Lola Meding
I asked our visitors to sit.
Sari had not completely settled from her worry about Malik's safety and Malik was still injured from his fall.
My husband tended to Malik's wounds for a little bit and then sat beside me.
"Noong bata pa ako, dapat ako ay ipapakasal ng aking mga magulang sa iba," I started. "Mayaman ang pamilya nila at napili ako ng anak nilang lalaki."
He was a kind fellow, I shared to them, but I just didn't love him. "Naisip ko ang ikagiginhawa ng aking pamilya kaya't papayag na sana ako... ngunit nakilala ko ang Lolo Tuning niyo."
My husband smiled. "Sa unang pagkikita pa lamang, alam ko nang siya ay kakaiba. Kaya araw araw kong niligawan."
"Gulong-gulo ang aking isip. Pamilya o si Tuning?" I said. "Pero noong niyaya niya akong magtanan, sumama ako."
Tuning looked sad at that point. "Naaksidente ang bus na sinakyan namin. Nakita ko ang aking mga kaibigang dwende at diwata at nanghingi ako ng tulong. Mula nung ako ay bata pa kausap ko na sila kaya't inalagaan ako ng diwata at ang kaibigan kong dwende ay tinawag ang isang prinsensa sa Adarna."
"At ako naman ay humingi ng tulong sa mga diyos na protektahan kami ng aking minamahal at nakita ko ang diyosa."
The goddess told me her name: Dian Masalanta. She said that all will be alright and that I should not worry.
"Nawalan kami pareho ng malay... pero bago iyon sabay naming narinig ang napakagandang huni ng prinsesa ng Adarna. At habang kinakantahan niya kami, sinasabi ng diyosa na balang-araw kami ang magiging daan para maikwento sa Datu at sa kanyang mahal na Sari ang kanilang nakaraang buhay," Tuning shared. Turning to Sari, "Ang iyong ina ang nagpagaling sa amin."
The young woman looked like she did not know how to take the information. So, we continued our tale.
"Habang kami ay nasa kanilang pangangalaga, ipinakita nila sa amin ang kwento ni Datu Malikdem at Sari... ang kwento ninyo." I then proceeded to tell them what was shown to me all those years ago.
How they were born under the same star and played together while they were young. How they fell in love and stayed loyal to each other. How Sari sacrificed and risked the wrath of her people just to be with the Datu, but before any of their beings could punish them the Datu was killed by a woman.
"Hindi rin nagtagal si Sari nang siya ay maging taga-lupa," Tuning finished.
There was silence in the room. My husband and I done with our story; our visitors taking a few moments to absorb it.
Finally, Malik spoke. To Sari, he said, "So, manok ka nga talaga."
Sari rolled her eyes. "Ibon! Ibong Adarna... or one of her kind. Basta ganun."
"Pero akala ko pa yung mga katulad nila ibon lang? Hindi nagiging tao?" Malik asked Tuning.
"Mali sila. Ang katulad nila Sari ay may kapangyarihang magkatawang lupa."
"Sana yung mas mabait na lang yung nakilala ko. Hindi itong nuknukan ng sungit," Malik teased and Sari hit him. "Pero talaga po? Datu ako? Tapos gusto kong pakasalan si Sari para maging Datu... Datu-ess? Ano bang tawag sa babaeng Datu?"
We chuckled, while Sari rolled her eyes again. "Sobrang kawawa siguro ng mga tao sa group mo na ikaw yung leader nila."
Then, something made Sari sad. "Lola, sorry po ha? Hindi ko pa alam kung naniniwala na ako sa inyo... pero pumatay ako ng tao?"
We did not sugarcoat it. "Oo, apo. May dahilan kung bakit mo nagawa iyon at hindi ko sinasabing tama. Ngunit pareho kayong wala sa tamang pag-iisip noong mga oras na iyon."
Malik looked worried for Sari. "Huy. Don't be too bothered. Kung totoo man yun, iba naman yung buhay dati sa buhay ngayon. You're a different person now... tingnan mo nga you hate my guts! Eh yung Ancient Sarimanok mahal na mahal ako!"
Sari smiled a little.
"Lola," Malik said. "May chance kaya na yung dating Sari yung makilala ko? Baka sakaling ma-in love sa akin."
Sari rolled her eyes at him again. "Sorry, Dude. I think you're stuck with me. Try another lifetime." She paused before saying, "Lalabas muna po ako. Gusto ko lang maglakad lakad."
"Tara! Takbo tayo."
"Akala ko masakit pa yang pwet mo?"
Malik rubbed his behind. "Konti na lang. Kaya ko na yan. Tara! Mahuli panget!"
As our two visitors left, I turned to my husband. "Magmamahalan pa kaya sila ulit?"
Tuning gave me a knowing smile. "Hindi pa ba?"
