Aki
"Her name meant 'may your dreams come true'."
Alexandra and I were at their backyard, lounging by the pool. Once I told her I was not exaggerating when I said that the last time I fell in love was before the Spaniards came to this country, her eyes widened, "I knew there was something different about you! I knew hindi ko guni-guni nung nakita kong umaapoy ka and it's not just because hot ka ha. Well , you are hot... but I mean not literally hot. But I saw you on fire. And wooo ang gulo. Bakit ganito?"
I laughed at her dilemma. I could tell her rational self was struggling with what I had just disclosed. "I apologize for confusing you."
"So, what is it? Immortal? Demi-god? Whaaaat?! Tell meeeeeeeee!"
"Paano kung demonyo?"
Her eyes widened.
I fell back laughing.
It was good to laugh. I liked it actually, it's just that sometimes, when you have been around as long as I have, there seems to be no reason to.
"Well, kung demonyo ka, I doubt you'd just tell me. You'll probably just trick me into selling you my soul," she said.
I nodded. "You're very smart."
"So, tell me! Come on!"
"Aren't you scared?"
She pondered on it for awhile. "Strangely, no. More curious really. Sasabihin mo ba o hindi?"
This mortal was something else. If she knew who I was - "I've been called many names. Mars, Ares, Surya, Re..."
"Okay, one, ang drama nung 'I've been called many names'. Two, I recognize Mars and Ares... god of war but what's the other two?"
"Sun god."
"OH. MY. GOD. No way?"
"Oh. My. ME. Yes. Way." I teased.
"Pero sayang! Akala ko si Jupiter ka na eh," she returned. "Mars lang pala."
"Wow. Choosy pa."
She laughed. "Pwede pala maging informal yang salita mo."
"Pwede. I just favor the more formal ones. Sometimes, I do get confused with the colloquial words," I explained.
"Really?! Like what?"
"Like... when is the correct time to use 'charot'?!"
That made her fall into a fit of giggles again. "Wait! Hahahahahaha! Oh my ang cute nun. Hahahahaha! Pero sandali... yung kwento mo muna. Si Hiraya."
I sighed and remembered fondly.
"Marami na akong napuntahan. We had been here since the beginning. This place is my favorite," I explained. "That's why I go here often and in that one visit, I met her. Hiraya."
She belonged to a tribe that lived close to the waterfalls.
I came to help their elders strategize against the incoming threat to their group and we met. I helped her with planting their crops, building their fire, all while we talked about dreams and a better life.
"Then, what happened?"
"Nagpaalam ako kay Bathala. Kung maaari akong manatili bilang kanyang asawa kahit saglit," I explained. "But, before I even got an answer, she contracted a virus, fell ill and never recovered."
"What?! Nooooooo!" Alexandra said, tearing up. "But, couldn't she join you? In heaven? Ganun yun di ba? Unless, you don't live in heaven? Oh shit. Demonyo ka nga yata talaga!"
I chuckled. "There are things I cannot divulge. Yes, she is in 'heaven' but she is not with me where I am."
"Puñeta, may social class pa din sa langit?!"
"Not exactly... just that... she didn't choose to be with me. But, she is happy and that's all I want."
Alexandra sighed.
"Is 'charot' appropriate for now?"
"Depends. But don't ruin it for me."
She suddenly thought of something. "Eh sino si Mayari? I heard you calling out to her one time."
I smiled at the mention of her name. Looking out at the moon, I tell Alexandra. "She is my sister."
"Yung buwan? Sabagay ikaw nga pala yung araw. Kung siya si Mayari, ano ba talaga pangalan mo?"
"Marami nga! Hindi ka ba nakikinig?" I said in jest. "But our favorite is what we are called here. Kaya ang tawag ko sa kapatid ko ay Mayari."
"Ikaw?"
"Ako si Apolaki."
"Oh. My... I've never heard of you."
I laughed. "I am not surprised."
Alexandra frowned. "Wait. So bakit ka nandito? Bakit ka bodyguard? Bakit hindi ako nasusunog kapag malapit ka? Hindi ba delikado sa Earth na nandito ka? Bakit -"
I cut her off by placing a finger on her lips. "Bakit ang dami mong tanong?"
"ABA SIYEMPRE! Hindi naman araw araw yung ma-meet ko yung katulad mo."
"I understand. For now, you must rest. Let us continue our chat tomorrow."
"BUT AKI!"
I stared at her. "Tomorrow."
"Fine. Just one last question."
I waited.
"Why did you tell me?"
"I trust you. And it gets very lonely sometimes."
"What if I tell people your secret?"
I smirked. "Go ahead. How many people do you think will believe you when you tell them you're conversing with the Sun god?"
