MY SPANISH QUEEN

chaper 4

"Is she going to be okay?" Nathan asked her as he handed down her coffee and look at the horse lying weakly inside the stable.

"Hmm... Yes she will be. She just need to rest," she said smiled at him. "Come sit," she patted the space beside her, signalling him to sit beside her, in which Nathan did, while Walter and Billy sits in a squatting position in front of her.

"Tomorrow, she be definitely will regain her full strength," she said as she sipped her coffee.

"Is the foal a she or he?" Walter asked her.

"A she." She smirked then laughed softly as Walter is making funny face.

"Walter! Stop that!" Lilly said as her laughter turns into an series of giggles.

Walter didn't listen to her but instead he stood up and dance crazily, making Lily even more laughing than ever.

Lily shakes her head vigorously as her hands holding her stomach as she let out a very sweet but contiguous laughs.

"Damn, Walty you're making my stomach hurts," she said in between her laughter.

Billy laughed also as he hears the sound of Lilian laughter. She was laughing contagiously which make all people around her laughing and giggling.

Austin and Daphne shakes their heads as they look at their staffs.

"Ang sarap niyang tumawa, nakakahawa," mahinang sabi ni Gwendolyn na pilit sinusupil ang pagtawa.

"Masarap siya talagang tumawa. Actually basta magsama sina Lilly, Nathan, Walter at Billy, siguradong mapupuno ng halakhak ang kastilyo," masayang wika ni Austin.

"Hon, balik na tayo sa loob. Inaantok na ako," umihikab na sabi ni.Daphne sa asawa.

"Sama na ako, Ate, inaantok na din ako," sabi ni Gwendolyn. "Ikaw Kuya papasok ka na din ba?" baling na tanong ni Gwen sa kay Kuya Francis niya.

"I think, I'll stay here for a while," he told Gwen. "Niyaya ako ni Nathan na uminom."

"Sige, mauna na kami," paalam ni Daphne sa kaibigan.

"Eh si Lilly, Ate? Papasok na din siya?" biglang tanong ni Gwen.

"Mamaya pa iyan papasok. She needs to monitor the mare condition. Kapag sure na niya na okey na ito saka siya papasok," nakangiting wika ni Austin.

"Ganoon po, gusto ko sana siyang makatabi sa pagtulog. She's a nice girl," Gwen said in a hopefuls voice.

"Then, you can stay here for a while if you want," suhestiyon ni Daphne sa kaibigan

"Okey lang ate?" masiglang tanong ni Gwen.

"Oo naman, hindi din naman kita matatabihan sa pagtulog," wika niya sa kaibigan at tinawag si Lilly na agad namang lumapit sa gawi nila.

"You need anything, My Lady?" Lilly asked Daphne.

"Sinabing Ate Daphne na eh," saway ni Daphne sa dalaga. "pwedeng pakisamahan mo itong si Gwendolyn sa kwarto niya. Tabihan mo siya sa pagtulog, saka Lilly iwanan ko siya muna sa iyo ha. Matutulog na ako eh."

"Sige ate, It's my pleasure to accompany this lovely lady," nakangiting sabi ni Lilly habang nakatingin kay Gwen. "Halika Ganda at ipakilala kita sa tatlong itlog," bungisngis pa nitong sabi.

"I like that," nakangiting sabi ni Gwen at hinila na din si Francis. "Sama ka Kuya."

Pumunta sila ni Gwen at Lilly sa kinaroroonan ng tatlong lalaki, sumusunod sa kanila si Francis.

"Hey, Guys," pukaw pansin ni Lilly sa lahat. "I want you to meet this lovely lady, Gwendolyn Almero and his brother Dr. Francis Almero, now introduce yourself," Lilly told them in a formal voice.

"I'm Billy, and this man is my brother Walter," the man said, and point the man beside him. "We are in charge in taking care of the horses and the cattle. Nice to meet you, My Lady." Billy smile as he offer his hand for handshake na malugod naman inabot ni Gwen kanyang kamay.

"It's my pleasure to meet you," Gwen smile at them.

"No, My Lady, the pleasure is ours. We are happy to have you both here." Walter beam at Gwen, and smile also to Francis.

