Chapter 2: The Annoying Brother

Feeling agitated, she watched the family doctor examined Alec as he was lying on the bed unconscious. He got bruises and wounds on his arms and face from the impact of falling hard from the horse.

"How was he, Dr. Ramirez? " Mr. De Guzman- the mansion's butler asked worriedly to the doctor after he examined Alec.

"He obtained some bruises and wounds all over his body and some minor fractures on the left hand and his left leg. Thank God he did not fell into the rocky surface and hit his head." The doctor stated.

"Thank you so much, Doctor Edwards. Senior Alonzo was worried sick when he found out what happened. He immediately called from Italy checking on his Unico Hijo (only boy child). Is he going to be fine now?" Mr. De Guzman queried.

"As soon as he woke up, he might be feeling unbearable pain towards the injury he obtained from the accident so I advised to inject him a pain reliever. Be sure to let him take his medicines on time. I'll send a personal nurse here to take good care of him for days." Doctor Edwards concluded before he decided to leave the mansion.

When the doctor left, she decided to come closer to Alec as she watches him lying in the bed still unconscious. He had a wince on his face as he breathes evenly as if he could feel the pain even through his sleep.

"Mr. De Guzman, is he going to be okay? Why he's not waking up yet?" She couldn't help to ask trying to stop herself to burst into tears. She feels guilty about what happened. If she did not drop Cinnamon, Black Tornado will not get alarmed and go aggressive. The accident might never happen if she prevents that to happen. That way, the beast might not fell, Alec, if she was not that clumsy. She was partly blaming herself because she knew she was at fault too although it is indeed an accident.

"He's fine now little Señorita so don't worry too much, okay? Señorito Alec was a brave kid." The butler consoled her.

"Claudia, inform the guards at the main gate for the coming of Señorito Alec's personal nurse anytime from now. She was sent by Doctor Edwards and kindly assist her to Señorito Alec's room when she arrived." Mr. De Guzman commanded one of the maids. The maid nodded gently and immediately followed Mr. De Guzman's errand.

"Oh, God! Did Dad knew about what happened to Alec?" Patty suddenly came in the room panting.

She seemed like gasping for air from running fast. Her forehead is sweating and her face looked so worried and about to cry. Patty was supposed to be in the city shopping for herself. She left early this morning together with her personal maid who was assigned by Mr. De Guzman to accompany her. It seemed she had received the news about what happened to Alec the reason why she immediately comes back home to the mansion.

"Yes, Senorita. He was so worried sick to Señorito Alec. He immediately sent me an order to fire Mr.  Collins and the rest of his family that works at the hacienda." The butler stated showing no emotions. Hearing that news, her eyes widen in shock, and became more guilty.

"That was too much, Mr. De Guzman..." Patty stated while eyes are still on their brother.

"No! You can't fire Mr. Collins, he never gave Alec permission to ride Black Tornado! It was Alec who untied the and manipulated the horse to move. Even Mr. Collins forbid him not to because it's too dangerous." She explained telling the truth. It was not Mr. Collins's mistake so he did not deserve to be fired out and get punished.

"Yes we knew that little Señorita, but your Dad was so angry. He believed it was Mr. Collins's fault and that he should take responsibility for what happened. I did try to explain what happened but he just ordered me to fire out Mr. Collins and the rest of his family that worked in the hacienda as soon as possible. He was so mad he doesn't wanna listen to my explanations." Mr. De Guzman sadly replied.

"No, Mr. De Guzman! You should have told my Dad that it was my fault because I brought Cinnamon in the paddock and it caused Black Tornado to get alarmed and get aggressive. It made the stallion scared so it run faster and fell, Alec. You should have told Dad that it was my fault." She explained and was now about to cry.

"It was an accident. No one wants that to happen." Patty stated.

"I'm so sorry my Senoritas. When your father made an order he makes sure it's for finality. He gets angrier when we try to oppose his decisions and if I attempted to do that, I might lose my job as well..." Mr. De Guzman stated apologetically.

With that, she felt upset and run away from Alec's room. Mr. Collins is a good man and he did not deserve to lose his job and the rest of his family. She knew how the simple workers in their hacienda value their job. Sheila once told her that if her parents lose their job in the mansion, they will have no money to sustain their daily needs such as food and the education of her siblings. Thinking about Mr. Collins losing his job and the rest of his family made her thought about what Sheila has told her. Mr. Collins's family might have experienced hunger and hardship in the future and that's because of her fault. She was blaming herself for what happened.

