CHAPTER 3: Plantation

ELINOR’S POINT OF VIEW

The 20-minute trip to the coffee plantation turned into an hour because I had no idea how to get there. I went all over the place just to find it. I had to ask around from the people I passed by earlier; that’s how I got here.

I never expected that in the three years I’ve been gone, so much has changed here.

To be honest, I grew up here, but I haven’t really been to my grandma’s various plantations, even though she invited me before to go with her. I’m quite high-maintenance, and I don’t like going out of the house without wearing heels. I also hate getting muddy, so my grandma doesn’t force me anymore when I say I don’t want to go.

I now regret not joining my grandma when she invited me before. Now, I don’t know where to go! It’s such a bummer. I should’ve gone with her!

I frowned as I got out of my Toyota car. I spotted Fenton’s parked car not too far away. So he’s here, huh? I just ignored it and went straight through the brown gate.

As soon as I entered, I was greeted by farmers rushing back and forth. Some of them were carrying baskets filled with coffee beans, while others had empty ones. Maybe I picked the wrong time to come here.

“Ma’am Elinor? Is that you?” called out by a worker, catching my attention. I turned my gaze toward her.

I smiled shyly at the woman and said, “Yes, it’s me.”

“Oh my god! Everyone, Madame Consuelo’s granddaughter is here!” she called out to the busy farmers.

I tried to stop her, but it was too late. It felt like time stood still as all the workers halted their tasks and turned their gaze towards me.

“Are you really Madame Consuelo’s granddaughter?” the old woman asked again, examining my face as if trying to recognize me. “You really are!You really look just like your father, Eduardo!”

I was taken aback by what she said. I looked away as my anger toward my father resurfaced. How many years has it been since I last saw him? Eighteen years? Nineteen years? I’ve lost count; all I know is that he abandoned me. My mom and dad abandoned me and chose someone else over their own child.

“We heard the news. Is it true that you will now be in charge of your grandmother’s properties, ma’am? Does that mean we won’t lose our jobs?” asked by one person, holding a straw hat.

I nodded. “Yes, sir. I will do everything in my power to ensure that you do not lose your jobs because I personally understand the hardships of earning money if you don’t have a job.”

I saw some of them visibly relax after my statement. “Anyways, ma’am, what did you come here for? You didn’t inform us that you’d be coming. We weren’t able to prepare,” someone respectfully asked.

“I apologize for not informing you beforehand. I came here to visit and see how the farm was doing. I didn’t expect to cause any inconvenience. After this, I will proceed to the tea plantation. I just wanted to find out if there are any issues or needs that the crops have so we can provide a solution.”

“Oh, there’s nothing, ma’am. Everything is fine. Fenton always ensures that the crops are in excellent condition. He personally takes care of monitoring for pests or any other issues,” a lady replied with a smile.

I winced upon hearing her response. Fenton again!

I smiled fakely. “That’s good to hear. Fenton seems to be doing a great job. Please continue with your work, and I’ll observe quietly. Thank you for your hospitality.”

As I said that, my gaze landed on a man carrying two baskets filled to the brim with coffee beans, balanced on his shoulders.

Fenton and I lock eyes. I saw him shaking his head, doing the same thing he did earlier. What’s his problem with me again? He should be thankful that he still has a purpose on my grandmother’s plantation, or else I will throw him out of this place!

I simply ignored him and walked towards the actual coffee bean plantation, where the workers were. I couldn’t help but marvel as my gaze roamed around the area.

The coffee bean plantation stretched out before me, a vast expanse of carefully cultivated greenery. The air was heavy with the rich and earthy aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Lush, verdant coffee plants formed neatly aligned rows, their glossy leaves shimmering under the sunlight. The plantation was meticulously maintained, with every coffee plant thriving in vibrant emerald hues.

As I walked further into the plantation, I could hear the gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds. The soil beneath my feet was moist and fertile, a testament to the ideal growing conditions for coffee beans.

From a distance, I could see the coffee cherries adorning the branches of the plants, varying in shades of red, ripe, and ready for harvest. The plantation workers, their clothes stained with the rich hues of coffee, moved among the plants with practiced precision, carefully selecting and picking the ripest cherries.

