Masked Beauty

Chapter 9

"Ija, I really don't know that you are really good at cooking." Papa said with a dramatic expression on his face.

"We all know that Teresa and the other maids cook very well but how did you learn this?" Mama added that made me smile widely.

My heart is so happy right now. It really feels like I am really suited here in this place but I know that I am not. I will never be.

"The river is so calm." I whispered while placing my jaw in my knees as I sat in the grass while just watching the calm water in the river.

"I wish the world can be like that too." I added.

"The world is calm, it is us who is wild."

I lifted my gaze towards Darkin who also sat beside me.

''We are getting wilder whenever the fate is being cruel." I sigh as I slowly formed a smile to hide what I am feeling.

I miss Antonio, I miss my real Mama. I miss my real life.

Earlier I called Mother Isabela. And I told her to give money for my brother. Gladly, she agreed with it but she said something that is bothering me until now.

She will destroy them, she said that made me worried.

I didn't know a lot of things about them but I am concerned about what is she going to do with the Lauchengco's.

Should I quit and tell them about it? But for sure they will be mad at me. I am sure of that. What I am doing right now, lying to them isn't just a little thing for them to forgive me after just telling them.

"Listening to you sometimes are making me think that there are something behind you, something that can't be seen in your face." Darkin laugh that made me stop from thinking for a while.

"What do you mean?" I chuckled so that he didn't think like that again about me. I don't want him to think that I am hiding something.

"I literally talk like this." I added before looking away.

It was weekdays and Mr. and Mrs. Lauchengco are busy again.

I don't know why Darkin visited here again but gladly he is here, I want someone's company for a while.

Sometimes his reason for coming is he wanted to help the workers in the hacienda, well, maybe he is doing it already even before.

"You said you need to help the workers in the hacienda? But you chose to come here?" I chuckled.

I don't why he followed me here. I've been here since one o'clock.

"Teresa said you came here, alone. What's gotten into you, huh? She also said that you insisted that you can handle yourself." He rolled his eyes as he pushed my forehead using his finger.

"Ts, stop that. Did you walk when you came here?" I ask while also rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, I don't want to use a horse anymore. You've been traumatized last time." He chuckled that made me stared at him for a while.

He didn't talk again until he noticed that I am staring at him.

"Why don't you teach me to ride a horse?" I ask suddenly.

His brows furrowed but when he realized it he slowly form a smirk.

"You sure?" He ask while smiling mockingly.

"Yeah," I answered lazily.

I want to try new things here. Just like how I face my fears in life, this is just a piece of cake.

"WAAAAHHHHHH! Just hold it first, Darkin! I am still learning! Don't let it first. Just a walk, walk! Walk!"

Darkin almost dying as he laugh while I am screaming because he keeps letting the horse go. I told him to hold the rope first so that it won't run.

"Don't worry, I won't let you get hurt." He said while picking the rope again but still laughing.

"Hold on tightly and just focus." He added while slowly letting my hands go.

I watch how the horse move and I am getting used on how he walks.

I need to focus and stop thinking that I might fall.

"That's right. Just let the horse walk. You will get use on it and can already balance yourself. Just let it flow." Darkin shouted as the horse walk towards the fields.

I can see how tall the trees in the other side of the fields. There are a lot of Palkata trees giving shade for the pineapple plants.

I think they will harvest those plants soon because it looks ripe now.

I smiled when I realized that I am comfortable riding the horse now.

"Great!" Darkin shouted while getting his own horse so that he can follow me.

"How do I turn this one?" I shouted back to ask him.

"Just control it," He answered.

"Wait for me, I will follow you, just continue walking." He added.

After a few moments he is already behind me.

We are about to continue when a worker call for us.

"Señorito Darkin! Someone is looking for you!" The worker shouted.

"Who?" Darkin ask so he decided to go down and walk towards me.

"I don't know her name yet but he is hurrying me." The worker added.

"Can you ride it alone Ethel? Or should we go back?" Darkin ask me but I just nodded.

"I think we should go back. Don't make your visitor wait." I said while smiling.

I am already satisfied about what I've learned this day. I can already balance my self in top of the horse.

The worker help us fix the horses and we go back in the mansion already.

"I am not expecting a visitor today. Besides why are they coming here. Why don't wait for me in our house." Darkin is mumbling until we came in the mansion.

We entered the sala. I am also following Darkin.

But my brows furrowed as Darkin stop from walking. I was focus in the way when I lifted my gaze towards the lady sitting in our couch.

Who is she?

"Darkin, Oh My God!" The lady scream as she walk towards Darkin.

"When are you going to go back in the City, huh?" She ask while caressing Darkin's shoulder and scanning him as if there's something happened to him.

