Thieves Of Olympus

69

BRIANNA

Versailles, Paris

"Ano nga ulit yung nanakawin natin?"

I glared at Cyrus. Nasa penthouse suite kami habang nagpaplano. It's a bit of thievery and retrieval kaya hindi ako kokontra dahil lalabas pa din na magnanakaw nga kami.

We will just take it back and give it to the rightful owners.

Nakaupo kami ng paikot sa coffee table. A map of the city is laid on it. The pictures from the Versailles Palace as scattered above it. Mga historical artifacts like armors, paintings, and vases are displayed inside. They retained the classic structure of it with the murals in the ceiling. Cherubims and other images you can imagine.

We went into a deep thinking kung maghihiwalay kaming mga babae at lalaki. Or should we do it a mix of boys and girls.

"Where's the tea?" tanong niya noong walang pumansin sa kanya.

"This is not a tea party!" sita sa kanya ni Lionel.

"Akala ko magiinuman pa kayo ng tsaa habang nagpaplano eh," he shrugs.

"Gusto mo ba?" tanong sa kanya ni Rosaleen.

"Oo. Medyo malamig sa labas, eh." he notices the crisp, cold winds blowing outside. Baka mamaya ay umulan na ng snow sa sobrang lamig.

Bumaling siya dito. Nakasuot ng seryosong ekspresiyon mukha niya, "Gawa ka. Ikaw nakaisip, eh."

"No, thanks! Dito na lang ako," he scooted near her and stare at the map.

Originally we want to go as pairs to stroll around the Palace. Kaso nagkagulo dahil tumutol kami. We don't want Cyrus and Rosaleen wandering about the halls with nothing to find. Kaya nagbago-bato piks kung anong mangyayari.

I go for girls and boys. Lionel goes for a mix of both. Since kami naman daw anf naghahanap ay kami na ang maglaro. First five lang ang kailangan. We chase each other's score hanggang umabot sa four each. Neither of us wants to give up. We were born competitive kaya umabot sa ganito,. Nagaabang naman sila ng resulta... Their eyes are focused on our fingers.

We both grunt and groan noong umabot pa sa pang-anim.

I mentally read his reaction. His focused eyes shake and grew a fraction, "Last na talaga!"

"Fine!" he said. Reading mine, too.

"Bato-bato piks!"

Sabay namin binaba ang mga kamay namin. We never leave each other's eyes. Not even a blink after we made the last gestures with our hands. I can feel mine dahil papel ang gamit ko. But I don't know what he has.

Napangiti ako sa nakita.

My paper against... his rock.

"This is easier. We can escape and mix with others easier if we're in groups like that," Soleil said.

"Dalawa kayong nagamit ng mist. Lugi yata kami," reklamo ni Desmond.

Cole rolls her eyes, "You have Mason and Lionel."

"Are we the sacrificial lambs again?" Lionel sarcastically asks.

"I pass. I don't like running," taas kamay na sabi ni Mason.

"You have one," I snort at him.

Cyrus points at himself, "Anak ng tupa! Ako na naman? Pagkatapos niyo akong ipakuyog sa Quezon... Aba level up naman kayo, uy!"

"Ayaw mo sosyal ang hahabol sa'yo ngayon?" Rosaleen chuckles, "At least they were legit guards not bandit looking people."

"Very funny, By." seryoso niyang tugon. Natawa naman kami sa reaction niya. He looks like he needs help from her but recieves none. Umiiling ito sa amin at tumayo para palakasin ang apoy sa apuyan. Lumapit naman si Rosaleen sa kanya para aluin ito.

"I already have a plan," I said. Kinapa ko sa bulsa ang barya.

"So am I," segunda ni Lionel.

Kinabukasan ay nag-ayos na kami pagkatapos ng almusal. We wear our comfortable tourist fitting winter clothes. I have my scarf and jacket on. Naka knitted sweater naman si Rosaleen. Cole and Soleil on their turtleneck but one differs from one another. The former has a leather jacket, the latter a Trench coat. We wear winter boots with thick soles to prevent cold toes and sore soles.

Paglabas namin ay handa na din ang mga lalaki. They were looking good in their clothes. Lionel and Cyrus has scarfs but the latter wears a trench coat. Desmond has a crew neck knitted sweater over a collared shirt and Mason wears a beanie and a leather jacket. They have different styles of pants but it made them look nicer. Never mind their perfumes that made them more manlier and handsome.

"Looking good," bati ni Mason sa akin.

Naglakad ako kasabay siya, "Same goes for you."

We rented two cars for us. Sa una ay magkakasama kami nila Cyrus, Rosaleen at Mason sa sasakyan. Sa kabila naman ay sina Cole, Desmond, Soleil at Lionel. Nasa passenger seat ako habang tinitignan ang labas ng bintana.

Noong malapit na kami sa Versailles Palace ay biglang umuulan ng snow. I let my hand catch some snowflakes. Namilog ang mga mata ko sa mga puting niyebe na bumabagsak sa labas.

"Do you know that the person you are with on the first snow is your soulmate?"

Napalingon ako kay Mason. He eyes were on the road but his words are for me. I don't know if it was real dahil sa K-drama ko lang napapanood ang ganitong eksena.

"You watch too much TV. That's all," I chuckle.

"No. I don't watch a single TV show, " he glances at me. Amused at my reaction.

"Then how'd you know that?" I ask. Shifting my attention from the falling snow to him.

"Mom told me. That's how she met Dad. When he was not in his current state," he surveys my face.

"Ang sweet naman!" sabi nila Rosaleen. They were enjoying their moment hanggang sa napansin kami.

Ugh! Panira ng moment!

Alam kong namumula na ang pisngi ko dahil sa lamig... At kilig. Kaya umiwas na ako ng tingin. Lalo akong namula at napatikhim noong kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinawakan.

So warm and comforting.

Pagbaba namin ay hinagis ni Desmond ang susi kay Cole. She catches it with grace and keeps it on her pocket. Soleil protected the boys with mist before we enter.  Nagtanguan kami at pumasok na sa loob.