CHAPTER TWO
SUMMER OF 1995
Seven-year old Olivia felt resentment towards her Lolo Rodolfo. She heard her father and grandfather's heated row about her. Her Lolo didn't like her for always being sick. Paano raw sya magiging tagapagmana ng kanilang kumpanya kung lagi syang may sakit?
Bata palang labas-masok na sya sa hospital lalo kapag umaatake ang kanyang asthma. She hated it when her coughing won't stop, when she couldn't breathe or have difficulty talking.
"Stop pitting my daughters against each other." Olivia's knuckles froze when she was about to knock. She heard her father's seething voice behind the closed door of his study room.
Alam nyang nasa loob rin ang kanyang Lolo. Tatawagin na sana nya ang mga ito para kumain na ng dinner. Kabisado na nya ang tonong iyon ng kanyang Daddy. Nag-aaway na naman ang mga ito.
Minsan na nga lang dumalaw ang Lolo nya sa bahay, lagi pa ang mga itong nagtatalo lalo tungkol sa kanya. Roman San Victores, her father, always defended her.
Sa murang edad, alam na ni Olivia ang responsibilidad nya bilang panganay. She was expected to become the future leader of Studio 11 Network. Ngunit paano nya gagawin yun kung sakitin sya?
Her Lolo always favored her young sister, Pris. Lolo Rodolfo never failed to mention that Pris was more good at playing the piano or better at singing. Olivia never felt jealous towards her more talented sister. In fact, she was always proud of her. She just hated being compared to her repeatedly.
"Huwag mong gawin sa kanila ang ginawa mo sa amin ng mga kapatid ko," muli nyang narinig na sabi ng Papa nya.
"Roman, ginagawa ko ito para kay Olivia. I want to push her to become the best version of her," pagdadahilan ng Lolo nya.
"Pero hindi sa ganyang paraan. They are just kids for Gods sake." Olivia could imagine her father sighing exhasperatedly. "Ayokong magkaroon ng animosity ang dalawang anak ko sa isa't- isa."
"Lalaking mahina ang mga anak mo if you always pamper them especially Olivia. How could she continue our legacy if she's so weak? Kailangan nating i-secure ang future ng kumpanya. Kung hindi kakayanin ni Olivia, we'll just have her marry someone suitable who could manage our company."
"Papa, my daughter is only seven years old! Matalino ang anak ko. At a young age, she's a brilliant strategist at alam mo yan. Do I have to remind you na sya lang ang nakatalo sayo?" There's pride in his father's tone. "She's beaten you at chess," Roman pointed out.
Hindi na nalaman pa ni Olivia kung anong isinagot ng Lolo nya dahil naramdaman nyang may marahang humawak sa balikat nya. It was her Lola Esmeralda. She was smiling at her kindly.
"Stop crying," her grandmother whispered. Pinunasan nito ang mga luha nya gamit ang puti nitong panyo. Batid na ng Lola nya kung bakit sya umiiyak. Iisa lang naman lagi ang dahilan ng pagluha nya.
Lola Esmeralda gently led her away from her father's study.
"I want to be healthy, Lola. I hate being weak," Olivia said as they walked on the carpeted hall passing Impressionist paintings that adorned the cream painted wall.
"You are not weak."
"Pero bakit ako laging may sakit? Am I dying?" Huminto si Olivia, ganun din ang Lola nya.
"Of course not, iha."
"Ayoko nang magkasakit, Lola. Gusto kong makatulong sa pamilya. Please make my sickness go away. We have money. Hindi ba natin pwedeng alisin ang sakit ko?" Olivia's tears started to fall.
Lola Esmeralda bended to be at her eye level and hugged her tight. "We'll make it go away, apo. I promised."
That summer, Olivia found herself on her way somewhere with her Lola Esmeralda. Magbabakasyon daw sila nito sa farm ng mga Grego, ang pamilyang pinanggalingan ng Lola nya. Hindi na namalayan ni Olivia kung gaano katagal silang nagbiyahe dahil ginising na lang sya ng Lola nya nang makarating sila.
Pagmulat ng mga mata ni Olivia, pumasok ang kotse sa isang eleganteng iron gate na kulay abo. Nakasandal sya sa backseat at kita nya ang mga naglalakihang puno ng mangga.
