Favored by the Goddess - Stary Writing Academy III

Hiraya I nervously wiped my sweaty palm on the white gown I was wearing. It was a gesture that I am used to when I am nervous. I curled my palm to stop myself from lest I will ruin my gown. The stylist called it a goddess dress, a white halter dress made of flowing fabric silk and organza that touched the floor. It swayed whenever I move the first time I fitted it. It complimented my brown skin that was pampered after a day at the spa. I tried to practice a smile in the mirror. I suddenly became conscious because it might ruin my perfect aura for tonight's party. I knew everything's perfect. My makeup was subtle because the makeup artist did a fine job of making my skin as smooth as satin. My long, straight black hair was pinned on a half-moon. I miss my simple self, though. When I can be confident even without makeup, and I don't have to compare myself with everyone else. The goddess Sinagtala taught us that all creation is beautiful. But in this city, there's a standard of beauty that must be followed. The whiter the skin, the better. I had never been insecure in my life even if my husband told me that I am beautiful. Above the glitzy lights of the city, I feel insignificant. I miss the Sinag tribe, where I was perfect. After all, I am favored by the goddess: a saliya - the chosen one. I am living the life envied by many, according to some. I have a rich husband who showers me with designer clothes, a massive house with electronic appliances and gadgets that work like magic, fantastic food that amazes my palate and are like a work of art, and he can take me to places that I could only dream of. I don't even have to work hard. I just need to look beautiful for him, wait for him to come home, listen to his bidding, and don't embarrass him. I should be contented, but something is missing in my life. I don't know what it is. "I miss Sinag. I miss home." I closed my eyes, and I imagined the green forest in the high mountains, the view of the fog descending from the heavens as if the goddess is enveloping her creatures with her warmth, the musical sound from the nearby waterfalls, and the warm smile of the Sinag people like a ray of sunshine. "Hiraya!" I jumped when I heard Calixto's voice, my husband. A smiled as I studied him. The first time I saw him, I thought he was an angel with his kind face. He was a hunter who met a storm in the middle of the forest. He begged us to help his father, who got his leg broken when he slipped on the muddy trail due to the storm. I was delighted by his begging hazel eyes. His skin was so fair. I was used to seeing Sinag men who had brown skin. His fair and smooth skin intrigued me. He was also six inches tall, and that was tall since I was only five feet and two inches. Despite my bejeweled high heeled shoes, I still like a pixie beside him. His hair was sleekly brushed up and the soft lines of his face. He looked dashing in his immaculate white tuxedo with gold undershirt. I used to tease him that he is like a male doll that I saw in a toy store. He hated that, but he will always be that doll to me. He was also the vice president of Buencamino Mining. In my simple mind, it was a high position in a big company that employs many people. They turn mountains into valuable pieces of jewelry. That was a simple explanation for me. I thought they used magic, but the machinery is made and run with the use of science and technology. They told me that you have to study hard to discover those things. I never went to school because we don't have that in Sinag. But I know that my husband is amazing and many people respect him and bow to him. As a matter of fact, the party that we will attend tonight was for the launching of his new product – the Bahaghari Collection. Bahaghari stones are rare rainbow gems. It was a gift from the goddess herself and had healing powers. It was proven after she was able to heal Calixto's fractured leg and Etherea, Calixto's best friend, who had leukemia afterward. Calixto convinced her that the stone must be shared with everyone. That they met each other because the goddess wanted the whole of humanity must experience the power of the healing stone. That made her fall in love with him more because he cared about other people like her. I still feel giddy like the first time I saw him. I pushed my longing for Sinag aside and smiled at him. "Hi. You look good." His forehead crunched as he walked towards me. "I've been calling you and you didn't seem to hear me. What's wrong?" he asked in a concerned voice. I shook my head. "Well, I just miss…" "Ah! I know what's missing." He clicked his finger and asked my serious assistant, Thalia, to come forward. She was holding a dark blue box with both hands. I gasped when Thalia opened the box, and a jewelry set of rainbow gems gleamed in the light. "T-This is beautiful." "Of course. Anything for my goddess." My husband took the necklace with care, walked to her back, and clasped the chain at the back of my neck. He grasped my shoulders and let me face the Venus mirror the ecstatic contract of the white gown and the iridescent stone to my skin. Calixto smiled at my reflection. "See? This necklace is perfect. You are like the goddess yourself." He playfully nipped the lobe of my ear. "But you are my own goddess." The necklace was made of rainbow gemstones with stalagmite-like spikes. It settled on top of my halter gown and wound around my neck. It was a masterpiece compared to the first one I owned as a saliya. It was just a stone with ragged edges and held