Hacienda Del Barrio: Lucian

Chapter 6. Hallucinations

Ang pagsasalita na muli ni Lileth ay ikinagulat ng mga taong nakatira sa Villa. Kaya , hindi na nag alinlangan pa si Sophia sa mga sinabi sa kaniya ni Lucian ukol sa katauhan ng kaniyang pamangkin. Ang ipinagtaka lang niya ay kung bakit pinili nito o ng pagkakataon na makapagsalita ito at her presence. Three days had passed since her meeting with the girl, since then , palagi na Niya itong kasama. Ang gusto pa nga nito ay magkatabi sila sa pagtulog at pagkain. Ito naman talaga ang role Niya bilang p.a ng bata. Mas madali pa nga kaysa kaniyang inaasahan .The child is not immobile at all. Paano na lang kung hindi nga ito nagsasalita at lumalabas sa kuwarto ? Mahihirapan siya pag yon nga ang sitwasyon. Bagama't hindi pa nag aya si Lileth na lumabas ng Villa ay Isang malaking step na ang kaniyang pagsasalita at pakisalamuha muli sa mga kasambahay nila sa Villa. Sophia wanted to bring Lileth to a psychiatrist or kahit na sa psychologist .She wanted to ensure the child's behavior. It's a good thing, that she is now talking and getting out of her shell. Three long years of isolating yourself and refusing to talk , needs medical help and support from family. Because traumatic experience can lead to PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder. It can affect for a long time. Maybe , in Lileth's case , refusing to talk and isolating herself from others even to her own family , is the result of that trauma. She's not self diagnosing , for she knows very well that losing your love one , specifically, your parents is traumatic. But it baffled her to think , why bigla na lang itong nagsasalita ng parang walang nangyari sa loob ng tatlong taon? Ang Sabi kasi ni Lucian , she just nods , kapag may itinatanong sa kaniya . Well,maliban na lang siguro kung siya ang may kailangan , saka mo lang maririnig ang kaniyang tinig. And that was it . Sophia was determined to bring Lileth to a psychiatrist or psychologist.. one of these days. She just have to figure how to convince the child. She fears na baka bumalik na naman ito bigla na di na naman magsasalita . For the meantime, she was busy tending the girl's need. As far as Sophia's concern, she avoided the topic that involves family. Natatakot siya na baka may masamang eoekto na namn ito sa kaniya. " So, you will be celebrating your birthday two weeks from now.? ' she asked the girl with caution. " Yes , Aunt Sophie.." she replied excitedly. Nanibago talaga si Sophia na tinatawag siya nitong Aunt Sophie. Pero , wala siyang magawa

dahil, one ; they were shocked na nagsasalita na ito...so , ayaw nilang barahin kung ano man ang pumasok sa isip nito. Two, Lucian is pleading through his eyes , to go with the flow or sakyan na lang ang maling akala ng bata. She was caught in between. It's wrong to lie, but the situation is called to do so. Besides, she was also lying when she filled up the application form, telling the Del Barrio that she was an employee at Lullaby Orphanage. They're now even. She was smiling to herself. Lileth , mistook the smile. " Are you excited too, Aunt Sophie.? " she asked her. " Of course honey,, everybody in the Villa is excited and happy to be celebrating your incoming birthday. " she said honestly. " Yay, I am so happy that you are my Uncle Lucian's girlfriend ." Sophia , almost choked. They are in the west wing of the second floor enjoying tea and cookies before going down to the pool as planned.. "Well, thanks honey.." She has nothing to do. It has imprinted to Lileth's mind . Where is that man now? Lucian was also very busy meeting investors . She wanted to confront the man. Although, the man is innocent like her, but still , if she corrected the girl at that moment ... maybe ,, hindi nila kailangang magpanggap pa sila.

