Sari
"Bakit ako mamomroblema kung may iba siyang mahal? Hindi ko naman siya iniibig." I muttered and kicked the stones by the lake where I found myself.
I was still on Earth, just in one of the places human beings cannot reach yet.
I shouldn't fall in love with Malikdem. I shouldn't. It is forbidden.
But why do I feel this way?
Everything he said about the woman he loves is exactly what I feel for him. Except, even knowing he didn't love me back, I knew I still wanted him to be happy.
I just wasn't ready to see it yet.
"Hindi naman kaaya-aya ang hitsura ni Malikdem. Napaka-panget! Hindi ko lubos maintindihan kung bakit siya ang ninananais ng iba't ibang mga prinsesa. Sukdulan ang kanyang kapangitan na ang ibang mga diwata ay nalinlang at inaakala na maganda ang kanyang mga ngiti. Hindi naman kalakihan ang kanyang katawan, katamtaman lamang at sapat upang ako ay yakapin ng mahigpit."
I heard some ruffling behind me and saw my friend, the goddess Dian Masalanta.
"Kumusta ka, Sari?"
"Mabuti. Ikaw?"
My friend smiled knowingly. "Ikaw ay nagmamahal."
"Ikaw ang Diyosa ng Pag-ibig. Hindi mo kailangan ng aking sagot diyan."
"Hindi ko nagtatanong."
I looked at her then sighed. "May mahal siyang iba."
"Siya ay nagsisinungaling. Totoo na mayroong gusto ang kanyang ina para sa kanya, at mabuti ang dilag na ito. Ngunit, nung binabanggit niya ang kanyang mga dahilan kung bakit siya umiibig... ikaw ang nasa kanyang isip."
I allowed myself to hope for a few moments and then, "Bawal akong umibig sa taga-lupa. Alam mo yan, Kaibigan. Pinagbabawal ng aming Reyna Adarna."
"Ngunit hindi natin maaaring piliin kung sino ang ating iibigin."
I was quiet.
"Kayo ay aking pangangalagaan kung iyan ang iyong nananaisin. Ngunit, matinding sakit muna ang inyong pagdaraanan at walang kasiguraduhan ang inyong pagmamahalan."
I frowned, but before I could ask further questions, my friend had to leave. Her only advice was to choose wisely and take care of myself.
It was weeks before I went back to the tree to check on Malikdem. I found him sleeping at the foot, shivering in this unusually chilly night.
Sensing a presence near him, he woke up. "Sari."
"Bakit diyan ka natutulog? Hindi mo ba alam na maaari kang magkasakit?"
Ignoring what I said, "Natakot akong hindi ka na magpapakita sa akin."
I smiled sadly. "Kinalulungkot ko... ngunit hindi ko kayang layuan ka."
He looked like he was trying to suppress a smile. "Ako ay... nakapag-isip habang wala ka."
I frowned but said nothing and allowed him to continue.
"Kung... kung iyong gugustuhin... nais ko samang ikaw ang aking mahalin."
"Malikdem," I started my reprimand. "Hindi ako lumayo upang sabihin mo ang aking mga nais marinig."
"Hindi ako nagsisinungaling, Sari, at hindi ako napipilitan." He took my hand. "Isinusumpa ko, sa ngalan ng Bathala, sa diyos ng araw, buwan at mga tala, ikaw lamang ang iniibig ko at iyong iyo ang buong puso ko."
I looked up and the clouds stirred, thunder clapped and I briefly saw Apolaki, Mayari and Tala nod.
"Malikdem, hindi mo dapat ginawa yun. Hindi mo na ito mababawi at alam mong hindi ako maaaring sumama sa iyo."
Pressing a finger to my lips, he rested his forehead on mind and hugged me. "Hindi ko hinihingi na sumama ka sa akin. Habang buhay na lamang kitang pupuntahan dito sa iyong puno."
"Ngunit... ang iyong mga pangangailangan? Ang magkaroon ng mga anak..."
He thought for a little bit. "Wala... wala bang paraan upang ikaw ay maging katulad ko?"
I turned away. There was a way to become human.
Kill one.
