Mango Picking

Mango pickers were happily interacting each other. And Zaviah were there too. Everybody was having fun talking. Few minutes mango pickers left, and went back to work. Actually they just ate lunch and rested a while. Trucks were already lined up loaded full of mangoes going out of the farm. So there is no doubt that the harvest is abundant.

"Mom," shouted her son.

Who was still in his father's lap. She doesn't pay much attention to it. She didn't want to meet Miguel's gaze. Even she is walking closer. Still she avoid looking to the father of her son.

"I want to be with you and our son at the Rancho Villaverde mansion. Could it be?"

"Have we talked about anything yet," he sarcastically asked Miguel.

"What's wrong?" We are legally married, aren't we?"

"Yes we are still legally married. You were always mentioning that, so I agree. My head is already hurting and suddenly I feel bad. But as you have said that you want us to live in the Rancho Villaverde mansion. I doubt It's a big No as a big letter N and a big letter O. I don't want to see Celestina. That woman won't want me there either. We're just going here for vacation at Hacienda Mondragon for our sick grandmother Donya Trinidad. And-and--"

Zaviah stopped at what she said. She saw how Miguel reacted to the word vacation. It obviously looked bad. She wasn't sure which of what she said was bad for Miguel. Was it that she said N-O that she would not live in Rancho Villaverde. Or was that she said that the reason for being at San Fernando to Hacienda Mondragon was just a vacation to see their sick grandmother Donya Trinidad.

"You and our son will leave again," Miguel said languidly.

It never spoke again. But that was the truth he needed to hear. Zaviah has no intention of keeping it secret.

"Mom look! There is a car coming."

The child pointed to the oncoming Chimney vehicle. It has a big wheel so it is noticeable for the kid. It was approaching to their tent under the mango tree. An umbrella tent was set up there for the lunch meal of the mango pickers and the rest area. After it, the snack was placed there as well. It's three o'clock in the afternoon. Zaviah also looked at the car. Rod got out and also took out with him a little girl.

"We followed here. Grandma said you're here with your son. I wanted to see you and your son yesterday If I weren't so busy," Rod said.

"It's good that you came here, with your cute little girl."

They got along well. That was their reunion, ever since Zaviah left without saying goodbye to Miguel.

"Hi Gadel! This is Cheena. Come Cheena greet them" baby," Rod told his litte girl.

Miguel stared smiling at the girl and shifted his gaze to his wife. Even without saying anything Zaviah reads his mind. It was wrong for her to think that the little girl was Miguel's daughter. An evidence for his husband having a woman next to her.

"Wow this is what I like here. To eat juicy coconut and drink cold fresh coconut juice." Rod said as he savored to the cold drinks.

Jimboy lowered the big jug of coconut juice down in position. So the two children could reach and get their drinks as well.

"Cold fresh coconut juice is also delicious to share in a scene like this." Zaviah said as she was glad too.

"Sure. It's cold, good for the hot weather," Rod agreed.

But then he looked up at the sky. Suddenly the weather changed. Thick clouds he saw above. Rain would surely about to fall.

"Rod, can you take my son home in your car? I don't want to take him on horseback riding. The rain will pour down. And the downpour will surely catch up with us. He may get sick."

"All right, we'd better leave. We might be overtaken by a heavy downpour. And the road will definitely be slippery. And there's a steep side road on the muddy road."

The heavy rain fell just in time when Rod's car left. While Zaviah still refuses to get in Miguel's car. She said she would wait for the rain to stop.

"It's already night if you're still waiting the rain to stop. And it would be hard for a horseback riding on a dark road."

Even on Miguel's explanation, Zaviah still doesn't want to. She said she would sleep in the hut if that happened. But as when the rain pouring seemed to stop. Thunder and lightning slowly taking place. She was afraid of the lightning.

"All right, I'm going to ride.and leave the horse here."

Zaviah is annoyed but she has no choice. Rather than to sleep in the hut while lightning strikes.

"Do not worry I already Jimboy, that the horse tied to the mango tree. "

Zaviah just shook her head. Is it enough for her to think in advance. The roar of the thunder grew louder and the lightning struck the ground even sharper. Gradually the night took away the light.

"We need to get out. Or we'll spend the night in the hut," Miguel's smiled while talking

'It seems like destiny were giving you the chances' her mind is complaining.

"Well, as you have heard. Just take me to the mansion."

"Okay."

But what Miguel didn't expect was that Zaviah got into the back seat. She was more comfortable there than at the front seat. She didn't want to sit at the front. The lightning might just scare her. Felt like it will going to hit her.

"Are you scared of lightning or with me. So you don't want to sit here in front?"

Miguel looks like being so silly in his smile while asking. He give his jacket to his wife.

"For the same reason," Zaviah replied bluntly.

"Ouch! The first reason is acceptable. But the second isn't. It hurts as much as a lightning strike."

"Turn on the engine. Drama is no fun here. I wanna go home. Thanks for this jacket. I'm getting cold too."

Zaviah was terrified of lightning. So she wanted to go home. She stopped talking and folded her arms around her body. She got wet in the rain when she ran from the tent into the car. They're both wet but she was the only one who felt cold. She closed her eyes to take a nap. She felt like getting deaf and her chest is still throbbing. The road is slippery and muddy. You have to be careful on the steep road and there is a ravine on the other side. It's a good thing it's loose so it's not too dangerous.

But you still have to drive slowly. The thirty -minute run took forty -five minutes.

"Zav, we are here."

She wasn't in the right trance. When Miguel tapped her shoulder. She felt strange in those moment. Her head aching and she got dizzy. She was not even aware of what happened next.

So she can no longer refused as Miguel lifted her from the car to the room. And laid her comfortably on the bed.