Five O'clock Sky (Nueva Caceres#1)

PROLOGUE

"Senyorita Lucy!"

Luzeda Xiamara bit her lower lip and pouted upon hearing her Nanny's voice who's calling her.

"Asan ka na naman ba, Senyorita?" Mangiyak-ngiyak na tawag ni Sita sa anim na taong gulang na alaga, "Pagagalitan talaga ako ng Donya Candarica nito."

From the tree's big roots where she's hiding, Lucy can see her nanny scrapping her nape while looking around the wild field. The old woman looks like in the verge of crying and she felt guilty, but she doesn't want to go home yet kaya pinagtataguan niya ang nanny niya.

Lucy is certain that her nanny can't see her from where she's hiding dahil na rin sa mayayabong na damo na nakapaligid sa puno, and she's there: squatting on the ground and peeking a sight of her poor nanny behind the tree.

Lucy pouted, "Oh, dios mio, I'm sorry, Inay Sita."

Nang maka-alis na ang matanda ay saka lang lumabas si Lucy sa pinagtataguan at tumakbo -frolicking through the wildflowers and greeneries. 

The kid in white jumpers and in pigtails was grinning as she picked those wildflowers on her way. Naalala niya ang mommy at daddy niya na paniguradong magagalit na naman dahil tinakasan niya ang Inay Sita niya.

"Oh, well, I'll just give them these flowers so that they won't be mad at me." She shrugged, "I should get many kasi bibigyan ko rin sina Kuya Adam and Kuya Hobie para hindi din sila magalit sa'kin." She giggled and brought the flowers on her nose for her to smell.

Lucy continued strolling around the wide field of lush greeneries under the sun's scorching heat. Her feet brought her to a wide pineapple plantation. Ang malawak na plantasyon ay pagmamay-ari ng pamilyang Altamontejo.

Tinungo niya ang nakita niyang kamalig. It's an open type. Pilit siyang umaakyat sa kawayang upuan para maka-upo, but it was a struggle. Her tiny legs can't make its way to the bamboo chair. She threw the flowers she's holding on the ground and focused on climbing up.

She was close to crying in frustration when someone effortlessly lifted her from the ground and deposited her to the seat. When she looked up, it was a boy that is probably twice her age. Parang magkasing edad ito ng kanyang Kuya Adam, ang panganay na anak ng mag-asawang Altamontejo.

Uusal na sana siya ng pasasalamat ng bumaba ang tingin niya sa paanan nito.

"Oh, Dios mio!" The kid gasped exaggeratedly that made the boy in front of him furrowed, "You heartless creature! You stepped on my flowers!" She yeild in a high pitch voice.

Kunot-nuo'ng binaba ng binatilyo ang kanyang mata. Tunay ngang natapakan niya ang mga bulaklak na naitapon ni Lucy dahil sa frustration kanina.

Lucy sobbed, but the boy just remained looking at her with brows furrowed like he's not affected with her cries at all. Mas lalong humikbi ang batang babae. Why is he seemed not affected? Ang iba, isang iyak niya lang ay hindi na agad magkakandarapa sa gagawin para lang tumahan siya. But this boy is different! How dare he?

She glared at him, "Why are you just looking at me? Hindi mo ba ako kilala?" Lucy scanned the boy in a bratty way, not at all aware how adorable she was doing that, "I'm Luzeda Xiamara Altamontejo. I'm your Senyorita Lucy!"

Napabuntong hininga ang binata, "Kilala kita, spoiled na batang Altamontejo." Kinuha niya ang natapakang bulaklak at ibinagay kay Lucy pero mas lalong napasimangot ang huli.

"Ano namang gagawin ko dyan? Can't you see? It's ruined! Your heartless foot ruined it!" Umirap siya sa lalaking namamangha lang na nakatitig sa kanya. She pouted and started scrapping her etchy skin. Nangangati ang balat niya sa braso at binti sa pagtatago niya sa damuhan kanina.