She forgot about the ' girlfriend/boyfriend situation her and Lucian have. She was busy for the past three days because Lileth is craving for her attention. The butler Mang Jose and the rest of the Villa's worker told her that she's a miracle. She knew they were talking about Lileth. Kung paano at bakit bigla nga itong nagsasalita . Ang sagot sa lahat ng kanilang pagtataka ay nasa medical experts lamang. When they are done drinking their tea ay pumunta na sila sa swimming pool. It was located in the backyard of the Villa . Naghihintay naman doon ang yaya nito na si Aling Lora.. Lileth said she doesn't know how to swim, kaya tinuruan Niya ito. Hindi na Niya itinanong kung bakit hindi siya marunong lumangoy. Ayaw niyang mgkakamali sa pagsasalita . They spent an hour in the pool swimming and talking about the girl's upcoming birthday. Pagkatapos ay tinawag na Niya ang yaya nito upang makapagpahinga na si Lileth sa kaniyang silid . Ayaw, niyang mapagod ito sa unang praktis Niya sa paglangoy.

Sophia is enjoying her time , so she decided to stay . The water in the pool is as blue as the sky and clean as crystal clear. ..so she's taking her time. As she dives into the depth of the pool , her mind wanders towards Lucian. She didn't see him for three days. The man was very busy . She learned that the Del Barrio owns the biggest Sugar Milling Company in Negros Island. Lucian personally manages the Company . They owned the whole Barrio .. the lands and the richness it contains. The Family is influencing and powerful that no one dared to cross them. Business men choose to be their allies rather than be a rival. So her question was , why he's not yet married? A man so wealthy and powerful,. damned gorgeous , most defined human being..is single.? Perhaps he's gay. Sophia laughed in silence. She could feel the numbness of her muscles, so , she decided to swim upward . But she can't move . She realized she's having a muscles cramp. Sophia , instead of floating upward , she's sinking and drowned. Will she die in water? There is no one to save her . She wanted to shout but there is no sound coming out from her. She closed her eyes and darkness engulfed her.

"Sophia baby, do you really love me? "

" Yes, silly, where this coming from? This is the hundreds time you've been asking me today."

" Nothing, I just want to be sure that you will not change."

"You know , you are weird and funny ".

They were in the field of dandelion. She was wearing a white dress that compliments the flowers and bushes in the fields. They were dancing and running. Then, he caught up with her, and kissed her on the lips. The kiss was intoxicating. She was moaning and panting . She wanted him not to stop from kissing her. She likes how his lips savored hers. This fell so right , like. heaven.

"Sophia, open your eyes."

"No, I want to feel your lips just one more time. Why, did you stop."

"I love you so much baby..."

" I love you too.."

He was kissing her again , this time it's a bit rough and wild. She closed her eyes once again . He was hugging , touching and kissing her in a manner that no woman can deny . .but to give in to the temptation. But , just when she was about to delve into the depth of temptation . She felt that he was shaking her violently. She was irritated . The force awakens her and she feels cold all over her body.

Sophia, was able to throw up the water inside her body. She was panting and widened her eyes to see Lucian in his suit wet and worried about her. " Are you okay? " he asked. " What ... happened?" She felt dizzy and cold . She coughs and the water in the pool keeps coming out of her mouth. So , she drowned. And if Lucian did not arrive in time . She was dead by now. If she was not mistaken , three minutes is the longest time a human can contain the air below the water. .yes, parang tatlong minuto lang ang kayang itagal ng isang tao sa ilallim ng tubig ..pagkatapos ay mamamatay na siya. Divers can stay up to 5 more minutes? but she's not a diver. She suppressed her emotions , because she felt like crying ." Thank you , .." her voice cracked. She stayed in a sitting position at the edge of the pool and so is Lucian. She thought, he was about to tease her , so she waited. But Lucian , simply stands up , and picks her bridal style. Sophia , who felt so tired and numbed didn't say a word. She just let him pick her up and brought her to the nearest bench in the pool. He got her robe and asked her if kaya Niya itong isuot without his help. His intention is honest and sincere, she thought. But his burning gaze towards her body wearing a two piece bikini makes her very conscious. But maybe , she's just over reacting. Men and women are looking at her with an intense gaze every time she is on the runway . Modeling some expensive undergarments .. But why does she give meaning to Lucian's gaze. And in spite of the numbness that she felt all over her body , she can't shake the thought that Lucian is kissing her! CPR or not , the man is f****** kissing her. And what terrified her was why she felt so good . She was hallucinating awhile ago . And it feels so good. !