TheAdventure: Search for Agape

The Adventure: Search for Agape

by: Rocel M. Rosales Illustration by: Abegail Murillo

I always believed that Agape is a good thing to look for. But I never thought it would be this painful knowing that the one you love the most passed away. Mom, I pray that you are happy wherever you are now. "If things are revolving around love, fear has no place within your circle," Mom's voice echoed inside my head and remembered what she has been teaching me ever since. "Evelyn, time to go now!" Adamos called. With Adamos leading our way, it is a good choice dressing up with comfy jeans, shirt and boots. The forest may be the scariest place but it is the only way to The Burg of Pistis. It is an unknown place for mysterious things that even those who resides and what happens in there are unknown. I'm grateful that my Mom never left me ignorant of this place. Adamos, on the other hand, learned about Pistis along the way of his life journey. After crossing paths, we knew that we’ve got the same destination, and decided to do it together. Three days of roaming around the forest, we're now in front of a big golden gate with big PISTIS BURG engraved on it. We're finally here and I can already hear from where I stand the jingles, tingles of tambourines, boom of the bass drums and strumming of strings. The gate opened and left us in great awe. My lips formed an upward curve and stars made its way down to Adamos' eyes. "Come on, Adamos. We're finally here!" I can't help but to shriek with excitement. I saw colorful flaglets along the way as I run towards the center of the town. Music grew louder and tunes became clearer. "Adamos! I know this. It is Chara, the everyday feast in Pistis." I shouted so that he could hear me. "Is that so? Come on, let's turn mourning into dancing!" He laughed so lightly and it surprised me. He never laughed as lightly as today ever since we've met. And I realized, it goes the same with me. "At last, I got a chance of meeting you. I've seen you a lot of times, Adamos..." a lady approached us at the middle of our dancing staring directly to Adamos. "... And Evelyn," and now, she's looking at me.

I stared straight into her eyes and I felt something strange as if something is missing, something has been taken away from me. She stopped staring and looked around. "Welcome to my pasture," she said, smiling widely. My eyes widened when I realized I am in a different place. From a place filled with noise from celebration and festivities to quiet and peaceful but the joy stays. "Eirene is my name, Evelyn. Take a good look around you. Something across the waters is prepared for you as a gift," "Is it something that can lead me to where Agape is or is it already the Agape?" I asked her with so much calmness in my voice as if I forgot the things that once weighed me down. I looked forward trying to see what's beyond the waters. Fearlessly, I made a step towards the water and rowed the boat that is on the shore. As soon as I got farther from the shore, storm started to roar. Strong wind and wild waves misdirected the boat I am in. Fear came all the way to me as doubt becomes an illegal tenant inside my mind. In desperation, I tried to go back to the shore. "Be still, Evelyn. Be still," "Adamos? Adamos?!" I hysterically shouted out his name when I heard a thunder-like voice. "When everything is in chaos, Fileo and even Eros has no power over it," "Be still," the voice repeated. Be still. Be still. Joy is dawning And night fades away with all your weeping.

"Evelyn. Wake up now, " I slowly opened my eyes and rays of the sunlight met my sight. I looked sideway and saw Adamos smiling at me. In confusion, I stood up and looked around. "Where are we, Adamos? A-and... where have you been all this time? I thought I was about to die last night," "Hush... it's alright now. And anyway, Agape..." My eyes immediately widened when I heard it. "Have you found it?" "No... but-" I cut him off with urgency. "Let's go on. The search is not yet over. Come on. Let's keep moving," I started walking even if I do not know which direction to take.

"Wait up! Evelyn! Listen..." he snatched my arms and pulled me back to where he is. "What? This is not the time for anything, Adamos. I tell you," I warned him. "A-agape. We cannot find that thin-" Not letting him complete what he is about to say, I pushed him with all my might. "STOP THE NONSENSE, ADAMOS! We should find it now. Come on, please. Come on," I desperately cried and begged him. "We. Are not. Able. To find that thing. Okay?!" "You're talking nonsense, Adamos. Stop!" Instead of answering back, he opened up the thing he's been keeping which I remembered I saw the day we first met. And a cross-shaped pendant is in there. "Somebody told me upon giving this. I will understand everything once I open this. I don't know why I did hold myself back from opening this. Now, I just realized everything. Agape..." I know what it is. It's that thing. Agape. It was it. All this time, we've been in this search just to know it has been always by our side. "I don't understand. What... how... I mean... oh my!" I trailed off realizing I cannot make any right word to utter. "Now I understand it. Agape is not something we are able to find," Adamos held both of my shoulders and made me stare directly at his glistening eyes.

"Agape..." he put down his arms and made his way behind me. I was surprised that he put the pendant gently around my neck. And with his last words, many words rushed through my mind. I understand it now. Precious. Agape. The greatest love. Now, the search is over. But I might say, there's no such search actually happened. Cause I was the one who was lost that is needed to be found.

The Adventure: Search for Agape, failed. But... The Adventure: Found by Agape, accomplished.