"Ah, Karen, why did you come here? I am having a vacation here because I also missed my parents. What's bring you here?" Darkin ask in a curious tone.

Is she his girlfriend or something?

"Of course I will come here, I miss you already and you are not replying to my messages, what's with you, huh?" The lady named Karen ask.

"I came to your father's house but he said you are not around so he gave me this address because you are always here this days as what Tito said."

I crossed my arms as I watched them innocently.

I also scanned the woman's features and she looks really tall but I can say that she is kind of softer because of her voice. She is wearing a sleeveless cropped top with a wide legged black pants.

"Is that your reason for coming here? I am just having a vacation here. I am too stress because of our work. Besides my projects doesn't started yet.'' Darkin explained.

Darkin continue talking to Karen so I decided to call for Teresa.

"Teresa, can you get some snacks and juice for Darkin's visitor?" I ask Teresa because I don't want to make the girl feel bad inside in the house.

"Yes Señora."

"Thank you Teresa." I uttered while smiling.

"Ah Ethel no need, she is leaving anyway." Darkin said that made my brows furrowed.

I don't like the girl's presence as well but I don't want to make her feel bad so it is nicer to entertain her.

"Darkin, I am not leaving yet. Hi, Ethel, your name is cute." The Karen reached my hand for a hand shake.

"Thank you, Karen." I replied while smiling.

"I am just going upstairs to change. Enjoy." I added as I glance towards Darkin before turning my back fro them.

I wonder if she is Darkin's girlfriend but why would he ask for her to leave so fast. Maybe she is Darkin's flings? Lovers? Or maybe the girl likes him and he keeps on refusing, I often saw those kinds of scenes in dramas.

Well, why am I thinking about them, anyway?

After taking a bath I decided to go down if Darkin is still there with his visitor when my phone rings.

I immediately answer it when I saw Mother Isabela's name.

"Hello. Aera?" Mother Isabela said from the other line.

"Mother?" I answer hesitantly.

"How are you?" She ask as I also cleared my throat.

"I am fine, but when am I going to go home?" I ask while lowering my voice.

"Aera don't rush too much. I am not done yet. I want them to love you first. I want them to enjoy how happy having a child and after that I will slowly tear them into pieces. You will leave them just like what in our plan, Aera. Don't rush it."

I swallowed hard as I listen to her. What made her like this. How cruel she is.

"This is not our plan Mother Isabela, this is just your plan. All I need is money and after this we are quits." I answered before hanging the call.

I close my eyes tightly as I also tightened my grip in the phone that I am holding.

Once I receive the money I will really leave and forget about everything that will going to happen here.

I need to be braver now.

I still have one month to stay here. After that everything will be fine.

"Teresa, where's Darkin? Is he gone already?" I ask.

"He is in the garden with his visitor, Señora. Don't worry, that girl isn't his girlfriend. Sir Darkin don't have a girlfriend yet." Teresa laugh before turning her back from me.

My brows furrowed. I don't care if he have a girlfriend, Teresa.

I rolled my eyes as I walk towards the Garden when I saw Darkin also walking towards my direction. Karen is following her so I decided to step back but he already saw me.

Karen grabbed Darkin's hand and immediately hug him.

"Please, just talk to me this time, Darkin." Karen pleaded that made my brows furrow.

Is Teresa sure that she is not Darkin's girl? I swallowed the lump in my throat as I turn my back from them.

Why don't they go home and enjoy each other's company but not here in our mansion!

Why are they hugging each other in this kind of place. Maybe they didn't know the word privacy.

And why the hell Darkin always staying here when he have already a GF.

I rolled my eyes again as I drink the waiter from the glass I am holding.

"He shouldn't come here again tommorow." I said before I decided to go back in my room.

"Ethel,"

I lifted my gaze towards Darkin who is walking towards my direction when he saw me.

"Uh, Karen already left." He said.

"Okay," I answered casually before looking away.

I continued walking but he immediately grab my wrist.

"Okay? So? I mean, why? Where are you going. Are we not going to practice riding horse again?" He ask confusely.

"I'm done practicing earlier. And why are you here, anyway. You should go with Kare. She is also wondering earlier why you are here always. I also have the same question as her." I ask while my brows furrow.

"I am always here before, until now, Ethel. What's the prob?" He reasoned out that made my brows furrowed again.

"Okay," I uttered before pulling my wrist from his grip.

"Then why you looks and sounds mad at me, huh?"

I stop again from walking.

"I am not mad Darkin, Why would I?"

I continued walking upstairs and didn't go down again until the afternoon.

Maybe he is gone now. He should go home and look for Karen. Tss.