Siena
"Tala! Mayari! Kailangan ko ng tulong!"
Immediately, my sisters appeared before me asking what was wrong.
"What does one wear on a date?"
"Ay punyemas na! Akala ko kung anong nangyari sa yo," Tala complained, while Mayari chuckled. They looked over what I was wearing — A ballgown I saw in one of the magazines I read. "Ano yang suot mo?"
"Gown! Is this not what someone wears for something special?"
"Well, may point ka. Pero wag naman tayo mag-Cinderella peg. Saan ba kayo pupunta?"
I shrugged. "Hindi ko alam. Sinabi ko lamang kay Bagwis na gusto ko ng date."
Tala and Mayari nodded approvingly. Mayari stepped out for a bit to ask Bagwis but promised not to tell me then she and Tala started helping me get dressed. It was also the first time I wore makeup. "Oooohhh! My lips look nice being this red!"
They also put my hair in a ponytail but for a second I thought Mayari was trying to pull my hair out and almost got into a fight with her.
"Oh wow!" I had to admire the work they did on me. And the dress was a short blue one, whose color reminded me of the ocean. I wasn't too fond of these shoes with heels, but Tala said they make my legs look nice and if someone harms me, I can use it as a weapon (I think she said this in jest but by the looks of the heel, it may actually work should the need arise).
Bagwis agreed and when he saw me his eyes bugged out and he had to say a quiet,
"Wow! Ang ganda."
"Have fun, kids!" Mayari said. Tala mouthed to Bagwis a warning, "Barbecue angel wings!"
*
Bagwis took me to an outdoor restaurant filled with flowers and plants I do not find under the sea. "They are beautiful! Thank you for taking me here."
While waiting for our food, we took in each flower and he patiently told me about some of the others I had never heard of before. The thoughtful guy even brought me a pair of flat shoes to change into because I kept tripping with the pair Tala selected, so I was free to roam the garden.
When our food was served, I asked, "Bakit mo pinoprotektahan ang mga taga-lupa?"
"It's my job."
"Oo. But I also know you have come to care for them."
He nodded. "They are good. Bathala created them good. As much as I can, I try to find their light and that makes my work easier."
"They have ruined my oceans. In the less than one week here, I have seen how much trash they make and these all end up in my home."
Bagwis said nothing. There wasn't much to say really.
"Naisip ko pala, ikaw? Ano ang mga gusto mong gawin habang nandito tayo sa lupa?"
His eyes beamed and showed a slight surpise at being asked. I felt a little guilty. I had to pay more attention to my love. No wonder he didn't think he could call out to me when he missed me.
"Matagal ko nang gustong subukan magmaneho ng sasakyan ulit. I tried racing once. Kung may oras lang naman, may alam akong pwede kong puntahan," he said.
"Race? Okay! I want to see that. But, is it safe? Baka masaktan ka?"
"I'll be careful. Promise! Papanoorin mo ako?"
"Oo naman."
We shared a smile.
"Isa pang wish kung pwede?"
"Ano?"
"Uhhh habang nandito tayo... kung pwede lang naman... kasi... ano..."
"Sabihin mo na Bagwis."
"Pwedeng mag-holding hands? While walking?"
I lit up. "Oh I know this! We also have to sway our hands, right?"
He laughed at that. "Kung gusto mo."
"Okay. And yes, I'd love that."
And from that moment and for the rest of the night, he rarely let my hand go.
Tala and Mayari approved. To show this, the stars had a dazzling display of sparkling lights and the moon was unusually bright.