“Would you like me to teach you the proper process of harvesting coffee beans, dear?” asked the old woman when she noticed me observing the coffee cherries.

“May I, really? I hope I’m not causing you any inconvenience,” I replied humbly.

“Of course! I’d be happy to teach you,” she said while smiling genuinely. “So, let me explain the proper technique. Choose only ripe coffee cherries, which are bright red with a firm texture. You should avoid unripe green cherries or overripe, dull-colored ones,” she explained while pointing to the coffee cherries.

“How can I know when a coffee cherry is ripe?” I curiously asked.

“Well, you can identify a ripe cherry by looking at the color and texture. You’ll find ripe cherries in a bright red color, and when squeezed gently, they give a slightly firm feeling. Though it takes some practice, you can learn it over time. Make sure that you pick cherries at different stages of ripeness, as cherries do not ripen all at once.

I nodded, indicating that I understood what she was saying. “Is there any specific tool that I should use while harvesting?”

“Yes, to pick the cherries without damaging the plant or breaking the branches, hold the tree’s branch with one hand and pluck the only ripe cherries with the other. We usually collect the harvested cherries in small baskets.”

“I see. It’s certainly a delicate process. Is there anything else I should keep in mind?”

“The main thing is to watch out for diseased or damaged cherries and remove them to prevent contamination. Keep in mind that only the best coffee beans make it to the processing stage.”

I thanked her, but before she left, I asked for her name.

“I’m Linda. I’ve been a worker for your grandmother for a long time now. It’s good to see that you’ve taken an interest in your family business. I’ll be expecting to see you here often,” she said with a smile.

I stayed there for a few more minutes before deciding to head to another plantation.

I was pleasantly surprised by the hospitality of the people here, which made it impossible for me not to be happy with how they welcomed me.

I took the key to my car from the pocket of my jeans and then opened its door.

I lost the smile that was plastered on my face when the car wouldn’t start. I tried again and again, but it just wouldn’t budge, so I got out of the car to check the engine. I have no clue about cars, so I had no idea what to do.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I whispered to my car.

I made sure that this car had enough gas before using it. This was my very first car, a gift from my grandmother when I made it to the dean's list in college. It’s been a long time, but Manong Edson told me earlier that it’s still in good condition because they always maintain and run it to prevent it from deteriorating.

I opened the hood to check the engine compartment, but as soon as I opened it, I started coughing because of the thick smoke that came out. I even waved my hand in the air to get the smoke off my face. Damn it!

“What happened?” asked the familiar voice from behind me. Even though I had just met him earlier, I immediately recognized his voice.

“It’s nothing. Mind your own business,” I said, and tried to inspect the engine as if I knew something about it.

“You’re really stubborn,” I heard him whisper.

I quickly turned to him. “Are you saying something?”

Instead of answering my question, he approached me. I slightly moved because I knew he would inspect my car’s engine.

“What happened?” he asked once again without looking at me.

I took a deep breath and said, “I don’t know. When I tried to start it, it wouldn’t start, so I assumed something was wrong. When I opened the hood, that’s what greeted me,” I explained.

He nodded. He watched the machine intently, doing a little dance of confusion. It’s like he was trying to figure out a puzzle.

“I think your car had an oil leak,” he said, then looked at me, causing both of us to adjust our gaze. “I didn’t bring my tools for fixing cars, so I can’t fix it now. Are you going to the tea plantation?”

I nodded slowly, like a docile sheep. “Yeah,” I muttered.

“You can actually join me. I’m heading there too, but only if you want to tag along with me,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

“Are there no other passing public vehicles here?” I asked.

He shrugged and said, “Nope. No one ever comes here anyway, ‘cause it’s your family’s private property.”

I bit my lower lip and looked at my car. Why did I have to bring this car?! It’s so frustrating!

“What? Are you going to come along, or will I leave you here alone? I can be quick to talk to if you don’t want to.”

I took a deep breath. “Fine! I’ll go with you.”