Athena: The Goddess of Violence

Chapter Forty Five - We Meet Again

Athena's POV

"I think it's time for me to go back to the Phillipines." Pagdedeklara ko. Nasa kwarto ako ngayon, kami nina Cynthia, Thea, Chenoa, Blight, Jiro, Sean at Kurt. Maybe you're wondering why we're all in the same room. I invited everyone, pa isahan na lang ang pagsabi sa kanila ng naisip ko.

Lahat sila nagulat sa sinabi ko. Kasalukuyan lang kasi kaming nanunuod ng mga matches na naganap sa Ravenous Frolic via DVDs nang bigla kong sabihin yun. Naglakad si Blight patungo sa DVD player at pinindot ang pause. "Did I hear it right? Did I just hear Athena talking about going back to the Philippines?" Tanong niya nang umapaw ang katahimikan.

Tumango ako, "I think that's the best thing to do." 

"P-pero bakit? Para saan?" Nauutal na tanong ni Cynthia. I know she thinks it's a dumb thing to do. Alam kong natatakot rin siya, kasi hindi pa rin namin alam hanggang ngayon kung anong aasahan sa The Eye.

"Gusto ko nang matapos ang lahat. I want everything to end. Gusto ko ng closure, gusto ko ng peace of mind. And I think, the only way so I can get those it to go back to the place where it all started." Sagot ko naman sa tanong niya. I answered a question that I know each one of them wanted to ask, straightforwardly.

Naramdaman kong na-tense si Kurt sa tabi ko matapos kong magsalita, "So, haharapin mo ulit si Jed?" He asked.

"Not like I have a choice." I answered as a matter of fact-ly.

Bigla na lamang tumayo si Kurt. And without saying a word, lumabas siya ng kwarto. I looked at the others, waiting for them to say something. Pero walang nagsalita. Nagbuntong hininga ako and decided that I should go after Kurt.

***

"Kurt, what was that about?" Tanong ko sakanya habang patuloy parin kaming naghahabulan sa hallway.

"Wala." Maikli niyang sagot not even bothering to face me.

"Kurt, wag ka namang umasta na parang bata. Tell me what's wrong!" Sigaw ko sakanya the moment I decided to stop chasing after him. I stayed put sa kinatatayuan ko. 

Slowly, hinarap niya ako. "Gusto mong malaman kung anong mali? Iyon ang pagbalik mo sa Pilipinas, Thene. Yun yung mali."

"Ano bang pinagsasabi mo? You and I both know that I have no choice. Kailangan kong gawin yun for the sake na matigil na yung kaguluhang ito." I answered in my defense. Alam kong alam niya na ako rin sa huli ang dapat tumapos nito.

"No. You have a choice. Tumigil ka nalang. Tigilan mo nalang din sila. Stop seeking for revenge. Tama na." Nanggigigil niyang sabi. 

"I-I don't understand. Kurt, I will not kill anybody anymore. Ang gusto ko lang makaharap sila and try to settle everything with them." 

Lumapit siya ng konti, "What happens if they don't want it to be settled? Anong mangyayari kapag hindi sila pumayag? You could be the one who's gonna get killed, hindi sila. We don't know kung gaano sila kadami, we don't know kung sino lahat ang kakampi nila. What if pag-apak mo pala sa Pinas, may mangyari nang masama sa'yo?" He asked full of concern.