CHAPTER 5
1056 Words
Lexie Monteverdi – POV
It's been days we’ve been stuck in this hacienda for our so-called immersion field project.
Ganun na katagal akong nakatiis na puro pawis, alikabok, at lalaking may attitude problem.
Honestly, I deserve a medal for surviving this long.
Zyra and Aira? Nakapag-adjust na agad.
They actually enjoy waking up early, talking to the workers, and helping Elian with whatever “important” farm task he’s doing.
Meanwhile me? Still allergic to sunlight and small talk.
But fine. I’ll admit this much — the sunsets here are... not bad.
Not that I’d ever tell Elian that. The guy already has an ego the size of his hacienda.
“Lex, tulungan mo naman kami dito!” Zyra shouted from the field, clipboard in hand.
“The professor said we need to finalize the task list before the storm hits.”
“Again?” I groaned, holding my notebook like it was a shield. “Can’t we just, you know, email it?”
A voice from behind made me flinch.
“Internet’s down. Welcome to the province, city girl.”
I turned. Of course. Elian Cruz — Mr. Sunshine himself.
Well, more like Mr. Thundercloud.
“Wow,” I deadpanned. “Thanks for the warm welcome, Mr. Cruz.”
He crossed his arms, one brow raised. “You’re still here. That’s already warm enough.”
If sarcasm could kill, I’d be a ghost by now.
Before I could reply, a pickup truck rolled into the driveway, headlights flashing against the gray sky.
The storm clouds were getting heavier, and the wind had started to pick up.
Two guys jumped out — one calm-looking, tall and neatly dressed; the other wearing a confident grin, hair a little messy, carrying an energy that screamed chaotic fun.
“Who are they?” Aira whispered beside me, eyes sparkling.
“I don’t know,” Zyra said, grinning. “But I call dibs on the smiling one.”
“Seriously?” I muttered. “It’s literally about to storm.”
Elian’s expression shifted when he saw them — the first time I’d seen him look genuinely… happy?
“Rafa! Kiell!” he called, walking toward them.
The calm one smiled and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
“Surprise visit. Nabalitaan naming may bagyo, we figured you could use extra hands.”
The other — the one with the grin — whistled.
“Or maybe we just missed you, bro. Hindi na kita nakikitang lumalabas.”
Elian rolled his eyes, but there was warmth in his tone. “You two never change.”
“So,” Aira whispered to me, elbowing my side, “friends ni Elian? Ang pogi nung isa.”
Zyra leaned closer. “Yung isa naman parang walking disaster pero... in a good way?”
“Can we not objectify the guests?” I hissed. “They might hear you.”
Of course, they did.
The grinning one turned to us, smirk still in place.
“Hi. Sorry to drop in unannounced. I’m Rafa Alonzo.”
He gestured to the calm one beside him. “And that’s Kiell Villoria.”
Rafa offered a polite nod. “Nice to meet you all. You must be the students?”
“Yup! I’m Aira Gomez,” said Aira, suddenly all sunshine.
“Zyra Lim,” followed Zyra, flashing a bright smile.
They both turned to me expectantly. I sighed.
“Alexis Monteverdi,but you can call me Lexie” I said, holding up my clipboard. “Project manager-s***h-reluctant farmer.”
Kiell chuckled. “Reluctant, huh? Sounds like Elian’s found his match.”
“Excuse me?” I said, raising an eyebrow. “He wishes.”
Rafa coughed lightly, trying to diffuse the tension. “Anyway, Elian, let’s help secure the equipment outside.”
As the three guys went off to work, Aira and Zyra were already fangirling.
“Lex, did you see how polite Rafa was?”
“Lex, Kiell has dimples! DIM. PLES.”
I rolled my eyes. “You two are hopeless.”
Rain began to pour just as we finished taking down the last of the hanging tools. The thunder echoed through the fields, heavy and loud. I froze instinctively at the sound. Great. My least favorite weather.
The wind howled; the lights flickered once, then died.
Darkness swallowed the hacienda.
“Perfect,” I muttered.
Aira and Zyra scrambled to light candles.
I was busy pretending not to be terrified when Elian appeared in the doorway, soaked from the rain.
“Are you okay?” he asked, stepping in. “You look pale.”
“I’m fine,” I lied.
Then another crash of thunder hit — loud enough to shake the windows — and without thinking, I grabbed his arm.
It was instinct.
But it didn’t feel like just instinct.
For one second, the storm outside didn’t exist.
Just the warmth of his arm, his heartbeat, and the sound of my own.
I let go immediately, stepping back.
“Sorry. That was—reflex.”
He smirked, brushing wet hair from his forehead. “Sure. Reflex.”
Ugh. Why does he have to look so smug?
Later that night, the six of us ended up in the living area.
Candles flickered between us, shadows dancing on the walls.
Kiell was telling jokes (mostly bad ones), Aira and Zyra were giggling, Rafa was quietly smiling.
Elian sat across from me, silent — but his eyes… they were on me.
Every time I looked back, he looked away.
Every time I didn’t, I could feel it — that stare that said he was thinking something, but wouldn’t say what.
And that, somehow, was scarier than the thunder.
---
Elian Cruz – POV
She’s impossible.
Loud, stubborn, allergic sa utos.
Pero nung nakita kong natakot siya sa kulog kanina… I don’t know. Something shifted.
I shouldn’t care. I really shouldn’t.
But when she grabbed my arm, parang saglit na tumahimik ang mundo.
I caught myself staring at her now — laughing with my friends like she’s belonged here all along.
Rafa elbowed me quietly. “She’s… interesting,” he said, smirking.
I looked away. “She’s trouble.”
Kiell laughed from across the room. “Then maybe you need a little trouble, Cruz.”
Maybe I do.
But trouble like her?
That’s a storm I might not survive.
- Writer
