"What kind of tree is this?" bulong ko sa aking sarili habang nakatingala at namamangha sa napakaganda ngunit kakaibang punong aking nakikita.
I'm standing under the huge tree with very dark brown trunks. Marami ang mga sanga ngunit walang kadahon-dahon. May mga malalaking bulaklak na animoy idinikit lamang sa mga sanga. They look strange but amazingly attractive. They're dark orange with size of a regular plate. This is my first time to see this kind of tree, not even in pictures or movies.
Tumingin ako sa paligid. I can't see clearly because of white obstacles that look like fogs or maybe smoke. But since there's no smell maybe they're just fogs. They're being swept by wind towards my direction. Naglakad ako at sinalubong ang makapal na ulap. Habang tumatagal ang aking paglalakad, unti-unting numinipis ang ulap hanggang sa tuluyang magliwanag ang paligid.
Napanganga ako sa tanawing bumungad sa aking mga mata. I'm in a beautiful wide flower hill. Punum-puno ng kulay at hindi ko alam kung anong kumpol ng mga bulaklak ang una kong tititigan. There are colorful butterflies too that fly all over the place. The weather is nice yet when I look above I can't see the blue sky. Puro puting ulap lang ang nakikita ko. I look around but it seems that I'm all alone in this mesmerizing place.
I kept walking until I saw something in not so far away spot. There's a single bench and it looks like someone is sitting there. Natuwa agad ako nang malamang hindi ako nag-iisa. Tumakbo ako papalapit sa upuan. I run effortlessly as if my body doesn't have any weight at all. While getting closer, I'm seeing a familiar face of an old woman. She's smiling peacefully while staring at the butterfly on her palm.
Tumigil ako sa pagtakbo at tahimik na naglakad papalapit sa kanya. "Lola!" masayang tawag ko.
Nagulat siya pagkakita sa akin hanggang sa unti-unti ring napangiti. Sabik na naupo ako sa tabi niya.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito Deanery?"
"I don't know. When I opened my eyes, I'm already here." I took a deep breath and savor the wind with a soft smile. "Ah this place is so beautiful! I think I'm dreaming again."
Nilingon ko ang aking katabi. "Why am I seeing you in my dream again. Akala ko ho ay bawal na kayong bumaba sa lupa at magpakita sa aking panaginip."
"Wala ako sa panaginip mo ngayon iha," malumanay na sabi niya.
"Ho?" Napaisip ako. "Am I inside your dream then?"
She shook her head.
"Kung ganun nasaan ho ako ngayon?"
"Nasa lugar ka kung saan na ako nakatira ngayon," ngiti niya.
Hindi ako nakakibo hanggang sa unti-unting napaawang ang aking bibig. "Am I in heaven? Am I dead?" I expect to feel fear but my heart remains light. I guess happiness is the only feelings allowed in this place.
"Ano ba ang mga huling bagay na natatandaan mo?" tanong ni lola.
Inalala ko ang mga huling nangyari sa aking buhay. "Justin proposed to me and I said yes. I was almost hit by a car but my fiance saved me. Nagpunta pa nga kami sa hospital para makasigurado and I was perfectly fine. I was in Justin's car that's the last thing I remember."
"Kung ganun bakit ka naririto?"
"Hindi ko rin po alam. Maybe I finally died this time. After all, lagi ko rin naman hong pinagdududahan kong tunay pa rin ba talaga ang mga nangyayari sa buhay ko. Maybe I finally received my punishment for not fully and faithfully believing all those precious gifts that were given to me," ngumiti ako at nang walang anumang halong sama ng loob. "I am not even sure if I deserve this beautiful place."
BINABASA MO ANG
MAGICALLY YOURS,
RomanceDeanery Mortel was a single woman with fat pocket. But despite of wealth and success, she was secretly empty inside because of a man she let go. Her life was full of 'what ifs'. One day, she died and the next day she opened her eyes living in her pa...
