Masked Beauty

Chapter 3

"Why don't you join us in dinner, ijo?"

I silently heaved a sighed when I heard Papa Fernando invited Darkin for the dinner.

When we came home I am so exhausted. The horse still appears in my head and it scares me until now. It feels like I already have the trauma, thanks to Darkin.

Glad that he manage to apologize but still it was still annoying because I know he is trying to mock and make fun of my reaction.

I immediately stared at him waiting for his answer. I hope he will say no. I am not really comfortable around him. He is so arrogant and kind of annoying.

"Hm, I'd love to, Tito. But I need to run some errands. I have friends to entertain from the City. They also choose San Poblacion for a vacation." He explained before glancing into my direction.

"Awh, I understand. Hope your friends will enjoy their stay." Papa said before tapping Darkin's shoulder.

The next day became so exciting for me. Mama Carmelita invited me to bake cookies and it made me so happy that day.

I forgot my problems for a while. I don't want to think about it yet. All I need to do is to stay here for three months and wait for Mother Isabela's call.

"I am happy that we spent a little time for each other. Tommorow I will be busy again. Hope you enjoy it too, my daughter."

I immediately smiled widely as I've watched Mama Carmelita's genuine happiness drawn in her face.

"Of course Mom." I answered as she caressed my curly hair.

"I hope you are now happy that we are now together." She added that made me nod.

"Do you mind sharing your experiences in the orphanage, ija? Did you enjoy your stay there? Are they treating you well? Especially Isabela, she is still mad at me and I am scared that she put all of her angers towards you."

I was taken a back listening about what she is asking. Yes, I am experiencing maltreatment from Mother Isabela but it is not appropriate for me to tell her since I am not really Ethel. Besides I really don't know who is the real Ethel yet inside the orphanage and most of he children there doesn't please about the Nuns inside.

"N-no Mom. They are kind." I said stuttering.

Mama Carmelita's brows furrowed while staring at me but she just slowly smiled at the end understanding that I am not ready to tell her it yet.

"Well, It was just fine if you are not comfortable telling me yet. But don't hesitate to tell me your problems. You will be living her now so it will be nice if we communicate in each other. And I am thinking too if you want to study again? We want you to reach your dreams, Ija." She explained, still caressing my hair while holding my hands.

I don't know what to say. I can't find words to answer her. Because these things are not for me.

I have life, and this is not what belongs to me and I am having it now instead of giving this to the real Ethel.

I can't believe it. When I am still in Nelay City, I told my self that I can do it but it seems like I will already give up because of my conscience.

"Ma'am, there's a call for you Ma'am. They said they wanna talk to you."

I am about to say a words when a maid call Mama Carmelita for a call. It saved me, anyway.

I don't know how to answer her yet.

After a while she came back telling me that she need to go and need to entertain some business investors. I just nodded and let her with a sad smile.

I can't imagine the real Ethel's situation if she is here right now. It will be hard for them to enjoy since they always have business and errands to run.

I pouted as I realized that I am lucky that I am not really Ethel.

I've watched the car exited the big gate of the mansion. The workers are just minding their business in the other side. They are just taking care of the horses in the hacienda.

I pouted again as I also thought that maybe it is better for me to be a horse and just run run run in the fields freely and just die at the end.

"Damn, how lucky the horse are. I want to be them." I said before turning my back in the entrance in the house after watching Mama Carmelita go.

"Why do you want to be a horse, hu?"

I almost jump in amusement when I heard someone behind me. I immediately scanned the bug features of Darkin in front of me.

He then chuckled as he watched my reaction.

"Why are you here behind me? You startled me! This is the main door, why didn't I saw you enter?" I ask, irritated.

"Well, I use the back door in your kitchen. The people in the house are used of that." He said while smirking .

I just rolled my eyes because of his answer. If they are used of that then I am not. I want to tell him that but I know I don't have the right even if they believe that I am the daughter of the house's owner.

"Well, I am just here to invite you, I am going to the market to buy something today. Do you want to go with me?" He ask with a serious tone now.

How can he be playful and intimidating at the same time. He waited for my answer while staring at me like he is digging something inside my eyes.

"Well actually I am having fun here in the house. In case you are thinking that I am getting bored here that's why you are inviting me." I reasoned out because that is true, anyways.

"No, I am just inviting you because I want to be close with you at the same time, I guess?"

