*Third Person's P.O.V.*
Beep beep! Beep beep!
The city is buzzing with life. Pedestrians roamed its busy streets, some are just leisurely strolling, while others are hurrying home to their families as the day concluded. It is 6 p.m. in Nashville, the Capital city of the state of Tennessee and one can see a middle aged blonde man getting out of the apothecary that he is working in. He went straight to the supermarket which is just a block away from his workplace. He bought some meat and a few veggies for the weekend’s viand. After that, he rounded the corner and went to the flower shop, like he always does every Friday.
“A single red rose sir Kaloy?” The flower shop keeper asked, although he already knew the deal. The man, Kaloy, just smiled and nodded, pulling out a few cash and paying for the item that was handed to him. Then he hailed a cab and rode home. He arrived after 15 minutes and as usual, the house is quiet. He didn’t bother to call out as he just fished out his key and opened the front door. He took off his coat as the house is warmer than the chilled air outside due to the beginning of the season autumn and made his way upstairs. The master’s bedroom is open and soon he found himself looking at her peaceful features. Alas! This is tranquility taking a human form as a beautiful woman. He knelt beside the bed and carefully placed the red rose on her chest.
The slightest movement stirred her from her sleep and Kaloy’s lips stretched into a smile when she opened her jade green eyes. “Did I wake up?” He asked lovingly at his wife who picked up the rose and carefully sat up, making sure that her swelling belly is secured.
“You should’ve woke me up when you arrived. I missed opening up the door for you and be greeted by a warm hug.” She pouted and Kaloy just chuckled, sitting beside her and wrapping his arms around her from the side. He peppered her exposed neck with kisses and she tenderly laid her head on his shoulders while looking at the full body mirror situated in front of them. Kaloy’s eyes trailed to that direction too and his heart melted at the sight. If somebody told him his life would be as great as this a year ago, he would’ve chuckled bitterly. He closed his eyes as he breathed in on the memory of yesterday.
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He never knew he would meet someone like her in such a manner. Never knew his interest on her would deepen, never knew that fate would be against all his desires, never knew he’d experience so much with her even against all odds, and he never knew that it would come to such a devastating point of, a dead end. It turns out, he never knew a thing at all.
As Kaloy’s world broke down at that moment. Yes, their enemies were clearly defeated, with almost all of them vanishing in thin air and the engkantos clearly won, but he, their king, didn’t feel the victory at all. He lost. He lost her as she risked her life for him.
“Mahal na hari?” Somebody approached and he looked at them indifferently.
“Ano?” It has been three days since that attack. Three days since that victory. And three days since her death but her beautiful body wasn’t buried yet, instead he laid her on his own bed and cried himself to sleep every night beside her, as if his tears can bring her back. And even right now that he doesn’t have any meetings with the important people in the kingdom, he’s in his room, looking at her lifeless body.
“May mga panauhin po tayo at nais nila makita… ang bayaning si Season.” Kaloy abruptly turned to his men at that statement.
“Sino sila?” He wondered as all of the people who he thinks knew Season had already visited and gave honor to her. All of the people in the mythical realm, that is. So, who could that be?
“Ahhh, ang kanyang pamilya.” Kaloy froze at the soldier’s answer. Things just got worse. How is he supposed to explain this to her family now? And how were they able to get in here in the first place? Despite another round of heaviness being poured down on him, he stood up, nodded to his men, and walked with his head held high towards the guests. Ahhh, of course her brother has to be here. The very same human being that’s the reason why his Season couldn’t agree to be with him. He’s accompanied by a Chinese Wizard and a pair of twins. Just his luck.
“Where’s Season?” Her brother rudely barged as soon as he saw Kaloy. Of course, would you still care about formalities when you’re worried?
As the king of Lumayan doesn’t know how to explain everything, he opted to just take them to his room and show them. They wailed and threw a tantrum when they saw her lifeless body and he took all the jabs of blame they threw at him with all humility because he accepts the fact that it truly is his fault.
