Tangled Tides

Hi! Its me, joveun. This is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this story ate products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to any organization, event, or actual person, living or dead, is unintentional. Note: This is a Romance-Drama Story Status: Ongoing The story is written in Filipino and English. Please be patient with me because this story has numerous grammatical errors. I'll do everything I can to correct the mistakes as soon as possible. The chapters contain 1,300 to 1,500 words. This is my second romance story, I hope you like it! Please interact with me using my social media accounts: •Email: missjoveun.official@g*******m •Yahoo: missjoveun.official@yahoo.com •Wattpad Acc: joveun •Fb Acc: Jo Veun •Private Group: The Ceo's Maid - Redrainbow (Official Group) DREAME. *Join now! Open for promotion and readers/writers. Story/Work: ✓The Ceo's Maid - Completed (Exclusively on Dreame app) ✓ Trapped in a Vampire Realm - Ongoing (Exclusively on g*******l, n*****h, f*****l & StoryOn app) ✓ Tangled Tides - Ongoing (Exclusively on Dreame) Have a great day ahead, everyone!❤️ Love lots! (っ˘з(˘⌣˘ ) Copyright © 2023 joveun Kabanata 1 I grabbed my temple and shook violently when I heard the voice from the phone I was holding. "I said I don't need a bodyguard, Dad. I can take care of myself." I tried not to raise my voice to the person I was talking to because I didn't want to ruin my day and still, I want to show my little respect. "Pero anak, I will feel more at ease if Henry is there with you. Para na rin makakarating sa akin kung may nangyari mang masama sa’yo." The voice that was coming out of the thing I was holding made me upset. "I said what I said. I don't need the presence of your bodyguard. Again, I can handle myself. Bye." Hindi kona napigilang ibato sa saking tabi ang cellphone at napasabunot sa aking buhok. Bakit pa n’ya ako pinauwi kung babakuran n’ya rin lang naman ako? I'm not a child anymore for pete sake who still needs assistance. I have a very good and stable life in the states with my friends. Kung hindi lang ako nahihiya na tumanggi sa pabor ni Dad na bumisita dito sa Pilipinas, I wouldn't let myself breathe the polluted air here. I turned to my right side and watched the passing trees. We were going to the town of Alfonso where my stepmom grew up. This is what Dad wanted me to do, to visit his second wife. Napagkrus ko ang aking kamay sa aking dibdib at mas bumigat ang nararamdaman ko. "Tsh." I love Dad and as long as I can do his favor, I will do it, pero ang makipag-plastikan sa pangalawang n'yang asawa ay hindi ko talaga makaya. Dad wants me to visit my stepmom because it's her birthday and one of her wishes is to see me in person. Muli akong napailing sa mga tumatakbo sa aking isip at mas isiniksik ang sarili sa inuupuan. "After that party, I will go back to the states," bulong ko at ikinalma ang sarili. ~*~ "Mabuhay po, Ma'am Carol!" Napataas ang isa kong kilay nang may isang matandang lalaki na sumalubong sa akin bago ako tuluyang makapasok sa hacienda. Alam kong hospitable ang mga Filipino pero hindi ko sukat akalain na ganito sila ka welcome sa mga bisita. I kinda like it, mas nakakawala ng stress. He was wearing clean and ironed white and black clothes while his two hands were behind his back. "Welcome to Hacienda de Venice. Nalulugod akong makita ka matapos ang ilang taon, Carol." Parehas nang napataas ang aking kilay sa narinig. "Do I know you, Sir?" The old man smiled even more at my question and came closer to me. "I'm Julio, your mommy Eden's old friend. Pero palagay ko ay hindi mo na ako naaalala pa." Saka ito bahagyang tumawa. Nanliit ang mata ko at pilit s’yang binabalikan sa aking memorya. Julio? I hate this because I can't remember that he once passed into my life. He took the suitcase I was holding and politely took me inside the hacienda. The Hacienda de Venice is one of my biological Mom's properties from her family and its beauty has been preserved until now. Kadalasang nagbabakasyon dito ang pamilya ko sa side ni Mom. The very clean and beautiful interior of the hacienda dawned on me. Tama