Thieves Of Olympus

67

COLETTE

"Welcome to the outside world!"

Rosaleen greets the parolees. Pagkatapos kasi ng limang araw ay pinalabas din sila. Well, Faith—the girl who screamed and caused all the troubles—is under Sir. Atheo's observation. She is found in one of the rooms. Though, not claimed by that God.

Iyon kasi ang sinabi niya. Her deity did not claim her yet. Mukhang wala ding alam ang ibang scholar kung sino ang Godly parent niya.

"Para kaming evicted," Soleil chuckles.

Gumatong pa si Gareth, "Bagong laya lang."

"I miss you guys!" Kaito says.

"Walang nakamiss sa'yo," bulalas ko.

"Ikaw, Erina?" pagpapaawa niya.

"Araw-araw kitang binibisita. Mas mabuti pa nga siguro ng nakakulong ka. Para kang bumait," she stares at him. Nag-isip kung may bago ba talaga sa boyfriend niya. Napanguso naman ito sa sinabi niya.

We had our breakfast and lunch together again. Hindi kasi kami kumpleto nitong mga nakaraang araw. Hinahatidan lang sila ng pagkain sa ilalim ng villa. Down the cold prison cells that nullified their abilities.

Nagtraining din kami noong hapon. We fight gaining bruises and wounds. Kasabay namin ang ibang demigods. Some took the flying lessons, some were wielding weapons but most of them are at the basic drills. Isama na ang pag control sa ability.

Faith is nowhere near us. Delikado ang ability niya dahil minamanipula niya ang emosyon namin. Even the bond we have was affected by her emotion.

"Kayo po ba si Soleil?" tanong ng isang camper. He must be new based on his tone and action. He cannot look me straight in the eyes. Halatang takot siya. He must've seen what happened few days ago.

I gently look at him. Ayaw kong bigla siyang tumakbo palayo ng biglaan.
"No. But I know her," ani ko.

"May pinapasabi po si Sir. Atheo... Ano nga iyon?" napakamot siya sa ulo niya. Nahihiya siyang tumingin sa akin.

"Go on. 'Wag ka ng mahiya. I don't bite," I chuckle.

"Wag kang maniwala sa kanya adfshshs-" singit ni Gareth. Hinila siya ni Desmond paalis sa pwesto habang takip-takip ang bibig nito.

Wala ng ang epal na papansin.

"May... May meeting daw po kayo," nahihiya siyang tumungo at umiwas ng tingin.

I pat his head and gave a small smile, "Thanks. I'll tell her that."

Tumalikod na ako para hanapin si Soleil. There still campers sparring noong umalis kami. As usual tinitignan nila kami. Specifically, the seven of us whom they have seen use an ability. Their necks craned to our direction but their eyes avert when we meet them.

Mabilis lang ang naging meeting namin. Wala naman na kaming inaasahan iba. We have yet to find the real culprits. But we already have a clue.

Faceless shadows. Black smoky figures that has no body, and probably, no soul.

The meeting was quick. He just handed us a folder and let's us read it. It contains our next mission. Thanks to Iris and Apollo we now know the location of the stolen items.

Erina's group will be separated from us. What we are looking for is in Versailles while they will go to Pessinus, Turkey.

Kanya-kanya kami ng akyat at ayos ng gamit. Bukas na kasi agad ang alis namin. I pack a bag for five days. The clothes I'm choosing are comfortable. It feels tiring because of the round trip to Paris. May mga panlamig din akong binaon.

Is this what my mom feels when she was still a model? She takes flight after flight so often when I was a kid. She will stay for a week and leaves again. Minsan naman sinasama niya ako pero hindi niya din nabibigyan ng oras. Kaya si Hades na ang simulang nag-alaga sa akin noon.

I heard a knock on my door. Malapit na akong matapos dahil nag-do-double check na lang ako ng mga gamit.

"Pasok!" I shouted. Naglilinis ako ng espada pagkatapos ilagay ang passport sa bag.

"Are you done?"

Napatayo ako sa tinig na narinig. Akala ko ay sila Erina o mga babae but it is Gareth I see. Shadow clatters on the floor. Hinila ko pabalik ang kamay ko nang mahawakan ang talim nito. I press my fingers on my palm.

"Ayos ka lang ba?" nag-aalalang niyang tanong.

"Yeah," the bleeding stopped. I feel the wound closed and raise my fingers. "It healed already," pinakita ko ang daliri ko sa kanya.

"Mag-ingat ka next time," he takes my hand and checks for small cut. He scans some of my fading scars on my palm. "You should take care of your hands. Alam kong hindi ka sinanay na magkilos babae but still... You're a girl."

"And what if I'm a girl? I'm no normal girl, Gareth. You already know that," seryoso kong tugon sa kanya. Tumalikod ako at pinulot si Shadow sa sahig.

I want to test something. I know this will be worth the try.

I pointed the sword at his neck. My cold orbs shine evilly. I tilt my head and a playful smile appeared on my lips... At lumapit sa kanya. The sword did not shake in my hands but keep a paper thin distance between his neck and my sword.

"Bakit ka nga pala nandito?" usal ko sa kanya.

He freeze on the spot. He wears an unfazed look on his face. His eyes look directly at me. Umiiling ito sa akin, "I came to check on you. Naninigurong hindi ibang tao ang nakita ko kanina sa grounds."

The sincerity is pure. Walang halong biro.

Nasugatan ng talim ang leeg niya. Kusa siyang lumapit sa akin. Does he feel the sting of the wound? Parang wala lang sa kanya.

He saw it! Nakakangiti ako sa ibang tao pero sa kanya... Kahit minsan hindi.

"I am that person. Ginawa ko lang iyon para hindi siya matakot."

"Nakita ko nga..."

Our eyes locked together. Nahuhuli ko ang tingin niya sa labi ko. He licks his lips and swallows hard before returning his eyes to mine.

"And?"

"I wish I am that child you've smile at. Hindi yung parang tanga akong naghahabol sa'yo," he said as a painful smile etched on his face.

Something pinched my heart. Binaba ko ang espada dahil nanlambot ang kamay ko sa narinig. Nanginig ang kamay ko. Umiwas ako ng tingin at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi.

"I'm sorry," nakayuko kong sinabi. "I not used to... Anyone worried about me. Sanay na akong mag-isa. Kahit si Dad hindi ko hinayaang itrato akong parang bata," paliwanag ko.

He raised my head using his hand. Hinahanap niya ang mga mata kong pilit kong iniiwas. He sighs, "Look at me... Please." Hindi niya tinanggal ang kamay sa baba ko, "Alam na alam ko. Kaya hayaan mo ako. I want to do that... For you."

"You don't know how dangerous it is to stick with me. Kaya nga kinuha ni Dad si Desmond bilang keeper ko."

"I don't care. Ano pang silbi ng ''til death do us part' kung hindi kita kayang protektahan?"

"Very funny," I gave him an eye roll.

Iniiwas ko nga siya sa kamatayan siya naman itong gustong magpakabayani!

Tinawanan niya lang ako. May halo iyong pait at pagseselos. Hindi makapaniwalang nasali si Desmond sa usapan namin.

"Do whatever you want. But there's one rule..."

Lumiwanag ang mukha niya. His goofy smile returns. Napalitan ang pagiging seryoso niya ng pagiging masaya. He became excited and holds my shoulders, "Ano iyon?"

"Don't die on me."

Ayaw kong maulit ang nangyari noon.