Thieves Of Olympus

33

FAITH

My body aches when I open my eyes. Kumikirot at pumipintig ang mga kalamnan ko. Unti-unti kong dinilat ang mga mata ko hanggang sa mapansing nasa ibang kwarto ako. I automatically checked my clothes. I am wearing my own casual clothes at may mainit na gatas din sa bedside table. Katabi ng dalawang kakaibang gamot. One is solid the other is liquid. Umupo ako para tignan ito ng maiigi.

"That's ambrosia and nectar."

Nagulat ako sa lalaking pumasok sa kwarto ko. He is wearing a white shirt and faded pants. His eyes were light grey and he has an undercut hair. I bet he is just around my age pero my muscles siya.

"You stare too much. Thalia will be back to bring your things."

Wait lang! Dumudugo ang ilong ko sa mga sinasabi niya. Ambrosia? Nectar? What are those? Saka ingles siya ng ingles ha. Nasa Pilipinas kami wala sa abroad!

"Wala namang ganoong gamot. Baka pinasosyal na painkillers lang ito." umirap ako saka ito ininom kasunod ang gatas.

It tastes sweet! Saan nakakabili ng ganito?

"Paano mo nakilala si Tita?! Paano ako napunta dito?! Sino ang nagdala sa akin dito? Ikaw lang ba ang kasama ko? Anong ginawa mo sa akin?!" sunod-sunod kong tanong. I glared at him while he is covering his ears.

Lumapit ito sa akin. Hindi mo ako maiintimidate. I am done with this things. Muntik pa akong mamatay kagabi. Tapos ito ang bubungad sa akin? Good joke! Very funny.

"First of all I did not do anything to you. Second, you don't turn me on. And third..." he stares at me. Nakakrus ang mga braso niya sa kanyang dibdib, "You don't know me."

"Magtagalog ka nga! Saka bakit wala kang galang sa Tita ko? Thalia? Do you even know her?" asik ko.

"Do you?" hamon nito.

Tinapatan ko ang tingin niya, "Of course! Siya ang nagpalaki sa akin."

Bakit hindi siya naapektuhan katulad ng ibang tao. I should be intimidating him. Not the other way around.

"Tyrone! She's back—" nanlaki ang mata ng isang babae sa amin. Her short hair is clipped pero may maiiksi pa buhok na nakakatakas. Some of her features are foreign. She smiles at me, "Goodness. Gising ka na! I'm Summer, descendant of Rhadamanthus or Rhadamanthys. Whichever you prefer."

Binalik ko ang ngiti niya, "I'm Faith. Tita Thalia's niece."

They both look at each other. Summer amusingly chuckles while her companion—Tyrone—raises a brow at me. Aga-aga attitude siya ha!

May sinabi na akong mali?

Buti na lang nakita ko agad si Tita. I tried to run to her but my hips still ache a bit kaya hindi ko na pinilit. Umalis na sila Summer at Tyrone para mag-almusal.

"Tita! I'm sorry. Dapat hindi na ako lumabas," hingi ko ng pasensya.

She hugs me, "Dapat sinabihan kita agad. Hindi ko dapat tinago ang totoo. Muntik ka pang mapahamak." Kumalas lang ito nang yakap para tignan ako.

"Thalia, is she ready?" May nakasalaming babae ang tumawag sa kanya.

Umiling ito sa kanya, "I'll tell her,"

"Thanks," she smiles and bows before leaving.

"Ano iyon? Anong totoo? Wait lang 'Ta paano ako napunta dito?" kinakabahan kong tanong. I don't want to doubt her pero may mali sa kanya. Sa nangyayari.

Hinawakan niya mga kamay ko at naluluhang tumingin sa akin. "Alam mo naman na napamahal ka na sa akin 'di ba? I guided you not because I was told to but because I want to. I am not like this and so are you," she explains, "Last night niligtas ka nila sa isang Phasma at Leucrocotae."

"I don't get it. Walang akong maintindihan."

What is she saying? Hindi ko maproseso ng buo ang mga ito. It is out of this world.

"Monsters that eats your kind. I know this day would come pero hindi ko alam na mabilis itong dadating. I love you Faith but I have to let you go. Let you see your world and live in it," her tears flow down her cheeks. It stings my eyes too.

I hate to see her cry. Siya na ang tumayong ina ko sa buong buhay ko. She took care of me. Dressed me. Taught me things. Fed me and raised me as her own. I don't want to let her go. I don't want her to give me up.

"My world? But this is my world." inikot ko ang mga kamay ko sa paligid, "You, Mitzy, and my other friends are my world."

"I don't belong here," pinunasan niya ang luhang tumulo at tumayo sa harap ko. I tried to catch her hand but she is far from me already. She smiles at me first bago lumiwanag ang paligid niya.

I closed my eyes kahit nakatakip na ang palad ko dito. Nakakabulag ang liwanag na nakikita ko. I don't dare open my eyes kaya hindi ko nakita ang nangyari.

Standing in front of me is a stranger. Her brown hair is braided and forms a low bun above her nape. Her cloth is made of cream and gold she even looks younger and taller. Her eyes were beautiful and expresses gratitude. She looks like a goddess!

"Faith," halos umecho ang boses niya sa loob ng kwarto. "My duty is done so you must go. Find your place not in this world but in between."

"Tita Thalia?!" I am flustered by this sight!

"I am Thalia. Your guardian, one of the Graces." she bows at me.

"No. You are my Auntie. Not my guardian but my relative," I argued.

"Silly child. You really are your parent's daughter," she chuckles at me.

"Hindi! Anak ang tawag mo sa akin," pagpilit ko. "I am not a silly child. This  is all a dream! Tama panaginip lang ito." I pinched my arm but it hurts."Hindi mo ako iiwan 'di ba?" desperada kong hawak sa kanya. I am almost kneeling because I hang onto her pulse. Not letting go.

She pats my head, "I won't but you can't see me as often as you like."

"Hindi pwede! Ayaw ko!" malungkot kong yakap sa kanya, "Take me with you. Please. Susundin na ulit kita. Pangako!"

Kahit ba pagsusumamo ko wala ng epekto? Dapat hindi na lang ako naging pasaway! Dapat sinamahan ko na lang si Tita sa bahay ng madalas! I should've... done all things I can do for her.

"See the world I want you to see child. I'll remember you always," she plants a kiss on my head before disappearing.

"Tita!" hagulgol ko. Pinunasan ko ang luha ko noong may mga paakyat sa kwarto. Three people look angry and started blaming each other. Summer, Tyrone and the girl who followed Tita wanted to hurt each other.

What is happening?

Ramdam ko ang galit nila sa isa't-isa they were okay earlier. Magbati-bati na kayo please! I close my eyes to not see blood.

"Papatayin mo ba ako?"

"I don't mean to."

"Bakit may hawak akong dagger?"

Nalilito pa sila sa nangyari bago ako tignan. They were narrowing their eyes and looking at each other then back to me. That went on for full three minutes before one of them gives up and sighs. They silently talk and nods at each other.

"We're taking you home."