Watermelon Dreams

Daughter of Nature

CHAPTER NINETEEN

1986

Nagmadaling lumapit sina Olivia at Esmeralda para saklolokan ang babaing nahulog mula sa kalangitan. Tumagos lamang ang kamay ni Olivia nang tangka nyang hawakan ang mukha ng babae. Nadismaya syang walang magawa para rito.

Marahang tinapik ni Esmeralda ang pisngi ng babae. Nagkamalay ito. Pilit nitong iminulat ang mga mata at nagtangkang bumangon.

“Sandali. Huwag ka munang gumalaw. Hihingi ako ng tulong,” nag-aalalang sabi ni Esmeralda. Tatayo na sana ang Lola ni Olivia ngunit mahigpit itong hinawakan ng babae sa braso.

“Kaya kong…tumayo.” Hirap magsalita ang babae. Umaagos ang dugo mula sa sugat nito sa kaliwang pisngi. Pinilit nitong tumayo kaya napilitan si Esmeralda na alalayan ito. Unti- unting naglaho ang armor nito. Lumantad ang puting t-shirt nitong duguan. Kita ang sugat nito mula sa punit na pantalon nito sa may hita. “Walang pwedeng makaalam tungkol sa’kin.”

Napatitig sa mata ng isa’t-isa ang babae at si Esmeralda, na tumango bilang tanda na naiintindihan nito.

“Hayaan mong tulungan kita.” Olivia felt her grandmother’s sincerity and so as the woman, who’s eyes turned light brown.
Must be her natural eye color, Olivia thought.

The woman’s right arm was draped on Esmeralda’s shoulder as Olivia’s grandmother helped the wounded woman get inside the house.

Sa spare bedroom sa first floor ng bahay dinala ni Esmeralda ang sugatang babae. Nakatulong na may training sa first aid ang Lola nya.

Olivia gasped when her Lola cut the woman’s shirt revealing a deep wound on the side of her stomach. There was a black shard stuck below her collar bone. Olivia couldn’t help but notice the strange woman’s nice body. It wasn’t muscular but it was toned with a hint of abs.

Malalim din ang mga sugat nito sa braso maging sa mga hita at binti. Alam ni Esmeralda na kailangan itong madala sa ospital ngunit dahil nangako itong walang makakaalam ng tungkol sa mahiwagang babae, ginawa nito ang lahat para magamot ito.

The woman almost squealed when Lola Esmeralda removed the shard, which melted into black sticky fluid, staining the sheets. She kept groaning in pain as Esmeralda cleaned and bandaged her wounds. Her eyes would sometimes flash in orange. She was covered in sweat, her hands clutched the white sheets to refrain herself from screaming. Her face was contorted in pain that Olivia wanted to hold her and whisper she’d be alright.

The image of her grandmother and the woman faded but it became clear again after few seconds. The time shifted, sunlight streamed inside through the window illuminating the room.

Namumutla pa rin ang babae pero mukhang mas mabuti na ang pakiramdam nito. Nakabihis na ito ng itim na pajama at sinusubuan ni Esmeralda ng mainit na sabaw.

Nakatitig lamang ang babae kay Lola Esmeralda habang tinatanggap mula rito ang pagkain.

“You have a kind heart.” The injured woman’s voice was soft. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Esmeralda smiled.

Olivia noticed dark circles under her grandmother eyes aside from she was wearing the same clothes last night. Lola must have stayed all night, she thought.

“You will be rewarded.” Gratefulness was very evident on her face.

“Hindi ko kailangan yan. I gave you help because you needed it. Sapat na sa aking maging maayos ang kalagayan mo.” Lola flashed the woman a kind smile. “Now stop talking and eat,” kunwari pagalit nitong sabi sa babae, na napangiti nang bahagya. “Ako nga pala si Esmeralda. What’s you name?”