Thieves Of Olympus

50

CLEA

"Aphrodite?!"

We have to blink more than once para masigurong siya nga ang nakikita namin. She called us to her large dressing room. Nakasuot siya ng silk na robang kulay pink. Her hair still fixed after the fashion show.

Natapatan pa niya ang mga batang modeling kasama niya kanina. Kaya hindi na ako magtataka kung namana ni Erina ang confidence niya.

"I can't believe it," bulalas ni Cole.

Desmond pinched his cheek. He stares at the Goddess in front of him, "Me too."

"Me three..." Gareth is smiling or scowling. He can't paint an emotion of amazement and shock on his face. Nagmukha tuloy siyang nasiraan ng sikmura.

"Hello, Demigods..." she greeted us.

"Shush!" sabay-sabay nilang siya dahil may stylist sa loob.

"Don't worry... She's a nymph. She came with me today as my HMU and stylist," paliwanag niya sa amin.

"Hi! I'm Ashley," she smiles at us.

"Nice meeting you," I nod and produce a small smile. Ngumiti lang ang tatlo sa kanya.

I bite my lower lip when I feel another pain in my chest. I grit my teeth for them not to notice it. Kahit kaninang umaga ay ganoon din. It feels like needles prick my lungs and heart. Thanks to the make-up hindi nakikita ang pamumutla ng labi ko but bullets of cold sweat form on my nape and back.

Baka hindi ako umabot sa hotel room nito!

"You are not well," puna ni Aphrodite habang nakatingin sa akin.

"I-I'm okay," I clear my throat and stare in her eyes.

"Your in—"

Cole cuts her off. Naging seryoso siya sa pagsasalita. Her tone becomes hard, "...trouble if we don't get those shoes and helmet."

Aphrodite gives her a distasteful look. She clicks her tongue on the roof of her mouth and speaks, "Is that what Hades thought you? You sound like your father when your angry."

"No, but thanks for the compliment. Then, should we be happy doing this errands for the Gods and Goddess like you?" she shot back, "How ungodly."

"COLLETE!" tawag ni Desmond sa kanya.

"What? Don't you despise your own father?" she glares at him. "And you!" turo niya kay Gareth, "Do you need your father's validation to be called his son?!" pagalit niyang tanong.

Dumagdag pa sa kirot ang dibdib ko ang sakit ng ulo.

"Ashley get us some water. She needs to calm down... and some ambrosia with nectar for me," Aphrodite glanced at me. Natahimik naman si Gareth at Desmond. Shocked at her words while Aphrodite is unfazed.

"Right away, Mademoiselle." she leaves the room.

Then she turns to Cole. She narrows her eyes and gives her a pitying look, "This is not validation. It is written in your fate even before you were born. Not one accidental existence is allowed by us."

"Then, what do you call this? An adventure?" Cole scoffs. Her sarcasm is evident. Wala siyang paki kung Diyosa pa ang kaharap niya.

"We are tired of being the pawns between the you, God's, and your enemies." she adds.

Aphrodite glares at her pero napako ang tingin niya sa katabi nito. Pilit na umiiwas ng tingin sa kanya at kay Cole.

Gareth, whose eyes were looking at the floor looks at her. Defeated and sadness made him someone strange, "Kung ito lang ang paraan para makita ko si Hermes bakit hindi. Alam kong hindi dapat ako manghingi ng oras sa kanya kaya kahit katiting na atensyon lang tatanggapin ko." His smile did not reach his own eyes.

"How about you Clea... Thanatos... Can't even look you in the eye and you..." she sighs.

"I accepted that a long time ago. I thought of dying just to make him happy," I honestly said.

Aphrodite frowns at me, "What are you saying, child? Dying and happiness is not equal. You'll put remorse and guilt to the people you will leave behind."

"He doesn't care anyway," I shrug.

"He does. A father cannot resist his child. He distanced himself to you because he cannot express his love without feeling sadness and guilt," she continues.

"And about being a pawn... You are not a chess piece. You are allowed to feel and say what you want but we are still your parents. We care and love each of you in our own way. I choose to be a parent for Erina even if I am a Goddess... She gives me the strength to take Zeus' anger. That's why I came here in Paris. Hoping she's with you but she's not." she smiles at us. A mother's smile I haven't have and seen for years.

Natahimik si Cole sa sinabi niya. Hindi alam ang susunod na sasabihin. Kumatok si Ashley sa pinto at pumasok na may dalang apat na bottled water, ambrosia at nectar.

"Here, Mademoiselle." she placed them on a round table.

"Thank you. Drink this to calm down," inabutan niya kami ng mga tubig. Patago naman niyang binigay sa akin ang mga gamot.

I feel light again pagkatapos inumin ang mga ito.

She feels it. Kahit nanlaban ang katawan ko sa kirot ay alam niya. I hear her voice in my head kahit kausap niya sila Cole.

'Tell the words to him. You never know when you will be gone. And your friends... tell them the truth.'

'I can't.'

'They deserve to know your feelings. Pain is one of them.'

I cast my eyes to the vanity mirror, to her scattered make-ups—kahit hindi na niya kailangan iyon. Anywhere to distract myself.

'Do it before it's too late.'

"There's an auction tonight. One of the crowd favourites is Hermes' shoes and helmet. Be ready to clash with your money and influence. Specially you, Colette Blackburn. The two of you are confidants for tonight," she points at Gareth and her.

"Oh, by the way... Don't deny it. I know you want each other that bad," she sits and fixes herself in a snap of fingers.

She wears a halter top styled backless dress embedded with pearls and diamonds on the bodice. Plain naman nag ibabang parte na hanggang ibabaw ng tuhod. She accents it with a faux fur shoal and a silver stilleto. Binago din niya ang buhok niya at ginawang messy bun.

She looks gorgeous. Kahit ako ay nagandahan sa kanya. Her scent is heavenly sweet, too!

"Don't stare too much. I might melt," she winks at us. Pinasunod sa limousine na naghihintay sa labas ng venue.