Past

It's a sunny day morning, she woke up stretching her arms and move her waiste side to side. She peeked out the window and meet the early sunrise. Brushing her teeth is what she used to do after stretching. She breathed more inhale and exhale while standing at the terrace. The cool breeze of fresh air from around made her feels good. Thereby she compelled to tighten the tie of her long hair.And finally felt a little better somehow compared than yesterday. She tried to accept that she has lost the dream of leaving the country. Maybe it wasn't for her, so suddenly the course of her destiny changed. The first day she was there at the hacienda is quite awesomel. It is also her first experience of seeing bright and beautiful sunshine in the province. Zaviah saw her grandmother as she's on the top. Holding a garden hose and start on watering the garden plants. So she quickly go down the stairs.

"Good morning grandma."

"Good morning hija."

Her grandmother greeted her warmly too. It is the joy that she could see at her grandmother's face. The reason maybe was her presence. And also would be to her long stay at the hacienda house.

"Why are you doing that grandma? You have a lot of housemaids."

"This is my best exercise, Zav. I'll only water these orchids here in the front yard. The gardener will take care of those plants on the backyard. Did you sleep well?"

Zaviah never asked her grandmother again why she's the one who waters the plant. Though they have housemaids. She sees then the evidence. Her grandmother is even more agile compared to other oldies who were in the same of her age. Most of them have experienced a lot of pain in the body. It is probably a good exercise for her to water the plant everyday. Aside for the reason that she wouldn't be easy to get weak but she will be also exposed to the sunlight.

"Yes Grandma. I slept well." Zaviah answered.

She answered yes even though the truth is that she didn't. For her it is better to tell a lie than to see her grandma worried. She just don't want her grandmother to know that she wasn't comfortable yet.

"Will you grant the your grandfather's request? her grandmother asked.

She wanted to correct her grandmother's question. Rather she'd liked to say that what Don said was not a plea but a forced command.But its her grandmother that she is talking to, she should just give her a respect and love.

"If you were the one grandma who told me to do so, I'd be more than happy to follow."

"Then Zav, can you give him up for me."

The truth is that, she was just looking for the right opportunity. She will be leaving the Hacienda. It's just hard to run away. There are so many people could see her fleeing.

"All right, grandma."

Zaviah could do nothing but agree. For the sake of his beloved grandmother. And also for his late daddy Fabio. Her dad must be happy with it wherever he is. She makes her Grandma Trining happy, the reason for her dad to be happy too in heaven.

"I anticipate that you would do it willingly on your own happy will."

"Yes grandma. For your sake. I would love to do it for you or even for the Mondragons."

"I will look upon it as a debt of gratitude. I would really love to have Stella's child back with us."

There were tears slowly streaming down on her grandmother's cheeks. Zaviah's heart seemed touched by sadness. So she has one final decision. She would find Stella's son for her grandmother.

"If I deserve to know, I would like to ask the cause of the Mondragon and Villaverde family dispute? It's as if its

roots are too deep to lasts for decades."

Zaviah couldn't stop herself from asking everything. There was nothing wrong with her knowing it. She wants to embrace the blood of her origin.

"Don Facundo and your grandfather Rafael used to be close friends since childhood. Their friendship had a rift because of the same woman they loved. Celestina who became Don Facundo's wife because she was the one that Celestina chose to marry. Your grandfather was no longer able to fight his prejudice against Celestina because he knew it was useless. Our parents arranged for us to get married. Don Facundo was married to Celestina then. Years later Celestina has already shown her true color. She has become very greedy for money and power. Half of the land which is now under Rancho Villaverde was from your great grandfathers and ancestors heritage. Facundo loves Celestina so much that he followed all her command. One of them is to claim the land that is not theirs. The land that belongs to Mondragons has not been taxed for a long time, even though it has granted for amnesty that the government gave. Celestina ignored it. She never allowed the chance for the untaxed lands. She doesn't care as long as she gets what she wants. Your grandfather Rafael's father died out of resentment that the Villaverdes had robbed them of their land. It had a heart attack. Conflict on both sides flared up even more. Your grandfather's brother Ramon was been killed too. It was him who wanted to fight the lawsuit to prove in court that Mondragon land is half of Rancho. There was no justice in his death. And the rumor is that Celestina has a plan. The Villaverde dynasty used to have political power here in San Fernando. The power of the municipality was transferred to their clan. That conflict is the wall of Villaverde and Mondragon. Stella my precious and loved daughter was a teenager by that time. She fell in love with Rodolfo, the eldest son of Facundo and Celestina. The two fall in love despite the fact that it has a bit of a lack of thinking. Rodolfo has good intention. for your auntie Stella but your grandfather Rafael does not accept it. He killed Rodolfo on his hand and told the story that Stella was been raped by Rodolfo. Just like the death of his brother Ramon, Rodolfo's death was not just too. So both sides became fair. A single life was lost. In Villaverde, Rodolfo died. In our race, it is Ramon. There are also staff in Villaverde who laid down their lives as well as here on your grandfather Rafael's men." Donya Trinidad also ended her narration.

