Tala
"Sana magkiss kami."
"I wish I get to kiss him."
"One night lang..."
I rolled my eyes at all these kiss and harot related wishes. "Hindi pwede! Kung ako walang SPG scenes, kayo din wala! Wala! Walang mabubuo hanggang hindi ako lumiligaya!"
A female laugh came from behind me and I found Mayari doubled over.
"Umalis ka nga."
"Ayoko. Nakakatawa ka eh. Sinunod lang naman ni Lakambakod ang iyong hiling, bakit ka galit?"
I pouted. I was thankful that Mak was making an effort to show me an earthly courtship.
We had an outreach program to a village that lacked bare necessities. As Part of his courtship, he filled pails and pails of water for the villagers, helped out with their crops, built their houses.
He took me out on dates, engaged me in intellectual discussions, gave me gifts... and then brought me to my door, bid me good night and shut it.
"Aaaaaaarrrrrgggghhhhhhhh! It's been two weeks!" I complained to my sister.
"Two weeks on Earth yes. But, you forget, he has waited for this moment for over a million years. He can wait as long as you don't say anything."
"But I — wait. What?"
"He can wait."
"As long as I don't say anything?"
Mayari frowned. "Bakit ka nagulat? Ikaw yung nagsabi sa kanya na hindi ka sigurado na mahal mo siya. Do you truly not love him?"
I was silent. "I want him with me, selfishly. But, if he says he has fallen in love with someone else, I will... I will... I don't know. I cannot bear the thought, Mayari. I cannot bear the thought of losing him nor seeing him miserable."
She smiled knowingly. "What's stopping you then?"
"What if he has loved me this long only because of the chase? And when I have given him my heart, he would leave me and I have to spend the rest of our time in heaven seeing him with someone else?!"
Mayari rolled her eyes. "Send them both to hell."
I laughed out loud. "I'm terrified, Sister. Is it worth the risk?"
Mayari looked down lovingly at her husband Theo, her twin angels and the twins she was still carrying in her belly. "Yes. It is worth it."
*
"Hi!" Mak greeted, when I appeared in our flat. "Saan ka galing?"
"Nakipagkwentuhan lang kay Mayari," I answered. "What have you been doing?"
"Tried cooking adobo! Kaya lang nabuhos ko yung sugar sa pot."
"Bakit ka pa kasi nagluluto?"
Mak shrugged. "Effort! Kinuha ko yung recipe dun sa carinderia na gusto mo. Ayaw pa sana nung Ate pero sabi ko kailangan ko para hindi ako iwan ng asawa ko."
Kilig na kilig naman ako. Kaya pala may mga wives na nagwiwish na kiligin ulit silang mag-asawa sa isa't isa. Ang saya pala ng feeling.
We ended up with a wine, tapas and cheese night with slow dancing to cap it off. As we rubbed our noses, Mak groaned out, "Ihahatid na kita sa room mo."
"Huh? I don't want the night to end yet," I pleaded.
"Alright, pero umupo na lang tayo. Dun ka sa kabilang dulo ng couch."
He all but pushed me away.
"Aray, ano ba?!"
"Sorry, it's just... ugh... good night! Bye!"
He left me and ran to his room, but not before I caught a glimpse of a golden serpent dying to get out of his pants.
I knew he wouldn't sleep and enjoyed watching the night sky, so I had a trick up my sleeve.
Everywhere Mak turned that night? I bent the light of the stars so that it showed him a picture that was borderline pornographic.
Okay. Not borderline.
"Tala, stop it." He warned me telepathically.
"Stop me, I dare you."
"Papaluin kita!"
"Uy kinky! Ganito ba?" Then, proceeded to give him a show on the night sky.
"I'll use a paddle!"
"Uy, may toys! I like!"
"TALA!!!"
"Come out here and deal with me or else I'll just keep showing you pictures."
I stopped because malapit na akong pagalitan na Bathala.
Bukas ulit.
Ano bang magandang gawin para bumigay 'to at mag explode ang King Dragon?
