Favored by the Goddess - Stary Writing Academy III

CHAPTER TWO –The Unfavored One

Hiraya –

“A fashion launching like no other. The jewelry is remarkable and inspiring. This is a great discovery that can heal the world,” Cookie Perez talked nonstop in awe while I listened patiently. I stood beside Etherea Mendez. my husband’s best friend and a top fashion model. We were tasked to indulged the popular gay fashion icon who was wearing a dalmatian-printed with an ostrich feather in his pocket.

I am still elated after the show. The sacred rainbow stones adorned different models and the guests were awestruck by the dazzling pieces. So do I. I thought the sacred bahaghari stones are already beautiful enough in their plain cut. But as the pieces were presented, the bahaghari stones’ beauty was taken to a whole new level. It became elegant when worn by those models.

The launching c*m fashion show was a huge success.  Businessmen, political leaders, and celebrities witnessed the unveiling of the Bahaghari Collection. Around two hundred of them were carefully chosen not only for their influence but for their affliction with no cure.

They were important people, movers, and shakers of the industry according to Calixto and his father, Osvaldo. It took a lot of effort to convince them to attend the show.

There were only a few pieces of the jewelry collection but everyone was buzzing about the healing powers of the bahaghari stone.

“And this one is legit, right? It can really heal even terminal diseases?” Cookie asked with malice in her voice as he pouted his lips in the direction of my necklace. He went through several plastic surgeries to achieve a youthful glow and he is searching for the key to immortality.

“Very much so. I also can’t believe it when the doctor told me that the rest of my days are numbered. Leukemia ate up my system,” Etherea told the sad story with a smile. She was a model in her prime when she discovered that she had leukemia.

She wore the elegant crown of the goddess for the closing of the launching. She was like a queen and was given a standing ovation.

A princess from an Arabian Gulf kingdom already made an offer for the crown and is wearing it now as she fleets around the other guests. When she arrived, she was in her wheelchair and she was too sick to even walk by herself. She had a brain tumor and started to lose her sight. Even before Etherea finished her catwalk, she already made a huge offer for the Bahaghari crown and even competed with a duke whose wife was comatose after falling off the horse five years ago. The crown was the biggest and most expensive in the collection. The more the bahaghari stone, the more it will be effective.

Etherea clasped her hands. “My story isn’t a secret. You saw me get bullied by other models who hated me as she showed everyone that I am getting bald and ugly because of chemotherapy. I was dying. But I am healthy and alive, thanks to the stone.” She combed her sleek and dark hair with confidence. “See? This isn’t a wig and it is definitely my hair.”

Cookie tugged Etherea’s hair and the latter winced a bit. Cookie laughed when he achieved the effect. “Wow! It is really not fake. You are back from the dead.”

She opened her palm to the other model’s direction. “So is everyone who wore the Bahaghari Collection. They took a chance on the healing stone when they were dying.”

Etherea looked around. A popular actor is an AIDS survivor. He is now healthy and glowing and even had a new boyfriend. His career was saved even. The third wife of a tycoon who had skin cancer now has a youthful glow on her skin and she looked ten years younger. 

The rest of the models didn’t wear any makeup when they strutted the runway yet each of them was glowing with health. It was no secret that they were once sick and on the deathbed. They proved that they used the Bahaghari stones for a few years and to share a testimony.

“And the power of the goddess,” I added with pride. “We must thank the goddess for creating the bahaghari stone. Many people will be healed and they don’t have to suffer anymore.”

“Of course, the favored one.” Cookie bowed but I felt like he was mocking me.  In that world, no one believed the goddess. It was as if she was non-existent. “How can a plain and simple girl like you can get so lucky? The goddess loves you and you have this gorgeous husband. How much do I have to pay to be you?”

I suddenly stepped back because I am taken aback by his question. Does he want to pay up to be me? Is that even possible? “W-Will you exchange your soul with me?” I asked curiously.

The people outside of Sinag may not believe in the goddess but they have a different kind of power. I don’t have plans to let go of the goddess’ favor or my husband. How much is my life worth?

