Dirty encounters

"I don't care. I’ll take Instagram pictures there so I have to be in a dress." I responded confidently, positioning my shades properly. I looked at the wall clock located at the wall to see that it was quarter to four in the afternoon.

"Come on, should we go now before the sky turns dark?” I suggested.

He sighed, mumbling something and I just rolled my eyes at him. He then motioned for me to follow him and when we were outside, I spotted a carabao.

"Meet Brownie. My cute pet." Phoenix introduced as he petted the carabao's head. "C'mon, pet her." The carabao then moved.

"Her?" I asked, a bit cautious. I mean, of course, I had encountered animals like this. I am a veterinarian for goodness sake.

"Yeah, Brownie's a girl. C'mon, hold her. She's not going to bite you."

I gulped, taking a step hesitantly. I’m a veterinarian for goodness sake. Why am I nervous now? Beside me, Phoenix seems to enjoy my nervousness.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and petted the animal. Of course, it was huge and I was surprised to see when the carabao closed his eyes at my touch and rubbed my index finger gently. It seems that it was tamed by Phoenix with the way it moves.

I gasped, "Awe, she's cute." I commented.

Phoenix grinned coyly. "Of course she is since her owner is handsome," Phoenix said. "Now hop on."

I blinked, "What?"

He motioned for me to do as he said, pointing to something,  "I said hop on."

I followed the direction of where he’s pointing at and squinted at it,  "You mean, in that thing?" I asked in disbelief, clarifying it. He was actually referring to the little makeshift  “chariot” that I know little children play around in this province.

This thing can fit four people at once and it has been used as transportation with the help of the carabaos and farmers for their goods since it’s not costly and more efficient this way. I grimaced. I mean, when I was little and we were still living here, I had never hopped on this thing, not even once. My father was too strict and protective of me so I never had an experience with something adventurous like this, not until now.

But I think now is not the right time. I am in a dress for goodness sake. I will get dirty!

I threw daggers at Phoenix with my eyes, thinking why he is doing this to me. Is this what he meant when he said I should prepare for hell earlier? He’s testing my patience.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Hop on it so we can go now, “ Phoenix said, breaking me from my thoughts.

“I’m in a dress, Phoenix, there’s no way I will get on that thing,” I said, not giving in.

He rolled his eyes, “I don’t have time to argue with you, princess. That’s why I advise you to change into some jeans.”

I huffed, “No, I don’t want to. Can we just use your car?”

He stared at me deadpan, a muscle in his jaw twitching in irritation, “My car will only bury five feet on the muddy ground, this is more efficient. Now stop being fussy. You don’t have a choice, Sereia. Besides, you should have expected it first hand the moment you came here."

I gulped, swallowing my pride a bit. I know I am being fussy and irritating, but it’s me. Well, he has a point.

"Okay, then can we just take a walk?” I suggested it for the last time.

“If you want to get tired walking all the way, then sure, it’s your life.” He said, giving up on arguing with me. He then got on the carabao, really serious about leaving me by myself. “You don’t even know where my farm is and you’ll get behind.”

Gritting my teeth, I breathed in and closed my eyes to shout, “Okay fine, you win. I’ll hop on it now.”

Once I was on the little makeshift carriage, Phoenix instantly guided his carabao to walk. It’s not that fast, but we are at a steady pace. I looked around, seeing that there were two large bowls in front of me. One had the contents of a jug of water and the other bowl had glasses, with two bags containing crackers and bibingka, a famous delicacy of this province.

*****

While we were on the road, everything was good, except the part where my butt hurts from sitting in the wood of the carriage as it didn’t have any foam. Just plain wood.

Despite that, I endured it and didn’t complain to Phoenix. I have to show him that I am not giving up and surrender in taking back this land.

Suddenly, I saw a large brown something sticking out from behind Brownie, specifically in its ass. The carabao was still walking so brown dirt was falling on the road ... I stopped, thinking about it now. Wait a minute. Isn’t that….poop? Oh my goodness. The stench was very strong, and I instinctively covered my nose with my handkerchief.

