Lexi
It was a weekend so I wanted to sleep in but a voice broke through my thoughts. "Alexandra, would you mind seeing me early today? I need to speak to you urgently."
I rushed my bath and getting dressed, then headed to find him at our lanai.
"Aki? What's wrong?"
"I have to leave."
"What? Why? Wala pa nga tayong 24 hours, aalis ka na agad?"
He smiled, took my hand and kissed it. "Bathala has called for me."
"Ha? Hala! Are we in trouble?"
"I am uncertain, but I must go immediately."
I held on to his hand. "Hanggang kailan ka mawawala? Baka naman tander cats na ako pag balik mo."
"It is quite impossible - you mean something else don't you?"
"Hay, Aki. You have to come back. Ang dami mo pang kailangan matutunan!"
He held my face. "Even without that, I have to come back for you."
"Ayun. Good answer! Sumama kaya ako?"
"Alexandra, that is not possible at this time."
"But Aki! Paano kung hindi ka pabalikin dito? Or 100 years pa bago ka bumalik? Paano yung aswang?!"
He hugged me then kissed my forehead. "You underestimate yourself. You can take him. You just need the correct weapon."
Aki removed the lapel pin he always wears (the small version of the kris with a sun handle) and placed it on me.
"Ano? When he comes for me tutusukin ko siya ng safety pin?!"
"It will help when you need it." He looked at me as if trying to memorize my face. Again, the feeling of dread came. "I will miss you."
"Aki naman! Sabi mo babalik ka!"
"I will do everything I can to come back, but I do not know what Bathala wishes. Please take care of yourself."
"Aki naman!!!"
He smiled, sadly. "Alexandra, no matter how many times you say 'naman' doesn't change anything."
He leaned in and captured my lips in a kiss that seemed to span a million lifetimes and took my breath away.
When we parted, I whispered, "Oh. My. God."
"Oh my AKI," he joked. "Goodbye for now, Alexandra."
*
I spoke to Bathala every chance I got.
Sometimes in prayer: Dear Bathala, please naman, huwag mo siyang pagalitan. Pabalikin mo siya dito, please? One day pa lang pero miss na miss ko na siya. Please?
Sometimes, by speaking to the sky, "Yoohoo! Naririnig niyo ba ako?! Aki bumalik ka na dito! Bathala naman, MH ka eh! MH! Paki sabi kay Aki, MH means malaking hadlang. Aki, balik ka na!!!
Paulit ulit kong sinabi yun. Baka sakaling makulitan ang langit and ibalik na si Aki.
When a week passed and nothing happened, I sat dejected at my veranda and gazed at the beautiful night sky. "Aki," I whispered then started crying.
A soft wind passed and I felt a presence beside me. Fearing it was the aswang, I got up and touched the lapel pin.
"Do not fear. I am a friend."
The woman beside me was the most beautiful I had ever met. Hair black as night, one eye assessing me, the other shining a light.
I gasped.
"I apologize for scaring you," she pulled an eye-patch down and the light was gone. "Alexandra?"
"Yes."
"I am Mayari."
I gasped again. "Oh my god! Ang ganda mo!"
"Salamat."
It was my first time meeting her but hindi na ako mahihiya. "Kamusta si Aki? Naparusahan ba siya?"
"He is fine. Ngunit nais siyang kausapin ng mas matagal ng aming Ama."
"Bakit mas magaling ka magtagalog kaysa kay Aki?"
She chuckled. "Magaling din si Apolaki."
"Makikita ko pa ba siya?"
The goddess shrugged. "Hindi ko alam kung ano ang kanilang mapapagkasunduan. Ngunit, alam kong hindi niya gugustuhin na ikaw ay nalulungkot."
"Namimiss ko na kasi siya!" I pouted, stomping back to my chair and immediately regretting acting like a child in front of this being.
She said nothing for a little bit. Mayari just stared. Finally, she carefully asked, "Mahal mo ba talaga si Apolaki?"
"Oo."
"Sinabi rin ni Hiraya yan noon. Ngunit ng makarating sa langit, hindi niya pinili na makasama si Apolaki. Doon lamang nalaman ng aking kapatid na kahit minahal siya ni Hiraya, iba ang tunay nitong pag-ibig."
I frowned. "Okay. Sorry, at wag mo akong tamaan ng kidlat sa sasabihin ko ha? Pero one, girlfriend ako ng kapatid mo, hindi ko hiningi makarinig ng kwento ng ex niya. Two, tapos na yun. Hindi ko gets yang sinasabi mo na concept ng langit pero ang alam ko gusto ko pang makasama si Aki ng matagal. He cautioned me before about using 'forever' so I won't use it. Tama siya, we haven't been together that long for me to promise that. Sa ngayon, I just want him here."
Mayari looked at me... then flashed a beautiful smile. "I can see why he likes you."
I was about to say something else when we both turned to the sound of a snake.
It was him.
"Finally. His sister and the one who owns his heart."
Mayari and I shared a look.
"He's been your target all along!" It dawned on me. "But, hindi ko pa siya kilala you were already stalking me."
"Matagal ko ng binabalak pabagsakin si Apolaki. Ikaw? Nais ko sanang kainin lamang ang puso mo, ngunit nakita kong maaari kitang gamitin."
"ABA! Ang kapal!" I held the lapel pin, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into a sword. Mayari jumped and captured the aswang then yelled, "Now, Alexandra!"
*
I blacked out. The next thing I knew, Mayari and I were sprawled on the terrace. She was just regaining consciousness as well.
"Alexandra! Mayari!"
I turned. "Aki!" When we were certain that we were both okay, I complained, "SOME HERO YOU ARE!"
"I headed back as soon as we were told he was near you. But when I got here, you and Mayari had already handled things. I told you my sister is a great warrior," he said.
"I did good 'no?! And your safety pin worked!"
"I always knew you could. You never needed saving. But thank you for letting me help train you."
Mayari spoke. "I must go. I do not want to witness a reunion kiss. I believe it is called MOMOL?"
I blushed.
When she was gone, Aki turned to me, "What is this MOMOL? It does not sound very appealing."
"Well, masarap siya. Pero wala kang kiss. Kinginang ang tagal kong naghintay! Magkwento ka muna! Iiwan mo ba ulit ako o hindi na?"