Zaviah was shaken by the story of the dispute. She realized that the source of everything was so deep.Pain and hatred are prevalent in everyone's heart caused by endless revenge to each other.

'Is it still able to restore the old harmony?" Zaviah asked herself.

She suddenly remembered too Miguel. The man who had once been her savior in a certain doom. Wild animals could have eaten her if she had not left the woods before the darkness come. Miguel is Villaverde, who is used to not helping Mondragons like her. But, why did that man helped instead of hurting her? That Villaverde guy could have killed or hurt her because she's Mondragons. Since only Silva and his men knew that she was there. The demonic lady that also had an attempt her life.

"Why didn't they talk

and reconciled before Don Facundo died? She asked it again to her grandma.

"Yes they talked. Don Facundo asked forgiveness. His last request was to restore the former association of Villaverdes and Mondragons. But Celestina is the barrier. She's always at the center to stop the reconciliation. I don't know how Miguel would like to care about the reconcilition. He was also the one who got so furious about the death of Rodolfo. So be careful with that guy. There was also another request that Don Facundo long to happen but I can't tell it to you, Zav."

"Okay, grandma. If it is confidential."

"Sorry Zav. Your grandpa and I are hoping that we are now on the process doing his last request."

It involved her and Miguel the reason why it would need to be left unsaid.

"I understand, grandma."

"Then why did auntie Stella lost her son?" she asked again another question.

"I don't know how it happened. That's also why I left this Hacienda then. Why I chose to leave your grandfather and live with you."

Zaviah felt sorry for her grandmother, knowing how grieving it had been. With the death of Stella and the lost of her child. Zaviah was silent at what was heard. She felt that maybe he should be Mondragon from those moments. He wants to bring his auntie Stella's son back to the mansion for his grandmother Trining.

"I hope before I even lose my life. I will see him and I will know how his life is going."

"Why does he call daddy a rebellious son until now? Daddy is still no longer rebellious if he refers to it."

"Because your daddy never obeys him. Your father is a kind person. He doesn't want trouble so he doesn't want to stay here in the Hacienda. When your daddy brought your mother home here in the Hacienda, your grandfather Rafael didn't accept them.

He thought that Fabio may not be the father of Cynthia's pregnancy. You are that child, you were eight months in her womb. Your mother doesn't want to stay here. She doesn't want a chaotic life. And besides she had also a good job before and your father's business was going well even in his younger times before they met with your mother. So they chose to leave and get married."

"It's okay grandma. I never waited then to be accepted or not. Time has passed. Whether I am his grand daughter or not in his view, I became human even though he didn't recognize me. The only downside we felt is that his will became hard. Even in the last moments of daddy's life. And those times daddy needed financial support and he didn't even help."

"What happene was painful. My son and daughter passed away early than me. You and Stella's son are my treasures more than the precious things in this world.

"I want to apologize for being too inquisitive. I'm sorry grandma."

"It's okay Zav."

"Grandma, what are you going to do today? I wanna help you and so I will not be bored."

"Miguel is the one that I want you to know here. Take you a tour to beautiful sights here in our province."

"But you have just told me to take care of myself with that man.

Why he is the person you wanted to be my friend?"

Zaviah was confused, thinking of what she heard. However she will not ask anymore why. She might not understand it better.

"But I seem to have a suggestion on where you are going and what you can do now," her grandma said.

"Oh really! Nevermind grandma. Its sad to wander around alone. I had no one to talk to. It's to better to be with you the whole day than to go alone somewhere that I am not familiar too."

"It would be fun for you if you knew how to ride a horse. Even if you just stop by that stream. It's a nature spring water or you can go for swimming, even if you are alone you will enjoy the cold water."

She suddenly became interested about riding a horse. It made her eager to ride a horse again.

"Wow grandma. I will just change my wear. I'll go there, on that stream. Definitely its a nice place because you said so."

"Do you really know how to ride a horse? But have breakfast first."

Donya Trinidad had something more to say but her grand daughterhurried away leaving in front of her. She just smiled as her gaze following Zav.