Watermelon Dreams

Bus Ride

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

JUNE 29, 2019

Lola Esmeralda died at 66. Olivia remembered her long shiny pepper colored- hair and the way her wrinkles on the edges of her eyes creased whenever she smiled. The woman standing before her looked younger, wrinkle free and no trace of white hair. But there’s no doubt, it was her Lola Esmeralda.

Totoo ba ang nakikita nya o isang ilusyon lang? Hindi makapagsalita si Olivia. Nasisiraan na ba sya ng bait? Epekto ba ito ng Malaria? O kaharap nya ang multo ng Lola nya?

“I know this is very shocking to you but let me assure you,” nagsalita ang multo ng Lola nya, “you’re not going insane, iha.” There’s that familiar kind smile on her lips. Ito na ang lumapit kay Olivia at humawak sa nanginginig nyang kamay dahil hindi nya magawang humakbang.

Napatingin sya sa mga kamay nitong nakahawak sa kanya. It was very warm and very real. But she couldn’t get to open her mouth to speak.

“This is me, apo. Huwag kang matakot.” Sunod nitong hinaplos ang kanang pisngi nya at buong pagmamahal sya nitong pinagmasdan. “You’ve grown to be an exceptional woman. So brave and beautiful.”

Kita ni Olivia sa mga mata nito kung gaano ito kaproud sa kanya. Kung gaano rin ito kasabik na makita at mahawakan sya.

Olivia burst into tears. Maraming beses nyang hiniling na sana makitang muli ang Lola nya, kahit minsan lang para mayakap itong muli at masabing mahal na mahal nya ito.

Niyakap nila nang mahigpit ang isa’t-isa. “I miss you so much, Lola.” Maraming gustong sabihin si Olivia pero nagkasya na lang syang damhin ang init ng yakap nito. Parehong naglandas ang mga luha nila sa kani-kaniyang pisngi.

“Mamamatay na ba ako, Lola?” Tanong ni Olivia nang bumitaw sila sa isa’t- isa. “Is that why you are here? Sinusundo mo na ba ako? Kaya ba kung anu-ano ang napapanaginipan at nakikita ko?”

Nagkatinginan sina Miranda at ang Lola nya. “Nandito ako tungkol sa mga panaginip mo at sa mga nakita mo. But you are not dying nor going crazy. I came here for an urgent reason.” Gumuhit ang pangamba sa mukha ni Lola Esmeralda. “Kailangan nating mag-usap. Maaari ka bang sumama sa akin?”

“Of course.” Olivia didn’t hesitate. She wanted answers herself and be with her Lola too.

“Great! The bus is waiting,” Miranda said smiling. Relief was written on her face.

“Bus?” Hindi nya alam kung paano nangyari at natagpuan na lamang ni Oliva ang sarili sa harap ng gate ng Grego Farm kasama ang dalawa. Nagulat pa sya nang may bumusina.

That’s when she noticed an old ordinary bus with red and yellow paint, parked across the road. Other than the driver, the bus was empty.

“It looked familiar,” Olivia thought as she boarded the bus with Miranda and Lola Esmeralda. The middle aged bus driver with a mustache smiled at them.

“Magandang hapon,” bati nito sa kanila. Nakasuot ito ng kupas na kulay pulang sombrero at pula ring collared shirt, na syang uniform nito.

Without asking where they were taking her, she sat beside her Lola behind the driver while Miranda settled across the aisle.

Saan na nga ba nya nakita ang bus na ito? Luma na pero malinis ang loob. Ito ang tipong bus na bumibiyahe sa mga liblib na probinsya, punong- puno ng pasahero at maging ang bubong nito ay inuupuan.

The bus started moving. Even without airconditioning, the breeze coming through the open window was enough to cool Olivia. An old song played softly from the stereo. Just hearing it made her wistful about something she couldn’t put her finger on.