Flowers, Facemasks, and Everything in Between JOREL GABRIELLE MARI MAGISTRADO
Synopsis: Sol is an ambitious witch, mastering nature-drawn magic under the guidance of her grandmother, Esther. While the pandemic has plunged the world in an uncertain state of isolation, Barangay Ylang-Ylang remains unaffected because of the charms the witches have placed. Sol was content within the safety and familiarity of their town. However, when the cases start rising, she begins to second-guess her devotion to magic. Set in a fictional town in the Philippines, the story follows Sol torn between protecting all she’s ever known and braving the unknown for the greater good.
Normally, they would do this spell in the forest, but it was cloudy that day, so they did it in their house. Watchful eyes would most likely mistake the beam for lightning. It was especially crucial they won’t miss a day, since those charms were the only things deflecting the town of any ailments or plagues. That includes the recent pandemic. The flowers have been simmering for almost an hour now, almost ready. The pot had lavender, sampaguita, and sword lilies, all soaked in river water. The kitchen was filled with sweet fragrance, unrivaled by the scent of grill smoke outside. What Barangay YlangYlang lacked in fast food restaurants – aside from the lone McDonald’s branch near the city hall – they compensated for with roads filled with vendors selling street food. Sol finished the rest of her barbecue just as the timer rang. Wearing her oven mitts, she took off the pot’s
36
|
ALPAS Issue 5
cover. Carefully, she strained the leftover water into another container – “Lola, the flowers are ready.” A stout, old woman emerged from behind the curtains separating the kitchen from the rest of the house. She was wearing a woven scarf clad with a variety of rich, brown tones. Her small glasses were perched atop her plump nose. Behind her, a chubby black cat lazily followed. Bito yawned, pouncing on the counter to peer into the pot. Lola Esther scrutinized the soaked petals. Eventually, she poked them with a mixing spoon, then procured a pouch from her duster. She gently took a crystal orb, no bigger than a pearl, and crushed it alongside the flowers. Sol stood beside her, eyes wide in awe. The petals shone under the light, emitting a bright beam towards the ceiling for a split-second. Lola Esther stepped aside, letting Sol take over once more.
