Siena
"Ngunit, Ama! Dapat ko bang hayaan na lamang silang sirain ang aming tirahan? Dapat silang parusahan!"
The Father looked at me lovingly. "Naiintindihan kita, aking mahal na Anak. Ngunit hindi natin maaaring gawin yan. Bigyan mo pa ng pagkakataon ang mga taga-lupa."
I desperately wanted to roll my eyes but I knew this would not sit well with Bathala.
"Ako ay natutuwa at pinipigilan mo ang init ng iyong ulo," Bathala teased.
"Napakahirap, Ama." I admitted, narrowing my eyes and He chuckled.
"Kailangan mo na bang bumalik sa karagatan? O maaari ka pang manatili para sa munting salu-salo. Ipinatawag ko ang ilang anghel para sa munting handaan. Maaari mo ba kaming samahan?"
My ears perked up. "Mga anghel?"
Bathala nodded. "Sa aking pagkakaalala, darating si Bagwis —"
"Halika na, Ama! Huwag natin silang paghintayin!"
Bathala looked at me knowingly but said nothing. As we neared the dining area, though, my initial bravado started to fade. I had not seem in 100 years, the longest we had gone without connecting.
When the seas and the sky split and we found ourselves in different parts if that separation, we decided to be good and obedient to Bathala and trust his plans. However , we promised to always meet on that piece of Earth where my waters meet his clouds.
But the past century has been busy for us — he had to watch over people who seemed to find themselves in one war or conflict after another, while I had to deal with more and more invasion of the oceans.
I knew he still went to our spot. But after missing twice, I felt embarrassed to just go and didn't know how to apologize.
"Kurutin ko kaya yang singit — ay wala ka palang singit," Tala once said to me, frustrated with how I handled things with Bagwis. When we are where the gods reside, I float around but my fins have never truly become legs since I was designated as goddess of the oceans.
I could change, I just never have in the millions of years since. My visits to the heaves were often short anyway.
I sighed. "Nangungulila na ako para sa kanya, Tala."
Tala rolled her eyes. "Aba! Natural. Masyado mong sineryoso yung 48 million years na tigang."
I frowned. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"
"Matagal ka na nga pa lang hindi nakikisalamuha sa mga taga-lupa. Ang ibig ko lang sabihin, hindi na uso yang puro trabaho lang. Pwede ka pa din namang magbantay habang luma-lovelife!"
Her words stuck in my head. But any more thoughts were wiped away when I caught a glimpse of him perusing the buffet table.
Him.
Bagwis.
My beautiful angel.
Why he chose to be loyal to me all these years, I will never know.
As if feeling my gaze, he turned to where I was. Resisting the urge to turn away, I gave him a small smile.
"Siena." He whispered upon his approach and I melted.
"Kamusta ka?"
"Mabuti. Matagal tayong hindi nagkita."
I nodded. "Hindi ako nakakapunta sa ating tagpuan. Marami lamang akong mahalagang inaasikaso."
His eyes flashed a bit of hurt which he blinked away quickly. He nodded, "Kinagagalak kong makitang mabuti ang iyong kalagayan."
With that, he turned away and sat far from me.
Tala and Mayari sat on opposite sides of me and gave comfort. "Nagtatampo lang yun," Tala said.
"Alam ko iyon, Tala. Ngunit hindi ko alam ang aking gagawin upang magkaayos kami. Ano ang ginagawa mo kapag ganito sa iyo si Lakambakod?"
Mayari laughed. "Hindi ko alam ko handa ka ng marinig ang mga ginagawa niyang si Tala, Siena."
"Ginagawa mo din kaya yun, Mayari?"
I looked at the two of them slightly confused.
"Tala, baka maiskandalo si Siena."
"Ang inyo bang tinutukoy ay ang paraan kung paano dumami ang mga taga-lupa?"
The two of them burst out laughing. "Alam mo pala eh. Yun! Gawin mo!"
"Tala!" Mayari reprimanded but she had a twinkle in her eye. Turning to me, she said, "Wala namang masamang gawin yun lalo na at nagmamahalan kayo ni Bagwis. Ngunit, baka panahon na upang ipakita mo rin sa kanya na mahalaga siya sa iyo. Milyong milyong taon din siyang naging tapat sa iyo. Malungkot siya dahil pakiramdam niya hindi siya mahalaga sayo ngunit ikaw pa din ang mahal niya."
I looked at her skeptically.
"Sinabi sa akin ni Dian Masalanta." The goddess of love.
I smiled. I didn't know yet how to make things better, but I was determined. There were many things to resolve but it was high time I gave my love the same importance as other priorities —- if not make it my highest.
"Gagawan ko ng paraan ito, Mayari."
She nodded.
Tala whispered, "Wag na yang mahirap na plano... dakmain mo na! Joke lang! Joke lang!"
