DEMIGODS: The Rule Breakers

Chapter 29: Live, Lancaster

The cold, midnight wind brushes my wind as I watch the stars splintered in the horizon shone. It’s been days since we’ve retrieved Marina from the Kins as well as Alyssa’s banishment. In my theory, she used most of the magic within her, and her body can’t keep up, and she’s back to her world— to the realm of the mortals.

“Garet…” I heard Freya called.

I leaned my body to the handrail on the balcony and closed my eyes.

“Hindi lamang ako ang nakakapansin na palagi kang umiiwas sa ‘min. At tanging si Apollo lamang ang madalas mong kinakausap—”

“Freya,” seryoso kong sambit. Saglit s’yang tumigil dahilan upang lingunin ko s’ya. “Ayoko na… P’wede ba?”

Marahas n’yang kinagat ang labi n’ya at pinukulan ako nito ng masamang tingin, “Walang may gusto sa nangyari kay Alyssa. Hindi lang ikaw ang kaibigan n’ya. Kami rin, Garet. H’wag kang umakto na tila ba’y hindi rin kami nakararamdam ng lungkot sa paglalaho niya.” At sa pagpatak ng mga luha n’ya ay padabog siyang umalis sa silid ko.

Nang muling hinanap ng mga mata ko ang bituwin ay may isang nakaaasar na nilalang ang humarang dito. Inis kong pinukulan si Apollo ng tingin na pang-asar na tumawa lamang.

“You saw everything, aren’t you?” Apollo asked, making me smiled bitterly. Hindi ako umimik o ano man, nang umalis s’ya sa aking harapan at lumipat sa gilid ay nanatili ang mga mata ko sa mga bituwin, “How does it feels like to be saved by the woman you love?”

I bitterly smirked, “Terrible,”

“If you can change the past, will you change it?” I looked at him and laugh. His idea was awful. What if changing that fucking past could cause more trouble? More pain?

“Who knows.” He suddenly handed me a glass of wine, for who knows where he got. The bitter taste tainted my tongue for a while after I grew accustomed to its taste, “Do you think I still deserve her?”

“Don’t ask what I think, Lockser. Question yourself, don’t pass it to the others.” After imprinting such an awful statement to my mind, he suddenly disappeared in the thin air.

I shook my head and smirked as I place the glass onto the table in my room. Nang tahimik akong lumabas sa ‘king kuwarto ay tahimik lamang ang paligid, tila ba’y walang tao sa palasyo ni Apollo.

Nang binalak ko bumaba sa hagdan ay may narinig akong dalawang boses, mahina at tila nililihim ang kanilang usapan.

“I’m sorry…”

“Everything is fine, Freya.” Glifford? I curiously leaned my back to the wall and closed my eyes. I do not wish to eavesdropped, but that’s just how it is.

“But— We— Ayokong sayangin ang meron tayo… Pero kailangan nating tapusin ‘to. Ayokong may mangyaring masama ulit kay Garet pero ayokong saktan ka at lalong-lalo nang ayokong iwan ka—”

Glifford softly laughed, “I’m okay. Everything is okay. Don’t worry, I will not leave you, I will stay wherever you left me, and even if it takes years— I will wait for you, and until then do your job, save my friend, save this world,”

I smiled and silently walked away.

And for a moment, I wished that I’ve stayed longer where I was eavesdropping to them.

Her pale brown eyes looked at me with surprise as if she couldn’t imagine that I was standing in front of her. Kagat-labi kong iniwasan ang malamlam n’yang mga mata, nais ko man na umalis at humakbang paalis sa kanyang harapan ay hindi ko magawa. Tila ba’y pinako ako ng kung sino man sa kitatayuan ko at nais n’yang harapin ko ang babae na nasa tapat ko.

“Ga—Garet!”

“What do you want, Alexis?” I asked while looking at the painting behind her.

I can still see her eyes in my peripheral view, but I don’t want to die by looking straight to it.

“Have you… Have you eaten already?” She asked.

“Is that all? Can I go now?” Hindi ko rin alam kung saan ko nakuha ang lakas ng loob ko upang makapaglakad at lagpasan s’ya.

Nang magkabunggo ang balikat namin ay nakita ko ang mabilis na pagpatak ng luha n’ya kasabay ang pagpigil n’ya sa aking braso.

“Why… Why…” Garagal ang boses n’ya at sa bawat salitang kumakawala ro’n ay tila sumasaksak iyon sa dibdib ko.

“Why are you suddenly treating me like this way, Garet?” Damn, Alexis… Don’t ask me that question.

“Let go of me.”

“No!” I was flabbergasted by her sudden scream. At nang pwersahan kong tinanggal ang kamay n’ya sa palapulsuhan ko’y lumipat ang hawak n’ya sa laylayan ng aking damit. “L—laro lamang ba ako sa’yo? Isang palaisipan? Kiliti sa utak mo at nang malaman mo ang sikreto ko ay tatratuhin mo ako ng ganito?”

Nanatili lamang akong tahimik kasabay nito ang mabibigat na yabag patungo sa aming direksyon. Ang mga mata n’ya ay nanatiling nasa pukol sa akin at hindi alintana ang pagdating ng tao sa paligid.

“Let go,” I mumbled. She tightened her grip more as if she has no plan on letting me go.

“Look at me… Please, Garet…” I don’t want to at someone like you. She frustratingly bit her lower lip as her eyes reflected the melancholy.

Alexis lightly punched me in the chest while I remained still, letting her to do what she wanted to ease her pain. As her tears stream down, my eyes somehow admired the painting behind her more.

“Why… Why did you chase me if you’ll be treating me like this?” Was I still chasing her?

“Can I go now?” I asked.

Her eyes suddenly looked at me with disbelief. At bago ako makahakbang paalis sa harap n’ya, isang malutong at masakit na sampal ang inabot ko. Nang magtama ang mga mata namin ni Savannah, bakas ang galit at pagkadismaya niya.

“How could you?!” Savannah exclaimed. Her eyes beamed anger, and if it’s not for Alendis’s help. I would most likely receive another one from her.

I sardonically laughed.

As I mockingly walked away, a bunch of screens suddenly stopped me.

“You were my sweetest downfall, yet at the same time, my worst nightmare. You’re the one who pursued me, who chase me, but why are you turning your back against me now?”

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