METROCEANNA TALES II: TULOY PA RIN

CHAPTER 18: IBIZA STO. BLANCO

nakatayo sa dulo ng daungan ang isang matangkad na pigura, kaharap ang malawak at asul na karagatan. sa 'di kalayuan, naka-angkla ang isang higante at matayog na barko. 'di ito natitibag sa paghampas ng mga alon.

"Captain, the passengers are  all aboard."

ulat ng isang lalaki sa kanya, pagkatapos ay yumukod. the tall figure look over its shoulder and said nothing. the young man just waited for his superior's reply.

then the tall figure spoke.

"right after this voyage, i'll to board the Pintados." she said. the Pintados is a Sikorsky air asset owned by their shipping line conglomerate. "i'll stay at my suite 'till dawn. tell Andrew to man the ship."

"right away, Captain."

bumuntong-hinininga ang matangkad na pigura saka umalis ng daungan. pagka-akyat nya ng gangway, niligpit ito agad.

"ANCHOR UP! ANCHOR UP!"

umangat ang malaki at mabigat na angkla, saka lumiwag ang barko palayo sa pantalan. the next moment, naglalawig na ito sa karagatan.

the grandoise cruise liner is sailing the pristine waters of the Cayman Islands. tatlong araw na ang cruise na ito ng barko nang makatanggap sya ng isang urgent at nakakabahalang balita:

her father's health is failing fast. at may napakahalaga itong habilin na dapat nyang marinig.

the dawn drew near and the sky just turned the shades of lilac and ember when an air asset of the Sikorsky class landed on the ship's helipad. the young man trotted behind his superior, carrying a huge duffel bag. nilapag nya iyun sa upuan ng chopper.

sumakay na ang kanyang amo saka sya tinanguan. sinara nya ang pinto at 'di nagtagal, umangat na ang abyon at lumipad sa ere.

it took the chopper four days before it landed on the private airstrip of the JFK Airport. there, she boarded again. this time, it's a BOEING 1443 plane.

"ring the intercom if you ever need anything, Ma'am." said the FA. the passenger just nodded and dismissed the flight attendant with a wave of her hand.

pagkaalis ng babae, ibinaling nya ang tingin sa labas ng bintana. gases of clouds and little rains, the thought of coming home again dreaded inside her. hindi sa ayaw nyang umuwi---may mga bagay lang talagang ayaw na nyang makitang muli sa kanyang pagbabalik.

things, certain memories and people that are ought to have been forgotten and buried deep down at the back of her mind.

since it's a private flight, stop-overs are not a problem. diretso ang paglapag nya sa MIA na walang sagabal.

"Buenos Tardes, Señorita." pagbati ng isang unipormado at pormal na driver sa kanya, sabay yukod. "the Land Cruiser is this way, por favor."

naglakad na sya papunta sa service car. binuksan nito ang pinto sa backseat at agad syang sumakay doon. pagkasara ng pinto, agad nyang tinanong ang Butler.

"where's Papa?"

"he's at the Manor, Señorita." tugon nito.  "he's expecting you at his study."

"how's he doing? don't break it to me gently, I want it told to me at once." she demanded. from her peripheral vision, kita nyang namutla ang matanda at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"I-I think mas mabuti kung makita mo sya sa personal, Señorita." anito.

she just rolled her eyes and heaved a sigh. expect this servant to be loyal to his master at all cost. gaya ng kanyang nabanggit, tapat ito sa kanyang ama kaya wala syang magagawa kung wala itong sasabihin sa kanya. pinili na lang nyang sumandal sa kanyang upuan.