Mirific Flower Petals

39

The night descended and crawled until it reached the land's end. Above Delonix's room levitated the ever-silent moon, dozing off with the residents encompassing the suburbs. The light of sunset hues from his nightstand served as the sole illumination in his room where he rested atop Fleur's thighs and she ran her fingers through his silken midnight mane.

"Can I," she huffed, "can I read you a poem, Delonix?"

"Sure, pretty flower. Nobody's stopping you."

"What? Pretty flower?" Fleur's honeyed chuckle settled in his ears nicely. "Is that your nickname for me?"

He nodded once. "You have me saved as 'flower-named cutie' in your contacts."

"You werenʼt supposed to see that!" she grumped. "You're such a chismiso kasi! Why were you peeping at my phone?"

"I didn't peep intentionally, I glanced at it."

"Whatever. Tuwa ka naman." She rolled her eyes jokingly, grabbing her cup on the table beside them to take a sip of water. "Don't even try to deny it. You can't stop smiling when you saw that kanina."

"Just alright, Fleur."

"That," she squinted her eyes at him, stroking his hair once more, "is not alright. Sobra pa 'yun sa alright."

"Of course it's more than alright... Where's my poem, pretty flower? Kanina pa 'ko naghihintay."

"You're so impatient."

Pabirong hinila ni Fleur and buhok ni Delonix at agad ding hinagod ang nahilang anit. Kunwari namang ngumiwi si Delonix at pinagtagpo ang mga daliri nila.

"Yeah, and sleepy at that."

"Okay, sorry. I like talking to you kasi. Ito na talaga. Close your eyes for me please."

Delonix closed his eyes and brought their clasped hands close to his chest—only a few inches near his heart. After a few seconds of anticipation, Fleur proclaimed the words that would liberate the hopes and opportunities residing in it.

"To believe is to know that everyday is a new beginning; is to trust that miracles happen, and dreams really do come true."

Her gentle baritone and mellifluous conjuration brought his breaths to a speed slower and a depth lower. Each word tumbled down Fleur's lips with grace and formed a line on its way to the gates of enchantment. With his eyes still closed, his lips curled into an adorned smile.

"To believe is to see angels dancing among the clouds. To know the wonder of a stardust sky and the wisdom of the man in the moon."

Indeed, the way she propounded these verses lifted him to be one with the clouds, the stardust skies, and the moon. As soon as Fleur clenched their hands closer together, he was back on the ground.

"To believe is to know the value of a nurturing heart, the innocence of a child's eyes and the beauty of an aging hand, for it is through their teachings, we learn to love. To believe is to find the strength and courage that lies within us, when it is time to pick up the pieces and begin again."

If only he wasn't so sleepy, he would have gained more strength to force his open just so he could see how Fleur looked at that time, however he was fine that they stayed that way. He was a writer with a mind of a visionary, after all.

Like the pretty flower she was, she was teeming with mirific flower petals of every color. Her glory ascended and devoured every whit that used to be normally lifeless. For the love of the heavens that ennobled Fleur's being, he was rendered completely breathless and haywire.

"To believe is to know we are never alone, that life is a gift and this is our time to cherish it. To believe is to know that wonderful surprises are just waiting to happen, and all our hopes and dreams are within reach."

He ingested every syllable of the poem, letting his core learn the meanings hidden in the solemn stanzas. With Fleur captivating and lulling all of his sensations, her last words for the night welcomed him into his deep slumber.

"If only we believe."