***

A week passed, unfortunately after Mr. Collins and the rest of his family lost their job in the hacienda. They were forced to leave the town and find another job in the nearer town. Servants of the mansion felt sorry for the family Collins, they even donated a little amount of money they could afford to serve as a help to the family. Growing in the hacienda and being with this kind of people, she knew their job means everything to them. So as a child, she felt guilty about what happened. Nana Marcela kept on consoling her that it was not her fault but deep down inside her she knew it was partly her fault, it was Alec and hers.

Their father immediately flew back into the country and came home after the incident. Growing having their father was their only parent, they seldom see him in a year. Their father goes to different countries managing their businesses in different parts of the world. They were rich, she knew that. Their surname was famous in the business society and they were the richest in the town. Sometimes, she was wondering why she has no someone they called Mom, unlike her classmates and Sheila. Nana Marcela once told her she died when she was a baby. She even tried to call Patty in London and asked about her. Patty gladly told her about their Mom. She said she was beautiful, sweet, kind, and thoughtful. Patty even showed a picture together with their mom and it was hanging on the wall of her sister's room. With that, her curiosity came to an end. Although she was wondering why she has no pictures of her and their mom, seeing the beautiful woman in old photographs with Patty and Alec was enough for her. Nana Marcela used to tell her that she looks like her Mom but she knew deep inside that she doesn't. Patty looks exactly like their Mom but not her, she was convinced with that. Patty and her never look-alike in physically. They were exact opposites although she knew they were both beautiful.

As for Alec, he recovered easily and only the bandage in his left arm just remained as he continues his medication. He spends almost two weeks staying in the mansion and is not allowed to go outside. Alec got upset at her for what happened. He was blaming her for his accident. He always shouts and gets mad at her for no particular reason. They fight too often and sometimes she finds a way for him to talk to her but the latter just only ignore her.

"What the hell are you doing there? Nana Marcela is worried sick looking for you."

Alec found her at the lake alone at that time. She was playfully throwing rocks at the lake as she was being amazed at how far the rock could reach the water. Early this morning they fight again and he shouted at her because Cinnamon went into his room. Alec hated Cinnamon since after the accident befell him. Being upset, she went out of the mansion and went somewhere away from Alec. Since Sheila visited her grandma in the city, she usually goes alone in the lake and plays there most of the time.

"Leave me alone, Alec!" she stated irritatingly.

"Lunch is ready. Dad wanted the whole family at the table. Don't keep Dad waiting. Come on Emerald!" Alec shouted again.

"You go, I'll follow later." She answered then continued throwing rocks in the lake. Alec can walk now without his crutch on his left feet but he still has the cast in his left arm though.

"Nana Marcela told me to look for you and she told me not to go home without you, you understand! So better come with me or else I'll drag you even you get hurt." He warned.

She got scared of what Alec had stated. Alec once warned her to throw some scary insects at her when they had a fight one time and her stupid brother really did it. She threw some grasshoppers in her bed while she was asleep so no wonder he was capable of doing what he warned her.

"I'll tell Patty you are hurting me so she'll hit you in the head." She replied trying to intimidate him.

She was well aware that Alec was afraid of their old sister Patty so that's her tactic she always says to stop him from bullying her. She noticed Alec wasn't paying attention to what she said because she found him staring somewhere at the lake and when she takes a look at it, it was the group of swans playfully swimming at the lake.

"They're beautiful aren't they?" She murmured looking at a group of swans in the lake.

"They're just some freaking ugly birds.." She heard him said disgustingly but his eyes show the opposite. He seemed amazed at the swans forming a shape in the lake. Her poor big brother, why he seems acting like he hates the world when it's so obvious he was being fascinated by in simple things he sees around the hacienda. Bet it's way too different here than the city of London where he came from.

"You know, old people used to believe that if you see a group of swans forming a shape in the full moonlight in this lake, you will be granted an amazing love in your lifetime." She narrated dreamily.

"You believe in that folklore? People here are idiots and pathetic. I hate this place. I wanna go back to London." He stated disgustingly.

"You don't know them to even called them idiots, Alec!"

