Mist and Moonlight

Prologue

Athens, Greece

The day tour is almost done.

Wearing a big sun glasses I roamed my eyes around the Athena's temple.

The Parthenon.

Ang griyegong tour guide ay bihasa sa salitang ingles at makulit. He entertained us kahit ang iba sa amin ay walang paki sa sinasabi niya.

The place looks surreal.

Tulad ng nakita ko noon sa Ephesus, Turkey.

I visited Artemis' temple.

The place where the owner of my namesake is given with gifts and prayed for.

Siguro nagaalay din sila doon.

Sacrifices for guidance and abundant hunt.

Should I do that too?

Temple ruins feed my eyes.

It is broken, crumpled almost in pieces.

Just like me. I look for the missing pieces of my life, my memory.

Some may look at the ruins broken forever. The difference is that I look at it as beautiful, not a defect but something to look forward to being complete.

"Good day Ma'am! Did you enjoy our tour?" the gray eyed tour guide ask me in european accent.

I removed my sunglasses putting it atop my head. "I sure did. I've never seen such site." ngiti ko sa kanya.

Iginala ko ang mga mata ko sa tinitignan niya.

He looked forward to the temple.

The wind blew making my skirt dance along with my hair.

"Ruins represent us..." he said"... broken in pieces but looked at it. The beauty it brings is indescribable"

"It sure does..."

"I can see your looking for something."

He can read people huh?

Other tourists roam at the temple site. Some are taking photos as souvenir for their home or family. Here I am associating myself with a tour guide.

A curious one I can tell.

"Just a breather, you know."

I heaved a sigh.

"Maybe someone..."

"Maybe I am." ngumiti ako ng mabilis.

"I'm sorry about that." napakamot siya sa kanyang batok.

Tinignan ko ang. Ang templo ni Athenang nakatayo sa harap ko.

"It's okay."

We chuckled about it.

Humiwalay ako sa kanya. 20 minutes bago matapos ang tour. I let the view be printed on my mind.

To be broken is not always ugly. It takes time to appreciate what you have...

...when you don't have it at all.

We look for our pieces. Something to feel the gap in our soul.

Bumalik ako sa hotel pagkatapos.

I can I did enjoy the tour.

The void in me is filled.

Almost...

Nilublob ko ang sarili ko sa baththub na gawa sa marmol.

Rose petals float above it with scented candles.

I found myself staring at the couples on the street.

An unknown pain hit me.

Naramdaman ko ang titig malapit sa akin. On the street a man is alone. Drinking greecian coffee.

Piercing his stare at me.

Or maybe I'm already drunk with the red wine in my balcony.

I chuckled at the thought.

Tinaas ko ang wineglass at itinapat sa nagliliwanag na buwan.

Maybe he wants a staring contest.

I can see pain and sadness on his eyes.
It's like his longing for something or...

...someone.

His feelings hit me.

My vision became blurry all of a sudden.

Kinapa ko ang pisngi ko.

Naguunahan ang luhang tumutulo sa mga mata ko. Why am I crying anyway. Hindi ko nga kilala iyon.

Ako na ang unang nagiwas ng tingin.

Pumasok ako sa loob at napagdesisyunang matulog. Nasobrahan siguro ako sa paginom ng red wine.

"Hahanapin kita kahit saan ka pa mapunta. Kahit sa dulo ng mundo."

Nasapo ko ang ulo ko.

I drink too much again. Regreting it is late. It's already there.

Last day ng pagiistay ko sa Europe.

Babalik na ako pagkatapos nito.

I should've prayed to the greek gods to find answer.

Maybe an oracle will show me my path, I thought out of the blue.

The streets buzzle with tourist.

I heard a familiar tune—a violin—a little further from my location. My heart beat as if it remembers something. My lips produced a bitter smile.

Pumasok ako sa souvenir shop.

The greek owner greeted me in his native language.

"Kalos irthate!" (Welcome!)

"Efcharisto!" (thank you!)

That's all I learned in my stay.

Kukunin ko na sana ang gold wreath accessory nang may kasabay akong nakakuha nito.

I faked a cough.

"Excuse me. I saw it first."

Sumagot siya sa baritonong boses "No, I did."

Wala siyang nagawa nang kunin ko ang gold wreath. The last piece.

I walked out of the shop leaving him while my heart almost leap out of my chest.

Paalis na sana ako sa tapat ng souvenir shop nang tawagin ako ng isang matanda. In her mid 50's.

She motioned me to come and held my hand.

"Lachesis tied your reunion. You have found each other."

Greeks and their fates.

Babayaran ko sana siya pero hindi niya tinggap.

Nakaupo ako sa bench ng Spata Airport. Browsing the internet. 1 hour before boarding na lang ang hihintayin bago ang boarding ng mga pasahero.

"Calling the attention of passengers for Flight 57MN, Greece to Manila, now boarding."