CLEA

"What medicine would you like to buy, my lady?" Inangat ko ang ulo ko nang marinig ang tanong ng isang matandang lalaki. 

I am outside the capital's dispensary. In modern times, it's called a pharmacy. I wear a rattan hat with a thin white cloth covering my face. 

"May gamot ba kayo sa deep throat?" Nakitaan ko ng pangungunot ng noo ang matandang kaharap ko kaya lihim akong napasinghap sa sinabi ko. 

I cleared my throat. " I mean, I'd like a medicine for sore throat." The old man smiled at me before opening his boxes of medicines. 

Napasapo na lang ako ng noo. What am I even thinking? Ah, yes. That would be the shameful things we did two days ago. 

To tell you the truth, we did not do those atrocities personally. When I fainted, I was trapped inside my consciousness. My consciousness invited them into my dream, so they succumbed to it and healed me with my astral body. 

Although it was just a dream, it felt so real. I can still remember every single thing they did to my body, how they ravaged and tasted every part of me. Even my throat somehow felt sore kahit wala naman talagang nangyari sa totoong katawan ko.

"Here is the medicine you asked, my lady." Inabot ko ang bayad sa kanya bago tanggapin ang medisinang nakabalot sa kulay brown na cream paper tied by a thin string. 

"Gosh, have you heard?" Binaling ko ang atensyon ko sa isang babaeng may hawak na pamaypay. She was fanning it on her face while talking to a woman in front of a nearby store. 

"There was a nobleman who proposed using a ring worth ten silver coins?" The woman she was talking to did not react. It was as if she was not bothered by what she heard. 

"What about it?" 

"What do you mean? Duh! If he loved her dearly, he should have bought her an expensive one!" The woman holding a fan yelled out while scoffing. Discontentment was seen in her eyes. 

"The amount of the ring does not measure his love for the woman. Besides, a ring is just a material that symbolizes commitment. What's more important is that your heart, body, and soul are committed to each other." Nakita ko ang pag-ngiwi ng babae dahil sa naging sagot ng kaibigan nito. 

They have different opinions. 

"Girl, the ring symbolizes his financial ability to support you and your marriage. It reflects that he needs more preparation. Why would you settle for a man who doesn't show your value and worth? He could have saved enough money for her if he loved the woman." Marahas na tiniklop ng babae ang pamaypay niya at pinagkrus ang braso niya. 

"It really depends on the man's financial status. We can't judge him. Maybe he got his own situation." The other one replied. Imbis sumang-ayon ay lalong tumaas ang kilay ng kaharap nitong babae. She doesn't seem to be convinced by her argument. 

Nilagpasan ko na lang sila. It is okay for a woman to have her standards and preferences. One could not invalidate what she feels. If she thinks she deserves better, then we can't judge her. She doesn't deserve less.

 A woman should never ask a man to provide more than he can. A woman must always live within her man's financial capacity. If he has what it takes, then great. If he doesn't, don't ask for it. If you want more, then work together. It's as simple as that. 

Nagpatuloy na lang ako maglakad sa gitna ng kalsada habang tumitingin-tingin sa maliliit na stalls sa gilid. They were selling different hair pins and bracelets made of crystal beads and pearls. There were also rolls of silk fabrics and linen cloths, fans embroidered with different designs, and necklaces filled with expensive diamonds and rings. 

"My girlfriend said she wanted to grow. Paano siya mag g-grow if hindi siya magpapadilig sa akin?" Naulinigan kong tanong ng isang lalaki habang pumipili ng hair pin sa tindera. 

Napailing na lang ako. Lumiko ako sa kaliwang bahagi ng kalsada at mula roon mga nakahilerang tinda naman ng mga sariwang gulay at pagkain ang bumungad sa akin. Nanuot sa ilong ko ang iba't ibang amoy ng mga nilutong sabaw. I tried to look around and I was surprise to see different types of delicacies I've only seen in traditional movies. 

I could recognize rice dumplings, buns, sugar rings, mung bean cakes, and fried dough twists. They look savory and tasty as hell! 

"How much for the cup of caramelized fresh soft tofu and sago pearl?" Napalingon ako nang marinig ko ang tinig ng isang batang lalaki. 

Caramelized what?

I saw a distinguished kid around eight dressed like a young aristocrat. He was wearing a black jumpsuit paired with a white sleeve with a snowflake brooch on the left side of his chest. He had black hair with two to three streaks of white. Specs covered his misty grey eyes. 

Paniguradong paglaki ng batang 'to maraming matres ang malalaglag. 

Tinapunan ko ng tingin ang binebenta ng isang may kaedaran ng lalaki. May inabot siyang maliit na cup sa bata kaya dumungaw ako upang makita ang laman no'n. Napangiwi na lang ako nang mapansing taho lang pala. 

"That would be two bronze coins, young master." Kinakap ng batang lalaki ang bulsa niya at nakita ko ang panlalaki ng mata nito. 

"Here." Walang pag-aalinlangan kong inabot ang isang pirasong silver coin sa nagtitinda. I also told him to keep the change. 

