SAL gripped the veil tight onto her head as she secured her seat on the corner of the wall. The Signor could knock at any minute. Keep the veil on. Do not let anyone else see.

The visitors were not leaving yet. A pit in Sal’s stomach formed as their conversations trickled in. An hour of silence came afterwards signaling to her that they have already come inside. Even more so than that, the Signor could check on her soon. She knew the routine. It will only usually be an hour, or three at most of silence when the talk would be done inside the Casa. Three hours at most that she would be uneasy.

“ How do you do? I greet

The little bird as she flits”

A vague, faraway melody floated in the air, singing. The words melted into La’s and Sal can’t help but laugh to herself. Then, the melody turned into whistling. She straightened herself as she laid her body straight on the floor, staring at the ceiling, imagining the feeling of floating as the melody seemed to rock her to sleep.

She stood up to lock the doors and bar any possible entry with her bookshelf, not minding the books that have fallen to the floor. She opened the window with one long, heavy push. Wind brushed past her causing her tresses to brush past her face and the veil precariously teeter to slip from her head.

A tall, lanky man missing his overcoat stood on the roof tiles.Sunlight gleamed on his face, making him shine. How smoothly he glid across the roof and slip in the railings surrounding the window. The man’s face has the authority of a father and the gentleness of a mother.

Her Ren. Hers alone.

When he was at arm’s reach from the window, Sal took his hands, goading them to take off her veil.

And take it off he did. The veil flew off Sal’s head and landed limply on the floor. Everytime he stares at her it was like she was the most beautiful woman she has ever seen. That feeling is almost indescribable.

Sal sat on the table, waiting for Ren to make his way inside like he always did. But the man only smiled. This young man, really. Sal leaned in close, letting him whisper what he has to say.

“I just thought of something wild,” The man had the most discreet grin. How could he say those words with such delicateness like he’s lulling a baby to sleep?

“What is it?”

The man only took her by the hand as they approached the windowsill. He went out with his hand holding hers. Sal looked at the long wooden line separating them from each other. Her hands trembled. She has never tried walking on the roof nor even go out of her room unassisted.

“If you close your eyes, you will see everything.” Ren said.

So Sal closed her eyes shut as Ren kept her hand held and guided her through her movements. At first, a certain loss of senses grabbed her, but hearing the young man’s voice kept her grounded as he kept her through.

“You can open your eyes now.”

And so Sal did. A warm breeze flushed across her face as warm orange light of near sunset washed over the surroundings, rendering everything a soft orange. She reached a hand towards the clouds, how they seem to be in reach. The gardens and the gates Casa stretched across her sight and beyond the forests with a small hint of a village with nipa huts peeking on one side. On her far left was the roofs of all the other houses. There were people, but it was strange watching them from above. Sal was up high, like a bird watching the ground.

“I feel like a bird.” Sal said as she tried to balance her feet on the roof.

“I see a magnificent swan.” Ren remarked.

Sal held his hand tight, remembering the story of the ugly fowl and how he liked telling that story to her. The butterflies in her stomach morphed into that from excitement.

“Have you coursed through the whole roof of this Casa?” Sal asked.

“Yes.”

“How does it feel?”

“You have to see it for yourself.” Ren said.

The two of them, walked around the roofs. Sal felt it silly. They were like cats making trouble around the place. But she was too happy to care. For all she knows, the maids would think it was a cat wreaking havoc above. The two of them could run, jump, and dance as they explored the parts Sal could.

Half an hour passed with the two of them sitting precariously on the roof like madmen, but it felt too short for her. Too short even as the days before their wedding drew near. They sat near the edge of the roof, watching the skies turn pink and purple. She stared at the man as she edged a finger across his cheek and onto his mane of dark hair colored by white streaks.

“You have not shown me your escape route before, am I right?” Sal asked.

Ren shook his head.

“Can you at least tell me where?”

“Would you follow me down there?” he laughed.

Sal paused. Ren was a fairy, so of course he can run through and climb walls and appear on the roof like an otherworldly creature, like a creature of dreams. But she was not. She was a puny little girl. She stretched her feet, watching the sun seem to settle in between them. It was like being pulled in.

“I will.”

Ren breathed in as he stretched his arms in front of him, “It will be a bit tasking physically. You’d need your legs strong.”

Sal ran a hand across her weak, little legs.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be there. But first,” he stood up. ”We’d need to cross the place, and then turn right.”

Sal let Ren lead the way. Their steps quieter and calmer than before. The wind turned silent as the cool breeze of the night slowly settled in with the crawling absence of sunlight. It felt more serene contrasting with how they looked like lovers escaping some evil stepmother. Sal laughed to herself at the thought.

“We look like eloping lovers,” Sal teased.

Ren turned to her. “Well, we could right now.”

Sal glanced down at the gardens below the roofs. The sight seemed like gravity pulling her down. Eloping sounded so exciting and so wild and ---

“I don’t know.” the words escaped from Sal’s mouth. She clamped a hand over it. Those were not the words she would’ve wanted to say, but her hands trembled at the thought of reaching the stairs to get down. “I’m sorry.”

Ren cupped both of her cheeks, “It’s ok. You did fine. You did great today.” He patted her on the shoulder. “Do you want to get back now?”

Sal nodded. The man then assisted her in getting back to her room. His quick visits always ended like this. It must be disappointing to always cut off that small sliver of joy whenever they meet with her doubts.

As he bade her goodbye by the windowsill, Sal clutched onto his sleeve. “I’ll wait for you on the wedding. I’ll do better then.”

As he bade goodbye, Sal clung to the remnant of the warmth of Ren’s touch on her hand. It was all she could afford right now. Sal removed the bookshelf blocking the door, lest the maid get suspicious and eventually tell on her to the Signor. For what she knows, this marriage is a privilege, a mercy from the Signor.