Isla Majaba: Lauthner Diezo

Chapter 2

KASALUKUYANG kumakain ng breakfast si Rauthnia sa dining area na siyang almost ready na pumasok sa school. Nakapang-school uniform skirt na siya, pero nakasuot naman ito ng isang t-shirt dahil kumakain pa ito ng umagahan at magto-toothbrush pa pagkatapos niyang kumain. Lauthner came down from upstairs habang naka-short at nakasimple shirt lang ito na may dala-dalang maleta.

"Good morning, Daddy!" sambit ni Rauthnia nang pumasok sa dining area si Lauthner.

Lauthner walk towards her. "Good morning too, Baby!" he said joyfully and kissed her forehead.

"Where are you going, Daddy? Are you not going to the company?" sunod-sunod nitong tanong.

Lauthner chuckled. "Daddy, is going to the island to meet Mr. Fred," paliwanag niya rito at umupo na upang kumain.

"Ah! The one who you talked to on the phone the other day?" Am I right, Daddy?" hindi alam ni Lauthner na nakikinig pala ang anak no'ng araw na iyon habang may kausap siya sa telepono, kaya nagulat siya kung bakit nalaman ni Rauthnia kung sino ang e-memeet niya.

"Yeah, how did you know?" he curiously asked.

"I accidentally heard you talking, Daddy. I'm sorry for eavesdropping," malungkot nitong saad.

He smiled. "No, baby it's alright. I'm not mad but keep it in your mind that eavesdropping with someone's conversation is not right, okay? However, there are circumstances that we can't avoid to hear someone's conversation, but we should not interfere with their businesses," pagpapa-alala niya sa anak.

Rauthnia nooded her head. "I will keep that in mind, Daddy!" masigla nitong tugon.

Magkasabay na natapos kumain ang mag-ama. He helped Rauthnia to brush her teeth pero ipinagpaubaya niya na ang pagbibihis ng uniform nito sa tagapagbantay ng anak. He drove Rauthnia to her school dahil mamaya pa naman ang oras ng kanyang flight papuntang isla. Hinatid niya ang anak patungong classroom nito at nagsitinginan naman ang ilang kababaihang nadadaanan ni Lauthner dahil sa angking kagwapohan niya.

Kahit na ang ina ng mga kaklase ni Rauthnia ay hindi maiwasan na hindi mapatingin sa napakagwapo at matipunong si Lauthner Diezo. He has a masculine body figure and have a great posture. Taas noo naman itong naglakad habang hawak-hawak nito ang kamay ni Rauthnia. Rauthnia is proud of her dad. She wants her daddy to found his happiness to a girl whom she can call mom.

Nasa labas na sila ng classroom ni Rauthnia at bahagyang umupo si Lauthner upang magkalevel sila ng anak. He fixed her uniform kahit na maayos naman ito at walang dumi o kaunting pagkakunot man lang. Hindi niya mapigilan na hindi mapangiti habang tinitignan ang anak na unti-unti nang lumalaki.

"Daddy, I'm okay here. You can go na," ani nito sa ama.

He sighed. "Be a good girl, okay? Always remember that daddy loves you so much," malambing niyang sambit sa anak.

"I love you too, Daddy. I will be a good girl po. Promise!" she looked straight to his eyes, "Don't forget to call me, once you get there," she said with a puppy eyes.

Pinisil ni Lauthner ang magkabila nitong pisngi. "I will not," tugon niya sa sinabi ng anak.

They hugged each other and bid their goodbyes. Agad na siyang sumakay sa sasakyan at pinaharurot ito pabalik ng bahay. Nakapagbook na rin siya para sa hotel room ni Mr. Fred at lahat ng pwedeng kailanganin nito ay nakahanda na.

***

NASA kalagitnaan ng himpapawid si Lauthner habang nakasakay sa kanyang private helicopter. Alas diyes pa lang ng umaga at mamayang lunch naman ang dating ni Mr. Fred. Pero kailangan niyang pumunta ng maaga sa isla upang e double check kung naisayos na ba ang lahat mga ginawang reservations niya para sa bisita. Nang masigurado niyang maayos na ang lahat, umidlip na muna siya sa kanyang cabin dahil nakaramdam siya ng pagod.

Matapos ang mahigit isang oras niyang pagpapahinga, kasalukuyan siyang naghihintay sa yatch kung saan nakasakay si Mr. Fred. Habang papalapit ang yate, inihanda niya naman ang kanyang sarili upang salubungin ang bisita.

As soon as Mr. Fred reached the island, he was fascinated to the beauty of the island. Who can't be fascinated? The water is clear as crsytal. The white fine sand and the whole island is breathtaking. Nang tuluyan na itong makadaong, bumaba na si Mr. Fred habang nakasunod naman ang dalawang lalaking assistant nito.

The excitement runs into his body as soon as his feet touch the sand. The island exceeded his expectations. He thought that this island is just like the other island he have been to. Suprisingly, it beyond his expectations! He's very grateful to be in the in the island that everyone could dreamt of.

Lauthner walked towards them. "Welcome to the Isla Majaba, Mr. Fred!" salubong niya rito at nakigpagkamay siya.

"I've never expected that you really owned this beautiful island!" manghang saad nito habang pinupuri ang mga magagandang rock formations na nakikita niya habang papunta sila sa isla.

"I'm glad that you choose Isla Majaba to feature for your magazine. I didn't expect it," natatawang ani ni Lauthner rito.

"Well, this island exceeded my expectations, for real!" puri niya habang tumatawa.

