EPILOGUE

MY FEET felt heavy as I crossed the rocky road in that area.

I’m not familiar and I don’t know where that is. But my feet hurt and I just endured the feeling of small, sharp rocks piercing on them.

Despite the fact that the said place is stranger to me I still can’t help to admire it. The scenery was beautiful and the fresh air was fragrant, mixed with the smell of dew-soaked grass and the petals of wildflowers.

That place was so beautiful and even though I had no idea where I really was, that thought didn't seem to matter to me anymore. I didn’t even care about the rocky road I was treading, because what was more important to me in those moments, was the wonderful feeling that was given to me as if that place seemed like paradise.

After all, I grew up on a large, beautiful hacienda.

Yes, I am an heiress, and one day my brother and I were the two heirs to that hacienda. And because of that kind of place where I grew up, I thought, I shouldn't have felt so much amazement here. But it still happened.

I was amused for a moment when I felt the now sudden cold wind blowing. Whether it was morning or afternoon wind, I’m not sure. As far as I know, I hugged myself, and that’s when I rightly noticed a figure standing not far in front of me.

"Arabella," I heard him say.

It was a man's voice and it was so sweet to hear his voice.

I am not the only one with such a name in our family. In fact, my mother took my name from her twin sister who passed away a long time ago.

"W-Who are you?" my nervous question.

I can't understand but my feet are spontaneously stepping closer to where the man is that I can't even see the face!

“We have something to do, come with me because we have a story to finish," he continued then extended his own hand to me which I accepted.

When I heard that, it was amazing that all the doubts and fears in my heart suddenly disappeared. I accepted the man’s hand and eventually, I found myself just waking up from a deep sleep.

*****

IT was not the first time I had seen that big house a few blocks from the street where my Grandpa Anselmo and Grandma Susan lived. But I feel like some kind of magnet seems to be pulling me to go to that big and old house.

My Grandma Susan invited me to go on vacation with them in Manila. It was because she and Grandpa Anselmo don't have anyone to be with them in their house since Uncle Anthony, their youngest son got married.

Most of the people in that village knew me so I was not afraid to go around and walk when I was bored.

I volunteered to buy pandesal at the bakery not far from my grandparents' house in the morning.

I like that, even if you say that my parents have a hacienda and a big orchard, Mommy also taught me to do household chores. And one more thing, I want to see the big house that I know I will pass by when I buy pandesal.

In the distance, I could see the big closed van in front of the house that I loved. Because of what I saw, with big steps, I hurriedly got closer to it. It looks like someone has already bought the house even though I'm not if it's for sale. But whatever it is even if I don't admit it I feel like I'm affected and I don't want to accept that someone else can live there. I don’t know why I feel that way. I'm weird but I can't do anything. Fortunately, I am still able to compose myself somehow.

When I approached the gate, a man came out right from there.

"What's that Miss?" he asked me as I remained to stare at the mansion and eventually like a fool watching the unloading of belongings from the closed van to the big house.

"Miss?" the man once again but this time he touched my arm so I was shocked.

"What? What is your problem?” my angry question then I addressed the man I noticed handsome, but because I was disgusted with him, what he has done somewhat reduced what should have been the thrill I would have felt.

"I'm sorry, I'm talking to you, I'm asking if you need anything?" the man asked me.

"Do you live here?" instead I replied a question to him.

"You know your face is familiar," he replied to me instead.

My eyebrows met at what I heard. "What?"

"Come inside and I will show you something," the man invited me.

I hesitated for a moment to accept the invitation. But in the end, I also couldn't understand why my feet spontaneously stepped next to the man, entering the big house that was really very beautiful inside.

Our house in Bulacan is also ancestral and was built after the Japanese era. My Daddy inherited that from my Grandfather along with the entire hacienda.

But I feel different in this house. Victorian style and the grand staircase are made of Narra wood which is really breathtaking.

"It's beautiful," I couldn't help but say until I accidentally caught sight of a large and beautiful oil painting hanging in the large living room.

It was a wedding oil painting and the traces on the two people's faces there was so much love for each other.

But despite the overflowing romance that was alive in the picture was the intense horror I suddenly felt. At the same time, I was suddenly embraced by a strange kind of cold that I had never experienced before.

“W-Why do you have a picture there? And why do I look like the woman?” the question that bothers me.

"He is my Uncle, Daniel Trinidad, and the woman is his greatest love, his long-dead wife, Arabella Madrigal-Trinidad," the man answered my question.

"What did you say?" my startled question.

The man nodded then smiled at me. "How about you Miss, what is your name?" he asked me.

"Ella, Arabella Madrigal Godinez," I replied, mentioning my full name including my mother's last name when she was still single.