The Princess Back Home

Zeek and Yumie walked along the beautiful landscape of Rancho Callejos. Yumie silently adored the beautiful scenery. She seemed drawn to simply admired the place. She is in Sejanos. This is her home.

Zeek walked just beside her. Pasulyap-sulyap lang din siya kay Yumie. He could feel that Yumie was being sentimental. He would really love to talk to her. But it seemed that Yumie would like to keep silent.

When Yumie looked at her nahuli nitong nakatitig siya rito. Nginitian niya ito as she awkwardly smiled back. Tila nahuli niya itong tumitingin din sa kaniya. He thought it's his que to start talking.

"You are awfully weird today? I'd like to know why, I hope you don't mind," turan niya.

Yumie took a deep breath. "You didn't grew up here, right? Nalaman mo lang about this when Sir Ismael brought you here 9 years ago?"

"Uhuh," sagot ni Zeek kasabay ng pagtango-tango. "But this is the first place I went when I left China. And this is also the part where I decided to stay and be a Callejos."

Yumie smiled softly. 'You didn't know then what happened before that,' ani niya sa isip.

"This place is paradise," turan ni Zeek. "I envy the children who grew up here. They get to experience beauty from the beginning."

Napalingon siya kay Zeek. What he said was true. She grew up in this beautiful place. Noon, he didn't really want anywhere else to live in. Ang Sejanos lang masyang-masaya na siya. And it was always her wish to come back home. Dito pa din niya gustong umuwi, bumuo ng pamilya, tumanda...

"Zeek, eventhough you didn't grew up here, did you love it like this has been your childhood?" she asked.

Napakunot-noo si Zeek. "That's so sentimental. Hindi ako makarelate sa childhood part. but I love it like its love at first sight. And for future references, I would definitely want my children to grew up here. Not really China."

Yumie looked at Zeek with such admiration. He loved it that Zeek loved Sejanos like she do. Hindi niya napansin na titig na pala siya dito.

"You're looking at me like you wanted to kiss me." ani Zeek jokingly.

Automatic na tumaas ang kilay ni Yumie. Napalitan ng pagtataray ang expression ng mukha niya. She seemed woken up from a day dream. Yet, hindi niya kinontra ang sinabi ni Zeek. Sooner or later she had to be true to herself. Pero hindi iyon ang focus niya ngayon.

They walk a little further hanggang sa makarating sila sa tila isang kamalig.

"Oh, this is my most favorite part," parang batang excited na sabi ni Zeek. "Comm'on, I'd like you to meet someone." Hinila siya nito at halos patakbong tinungo ang kamalig.

It was a horse stable. Nanlaki ang mata ni Yumie nang makilala ang kamalig na iyon. It was their very own horse stable. Hindi niya namalayang nakatapak na pala siya sa lupain ng Hacienda Dela Torre. There used to be some kind of wall before, bakit parang di na nila nadaanan yun. And to her surprise, nasa parte na pala sila ng Hacienda Dela Torre.

She slowly walked inside the barn. It was still maintained like it used to be. Tila inalagaan din ito ng mga Callejos. She used to take care of the horses there. But now, she didn't know if she can still ride it.

Mayamaya, Zeek came towards her. May hila-hila itong kabayo. She can't help but smile. The horses was very handsome. And Yumie thought that it is also smiling at her.

"This is my bestfriend here. His name is Bright. Because eventhough his black, he shines brighter than anyone here," anito.

Yumie gave a soft chuckle. Zeek's logic is funny. She walk closer to Bright and pet him like she used to do. Zeek was surprised when Yumie touched Bright.

"You are not afraid of a horse?" turan nito.

"I am an animal lover by nature. Animals love me, I guess."

"Bright, you had a crush on her?" tanong ni Zeek na sa kabayo nakatingin. "Let me just remind you, that she will be mine in the future. Don't betray me."

Napailing na lang si Yumie sa parang batang akto ni Zeek. Natawa na lang sila pareho.

"Do you want to ride him?" tanong ni Zeek.

"I'm not sure..." alangan niya. Hindi siya siguradong kaya pa niyang magpatakbo ng kabayo.

Zeek smiled widely. "Don't worry. I'll ride with you," sabi nito. He pulled her towards the side and helped her na sumampa kay Bright. Pagkuwa'y sumunod ito sa kaniya. They were seated at the horse spooning each other. Zeek is behind her.

Yumie felt her face turning red. They were close to each other and Zeek was almost hugging her as he held on the leash. But eventhough nakadikit siya halos sa katawan ni Zeek, she could still feel Zeek's respect for her. He's touching her with caress like he was just taking care of her.

"Relax, my sweets. Bright is usually tame but if he feels you're scared he might get scared also," bulong nito sa kaniya. Hindi niya namalayang she's really, really stiff. She softly sigh and loosen herself. "That's better," Zeek said na tila naramdaman ang pagkampante niya. "Don't worry. I won't let you fall off."

Zeek slightly tap bright on his side to que on and the horse started to gallop. Yumie felt more excitement. This made her feel more home-like. They were just riding in a slow phase when she asked Zeek to let it run faster. Zeek let her held the leash and do the manuever for Bright. Hindi niya namalayang she was solely running Bright on her own. Zeek had let go of the leash. She rode Bright faster. She was drawn into the idea that she is riding a horse once again that she didn't notice Zeek was simply holding onto her waist. He was smiling behind her. He could feel Yumie's excitement.

Yumie was riding Bright like it wasn't the first time. She has no care in whatever may happen. She felt freedom. She felt surreal. For the 1st time in 12 years, she felt really home. Hindi ito imahinasyon na lang.

