Chapter 2

I silently looked outside. We've already entered the private property of Escanor's. It's a 60-hectare hacienda. Our house was located at the very end. There were small huts where the workers stay if they do not go home especially when they were tired or when there was a lot of work in the hacienda. All their meals were free so their families were in peace if they can't go home.

I saw some familiar faces and I recognized some of them. I saw workers busy milking newborn cows. Cows, chickens, pigs, horses, goats. Those are the animals raised here in hacienda. Their population got doubled.

"Are you distributing eggs?" I asked Koko when I saw trays of eggs being placed in the truck.

Koko turned to where I pointed. "Yeah, because the supply of eggs was in short and it was still too expensive. So your father thought of producing more eggs and selling them at a cheaper price so that the people would not suffer," he explained. "See that?" He pointed at a black and tall horse. One look, I know that it was expensive. "That's from another country. Your father become interested in breeding animals these past months."

"If–" I stopped speaking when I spotted a very familiar person. My face became stoic. When Koko saw the change in my reaction, he looked at where I was staring. Not far away from us, there's a woman in a tight ponytail riding a brown horse. The horse stopped in the middle of the road and seemed to be waiting for us to approach.

"Samantha," I uttered my sister's name. Her eyes were looking at the passenger seat where I was sitting. Koko's car was tinted so she can't see me but she knows I'm inside.

"Just go straight Koko," I said coldly when he slowed down the car.

"Ahmm. Okay." The Jaguar returned to its previous speed. We passed her. I looked in the side mirror and saw how her smooth forehead wrinkled as she looked at the car driving away. I looked away from her and focused my eyes on the road. Our house can be seen from here.

"Are you alright? You look nervous." Koko snapped.

"I'm fine. It's just that, I don't know how to act."

I've been gone for a long time. A lot had changed. I felt like I don't belong in this house anymore. That all the traces of me had completely disappeared. The car stopped in front of the big house. Suddenly, my hand started to sweat. If only I could run away..

Koko gently tapped my shoulder. "Just be yourself Lauren. Show them that you're not the same as before. Show them that you can fight," he encourages me. I smiled at him. He's right.

"Thank you."

Koko came out first. I took a deep breath before going out. Soon, the servants came out of the house. Their eyes widened while looking at me.

"Jusmiyo hija! Lauren, is that you?" an old woman uttered in full surprise.

"M-Manang Rosing?" I gaped when I recognized the woman.

She cried in front of me. "Look at you! You've grown big!"

All the house servants hugged and greeted me. They only stopped when Koko restrained them. They took my luggage and guided me inside the house.

"Do you want me to accompany you?"

"No, it's fine. I can do it. Thanks for picking me up Koko," I assured him.

Koko stared at my face for a long time before sighing. He patted my head. "Call me if there's a problem."

I smiled gently. I know he's worried. "Don't worry too much. I can handle myself."

"Yeah right." He rolled his eyes in the air. I just laughed at him.

I waited for his car to leave before entering the house. I'm home. I had mixed feelings at this time while looking around the wide living room. It's still look the same as before. The large paintings were still neatly hanging on the wall. The expensive chandeliers and the grand staircase. I saw some new figurines and furnitures but aside from that, nothing had change. It's still the same.

"Miss Lauren, your father has been waiting for you in his room." I was snapped out from my reverie when I heard a maid's voice, bowing slightly.

I followed her to the second floor. I looked around. It's a miracle that I can't even see the shadow of my step mom.We stopped in front of a familiar door. It sink again inside my head the reason why I came back in the town of Asthad. The maid opened the door.

"Sir, Ms. Lauren is here. I leave you here for now." She smiled politely before leaving.

"Thank you." I looked around in the wide and dark room. I found a figure with his back on me. He was facing the window and his eyes were looking far away. Sadness and pain crept inside my chest upon seeing him.. again.

"P-Pa," I said in a raspy voice.

His body tensed. "Lauren? Lauren, my daughter? Is that you?" he said in a trembling voice. His eyes lingered as he tried to looked around. He couldn't see me. He couldn't see anything. That's when the tears that I had been holding back started to flow out. Oh god, he's blind.

I came to him and hugged him tightly. "Pa. I'm here.. I'm here. I-I'm so sorry." I cried on his shoulders.

"Lauren..." If my hug was tight, his hug was even tighter. He just hugs me silently while I cry. His tight and warm hug enveloped my body. No one can replace the security that it gives me.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry if I left you." I've missed him. Now that I'm in front of him, I felt like I regret leaving before. I wish I could have stayed here with him. When I ran away, I didn't even think about how he would feel. All I thought about was myself. To stay away from this place.

"Shhhh. I understand hija. You don't need to explain and apologize. I have a fault too."

I pulled away from his embrace and stared at him. "Don't say that. It's not your fault."

He did not speak but pointed in the direction of the bed. I helped him sit there. His body gave out. He also lose weight. His proud and mighty posture had gone. This was the reason why I came home. My father suddenly fell ill. What's worse was that he went blind. Samantha can't handle all the responsibilities that our father left, the Capitol and the hacienda as well as the citizens. My step mom has her own line of business so it's rarely of her to help.

"What did the doctor said about your condition?" I asked while massaging his fingers. I used to do this before. He said his hands were sore from signing documents all day so I used to massage them.

Dad's face became sad. "They said they can't identify it. Several doctors have looked at me but they still don't have an answer. Elizabeth even tried the doctors in the city but just like before, they didn't know what kind of disease I have."

I bit my lip. Koko told me this when we were in the car. The first thing Dad noticed was that his vision was getting blurry. Next, he said that his body was painful. And then one day,they found him unconscious in his office. When he woke up, his body became thin and he lost his vision. And as the days went by, he got weaker and weaker. Eye surgery was not an option either. In the current condition of his body, he will not be able to handle the process.

"A-Are you taking any medicine?"

"I am. But I feel like I'm not getting any better," he laughed jokingly.

My throat went dry. I know that he's hiding it. I know that he was frustrated, that he wants to get out of the house and do the things that makes him happy.

"Lauren, you're hurting me."

I blinked a few times then looked at his hand I was holding. "I'm sorry!" I didn't realize that I was breaking his hand.

He laughed softly. He raised his hand and found my hair and stroked it gently. "I wish I could see you," he said in a low voice. "I am proud of you Lauren. You inherited your mother's courage. I was hurt when you left but I know that it was for the betterment of your life. And I hope that all the things you've learned outside of this town will be your weapon whatever the trials you will face in the future."

"Dad.."

"Don't worry about me, hija. I'll be fine too. I still want to see my grandchildren with you."

"Dad." I pouted. What's with this conversation?

"But you don't have any boyfriend yet so how can I have a grandchildren?"

"Dad!"

He started laughing and I can't help but to laugh too. I promise that he will get better. I will find a cure for his illness. I know that it seems impossible but it's better than just giving up.

After I left Dad's room, I was surprised to see my step mom standing by the door. Her eyes were closed and her arms was folded on her chest. She was leaning against the wall and seemed to be waiting for me.

"Tita.."

She glanced at me using her empty eyes. I don't know but my body suddenly felt cold. She turned to the maid who brought me here earlier.

"Sherly, you take care of your sir Anton."

"Yes ma'am."

"And you Lauren." She looked back at me. "Follow me."