Monsoon Spolarium

The webs of mist on the glass window and the flowing curtain of rain outside reminded Pepsi of what she really wanted.  After long hours of waiting and feeding on the almost wilted petals of the last rose from the garden, Fairy Godmother finally heard Pepsi’s wish. It would have been an easy task for Fairy Godmother to give her ward all the fancy stuff that the other girls wished for but apparently Pepsi wanted something that’s more precious than all the Manolos, Chanels, Guccis, and Pradas that she had given away. It’s something so grand that she might have to just grant just one wish for Pepsi. Given all the perils that they might face after enacting the wish, Fairy Godmother attempted to negotiate. 

“So let me understand this,  dah-ling. You want me to turn back time just so you can get back your first kiss?”

“Yes. “

“You know, dah-ling, my Wand has worked a lot of wonders for other girls. I can give you piles of signature blouses, a cabinet full of designer shoes and bags, a well brimming with Christian Dior masterpieces or even an island full of demigod men. You may choose from all those or, better yet, dah-ling, you can have all of those instead.”

The torrents subsided into a drizzle outside. The frogs stopped croaking and sunlight cleaved the ominous clouds. Pepsi tried to dig out her inner thoughts amidst the mild noise. There was her lust for glimmer battling with her simple desire. All she needed was to take one side and choose whether to be weaker than herself or be stronger than the rest who had the chance to experience the power of the Wand. 

“So have you decided, dah-ling? I have to hurry because I still have to visit Chona Velasquez in Bulacan.”

“I will stick to what I really want. I need my first kiss back.”

Fairy Godmother sighed. 

“Well, dah-ling, instead of having three wishes you will only have that one wish. I don’t want to compromise the Wand’s durability. You may have your wish but I warn you, you may suffer some consequences. You have an odd mind that suits your name, dah-ling. So, farewell, sleep tight, and savor your dream. When you wake up, you will realize that you have had what you wished for.”

After the third flick of her wand, Pepsi fell into a slumber. There were no rainbows, multicolored lights, or even a cape of fog that surrounded Fairy Godmother as she disappeared. However, in her dreams, Pepsi was already traversing universes just to bend the rules of time and space. 

When she opened her eyes, she found her eight year-old self bathing under the young typhoon rain. On her left ear was an almost withered gumamela. Just like the other girls of her age, she was almost naked in her drenched after school sando and white shorts. She was frolicking under the santol tree, lying on the hammock while watching the drops of water fall from the sky, to the net of leaves, and then to her eyes.  She was astonished by the sight of her own innocence and she was enraged at the same time because of this familiar moment.  This was the time when she first felt weakness and fear.  This was that moment under that tree, during that August rain when her first kiss and her youth were taken away from her.

She did not wait for him to come out of the house anymore. While her younger self was busy poking snails and earthworms with a twig, she sneaked into the house.  The past seemed not so distant after all for Pepsi still remembered where her mother used to keep the knives. She heard him snoring and she thought that was the best time to attack him while he was deeply entangled in his gossamer of dreams. Pepsi went inside her stepfather’s room and, with one forceful stab, she saved her first kiss from being stolen.  

When she stepped out of the house, she rushed to find her younger self. She was still poking snails and worms. Pepsi embraced her younger self and allowed the rain to wash away the stains of the past that she has managed to efface. For the first time in her life, she finally stayed under the rain without crying. 
 
*Maring, may you be outbitched by my metaphors. 

*copyright by tofi *