Bright was running so fast na hindi na alam ni Yumie kung nasan na sila. Then she saw a familiar place. She was so stunned by it and directed Bright towards it. Yumie was never more excited to reach it. Palapit ng palapit, she maneuver Bright closer. Hanggang sa pinatigil niya ito sa tapat ng lugar na iyon.

Yumie was so mezmerized seeing Hacienda Dela Torre very very near. Her excitement overpower her thoughts that she suddenly realize Zeek was with her. Napalingon siya rito.

"I'm sorry. I-is this place part of Ranch Callejos?" pagkakaila niya.

Zeek just gave a soft chuckle. He slowly get off from Bright. May dalawang matanda na lumabas mula sa Hacienda at lumapit sa kanila. Isang babae at isang lalake.

"Sir Zeek, kanina pa po kayo inaantay ni Ma'am," bungad ng matandang babae kay Zeek.

Yumie got curious. Obviously the two are workers from Hacienda Dela Torre. The Callejos have probably envaded the place as well. Tila kilalang-kilala na rin ito roon. Zeek reach out for her. She realize he was urging her to get down from the horses. She accepted her reach. Halos pabuhat na ibinaba siya nito.

Nakita ni Yumie ang makahulugang ngiti ng dalawang tauhan sa inakto nila. Napailing na lang siya. Zeek was enjoying it though.

"By the way, these is Aling Mara, and Kuya Ben. They help out here. This is Yumie," pakilala ni Zeek. "And this is Hacienda Dela Torre."

Napaling ang tingin ni Yumie kay Zeek. Zeek does know that this place is not part of Rancho Callejos.

"Rancho Callejos is only a half part of the Sejanos. Hacienda Dela Torre is the other half. We don't own it though. But we are friends with them. And we also take care of it like it's family," turan ni Zeek.

Yumie was again surprised. The Callejos did really have all what they had. Pero they didn't own it like it's actually theirs. The way Zeek told it, they were just there to take care of it. Not really own it. It brough confusion to Yumie. Ano ba talaga ang ibig sabihin nito?

"Kuya Ben, kaw na pong bahala kay Bright," utos ni Zeek kay Ben. "Comm'on, we will have lunch," aya na nito sa kaniya.

Again, Zeek held her hand and lead her inside. Yumie felt nostalgic. As she stepped in inside Hacienda Dela Torre, she couldn't help it but to be so sentimental. For 12 years long, she was again home. It was like what she really dreamed of. Everything is happening like what she drwamed it should be. Except for the part that her parents weren't there welcoming her back.

The place looked the same just like 12 years ago. Bukod sa obviously well maintained ito. Tila wala iyong pinagbago. Surprisingly, kung pano niya naalala ang Hacienda Dela Torre, it was still the same. How was it possible?

"Amazing, right?" turan ni Zeek.

"It is!" she said in a dreamy state.

"When I first came here, I know this is way more beautiful than Rancho Callejos. It was so warm and family connected. Like a true home. But I believe this place has a very sad past."

Napatingin siya kay Zeek. Does Zeek knows? He must've heard the story. Zeek was looking at her thoroughly. She didn't understand bakit ganon ang tingin sa kaniya nito but she couldn't bear to ask.

"Yumie, I may not truly understand what you're actually going through right now. But I just want to let you know whatever happens, I'm just right here... Everything must've been a lot to take in but I am willing to understand with you," makahulugang turan ni Zeek na ipinagsalubong ng kilay niya.

She was about to ask him what he meant when they heard a woman calling Zeek. Automatic na napalingon silang dalawa sa direksyon kung saan nagmula ang tinig na tumawag kay Zeek.

Yumie felt as if everything had stopped when she saw an old lady in a wheel chair came in the room pushed by a younger woman in uniform. She felt numbed in astonishment. In a slow almost weak phase, napahakbang siya palapit dito. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Nanginginig siya habang papalapit na humahakbang towards the old woman in a wheel chair. Her eyes is almost sparkling in tears. Ang kanina pa niya pinipigilang luha is nowhere to be controlled now. Wala na siyang ibang naiisip. Wala na siyang nararamdaman kundi ang tila panaginip na nasa harapan niya ngayon.

"Mommy..." she softly muttered, almost in a whisper. Her voice cracked. And before she could say another word, nawalan na siya na ulirat.

"Yumie!" mabilis na nasalo ni Zeek ang nahimatay na si Yumie. "Yumie! Yumie!" mahihinang tapik sa pisngi niya ang ginawa ni Zeek para pukawin ang nahimatay na dalaga but she remained unconscious. Nataranta din ang nurse na nagtutulak ng wheel chair ni Mina.

"Zeek, what's happening?" turan ni Mina na naramdaman ang komusyon na hindi nito nakikita.

Mabilis na binuhat ni Zeek si Yumie. "Please call a doctor quick. Pakiasikaso na rin si Tita. I'm bringing her upstairs," utos ni Zeek sa nurse na nasa tabi ni Mina.

"What happened?" nagugulumihanang tanong ni Mina.

"Nahimatay po ang kasama ni Sir," sagot ng nurse as Zeek went upstairs carrying Yumie.

"Ha? Tumawag ka ng doctor, dalian mo!" Utos din agad ni Mina sa natarantang bulag na si Mina.

Zeek brought her in a room. He slowly put her in a bed. He checked if Yumie was still breathing. Nang mapagtantong maayos naman ang pahinga nito. She just let her lie properly in the bed. Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito.

"I'm really sorry, Mayumia. But please be ok..." he whispered.