Taming Dr. Agatha

KABANATA 2: ALAALA AT MGA DELA VEGA

"Are you done packing your things?" mama said. I nodded.

Papa is now at the hospital again but this time, he's with Toby. Aside from being my boy 'friend', Toby is one of my dad's reliable doctors. He earns dad's trust more than me. Pero okay naman na may kasama si Dad sa hospital. Kasi for sure bukas pa ang balik ni mama here in Manila. She's just going to send me on Isla Palestina. 

"Yup, mama." I boringly answered. Mama looks at my eyes telling me that I need to behave when we get there. Hindi niya na kailangan i-remind sa akin dahil I know naman kung kailan dapat magbehave. 

"So, let's go! For sure they are waiting for us in the airport."  Tulala at tahimik ako habang nakatingin sa bintana ng eroplano.

I was only 18 years old when the last time we went here. Sa pagkakatanda ko pa noon it was someone's birthday. Pero hindi ko na kilala kung sino. All I know is that it is from a well-known family on Palestine Island. Papa and mama received an invitation because they're somehow residents here before. But there are tragic happened to me when I was here before. Something happened unexpectedly here that's why it's a big deal for me to go back here. 

"Are you reminiscing something, Agatha?" mama asked.

She was in front of her laptop. Busy calculating some incomes and schedule for operations and surgery in our hospital. Not to brag but in the Philippines, we are one of the top and leading hospitals and 10th in Asia. We have the best doctors, surgeons, and whatsoever. That's why kahit anak ako ng may-ari ay hindi ako mabigyan-bigyan ng posisyon dahil I know, I don't deserve that. I have some shares in this hospital but I know kuya Axel will be the next president of the ARHMC. Maybe, I can be the CEO of our business firm. Dahil sa side naman ni mama, all of them were mathematically and arts inclined. Siguro kaya nahilig din ako sa arts. Halos lahat sa side ni mama ay puro Engineers and Architects. That's why our family is prone to issues. Sullivan and Rivera's are on the top families in their fields. Rivera's for medicines and Sullivan for Engineering and interior business firms. But mama took away from that path. She chose to be a doctor that's why she met my father. 

"Yeah, mama. I just remember something." I whispered. Mama suddenly closed her laptop and removed her reading glasses.

 "About the incident happened years ago?" I deeply exhaled. I shook my head, pretending like she wasn't right. Ang totoo, I'm still scared. Scared na kamuhian ng mga tao. 

"A-Anak, look. I know you very well, at alam kong hanggang ngayon ay ginagambala ka pa din ng konsensya mo. You didn't kill anyone. Always remember that." mama trying to convince me.

"Once we get there, everything starts new. I hope you'll be able to adjust easily. Isa pa, matagal na 'tong napagplanuhan." Napakunot ang noo ko. Napagplanuhan? Anong ibig sabihin non? I shrugged my shoulders. Trying to divert my attention. 

Wala na akong makitang liwanag sa labas. Nababalot na ng dilim ang buong bintana, but if you're going to look down. Makikita mo ang mga ilaw sa syudad ng Isla Palestina. Stunning and sparkling like stars. Maraming tao ang hindi alam ang tungkol sa Isla Palestina. Well, it's a huge Island somewhere in Visayas. It's rich in agrarian and traditional ways. Malaki ang Isla Palestina kumpara sa karatig bayan nito. Magaganda ang mga rock formations, bodies of water and etc, kapag nalibot mo. Kasabay noon ang lakas na pag-ugong ng aming sinasakyang eroplano, hudyat na nakarating na kami sa lugar na dapat naming puntahan. Nakarinig na ako ng salita mula sa speaker ng eroplano at sinasabing handa na kaming lumabas. I don't know pero lalo akong kinabahan lalo na kapag naiisip ko ang mga alaala na dapat kalimutan. Well, I considered that as my worst nightmare. 

"Anak, let's go. I already received a text. The van already waiting for us." Ngumiti ako kay mama at sinunod ang sinabi niya. When we entered the terminal. Agad na hinanap ni mama ang susundo sa amin. Ganon na lamang ang gulat ko ng makita ko ang taong sumundo sa amin. He's tall, faired-tan and so perfect to be a prince. If I am not mistaken, he's one of the Dela Vega's boys. The third grandson, if my memory serves right.