The weather was colder and the blue sky was clearer. She sat up straight and saw men and women sweeping fallen leaves beneath those mango trees. She could see smoke rising up to the trees from burning leaves.
"It's called smudging," her Lola explained. Effective daw iyon para mamulaklak at magbunga ang mga puno kahit out of season.
Huminto ang sasakyan sa harap ng isang two-storey brick house sa dulo ng mango orchard.
Olivia breathed in the fresh air. Sabi ng Lola nya, hihingi sila ng tulong sa kalikasan para gumaling sya at hindi na muling magkasakit. Doon muna raw sya buong bakasyon habang ang kapatid at ibang pamilya nya ay nasa Ilocos.
She already missed her sister. Pris would sure love the serenity of the farm. Wala syang ibang marinig kundi mga pagaspas ng dahon at huni ng mga ibon na nagliliparan sa mga sanga.
Sa mga sumunod na araw, bukod sa paglalakad sa lilim ng mga punong mangga, pinapanood din nya ang mga tauhan sa farm habang nagha-harvest ng mga malalaki at mapupulang kamatis. Tuwang-tuwa rin syang makita ang mga mayayabong na repolyo, lettuce at petchay.
Hinahayaan lamang sya ng Lola nyang mamasyal sa paligid ng farm. Binigyan sya nito ng laya na pumunta kahit saang parte ng lugar basta hindi nya pabayaan ang sariling mapagod ng husto. She loved how her Lola trusted her. Malaya syang makapaglakad nang walang bantay.
Kung hindi sya naglilibot sa farm, nasa kitchen sya kasama ni Lola Esmeralda. Tinuturuan sya nitong magluto o kaya magbake ng cake gamit ang mga produce galing sa farm.
"Like any form of art, baking requires time, focus and ultimately, patience," her Lola said while Olivia watched her kneading the dough. "Be patient apo. In time, you will be okay."
One afternoon, Olivia woke up when she heard gentle sounds of wind chimes. Nakatulog pala sya sa malambot na sofa sa likod ng brick house habang nagbabasa sya ng Wizard of Oz. Mahangin kasi at mapayapa kaya inantok sya.
Kita mula sa kinauupuan nya ang mga tanim na chico at sa paanan ng isa sa mga punong iyon ay nakaupo ang isang malaking puting asong nakatingin sa kanya. German Shepherd was it? But this one was pure white. It was beautiful.
The dog suddenly stood and barked at her. It was like summoning her. Alam nyang hindi sya dapat basta- bastang lumapit dahil baka saktan sya nito ngunit wala syang naramdamang peligro sa asong ito. Olivia knew she was safe.
Tumayo sya sa kinaroroonan at nang susundan na nya ito, biglang tumakbo ang aso palayo sa kanya. Olivia followed and ran after it. After few minutes, she stopped to catch her breath. The dog stopped too.
Nasa kalagitnaan na sila ng ubasan. Bukod sa mango orchard, may vineyard din ang farm. Nakita nyang hitik na ang mga ito sa bunga at anumang oras ay pwede ng anihin.
Nang makapagpahinga sya, muling nagpatuloy ang aso sa pagtakbo. Olivia continued to follow. Buti na lang nakasuot sya ng kumportableng pang-itaas, shorts at tsinelas.
Nang malagpasan nila ang ubasan, mga nagtatayugang puno na ang nakita nya. Mga punong may makakapal na dahon at tila madilim na sa pagitan ng mga iyon. Napahinto sya. She was at the edge of their property.
The white dog barked again probably urging her to go on but she hesitated. She shouldn't venture to someone's property. That's trespassing. Also, she was unsure of the thick woods ahead of her.
Her fear disappeared when she heard wind chimes again. It was soothing and reassuring. Hinanap ng mga mata nya kung saan nanggaling iyon ngunit wala syang makita kundi ang mga puno.
Lakas ng loob syang sumunod sa aso sa kakahuyan. When she crossed the boundary, she felt like she passed through a cold yet pleasant wind. Her ponytailed hair was slighty ruffled.
Malilim sa loob ng kakahuyan at mas malamig dahil sumisilip lamang ang sinag ng araw sa mga makakapal na dahon. She noticed that the tree trunks were mostly thick. She also had to watch her steps for it was so dense.
