The candles were lit. The flowers and tobacco were in place. The betel nut was wrapped around with red cloth.
It was time.
The cool air bristled against her skin. Her mouth was dry from chanting, but she couldn’t stop now, not when she was so close.
The circle alighted with a greenish glow and she knew that it was almost over. She couldn’t wait to open her eyes and see the majesty of a true Diwata.
From nothing came the regal form of a woman, draped in blue.
“Who are you?!” Alyssa screamed.
“You were the one that called me, did you not? I would expect such rudeness from a dalaketnon*, but I thought humans would at least have the decency to greet a being of my stature with some measure of respect.”
“You’re a Diwata?”
“Of course dear child what did you expect?”
In truth Alyssa didn’t think the Diwata would be so… human. She had the same kayumanggi **skin, dark brown eyes and her hair was the only thing that would stop them from looking like twins.
Sensing Alyssa’s thoughts the Diwata said, “Humans, always the same. After the shock and awe disappears you think you’ve made a mistake. Why can’t I look as I do?”
“You look just like me.”
“Yes, we’ve established that.”
“You can’t look like me! You’re a Diwata, a spirit of nature. Your hair should be a flowing river, your skin should shine like the sun, you—“
“–Should stop having expectations on what things are ‘supposed’ to look like. I swear when you were split off from the bamboo I told the others you’d be nothing but trouble, but did they listen? Of course not, they were just happy to have worshipers at their beck and call.”
“…But.”
“And these rituals, you didn’t even set the offerings right. Everything has to be white, or did they not teach you that? I swear the longer time goes on the more humans forget the important things. But I guess it will have to do. So, why am I here?”
“What?”
“You were the one that summoned me and usually that means there’s a reason for me to be summoned. Is it riches, power? Finding a lost love? Wanting to know the secrets of the universe? It’s always something like that with you humans.”
“I….”
“Spit it out, we don’t have all of eternity. Well, at least one of us doesn’t.”
“There’s this boy.”
“Of course there is.”
“He won’t notice me, I’ve tried everything to get his attention but I might as well be invisible.”
“So instead of finding another boy you started a ritual that called upon one of the most powerful nature spirits imaginable from her home in the Skyworld and are begging her to salvage your love life.”
“Well when you say it that way it seems petty.”
“When I say it that way it’s the truth. Humans always think that they can get whatever they want with a bargain and I know you aren’t as stupid as you seem. What have you to offer?”
“Great spirit, I humbly offer this betel nut wrapped in red cloth, these flowers and tobacco, this food for your nourishment.”
“I don’t mean any of that, though I can see the effort. I’m talking about what you are truly willing to give up.”
“I don’t understand, I’ve prepared everything I needed. You’re supposed to help me.”
“Only if I find the offering suitable, and this does not meet my standards.”
“I don’t know what else to give.”
“Answer a question for me.”
“Yes, spirit?”
“What happened to your face?”
Alyssa instinctively brushed the bruise on her left cheek. She thought back to this morning when the three girls grabbed her by the hair and pushed her to the wall. They made fun of her for wearing a Harry Potter scarf and told her it would be better off if she killed herself.
She ran to the bathroom to dry her tears. She runs her fingers through the rip in her scarf and stretches out on the cold floor. She lies there for what seems like an eternity until the bathroom door opens and another group of girls enters.
One more breath was all she needed to forget the pain. She walks out of the bathroom with what’s left of her scarf covering her cheek and finds another place to hide. Somewhere they won’t find her.
“This isn’t about the boy is it?” The Diwata leans down, she seems smaller than when she first appeared.
“Maybe if he noticed me he’d protect me.” Alyssa turned her head away from the Diwata, she was humiliated enough and didn’t want to add weakness to the pile.
“Don’t you have any friends that could help you?”
The look in Alyssa’s eyes was all the Diwata needed to see.
“Alright then.”
“So will you help me?”
The Diwata stared deep into Alyssa’s eyes.
“No.”
“What?! But I summoned you, I did everything right!”
“And because you did that your problems would be solved just like that?”
“You have the power to do that!”
“Maybe I do, but it won’t change the most important thing.”
“What?!”
“It won’t change you.”
“So that’s what you think?! That I’ll still be this weak little crybaby that gets beaten up. I just want one day where I don’t have to be ashamed of being different. Just one time when people are on my side.”
“And you may get that. But you will have to do it alone.”
“What do you want spirit? I can give you anything, I’ll even give you my life! Just, please. Just one day.”
“Giving your life isn’t a trifling thing. You must be prepared to face the consequences.”
“Please.. Just one day..”
—————————————————————————————————————–
Alyssa awoke from a strange dream, she couldn’t remember the details, but she recalled talking to a woman.
She got dressed for school and noticed her Gryffindor scarf was patched up. Lola probably fixed it while she was sleeping.
Today would be different, she didn’t know why, but there was something in the air that made her worries disappear. She didn’t even bother to go her normal route to hide from her bullies, it was as if everything was falling into place.
She smiled as she entered the school doors, probably for the first time since she transferred.
————————————————————————————————————————————
“Any response?”
“Eyes are closed, pupils are nonresponsive, no response to outside stimuli.”
“Poor girl. How long has it been since she got admitted?”
“Three months. I heard that the girls that did this to her finally got sentenced.”
“Good. They should get what they deserve. Treating this girl like that, it’s disgusting.”
“At least she can’t feel any pain.”
The doctor and nurse left the room, but Alyssa was not alone.
“I told you there’d be a price. I hope that day was worth it.”
Tied to tubes and cocooned in her hospital bed, Alyssa let out one last gasp and smiled.
It was.
—————————————————————————–
*An evil engkanto
** Tawny or light brown
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Inspired by the Diwata myths
Diwata Illustration by Reginald Kira
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