SECRET HAVEN (Hacienda Cervantes Series)

Chapter 1

SECRET HAVEN

CHAPTER 1

SORIN

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"HAVE A SON and continue our family name. Here," iniabot sa akin ni Lolo ang isang brown envelope. "She's a friend's grandchild and I want you to marry her."

"I'll think about it, Lolo." I said, getting the envelope and stood up.

"Apo —"

"'Lo, let’s not rush this kind of thing." being the only son of Irving James Kho III gives me this pressure. I don't even have plans on having a girlfriend.

"Mamamatay na 'ko!"

Napahilot na lang ako sa sentido. Ito lagi ang panakot niya sa amin — lalo na sa akin. Ilang babae na ba na apo ng kakilala niya ang inireto sa akin? But no one passes on my mother. Thanks to my meticulous mother.

Tinalikuran ko na si Lolo. Kung hindi ko gagawin ay hahaba lamang ang usapan. And although he can't walk, he's still healthy.

Dumiretso ako sa kuwadra para tumulong sa pagpapaanak sa kabayo. Tatlo iyong manganganak at itong isa na lang ang hindi tapos. Wala pa rin kaming tulog dahil sa pagbabantay sa tatlo.

"How is she?" tanong ko kay Dr. Ivanno pagbungad ko pa lamang sa kuwadra.

He didn't answer but I saw how that the foul is already out when he stood up. Bumaling siya sa akin at itinuro ang kapatid kong nakatulog na marahil sa pagid at puyat.

"You should send her back. Everything's fine here. Kaya na namin ito. She's so worried about her horse pero nakatulog din naman sa bandang huli." Iiling iling na saad ni Dr. Ivanno.

Kinalabit ko si Ate Cerys at inihatid na pauwi. May kalayuan ang main stable at mabuti na lamang at dala ko ang jeep.

"Magandang umaga ho, Senyorito! Senyorita!" bati ng ilang trabahador na nadadaanan namin. Sinenyasan ko lamang sila dahil natutulog si Cerys. 

And since everything's settled in Hacienda, kinabukasan ay bumalik na ako ng Manila. Nawala na sa isipan ko iyong envelope na binigay sa akin ni Lolo. Nasa bahay na ako namin dito sa Manila nang mabuklat ko iyon.

I know the girl. Hindi ko lang akalain na mula pala siya sa kilalang pamilya sa China. And Ran has a thing for her!

Damn Telpaces for having a thing for morenas!

And speaking of the devil, as soon as I arrived, I got a call from the Telpace asking if I can be their pilot. Medyo napataas pa ang kilay ko dahil sa pribadong isla pala ng magkapatid na Monroe ang tungo namin. Knowing those two, private was the right term for them and not "madamot".

"I know most of them." sagot ko lay Zeke nang akmang ipapakilala niya ako sa mga naroon. "No need for introduction."

Since I am not really their classmate, hindi na lang ako masyadong nakihalubilo. But I observe the girl from a distance. And yeah, Telpaces have a really thing for morena. I can see it on how Dashiel look at her and how Kieran takes care of her. Even Blake looks like he's having a thing for that girl.

I wonder how will they react after finding out that she's gonna be my fiancée sooner or later? Siguro ay huwag nalang? I still don't know what to do to her. Hindi kasi siya katulad noong mga nauna. And I know her a bit. 

"Ah, ha! You've noticed! Troublesome, isn't it?" ani Zeke na tila kaaahon lang din sa tubig.

"That girl doesn't look fine." I said, not pertaining to her looks but to her expression. Dahil walang dapat kuwestyunin sa itsura nito. She's beautiful especially when she smiles.

"Cute nga, eh. And she's a good friend and a good person, too. It's just that life isn't too good to her." ani Zeke at sabay na kaming bumalik sa cottage.

"Balik na ko sa villa." sabi ko pagkakuha nung towel ko sa cottage. "Oh, and by the way," muli kong baling kay Zeke.

"What?"

"She's gonna be my fiancée, I think? You know? Old family tradition." I said, shrugging my shoulders. Hindi ko na rin pinansin pa iyong ibang tinatanong ni Zeke.

"The fuck, Sean?!" he shouted and I only shrugged my shoulders. Not that I like the girl but she's the simplest among the others. We can compromise or whatever! 

Napailing nalang ako. One look at that girl and I know she's off limits. Hindi ko lang alam kung sino sa magkapatid. Marahil ay si Kieran? Since they're classmates and they've been together for years... As friends nga lang. 

Hanggang sa pabalik na kami ng Manila ay sinubaybayan ko si Cara. She's really close with Ran but Keira, Ran's twin doesn't like her. Panay ang irap nito kay Cara. 

And then there's Blake Iglesias who is known for being snob. Kuhang-kuha niya ang kasungitan ng mga Madrigal. Pero hindi tulad ni Keira, si Primrose na kapatid ni Blake ay mukhang boto kay Cara para sa kuya niya. 

Pagdating ng Manila ay sa magkakahiwalay na helipad na kami lumapag. At pagkalapag na pagkalapag ko ay sinalubong na ako ng tawag mula kay Dad, asking me if I could drop off on his office on my way. And how can I say no when he knows I'm only a few floors away? Irving James III won't really give me a break.

Since last year, I've been training at the Empire Kho every summer break. Pero kung ako ang papipiliin, mas gusto kong manatili sa Hacienda Cervantes kasama ang mga kabayo at iba pa naming alagang hayop. The life in the Hacienda and here in the Empire Kho isn't easy but I prefer working in the open. The office was suffocating for me. 

Palapit pa lamang ako sa opisina ni Dad nang makasalubong ko ang sekretarya niya na tila nagmamadaling lumabas tutop ang sariling bibig. 

"Are you alright, Miss —" pero nilagpasan lang niya ko. I don't really mind but there's something with the girl that gives me the feeling of nostalgia. 

"Sean," my Dad calls. Sa likod niya ay ang ilang board of directors. Tila katatapos lang nilang mag-meeting. 

He dismissed them and motioned me to folow him inside his office. 

"Is your secretary sick, Dad?" bungad ko kay Dad pagkasara ng pinto. 

"Ellie? I don't think so. Why do you ask?" 

"I saw her on my way here. Parang nasusuka." ipinagkibit-balikat ko na lamang iyon. "Why did you call me here, by the way?" 

"Bakit, busy ka ba?" sarcasm was on my father's voice. Kapag nasa bahay hindi naman 'to masungit. Hindi nga lang din nagsasalita. 

I gave him a bored look as an answer and slumped on his couch. "You know I'm busy in the Hacienda." reklamo ko kaagad. Gusto ko na sana umuwi pero saka na lang siguro kapag wala na roon si Lolo. 

Ilang minuto na kaming nag uusap nang kumatok ang sekretarya ni Dad dala ang dalawang mug ng kape. I stared at her but she's not looking at my way. Did I offended her or something?

After putting down the cup of coffee, she hurriedly went out and almost trip at the carpet. 

"Are you alright, Ellie?" my father asked. 

"Yes, Sir. Thank you!" 

And after hearing her voice, napataas nalang ang isang kilay ko as I watch her leave my father's office.