Sari
"Ina."
I tentatively approached my mother.
"May pinoproblema ka, Anak?"
I hesitated, but eventually decided to tell her. I never hid my relationship with Malikdem with her, and eventhough she did not agree, she supported it — as long as I did not give myself to him and did not marry him and become human.
"Ina... mayroong hinihiling si Malikdem at nais ko po itong pagbigyan." I told her of what needed to happen and added, "At... nais ko rin po sanang makasama na si Malikdem habang-buhay."
I knew my mother was incensed but she did not lash out. She stood abruptly, turned to the window and took deep breaths before she spoke. "Mabuhay bilang taga-lupa. Iyan ang iyong nais? Iiwan mo ang buhay mo dito? Pansamantala lamang ang kanyang buhay sa lupa. Iiwan mo ang iyong walang katapusan para sa isang taga lupa na mamatay din lamang?"
"Ina, nais ko po siyang makasama kapag kinuha na siya ni Bathala. Mamumuhay ako na katulad nila upang makasama ako sa kanya."
We are enchanted beings, yes. We travel freely from our kingdom to the human being's realm. We interact with the gods and see the heavens if Bathala summons us, but we never stay.
We will never live in heaven, but hell cannot claim us as well.
Our lives both a blessing and a curse.
This is what I was telling my mother. I wanted to live with him because when he dies, I will never see him again.
"Iiwan mo kami para sa kanya?" Mother asked.
"Kung may ibang paraan -"
But she cut me off knowing I was not planning to change my mind. "Maaari ka ng lumayas. Alam mo ang kailangan mangyari upang maging taga-lupa ka. Hindi na kita pakikialaman."
Her words hurt. I didn't blame her because I knew she was hurting, too. I hugged her from behind. "Patawad, Ina."
Then, I turned and headed to see Malikdem.
All I was certain of at that moment was that I did not feel any regret, but was terribly sad in disappointing my mother; and that I could hear both my mother and I whisper to Dian Masalanta for protection.
*
Malikdem was at the tree when I arrived. "Sari."
I smiled and kissed him, tenderly. "Nagalit ang aking ina ngunit hindi niya ako pinigilan. Maaari na akong sumama sa iyo."
We walked hand in hand back to where he lived. Before he introduced me to anyone, though, one of his members approached and told us that he was to perform his final task that night.
He turned to me, "Sari, sigurado ka ba sa iyong gagawin?"
I nodded. I was nervous, but I was sure.
Except that the council had taken a woman from a nearby group and she was now bound and gagged in the hut where the act would take place.
Malikdem protested vehemently. "Hindi ito kasama sa ating usapan. AKO ang mamimili at mayroon na akong napag-desisyunan."
"Gagawin mo ito sa dilag na aming inihanda para sa iyo," the Chief Datu demanded.
Before he could say anymore, Malikdem was punched in the stomach and two of the Datus dragged him inside.
He caught my eye, and I knew he needed me at this moment.
I found where he was held, with the woman, and used my powers to transport myself inside. I found Malikdem holding the woman on her wrists, massaging it. They turned to look at me. "Mahal ko," he said. "Hinawakan ko lamang siya upang tanggalin ang kaniyang pagkakatali."
I caressed his face and assured him it was okay. I approached the woman, "Ipikit mo ang iyong mga mata."
She did.
"Gagaling ang iyong mga sugat at pag bukas mo ng iyong mga mata, nasa labas ka na. Ipangako mong tatakbo kang palayo at hinding hindi mo babanggitin kung paano ka nakatakas."
She promised, but I bound her with this secret just in case. Then, I sang. As her wounds healed, she slowly vanished from the room.
"Nakalaya na siya," I declared.
"Salamat. Salamat." Malikdem hugged me.
The guards at the door then shouted, "Simulan mo na, Datu Malikdem! Kung hindi kami ay papasok upang tumulong."
Malikdem looked like he wanted to kill them then... and so did I. But, we were together now, we had to focus and do the best we could given our scenario.
"Itakas mo na lamang tayo, Sari. Hindi ito ang aking pangarap para sa atin."
"Babawi na lamang tayo sa ibang pagkakataon. Sa ngayon, kailangan mo ito."
It wasn't ideal.
He apologized over and over again, but it was a beautiful joining and it brought me so much pleasure. I wanted him to take me more than once but he refused. "Hindi dito. Uuwi na tayo sa aking lugar at doon natin ipagpapatuloy upang makabawi ako sa iyo."
He covered my face and my body and we headed out, with him declaring, "Nagawa ko na ang inyong nais. Kailangan ko ng bumalik upang pakasalan ang babaeng ito. Siya ang magiging reyna ko."
Putting a protective arm around me, we walked away.
At his home, he provided me with food and water and flowers. "Patawad, Sari. Patawad. Habang-buhay akong babawi para dito."
I assured him that I wanted it, but I knew he would forever feel guilty.
He showered me with attention and non-stop apologies and we made love again that night.
It was even better.
He was hovering over me when I opened my eyes the following day. "Magandang umaga, Mahal ko." I greeted kissing him.
"Magandang umaga, Mahal."
We spent a few minutes just staring at each other.
"Hindi mo alam kung gaano ako kasaya na narito ka, Sari."
"Masayang masaya rin ako, Malikdem."
He sat up. "Kailangan ko lamang pumunta sa ilog upang tumulong sa pagkuha ng tubig, tapos ako ay babalik at aayusin natin ang ating pagiisang dibdib."
He stopped and knelt. "Kung... kung yan ang iyong nais. Hindi naman kita pipilitin, ngunit... kung maaari at kung iyong mamarapatin... maaari ba kitang maging kabiyak?"
I beamed at him and said yes.
*
I was roused from my sleep when I heard some screaming outside.
"PATAY NA SIYA! PATAY NA ANG INYONG DATU! Ipinaghiganti ko na lahat ng kababaihan!"
A sense of dread came over me. No, no! This is not possible.
I rushed out and saw a woman, her hair was a mess and she was covered in blood. She seemed to be looking at me when she said, "Patay na si Malikdem."
A few feet away from her, I saw his body with the container of water still near him. I let out a loud wail.
I saw a weapon, took it and rushed to the woman and stabbed her. When I was sure that she was gone, I rushed to Malikdem's body.
His eyes were open. "Malikdem!" I cried and broke down. When I lay on his chest, I heard his heart still beating.
He was still alive!
His eyes seemed to be searching, "Sari." He said weakly.
I turned his head to face me, "Hihilumin ko ang iyong mga sugat." I chanted over and over and started singing.
But nothing was happening.
When I healed human beings, a certain warmth came over me and I knew it was working. This time — nothing.
I killed that woman.
I was human.
Malikdem gave me one last smile. And then, he was gone.
