28: The Fairy Godmother Boosts the Wisdom Spirit's Confidence

"And the second most important lesson that you shouldn't forget, Olly, is that you must appear weak at all times. And when they prey on you, that's when you're going to prove them wrong."

SURPRISINGLY, I HAD a number of wishers today. However, their wishes were almost impossible to fulfill by a forever human fairy godmother like me. That was why I had to make alternatives, other ways, to give them what they needed. However, not all they needed was always in the form of a granted wish. Sometimes, what they needed was actually a piece of mind and advice.

Pinakinggan ko ang kwento ng werewolf na isang grand marshal ng kanilang hukbo. He shared that he had been in the army for fifty years now. He served their kind and sacrificed himself countless times just to save their kingdom. By the looks of him, one would definitely say that he was brave, strong, and dignified as an officer.

"With my experiences and contributions, don't I deserve to become a general? I want to become a general before retiring." I observed how he clenched his fists as he continued, "Panahon na para mapalitan ang kaibigan ko. Panahon na para ako naman ang maging heneral ng aming hukbo. Lagi na lang siya. Nais kong ako naman sa pagkakataong ito."

He said that the rank of the grand marshal was second only to that of the general, which was the highest. This was the first time that I encountered someone so invested in titles that they craved more.

"Sir, mind me if I ask? Who do you think, between you and your general friend, had the longest length of service?"

Nagtataka man ay sumagot pa rin siya, "I served for fifty years, he did it for a century."

"And with that length of service, who do you think has rendered the most contributions?"

"He—But contributions should be uncountable. You cannot just measure and summarize the amount of sacrifices one had given through years. That won't justify all of them. May mga laban, tagumpay, at sakripisyo kaming nagawa na hihigit pa sa naibigay ng mga nasa mas mataas na katungkulan." Napayuko siya. "Hindi lang talaga sila nakikilala o nagbibigyan ng karampatang pagkilala."

"Exactly, sir. Your contributions and everyone else's who served in the military could not be measured merely by the years of service and, most importantly, by ranks."

Nag-angat siya ng naguguluhang tingin sa akin bago nagtanong, "Anong ibig mong sabihin, fairy godmother?"

"You say you deserve to become the general for all your contributions regardless of your shorter length of service compared to the current general, right? Are your arguments applicable only to yourself? Because if we consider contributions as the only determining factor to one's title, then shouldn't the soldiers who sacrificed their whole lives deserve it better? Shouldn't your comrades who died in battle but worthy of a better fate deserve it more?"

"Yes, but where is this conversation heading?"

Tinuro ko ang sarili ko at siya. "If I strip you of your title, power, and wealth, who are you? What will become of you? And what will remain of you?"

He looked surprised at first but remained silent as he could not find the answer to my question.

I smiled thoughtfully and continued, "I understand that titles are important to the likes of you, but I want you to know that they are not everything that there is to life. If you're not a military officer and just a simple father, your family is your treasure. If you're an artist, your passion is your saving grace. And if you're one of those whom you've saved for the last fifty years, your second chance at life is a blessing you will forever be grateful for."

Napayuko naman siya kaya nagpatuloy ako, "Sir, whether you are a general, a grand marshal, or even just an ordinary soldier, one thing will never change. You are a hero to those whom you saved and served your whole heart with. Known or unknown, recognized or not, you will never be forgotten in their hearts, and I think that's the most important title one could ever have."

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin. Medyo nasorprisa ako nang mapansin kong nangingislap ang mga mata niya na dala ng mga luhang gustong kumawala. His shoulders shook, and it did not take long before he cried in front of me.

My lips slowly curved up into an understanding smile. I did not know that my words could make him this emotional. I did not expect that my advice would tug on his heartstrings. He was a big werewolf and a grand marshal at that, but I can feel that he was also a sentimental being. Maybe he already had it in him; he just could not find the right time and place to let it out. My words just serve as his triggers to express them.

The grand marshal thanked me and promised to remind himself of his real and fixed title — a hero with a purpose. When he left, I squealed in happiness because Cosmo finally served me the sliced pineapple I asked him for.

"You're not granting them their exact wishes, are you?" he asked and crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall behind him.

"I didn't grant their wishes, but I gave them exactly what they needed," proud na sagot ko naman bago sinubo iyong slice ng pinya na nasa tinidor ko. "Talk about my human ways to solve fairy problems."

He clicked his tongue and commented, "Clever."

"H-Hello po..."