Lauthner smiled. "I'm glad to hear that."

"By the way, these are my assistants. Melvin and Ryan."

Lauthner nooded at those two at saka bumaling sa taong nasa harapan niya. "Mr. Fred, if you wouldn't mind I prepared a lunch for you and to your assistants at the seaside restaurant. Shall we?"

Mr. Fred clapped his hands because of excitement. "Well, sure!"

***

IPINAPALIWANAG naman ni Lauthner kay Mr. Fred ang mga details na dapat nitong malaman tungkol sa isla. Ang details na mga ito ay siyang kakailanganin ng team ni Mr. Fred sa pagfeature ng buong isla.

"--It is the biggest island out of 20 islands in the province of Surigao del Sur. Isla Majaba is one of the best and widely known tourist spot because of its crystal clear water," ani ni Lauthner kay Mr. Fred at sa dalawa nitong assistant.

"Woah! I didn't know that there are more islands aside Isla Majaba," mangha nitong saad at uminom ng kanyang orange juice.

Lauthner chuckled. "Yes, there are. However, Isla Majaba is the biggest among those islands."

Ibinaba nito ang kanyang orang juice at tumingin kay Lauthner. "You know what? This island needs to have a bigger exposure, and that's my job to make it happen!"

Lauthner feels happy because of what Mr. Fred said. The unexplained feeling flow into his body and he experienced to feel something inside his stomach out of excitement.

Dumating na ang mga pagkain na ipinahanda ni Lauthner at agad namang silang kumain. Habang kumakain ang mga ito, hindi naman maiwasan na magtanong ng dalawang assistant ni Mr. Fred tungkol sa isla. Sinagot naman ito ni Lauthner kung paano niya ito nadevelop na humantong sa ganitong kagandang tourist spot.

Hinatid niya ang mga ito sa kanilang cabin. Mr. Fred and his crew will stay there for a month without paying anything dahil cover na ito lahat ni Lauthner. He doesn't mind the cost dahil maliit lang naman iyon kumpara sa ikinikita ng buong isla sa isang araw.

Maliban sa pag-aalaga at pagpapanatili ng magandang kapaligiran ng isla, he also donates money and make sponsors about aquamarine activities. Kabilang na rito, ang pagsulong ng bawal na paghuli ng mga maliliit na isda at illegal na pangingisda. He make donations also to those orphan houses and tribe people around the province.

He sighed for a job well done. He never thought this gonna be this easy. He wore his sunglasses because of the bright shining sun, while both of his hands are on his pocket. Maging ang mga trabahante sa isla ay hindi mapigilan na magkagusto sa napakagwapo nilang boss. Pero ni isa ay walang nagtangkang akitin ito dahil alam nilang walang balak na mag-asawa si Lauthner.

Sobrang tirik ng araw dahil pasado alas dos na ng hapon. Pero hindi naman ito masyadong masakit sa balat kapag natatamaan ka ng araw, dahil sa mga matatayog na puno ng niyog na nakapaligid sa buong isla. He sat at the bar counter na nakapuwesto sa ilalim ng palm trees.

"Drinks, Sir Lauthner?" ani ng bartender sa kanya.

"Pineapple, please!" sagot niya rito at tinignan ang buong paligid.

"Here you go, Sir!" sabay bigay ng basong naglalaman ng pineapple juice.

"Thank you," he thanked him and he sips into it.

He enjoyed watching the people having fun while drinking his cold pineapple juice under the palm tree. As much as he want to bring Rauthnia, hindi ito pwede dahil may pasok ito. Minsan lang makapunta si Ruthnia sa isla dahil sa pag-aaral nito at ayaw rin niya itong mapagod. Lalo na't quick visit lang ang madalas niyang ginagawa. Nagtagal muna siya ng ilang oras doon habang dinaramdam ang preskong hangin na galing sa karagatan.

***

“Hi, Daddy!” bungad ng kanyang anak nang tumawag siya rito.

"How are you, Baby?" tanong niya rito.

“I’m fine, Daddy. But I missed you!”

Napangiti naman si Lauthner dahil sa sinabi ng anak.

"I missed you too. Did you eat your dinner?"

She nooded her head.“Yes, Daddy. Kakatapos ko lang po.”

"Good," ani niya sa anak.

“How about you, Daddy?”

"I'm eating right now," aniya sabay pakita ng camera sa kanyang plato na naglalaman ng pagkain.

“Uhm, Daddy can you show me the place where you are eating?”

"Of course. Here," agad niyang inilipat sa back cam at ipinakita ang buong lugar.

“There are lots of people, Daddy!” masayang sambit ni Rauthnia.

He immediately smiled while watching at her daughter's reaction.

"Don't worry, this summer will be definitely going back here,"

“Really, Daddy?”

Tumango naman si Lauthner sa anak.

"It's almost eight, you should sleep na," aniya habang umiinom ng tubig.

“Okay, Daddy. Good night!”

"Good night, Baby. Have a good sleep,"

“I will, Daddy. I love you!” malambing nitong saad.

"I love you," pabalik na sabi ni Lauthner sa anak at hinayaang ito ang pumatay sa tawag.

Pagkatapos ng pag-uusap nilang dalawa, nagpatuloy na sa pagkain si Lauthner. As much as he wants to go home tomorrow early in the morning, he can't. He neeeds to be here for a month to accompany Mr. Fred. He decided that while he's at the island, he will enjoy himself and consider it, as a break from all of the paperworks.