I was startled when I bumped with something on my back. Familiar hands steadied me right away. “Are you scaring my wife?”

“I am asking how much does it cost to be your wife,” Cookie asked playfully and winked.

I looked up to Calixto with fear in her eyes. “Are you going to sell me?”

His laughter echoed in the room. “No.” He hugged her from behind, making her feel secure. “Your status as my wife is priceless.”

*Cookie went akimbo. “I will buy that necklace then. If I can’t have you, I want that necklace.”

“I am afraid that this one is special. It is solely meant for my wife.”

I closed my eyes and smiled. It was my first real smile tonight. He loves me and I am his priceless wife.

Etherea pulled Calixto away from her. “Mr. Baldwin is waving at us. He wants to offer a partnership. He wants to offer the bahaghari stones in his healing resort.”

I stepped forward. “I am coming with you.”

“This is not a good time, babe. Mr; Baldwin is not exactly fond of you. Remember when he asked you to dance before and you refused? You even poured wine to his face.”

I pursed my lips when I remembered that I had a clash with Mr. Baldwin. He tried to take advantage me in one of the parties and tried to cop a feel. When I protested and splash a glass of wine to his face, he was outraged even. I was also disappointed that I was scolded for “disrespecting” an important guest. Calixto said that he was an important investor and I should have just endured his advances.

“Because he was rude to me. He even told me that if I will kiss him, I can spend a day at his expensive resort. I don’t even know why he is here.” I clenched my fist because that man should have his hands cut for trying to cop a feel on my butt.

I argued with my husband at that time. Our very first argument. I am a woman who must be respected and should not be touched by just any man aside from my husband. I am sacred. I didn’t understand why he would allow another man’s advances on his own wife.

“He was drunk then. And this is business. Don’t make it difficult for me. Why don’t you join Dad in entertaining the other guests?”

I have to endure Mr. Baldwin’s presence. It was all business. Calixto. explained to me that it is part of entertaining the guest. It was just a dance and another man won’t do anything untoward to me in public.

I don’t understand why his business is more important than his own wife. I don’t understand why he has to sacrifice his own wife to the greed of a rude man. It hurts a lot. I don’t get the rules of this world.

Sure, I am nice and sometimes I am naïve. But if I don’t like someone, why should I endure his or her presence. Why not just kick that person out of your life?

My father-in-law, Octavio was talking to a group of women headed by Aunt Minzy, She was Calixto’s favorite aunt and she hates me a lot. She’s the reason why I tried so hard to fit in. I was belittled for not knowing how to read the alphabet or for struggling to use a fork and spoon. It has been three years but I can still feel the tremor whenever I remember how she turns me into a laughing stock, telling me that I don’t deserve her precious nephew.

I will also never forget how one of her friends insinuated the special relationship between Etherea and Calixto. That it was definitely a downgrade that Calixto picked me to compare to Etherea or other women like her who were classy and fashionable.

Good thing Calixto guaranteed that Etherea is a good friend and she has a lover. Yes, I have no reason to be jealous of Etherea because I am the one that Calixto married. 

But being his wife is not easy. I had to learn a lot of new things that are normal in this world. I feel stupid most of the time and sometimes, people are running out of patience with my naivete.  Despite the training, I am afraid I might stutter or break some crystal glass or step on someone important. I don’t want to be a nuisance, but my father-in-law insisted I must do my part in the family.

If it was in my tribe, that guest will surely get a hundred lashes on the back for being insulting to Sinag tribe and threw days of kneeling for disrespecting the sacred princess.

I came from Sinag tribe, an unknown tribe on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is high up the mountains, a seven-hour walk from the nearest town center. We have no internet or electricity. I can’t even write my name in the English alphabet. I only know the ancient writing system direct from the Goddess that no one cared about. They don’t know the goddess either.

The rules in our tribe are crude but fair. But in the city, such rudeness must be answered with a gracious smile. Rude people who hurt people must be answered with a smile.

This is my husband’s world and my world now. I have no choice but to endure it.