Everything was clear and vivid except your face.
Like pirates, we looted the shore of priceless things – mostly my mom’s jewels, antique statues of saints, and even a piece of toy from my childhood years.
As we strolled along the dark mud-like sands which usually characterize my provincial house’s beachfront, we saw something glittering on the ground. Upon close inspection, and to my own surprise, it was my mom’s necklace!
In an instant, all her other jewels were everywhere. Her earrings, made of ruby stones, were constantly washed, yet unmoved, by the gentle waves. Her gold watch, which she lost when I was still in high school, was lying on the other side of the shore. While some were initially concealed by the mud-like sand, others were overtly glittering as if tempting us to pick them. And so we did with our bare feet jumping from one place to another.
The sands were gradually replaced by pebbles and rocks as we neared the end of the shore. Partially hidden among them, yet fully exposed by the retreating waves, were old statues of saints which used to adorn our old house, mostly my lola's altar. One of them was a wall statue of the Holy Family, a favorite artifact which used to calm me just by looking at it. With all these, our loot bag never seemed to fill up.
Unexpectedly, my strangely familiar companion saw a plastic camera toy and handed it to me. At first, I did not know what to make of it. I tried to operate it, and with each click came 3D pictures of dinosaurs and Star Trek characters - all inside the camera. It was my favorite toy way back in grade school, I suddenly remembered! From the bafflement of the previous finds, I was now thrilled!
With these valuable finds, we sat on the edge of a cliff facing the South China Sea. The smell of the sea breeze brought back indescribable feelings of my childhood when I was still an island boy. You, likewise, did not say a word. You indulged in my ecstasy as I let myself drown in the calmness of the wind.
After what seemed to be an eternity, I told you about my fears, those that were triggered by the extremely crisp details - the mud-like texture of the sand, the dazzling colors of the jewels, the forgiving look of the saints, the scent of the late afternoon sea breeze, and the list went on - and, in contrast, by the faceless stranger sitting beside me that was you, making me fear that everything might just turn out to be a dream.
Finally, you broke your silence. You assured me that it was not a dream, that the scent was real and the colors true. I believed you.
You stood, held my hand and asked me to come with you to the other side of the island. You wanted to show me the most beautiful sunset in the world, you said. I gladly heeded, knowing I would give up everything in the world just to finally see your face in its golden tone, and so we started to run towards that place.
Then I woke up. Alone, in my bed, on the 16th floor of one of the many high-rise residential buildings that continuously alter Manila's skyline.
You lied. It was just a dream.
And reality started to engulf me.
I longed to be with my family, to pass time with them on the beachfront where sands are black and mud-soft and the sea breeze brings ecstasy.
I cried for the memories brought by the gold, the saints and the toy. For they remind me of the uncertainties and opportunities in life. Of eventually growing old.
And in that dream, I despaired of either seeing your face or the sunset on it.