"There you are, Lucas! It's been 4 months since we met. Right?" mama greets him. 

"Yes, tita. And I am so happy to hear that you're going back here with someone that's why I volunteer myself to Lolo that I'll be going to fetch you guys so..." ani niya kay mama. Nakatingin ito sa akin at tila ba inaantay akong magpakilala sakaniya. Nasa likod lang ako ni mama, tila inoobserbahan ang mga kilos ng lalaking ito. He seems so friendly but I feel something uncomfortable with the way he looks at me. His eyes were so dark, that's why I can't read him. 

"Anyways, mind introducing me to the girl beside you tita?" he politely asked. Wow, so playboy. Mama got into her senses. 

"Oh! By the way, Lucas, iho. This is Dr. Agatha Sullivan Rivera, my daughter." mahinahong pakilala ni mama sa akin dun kay Lucas. He seems familiar, but I don't remember his name. He smiled pero tipid ang iginawad ko sakaniya. Nag-alok din ito ng shake hands at tinanggap ko naman iyon. "So, you're a doctor?" he asked me, this time. I nod.

"Actually, Surgeon. A General Surgeon." boring kong sagot. I'm tired and hungry. Can't we continue this once we get there? Tipid itong ngumiti at tumawa. Looking for some touches of humor but mama is the one who drives in his laughs. 

"So, I guess pagod na si doktora Agatha. Alis na tayo tita?" Tumango si mama. Mama sits in the back while I sit in the passengers. Nang nagsimula niyang paandarin ang sasakyan, nagsimula na naman na lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko. Do I need to test myself and look at my own result? It feels like there's something wrong with my heart. 

"How're your cousins?" mama tries to open up a topic. I secretly took a look at Lucas. His eyes were on road but he still manages his face so adorable. Hindi mapagkakailang Dela Vega nga.

"They are doing fine. Trax is doing fine in his own business, a real estate company, and airlines. Raven is also doing great in his passion which is cooking. He now owns a restaurant. Trail is also handling his business in Manila which is all about damn cars. He owns Timoteo Cars. Marlon is now practicing himself to handle the hotels here in Isla Palestina. But of course, he owns a business, yung MS Metal Steel." Lucas answered in a poker face. Para bang napalitan lang siyang sumagot kahit ayaw niya.I sighed. Come to think of it, isa ang mga Dela Vega sa sikat at umuugong na pangalan dahil sa mga five-star hotels at hotel chains nila sa iba't-ibang bansa mapa Asya, Amerika at Europa. Kaya naman hindi na ako magtataka kung hindi magkanda-ugaga ang anim na apo ni Don Samuel.

"Oh. How responsible the Dela Vega's are, right Agatha?" mama now pointed me. "Yes, mama." I heard Lucas' little laughs. But I ignore that. "By the way, I haven't heard anything from Colton a while ago? What about him. I know he's the first grandson of the Dela Vega's. So how is he? I heard when I was in Manila, he's going to take over the position from his late father to rule the DVGOC. That's a big company so I bet it will be hard for him." Lucas suddenly slowed his car. Para bang biglang naintimidate sa pangalan ni Colton. 

"U-Uh. H-He's at his study room all of the time. He masters Business so it won't be hard for him to handle the DVGOC and DVSC." Anlakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko ng narinig ko ang pangalang, Colton. Colton... C-Colton... Tila nawalan ako ng hangin at lakas. I saw mama, unti-unti niya akong tinignan.

 "Are you okay, Agatha?" tanong ni mama. "Namumutla ka!"

 Doon lang ako natauhan. Sa sinabi ni mama, parang bigla akong nagising. I immediately shook my head. 

"Yes, mama. I'm just tired and we haven't eaten our dinner." sagot ko. Pero ang totoo kinakabahan ako. I'm so scared to go back here in Isla. Napasulyap sa akin si Lucas. Looking so worried about me. 

"Malapit naman na tayo, Agatha. Lolo prepared a dinner for you and tita. Isa pa, andoon din sila tito and tita pati ang mga pinsan ko." Nanlaki ang mata ni mama. 