My brows furrowed because of his answer. Should I go with him this time? I am sure if I say no Papa Fernando will know about it and he will ask me why I didn't go with Darkin.

Besides he said he wanted to be close with me with an 'I guess',.

I don't how to understand that. Anyways, I still don't like him for pissing me off using his expressions, voice, looks, and his goddamn arrogant attitude.

"Don't you want to go with me?" He ask with a furrowed forehead.

I bite my lip to hide my irritation. I don't have a choice here.

"Okay I'll go with you." I said, finally giving up.

"Okay, then."

It was already 1:00 pm when we arrived in the market. San Poblacion is indeed a nice place. The every corner of their places are clean and organized. Maybe there are some garbage you can see from the other places but still it is hard to maintain cleanliness in a place especially when the people inside in a community do not have the same perspectives and attitude.

"Which do you prefer, staying in Nelay City or choosing San Poblacion?"

I suddenly stop staring at the car's window when Darkin asked me.

"Well, San Poblacion is beautiful." I answered while waiting for him to park the car.

"Well if it was me who grew up here and also stayed for so long in Nelay City I will still going to choose this place. Here you can find the real tranquility in your life." He said without any playful tone in his voice, just plain serious thoughts.

"You are right. But sometimes noisy places are great when you are with your love ones. Tranquility is useless when you are still feeling alone." I said because for me that is true.

I have my family in the city and I need to go back to be with them. Because even if San Poblacion is giving me peace without my brother and mother, it is still useless.

"Aren't you happy that you are with your parents here?" He ask as he tried to off he engine.

I don't know if he knows about the story of Mr. and Mrs. Lauchengco when they lost Ethel. But all I need to do is to pretend that I am already fine with them and don't show any suspicious things that will make them think that I am not the real Ethel.

"No, What I mean is there are people who prefer any places as long as they are with their love ones, that's all." I answered straight forwardly without looking in his eyes.

"Well, you are right."

"What are buying here, anyway?" I ask while scanning the place.

I was too stunned to speak after seeing the fresh veggies. I can identify it easily because I am always in the market before, almost everyday to buy some ingredients whenever I am cooking in the orphanage.

"Just buying some veggies to stock in my refrigerator." He answered while checking if I am following his way.

"Aren't you used from this kind of place? Now I regret bringing you here. It is smelly here because of some fishes here in the market." He added that made me c***k a smirk.

"You gotta be kidding me! Me?" I ask while pointing myself as I chuckled mockingly.

"How about you, do you know how to check fresh veggies?" I added.

I immediately scanned the place to find the vegetable area. There are a lot of new stock of veggies. You can really tell that they are rich in properties and the products came from healthy soil.

"Look for a bright, even color with no dark spots or mold. Bruises, dents or damaged skin can happen during transport." Darkin said while picking some cabbages.

"Yes, those are the one who quickly spoil and spread decay beyond the immediate area. Wrinkly skin or wilting leaves are good indications the veggies are old." I agreed to him.

In fairness at least he knows about those stuffs.

"Glad that you also know about those things." He said while smirking.

"Is that sarcasm?" I ask. I don't want to over think but I can't help it.

It feels like he is always saying sarcasm things when it comes on me.

His jaw clenched as he stared at me. I can see the regrets on his eyes.

"No, I was just praising you. You really is something-" He said while furrowing his brows.

"Okay, just asking." I said, cutting him off before looking away.

We didn't talk again after that. I don't know if I am just being too much on him, but that's what I want to say, what can I do?

We go back in the parking area after he bought things that he needed.

I enjoy it somehow. I miss Nelay City's market and San Poblacion fullfill it in some ways.

The smile remains on my lips after realizing that this place will going to have a special place in my heart one day.

"Can't believe you smiled."

I immediately stop scanning the place while my smile are slowly fading as I heard what Darkin said.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked as I enter the front door of his car. Should I sit at the back?

"Nothing," He answered while shaking his head.

I glared at him even if he is not looking at me. He is really trying to piss me off.

"Tommorow we will going to visit in the river behind the haciendas rice fields. The river we've been before? Do you want to go?" Darkin ask but I immediately shake my head.

Oh my God! Not the trauma I had with him.

"We? So you have friends with you?" I ask casually and calmly so that he will not going to mock on me again.

I know I was just over thinking that he is teasing me and it was really annoying but still I can't help from being mad.