by simple gold metal. It was passed down from generation to generation of saliya. The necklace I am wearing was crafted by skilled artisans and was made to look elegant and enticing. This one was fit for the glamorous women she saw on TV. Like the ones worn by royalties and queens. Or even celebrities. Only this one has healing properties. It was not an ordinary stone. This time, the power of the bahaghari stone will be revealed to the rest of the world. I should be happy. This was the fulfillment of a dream to help the rest of mankind; the cure to many diseases that couldn't be solved by the advanced science and technology. That necklace represented my mission as the goddess' chosen one. I smiled sadly and let out a heavy sigh. It was a dream come true, but I feel empty. I don't feel any victory at all. Calixto squeezed my shoulder. "Why the sigh? Aren't you happy with the design? I can replace it with another one," he suggested. I shook my head. "No. It looks amazing. Too beautiful even." "Then what's wrong?" he asked in a slightly irritated tone as if I am an ungrateful b***h for ruining such a happy day. "Don't tell me you are still afraid of people? We've been married for three years now. You should get used to parties." I faced him and held his arm. I am still nervous about the glamorous parties and events. I never felt at home with the crowd no matter how I tried. But my woes are something else. "I miss Sinag. I miss my people. They should be here with me now and they should witness the unveiling of this project." "You are here to represent them and that's enough." "B-But I wish they are here. At least my parents. My father is the head of the tribe. He contributed a lot to the fulfillment of this project. Without him, the project won't come to life. They should be a part of this celebration. The Sinag people are the ones who worked hard for this since they shared the stone with the rest of the world." And me. It was not easy convincing my parents to let me go because the saliya should remain in the Sinag tribe. But because they want me to be happy and they believed that I have a mission to fulfill for the goddess, they had to let me go. I convinced my father to sign over the rights to cultivate our land to Buencamino Mining. All those dazzling stones are from the sweat and blood of Sinags who works on the mining site. My people should be there to witness the glory of the goddess' powers. The bahaghari stone is not just about me but for the Sinag tribesmen; the people who believe in the goddess. My husband clucked his tongue and smirked. "You really want your father to attend this event? Remember what he did the last time he was here? He wrecked my home theatre because he said the TV is cursed for having people inside it." I bit my lower lip when I remembered how my father went berserk seeing the television for the first time. "He is aware of the television now." "Yes. And your mother cried on the elevator like a crazy woman. She thought she will die and I became the laughing stock in the mall. I don't even want to return there any more." I blew some air to release my frustration from the memories. "Calix, I know my parents' shortcomings. They are ignorant of the ways of this world just like me." There are still so many things that I don't know. "I miss them and they deserve to witness this monumental event. You owe them a lot and they are my parents." "They are your parents but they can ruin everything I worked hard for," Calixto insisted with gritted teeth as if he was running out of patience. His voice was not a couple of pitch higher. He closed his eyes tightly, controlling his emotions. He slowly opened his eyes then stared at me with resolve. "Hiraya, you know how important this launching is. We have elite people attending the event. Some of them are world leaders and billionaires. They have the money and influence to take us to the top or grind us into pieces. A lot is riding on this. If your parents create a scene, I will be the laughing stock and we will lose our livelihood. I can't help the Sinags anymore. We can't help the rest of the world to hear if nobody will support us. We need these people to succeed. Do you understand?" I slowly nodded in agreement even if it breaks my heart. I knew that a lot was riding on this project. Calixto and his father worked hard to build the project. It was not easy to convince people to invest in their project just to mine a healing stone. Many might think that they are bogus so they must carefully thread on the launching of the project. Part of me knows how passionate my husband is about this project. But a part of my heart was telling me that there was something wrong. But what could go wrong when the bahaghari stone benefits many people. I can't be selfish, right? This is my husband's dream, and I believe this is the goddess' will. "I am sorry," I rasped when I saw the frustration on Calixto's face. I touched his cheek. "I-I don't want to ruin this project. I know that this will serve a lot of people from the sickness of this world. Maybe I just miss Sinag and my parents. I…I want to go home." He kissed the top of my head. "We will discuss this after the launching." "Will you let me go home?" "Hiraya…" he uttered my name with a warning on his tone. I tiptoed and kissed the corner of his lip. "Fine. After the party." I will finally come home soon. I can't wait to tell everyone in the tribe that they are now helping in healing the rest of the world. That their efforts will serve the greater good. Just like the goddess wanted. This is my destiny.