Akmang aalis na ako nang may munting kamay na humawak sa dulo ng telang nakapalibot sa suot kong salakot. When I look back, it was the kid. Diretso itong nakatingala sa akin, at ang mga mata nito'y tila may pinapaabot na salita sa akin. 

I squatted down to reach his small height. "Is there anything you need?" Tanong ko rito. He shakes his head. He handed me a scroll. When I opened it, my eyes furrowed. It was a note saying he owed me one silver coin and must pay it within three days; below was his signature on top of his initial. 

C.L?

I tap his shoulder and smiled at him. "There's no need for you to pay me. One silver won't cost me anything." I assured him. Akmang tatayo na ako nang mapansing mahigpit pa rin ang pagkakahawak niya sa sa akin. 

"No. I have to pay for it." Since he seemed to be so serious about it, I nodded at him. "What do I have to do?" Nginuso niya ang hawak kong rolyo ng papel. 

"Engrave your name on the paper and sign it." I waved my left hand in the air, and golden letters appeared in the letter. The initials of my name, along with my signature, were etched on it. 

The child motioned his hand. The single scroll became two and he took the other one as a copy for himself. Hindi ko mapigilang mapataas ang kilay dahil kung umasta ang batang 'to ay parang gumagawa lang ng notaryo o kasulatan ng isang abogado. 

"Then, I must take my leave." I stood up. Tinalikuran ko na siya upang maglakad, subalit nakakatatlong hakbang pa lang ako ay may humila na naman sa dulo ng damit ko. 

"Can I come with you? It was my uhm. . ." His eyes roamed as if trying to find a better thing to say. "It was my first time in the capital. My mother and father forbade me from going out." He explained. 

Considering how he had no money with him despite strolling around the busy streets of the market, I'm guessing he had just escaped from his household. Seeing how he dresses, he's walking one hundred gold coins. Ang sama ko naman para iwan siya baka ma-kidnap pa. Mabawasan pa mga lahi ng ng magaganda at gwapo in the near future. 

"Didn't your mother tell you not to talk to strangers?" He bit his bottom lip while fixing the bridge of his specs on his nose. 

"You look like a very nice lady." Napangisi ako. Hinawi ko saglit ang maliit na telang nakapalibot sa salakot upang makita niya ang kabuoan ng mukha. 

"I will have a trial three days from now as a suspect for murdering a noble man, and you think I am nice?" Nagtagpo ang mata naming dalawa, subalit hindi ko nakitaan ng pangamba ang mga mata niya dahil sa sinabi ko. He seemed unbothered by it, but he looks rather. . . interested? 

"You are only accused, but it was not proven. Until then, you are not guilty and still a nice lady." He covered my face with the cloth and held my hand. Saglit akong natulala dahil sa naging reaksyon niya. 

Who's this kid?

Nagpatianod ako sa kanya kung saang daan siya pupunta. I still have some free time, do I? Ayaw ko pa naman bumalik sa templo. If I went back there, I will only be bombarded by Domonique's unending ranting. Ever since that incident happened, assassins were attempting to kill him day and night.

Walang araw na hindi ko siya nakikitang may mantsa ng dugo sa damit. Hindi ko nga alam kung may tulog pa siya kakapuyat niya. 

"Anyway, is this truly your first time in the market?" Tumango-tango ang bata. "What were you doing at home?" He shrugged his tiny shoulders and tightened his grip on my right hand.

"I usually read ten books a day. It's about politics, economics, history, law, and medicines." Napalinga ako sa kanya. He was counting with his fingers. "I also practice swordsmanship by day and magic by night." Parang wala lang nitong dugtong. 

"Wow," Iyon na lang ang nasabi ko. 

Isn't that too much for a kid like him? 

"What are your hobbies then?" When I asked about his hobby, I saw a slight spark of happiness in his eyes. 

"I love baking in my spare time. I bake cakes, cookies, cupcakes, and other delicacies. It's just that. . ." He paused and shifted his gaze to the stalls selling colorful kites. 

"Just what?" 

"My parents never approved of my hobby. They forced me to focus on important things." Aniya sa mahinang boses. He sounded disheartened at some point, and I could understand him. 

Back in the day, my passion is all about writing. I dreamed of having my own publishing company, establishing a cafe library where customers could read the published books, dine, and work. 

But because of my parents, I had to take Business Administration to manage their business. In four long years, I was deprived of any academic excitement. Pakiramdam ko ginagawa ko na lang ang lahat para makatapos. I graduated with flying colors, but it felt like nothing. 

Sometimes, parents think they are trimming their child's wings so they can fly higher. But they don't realize that they're cutting it instead of trimming, preventing them from flying. 

"So, what's your name?" I beamed at him. Nakita ko namang parang nagtaka siya dahil sa biglaan pagbago ng tono ng pananalita ko sa kanya. I sounded more merry and approachable this time. An attitude of an older sister to her brother. 

"I'm Cai." Napapalakpak ako. 

Since I don't want him to feel like a mature man inside a kid's body, I will make him feel what a kid should be like. He can let down all of his restrictions and just become a carefree young lad for once in his life. I don't want him to grow up like me, who hasn't healed her inner child. It's never too late for him. 