Hindi ko na natapos pa ang meryenda ko dahil may isa na namang dumating na wisher. Choosy pa ba ako? Ito naman talaga iyong goal ko noon pa – ang dumugin sa pagsasakatuparan ng mga hiling.

Ibinaba ko ang tinidor at agad na hinarap ang bagong bisita. I smiled at him and gave my usual introduction while slightly bowing my head.

"I am Olympia Sharlene Sagrado, the human fairy godmother of Batibot." I sat up properly and added, "Shall I grant your wish?"

The new wisher was a grey-skinned frog-like spirit with a pair of legs and large green eyes with rectangular pupils. If I calculated rightly, he stood just an inch above my hips. What kind of spirit was he?

With an inquisitive look, I glanced at Cosmo for an answer.

"Wisdom spirit," he murmured.

"Ako po si Groot. Today's my fifth try for the annual Guardianship Exam. I need to pass this time..." medyo nahihiya niyang saad.

"What's the Guardianship Exam?" tanong ko sa kanya.

I could ask Cosmo to answer it for me, but I figured that Groot could give me the best explanation.

"All Wisdom Spirits take this exam to become Guardians of Wisdom for the select few mortals. Our role is to give them special wisdom or pave the way for them to know some things beyond the physical world they are in. If I do not pass this exam, since this will be my final take, I will not be able to become one ever again." Yumuko siya upang magmakaawa sa akin. "Matagal ko na pong pangarap ang maging isang guardian at huling pagkakataon ko na po ito. Sana po ay tulungan niyo akong makapasa."

"Nag-aral ka ba?"

Tumango-tango naman si Groot, parehong sigurado at determinado. "Opo, binuhos ko po lahat ng panahon ko sa pagrerebyu mula sa una hanggang dito sa panghuling subok ko. Magaling naman po ako sa klase. Matataas din naman po ang mga grado ko, pero hindi ko po maintindihan kung bakit hindi ako makapasa rito."

Napabuntong-hininga si Cosmo at huhugot na sana ng piraso ng enchanted scale niya mula sa looban ng sleeves ng kanyang kimono top subalit hinawakan ko ang kamay niya upang pigilan siya. I looked up at him and smiled.

"Let me try."

Binalingan kong muli si Groot at nginitian. "Today's your exam, right? Isama mo kami. Susuportahan ka namin."

I went back to my room to get my black beret and put it on. Sumakay kami sa kalesa ko at hinatid namin siya Exam Hall. Groot belonged to the third batch of exam takers, so we will have to sit on the bench outside the hall while waiting for the second batch to be done. The place and vibe looked similar to ancient China.

Kabadong-kabado si Groot habang naghihintay kami. Panay ang yuko niya at pabulong na rebyu ng mga pinag-aralan niya. I looked around and noticed that some of the takers were accompanied by their parents.

"Where are your parents?" I asked Groot.

"Since my first exam, they didn't come. Hindi rin kasi sila nakapasa ni nanay dito. Ang sabi nila sa akin ay nagsasayang lang daw ako ng panahon sa mga ganito. Hindi ko raw ito kaya gaya nila, na imposible raw na makapasa ako. Lalo lang silang hindi naniwala dahil sa apat na sunod-sunod kong bagsak." He chuckled sadly and added, "Wala na raw akong pag-asa pa."

"Andito ka na naman, Groot?"

Sabay kaming nag-angat ng tingin sa lalaking Wisdom Spirit na tumawag sa kanya at huminto sa tapat niya. He had this disgusted expression written all over his face and an air of arrogance.

"Hindi ka na talaga natuto. Panglimang subok mo na ito, ah. Well, okay lang dahil huli mo na rin naman para mas masakit kasi masasampal ka na talaga sa katotohanang wala ka nang pag-asa pang maging guardian. Bakit hindi ka na lang kasi tumulad sa talunan mong mga magulang?"

Tumayo ako at sumigaw ng, "Guard, may baliw dito!" pagtutukoy ko sa Wisdom Spirit na pasmado ang bibig.

Sinara ni Cosmo ang pamaypay niya at napapikit saka sinapo ang noo niya gamit iyon. He opened his eyes and stood up to bring me back to my seat before he apologized to the arrogant Wisdom Spirit.

"I apologize for my lady's behavior," he told him.

Umismid lang ang arogante kaya napairap na lang din ako. Masama ang tinging ipinukol nito sa akin habang naglalakad na paalis.

"Magtigil ka nga, Olly. Para kang bata."

"Mas bata 'yon kasi immature at nam-bu-bully. Hmph," giit ko pa kay Cosmo.

