DOS

Despite her struggles, Leanne finally arrived at their ancestral home. A middle-aged couple have been awaiting her arrival by the gates. Leanne recognized them as the mansion's caretakers.

"Oh my, oh my iha! You really do look like her!" The middle-aged woman ran up to her and hugged her.

(iha= child, used for females; iho for males)

"Welcome to Bicol, Miss Leanne." The middle-aged man added as he extended his hands for a handshake.

Leanne quickly returned the woman's hug and immediately shook hands with the man, "Hello po, Auntie Lucy and Mang Isko." She greeted them warmly. "Auntie Lucy, you said that I look like someone po… May I ask who?" Leanne asked curiously.

(Auntie= unrelated/related Aunt; Mang= unrelated Uncle)

"That's right iha. You look exactly like your great-grandmother, Josefa Diaz. You should see for yourself… Come with me to go see her portrait. We also preserved a lot of her stuff, even her diary." Auntie Lucy excitedly pulled Leanne into the mansion.

Mang Isko can only sigh at his wife's behavior and stop her from pulling the young lady any further, "Come on Lucy, Miss Leanne had only arrived. She must be tired or hungry."

"Haha it's okay po, Mang Isko. I've always been curious about my great-grandma." Leanne quickly defended Auntie Lucy as she felt bad discouraging her when she greeted her so enthusiastically.

Auntie Lucy puts her hands on her waist and scolded Mang Isko, "That's right old man, Miss Leanne is also looking forward to it. She had only been here once, when she was 3 years old. She must also be curious about the mansion and Josefa. Don't be such a kill-joy." Auntie Lucy then turned to Leanne and said, "Don't worry iha, I've already prepared lunch for you. Your favorite sinigang!" Then she went back to pulling her inside, leaving Mang Isko flabbergasted.

Auntie Lucy led her to her room and went to set the table. The room used to be the room of Josefa.

Upon entering the room, a big portrait came into view. Looking at the woman on the portrait that looks 80-90% like her, makes Leanne feel a bit weird. She pulled out her phone, took a picture and sent it to her 'friends group' chat. She then noticed that there was no service, "What the heck! Are we back to the stone-age or something? There's no service and no wifi. What was my mother thinking when she sent me to this place!?" Leanne complained loudly as she looked around the room.

Leanne found a chest under the bed and tried to open it, "What's this? It's locked."

Auntie Lucy noticed her upon arriving by the door and said, "That's what I told you earlier, Josefa's stuff. Do you want to open it? I have the key here."

Leanne nodded and received the key, "Thanks po."

The chest was full of worn-out things covered in dusts. It seems that it hasn't been opened for a long time. Leanne reached out to grab an old book-like thing. Except from the worn-out paper and little tears, it seemed fine and well-preserved.

"That is Josefa's diary that she started writing on her 19th birthday. She was also arranged to marry at that time. She really didn't want to marry but she was an only child and a daughter, so she could never inherit her father's land and manage it." Auntie Lucy solemnly said.

"How could that be!? Why did she have to marry so early? Women can also manage a land or any business for that matter. Did she proceed with the marriage? Did she love him?" Leanne empathizes with her great-grandma, especially because they look so alike. She could also understand the difficulty of arranged marriages, despite being single for the past 19 years of her life.

Auntie Lucy smiled upon hearing the concern from her words, "Well, women were underappreciated back then… and yes, she did marry him, Diego Diaz." Auntie Lucy took out an old photo from the chest. "He is your great-grandfather. He loved Josefa deeply… so deeply that Josefa couldn't help but loved him back. They had three children, including your father's mother, Grandma Luisa."

Leanne looked at the photo and her eyes widened in surprise, "This is my great-grandpa? Oh wow! Good genes! He looks good. I take back what I said, great-grandmother really hit the jackpot when she married him." Leanne excitedly took out her phone again to take photos, but suddenly remembered her dissatisfaction with the service.

While Leanne was busy frowning, Auntie Lucy stood up, "Well Josefa was lucky enough to marry a handsome guy from a rich family, but I heard that she was crying in regret in her deathbed."

Leanne looked up and saw that Auntie Lucy was already at the door, "Regret? What did she regret? Didn't she love him too?"

Auntie Lucy stopped and turned back, shrugging her shoulders she answered, "No one really knew. Josefa was already delirious so no one could make out what she said. The only word that was clearly heard was regret and Emilio… anyways, let's go down and eat lunch."

"A love triangle!? Hahaha my great-grandma is so showbiz. There might have been a great scandal during the Spanish regime. Too bad that there's no private investigators at that time." Leanne amusedly said. She then put the things back into the chest and followed Auntie Lucy.

Leanne had a happy lunch with Aunt Lucy and Mang Isko. They talked a lot about university, the plantation and Josefa. Mang Isko also offered to tour Leanne around the property and the plantation in the afternoon.

Traveling, inspecting the plantation and talking to the workers have exhausted Leanne. When they arrived back to the ancestral home, she quickly took a shower, had dinner and laid in bed.

She was tired but she could not fall asleep. There was nothing to do without the internet, so she just scrolled through her photos. When she scrolled past the photos that she took earlier of her great-grandpa, she remembered the diary. She got up and decided to read the diary to pass the time.

Reading the diary while laying down already made her drowsy. This is a habit that she always tries to avoid when studying. Anything being read while laying down becomes a bedtime story that lulls her to sleep.

On the first page of the diary, she immediately noticed the date being the same day as today, May 5.

***May 5, 1896***

This day was a special day. Emilio, Maria and I went to town to celebrate me turning 19 years old. We went sight-seeing then had lunch. Maria also told me that Emilio prepared a gift for me. As it turned out, this diary is his gift for me.

I am so happy. Emilio made this diary just for me. Growing up with Emilio and Maria, I've always felt that they are closer together. Can this diary mean that I am special to him too?

Mother and Father also greeted me happily today. Although, Father seemed too happy while saying that we will meet some people in the evening. To be honest, it was a bit suspicious.

I also went and brought food to the plantation. There, I saw an unfamiliar face… an unfamiliar handsome face to be exact. I wondered who he was…

******

Leanne laughed loudly at her great-grandma's cuteness, "Hahaha looks like I found great-grandma's first love." Just by reading the first page, she could already tell that Josefa liked this Emilio.

She continued reading the diary as her eyes get heavier and eventually, she fell asleep.