Fountain of Love

Chapter Three

Brook

He pinched the bridge of my nose. And there when I get my senses back. I feel like my face as red as tomato right now. My feet are stuck on the wooden floor even if I wanted to run and hide at this moment.

"I'm sorry again Mister", I apologize once again.

He stepped back and get his used clothes and put it behind the small laundry basket.

This time I can see him freely and fully. He is now wearing an old navy green t-shirt and a ripped maong faded pants.

"No worries señorita, I guess you are here to take some rest. Tired of picking up some ripe Mangoes?" , he asked me

"Nope, I just curiously went here to see the inside of this hut. I thought there is no one in here", I shyly answered.

"Oh, I see", as he nods.

"By the way I'm Dominik Montreal one of your farmers here". he said as he offered me his hand.

"I'm Luna", I introduced myself.

"Señorita Luna", he corrected and then smiled at me

"You can just call me Luna", I insist.

He looked at me with his one brow up.

"I will call you Luna when you are just the two of us, señorita when we are around the people", he said and lean on me whispering.

"I don't want to slap at the back of my head by Tata Selo and your father".

He smirked at me and then we laugh together by it.

"Sure then, and maybe I can call you Dom. Dominik is a bit long", snorting my nose.

"Really? Are you serious? if that's what you want señorita", he said.

"Can we go out now of the room señorita? I don't want them to think otherwise when are caught just the two of us here".

I immediately got out the room and he followed me.

"We will go to the barn house now, it's lunch time. And I'm sure you and your parents are going eat there. We prepared food for your arrival", he informed me.

I get my Mango basket at the table when we are in the living room.

He glanced at me and said.

"Let me carry it. It's too heavy for your fragile arms", he said smiling at me.

Outside there are only few farmers picking up and others are already heading to the barn house.

We are just walking silently and reach the barn house. I get my basket at him.

I saw a long table covered with banana leaves on it and lots of food. If you say lots of food is like a fiesta. So many vegetable, mean and some seafood of course rice and fruits in here.

I went to Nay who is still grilling some meat and fish together with some old woman. Maybe the wives of the farmers.

Nay immediately smiled at me and said.

"Wow! You have a full of Mango princess, did you pick it yourself?

"Yeah Nay, Tata Selo helped me too", I answered.

"Very good, now put it there in a small table and I will helped them prepare on the other side. This is almost done", Nay said. And she left me there with a tongs with my hands

Standing here in the grilling, I watched every person in the barn house but I could not find Dominik.

"Where did he go?" I asked myself.

Then suddenly Tata Selo appeared behind me.

"You are already here señorita, sorry that I am late to be back at you", he said.

"It's okay Tata Selo anyone can accompany me there and Dominik guide me going back here", I said.

"Oh Dominik my boy", he said nodding. "

"I'll help them prepare there señorita", pointing to the other side where some men arranging the bamboo table for another set of drinks".

Preparing to put some cooked chicken inasal and liempo on the plate when a hand caught it.

"Hey!", I slightly surprised.

"Hi Señorita, let me handle the plate for you" , as I put liempo on.

"Put it back to the grill the two liempo señorita". he said seriously

"Huh?, I said confused.

"It's not yet cooked, I can see blood in the meat señorita and pressed the meat flowing up a red color".

"See? I told you", and flashed his boyish smile.

"I don't know how to cook", I said shyly at him.

"Well you can start from the simple one, like this - grilling", It's one of the easiest way to cook". he lectured me.

"And I don't know either to look at it if it's cooked or not", I said laughing a bit.

He laughed at me too.

After a few minutes we finished grilling and put the food on the table.

Today we are doing boodle fight for lunch. All the food is gathered on the long table cover with banana leaves and we should eat by our hands.

It's quite interesting. Even though I commonly heard it before I'm not going to eat that way because I don't know how to use my hands in eating.

Farmers are already washing there hands in the near well. So am I.

"C'mon now let's eat. I am already starving looking at this food in front", I heard Tay saying it.

"Luna Princess come here", Nay.said going to the right side of the table beside Tay.

I immediately walk and stand beside Nay.

"Find your position now", Tay added while laughing and heard some small laugh from the farmers.

We are already staring eating now and I see Nay and Tay enjoying eating with their hands even the farmers. They eat happily.

While I am not. I can't even properly grip the rice with some meat. The others can do it easily.

I stopped eating when I heard chucked on my left side. Just there two persons apart he is laughing at bit while looking at me.

I glared and rolled my eyes at him. And he still staring at me amusingly.

We all ended up fully. After eating, I helped Nay and the women clean the tables. While Tay went to talk with some farmers again.