Hindi na nya alam kung gaano na sya katagal na naglalakad. She lost sight of the dog few minutes ago.
Olivia felt tears brimmed in her eyes. She felt foolish for following that dog. She was lost.
She couldn't see anything but trees. Olivia tried going back to the way she came from but she was only going in circles. She noticed passing the same tree with large mushrooms on its thick roots four times.
Olivia started panicking. She felt the trees were closing in on her. She suddenly couldn't breathe.
"No, no, no!" She thought. Not again. She came to this place to get better. Hindi pwedeng umatake ang asthma nya. She needed to get out of the woods. Hindi sya pwedeng magkasakit pa. Ayaw na nyang marinig mula sa Lolo nya na mahina sya. Ayaw na nyang ikumpara sya sa iba.
She tried to breathe in and out. Slowly, she started walking. Wala na syang pakialam kung tama ba ang tinatahak nya. Kailangan nyang makabalik sa Lola nya.
Hindi na nya nabilang kung ilang sandali na ang lumipas pero napangiti sya nang may makitang liwanag. Konting hakbang na lang makakalabas na sya sa kakahuyan.
Every step was agony but she felt triumphant when she stepped out of the woods and saw a large watermelon tree near a clear river. On the tree, there was a large tree house made of bamboo. Beyond that was a majestic mountain. She could also hear a waterfall somewhere.
Wait. Watermelon tree? Last time she checked, watermelon was a vine. She blinked several times just to check if she was imagining it.
Olivia could really see watermelons hanging from the tree branches. That's impossible. She must be dreaming. She checked if there's any yellow brick road but there was none.
She heard the sound of wind chimes again. When she focused her eyes on the bamboo house, there were wind chimes hanging from the porch.
Naramdaman nyang nanghihina ang tuhod nya. No! She shouldn't faint. She had to get away from that strange place. Her Lola must be looking for her now. Baka nag-aalala na ito. Paniguradong ipapahanap sya nito sa lahat ng mga tauhan nila. Baka makarating pa ito sa Lolo nya. He would be disappointed for sure.
She tried to stand and keep her eyes open but her knees buckled. Before her body could hit the ground and lost consciousness, she felt a strong arm around her.
Olivia forced her eyes open to see who caught her. Did she die? Why was she seeing angel?
The woman who caught her had beautiful blue eyes. They were like ocean, that Olivia wanted to swim and be swept away by the waves.
Napakaganda ng babae. Anghel nga ba ito o diwata sa kakahuyan? Naramdaman nyang binuhat sya nito nang marahan. Her nose caught the woman's refreshing watermelon scent. She wasn't sure if she just imagined it, there's pleasant breeze all over her body that suddenly made her relaxed.
Hindi sya tuluyang nawalan ng malay ngunit wala syang lakas para maglakad pa. The woman started walking while carrying her. Gusto nyang tanungin kung sino ito pero hindi nya magawa. Hinayaan na lamang nya itong dalhin sya kung saan.
Olivia refused to fall asleep but her eyes were half- closed. Tanging ang mukha lamang ng babae ang nakikita nya. Paminsan-minsan itong tumitingin sa kanya saka sya nito ngingitian. Her smile was heavenly beautiful and mysterious at the same time. Like the woman knew the secret of the universe but wouldn't share it.
"I don't want to be sick anymore," Olivia murmured.
"I admire your tenacity." She heard the woman's soft voice and granted her with another smile. "For that, your wish is granted."
Olivia smiled and fell asleep.
JUNE 9, 2019
"Ma'am, nandito na po tayo," narinig ni Olivia ang marahang pagtawag sa kanya ni Manong Juliano, ang driver nya. Nakarating na pala sila sa airport.
May flight sya papuntang South Africa kasama ng mga representative ng UNICEF.
Olivia sighed. It was a dream indeed. The watermelon tree was the indication. It was a strange dream though. She suddenly missed her Lola Esmeralda's farm. After her grandmother died, she rarely visited that place.
Maybe it's time for her to do so. After her trip to Africa, she'd visit Grego Farm. Before she got out of the car, she heard wind chimes. It was relaxing and soothing just like in her dream.
She shook her head. Impossible. Walang wind chimes sa loob ng kotse. Baka dala lamang ng paniginip, naisip nya.