Chapter 3

This place is boring! In less than an hour since I arrived at this house, I was restless. This is not the punishment that I'm expecting! I already cried earlier, but I stopped because my crying didn't do anything. I called Mommy as well, but she still hasn't talked to Daddy about me, so I lost hope even more.

I opened my suitcases and removed my things one by one. My room is big, and I like the design. There is a big window there, and you can see the trees and some mountains not far from this house. When I look at the scenery, I relax a bit, but when I think about my life in the city compared to my life here in the province, I can't help but be annoyed.

I don't know how many hours I put my things in order, and when I got tired, I fell asleep. I just woke up from my sleep because of Manang Gina's knocks. I didn't realize that it was late and I needed to eat dinner.

"Ma'am Zari, I'm sorry about our dinner tonight. This is all Julio got from fishing. I also couldn't buy anything at the market because I was taking care of the room that you will be using all day," Manang Gina explained to me.

I laughed a little and shook my head. I looked at the dish that was served on the table, and just by smelling it, it looked delicious.

"It's okay, Manang Gina. Don't worry. Don't worry, I'll eat this," I answered her, then brought the dish closer to me.

I put some soup on my spoon and slowly tasted it. I almost nodded because it passed my taste buds.

"This is so good! What do you call this dish?" I asked and took another to put on my plate.

Manang Gina smiled and nodded at me before answering my question.

"That's Filipino milkfish in tamarind broth, Ma'am Zari. That's your mother's favorite that I used to cook for her," she answered me with a smile.

I also smiled because I just tasted that dish for the first time and I just found out that it is one of Mommy's favorite foods.

Manang Gina joined me for dinner. The two of us just talked, and I also opened up to her about my resentment towards my father. I also told her the reason I was here, and she said she understood me. I felt better because I was able to say my grievances.

"I'll come here again tomorrow so I can cook you breakfast. I'll also bring my son Johny so he can take you for a walk here at Las Espadas after we go to church," Manang Gina told me.

I smiled and nodded to her. It seems that I will not be bored here because the people I will be with are kind.

Manang Gina does not live in this house. I think she had to walk for more than ten minutes from here until she got home.

When I found out that I would be the only one left alone in this big house, I couldn't help but be afraid. Not because the house is big and I'm afraid of ghosts, but because I'm not used to being alone at home. It's true that we have a big house in the city, but I know we have many maids and guards there.

"Don't worry, Ma'am Zari. It's safe in this place, so even if you're alone, nothing bad will happen to you. Another thing is that everyone here is afraid to step on your property," Manang Gina explained to me.

I nodded and just cheered myself up. I was a bit relieved by what she said, and I trust that I will be safe here.

"This is my cellphone number. Just call me when you need something," she added, then showed me her phone's keypad.

I frowned while looking at that thing.

"Is that your phone, Manang Gina?" I asked her.

She laughed a little and nodded.

"Yes. I bought Johny a cellphone first for his studies. It's still fine and still working," she answered and wrote her number on the paper.

I immediately saved her number in my phone when she left. It's getting dark outside, but I can't help but to worry. I offered her that I would just take her with my car, but she refused, so I didn't insist anymore.

I just locked myself in my room that night. Fortunately, I have internet, and the signal is not weak, so I wasn't bored. I just scrolled through my social media and received more and more messages from my friends, especially Lexi. I was typing my reply to her when my iPad rang and I saw Lexi's name on the screen.

"Oh my gosh, Zariya! I've been messaging and calling you last night! I know that your parents are mad, but what happened? Where are you?" She asked me one after another.

I rolled my eyes and immediately turned the camera to show her where I was.

"Where is that? Don't tell me you're somewhere else. Tell me where you are and I'll come to you," she added.

I laughed and shook my head. As if she could go to this province.

"To make a long story short, I had an argument with Dad last night. He was so frustrated, and he punished me," I answered her.

"What punishment?" she asked curiously.

"I'm no longer a city girl, Lexy. He sent me here to the province, and I'll continue my studies here," I continued, and I couldn't avoid the sadness in my voice.

"Oh my gosh! Is that true?! For real?! What province is that? You can't! You can't be there!" she said one after the other, and the surprise was obvious in her voice.

