Watermelon Dreams

Fireflies

CHAPTER FOUR

JUNE 16, 2019

Bago pa man magmulat ng mga mata si Olivia, naramdaman na nyang nasa loob sya ng umaandar na sasakyan. Sinundo sya ni Rayanne sa airport dahil sabay sila nitong pupunta sa Cutleries, ang restaurant ng asawa nito sa Antipolo. Doon gaganapin ang birthday ng magaling na aktres na si Alea Santos.

Olivia was exhausted from her trip to South Africa but she had to attend the party. Hindi lamang dahil ito ang most bankable star ng Studio Eleven Network, kundi dahil isa ito sa mga kaibigan nila ni Rayanne.

Hindi sya halos nakatulog sa almost 15 hours nyang flight kaya nang ma-relax sya sa sasakyan ng kaibigan, nakaidlip sya. When she opened her eyes, they were somewhere in Marikina. As always, traffic was bumper to bumper.

"You should have stayed home, you know," Rayanne said when she noticed Olivia was awake. "Maiintindihan naman ni Alea kung hindi ka makakarating. Pwede mo namang ipadala si Koring as your representative." Ang assistant nyang si Coreen ang tinutukoy nito.

"Pupunta ako as her friend," sambit nya at pumikit muli dahil nasilaw sa liwanag ng poste malapit sa kinahihintuan ng kotse. Dapat yata umuwi na lang sya katulad ng sinabi ni Rayanne. Naramdaman nya ang pagsakit ng ulo nya.

"How's your trip by the way?"

"It was very...educational and a bit depressing." Nalungkot na naman sya nang maisip ang kalagayan ng mga bata sa lugar na iyon lalo na ang mga walang access sa basic needs kagaya ng edukasyon.

She was invited by a college friend, who worked for UNICEF to join them and stay there for five days. Kinuha nya ang opportunity na yun para makapag-observe kung anong programa ang ginagawa ng grupo nito para makatulong sa mga less privileged doon. Maaari nyang gamitin sa foundation ang mga natutunan.

"Are you joining me next week?" She asked Rayanne, who shook her head regretfully.

May tree planting activity ang The 11 Foundation next week sa Real, Quezon. Kasama nila ang ilang mga volunteer students from different universities as part of their NSTP.

Bata pa lamang si Olivia, isa na syang big supporter ng kalikasan. She was very passionate on protecting the nature.

"I have a shoot," malungkot nitong tugon. May tinatapos kasi itong isang thriller movie. "Hindi ka ba napapagod?"

Natawa na lamang si Olivia. She'd never get tired of her advocacies.

Kukunin sana nya ang handbag na nasa back seat para kumuha ng gamot sa sakit ng ulo nang marinig ang tunog ng wind chimes. It automatically calmed her throbbing pain. She'd been hearing that gentle sound recently. Kahit anong hanap nya, hindi nya malaman kung saan ito nanggagaling. Ilang segundo lamang iyon pero sapat na para kalmahin nito ang puso at isipan nya.

Olivia was certain there's no wind chime inside Rayanne's car. She didn't have to ask her friend if she heard it. Baka isipin nitong nababaliw na sya.

Kung dahil ba sa nakakahalinang tunog na iyon o dahil nakatulong ang pag-idlip nya kaya nawala ang sakit ng ulo nya, ay hindi malaman ni Olivia. She tried ignoring it but her dream crossed her mind.

Palagi na lamang nyang napapanaginipan ang kanyang Lola at ang farm kung saan sya laging nagbabakasyon noong bata pa sya.

"It's been awhile," Olivia thought. When was the last time she visited her grandmother's farm? She couldn't remember.

Despite some bad memories in that farm when she was a kid, it didn't stop Olivia from wanting to return every summer vacation. She would spend a week or two with her family in Ilocos but she would spend the rest of her vacation in her Lola's farm.