Watermelon Dreams

Stranded

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

JUNE 28, 2019

Olivia inhaled and then exhaled. She’d been doing that repeatedly to calm her raging self. She felt like the world was conspiring against her.

Her personal driver suddenly had a family emergency and couldn’t drive her all the way to Grego Farm in Pampanga.

Marunong namang magmaneho si Olivia kaya hindi nya alintana ang ilang oras na biyahe patungo roon.

Hindi lang sya makapaniwala nang biglang tumirik ang kotse nya sa gitna ng daan, kung saan wala syang nakikita kundi damo, puno at ang Mt. Arayat. Napakaganda ng tanawin kung tutuusin ngunit hindi sapat iyon para maibsan ang iritasyon nya.

Sinabi ni Mang Juliano na sinigurado nitong nasa kundisyon ang kotse kaya nadismaya sya nang tumigil ito. Mahina ang reception sa lugar kaya wala syang ma-contact para sunduin sya.

She had two options. It’s either she leave her black Lexus and walk to find help from nearby houses, if she could find one. Or stay in the car until someone passed by.

Kinuha ni Olivia ang leather bagpack na naglalaman ng wallet at cellphone nya saka naglakad para maghanap ng tulong matapos i-lock ang kotse.

Olivia checked her watch made of wood. It was 10AM in the morning. She had been walking for only five minutes and her maroon top was already sticking on her back. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead and her throat was parched.

Kung alam lang nyang mangyayari ito, nagsuot man lang sana sya ng shorts instead of denim jeans. Nagpapasalamat sya sa suot nyang sneakers dahil kumportable kahit hindi sementado ang tinatahak nya.

Nang tignan nyang muli ang relo, halos 30 minutes na syang naglalakad pero wala pa rin syang nakikita kahit isang bahay man lang.

Malakas din ang kutob nyang nawawala na sya bago pa man huminto ang sasakyan nya. Hindi pamilyar sa kanya ang mga nadaanang lugar. Matagal na rin nang bumiyahe syang mag-isa pauwi sa farm ng Lola nya kaya hindi na nya kabisado. Gumamit sya ng Waze ngunit pawala-wala ang signal nya.

“I might have taken a wrong turn,” Olivia thought. Despite the scorching heat, she shivered a little but immediately dismissed her thoughts. She had to get help.

After walking for almost 30 minutes more, Olivia felt exhausted. She had amazing stamina and could finish a 10K run easily but the heat of the sun was draining her energy. Pakiramdam nya tila painit nang painit ang araw kaya napasalampak sya sa damuhan sa ilalim ng isang puno ng balete.

Olivia leaned her back against the tree trunk and closed her eyes. It was too quiet. No birds chittering nor rustling of leaves. Nakakapagtakang walang kahangin- hangin sa paligid. Nakakabingi tuloy ang katahimikan.

Inilabas nya ang cellphone. Walang signal. Habang naglalakad kanina, sinubukan nyang humanap ng signal pero bigo sya.

Nanatiling nakaupo si Olivia hanggang sa makapagpahinga. Naging alerto sya nang marinig na may paparating, isang binatang nakasakay sa lumang bisikleta.

Agad na tumayo si Olivia at lumapit dito. “Hi. Salamat naman at napadaan ka.” Huminto ang binatang sa tingin nya’y nasa mid-twenties. Buong paghanga sya nitong pinagmasdan mula ulo hanggang paa. Medyo nailang si Olivia sa tingin nito pero kailangan nya ng tulong. “Kailangan ko ng tulong mo. Nasiraan kasi yung kotse ko. May alam ka bang pwedeng kumumpuni?”

Saglit pa itong tumitig sa kanya bago sumagot. “Konting lakad na lang, malapit na ang Baryo Kling- Kling. Hanapin mo yung talyer ni Kuya Lucio.” Itinuro nito ang daang pinanggalingan nito.