By mid-morning, the sound of a tricycle chugged up the dusty driveway, breaking the quiet of the hacienda.
Bianca stepped out onto the veranda just in time to see Lara climb out, oversized sunglasses hiding half her face. She was dressed in crisp white linen shorts and a loose top, the kind of "casual" outfit that only worked if you didn't mind getting it dirty—which Lara clearly did.
"Bian!" Lara waved both arms dramatically. "Look at this place! You're basically the heroine in a period drama."
Bianca laughed, coming down the steps to hug her. "And you're basically overdressed for a farm."
"Excuse me," Lara said, pushing her sunglasses up. "I call it 'provincial chic.' Anyway, where's the haunted fountain you promised me in our texts?"
Bianca smirked. "Not haunted. Just… old. Come on, I'll show you everything."
---
They started in the front garden, the fountain burbling softly as water caught the light. Lara gasped. "Okay, I take it back—this is dramatic. You could shoot a whole movie here."
Bianca shrugged, though she felt a flicker of pride. "Wait until you see the orchards."
They strolled along the main path, passing rows of mango, lanzones, and rambutan trees. Lara reached out to touch a branch heavy with blossoms. "These look fresh. Did you plant them?"
Bianca hesitated. "Not exactly. They just… bloomed faster than I expected."
Lara raised an eyebrow but didn't press. She was too busy marveling at the view. "You're sitting on a gold mine, Bian. With the right setup, you could sell so much fresh produce."
Bianca smiled faintly. "That's the plan. But first, I need animals. Chickens, ducks, maybe a cow or two."
Lara wrinkled her nose. "You? Cows?"
"I'm serious," Bianca said, leading her toward the old poultry shed. Inside, she pointed to the corner where the rescued chick now lived in a small pen Lydia had made from a repurposed basket. The chick peeped loudly at their arrival.
"Aww," Lara said, crouching down. "You got a pet already?"
"Not a pet," Bianca corrected. "The first of many."
---
They spent the rest of the morning walking the property, Kaloy following at a careful distance, hiding whenever Lara turned around. Bianca had warned him—lightly—that not everyone needed to meet him right away.
They checked the empty stable, imagining what it would be like filled with goats or maybe even horses. Lara took pictures of everything, occasionally posing Bianca next to a tree or the fountain.
"You know," Lara said as they reached the back edge of the land, "you could clear part of this bamboo and make more space for crops."
Bianca looked toward the swaying forest. "Maybe. But something about it feels… I don't know. Like it should stay."
Lara laughed. "Listen to you. One week in the province and you're already talking like a mystic."
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End of Chapter 7