Watermelon Dreams

Watermelon Tree

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.