keep her from screaming. She struggled from his attacker but she smelled something funny from the cloth covering her mouth.

"Hello, Alyssa Katrina Olivares," a menacing voice whispered.

That was when she lost consciousness...

***

#LandianSaStrawberryFarm

Pengeng boyfriend na bibili din ng farm tas ipapangalan sakin please? Hahaha on a serious note, VOTE and COMMENT!