But not all beings would want to see their King be humbled in that manner, so the old engkantada Ligaya stepped in and spoke. “There is a way to revive her.” Although she was so not fond of Season because of the knowledge that she has about the latter’s true abilities that did cause them harm, she did see how much Kaloy really loved her and how much she feels the same way too, enough for her to turn her back against her kin, to be on their side. And enough for her to die for his safety, which in turn caused the vanishing of the mummy-like soldiers, since they’re literally risen by her life force. She guessed she have reason enough and it wouldn’t be bad to use the ‘treasure’ of Lumayan to give her beautiful soul a favor whose consequence was that of the King’s of course. But it worked well for the both of them.
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Up until today, Kaloy couldn’t believe that this is where fate took them affter all those clues it gave that they were not for each other. And yes, he owed that to magic, power, and paranormality, something that he and his beloved don’t have anymore.
“Penny for your thoughts?” His wife, Season’s voice cut through his train of thoughts and he mockingly gave her a dollar. She just laughed and lightly hit his shoulders.
“I was just thinking about the time when, I chose you over everything else. Cause that was just the beginning of my happily ever after, after all those, oppositions of fate.” Yes, he did choose her over everything else, even his power and his responsibility, but that’s because she chose him first, hell she chose him over her own life.
“Hmmm, it was quite a remarkable day, if I do say so myself. I never thought I’d find myself in a ritual altar for the second time. Thought the heavens were already accepting my soul, only to find out that I’m called back to earth.” She chuckled, recalling how she was ready to see her mother who she blamed for her every misfortune. But nonetheless, she now found herself back in the city where her mother once took refuge on when she ran away, not for the same reason though.
“Of course, I did tell you that I can’t live without you.” He smiled.
Season smiled too. “But you know what? When I knew everything, about the connection of our ancestors and the fact that those mummy soldiers were coming for Lumayan, I sure as hell am prepared to die. I mean it’s the first time in my life that, yes I was scared but, I didn’t even thought about running away or not doing anything for the sake of temporary peace. All I wanted to do was the right thing. Because in my search for tranquility, I found myself at the heart of chaos. It’s funny how, only when I faced that chaos, did everything fell on its place and I finally felt at peace.” She let out.
“Indeed. Our journey taught me so much too. It taught me to be true, a bold kind of true. Remember when I told you, sometimes it’s who you choose to be that matters the most? It turns out that I needed that more than you do.” Kaloy said.
“Really? And who did you chose to be exactly?” Season asked, turning her body to her husband.
“The ordinary human person named Kaloy Luna. The man who owns the beautiful Season Tarver Luna by name, even of she owns my heart more than that.” Season chuckled at his dramatic answer as it reminded her so much of the introductions of the four astral spirits who she missed greatly ever since she was revived, powerless and very much mortal. Just like how she wished it to be from the start. “And the father to this little one.” Kaloy added as he caressed her protruding belly lovingly.
“I’m seven months into my pregnancy, and we haven’t even thought of a name.” She pointed out.
“Ahhh, how about we name it by the season when it would be born?” A good suggestion.
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The fall of the leaves of the trees and the emptying of its branches outside the hospital’s wide glass windows gave raise to fresh cries as Season finally went in labor. She squeezed her husband’s hand tightly as the doctor told her to push, as if blaming him for all the pain that she’s going through. While Kaloy didn’t mind her harsh treatment to his hand as he watched in pure fascination at the display of toughness his wife is showing off once again. Because between the both of them, she has always been the tougher one.
“Uhaa~ Uhaa~” The little cries they heard melted their hearts as the doctor finally placed the little baby girl on her mother’s chest and the couple coed at her.
“She’s got your eyes.” Season denoted.
“And she’s got your hair.” Kaloy seconded as they watched the redhead, blue eyed beauty. Nobody would thought this one is more Asian than American by the way that she looks. Their family and friends suddenly barged in and ooed at the sight of the kid.
Mortal and mythical beings alike celebrated on that same room, on their human forms of course and Season smiled fondly at them, delighted by the fact that they seem comfortable in each other’s presence, despite the differences. She knew though, that the Seasons of the Paranormal are over for her and her lover just as how they wished it to be a long time ago but, it is still going on for anyone else who’s graced with a mythical blood.
“What’s her name? What’s her name?” They asked in unison. And Kaloy answered.
“Fall.” And that’s just another season.