Watermelon Dreams

Willows

CHAPTER TWELVE

SUMMER OF 1995

Kinabukasan, matapos kumain ng almusal, naghanda na sila para pumunta sa ipinangakong lugar na pagdadalhan sa kanila ni Ate Rhoda.

Sasamahan sila nina Lola Esmeralda at ni Mang Jun, ang driver ng mga San Victores. Samantalang magiging abala sa pagtingin ng iba’t- ibang potential property ang mga parents nila.

“Your parents fell inlove with Ilocos," Olivia’s grandmother said.

Sakay sila ng van at pinagsasawa ni Olivia ang paningin sa nadadaanang tanawin sa labas. Magkakatabi naman sa likod nila sina Pris, Jessica at Kristine, na pare-parehong tulog.

“It’s very nice here.” She understood why her parents loved to build a summer house in Ilocos. Napakaganda ng lugar. Wala syang nakikita kundi mga mayayabong na puno, kulay asul na dagat, luntiang burol at malinis na ilog. Sa murang edad, alam ni Olivia na magandang investment ang lupa dahil habang tumatagal mas tumataas ang value nito.

Olivia’s parents took her and Pris to Milan last year to watch an opera in La Scala. They stayed in a cozy mansion-turned Bed and Breakfast. Her mother explained how it was turned from a liability to an asset.

Olivia was always all ears whenever her parents talked about business. She wanted to learn as much as she could even at a young age. She dreamed of leading Studio 11 Network in the future.

Huminto ang van sa tabi ng kalsada. Matapos iparada ni Mang Jun sa lilim ng isang punong kahoy ang sasakyan, naglakad sila sa isang makipot at lubak na daan. Pawang mga halaman at puno lamang ang makikita sa paligid.

Nasa unahan nila si Ate Rhoda dala sa magkabilang kamay ang mga basket ng pagkain. Kasunod naman sina Olivia at Lola Esmeralda. Nasa likuran nila ang tatlong magkakaibigan, na tinuturuan ni Mang Jun pangalanan ang iba’t- ibang punong nakikita ng mga ito.

Makalipas ang labinlimang minuto, huminto sila sa isang bahay- kubo na nalililiman ng ilang punong- kahoy. May matikas at kayumanggihing lalaki ang abalang nagwawalis ng mga dahon ang nilapitan ni Ate Rhoda.

“Naimbag a bigat, Manong Ton,” masiglang bati ni Ate Rhoda, na sa palagay ni Olivia, magandang umaga ang ibig sabihin niyon. Napahinto ang lalaki sa ginagawa. “Apan ko suda ipasyar idiay lapat.”

Napatingin ang lalaki sa gawi nina Olivia at ngumiti ito saka bumati ng magandang umaga. Lumapit ito kay Lola Esmeralda saka nakipagkilala at nakipagkamay. Nakakatandang kapatid pala ito ni Ate Rhoda.

Itinabi muna ni Manong Ton ang walis ting-ting na hawak nito saka sinabing sasamahan at ihahatid sila nito.

The temperature was colder when they reached a part of the woods where the trees were very thick, the leaves served as a perfect sunshade. It reminded Olivia of the woods back at her grandmother’s farm. She couldn’t help but wish to see Ate Umi beyond the trees.

Olivia’s jaw dropped when she saw the spectacular meadow before her. Her only light when she first saw it with Ate Umi were the moon and the fireflies, but she was certain it was the same place her friend took her. It was the same lake she swam in, same bed of colorful flowers, soft grass and willow trees.

“Ate Liv? Are you okay?” Nag-aalalang nakatingin sa kanya si Jessica. Nang makalabas kasi sila ng kakahuyan, napako na sa kinatatayuan nya si Olivia.

“I’m okay. Ang… ang ganda kasi,” pagdadahilan nya. It was true anyway, she just didn’t expect to see it again without Ate Umi. The meadow was really breathtaking in broad daylight. Only Olivia prefer it more at night time. It was more magical.