lamang ang taas ng kisame at napakalawak. Masasabi kong wala masyadong nabago sa loob ng hacienda pero ang ganda nito ay hindi nababawasan. To this day I am still impressed by the charisma of the place. But when Mommy Eden passed away, my stepmom took the responsibilities of the Hacienda de Venice. How could she do that? "The years have passed but the beauty of Venice still remains. Ako ang nakatalaga noon sa pangangalaga ng hacienda pero kalaunan ay ipinasa ko na rin ang posisyon ko sa aking kaibigan." My eyes went to Julio while he was directing the two maids. "As much as I would like to introduce him to you, Miss Caroline, resting is more important. Napakahaba ng inyong binayahe kaya naman sundan n'yo si Emma at Ruth para dalhin kayo sa inyong silid." I nodded at what he said and didn't even bother to respond because of how tired I was. "Sana po ay matuwa at mawili kayo sa pananatili rito, Miss Caroline. Magandang gabi po." "Tawagin n'yo lang po kami sa oras na kailanganin n'yo kami. Goodnight po, ganda." Nagbubulungan at tagong ngingiti-ngiti si Emma at Ruth na umalis sa aking harap pagkatapos nila akong ihatid sa harap ng pinto ng kwarto ko. "The people here are so lively." I looked around before I went inside due to the weak flow of water na naririnig ko mula sa loob ng hacienda. A stream near my room caught my attention. Napangiti ako sa aking naisip. Mahaba pa naman ang oras bago lumubog ang araw kaya naman may oras pa ako para magtampisaw. Dali-dali akong nagbihis at bumaba para mapuntahan ang batis. Walang ganito sa states kaya naman para akong batang masayang-masaya sa nakita. There are no people in this part at ang iilang kubo, bench na gawa sa bato at mga nagbubukadkarang bulaklak ang makikita rito. This part was not this beautiful when I last visited Venice so I was more excited na maglangoy at namnamin ang sariwang tubig. I suddenly remembered my painting materials that were left behind in the states. It would have been a good opportunity to paint the majestic scenery here but I left my materials behind. Lalo akong napangiti nang maramdaman ko ang malamig na tubig sa aking paa nang subukan kong idampi ito sa batis. I slowly unbuttoned the long sleeve polo shirt I was wearing and removed the belt from my waist. I carefully lowered the jeans na hapit na hapit sa aking binti saka nagsimulang ilubog ang sarili sa batis. Sa ilang minutong nagdaan ay hindi ko iyon sinayang at naglangoy ako ng husto kasama ang ilang mga paru-parong masayang nagliliparan sa aking paligid. Pumunta ako sa tagiliran ng batis para magpahinga ng sandali ngunit gano’n na lang ang aking pagkabigla nang may makita akong isang lalaking pirming nakatayo sa ‘di kalayuan. Nakakrus ang malalaki nitong kamay sa kanyang dibdib at matiwasay na nakatingin sa akin. I looked away and hugged myself under the water. "Who the hell is he?" takang tanong ko sa aking sarili. Paanong hindi ko agad napansin ang presensya n'ya mula sa pwesto ko. Napailing ako ng bahagya at nagdesisyon nang umahon sa batis. I quickly looked at my clothes that were left on a bench. The cold breeze hit my skin which made me stop walking. "The weather here in Alfonso changes so fast," I whispered while my hand was still wrapped around my body. The sun also quickly disappeared like a bubble. "It's hot in the morning and too cold at night. Ganito talaga sa Alfonso, maybe you need to get used to it." I quickly turned to the man na naglalakad papunta sa aking kinatatayuan. "You should have called Emma or Ruth to join you here." Diretso ang tingin nito sa aking mga mata at walang ingay na inabot ang towel na dala sa akin. I didn't respond and quickly took that thing from his hand. Nakita ko ang simpleng pag-ngiti nito sa akin na ikinairap ko naman. Dali-dali akong tumalikod sa kanya at nagpunas ng katawan at isinuot na ang damit na aking hinubad kanina. "I'm Sid Amir Velasquez, the caretaker of the Hacienda de Venice. It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Quinn Caroline dela Cruz." Napatigil ako sa pagbe-belt nang banggitin n’ya ang buo kong pangalan. I can't deny that he has an attractive voice that seems to make