Thieves Of Olympus

32

3RD PERSON

As the consequence for the losing groups...They trail their way out of the forest. Iniwan na sa labas ng gubat ang sasakyang gagamitin nila kung saan naghihintay si Odigo sa kanila. Siya ang maghahatid sa kanila sa Airport. He has been doing business for thr Gods and Goddesses kaya wala sa camp nitong mga nakaraang linggo.

Nauna nang umalis ang grupo nila Rosaleen papuntang Nueva Ecija. Sila naman ay nasa kalagitnaan na ng daan palabas ng gubat. Para silang mga backpackers na kabisado ang daang tinatahak.

All is well for everyone except for Brianna and Mason who stood awkwardly side by side, and Clea who smiles after the pain she felt before they left. Ang ibang lalaki ay dala ang gamit ng mga babae bukod kay Colette, Brianna, at Clea.

Napatid bigla sa nakatagong ugat si Brianna. Her reflex is not fast enough that's why she panics for a bit. Natakot siya dahil baka matusok ng sanga ang mata o masugatan siya. "Whoa!" lands on something or... someone.

"Okay lang ba ka...yo?" tanong ni Erina. Tumikhim siya sa nakita, "Keep going guys. Walk. Bilis!"

Nasa ibabaw siya ni Mason. Habang hawak nito ang bewang niya. Mabilis silang tumayo dahil may mga palihim na nanonood sa kanila. He offers her a hand at tinayo siya nito. She utters her thanks at pareho silang nagpagpag ng damit saka mabilis siyang naglakad para makahabol sa mga kasama. She stopped when she hears him say her name.

"Anna," he said, "Let's talk."

She sighs, "We can do that while walking."

"No, we can't. This is too personal kaya sa'yo ko lang sasabihin."

She looks at their walking figures. Medyo malayo na ang mga ito sa kanila. She knows the way out kaya tinimbang niya ang gagawin.

"Well... not now," dapat noong una pa lang sinabi mo na. "You know how dangerous the forest is lalo na ngayon," paliwanag niya.

"I know," he searches her eyes but she looks at their companions again, "But our time is... It is not enough."

She weakly smiles at him, "You had all the time but you don't know how to manage it."

Mabilis na humabol si Brianna sa mga kasama. Tulala naman at mabagal na naglakad si Mason palapit sa kanila. He looks defeated with her words.

Accidentally, a beehive falls down near them. The angry bees fly to their group.

"AHHHH!"

"TAKBO!"

"PUTANGINA!"

"Ayaw kong mamaga ang mukha ko."

"Baka hindi tayo makilala ng stewardess!"

"Shut up and just run!"

"MOMMY!"

Kanya-kanya sila ng reaction at sigaw. Pagdating sa sasakyan ay para silang nagmarathon sa tagaktak ng pawis nila. Odigo looks at their bewildered and tired expressions. Nagmukha silang mga halaman dahil sa mga sanga at dahon na kumapit sa sa kanila.

"Wow, may natutunan kayong survival skills sa camp. Atheo thought you guys camouflage well." Odigo proudly comments.

"It... is...—" maubo-ubo si Lionel sa pagsasalita.

"B-be—" hinihingal na dugtong ni Milo.

"Beasts? Wala niyan dito," pagiling ni Odigo, "Monsters meron."

Desmond flaps his arms and points inside the forest. He uses his fingers to draw antennas on his forehead.

"Oh... butterfly!" hula ni Odigo. "Why are you afraid of butterflies?"

Para silang naglalaro ng charades sa gilid ng daan. They can't explain well dahil sa hingal at pagod. May nakaupo na sa gilid, nakasandal sa sasakyan but all of them were panting.

Thanks to the bees napabilis ang paglabas nila ng gubat.

"Baka malate kayo sa flight niyo. Let's go! We don't have time for guessing games," he ushered them to the van.

Nakatulog ang mga ito tatlumpong minuto pagkaandar ng sasakyan. Kahit ang nasa passenger seat na si Desmond ay tulog din. They were leaning on each others' shoulders. May nakasuot ng neck pillow, may nakayakap sa bag. Mayroon ding patago at hindi sinsadyang magholding hands. They look like ordinary kids that will go on a fieldtrip.

The road to the airport is a bit congested with traffic. Kung tutuusin ay pwede naman magbukas ng portal si Colette but she chose to travel with them. To stay with them through out the whole process... and create memorable memories.

Nagiinat pang bumaba sa sasakyan ang grupo nila sa airport. The boys were stretching and helping them carry the ladies' bags.

"Take care. We'll be waiting for your return," Odigo waves them goodbye.

Cyrus and Mason's Mom waits for them in the lobby. Nakahanda na din ang private plane sa runway at helicopter sa helipad. Colette's mom sends her regards through Hades.

"Anak!"

"Mason, my son."

Lumapit si Cyrus at Mason sa kanila. Surprisingly, lumabas si Apollo sa lobby ng airport. Nagulat silang lahat sa nakita.

"What is he doing here?" Kaito seriously asks.

Clea observes the god in clean suit and tie, "Maybe a business."

"Flirting business?" Lilith asks.

"Look at Cyrus's Mom!" sabi ni Gareth.

"It is a flirting business!" Soleil confirms. Her eyes double their sizes and mouth agape.

Nag-uusap sila ng parang wala ang diyos sa harapan nila. They recieved a glare from him kaya umiwas ng tingin ang iba while Lilith and Clea shrugs at him.

Cyrus mom is glowing because she is actually pregnant with Apollo's second child. She is almost four months pregnant kaya nahahalata na ang baby bump nito.

"Surprise son!" bati ni Apollo. Hinimas niya ang tiyan ng asawa, "I have feeling that this is a girl."

"I'm excited kumare!" Rica giggles, "Sayang at mayroon lang akong unico hijo."

"Mom, we have a flight." paalala ni Cyrus. Kahit gulat ay nagawa niya itong itago.

What do I expect from him? He thought and internally celebrates.

"Your Dad adjusted it for you dahil nakita niyang pagod kayong dadating," she winks at him. "Where's Rosaleen?" she asks.

"Nauna na po sila. Hinatid kami ni Odigo dito," Cyrus explains.

"Ikaw anak? Nasaan si Brianna?" Rica scans their group.

"Sana all hinahanap!" hirit ni Erina. She learned that phrase from the mortal realms.

"She's..." he looks at her, "with us. Magkahiwalay kami ng pupuntahan."

Brianna smiles at Rica as a greeting. Hindi ito lumapit sa magina. It is their moment. Not hers.

An hour later their flights are called one by one. Hindi ito sabay-sabay. Mas delikado kung sabay-sabay silang aalis. Papuntang Mongolia ang grupo nila Cyrus who will use the private plane. The same flight but different planes ang grupo nila Colette at Erina. Their destination: US and Paris. While   Lionel's group goes to Italy. The home of wine makers.

Different destinations. One home to return to.