CharDawn in Enca

FINALLY IN LIREO

as told by Dawn Zulueta (aka Mine-a) in Monica's dream

Akin nang ipinagkakaloob sa kanila ang hiling ng kanilang mga puso. Balang-araw, sa mundong kanilang kinagisnan, isisilang ang dalawang nilalang na siyang makakaalam nang katotohanan. Lingid sa kanilang kaalaman at maging alaala, kanila ring isasalaysay ang isang kwentong hindi pangkaraniwan. -Bathala

*****

A different being now, I open my eyes and find myself enthralled by the beauty of our world. From where I stand, I am catching a glimpse of Lireo, my homeland. It's far, far away, but I know that I will make my way back there real soon.

As I look around, someone calls out my name. "Gising ka na pala, Mine-a."

"Avisala, mahal na Bathala," I respond.

"Handa ka na ba sa iyong muling pagbabalik sa Lireo?"

Without a shadow of a doubt, I make it known to him that I truly am. Devas has been my home since the day my mission in Lireo was called done, taking me away from my daughters: Pirena, Amihan, Alena, and Danaya. With it being the place of rest and peace, I have not been troubled here. But Lireo still calls me; and the thought of being there again naturally sends shivers down my spine.

As the joy in my heart is reflected in the life of my eyes, Bathala says to me, "Kung gayon, maghanda ka na. Sa ilang sandali, Mine-a, ay ihahatid ka na ng mga alagad ng Devas pabalik sa kaharian ng mga diwata."

"Maraming salamat, Bathala. Ako'y labis na natutuwa. Ipinagpapasalamat ko rin na payapang muli ang Encantadia. Ito na muli ang Encantadiang aking kinagisnan - walang kasamaan, walang labanan, walang pasakit," I say, with every word accompanied by beaming pride, knowing that my daughters contributed much to this.

Bathala, sharing this joy with me, comes closer to give his blessing. "Maligayang paglalakbay, Mine-a. Hanggang sa muli mong pagbabalik sa Devas."

*****

As the cheering for my return in Lireo ends, four familiar faces appear before me. My heart skips at the sight of them, with all of us being free, alive, and reunited at home.

"Ynang Reyna!" Now rushing to me are my four precious gems: my daughters, the Sang'gres of Lireo.

"Mga anak ko!" I say and shelter them in a motherly embrace. The feeling makes me look up and say to our diety, "Maraming salamat, Bathala, sa inyong pahintulot na kami'y mamuhay muli sa aming kaharian."

"Kanina ka pa namin hinihintay, Ynang Reyna. Masayang-masaya kaming naririto ka na," cheers my first-born, Pirena. Alena follows by asking, "Napagod ba kayo sa paglalakbay, Yna?" To that, Danaya says, "Alena, bakit hindi mo handugan ang ating ina ng awiting papawi sa pagod niya?"

And Alena does so. She opens her mouth and endears Lireo with a song so beautifully sung. "Salamat, anak. Salamat."

But on my left, I notice a very quiet Amihan. I see a smile on her face which is made even more beautiful by genuine joy mirrored through her eyes. Running my fingers through her hair, I ask, "Amihan, anak? Bakit tila tahimik ka?"

"Ynang Reyna, ito'y dulot lamang ng labis na tuwa. Matagal na panahon kong hinintay ang araw na ito. Matagal na matagal, Yna. Mula pa sa aking pagkabata," now bids of tears are starting to form in Amihan's eyes.

"Amihan?" I say, not perfectly getting what she means. "Ano bang tinutukoy mo, anak?"

But instead of uttering any word, she lets me follow her eyes. As her gaze is set far behind, I turn around and see for myself.

Now I get what Amihan, my second-born, is talking about.

"Mine-a."

"Raquim."

Very quickly, in a fairytale setting, Raquim and I reunite in this chapter of our lives. He holds me in an embrace filled with love, but lets go only after a short while.

Just as I wish for more time, he kneels before me and holds my hand. I hear a giddy shrieking in the palace which turns into a loud cheering as soon as Raquim finishes saying, "Mine-a, sa harap ng mga encantado at encantada na naririto ngayon, ipinahahayag ko ang wagas kong pagmamahal na laan para sayo lamang. Mula noon, hanggang ngayon, at maging hanggang wakas, ikaw lamang ang aking mahal."

My face turns into an embarrassing reddish hue, so I tell him, "Raquim, tumayo ka. Raquim..."

But he cuts me off saying, "Mine-a, hindi ako tatayo hangga't hindi ko nakukuha ang kasagutan mo."

"Anong kasagutan ang nais mo?"

And as he reaches for something in his pocket, the amount of thrill in the air rises as well. He presents a diamond ring and looks straight into my eyes as he asks, "Mine-a, dating Reyna ng mga Diwata, papayag ka bang maging kabiyak ni Raquim, dating Prinsipe ng Sapiro?"

The crowd suddenly turns as quiet as it can get, reserving the loudest hoorays for the moment I finally say, "Bilang dating Reyna ng mga Diwata, inuutusan kita, Raquim - dating Prinsipe ng Sapiro - na tumindig ngayon din...sapagkat ang aking sagot ay oo."

So yes. Finally, I think. Finally, it's happening. Finally, it's happening at home.