my name even better. "Thanks for the towel Mr. Caretaker…," saad ko at mabilis siyang hinarap. I was greeted by his very fresh aura while his two-block hair was neatly cut. "... and Carol is enough." I ran my eyes from his head to toe. So, siya pala ang sinasabi ni Julio na bagong tagapangalaga ng hacienda. Tsh, I never thought he would be this hot. I secretly shook my head sa aking naisip at akma ko na siyang lalagpasan no'ng magsalita ito. "I like the color of your long sleeve, but it looks better on you if it's buttoned properly… “ Napataas ang aking kilay. “...and if your boobs aren't visible." My eyes widened at what I heard and quickly grabbed my chest. Mabilis kong inayos ang pagkakabatones ng aking suot at busangot s'yang nilagpasan. "Have a lovely night Miss Caroline. Enjoy your stay here—" I closed my eyes in annoyance as I trudged back inside the hacienda. "I said Carol is enough, Mr. Caretaker!" I shouted habang hindi alintana ang lamig ng panahon. "Then Sid is enough." I violently slammed the wooden door as I entered the hacienda. I heard his soft laugh from the outside. "That guy is really getting on my nerves." ~*~ Next Day Morning "Six days before your mother's party." Naibaba ko ang hawak na tasa at naidapo ang tingin kay Julio. "My stepmom party," pagtatama ko habang ang isang kilay ay nakakurba at ang kamay ay maarteng iniwan sa ere. Lalo lamang itong ngumiti at hinigop ang kapeng nasa harap n'ya. I had breakfast with him while the beautiful green landscape was in front of us. Mas nakakagaan ng loob ang view namin kasabay ng preskong hangin. "Your Dad called me last night." Mas pirmi akong umupo sa silya at hiniwa ang pritong itlog sa harap ko. "Ipinaalam n'yang may kaunting pagbabago sa party na magaganap." Walang pakialam akong nagpatuloy sa aking pagkain while listening to what he was saying. Basta sa gan'yang usapan ay nawawalan ako ng gana. "The organizer in charge of the party had a problem. In other words, ay gusto ng Daddy mo na ikaw na muna ang humalili sa pamumuno ng party." Naibagsak ko ang hawak na kubyertos sa antique na plato sa aking harap. Umalingangaw ang ingay nito sa buong silid na s'ya ring kinagulat ni Emma at Ruth sa tabi. "No," matigas kong tutol sa narinig mula kay Julio. The person in front of me took another sip of coffee and took a deep breath. He was so calm while my head was about to pop with an annoyance. "Your Dad will be angry—" "But what do I know about that party? It will only get more chaotic if you give me that responsibility." I took the napkin from my leg and wiped the corner of my lips. "That's why Sid is going to help you." I frowned. "Yong manyak na lalaking 'yon?" asbok na tanong ko kay Julio. "Looks like you already know each other and that's good." Napabuga ako ng hangin. Kung alam n'ya lang ang naging interaction namin kagabi. "Sid is kind and trustworthy. He is also very good in the field of leadership, alam na alam n'ya kung paano patakbuhin ng naaayon ang isang bagay gamit ang utak n'ya kaya naman malakas ang pakiramdam kong matatapos n'yo ang pag-o-organize ng party na matiwasay." Halos manlaglag ang panga ko sa narinig. Sa totoo lang, wala akong pake kung makasama ko s'ya ang hindi ko lang matanggap ay gagawin ko ang isang hindi pamilyar na bagay sa taong pinaka-ayaw ko. "Bukod do'n hindi ka mananawa na makasama s'ya." Nanliit ang mata nito at bahagyang ibinaba ang tono ng boses. "Gwapito ang bata na 'yon, hinding-hindi ka magsasawa sa view." Tuluyan akong napatayo at iniwan ang napkin sa table. "I'm done here." Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ni Julio. "Nasa baba s'ya ng hacienda at inaantay ka." Napahawak muli ako sa aking sintido habang papalayo sa dining area. Ang buong akala ko pa naman ay makakapahinga ako rito bago dumating ang party pero hindi. I have a big hunch that Dad planned this, alam kong gustong gusto n'yang maging productive ako araw-araw at isa na rin ito sa dahilan na puwedeng ikatuwa ng stepmom ko na pabor na pabor naman kay Dad. Napahawak ako sa batok dahil sa stress. Six days? Anong matatapos ko kasama ang caretaker na 'yon sa loob lamang ng anim na araw? Tsh.