"Phoenix?” I called out.

He glanced at me, and sighed, "Yes, Princess Sereia? Are you going to complain again? I swear I will leave you alone if you-" He threatened, but before he could finish what he was saying, I cut his sentence off.

"I think...Brownie pooped."

"What?" He didn't seem to hear what I said as the harsh wind was blowing.

"I said your previous pet is defecating!" I yelled loud enough for him to hear.

He seemed to hear what I just said this time as he halted at that, signaling his pet to stop from walking.

I instantly got out of the carriage and stood far from Brownie who was still doing his business in the middle of the road.

Phoenix came in to check Brownie's back that had already stopped defecating. "Oh, was that it? Poop? I thought it was something dangerous. You scared me for nothing." He said.

I gave him a look, "Your pet just put some of her dirt all over the road? Is that normal? What if the people will-"

He looked angry as his eyebrows were now creased together, “It’s normal here. Get used to it.” He said. “Besides, Brownie is a living thing so it's normal for her to poop. If you still want to complain, then just walk." Saying that he guided Brownie and walked ahead, leaving me.

I gawked at what just happened. Really though?

“Fine!” I yelled as he continued walking.

I didn’t dare to talk to him again as I only silently followed them behind, walking on my own.

After a few minutes, it didn’t take long for us to arrive at our destination. It felt like an hour had passed, but it was really just a fifteen-minute walk.

I checked my outfit and appearance and muttered a silent curse as I saw a stain of mud on my butt area. Great. Cool. My yellow dress. To think I went such lengths just to wear this for pictures... Now what?

Phoenix sneered behind me, seeing the mess. “You know we're going to the farm, not to the fashion show." He commented, tying his precious pet to a nearby tree and let her eat some grass there.

“The dress suits you by the way,” He complimented, and continued,  “it’s too bright. Looks annoying.”

“Phoenix!” I yelled, wanting to hit him but he instantly ran away and went to the farmers before I could even hit him. The farmers were harvesting when Phoenix yelled at them, grinning, "Hello everyone. How’s everyone doing? I brought some snacks here with me!"

The farmers instantly smiled, seeing Phoenix, and stopped what they were doing.  “Hello, sir Phoenix!” They greeted him.

Phoenix sent them a wide smile as he prepared a large bowl filled with glass and a pitcher from the little carriage earlier. He also opened the crackers and bibingka and some other snacks he brought along with us. The farmers were happy and instantly washed their hands to eat. Now that I can see almost everyone here, I suspect that there are almost fifteen farmers present here.

I watched as they chatted happily with each other, talking about their lives as Phoenix conversed with them. Phoenix then asked about the state of his farm.

“The heat of the sun is very hot these days but aside from that, everything is good, Sir Phoenix.” Said one of them, and another one butted in.

“We met our target for the month so don’t worry sir. And you’re always visiting us with snacks, we are so grateful.”

Phoenix couldn’t help but smile at that. Now that we are in the bright field under the sun, I could see his skin turning tanner as his brown hair has grown some blonde roots and his blue eyes that make him stand out from the rest of us. His foreign roots are evident considering that he’s half Australian.

“Oh it’s nothing, it’s the least that I can do. And seeing you guys working hard despite the hot weather motivates me. I hope you take care of yourselves. I don't want to lose such hardworking farmers.”

He said, glancing at me with a smirk on his face. Some of them finally noticed me and they beamed at me. I offered a shy smile to them, feeling Phoenix’s hand surrounding my shoulders. “Everyone, I want you to meet Sereia.”

I cleared my throat, removing Phoenix’s arms from my shoulders, “Hello, I am Sereia Philomena Hudson Isolde. A pleasure to meet all of you.”

“Hello, Sereia.”

“Hi, Sereia.”

Everyone greeted me simultaneously. I nodded at them, acknowledging their greetings.

One of them, an old woman, narrowed her eyes at me as if analyzing my face. “Oh, Isolde? Are you the daughter of Gabriela?”