"Aling Melba, do you know where Tita Thalia is?" I inquired, joining the housemaid in the kitchen.
With nothing else to occupy my time, I thought to assist her.
"They're resting in the room, my dear. My, how you've grown! And you're as beautiful as your mother," she responded, her face lighting up with a smile.
"Aling Melba, you're always so complimentary, but I'm afraid I don't have any money to give you. Still, I appreciate your kind words," I replied, chuckling as I sliced the onions.
"Is it true that you're marrying Mike?" she asked out of the blue.
I was taken aback by Aling Melba's unexpected curiosity. I turned to her and confirmed the news with a nod, which left her visibly shocked.
"Goodness, so the gossip was true. But how did that come about? You two have been at loggerheads since childhood, haven't you?" she wondered aloud.
"I'd rather not delve into that, Aling Melba. The important thing is that we've managed to bring Tita Thalia to the Hacienda. She needs some fresh air, unlike the polluted city," I deflected, hoping to change the subject.
"You're right, it was good that Don Marco brought Ma'am Thalia here. It could potentially improve her health," she concurred, nodding in agreement.
After completing our tasks, I offered Aling Melba washing the cooking utensils. As I looked up, I noticed Mr. Montenegro hurried towards the garage, appearing quite rushed.
"Tito, wait! Where is Tita Thalia?" I called out, hoping to catch his attention. He paused abruptly, his hand meeting his forehead in a moment of frustration.
"Oh no! I completely forgot, Levi. Come with me quickly," he exclaimed, beckoning me to follow.
"Yes, Tito," I replied, hastening my steps to keep up with him.
"Could you take care of your Tita Thalia for a while? She's with her private nurse, but I want you to keep a watchful eye on her, my dear. I have something to attend at the office. And please, as I've mentioned to both you and Mike, try to avoid any conflicts in front of Thalia," he requested.
"Of course, Tito. You can count on me," I assured him promptly. And he gets inside his own car.
I swiftly made my way up the stairs, heading towards Tita Thalia's room. Noticing that the door was slightly open, I quietly entered. To my surprise, Mike was already inside, engaged in what appeared to be a conversation with Tita Thalia. I also caught sight of a young nurse, who seemed to be around Micah's age. She greeted me with a smile, and I reciprocated the gesture.
"Excuse me for a moment, ma'am," the nurse politely excused herself from Tita Thalia's presence and then noticed me approaching.
"How are you, Tita?" I asked with enthusiasm, eager to engage in conversation.
"I'm doing well, dear, especially now that both you and Mike are here. I had wanted to visit the hacienda workers, but given my current state, it's simply not possible. That's why I've decided to have you and Mike visit them instead. I want to stay updated on the condition of our hacienda and the well-being of our workers," Tita Thalia responded, her words carrying a sense of significance.
"Certainly, Tita, that's all we need to do. We can handle it, right, Mike?" I replied, playfully winking at Mike. He raised an eyebrow in response to my remark.
"Well, now that I've mentioned it, go ahead, guys. Mike, it's your responsibility to take care of your fiancée. Please ensure she's well taken care of, my son," Tita Thalia replied with a smile.
"Ma..." Mike protested, standing up and giving his mother a kiss on the cheek before taking the lead and walking away.
"Alright, Tita, I'll take my leave too. That crazy guy might start causing trouble again," I said, giving the lady a peck on the cheek and quickly walking to catch up with Mike.
Once outside, I headed towards the stable, confident that Mike would be there searching for his horse, Tigrel. I sought out Mang Ben to have Sapphire prepared, I would use to visit the workers.
I found Mang Ben and Mike engaged in conversation. I noticed that Sapphire and Tigrel were ready, but confusion washed over me when I noticed a woman standing beside Mike. Approaching them, they noticed my presence, and that's when I finally saw Trisha.
So, this is the companion of his supposedly fantastic groom-to-be. I mustered a forced smile towards Trisha, but she simply rolled her eyes at me, raised her left eyebrow, and clung tightly to Mike's arm.
A secret smile played on my lips as I realized that even here, that infuriating woman had managed to find her way. Approaching Sapphire, I gently ran my hand along her back, finding solace in her familiar presence.
