Isla Majaba: Lauthner Diezo

Chapter 3

A fine young lady walk towards the office habang sumasayaw naman ang kanyang buhok sa bawat hakbang na ginagawa niya. She's Sieviana Leviaste, a famous model. At the age of 24, she's already exposed into the showbiz and have so many projects--sponsors coming at her. The expression of her face is untraceable and the fury feeling is flowing into her body as she enters her office.

Her manager--Lanie was peacefully sitting in the couch while reading a magazine before Sieviana entered the office.

"What happened to you? Your face is so messed up!" bungad ng kanyang manager nang makapasok siya sa loob. The worried look is all over Lanie's face.

Walang salitang lumabas galing sa bibig ni Sieviana. Agad siyang umupo sa swivel chair at ibinuhos niya ang nagbabadyang luha na kanina pa nito pinipigilan na tumulo. She caught her boyfriend making out with her best friend--Tahlia at her room.

"Ano ba, Sieviana! Bakit ka ba iyak ng iyak diyan? Nagback-out ba mga sponsors mo?!" gulat na saad ni Lanie habang pinapay-payan ang sarili, "Oh, my God!"

"Tanga, hindi!" asik nito at nagpatuloy ulit ang dalaga sa pag-iyak.

Agad naman itong umupo sa harapan ni Sieviana. "Eh, kung ganoon... Bakit ka umiiyak?"

Flashback...

She texted Tahlia, early in the morning to tell her na dadaan siya sa condo nito. It's because she forgot to get her sandal na siyang naiwanan niya noong isang araw. She knew the passcode kaya nakapasok na siya sa loob without a hassle. The whole place was quite and dim, that's because the curtain are all down and no single light from the outside can be seen.

Hindi niya hinayaan na maglikha ng kahit kaunting ingay sa bawat paglakad niya, dahil baka natutulog pa rin ang kaibigan at ayaw niyang maistorbo ito sa mahimbing na pagtulog. She hold the doorknob and slowly opens the door. The betrayal feeling was flowing all over her body. Her eyes remained wide open without even blinking. A warm liquid coming out from her eyes became uncontrollable while silently convincing herself, that it's not what she thinks it is.

Familiar clothes were scattered all over the floor. Sieviana traces the scattered clothes and it leads into the corner of the room. The immense anger she was feeling has been unleashed. Walang pag-alinlangan niyang binuksan ang ilaw at nakita niya ang dalawang taong importante sa buhay niya na harap-harapan siyang niloko.

"S-Sieviana," nauutal na sambit ni Tahlia habang hubo't hubad itong nakakapit kay Dylan na siyang boyfriend ni Sieviana.

She stormed out of the room because of anger then she left. As much as she want to hurt them, she doesn't want to. Ayaw niyang mahawaan siya ng kadumihan ng dalawang iyon. The warm liquid was uncontrollably flowing down to her cheeks. She wiped it using her hand kahit na alam niyang tutulo't-tutulo pa rin ito.

End of flashback...

Sieviana looked at her habang namumula ang matangos nitong ilong at pisngi. "He cheated on me!"

Nagsimula namang humagulhol ulit si Sieviana habang nag-aalala namang tumingin si Lanie sa alaga. Mabuti na lamang at soundproof ang buong opisina.

"Kanino naman? Gusto mo resbakan natin?"

Sieviana shook her head. "Tahlia," maikli nitong sabi.

Napatakip naman sa kanyang bibig si Lanie. "Iyong bestfriend mo?"

"Hmm," tumango-tangong sabi ni Sieviana.

Sadness immediately crawled over sa tuwing naalala niya kung anong nakita niya. The amount of anger that she's feeling is immeasurable. The shaking of her legs was uncontrollably extreme. It was out her thought na papatusin ng kaibigan ang kanyang boyfriend. She was too confident na hindi siya tra-traydorin ng kaibigan.

***

It's been a week since that happened to Sieviana. She tried to fight her sadness pero patuloy pa rin siya nitong sinusundan. She can't focus working because of her current situation. The higher ups knows about her situation and they feel sad for her. Her ex-boyfriend and snake friend, was acting like everything's okay.

Tahlia's was her co-model. Their friendship begun before they both entered the industry. Simula pa lang noon, napapansin na ni Sieviana na naiinggit si Tahlia sa mga bagay na mayroon siya, kaya binibilhan niya rin ito upang hindi magkaroon ng alitan sa pagitan nila. Dylan was a son of a Congressman. Hindi niya lubos maisip kung bakit nagawa ito ng dalawa sa kanya. She believed that she was a good friend to Tahlia, and she even bought things to her before they became a model.

Lanie walked towards Sieviana direction, who's currently not being herself. "Sieviana, the Chairman wants to see you at his office."

Agad namang napatingin si Sieviana rito na tila ba nagulat ito sa presensya ni Lanie. "H-ha? Okay."

Tumayo na siya mula sa kanyang pagkakaupo. Sinundan naman ni Lanie ng tingin ang alaga. Nag-aalala siya sa kalagayan ni Lanie. Hindi siya makapaniwala na kayang gawin iyon ni Tahlia sa kaibigan na walang ibang ginawa kundi pahalagahan siya at ang kanilang pagkakaibigan.

