Aya
"Can you fly?"
"No."
"Read minds?"
"No."
"Teleport."
"Yes."
"Cool!"
Theo kept bugging me when he was on a break asking me about my "powers". This goddess thing was really growing on him. Now, over dinner he still continues with his questions.
"So, ikaw yung goddess ng moon. Bakit hindi mo ako sinasagot nung tinatanong kita dati?"
I rolled my eyes. "And what would you have done if I answered back?"
"Screamed and ran for my life?"
I laughed at his honesty. "Theo, this really does not bother you?"
"No... unless magiging bato ako at some point."
"I am not Medusa. I am glad she is gone and you have no chance of meeting her."
"Medusa is real?!"
"Was. She would have charmed you. She was very beautiful and very cunning."
He put an arm around me. "Wag ka na magselos. Ikaw lang naman type ko eh. At takot ako sa ahas." He then thought of Aki, who he met earlier today. "Yung kapatid mo yung Diyos ng Araw? He was the one who hurt your eye?"
"He has healed it and gave me the gift to reflect this light, but yes. It was Apolaki. Do not hate him. We have learned to forgive each other over millions of years," I pleaded when I felt him getting mad. "Besides, it's not as if I didn't put up a fight. Those days, I stabbed him a number of times. We were quite violent."
He took deep breaths to calm himself. "So, you can alter your appearance. Can you alter mine?"
"Bakit pa? Pogi ka na!"
"Naks! Yan ang gusto ko sayo eh. Sabi ko na crush mo talaga ako noon pa kahit ang sungit mo tungkol sa ID ko eh."
I rolled my eyes. "I do not care so much that you are good looking. What matters is that your third leg is big."
"Ano?"
"Do you prefer I call it pen-"
He covered my mouth and chuckled. "Ganito ka din ba noon? Nung nasa tribo pa tayo?"
"I... I initiated as much as you did, yes. Our kind... we feel these things more than you humans are used to. At some point, I had to learn to restrain myself because one time, I could not get enough of you, we made love for a number of days and I almost killed you from exhaustion."
His eyes widened. "Hindi nga?"
"Yes. I am sorry, my Love."
"Hala. Nako, paano yan. Baka hindi ko makayanan... hindi ma-satisfy..."
"No, Theo. Everything is... very pleasing to me."
It truly was. Though my cravings come back pretty quickly, being with Theo was always satisfying and never left me frustrated. But, because he wanted to be considerate of my needs, he suggested, "May mga bagong inventions ngayon that we could use..."
I chuckled and agreed to consider it but I wasn't in a hurry. I was still too happy to finally be back with him again.
"Mahal ko. I want to visit my parents this weekend. Kakausapin ko na sila tungkol sa atin and sa mga anak natin."
"Are you sure, Theo?"
"Yes. If they can't understand then we can plan na kung paano yung gagawin natin habang nandito tayo. Kung sakali naman na maintindihan nila, then good kasi ibig sabihin may iba pa tayong lugar dito na maisasama natin yung kambal natin."
I gazed up at him. "Salamat."
"Mayari?"
I smiled. Him calling me by Mayari was my favorite. "Yes?"
"Masakit ba manganak para sa mga diyosa?"
"Ang sabi ay walang sakit kung diyos din ang mga anak ko. For us, I wouldn't know but I was told that since my babies were half human, I would've given birth the same as human females. But..."
"They died before you could deliver."
I nodded. "I carry that pain with me. Even if I know I still have them. It still hurts."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there."
"It wasn't your fault."
He kissed me. "May tanong pala ako pero wag kang magagalit ha?"
"Ano?"
"Sinong mas macho? Ako o si Bulawan?"
Theo
"Hi, Ma! Pa! Buti naman free kayo for lunch today."
"Oo naman! Sabi mo kailangan mo kaming kausapin. Ano? Magpapakasal ka na ba?"
I smiled.
Suddenly, an image of Mayari standing in front of me with her hair flowing down her back, with a crown of flowers, her clothing scarce, covering only part of her chest and her intimate parts but with a strange strings hanging down...
It was our wedding day when I was still Bulawan.
I smiled again. "Opo. Gusto ko na po sana magpakasal."
My parents were thrilled but then I said, "May itatanong lang po ako sana. Naniniwala po ba kayo sa reincarnation?"
"Anong kalokohan yan, Theo?" My father said, but my mother remained silent.
Do not push it, I heard Mayari whisper.
"Wala naman po. I just... may nabasa lang ako. May kukunin lang po ako sa kwarto ko saglit. Kain na po kayo, ready na yung food."
I went to my room and cradled my head in both hands. "Sorry, Mayari. Ito na nga lang sana yung mabibigay ko..."
"Shhh do not worry about us. In time, your father will get to know our children. I told you, it is not the easiest to accept."
I stared into her eyes. She let the light from one flow freely and I was glad. "Beautiful."
We kissed and giggles came from the corner. "Hello, Ama!"
"Bakit kayo nandito?" I happily asked, hugging them.
"Sabi po ni Ina, pwede kaming bumaba dito hanggang bukas. Pwede po ba yon, Ama?"
"Pwedeng pwede... pero kakausapin ko lang ang Lolo at Lola niyo. Babalik ako agad mamaya ha?"
"Okay po!"
I was saddened that they didn't ask to see their human grandparents but was thankful that Aya had handled the situation.
*
Lunch was over quickly because my father had business to attend to.
Finally, my family could go out and roam around the unit. Lakan and Mayumi decided to play a chasing game except that they weren't running. They flew to chase each other around.
Their giggles were all over the place and Aya and I just watched them from the living room.
"Theo, Anak, I forgot my —" my mom walked back in to find two little angels floating around and Mayari's eyes shining a beam of light.
