"And here I thought the gossip was not true." Hilaw siyang tumawa at tinitigan ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

I shrugged and entered. I was taller than her in my boots which I paired with dark denim jeans and a loose long-sleeved white shirt. I confidently stepped closer to Aimee. Isa si Aimee sa mga naunang nagdalaga at tumangkad nang nasa high school pa kami ngunit mukhang hanggang doon na lang talaga ang tinangkad niya. Tantiya ko ay 5' siya, habang 5'4" naman ako.

"I'm fine, thank you for asking," I commented sweetly and sat on what appeared to me was Renz's chair. She seemed angry that I did. Pakiramdam niya siguro ang kapal ng mukha ko. Ayos naman sa'kin kung gusto niyang ipagamit sa akin ang sarili niyan upuan pero sa tingin ko naman ay mas lalong hindi niya magugustuhan 'yon.

"Hindi ka ba nahihiya pa na magpakita rito sa Aguadulce, Lena? Alam ng lahat na kabit ka ni Don Isong!" At sa wakas ay lumabas din mismo sa bibig niya.

"Aimee!" We both turned to look at Renz as he entered the room.

"Are we having lunch already?" I immediately cut the reprimand that he was obviously gonna give her, looking brightly at him instead. I want to avoid drama as much I can. Isa pa, may karapatan si Aimee sa sarili niyang opiniyon.

"Aimee, mauna ka na, susunod na lang kami ni Ma'am Lena mo." I couldn't help but notice the slight emphasis on the word "Ma'am". Aimee did too and she must have realized what he was trying to say. Kalaunan ay lumabas din siya matapos akong irapan.

"Sorry about that," Renz said he as he leaned a bit closer to where I was sitting.

"Okay lang. After all, she was just saying what everybody thinks. Hindi ba at 'yan din naman ang iniisip mo? Kaya hindi na bago 'yon," I tried to say it mockingly but I don't think I sounded confident enough.

"Damn it, Lena! Hindi ka man lang ba magpapaliwanag?"

"Bakit, Renz? Kung sakaling magpaliwanag ako, maniniwala ka ba?" Tumayo ako at akmang lalabas na pero hinatak niya ako pabalik.

"Explain then, Lena. Tell me. Make me believe you." He sounded tired; anger and desperation in his eyes.

Binawi ko ang kamay ko at tuluyang lumabas. I'm not going to explain, Renz. You can't make me.

🌿

Soon, he and I managed to make a plan for what I was going to do. Clearly, there wasn't much I could do at the plantation. Meron na siyang sekretarya (Aimee) at may accountant na rin siya na hindi ko pa name-meet. Wala rin akong maco-contribute sa pag-aalaga ng mga puno. I dunno why I'd even bother. After all, the people mostly choose to ignore me. None have been rude so far, but they weren't very happy to see me in their midst either. Totoong inaral ko ang negosyo ng mga Peñalver pero sa sitwasyon na ito ano nga ba ang maitutulong ko?

Tinulungan ako ni Renz na makahanap ng maliit na puwesto malapit sa terminal. The place we found has enough space to have a comfortable place at the back for baking. Ang sa harap naman ay para lang umorder, walang para kainan. Naisip ko, isang taon lang naman ako rito. This is also good practice in case I do decide to stay in the Philippines and open a business. After all, this is what Don Isong had me educated for; so I'd have the means to take care of myself when he's gone. I only wish he'd told me about his plan to keep me in Guimaras for a year.

🌿

"Do you have everything you need?" Mag-isa akong nagtungo sa puwesto dahil magsisimula na kami sa susunod na araw. Hindi ko lang inasahan na susunod si Renz. Kanina ko pa pinauwi ang mga tauhan; mga pamangkin ni Nang Sol na sina Joel at Belen.

"Oh... yeah, don't worry. I'm just closing up." Tinago ko na ang walis na gamit ko kanina at mabilis na nagligpit.

"Nervous?" he asked me.

I didn't see the need to lie. After all, it's probably written all over my face. "Yeah, a little."

"Bakit kasi ayaw mo manatili sa plantasyon? Or should I even be asking? We both know you're just trying to avoid me."

"Oh, don't take it personally, Renz. I just don't think I'd be much use there. Isa pa, alam ko kung gaano mo ka mahal ang plantasyon. Ayoko na makigulo pa roon, at baka magkaproblema pa."

He wasn't expecting my response. I was telling the truth though. Running the plantation was his dream and I wanna stay far away from it in case I cause trouble.

Hinatid niya ako sa puwesto noong sumunod na araw. Hindi man ako ang haharap sa mga tao dahil ako ang magluluto ng mga ibebenta, kabado pa rin ako. Paano kung hindi sila bumili dahil ako ang gumagawa? Kung magiging matagumpay itong venture na 'to, baka puwede rin itong ipagpatuloy at mapagkakitaan ni Renz balang-araw. Sayang naman...

Itinuro ko sa kanila ang recipe sa pag-gawa ng chocolate silvanas. Dahil maliit lang naman ang shop and this is more of a hobby than a business, we didn't make a lot, just few dozens.

"Ate, ang sarap naman nito! Sigurado akong maraming bibili," sabi ni Joel habang tinitikman namin ang una naming gawa.

Tahimik lang na kumakain si Belen na para bang tinatantyang mabuti ang bawat subo. I don't think she likes me as much as Nang Sol does pero ayos lang naman dahil hindi niya pa ako gaanong kilala. Isa pa, malamang alam nilang pareho ang mga tsismis tungkol sa'kin.