"Whatever!" She saw him seated at the big rock afterward as his eyes were still on the group of swans. A moment of silence occurred with them afterward. His foolish brother was obviously getting amazed by the swans on the lake. The water was crystal clear and the place was captivating. It's the reason why she loves to stay in this place especially when it's twilight.

"Why do you hate me, Alec?" She decided to ask breaking the silence. With that, his attention got caught with her question because he then stared at her with a surprised look in his eyes.

"I don't hate you, silly." He simply answered then jerked her eyes away from her.

"Then why do you keep shouting and bullying me?"

"Your presence pissing me off." He said shortly.

"Uh?" She replied being perplexed.

What the heck is his problem? Isn't that the same thing? Confused and not being satisfied with his preposterous reason, she asked him again the same question.

"Alec?" Her brute of a brother just ignore her and didn't answer back.

"Alec!" She repeated.

"What!" He replied annoyingly.

"Why is my presence pissing you off?"

"Because you're so annoying and very nosy." Strange but his eyes show the opposite because he seems to enjoy that she was in distress. She wanted to get upset about what he said because it was not true. She was not annoying and nosy. In fact, she was a very sweet and kind kid. Everyone in the mansion seemed so fond of her.

"If I stop being annoying and nosy, will you stop shouting and bullying me? Will you be good and will play with me then?" She asked excitedly.

"No."

"You're cruel Alec...." Feeling hurt and offended, she couldn't help the tears that started to accumulate in her eyes as she suddenly felt the urge to cry.

"I know..." He stated then stand up on the big rock he was sitting and shake off the dust on his shorts.

"Come on, let's go back to the mansion. Dad and Patty might be waiting for us in the dining area." He stated afterward.

Feeling disappointed and sad, she started following him as they cross the small pathway towards the mansion. Sulking and feeling upset as they were walking, she wanted to hit him on the head while his back was turned on her. This brother of her was such a pain in the head. He was annoying, harsh and so insensitive and she hates him for that. He wasn't this way before, she wonders what makes him changed?

"Alec..." She called him.

"Alec...." She called him again but he did not reply.

"Alec!"

"What!" He shouted angrily then turned around to face her.

"Why do you hate me?" She asked the same question again not planning to give up unless he gives her a reasonable answer.

"I don't, okay!"

"Then why do you keep shouting and always mad at me then if you don't hate me?" She argued as her voice broke in resentment and irritation. Alec got stunned and stared at her. She'd seen different emotions radiated in his face which she cannot name. His features softened and it's like he got worried and confused that she was about to cry.

"Fine, I hate you! Happy now?" He shouted disgustingly that made her stop from holding back her tears. That soft expression was just temporary because his face switched to dark and angry again.

"You're so bad, Alec! I hate you! I hate you!!" She shouted back angrily and run away leaving him. She runs fast as she could until she reached the mansion.

When Nana Marcela heard her crying when she entered the mansion, the old woman worriedly asked her what happened. Being such a cry baby and sensitive child, she told Nana Marcela that Alec hurt her feelings. The old woman just consoled and hushed her to stop from crying. She said she need to tolerate her brother because he was injured and he might not intend to hurt her feelings. All she knew that time is she hated Alec, she hated her brother! Feeling grumpy and still upset, she didn't join lunch that afternoon no matter how Nana Marcela tried to convince her. She stayed in her room and just locked herself there. Nana Marcela brought her lunch but she didn't eat it.

And that night, the whole family ate dinner together following their father's will. Tomorrow was their father's flight back to Italy and he requested all of them to be there at the table at dinner time. As a good child, she doesn't wanna disappoint her father so she somehow obliges although she doesn't like to see Alec's face because she was still fuming mad at him. All throughout the dinner, she was silent and sad. Her father noticed her silence and asked her what's wrong. She just replied she was not feeling well and that she was already sleepy. Her Dad then allowed her to go upstairs after dinner so she excused herself after dinner.

After Don Alonzo left the country, just a week later, Patty and Alec flew back to London as well for their study. It was the end of their school vacation so they opt to prepare for their upcoming enrolment. Unfortunately, her brute brother left without patching things between then and left without saying goodbye to her. He never said sorry nor make up with her for what he did. He left without talking to her. With that, she got very disappointed and so upset with Alec.