"Yes, that is why I am inviting you. It will be fun." He explained but still I shook my head.

He then slowly nodded as a sign that he understands me.

Aera still wanted to say no and complain but she doesn't want to annoy Darkin for complaining too much.

"Okay, I will help and lift you so that you can ride it comfortably."

Aera's eyes widened about what he said. She want to shake her head and she can manage herself when Darkin suddenly grab her waist and lift her like it was just so easy for him.

"W-wait! Oh my God!"

She screamed that made Darkin laugh histerically.

"Are you crazy or something? You stratled me!" Aera shouted in disbelief that made the other workers laugh at her.

"Don't worry I won't let you get hurt." He is still trying to supressed his laugh but he manage to stop himself from laughing but still Aera is so annoyed with it.

Aera wanted to go down and punch him quickly. It was the first time that a guy have a courage to hold her waist that easily. She is so annoyed right now.

"Okay, I will ride too already." Darkin announced that made Aera's eyes widened even more.

Are they going to ride it together? Oh my God! This is so annoying!

"Can't we really just walk only? This is so frustrating."

"Heyah!"

Aera wanted to scream again when Darkin started to maneuver the horse. The poor horse lifted his feet as a sign that they are now ready to go.

Aera is glad that she is wearing a short inside her dress and of course they provided her a clothing that will serve as a cover from the horse's skin so that they will be comfortable.

Darkin is behind her and encircling his arms from Aera's waist so that he can reach the rope from the horse's.

"Next time don't wear a dress when riding a horse, Ethel."

Aera almost rolled her eyes because of Darkin's tone. It seems like he is mocking her.

"It's not that you all informed me that we will going to ride a horse or should I change first?" Aera said sarcastically that made Darkin's laugh again.

She didn't know if he really is laughing or doing yo purposely to annoy her.

"Nah, just hold tightly, then."

Aera scream as Darkin started to maneuver the horse. The workers immediately open the mini gate behind the mansion. It is a way behind if you wanted to short cut towards the river's way.

"Oh my God, for sure I will regret riding this horse in my whole life."

Aera's voice is echoing in the middle of the fields.

You still need to pass the wide fieldsthat is also owned by the Lauchengco's. After it you can already witnessed the tall and big trees in the forest. You still need to enter it before finally meet the beautiful paradise in San Poblacion.

It takes minutes before Darkin stopped the horse in front of a big and tall mango tree.

"C'mon! This is my first time riding a horse! How can you make that freaking horse run agressively and freaking fast! What if I die because of nervousness!"

Aera said histerically but she is still in the top of the horse while Darkin is already got down.

"I didn't know that it was your first time. Don't worry, I will be gentle later." Darkin said mockingly that made Aera rolled her eyes again.

She doesn't know if how many times she rolled her eyes this day because of this man.

Darkin smirk as he offered his hand so that Aera can also finally get down.

"Don't worry you will be fine with me." Darkin added as he tie the horse's rope in the mango tree.

''Yeah that is the point. Maybe I will die early if I am with you." Aera murmured as she followed Darkin.

"The river is already near here. We just stop here so that we can tie the horse."

This day supposed to be fun but it became so terrible. Aera is so annoyed because Darkin is so arrogant. Maybe she will never go with him again in the next day.

Aera continue walking so that she can follow Darkin.

The place is kind of muddy that made her sandals stuck there.

She watched Darkin continuing from walking and murmuring something. Maybe he is thinking that she is already following him but Aera is freaking stuck in the mud.

After a few minutes she can already hear Darkin shouting on her but she is still taking off the sandals so that she can walk freely.

"Are you fine?"

Aera raised her brows when she saw Darkin walking towards her direction.

"Yeah, I was just taking this sandals off." She answered, still annoyed but she is now too tired to argue with him.

Maybe she should just ignore him.

Aera is about to stand when Darkin reach for her hand. He help her from standing but Aera's eyes widened when Darkin offered his back.

"C'mon, I will carry you. I didn't know that it was still muddy here, I forgot that it was raining yesterday." Darkin said in a serious tone.

"What? Uh- it was fine." She answered as she tried to look away.

"C'mon. I'm sorry about earlier, I will make the horse run slower later. Let's just go to the river this time."

It seems like Aera's stay here in San Poblacion will probably going to be worser than she is expecting.

This guy is giving her different impressions. She kinda hate him but she doesn't have a choice.