The Deadly Goddess: ARTEMIS

CHAPTER 23

"Art?", then she knocked 3 times before opening the door.

She saw her sister curling up on her bed, the tv is still on and she saw the movie 500 Days of Summer is played. Kahit hindi niya ito tanungin ay alam niyang umiiyak ito, sa lakas ba naman ng singhot nito. She sat on the bed at hinaplos haplos ang buhok ng kapatid.

"Alam mo bang ang rule # 3 sa librong ginagawa ko ay NEVER WATCH A MOVIE WITH A THEME LOVE STORY lalo na kung ang movie na yun ay nakapagpapaalala sa kanya?", she said to her with a smile on her lips and tried to comb　 Artemis' hair through her fingers.

Binalingan siya ni Artemis na namumugto at nanlalalim ang mga mata. She looked at her at maya-maya ay may mga luha na namang nagbabanta sa mga mata nito, her lips twithed down at napahagulgol na naman. Yna hugged her tightly to make her feel alright.

Nanatili lang sila sa ganoong posisyon hanggang sa tuluyan ito kumalma.

"How did you know I'm here?" Art asked. After ng natuklasan niya 3 araw na ang nakakalipas ay mas pinili niyang lumayo muna at mag-isip-isip. She went to the orphanage kung saan sila natagpuan ni Yna. Kahit noon pa ay takbuhan na niya ang orphanage sa tuwing may problema siya o kaya ay gusto niya lang mag-isip-isip.

"It's my responsibility to know Art. Afterall, you are my sister", Yna smiled sweetly to her.

"alam mo di ba?", Art asked her and Yna just nod at her.

Bumitiw ito sa pagkakayakap sa kanya at galit na pinagsalitaan siya.

"How can you not tell me Yna? You had him investigated for my sake pero wala isa man sa inyo ni Dike ang nagsabi ng tungkol sa kanilang dalawa!", at tumulo na naman ang mga luha sa mga mata nito.

"I'm sorry if I did not Art. I had Dike talk about it but she doesn't want to. We were waiting that Orion would be the one to tell you about it", mahinahon namang sagot ni Yna.

"But I thought.. . I thought you cared for me? I thought ayaw mo akong masaktan?", at humagulhol ito at niyakap ang mga binti nito.

"Art, in every kind of situation, we must know our place, our position, our role. At wala ako sa posisyon para panghimasukan ang relasyon mo o kahit ang desisyon ni Orion at Dike na itago sayo ang bagay na yon. I have read a book that said. . .", at hinaplos haplos nitong muli ang buhok ng kapatid na nakadungo pa rin at akap-akap ang binti.

"A woman should always know her role or position in a man's life. If you are a friend, be a friend. If you are a sister, be a sister and if you are a wife, be a wife", pagpapatuloy ni Yna.

Tumingala ito sa kanya.

"Do you mean to say that I didn't stick to my role in his life that is why I am hurt this much?", nanalulumo niyang tanong sa kapatid.

"The thing that you should be asking to yourself is: What really is your role in his life Art", and Yna kissed her on her forehead. "Don't be a coy Art, pain is inevitable and whether we like it or not, we will experience it sa kahit anong paraan. Face them and make it known to them how and why you are hurting. Each person has a responsibility to operate in his or her role, always remember that", then Yna stood up and walked towards the door.

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"The criminal would be at the annual ball of the palace, be sure to find out who he is".

Iyon ang mensaheng natanggap ni Artemis isang linggo matapos ang pananatili niya sa bahay-ampunan. Ngayon lang niya binuksan muli ang cellphone at laptop 　niya at napakaraming mensahe ang natanggap niya, maging e-mails from her laptop.

And while she was scanning through her e-mails dahil baka may kailangan ang boss niya ay nakita niya ang mensahe from an unknown e-mail address; capture_the_killer@icloud.com. The subject was "tired and bored of waiting" kaya akala niya ay galling sa boss niya. She filed an indefinite leave the other week at inakala niyang ang boss niya iyon pero hindi siya makapaniwala

'Tang-ina naman! Kung kailan ko ini-exile ang sarili ko at kung kalian ako nag e-emote ay saka naman ume-epal tong mga pesteng ito

!, sabi niya sa sarili na napasabunot pa sa ulo.

Nakakawala talga ng poise ang maging broken hearted! Siguro dapat ko ng basahin ang ginagawang libro ni Athena at baka makatulong iyon sa akin.

,

she said to herself. Nung huling kausapin siya ni Yna ay nakagaan sa pakiramdam niya. Yna really isn't just a pretty face but she's full of wisdom too. Parang naliwanagan siya ng konti, nakapag-isip-isip isip siya kaya gumaan ng kaunti ang pakiramdam niya.

Pagkatapos ay nakatanggap siya ng tawag sa nakatatandang kapatid.

"we need you now Art, saka mo na ipagpatuloy ang pagda-drama mo jan kapag natapos na ang misyong ito", then Yna hung up.

She's still not sure if she's ready to face Orion and Dike already but she know that her sisters need her now the most. Mabilis siyang nag-empake at naghanda sa kanyang pagbabalik.