"Fairy godmother," tawag sa akin ni Groot kaya agad ko siyang binalingan.

"Ano 'yon?"

"Malapit na po ang oras ng pagsusulit ko, may spell po ba kayong alam para mawala iyong kaba ko?"

"Wala, pero may alam akong ritwal," sagot ko naman.

Nagliwanag ang itsura niya sa tuwa. "Talaga po?"

"Oo, tumayo ka r'yan tapos sundan mo ang lahat ng gagawin ko," I instructed him.

I raised my right hand, shoulder level, and moved it to the left in a manner of pushing. Ganoon din ang ginawa ko sa kaliwang kamay ko na patulak sa kanang banda naman. I also parted my legs and moved them like how I would always see Vice Ganda on Showtime when doing something funny.

I kept making the gestures until we started dancing weirdly, and then I began singing, "Dayang dayang. Dayang dayang... Sing with me, Groot!"

Sumunod naman ang batang Wisdom Spirit habang nagsasayaw kami. "Dayang dayang..."

"Louder!"

"Dayang dayang!"

"Faster!"

"Dayang dayang! Dayang dayang!"

Binilisan pa namin ang pagsayaw at nilakasan ang pagkanta hanggang sa natagpuan na lamang namin ang mga sarili naming nagtatawanan na dalawa. Nang sulyapan ko naman si Cosmo ay naabutan ko siyang nakangiti sa amin. Nang mahuli ko siya ay mabilis siyang umiwas sa akin ng tingin at binuksan ang pamaypay niya upang itago ang bibig niya.

—————

LORD INOUE CANNOT stop himself from chuckling while watching the human fairy godmother and her Wisdom Spirit wisher dance weirdly from the inside of his floating palanquin. The beautiful Doktora Inamori was also covering her mouth with her hand to hide her sweet giggles. Both of them and another guest were delighting themselves with a cup of tea inside that palanquin.

"That human fairy godmother is entertaining, Dabria," Lord Inoue said without removing that smile from his lips as he glanced at the former fairy godmother for spirits and souls sitting across him through his peripherals. "Did you choose her for the entertainment?"

Ina Dabria placed her teacup down on its saucer before replying with a smile and in her usual soothing voice, "Olly is right where she is meant to be."

—————

NANG HUMINTO KAMI ni Groot sa pagsasayaw ay tinanong ko siya, "Kinakabahan ka pa ba?"

"Hindi na po. Nahihiya na lang," aniya saka tiningnan ang mga naroroon na nasa amin na ang atensyon. Naweirduhan ata sa performance namin.

"Hayaan mo sila. Today is your last chance to achieve your dreams, Groot. Do not think of them or the others. Just think of yourself, your dreams, and the future you always want," payo ko sa kanya.

Tumunog na ang bell, hudyat na tapos na ang pangalawang batch at simula na ng pagsusulit ng pangatlo. Groot bowed his head at me in gratitude before he sincerely thanked me. Nang tumalikod na siya at aalis na sana ay tinawag ko siyang muli.

"Groot."

Nilingon naman niya ako. "Bakit po, fairy godmother?"

"Naniniwala kami sa 'yo. Kaya mo 'yan," nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya. I raised my fist to further cheer him up. "Fighting!"

His face lit up, and he gave me one of his warmest smiles before he nodded his head and left. Habang tinatanaw ko siyang pumasok sa loob ng hall ay tumabi sa akin si Cosmo.

"You didn't let me use a spell. How sure are you that he will make it this time?"

I smiled and said, "Kasi naniniwala ako sa kanya."

He scoffed. "Really, Olly?"

"He studied well and even reviewed in the last few minutes. He also had good grades in school. He also accumulated enough experience in taking exams one after another. What could possibly go wrong?" I asked.

"You tell me. You seem so sure about your course of action."

"Words are one of human's mightiest weapons. They can either make or break one's confidence, reputation, or even life. Groot worked hard for his dreams, and what he needed were just some words of encouragement and support. From his parents down to his fellows, nobody had given him that and that affected him this much."

"I see. That's why you're using words to your advantage in granting wishes recently."

I looked at Cosmo smilingly before I continued, "I also said those words because I truly believe in Groot and his potential. It's also nice to help someone achieve their dreams."

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa hanggang sa unti-unting umangat ang gilid ng mga labi niya para sa isang hindi makapaniwalang ngisi. "You and your human ways of solving fairy problems."

•|• Illinoisdewriter •|•

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Olly's OOTD: (whole chapter but the beret was only worn during their exam hall scene)