Kristine Series 55: MONTE FALCO - Island In The Sun

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

"THIS is my island in the sun
Where my people have toiled since time began.."

Nagsimulang umawit si Tristan sa buong-buong tinig. Ang mga mata ay hindi humihiwalay sa kanya. Nag-uutos ang mga iyon sa tila hipnotismong paraan. She was forced to sway to his song and music.

Kasabay ng mahinang tambol ng drum, ang
mabining hampas ng alon sa dalampasigan ay
tila nagdudulot ng backup chorus sa pag-awit ni Tristan.

Ang kanta ay mabagal. His voice was good.
It vibrated through the darkness, touching her
heart... her soul.

"It may sail on many sea
Her shores will always be home to me..."

At kapagkuwa'y bumilis ang tipa sa gitara.
ganoon din ang drum. He was singing but his eyes were smiling, pleased, as he stared at her,
as she danced and swayed with the song and
music.

"Oh, island in the sun
Willed to me by my father's hand
All my days I will sing in praise
Of your forest, waters, your shining sun.
As morning breaks the heaven up high
I lift my heavy load to the sky
Sun comes down the burning glow
Lingers my sweat and the earth below..."

Parang nais pumiyok ni Tristan at manuyo ang lalamunan. She was so lovely in her sarong
and she was dancing like a dream. Tulad sa isang diyosa ng karagatan na umahon at nakihalubilo sa mga mortal.

Hindi mabilis ang kanta at mahirap isayaw
subalit ang bawat banayad na imbay ng katawan ni Meredith ay umaayon sa bawat liriko ng awitin... umaayon sa bawat pagtipa nito ng gitara.

Her eyes were even closed as she danced.
Feeling the music... the song... and the man who sang it. And he started to grow hard to the point of pain.

"I see woman on bended knee
Cutting cane for her family
I see man on a water side
Casting nets at the surging tide..
Oh, island in the sun
Willed to me by my father's hand.."

Meredith's eyes were still closed as she danced to the music and song. She was dancing for him. And she was unaware of the sensualit of her dance... unaware of the emotions she stirred in him.

All she wanted to do was weep instead
Naalala ang sinabi ni Tristan.

"Hindi para sa magsing-irog ang kanta
Meredith. Subalit gusto ko ang liriko..."

Yes. The song was about his land. His forest... his sea... his place under the sun. It was all about the mountains of Monte and his people.

"I hope the day will never come
When I can't awake to the sound of drums
Oh, island in the sun..."

Tristan loved the earth the waters, and the
mountains. Hindi ito aalis sa gubat na iyon. At
kung mamahalin niya ito ay kailangan niyang
manatiling kasama ito sa paraisong kung
tawagin ay Rancho Monte.

Tapos nang kumanta at tumugtog si Tristan
pero nanatili siya sa banayad na pag-imbay ang mga kamay at katawan. Sa saliw ng mga dahong hinihipan ng hangin... ng mga mumunting alon sa dagat na banayad na humahampas sa dalampasigan... ng katahimikan ng gabi.

It was all music to her ears as she kept on
dancing dreamily. People were watching her with awe. No one stirred, no one uttered a word for fear of breaking the magic spell that seemed to have shrouded all of them at that moment.

Napasinghap at nagmulat ng mga mata si
Meredith nang maramdaman ang mga bisig ní
Tristan sa katawan niya. Kasunod niyon ang
palakpakan ng mga taong naroroon at ang
muling pagkakaingay, ang muling pagtambol
ng drum, at ang muling pagpagitna ng mga
nagsasayaw na kadalagahan.

Her eyes were misty as she gazed at him
mesmerized. Hindi niya kayang basahin ang
emosyong nakapaloob sa magandang mukha
ni Tristan.

"Mahusay kang sumayaw, aking Señorita. At
ang pagpapakilala sa iyo ni Andrea bilang anak
ay kumalat na sa mga tauhan. Ikinagagalak
nilang sa ikalawang pagkakataon ay yumuko
ang langit sa lupa..." bulong ni Tristan, hinawi
patalikod ang buhok niyang bumaba sa mukha
niya at inayos nito ang orkidyas na nakaipit doon.