"0678, you're free now!"
I took a deep breath because of what I heard. It even surpasses the music that tells the story of success. I just burst into tears because of what a policeman said.
I just looked at my colleagues and immediately said goodbye to them.
"How is that, Kosas, it seems like I'm going first," I said.
A woman about my age stepped towards me. We were also put in this cell together a year ago.
She smiled but I could see the sadness in her eyes because we were parting ways. She became my true friend in prison.
"I hope when I'm free we'll meet each other, Carli," she said, holding back her emotions.
I just hugged her. I could feel how both of Trishelle's shoulders rose and fell. This time I was also in tears. I also couldn't help thinking that I would go out and leave her inside. Maybe, what will those who insult her do after I'm gone?
I separated myself from her. I hold and caress her cheeks gently. I wiped away her tears. I kept smiling as I fixed her frizzy hair from our tight and mischievous embrace.
"Just settle here, Trish. God is good and I know He will set you free," I told him.
Trishelle's case is serious. Trishelle killed her boss because she was jealous of her. She bumped into a big family so she had no fight against them.
"I-I hope so, Carli, and when that happens I'll look for you. You are the reason why I am still alive today," she said.
"See you later, Trish!"
I smiled and hugged her one last time.
I was eager to step outside after hearing how the iron bars that had welded me together for four years were slipping away.
I'm out here now and I almost cried again when I saw the outside of the prison.
I saw a payphone on the other side of the road so I ran towards it.
I dialled the home phone number of the Bennett Family. It's good because my call was answered immediately.
"Yes, ma'am? This is Bennetts residence, how may we help you?" Their housekeeper's English is tough.
"Can I talk to Jenissa?" I said.
I'll just let her know that I'm going straight to Tierra de Antacio and I won't be able to pass by their house.
"Oh... Ma'am Jen, there's a call. They are looking for you," said Jenissa's housekeeper.
I heard Jenissa snicker so I was happy. She made me stop calling her My Lady. She snorted, because she didn't want to go back to the memories caused by her name.
"Hello? Jenissa Bennett is speaking. How may I help—"
"Jenissa!? It's me…Carli! I'm free, Jen! I'm free!" I am happy to inform her.
"Carli!? Carli, it's you!" Jenissa said happily from the other line. "I'll fetch you. Where are you now-?"
"Don't bother yourself, Jen. I won't pass by your house anymore," I said.
"Why?" Jen's voice suddenly lost its enthusiasm when I said that I wasn't going to pass them anymore.
I breathed deeply.
"I know you miss me. I miss you so much, Jen. Let me go directly to our province and I will visit you when I have time," I said.
I could hear her sigh.
"Can't I really force you, Carli?"
I shook my head even though I was sure she wouldn't see it.
"Not anymore, Jen. I will visit your place when I put things in their places. Goodbye. I will catch the last bus ride back to the province," I said.
"Take care," she said sadly.
"You too," I said, hanging up the phone.
I walked the road with a smile. I looked up at the blue sky. The sun was shining and I seemed to be happy about my release.
"Sir, bus terminal, Tierra de Antacio trip," I said to the driver who stopped in front of me.
The driver just nodded so I immediately entered his tricycle.
I thought of Andrew. Half a year had passed when he was at peace. He was allegedly killed by the authorities. I told him several times to stop his illegal activities but he didn't listen.
I love him. Even though we are done with each other, I will not lose my love for him.
Because of deep thinking about what happened, I didn't realise that I was already at the terminal. I never thought that I would return to this terminal to return to the place I had left before.
What does the land I grew up in look like now? Is it still the same? Or many things changed there?
"Tierra de Antacio! Let's go! Only one more passenger is needed!" I gave my fare to the tricycle driver and immediately ran to the conductor.
"I would like to take the last seat!"
"Oh, buy tickets!" said the man and gave me the ticket. I also paid for it before I got on the bus.
There was only one empty seat so I had no other choice. I just took a deep breath when I sat down next to a man who was still holding a bottle of beer. He smells of alcohol and has a wheezing. I just endured the smell and immediately leaned back.
"Psst, eh?"
I turned to the one who called me. A mother who looks to be in her fifties.
"Is it me?"
She nodded. "Come on. Let's change places," she said. I stood up and immediately switched places with her. I thanked her. She just smiled back at me.
I turned to the window. The driver has started driving. I sighed again because of the sudden nervousness that visited my heart.
I still remember how Andrew and I ran away. I just shook my head. I may have to let him go.
I won't think about him anymore and won't even mention his name, if possible. I will go home to the province and start my life there with Mom and Dad. I have to make up for them too. Yeah. Enough thinking of Andrew.
The drive to Tierra de Antacio is nine hours. It's good because there is food for sale on the bus and there is a chance that the bus stops for the call of nature.
I had a long trip. I got off the bus while dragging my suitcase. I stepped towards Aling Bebang's store. It's nine o'clock but her shop is still open. I was happy because there is still a store here.
"Is anyone there?" I called.
"What are you going to buy, hija? What time is it? This is not the time to buy alcohol. Woman—" She paused slightly after our gazes met.
She didn't speak. She immediately came out of her house and immediately hugged me.
"What? Oh, come on! It's you! For the long time you ran away, I thought you would never come back," she said.
She separated from me. I couldn't stop the tears that wanted to roll down my cheeks.
"Not much has changed, Aling Bebang, right?" I said.
"Yes, honey," she said happily. "Do you know how happy your parents will be when they find out you're home?"
My smile disappeared because of what she said.