"Really? Sobrang engrande naman ata ng dinner para sa amin, Lucas." umiling siya. 

"It's okay, tita. They were too excited to see you with Agatha. It's been years since they met Agatha kaya lahat sila naeexcite." Mama laughed. 

"For sure..." Mabilis na nag drive si Lucas. Actually, he's a good driver. I enjoyed our ride but the fact that I'm scared ay andoon pa din. Nang nakarating kami sa mansion ng mga Dela Vega ay hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko nung nakita ko silang lahat na nasa harap ng hapag-kainan. Nasa grand table silang lahat. Andito ang iilang mga anak ni Don Samuel at Donya Esmeralda. Nang nakita nila kami ay agad nila kaming grineet. Medyo awkward nga lang kasi puro lalaki ang apo ng mga Dela Vega. And it kills the atmosphere for me.

"Oh my gosh! Is that you Amelia? You still look young!" ani ng isang babae na ka-edad ni mama. Natawa sila pati si mama. 

"Ikaw din naman Samantha. Hanggang ngayon mukha pa din kayong bata ni Rainier." sabi ni mama. So ang kausap ni mama ay si Rainier at Samantha Dela Vega. 

"Sana sinama mo ang asawa mo!" ani naman ng isang babae kagaya ng sinabi ko kanina nasa edad din siya ni mama. Kutis porcelana na parang batang bata na hindi madumihan at madungisan ang balat. Katabi naman nito ang isang meztisong lalaki. Bumagay sila dahil parehas silang hindi mukhang may edad an. 

"Nako! Busy 'yon si Armand sa hospital lalo na at andaming pasyente ngayon." sagot naman ni mama. Tumango ang asawa nung babae.

"Kamusta na kayo Troy at Tamara? Balita ko maganda ang lagay ng anak ninyo ngayon sa business industry." tanong ni mama. Tumango ang lalaki. 

"Trax and Trail are doing so good. Mabuti na nga lang at sa akin nagmana ang mga anak ko!" ani ng lalaki sabay tawa. Natawa din ang mag-asawang Rainer at Samantha ng makitang tinampal ni tita Tamara ang braso ni tito Troy. 

"Good for them. Nga pala nasaan sina Manuel at Lani?" tanong ni mama. Sumagot agad si tita Samantha.

"Nasa abroad sila ngayon at inaayos ang ibang chains ng hotel ng pamilya." "Si Cathy?" tanong uli ni mama. Alam ko si tita Cathy ang mommy ni Colton. Matagal na kasing patay ang daddy ni Colton dahil sa isang aksidente.  

"Like Manuel at Lani, nasa states din. Unfortunately, they won't be able to attend right now. Alam mo naman simula ng mawala ang kuya naging workaholic na si ate." ani naman ni tita Tamara. Tumango si mama. Nang napansin niyang wala pa si Don Samuel at Donya Esmeralda pati ang mga apo nila. Bigla akong hinigit ni mama sa tabi niya. 

"By the way, amigos and amigas. This is my daughter, Dr. Agatha Rivera." Nanlaki ang mga mata nila. 

"Oh my gosh. Si Agatha na pala ito? She looks so beautiful, Amelia!" manghang-mangha na sabi ni tita Samantha. Ngumiti nalang ako sa sinabi niya. 

"Kung wala lang nauna siguro irereto ko yan sa mga anak ko. Either Trax or Trail." ani ng tito Troy. 

"As well as my son, Raven too." singit ni tito Rainer.

"Thank you po!" yun lang ang nasabi ko. Medyo awkward talaga. 

"Paniguradong kapag nakarating ang mga magpipinsan at nakita ka? Hindi na ako magtataka kung magkakaroon ng malaking pagbabago sa pamamahay na ito." ani ni tita Tamara. 

"Sorry for the term pero you look like a goddamn goddess, iha?!" Natawa naman si mama pati narin ako. 

"Thank you so much po. I feel like I'm already welcome here." At sana welcome din ako sa magpipinsan. Kasi kinakabahan na ako sa pwedeng mangyari.