Myth 6 - Hermes: Messenger of Gods (On Going)

8: Uncovered

Chapter 8 - Uncovered

Agad akong nag-iwas tingin nang napagtantong walang saplot si Hermes.

"Gusto mo lang sigurong makita ang kakisigan ko kaya pumasok ka rito."

"Excuse me?" sagot ko habang umiiwas parin ang mga mata. Bahaya lamang siyang tumawa sa sagot ko.

Maghahangin pa talaga siya.

Tinignan niyang maigi ang sugat ko. "Tangna, Angel. Baka mamatay ka."

"What?!"

This couldn't be a joke.

"Kidding— stay still and I'll heal this."

"Shut up!" he chuckled as he got into my nerves once again.

"Sino ba kasi'ng nag-utos sa'yo sa ganitong oras na hanapin ang kagwapuhan ko?"

"Wala... Dinala lang ata ako ng hangin mo rito."

Pagkatapos n'yang hipuin ang sugat at agad naman itong tumigil sa pagdurugo ngunit bago pa man n'ya bitawan ang kamay ko ay marahan n'ya itong hinipan.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked with a gentle voice— which is very unusual of him.

Umiling ako ngunit kailangan ko na siyang pagsabihan. "Hermes, for Pete's sake please put on your clothes."

Tumawa lang ito bago binitawan ang kamay ko't ginulo pa ang buhok ko. "You're still the kiddo Angel."

Pagkatapos gamutin ang sugat ko ay saka pa siya nagsuot ng damit, nanatili ako sa kinatatayuan ko habang diretso lang ang mga mata sa marmol n'yang sahig.

Bumalik siyang nakabihis, hindi kagaya ng lagi n'yang suot dati, lalong nag-iba ang itsuta n'ya sa suot. His light skin tone is complementing the plain white shirt and the black trouser he's wearing.

"What?" he asked. I didn't realize that I was just staring at him while he's drying his hair with the towel.

"You're ugly!" I lied.

"I know I'm not," he chuckled.

Lumapit siya sa kan'yang kama at kinuha ang gintong baston na may dalawang ahas. His magical caduceus. Napatingin lamang ako rito habang kawak n'ya ang bagay na 'yon. He even pet the two golden serpents of the caduceus.

"I can't remember that you used that caduceus? Do you usually use that?" I curiously asked.

"Of course... But not when you're around."

Agad na nagtagpo ang kilay ko nang sabihin n'ya 'yon. "What do you mean?"

Sa isang drawer katabi ng kan'yang kama ay tinango n'ya ang caduceus. I made myself comfortable and sat on the side of his bed.

"You were a kid— tignan mo nga kung anong nangyari sa kamay mo. Partida hindi ka na bata n'yan ah nakagat ka pa."

Inirapan ko na lang siya. "I have to ask something," pahabol ko pa.

"What?" tanong nito at binuksan ang isang itim na cabinet sa kan'yang kwarto. Bumungad sa mga mata ko ang laman nitong mga wine. Kumuha siya ng isang baso at inabot ito sa akin bago pa siya mamili ng iinumin.

So this Hermes really loves wine, he's a bad influence.

"Anong ibig sabihin ng sinabi kanina ni Hecate?"

"Which one?" he asked while pouring wine on the glass he's holding.

"If you still wanna be an Olympian, you must find the Elysium of Ambrosia with me," ulit ko sa binanggit ni Hecate kanina.

Bago n'ya sinagot ang tanong ko ay nilagyan n'ya pa ng alak ang hawak kong baso.

"Cheers..." sabi pa nito at pinagbangga ang mga baso namin.

Naghihintay ako ng sagot mula sa kan'ya habang tinititigan siyang lumagok ng alak. I gulped as well as I noticed his Adam's apple moved. I'm not this observant of his movements, but hell— I weirdly couldn't help it.

"Hermes—" I called his name.

"What?"

"Bingi ka?"

He chuckled. Hindi ko alam, trip n'ya atang asar asarin ako araw-araw. Sa tingin ko ito ang pinaka purpose n'ya sa buhay ay ang asarin ako.

"She's just messing up."

"Seriously?"

"Nah—"

"Ano nga?!" pangungulit ko pa sa kan'ya.

"Aray!" reklamo ko pang muli nang bigla n'ya na lang pitikin ang ang noo ko.

"Ano ba?! Seryoso nga kasi..." inis kong sambit habang nakahawak sa noo ko.

"Angel, you have to know that there are things that only the gods and goddesses should know."

"I'm on a journey with you— why shouldn't I know?"

"Because I also have a duty to protect you... At all costs."

"What costs?"

"It's either your death, or my death."

"Your death? You're the messenger of gods— you won't die."

"Each of us has weaknesses. If Achilles died because of his heel. Some of the Olympians had their own weakness too— which might also cause their death."

"So? Ano namang kinalaman ko sa kahinaan mo?"

"Too nosy. Why don't you drink your wine? I poured that, you should be honored."

"Why should I?"

"Because the most handsome god did that for you," he said proudly and once again poured another shot on his glass.

"Wow. Thanks!" I said with a sarcastic tone.

"Angel, be calm, I can manage this. We'll find the Elysium of Ambrosia in no time. You won't die, I promise."

"What if my death will come in front of me before we find that damn place?"

"Then that'll be the end of me too."

"So you mean— the Elysium of Ambrosia is your weakness?"

"It's the other way around."

Napatahimik ako at napatingin sa sariling repleksyon sa hawak kong alak. "Other way around..." I whispered.

"I have no weakness. But after eons, the universe gave me a fatal weakness... Angel, you are my weakness."

I am his weakness? His words gave electric feelings to my spines, I suddenly even had a hard time breathing after hearing his words. I couldn't say anything afterwards.

I really want to speak, but I couldn't find a word to say. So I am the messenger of gods' weakness— if I die, he might die as well.

"You don't have to worry about anything, I won't let the most handsome god die. I don't wanna let you die as well. None of us will die... Now please drink your wine."

Bahagya akong tumango at nilagok ang hawak kong alak. My mind still couldn't process what he told me.

Muli ay nilagyan n'ya ng alak ang baso ko.

"This drink is for us to live for eternity. None of us will die..." his words while pouring up my glass.

I gave him a weary smile. He's right, he might get into my nerves everyday, but we must make sure that none of us will die.

"Cheers," sambit ko pa at pinagbangga ang hawak naming baso.