"Won't they hate me? Don't they push me away if they see me here?" I asked hesitantly.
Aling Bebang reached for my left hand and stroked it.
"Anger is different from tantrums, honey. Your parents don't feel angry with you. They sulk because of what you did. They are looking forward to your return and I know they will be happy about it," she said.
"My problem is that it's too late and there's probably no one to take me—"
"Haaaaaw!"
"Horse!" I jumped towards Aling Bebang's stand when a horseman suddenly stopped running his horse behind me.
I grabbed my hand that Aling Bebang was still holding and I immediately used it to point at the man.
"Hey, you! Are you blind? You can see that there were people talking, right?" I am disgusted with the man.
I looked at Aling Bebang when the man dismounted and leaned on his horse. He folded his arms and took off his cowboy hat. He smiled as if I was joking with him.
"Who is this braggart, Aling Bebang?" I asked Aling Bebang.
"Why don't you tell that foreigner that I am Matheurozo Delguerra. The handsome—Damn it, Aling Bebang!" he complained when Aling Bebang suddenly hit him on his arm.
His eyebrows are thick, the round part of his eyes is green, his nose is sharp, his body is handsome, his clothes are almost bursting because of his handsomeness, his body is scarred, he is tall and his skin is colored brown. You can say he is tall, dark and handsome. But that's all, he got minus points because of his arrogance.
"Are you going home to the hacienda now?" Aling Bebang asked, so I looked at the man.
"Yes, Madam Bebs!"
Aling Bebang looked at me. She whispered to me who this braggart was.
"Rozo is a kind man. He is a friendly guy too. He's just too proud of himself," Aling Bebang said.
I found out that he works in our family's hacienda. I slapped him and I felt guilty somehow. I frowned when he suddenly winked without even planting hate in his heart after what I did.
"What do you want me to do, señorita?" he asked. He was probably listening to my conversation with Aling Bebang.
"Besides bragging, you're also a gossiper?" I said flatly.
"Rozo, that's your boss's daughter! Don Lauro and Doña Mariesse did not see her for a long time. She was supposed to go home to the hacienda but she has no vehicle to ride through," said Aling Bebang.
The caballero smiled and immediately came to my side.
"My bad, señorita! I'm just new to hacienda so I don't know you. Please forgive me, My Baby Angel!"
"FC!" I whispered loudly.
I closed my eyes because of his smell. He smells like roses. I was surprised because of his smell. Because our caballeros used to smell like horses. This one is different. It's like he's soaked in rose petals.
"Señorita, can ride with me, Madam Bebs. It's just that I will go straight to the hacienda tomorrow morning. I will rest in my hut later," he said. "If that is fine with her."
"Is that okay with you, honey?"
I thought about Aling Bebang's question. I stared at the man from head to toe and did it again. Maybe he won't hurt me because he knows that he should hide from Papa if something bad happens to me.
"Don't worry, señorita, I take care of women," he said with a wink.
I thought that the heat of the sun would hurt too much when I waited for tomorrow. I also don't want to call my friend Handrei to take me to the hacienda. Also, a lot has happened and we haven't seen each other in a long time.
"A-Alright! Just in case, Aling Bebang, if I don't make it to the mansion tomorrow, tell Papa what happened. You know who I am with," I said but I looked at the caballero.
"Your eyes are hurting me, señorita," he complained.
It was like lightning when he jumped over the horse he was riding.
"Come on," he said and offered the back of his foot.
I stared at his foot hidden inside his combat shoes. I stepped on top of his feet. I looked at him as if my glances were asking where I was going to cling to. Good thing he got what I was implying. He spread his palm. I held on to his hand and immediately climbed on top of the horse. It's a good thing because the saddle he used was long so we fit in it.
Aling Bebang handed him my suitcase. It's a good thing because I only brought one, it might be difficult for us if I have brought a lot of stuff.
"Goodbye, Aling Bebang. Visit me at the mansion, huh," I said.
"Yes, honey. Be careful, Rozo! Goodbye too." Aling Bebang turned back but he turned towards us. "Hey, Rozo! Take care of the pearl of the Antacios!"
The caballero giggled because of what Aling Bebang said. I think he gave it another meaning. He is a man, it's all over when a man thinks of pearls.
"I'm serious, Rozo!" said Aling Bebang.
The man nodded and put his hat back on.
"Hiyaaah!"
I clung to him because I almost fell. I was not prepared for the horse's sudden run so I almost had a heart attack in shock.
I stared evilly at his neck.
"Ehem!"
I slightly removed my hands that were wrapped around his body. Because of the shock, I didn't notice that I was hugging him.
I grabbed his unbuttoned polo shirt. He was speechless. He was just running his horse. Later I felt his left hand supporting my back.
"Hold on to me carefully, you might fall, señorita," he said.
I did what he said.
"I'd rather you fall to me and not to the ground, señorita. When you fall to me, you will definitely be safe and I will love you so much," he said.
I didn't say anything to what he said because his smell carried my mind to the place I wanted to go now, to the room filled with petals of roses. I just want to sleep and rest to get rid of my tiredness.
"Señorita," whispered a deep voice.
I slowly opened my eyes. I was hugging Mister Caballero. I can also feel him squeezing my hands so that I won't fall.
I sniffed to let him know I was awake. I yawned. When I came back to my senses I was amazed at what I saw. I can see the lights all over the hacienda. I can also see the light in the mansion.
It's only a matter of time, I'll see my parents again, I'll be able to set foot on the land I grew up in and I'll be able to live peacefully in our hacienda.