Fly With Me

I was on my way back to our camp when I suddenly decided to visit a certain cliff that I found the other day while we were looking around for food. I don't know why but there really was something about that place which made me return whenever I could. It was not even out of the ordinary; in fact, rocks of different sizes were unevenly piled underneath it and it was too far from the reach of the sea. But I guess, I began to like how I could feel the gentle breeze floating across my skin whenever I'm there, how it calms me down and fills my heart with hope that things would soon be at peace.

After minutes of walking, I finally saw the set of trees that I knew would lead me there. I couldn't help the smile that crept up my lips as I pushed the thick vines aside, thinking about the feeling I was about to experience yet again. But to my surprise, I saw that someone else had gone up here before I did.

And she was someone who's been making me feel something that I never thought I'd find in this lifetime.

True love.

I smiled and called her out, "Anong ginagawa mo diyan, Mahal na Reyna?"

Amihan immediately stood up and turned to look at where I was. I couldn't help but laugh as I saw her beautiful brown eyes widen with surprise. Her face began to redden as she squeaked out a reply, "N-Nagpapahangin lamang ako, Ybrahim. Ako'y aalis na din."

She then started to make her way into the woods but I grabbed her hand before she could even pass me by. "Amihan, pinapaalis ba kita?"

She shook her head in reply. "Siyang tunay. Halika't samahan mo muna ako sapagkat nais ko ding magpahangin dito." I then clasped our hands together and pulled her towards the edge of the cliff. "At isa pa, sa tingin mo ba'y hahayaan kitang bumalik sa ating kuta ng ikaw lang mag-isa?"

I sat down and tugged at her arm so she'd follow my gesture. But the Queen kept still and so I looked up and it was then that I saw that she was busy looking at our intertwined hands and as if she knew that she got caught, she turned her gaze towards me and shot me a shy smile.

And at that moment, I suddenly felt like I couldn't breathe. The love of my life looked so utterly beautiful, being surrounded by an ethereal glow which came because of the brightness of the sun right above us.

She giggled as she sat close to me, "Ybrahim, isara mo ang iyong bibig kung ayaw mong may pashnea na pumasok diyan."

That got me out of my reverie and I scratched my head out of embarrassment. "Agape avi, Mahal na Reyna." Nedanus muste.

We then proceeded to stare at the horizon before us. "Ang ganda ngayon ng kalangitan hindi ba?" Amihan gushed. "Tama lamang ang taas ng araw at ang daming ulap pa ang..."

She wasn't able to finish what she was saying as something quickly captured her attention. With excitement in her eyes she exclaimed, "Tingnan mo, Mahal na Prinsipe! Wangis ibon ang ulap na iyon!"

I chuckled in amusement before I looked up and to my surprise, she was right. "Ayun nama'y wangis bulaklak, Mahal na Reyna!" I enthusiastically said as I zeroed in on a uniquely shaped cloud.

We then spent the next few moments pointing at clouds which were in different shapes and sizes. And as we did, I couldn't help but wonder at the Lirean Queen's current actions. For the record, I've never seen this side of her. Amihan had always been so tough and reserved. I also don't think that her heart of gold's a secret to any engkantado or engkantada also. But this, I've never seen her like this. She seemed so alive, enjoying the simplest gifts life had to offer as if she's running freely like a child.

But then I recalled the events that just took place a several months ago and the destruction and pain that it brought to our people. My mind also flew to that time when I saw Amihan's anger for the first time and how I saw her breakdown right in front of me. I suddenly felt my heart clench in pity for this woman who clearly deserved all the happiness in the world but couldn't bear to think of herself first, being entirely locked to a life of duty.

"Gusto mo bang lumipad, Ybrahim?"

The question truly caught me off guard, "Ha? Mukhang imposible yata ang iyong nais, Amihan."

She smirked at me as she brought her hand out with her palm facing up. And as expected, her air jewel came out and surrounded us with wind. "Wala ka bang tiwala sa aking brilyante, Mahal na Prinsipe? Halina't baka abutan pa tayo dito ng dilim."

Amihan immediately stood up and placed my arms around her waist as she slipped her arms around my neck. I could feel my face redden at the gesture and I saw how it's having the same effect on my love also. She still had her head down and so I reached for her chin and tilted it upwards so that I could look deep into her eyes. We stood there for a while; and then suddenly, we were up in the air.

We were really flying.

Amihan held me closer as we flew through the sky, going under and over the clouds we've just seen. And I couldn't help but lovingly stare at the woman laughing right in front of me. She was too beautiful—inside and out. And I do know that there isn't anyone else that I'd like to spend for time and all eternity with than her.

"Amihan,"

She softly smiled at me and at that moment I breathed out a silent prayer to Bathalang Emre that I could be able to have the opportunity to wake up to that smile every day and also be its source for always. "Alam ko na ikaw pa din ang Reyna ng Encantadia, at dahil sa iyong tungkulin ay hindi ka malaya na umibig sa kahit sino mang engkantado. Ngunit, gusto ko lang na malaman mo na handa akong maghintay sa'yo. Handa akong lumaban hanggang dulo sa tabi mo. Handa akong paligayahin ka, handa akong gawin ang lahat para ako'y tunay na maging karapat-dapat na makasama ka habangbuhay. Ganun kita kamahal, Amihan. E correi diu, aking Reyna."

At my last word, the sky suddenly cleared out from around us and there was nothing to hear but the howling of the wind. I then felt something familiar start to float across my skin; making me feel more alive, more blissful, even more hopeful for the future ahead. I realized that it was the breeze; yes, the one that I always went to the cliff for. But it was already exceedingly windy up here—just how then?

It was at that moment that I noticed that Amihan had her eyes closed tightly, the space between her eyebrows crunching up as if she was really trying her best to focus on something.

The breeze.

My eyes slowly widened in realization. "I-Ikaw?"

She lovingly smiled up at me as she gently opened her eyes and nodded. "Ako nga, mahal ko. Masaya ako na napapansin mo pala ang pagpapahiwatig ko ng aking wagas na pagmamahal para sa'yo. Lubos din na nagagalak ang aking puso sa mga tinuran mo. Mahal na mahal din kita, Ybrahim. E correi diu."