Thieves Of Olympus

57

LIONEL

I smell like grapes, soil and sweat. Kung hindi kami madudumihan ay paniguradong paos kami pagkatapos. I am already parched and tired from running under the blazing sun!

Kanina pa kami pinaglalaruan ng mga nymphs na ito. I run to another direction but when I turn around that's when I'll see them. Nililito din nila kami kung saan dadaan.

"Give us the thyrsus!" sigaw ko sa kanila.

I recieved giggles, misdirection and taunting smiles instead of cooperation.

What part of the vineyard is this? I forgot where I came from! Mukhang malayo na ito sa pinanggalingan ko kanina. Why made us chase them in the first place?! Kung pwede lang sirain ang mga tanim kanina ko pa ginawa!

I sighed and regain my composure. I opened the first two buttons of my shirt and tied my jacket to my waist. Maputik na din ang sapatos kong suot.

If only I can use a weapon! Father better forbid me for ruining this place.

Kung andito lang sana si Soleil para sa compass... Why would I depend on her? I am losing my shit because this endless running. Hindi ko din makita ang thyrsus kung nasaan.

"Ayaw ko na! Balik mo iyan dito parang awa mo na!" umalingawngaw ang boses ni Kaito.

"To the... center... of the field!" dagdag niya. He is running as he speaks.

"Where?!" tanong ko.

"Going west! You'll meet each other at the edge of the vines!" Mason shouts.

"I'm closer... pero malayo... ang distansya niya sa... akin!" he pants.

"Salubungin natin! Corner her and grab the fucking thyrsus!" I said through gritted teeth. I didn't mind the mud flying on my jeans and clothes.

That nymph can't fly either.

I am hearing a group of giggling nymphs in front. Naramdaman kong may kung ano silang nilagay sa dulo ng halamanan.

"Shit!"

Natalisod ako sa bato. A bucket of honey spills on my pants and shoes. The sweet sticky coagulated fluid is flying to my face!

"Put—THIS IS NOT FUNNY ANYMORE!"

I badly want to cut them into ribbons pero huwag na lang... I might be subjected to a crime.

My eyes changed in color. I got to scan my path longer and my radius wider. Nararamdaman ko din ang pagtakbo at paggalaw nila. Kaito runs so does Mason. Palapit na kaming tatlo sa gitna noong nakita ko sa itaas ang isang kahoy na timba. Mason's frustration is evident—baka mas malala itong magalit sa akin sa sobrang tahimik.

Kung tutuusin dapat kanina pa kami makabalik at nakauwi sa Pilipinas! Yet here we are playing tag with the band of nymphs.

Kaunti na lang ay mapipigti na ang pisi ng pasensya ko!

"It stopped!" sigaw ni Mason.

"Humanda kayo sa akin!" Kaito said.

He stands face to face with the nymph. The one that bears the thyrsus. Madumi din siya paglabas ko ng halamanan. Para kaming mga batang naiwanan sa playground.

Pinalibutan namin ang nymph na may hawak nito. Her pale feet and the hem of her dress is dirty with soil. She roams her eyes to see that we surrounded her. She hugs the thyrsus to her chest—scared that we will take it from her.

Kukunin talaga namin iyan. First of all that's not a toy. Second, hindi kanila iyan. Pangatlo, Dionysus needs that.

How did he even get a seat in Olympus if he is negligent as this?!

"Give it back... And no one gets hurt," maamo ng sabi ni Mason.

"Dionysus needs that, please. Find a new one if you like!" pakiusap ni Kaito habang nakangiti.

"Surrender that already. It's not yours," I sternly command.

She looked young, actually. Pati pa mga nymphs may initiation din? While the older nymphs distract us this young one runs around like a lost kid!

"Alright kid, hand it over," lahad ko sa kamay ko.

Umiling ito sa akin. She is close to crying. Umaatras siya papunta sa pwesto ni Kaito. Mason is slowly walking to her. I know the others are waiting for something. Kanina pa nila kami pinipigilan kunin ito. I gave them a slight nod. Alam kong iisa lang kami nang iniisip.

"We get that you want to play but we can't. Wala sa schedule namin iyan," Kaito opens his arms to catch her, "Play with the sheeps like they did to me."

That explains the wool on his head. As well as the mud on his clothes. Para siyang nakipagbuno para makaalis ng doon.

"We simply don't come here to play," seryoso kong dagdag.

Noong palapit na kami sa kanya ay bigla niyang hinagis sa ere ang thyrsus. That's what I thought! Kung hindi siya makakaalis ay sa taas niya padadaanin.

"NOW!"

Kaito tackled the nymph down with him. I jumped to grab it in the air. Mason creates a misdirection for the other nymphs using a twig he found. Siya na ngayon ang kinokorner ng mga ito. Tumayo naman na sila Kaito para pakawalan ang Anthousai.

Damn it. I don't have a change of clothes!

"There!" Mason throws the twig away from him.

Pagbalik namin ay nasa terrace na sila Lilith. The old woman is smiling at her as she tells her story while seating on a rocking chair. Nakatulog naman si Martha sa tabi niya. The dog is also snoring beside her feet.

Saka nila kami napansin pagkababa ng tasa. There were cookies and pastries on the circular log table. Nagulat si Lilith sa itsura namin. Mukha kaming taong putik paglabas ng taniman. I feel sticky because of the honey! Nilalapitan na ako ng bubuyog kanina.

Not one word lady!

"Where did you come from?" naguguluhan niyang tanong.

"Vineyard," sabay sabay naming sagot.

Gusto niyang tumawa sa itsura namin but she bites her cheek. The old lady beside her calls a maid and whispers in italian.

"Go ahead call me a garbage man... I don't care," Kaito gives her an eye roll. I glared at him kaya nanahimik ito.

"You're don't look like one though," she retorts.

"Then what do we look like?" I ask in hoarse monotone.

She scans our clothes and faces, "An amateur farmer."