CharDawn in Enca

FOR THE LAST TIME

as told by Dawn Zulueta in Monica's dream

I think I had walked this place a thousand times before.

This garden, which slopes gently down to a slow-moving and scenic river, seems very familiar. I am certain of having seen these trees; they cast shadows onto the green, green grass. I remember these leaves, both in their scorching-orange and burning-brown forms. I have seen them being swayed by the wind and also while drifting to the ground as they are called to eternally rest. I recognize the serene meadow stretching past the river. I have also heard this lullaby before, one that comes from the breeze swishing through the trees and the animals homed by this majestic land. The cool breeze tingles against my skin, and I just know I have breathed it, too. Everything about this place, I just know I have experienced before.

I take a few steps towards the river. Just like before, dipping my toes into its lens clear water gives me an explainable sensation. I work on recollecting my thoughts further only to stop when someone yells, "Dawn!"

I follow the sound of that voice, and there he is, there's Richard!

"Dawn?" he calls out, seemingly puzzled and in awe.

"Gomz?" I reply, feeling clueless myself as well.

"Bakit...bakit parang alam ko kung nasaan tayo?" he says, now running his fingers on the surface of my skin. Before I answer, he plants a soft kiss on my forehead. I extend my willing hands to his and ask, "Guni-guni ba 'to? Nananaginip lang ba tayo?"

All of a sudden, an almost blinding ray of light appears in front us. It takes a few minutes before Richard and I could gaze at the source of light. We see a man, clad in his golden cloth, standing tall above the ground.

"Ito ay hindi lamang basta panaginip. Kayo ay naririto nga sa mundo ng Encantadia. Siguro naman ay batid ninyo kung sino ako," he says calmly.

"Bathala?" Richard and I say. "Totoo ka? Totoo nga ang Encantadia?" now this shaking voice comes from me.

"Oo. Hindi ba't hiniling ninyo na maparito sa mundo kung saan ang inyong pag-iibigan ay magiging malaya?" Bathala looks straight into my eyes and then into Richard's, as he adds, "Ilang taon kayong nagtiis sa inyong mundo. Batid kong iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ninyo sinikap na makuha ang mahiwagang orasan. Kung kaya't ngayon, hindi na dapat tayo magpaliguy-ligoy pa. Kailangan kong marinig mula mismo sa inyong mga bibig kung buo nga ang inyong pasyang dito na sa ibang mundo manirahan."

"Pero paano po ang buhay namin sa lupa? Magkakagulo, bathala, kung bigla na lang kaming mawawala," says Richard, with a shade of despair in his eyes.

Bathala smiles and promptly answers, "Walang mababago doon. Maiiwan sa inyong mundo ang inyong pisikal na anyo't pagkatao. Magpapatuloy ang buhay doon, mangyayari rin ang itinakda para sa mortal ninyong anyo. Sinisiguro kong magpapatuloy ang takbo ng buhay nina Richard at Dawn sa mata ng mga mortal."

As Bathala takes his pause, I press my body closer to Richard's to combat the cold breeze starting to bother me.

"Ngunit ang inyong tunay na diwa, puso, at damdamin ay dito na maninirahan sa Encantadia. Dito kung saan ang mga sakit na inyong naranasan sa mundo ng mga tao ay hindi ninyo kailanman mararanasan pa. Dito kung saan walang makahahadlang sa inyong pag-iibigan. Dito kung saan kayo ay mamumuhay bilang..." he pauses and finally says, "Bilang si Raquim at si Mine-a."

"Pero, Bathala!" I react almost right away. "Di ba't sa kwento ng Encantadia ay kinailangan rin naming maghiwalay ni Rich...ni Prinsipe Raquim? Alam nating hindi pwedeng umibig ang Reyna ng mga diwata."

Richard adds, "Kung ganon lang din, Bathala, para saan pa ang lahat ng 'to? Kung may balakid din sa amin ay bakit pa?"

Our eyes speak of fear, our minds are troubled, and our hearts hopeless. But the good lord of Encantadia wipes away all our worries in an instant, as he claims, "Wala kayong dapat ikabahala. Nasa panahon tayo kung saan ang Encantadia ay payapang muli. Wala nang labanan, wala nang bangayan para sa korona, kung kaya't wala na ring itinuturing na reyna. Ang lahat ng encantado't encantada ay malaya nang lumigaya."

Given that thought, suddenly we can hear the blood in our ears. No one has words to say. Bathala, aware of what's going on in our heads, gives us time to absorb everything and think.

"Kung kayo'y handa nang ibaon sa limot ang inyong buhay bilang si Richard at Dawn at mamuhay mula ngayon bilang si Raquim at si Mine-a, maluwag kong ipagkakaloob sa inyo ang nararapat. Ito ay bilang paggantimpala sa inyong natatanging pag-iibigan: isang pag-iibigang kailanman ay hindi nawala sa kaibuturan ng inyong puso, isang pag-iibigang iilan lamang ang may kakayanang gumawa."

Granted time to decide, Richard and I, lock ourselves in each other's embrace. It's happening in a slow motion but here we are now, softly kissing each other.

It has always been magic whenever our lips connect. It has always felt good, despite not always feeling right. As we do this now, we both know we are doing so for the last time. Something will soon change, never to be reversed, never to be undone. As our lips continue pressing against the other, we both know a new life is about to unfold. As we kiss passionately now, we know we are saying goodbye to Dawn and Richard.

But since this is the last time, we want to make sure we're doing it right. He pulls me as close as possible, his strong arms around me this time. Our soft and gentle kissing is gradually turning into a sweeter, deeper, more passionate one.

Richard decides to dwell upon our new life later on, for at this very moment, all he wants is to feel his breath come and go with mine. For the last time, as Richard and Dawn, we do it right.