I volunteer to throw the used banana leaves but Aling Nena said I will put it in the back of the barn and let it warm in the sun so when it already dried it we can use it to smoke for Mangoes. For a better fruit producing. And for mosquitos too.

I never know about it before. So, I obey on what she said. I walked slowly to the back carrying bunch of this leaves.

"Nah, you looked tired already señorita", I heard Dominik from behind.

He helped me put and arrange the leaves directing to the sun.

"Thank you", I said

"Is this your first time roaming around Iraya?", he asked me.

"Yeah and I quite enjoy here. I thought I will be bored the whole day staying here", as I walked inside.

"See you around then", finally waved at me

" I already arrange and put it there Aling Nena", I informed her.

"That's great señorita, thank you". she said.

I went to Nay to talked to her.

"Nay can I roam around here? I promise I will not go far", I give her my puppy eyes.

She stared at me and and sighed.

"Just don't go too far Luna, don't got me and Tay worried okay", she replied.

"I will Nay", and I kissed her cheeks.

The view here is spectacular. Fresh air, I never knew that a place would be like this is so peaceful. I looked up at the bright blue sky to feel the environment. I closed my eyes for a while and when I opened it I was a lot of birds (maya) flying above.

Free.

I explore more. I went to the poultry but I can't take it. Chickens are too loud and quite smelly even they cleaned. Also, got into the pigerry to see some cute little pinkies piglets.

I feed some leaves when I went to the goats. I enjoy seeing them here even though I don't like because it's still a bit muddy.

Damn! And I still wearing.a boots.

A well near to me has a bit of water, so I decided to clean my boots after. I pour over the water to it so it will be washed out but it's still there

And it's too sticky and thick mud. Ughh.

"It's not a the way you washed it señorita", Dominik surprisingly say behind me

"It's you again", I said placing my hands to my chest .

"The next you will do that I will have a.heart attack", I said to him.

"I'm sorry about that señorita", he answered me.

" I was secretly watching you behind that coconut tree washed over that muddy on your boots", Dominik said.

"Let me do that for you", he said.

I removed my boots from my feet and give it to him. He washed it over so easily and the mud on it just breaks down.

I watched him a few minutes until he is done .

"Thank you for doing this Dom", I said politely.

He stared at me for a while and I looked away. There is something about his stare. It's electrifying.

"Uhmm since you are roaming around here. I will let you know that there is a little brook near the narra tree", he informed me.

" Do you want to go in there?, he asked me.

"Sure, I'm glad to see it with my own eyes", I excitedly said to him.

"Let's get in there", as I first one to walked near the narra tree.

"Be careful on your.steps señorita there are some sharp twigs. Walk carefully", he said.

After a 5 minutes walk I heard the a bit or a running water splashing on the rocks.

"Is that it? I asked.

"Yeah, it's the brook already", he said. And the he pull off the big taro leaves in our way.

"This is it, my mini sanctuary paradise", he happily looked at me.

"Did you like it?", he asked.

"Of course, the water is so clear", as I touched to feel the water.

"It's so cold", I exclaimed.

He just laughed at my reaction.

"Oh my god! Look there are small fishes in there!", I looked like a child that is so excited.

"There are even small crabs and shrimps living here". he said.

"Really? That's cool", I said clapping my hands.

I was busy chasing and playing with some little fish. And he just like staring at me I suddenly feel conscious about my actions.

When I glanced at him. He is rolling his old pants. And sat the stone with his feet down on the water.

So, I decided to went to the other side. I remove my boots and put down my feet on the water. I saw small fishes rushing to my feet. I laughed when it feels like it tickles.

"Your's like so free and happy when you are alone", he commented.

"Do I? I asked him.

"I can see it in your eyes, you look so innocent but stiff", he said.

"Tay is a bit strict, I'm afraid I can make mistakes. I don't want them to be disappointed with me" , I said to him.

"I understand, they are just protective", he answered back

"By the way, how long. have you been working here?", I asked.

"Since I was sixteen, when Papa got sick. I worked for him to cope up with our daily needs and his medicines", I can see sadness when telling it

"But he gave up, he left me and Mama" he smiled bitterly as if he tried to remember it painfully.

"That's why I'm trying to earn my keeps and have my own farms or rancho someday", he said hopefully.

"You will have it, as long as you worked for it."

He nod at me

"And if I have my own family, I don't want them or my wife bothered with lack of money", he continued speaking

I listened to him intently

"I want my wife to to lay down in bed at night with out worries in everything", he said it while looking at me

"Do you want to marry a poor guy that you love but can't provide you anything or a rich man that you doesn't love but can give you everything?"

He asked me and looked seriously in my eyes.