TWIN FLAMES (A MayWard Story) ✔

Epilogue

The Supreme Druid turned her back from Marydale and stepped towards the sea of busy people in front of the church, casually blending herselft into the scene. For a while she just kept on walking and mingling, until suddenly she halted and made a turn in a narrow and dark alley nearby.

The Supreme Druid then traversed the said alley. A few moments later she finally reached the other side. But when she came out to the open this time though, she no longer looked like an old lady that she projected herself earlier. Instead she's a young twenty something woman now who looks like she just finished filming a remake of the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's with her outfit and all. She's now wearing a satin sleeveless top and a purple ballon skirt which length is enough to cover until a few inches of skin below her knee-level . Meanwhile on her feet strapped are an immaculate white pair simple sandals, which also matches the color of her blouse. The basket that she previously carries in her arm on the other hand was then replaced with a lilac colored frilly umbrella that has been beautifully embroidered by rose designs all over.

The Supreme Druid roamed her eyes around then. Until her eyes finally landed on a nearby streetfood cart that says 'Mang Berting'. With that, she smiled and opened her umbrella against the hot, bright and blinding sunlight before stepping towards it.

"Manong magkano po sa fishball?" She asked the person in charged as soon as she arrived in front of the cart.

"Piso dalawa ineng." Manong vendor replied.

"Ah..eh sa kikiam po?" She added.

"Piso isa naman sa kikiam." He answered then offered her a stick. "Sige neng kuha ka na muna. Maya na lang ang kwenta at bayad pagkatapos mo."

"Ah ok po. Salamat." The Supreme Druid thanked him and took the stick that he offered. After, she went on poking and picking some of those yummy looking delights on the stove.

Moments later she is already munching some of those.

"Ang sarap, iba talaga ang streetfoods ng Pinas noh?" The Supreme Druid mused, her mouth is half full.

A fine looking young man who was busy eating his own fishballs and kikiams beside her suddenly glanced her way at that. A frowed formed on his forehead as he silently contemplated if the pretty lady who is eating with such gusto beside him is actually speaking to him now. And so he took a look around to confirm that. When he realized that the vendor is currently entertaining his new customers he then decided to assume that the she is actually talking to him then. In his mind, a little casual chitchat won't hurt either way.

"Ahehe oo nga eh po ma'am. Masarap talaga street food natin. Walang katulad." He commented then flashed a polite smile.

After hearing that, the Supreme Druid finally turned to properly face the young man.

"Tama ka dyan. Lalo na sa katulad ko halimbawa na matagal nanirahan sa ibang bansa. Sobrang nakaka-miss talaga yung ganitong pagkain." She persisted with the conversation then also took another bite of her kikiam.

The young man nodded.

"Ah pareho po pala tayo. Medyo matagal din po ako sa abroad. Halos isang taon pa lang po akong nakabalik dito sa Pinas kaya kapag may pagkakataong makakain ng ganito, sunggab agad ako." He narrated with a chuckle.

The young man was actually surprised with himself for opening up such trivial things to a total stranger in the streets. And then he suddenly remembered that it wasn't really the first time he did it.

He looked down. Suddenly, a sad smile graced his lips as a beautiful face flashed on his mind in relation with the experience.

"Talaga ba? Oh what a coincidence" The Supreme Druid said upon witnessing his facial expression. On her lips is a knowing smile. "Pero alam mo bukod sa talagang na-miss ko 'to, may special kasing meaning sa akin ang pagkain sa gilid gilid ng kalsada." She paused then giggled before adding, "Dito kasi kami madalas nagdi-date ng asawa ko noong mga estudyante pa kami. Alam mo na walang budget."

The young man smiled at her story. Thinking that the woman look so in love still.

"Wala naman po kasi sa lugar yun. Ang importante nag-enjoy kayo pareho ng mahal mo." He mused. Amusement laid his tone.

"Correct." She spat animatedly before adding teasingly. "Pero teka parang relate na relate ka ah. Siguro, style mo din 'to noh? Mahilig ka din mag-food trip sa mga dates noh?"

The young man laughed then shyly scratched his head. "Eh parang ganun na nga po."

"Sabi ko na eh." The Supreme Druid exclaimed. "Oh eh nasaan na siya? Hindi mo ba kasama girlfriend mo ngayon? Sa tantya ko sa suot mo mukhang bisita ka sa kasal kanina ah. Ikaw lang mag-isa?"

Once again, sadness filled his eyes despite that smile.

"Wala po na eh. I mean wala po akong special someone sa ngayon." Then he shrugged.

"Ah nako hayaan mo na. Darating din yan. Antay-antay ka lang. Malay mo ngayong araw mo pala siya makikilala diba?" She told him fatalistically.

He laughed. "Tignan na lang po natin. Anyway hindi naman po ako nagmamadali."

"Lorenz!" Both of them turned to the direction of the church when they heard someone shouted.

"Nako ma'am tawag na po ako. Alis na yata kami." He said, frantically wiping his face for any traces of sauce.

After that, the young man who's name is Lorenz, then walked to the vendor to hand his bill when suddenly, one customer accidentally spilled his sauce on his coat.

"Ay nako pasensya na hijo hindi ko sinasadya." The customer exclaimed. An old man who is judging by his attire, a street vendor too.

When the initial reaction of being startled already passed, Lorenz smiled at the old man and said, "Ok lang po Lolo. Wala po yun."

Despite his reply the old man remained rattled still though.

"Yung damit mo. Mukhang mamahalin pa man din. Pasensya na ka na talaga hijo" Lolo said in a clearly worried tone then nervously took something out of his pocket. "Wala akong pambili ng bago pero pwede mong palabhan na lang yang coat mo dyan sa laundry shop. Ako na lang ang magbabayad." Then he handed his hard earned money to him.

But Lorenz vehemently declined it. "Nako Lolo hindi po, ok lang po talaga. Wag niyo na pong alalahanin yun. Itago niyo na po yan. Punasan lang po ito mawawala na din." He told him then gently shoved back the money.

"Salamat ng marami hijo. Pagpalain ka na nawa ng Poong Maykapal." Lolo smiled. The relief that flooded on his wrinkled face is very evident by now.

"You're welcome po." Lorenz replied then turned to the vendor once again. "Manong eto po bayad ko." He handed him a 200 peso bill. "Isama niyo na din po dyan yung kay Lolo at kay Ate...." He stated then pointed at the Supreme Druid who is still munching her food. ".....tapos keep the change na po."

"Uy talaga? Salamat ah." Manong vendor exclaimed in utmost delight.

The just Supreme Druid silently watched the whole exchange from the side. A small smile playing on her face.

"Wala pong ano man. Sige po. Una na ako." Lorenz bid his farewell, intentionally for everybody. But when he was about to leave, suddenly...

"Teka Lorenz!"

He halted and immediately turned back, surprised to hear the stranger called him by his name.

"Yes po?" He mused to the Supreme Druid in a mixture of awkward and confused tone.

The Supreme Druid then bridged the little distance in between them and handed him something that she took from her skirt's pocket- a lilac colored hankerchief with rose embroidery all over it.

"Eto oh. Ipamunas mo dyan sa damit mo. At saka salamat na din sa libre." She told to him with a grin.

She didn't wait for his reply anymore and just turned her back first. She opened her umbrella next once more and started walking away, leaving the bewildered young man who then ran back to the church.

As the Supreme Druid reached a couple of meters away from the cart she turned her head once more to look at Lorenz's leaving figure. Then with a mysterious twinkle in her eye she whispered.

"Lorenz Arrieta. Now it's your turn."