“Bayle”

He awakens in Brgy. Gamuton, 3 kilometers away from the infirmary where he was admitted, confused and alone in the dark wondering why and how he got there. But even more afraid of the dream that he was having.. afraid of being taken away from his wife, his family and be whisked to the enchanted kingdom of the unknown…

It all started with an acquaintance, a girl, whose beauty is simple but stood out in the crowd of baylerinas waiting patiently for a guy to ask them for a dance. It was May 21 and he attended the bayle (dance party) in Brgy. Gamuton in celebration of its annual fiesta.

He immediately asked the girl for a dance and grabbed her to the dance floor when the first chords of the sweet music echoes around the barangay hall.

And so they dance, their hips both swaying to the music.

That’s all that he could remember about that night.

Then the dreams came.

And then the fever and muscle pain too. He felt weak.

The worst dream came; he is late in his wedding, dashing towards the church, seeing unfamiliar faces, arriving in the altar to his unknown bride and discovering that she is headless.

He went to Mana Unang, a local hilot and healer, afterwards, seeking advice for his dreams and for his illness.

Marriage and a big wedding, he was advised, is the only solution to the alchemy that he is having or else he would definitely be whisked away to their place, up in the big acacia tree with paypay leaves.

Fortunately for him, he had a girlfriend he loves and he was ready for the responsibility thus the big wedding.

It was okay for a while. Blissful life after the marriage.

And then he found himself in Brgy. Gamuton, three kilometers away from where he is, at 1o in the evening without knowing why and how he got there.

How could one explain this phenomenon?

A friend of mine told me this while we are in a meeting.

He is not feeling well that day, he has fever and muscle pain.

He felt weak.

And it was May 21, Brgy. Gamuton’s annual fiesta.

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