"Yeah, I can't be here, but what am I against Dad? He always wins!" I answered, then just sighed.

"How about your mom? Didn't she find a way to prevent your dad from continuing your punishment?" she asked.

I sighed again. I can only imagine that my mother is making a way for me to return to our home town; that's enough for me, but I know that she can't do anything when my father's makes the decision.

I know Lexy is also worried about me because I am alone here in the province and no relatives are with me.

"Don't worry about me, Lexy. Let's just say that I'm free from my strict parents. I'll just enjoy my independence here," I answered her.

That alone strengthens my heart. When I think that no one will watch over me here and ban many things, I am happy.

Lexy and I just talked, and she was the only one I told my friends about. My whole group of friends will also know that when my parents get my documents from my school.

After Lexy and I called, Margot called me next. She was with Bettina, and they were asking how I was doing here. I need to tell them that I was fine and feel okay here so they don't worry about me anymore.

I fell asleep that night and woke up early the next morning. The sun was just rising, but I came down from my room to look around the whole house.

Manang Gina told me yesterday that this is my mother's ancestral house, and I can't imagine how she lived here before with her siblings. There are large and old pictures hanging on the wall. Those are pictures of my mother and her siblings.

Behind the house, I saw a large swimming pool. It was dirty and there was no water, but I was happy. When it is cleaned, I can relax there.

When I finished spinning, I returned to the living room. Manang Gina just arrived. She was with a man who I think was Johny.

"Mom, is she Ma'am Zariyah?" it asked when it saw me.

I smiled. I can see that Johny is younger than me. I think he is still in senior high school.

"Yes, Johny. We will be with her here for a long time, so take her for a walk later after we go to church, especially, and tomorrow she will start going to school," Manang Gina explained to her son.

"You are beautiful, Ma'am Zariyah. You look like an actress I see on TV!" He was happy to praise me.

I laughed because of what he said, and I smiled.

"Thank you, but you can call me Z. Nice meeting you, Johnny," I said, smiling at him.

He never stopped saying that I was beautiful, so I just laughed. I took a shower and got dressed right away while Manang Gina was cooking breakfast.

"Julio can't join us today because they are harvesting vegetables early in the other town," Manang Gina said when I looked for her husband, Mang Julio.

We are heading to church now. It was still in town, and I insisted on using my car to get there, but we just rode the tricycle so I could experience it.

"Do you know where the college school is here, Johny?" I asked.

My mother called me this morning, and she told me bad news because my father is serious that I am here to continue my studies.

"Yes, Sister Z. It's close to the church. I'll show you later," he answered.

I immediately smiled and nodded. My mother wants me to report to that school so that my future professors will get to know me right away, but I will go later because Manang Gina and Johny and I still have somewhere to go.

We got to the church, and I found out that it was a town because it was already noisy and quite a lot of people. I don't know why everyone we meet looks at me; that's why I looked at the casual dress I was wearing to see if there's something wrong, but I see nothing.

"Get used to it, Z. It's rare that people see beautiful things here," Johny jokingly whispered to me.

I laughed and shook my head before speaking.

"You're really a joker, Johny. Let's go inside," I said to him because Manang Gina was already ahead of us.

We quietly followed inside the church, and there were many people there waiting for the mass to begin. I also couldn't avoid looking at the people we passed on the seats.

"I saw Father. It looks like the Mass is about to start," Johny whispered to me.

I nodded at him. I was about to speak, but it was like seeing a ghost when I saw the man I kissed in the club the night before on a chair. He's wearing a white polo shirt and blue faded jeans.

He looked at me, but he didn't react. I look like him, so if I'm not mistaken, it's him, but what is he doing here? How did he get to this place? Is this a coincidence?!

I'm confused, and I don't know what I should do, but it's like I just came back to life when Johny pulled me.

"We will sit here, Sister Z," he said, and he guided me to the seat where Manang Gina was.

I didn't speak immediately because I was thinking about the man behind us. Does he really not look like me or recognize me?

I looked back and looked at him again. He looked at me for a moment. I was about to wave at him, but he immediately avoided looking at me.

I was a little bit shocked by that behavior. Is he just pretending not to remember me, or he just doesn't remember me?