Sieviana stood outside the office of their chairman for a second and then she slowly opened the door. "Did you call for me, Chairman?" bungad niya rito habang bahagyang nakasilip sa pinto.

The chairman smiled at Sieviana. "Please, come in."

Sieviana entered the room with a smile. She's a tough woman and she doesn't want someone to be troubled because of her current situation. I’m not a Leviaste for nothing!

"I'm sorry to say this..." panimula nito habang diretsong nakatingin kay Sieviana, "We believe that you should have a break. We are aware of your current situation, and I'm concerned about your health. We decided that we will grant you a leave to clear your mind and heal the scars that you're suffering right now. Put your mind and heart at ease."

Sieviana almot teared up because of what the chairman said to her. She stands firm and with all the poise. Her mind is full of thoughts and she can't gathered her thoughts to be with her. There are no words coming out from her mouth--she's speechless.

She clears her throat before she spoke. "T-hank you, Chairman."

As much as she wants to thank him, parang naging blanko naman ang kanyang utak at tanging ngiti lang ang kaya niyang igawad dito.

***

SHE decided to take on a vacation kesa naman magmukmuk lang siya sa kanyang apartment. She's done packing her things at kasalukuyan naman niyang inaayos ang kanyang reservations doon sa Isla Majaba. Napili niya itong puntahan, dahil nakita niya ito sa isang advertisement. At minsan na rin siyang inimbitahan ng management ng islang iyon na maging endorser. Pero, masyadong hectic ang kanyang schedule noong mga panahong iyon kaya tinanggihan niya ito.

Maaga siyang natulog dahil bukas na bukas na agad ang kanyang lipad patungong isla. She choose to ride a private helicopter. The management offers private helicopter for every tourists if they want to be there faster. Mabilis ang naging takbo ng oras at pumunta na ng aiport si Sieviana upang sumakay ng private helicopter.

Sa buong biyahe, hindi mapakali ang kanyang mga mata sa pagtingin ng bawat magagandang tanawin na kanilang nalalampasan. Sa hindi kalayuan, nakikita niya na ang isla at parang may kung anong malikot naman sa loob ng kanyang tiyan dahil sa pagkamangha. I never thought that this island is quite this big! Nanghihinayang tuloy ako kung bakit hindi ko tinanggap iyong offer nila.

They safetly landed at the rooftop of a building. There's an elevator kaya hindi siya nahirapan na dalhin ang kanyang malaking maleta. Pagkadating niya sa first floor, bumungad naman sa kanya ang napakaraming turista. She can feel the numbness of her mouth because she can't stop smiling. She felt relieved that she is wearing a mask dahil baka may makakilala sa kanya rito. She walked towards the information desk then she realized that it is a hotel building.

"Good morning, Ma'am. How can I help you?" the woman in a red dress uniform greeted at her with a smile.

Sieviana took off her shades at inipit ito sa kanyang magkabilang tenga.

"Reservation for Maui Laurel,"

She faked her personal informations regarding her reservations dahil ayaw niyang dumating sa media ang ginawa niyang pagbabakasyon. She wants a peaceful vacation to unwind and by filling up her true personal informations, it will only cause a problem for her.

"Reservations for Maui Laurel are all confirmed, Maam. The bell boy will escort you to your cabin."

Agad namang may lumapit na isang lalake sa kanya at base sa suot nito, isa itong empleyado sa hotel.

"This way, Ma'am."

Sinundan niya ito papalabas ng hotel building. They walked in a concrete stone pathway. The whole place is filled up with a white sand and there are plants and trees everywhere. The excitement feeling of Sieviana begun to rumbles. The exterior designs and how the structures was built is a breathtaking to Sieviana.

They arrived at her cabin and the bell boy helped her to carry her luggage. Nagpasalamat siya rito at no'ng umalis na ito, iginaya niya ang kanyang sarili sa buong lugar. The whole cabin is very relaxing and eco-friendly vibes. Her cabin is in such a nice view at kitang-kita niya ang buong baybayin ng isla. Makalipas ang ilang oras na pagmuni-muni niya, naisipan niyang magpahinga dahil nagsimula na siyang makaramdam ng pagod.

***

PANGALAWANG araw na ni Sieviana sa isla at kasalukuyan naman itong umiinom ng vodka, dahil gusto niyang ilabas ang lahat ng sakit na nararamdaman niya. Nakailang shots na siya at ramdam niya na ang epekto ng alak sa kanyang buong katawan.

Nakaupo siya sa bar counter habang pinagmamasdan ang mga taong labas pasok sa lugar. Mariin niyang tinignan ang basong hawak niya. Whoever’s the first person I see after I drink it, I will kiss that person.

She closed her eyes as soon as she drank the vodka in her glass. She felt the excruciating heat flowing into her body and it makes her dizzier than ever. Lumingon siya sa entrance at napangiti naman ito nang makita niya ang isang gwapo at maskuladong lalaki. Here I go.

She walked towards the man's direction and she grabbed him. Everything seemed slow motion for her when she kissed the man.

Ramdam na ramdam niya ang paglapat ng labi ng kanyang labi sa lalake at kung gaano kalambot ang labi nito. Her hormones aroused when he kissed her back. Due to alcohol, she can't think properly and she enjoyed the moment without even thinking what are the consequences of her foolish actions.