"It's been quite a while since you last rode these two horses. Take care, Sir and you Levi," Mang Ben remarked, the tension between me and Trisha are palpable.
"Thanks, Mang Ben," I replied, swiftly mounting Sapphire.
"Mike, why is that woman here? I thought it was just the two of us?" Trisha complained, her tone dripping with arrogance as she cast a disdainful look in my direction.
"Come on, Trish, this isn't the time to complain. Mama asked both of us to check on the hacienda workers," Mike explained, attempting to defuse the situation.
"Fine," she retorted sharply, rolling her eyes at Mike once again. He helped her onto the horse, but suddenly, Tigrel let out a loud neigh, causing both of them to lose their balance. It seemed the horse wasn't accustomed to Trisha's scent.
I couldn't contain my laughter. How could I, when Trisha's face ended up covered in mud, right in the middle of a pile of cow dung? No matter how hard I tried to suppress it, the laughter just burst out of me. Holding it in would have been even more embarrassing, and I definitely didn't want to risk letting out a fart in the process.
"Levi, that's enough!" Mike shouted at me. But I couldn't stop myself, I needed to let out all the laughter that was building up inside.
"I'll apologize, but I can't help it," I managed to say between fits of laughter. "I guess it's better if I go alone. Meanwhile, you can show your sexy, beautiful girlfriend around the hacienda. That's what she deserves for being so rude to me," I muttered under my breath, barely audible.
I gently guided Sapphire, the horse, as we moved at a leisurely pace. The fresh air filled my senses, refreshing my smooth skin. The wind playfully tousled my shoulder-length hair, cascading down to my shoulders.
Sapphire trotted steadily on the flat path towards the workers' quarters. I had learned how to ride a horse from Tito Marco, and I was grateful for that skill. I pulled on the reins, signalling Sapphire to slow down. I wanted to take a moment to observe the busy workers from my vantage point. From where I was, I could see their hard work and dedication, evident in every task they performed.
Sapphire came to a halt, and I dismounted, tying her to a mango tree.
Since I was already close to the workers, I decided to take a leisurely walk. Unbeknownst to me, I accidentally stepped on something sharp.
A loud yelp escaped my lips as I realized my unfortunate luck. I was certain that no one would hear me from where I stood. Sitting down, I carefully examined my left foot, wincing at the sight of a protruding branch. I couldn't help but slap my forehead, questioning why I hadn't chosen to wear boots instead I had opted for flat sandals which had led to my injury.
As much as I wanted to stand up, I found myself unable to do so. The branch had deeply pierced my foot, causing it to bleed. Despite considering myself resilient, the sight of so much blood triggered an unfamiliar sensation. Suddenly, my hands turned cold and clammy.
Just as I was about to call out for assistance, the sound of a horse's neigh reached my ears. Thankfully, there was someone nearby whom I could seek help from. I was on the verge of shouting when everything suddenly went black, and I lost consciousness.
I regained consciousness in a soft bed, feeling a slight twinge that seemed to emanate from my foot. The events of earlier flooded back into my mind, prompting me to sit up and take in my surroundings.
"Good to see you awake, senyorita," Mike remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. I turned to face him, my expression questioning.
"How are the workers?" Instead of engaging in an argument with Mike, I decided to redirect the conversation with a different question. I didn't have the energy to entertain his snide remarks at the moment. Something didn't feel right, as if I was on the verge of falling ill.
"Do you honestly believe that I would prioritize them over you, especially when you were on the brink of losing so much blood earlier? Are you simply afraid of a little blood?" Mike retorted; his words laced with sarcasm.
"Wow, thanks for the concern. Can we please refrain from arguing right now? I'm not in the mood to go back and forth with you."
"That's the issue with you. You always cast me as the villain in your life. Can't you just be honest, Levi? I know you're after my family's inheritance, aren't you?" Mike said, his tone serious as he approached the bed and pointed an accusatory finger at me.
"And where did you hear such gossip? From your snobby girlfriend who seems to have nothing better to do than to mock others? Did you actually fall for it? Oh... the face of a pathological liar."
"Dāmn you, woman! You're absolutely insufferable to talk to!" Mike responded angrily before abruptly leaving the room.
"And I'm the one being called fake? Take a good look at yourself!" I muttered, wincing as a sharp twinge shot through my foot.