"Have you ever tried flying a kite before?" Umiling siya kaya mabilis ko siyang hinila patungo sa mga nagbebenta ng saranggola. I let him choose the design he wants, and he ended up choosing a kite that looks like a huge butterfly. 

I randomly bought him a bottle of bubbles and a transparent balloon with colorful lights and glimmers inside. I also bought him a black teddy bear wearing a specs. After purchasing all of these things, we ate in a tavern serving a seaweed egg noodle. 

"Has this always been this tasty?" Aniya matapos ubusin ang huling bowl ng noodle na kinakain niya. Bahagya akong napahalakhak. He ate for about nine bowls of seaweed egg noodle. Takam na takam ang hitsura nito at halos kumislap na ang mga mata niya habang ninanamnam ang lasa nito. 

"Is this your first time eating one?" He drank the glass of water from the table before answering me with a slight smile. 

"My mother only let me eat the food cooked by our chefs. She said it's dangerous to eat unhealthy food outside. It could have been dirty or poisoned." Itinirik ko naman ang mata ko sa inis dahil napaka-OA ng nanay niya. 

"You are missing a lot of things! You're just a kid!" Inis kong komento bago ilapag ang bayad ng pinagkainan namin sa mesa. 

"Come on, let's fly your kite." He gave me a confused face. "But it's snowing heavily. How can we fly a kite?" Nginitian ko siya. 

"Who says we will fly a kite in the capital?" Nagtataka man ay sumunod pa rin siya sa akin. Sa pag bukas ko ng pinto palabas ng tavern ay ginamit ko ang kapangyarihan ko upang makapagteleport kami sa ibang lugar. 

When we stepped a foot outside the door, we arrived in Alcanta. I bought him on the eastern side of the meadows where herbaceous plants thrive. Ang mga damo roon ay hindi lumalagpas sa tuhod ang haba. Butterflies and grasshoppers were hopping from one flower to another, and rabbits played hide and seek in the grass. Five meters ahead was a stream where I could hear the water flow. 

I brought him here because this is the only place in Alcanta unaffected by winter tide. The weather here is perfect for flying a kite. 

"Here," Inabot ko sa kanya ang string ng saranggola bago tanggalin ang salakot sa ulo ko. "Run, and navigate your kite. Think of it as your freedom, let it soar high." Matagal niya akong tinitigan. I don't know if it was because he had fully seen my face, but his lips quivered as if he wanted to say something. 

But then, he only smiled at me before running in the open meadows with his left hand guiding the kite in the air. Kinuha ko ang bubble bottle sa bulsa ko. I started blowing bubbles while watching him trying his best to fly the kite he was holding. 

"Look! Look! It flew!" Rinig kong sigaw niya. Pinanood ko lang siyang tumatakbo-takbo. He was slowly unrolling the kite's strings, making it fly at a higher elevation, and seeing him happily enjoying it warmed my heart. 

Humiga ako sa damuhan bago hipan ang maliit na butas ng bubble head. Bubbles in different sizes was floating around dancing along with the wind. Nakapalibot din sa akin ang mga paro paro na tila ba gusto rin makipaglaro sa akin. The sun is almost setting in the horizon and the sky was having a mixture of pink and orange color. 

Matapos ng ilang minutong pagtatatakbo ni Cai sa kaparangan (meadow) ay pagod itong humiga sa tabi ko habang hawak-hawak pa rin ang string ng saranggola. I look up seeing his kite 15-20 meters above us. Niyakap ko ang teddy bear na binili ko para sa kanya kanina. I also felt him stealing a glance at me. 

"Do you want it to fly higher?" Natahimik naman siya. He sighed deeply before tilting his head to look at me. "Are you saying I should cut the strings and set it free?" Sagot niya. Indeed, this kid is truly smart. 

"But if I do that, it will be lost. The wind may stop blowing, and it will fall." Makahulugan nitong wika. 

"There may come a time the wind stops blowing, but at least it traveled across many lands. It will fall with no regrets." A few seconds of silence was heard. Kapagkuwan ay nakita ko na lang ang tuluyang pagbitaw niya sa strings ng saranggola. The wind blew hard, so it flew higher until we could no longer see it. 

"I think it's about time we go ho—" Natigilan ako nang gumapang papalapit sa gawi ko si Cai upang halikan ako sa pisngi. 

"Thank you." He said before taking my left hand and kissing the back of my palm. 

Awe, cutie. 

"Bilisan mo kaya lumaki? Ang gwapo mo na, ang bait pa saka matalino. Full package!" Pabiro kong anas dito. 

"Will you marry me if I was the same age as you?" Napangisi naman ako. Hindi naman siguro masama magbiro sa bata. 

"Only if you've grown into an adult man." Ginulo-gulo ko ang buhok niya habang tumatawa. 

And that was the worst joke I ever made in my entire life. 

G O L U C K Y C H A R M
Hi! A lot has been asking me if this is a poly story or if I had plans on making it as one. The answer is no. I am a fan of a reverse-harem trope, but not to the extent of writing an MC with multiple sexual relationships with men. I am a woman and I find it weird. I treat my MC's  as a real person, and I would never like the idea of knowing someone who engage in such activities. Thank you!