Umupo sila Lilly at Gwen sa isang mahabang bench samantalang ang apat na lalaki ay nakatayo sa harap nila.

"So isa kang veterinarian?" Gwen asked Lilly as she looks at her closely, maliwanag ang lugar dahil sa sinag ng mga bombilyang nakasindi kaya kitang-kita niya ang maamo at magandang mukha nito.

"Yes I am," she reply shyly but smiling as she look at the mare lying inside the stable.

"Oh Lily is not only a veterinarian, she's also a marine biologist," Billy informed Gwen in a very proud voice.

"Totoo? isa kang marine biologist?" gulat na sabi ni Gwen. "Wow ang talino mo pala Lilly."

"Hindi naman, nag-aaral lang akong mabuti, at nagkaroon ng very supportive na ninang at kinakapatid," she said humbly.

"So tell me may sarili kang clinic? Saan ito?"

"No I don't put up one. Mas kailangan ako dito sa Kastilyo. Young Master needs me and my service here. Saka hindi ko na kailangan magpatayo ng isang klinika, sa kastilyo palang puno na ang aking kamay. We have 20 wild horses here and two hundred cattles, plus a few number of dogs."

"What? Ang dami naman ng kabayo n'yo at baka dito," gulat na wika ni Gwen.

"Konti lang iyon para sa isang malaking farm," nakangiting sabat ni Nathan.

"Oh may ganoon?" natatawang sabi ni Gwendolyn.

"Oo, may ganoon," patawang sabi ni Billy.

Nauwi sa tawanan at ngitian ang kanilang pag uusap samantalang tahimik at pangiti-ngiti lang na nakikinig si Francis, habang si Lilly naman ay pasulyap sulyap sa binata.

Samantalang lingid sa dalawa panay din ang sulyap ni Gwen sa kanyang kuya. And she caught him staring directly at Lilly.

"Inaantok na ako, Lilly," humihikab na sabi ni Gwen.

"Ganun ba, ipahahatid nalang kita kay Nathan. Pasensiya ka na ha, mamaya pa ako papasok ng kastilyo. Hindi pa stable ang kondisyon ni Shadow. I need to stay here for a while," paliwanag ng dalaga.

"Sige, pero promise doon ka matulog sa kwarto ko ha," naglalambing na sabi ni Gwen.

"Oo, susunod nalang ako promise," wika ni Lilly.

Ihinatid ni Nathan si Gwen sa may kastilyo samantalang biglang nagkatinginan si Billy at Walter, as if they were exchanging secret messages.

"You want another cup of coffee, Lilly?" tanong ni Billy na para bang may iniisip.

"Yes, I would love. Kukunan mo ako?" anini Lily sa kay Billy.

“Yes, and I get you some cakes too,” he told her grinning, then look at Francis, “Do you need anything, Doc?”

"A coffee will do," sagot ni Francis sa binata.

Agad na tumalikod si Billy at naglakad patungong kastilyo. Nwasa malayo na ito nang bigla itong habolin ni Walter, na ikinataas naman ng kilay ni Lilly.

"Hey, wait for me, I need a cup of coffee too," Walter yelled and run after Billy.

Biglang naasiwa si Lilly nang sila nalang ni Francis ang naiwan. Hinawi niya ang buhok sa tenga at idinako ang mata sa kwadra.

Nagulat si Lilly nang umupo sa tabi niya si Francis.

"So ngayong tayong dalawa na lang tayo ang naiwan baka pwede na tayong mag-usap," Francis said as clear his throat.

Nagugulumihang tinignan siya ni Lilly.

"Er... I want to say sorry, If I was rude earlier. Kung inismiran kita," Francis told Lilly in a very hoarsely voice as he glanced at her.

"Okey lang iyon, Doc. Sanay na akong supladohan at ismiran ng ibang tao. Hindi lang naman ikaw ang gumagawa noon sa akin," pahayag na sabi ni Lilly.

"So okey na tayo? Friends?" Francis asked, and smiled at her sweetly.

“Yes, friends.” she smiled back at him and was shocked when he offers his hands for a handshake.

Nakangiti na tinanggap ni Lilly ang kamay ng binata and for the first time she saw him smile genuinely.