Underworld War

Epilogue

"What happened next, papa?" A young boy asked using his bubbly voice. He showed his father a set of crooked teeth. 

Ginulo ng lalaki ang buhok ng bata, "The people hated Sola. They wanted her hanged to death in front of many people. Do you know why?"

Tumango ang bata, "Because she's bad." 

Tumango ang lalaking nakasuot ng korona sa tuktok ng ulo nito, "But before they wanted her dead, they loved her first. And she loved them more. And what happens when you love someone deeply? You expect. But the people turned their back from her seeing that the Queen Of Dawn has been giving them much more goods." 

Naguluhan ang bata, "What did she expect, papa?"

I was listening to them but they didn't seem to see me. Nakatayo lamang ako sa harap nila ngunit tila hindi ako nakikita. The place seems hazy and almost fading. Wala akong ibang maramdaman na simoy ng hangin o init ng araw. 

"That she will be loved forever." 

Hindi sumagot ang batang lalaki. Seems to me that he seemed more and more confused. For someone young and gullible, love is out of context of his life. Hindi niya alam na may ganito palang klase ng pag-ibig.

How do I know that? Because the scene looks so familiar. The man wearing a throne feels familiar. He's my father and the boy before him was me in my early age. Ang storyang ikinukwento niya ang ang mito ni Sola. 

It was one of the most famous myths told. Sola, the beautiful goddess of Dawn that was sent to the sun to work for Apollo. 

"The Queen invited everyone for a party she's gonna hold, except Sola. She went mad, and killed the Queen. And the people went mad also...that they decided to hang her." Hinawakan nito ang kamay ng anak, "She knew how sad her husband will be because of her death. That's why she came to Apollo to ask for help."

"Did he help her?" 

"Yes."

"What about her husband?"

My papa shrugged, "Still waiting for her at night, wherein she comes down from the sun to meet him."

"That's it?"

The old man chuckled, "Yes, son. That's it."

The young me snickered, "How lame. Akala ko pa naman ay papatayin niya ang mga taong nagtaksil sa kaniya." 

"You're taking her side now?"

"Uh... yes?" Ngumuso ito, "I don't know, papa. It's complicated."

"It is, Lyko. There will be much more complicated things that will happen in the future. Things that will confuse you and set you on edge. You need to make careful choices, future king." 

"I have you, papa. Hindi ako malilito."

Nagising ako at nakita ang kamay na mariing nakayukom. Malaki ang bukol na nakabikil sa lalamunan ko at sobrang sakit ng puso ko. Gusto kong maiyak. I know that story. My papa used to tell me that before. 

Is it possible that Samantha is in the sun? Will she come back for me? 

Nag-ayos ako ng sarili. Paglabas ko palang ng kwartong tinutulugan ay bumulaga na sa akin si Ermin, ang Prime Minister. Mabilis akong naglakad habang siya ay sinasabi sa akin ang mga gagawin ko ngayong araw.

"Cancel all that. I have an important errand."

Napahinto siya sa paglalakad, "Excuse me, My King? These are the important errands."

Umiling ako, "No. Today is Nasiah's dedication to Hades. I can't miss that." 

Aalma pa ata siya ngunit tumalikod na ako. I told them before that even though I'm a king with a busy life, I'll make time for them. And this is what I'm doing now. Since, I am on top of everything, I make my own rules.