Invitation
Zion
"Hindi!" Malakas na sigaw ko't sinubukang hawakan si Selene ngunit hindi ko siya maabot. She's too far. She's being taken away from me. "Selene!"
Nagising ako, mabilis ang hininga't 'tila naguguluhan nang makita ang sarili 'kong nasa kwarto ko.
W-what happened? I said as I stare at my room. Bakit nandito ako?
"Anak," Tawag ng isang malambing na boses and I was confused to see my mother, alive. "Binabangungot ka nanaman. Halikana't maghahanda ka pa para sa field trip mo."
"Mama?" Sabi ko't nagulat na lamang si Mama nang yakapin ko siya ng mahigpit. I missed you Mom, I missed you so bad.
"Anak may problema ba?" Mom asked while patting my back and hugging me back. "May lagnat ka ba?"
"I missed you," Bulong ko kasabay ng pagtulo ng mga luha ko. "I'm sorry for not being able to save you. I'm sorry for everything."
"Huh?" Sabi nito't hinawakan ang noo ko upang alamin kung may sakit ako. "May nakain ka ba anak?"
Ngumiti lamang ako't tinitigan ang mukha ng taong tumayong Nanay ko.
Thank you so much, Mom for everything.
Hindi nagtagal ay sumakay na ako sa bus 'kung saan naabutan ko ang Anim na Sisang iba-iba ang trip sa bus.
Bakit nangyayari 'to? I said as I stare at Kc's face along with her other friends. Bakit umulit ang oras?
"Zion," Tawag sakin ni Amara nang makarating kami sa God's Museum.
"Amara," Sambit ko't nilingon siya. "Anong nangyayari? Bakit nandito tayo?"
"It's a trap," Caleb said who also looks confuse as he was looking at our classmates. "Look, Belle is not even with us."
"Then, what should we do?" Tanong ko't tinignan silang dalawa. "How can we get ourselves out of this mess?"
"There must be something we can use here to bring us back to the God's world," Aniya't napaisip. "I wonder what that is."
"Anong ginagawa niyo rito?" Paglapit sa amin ni Ms. Taal, our adviser and ancient history teacher. "Bakit nandito kayo?"
"S-sorry Ma'am," Amara answered. "Susunod din po agad kami, may hinahanap lang po kami.."
"Alam niyo ang ibig-sabihin ko, Protectors." Nabigla kami nang marinig mula sa labi ng guro ang salitang iyon dahilan upang mapabuntong-hininga siya't sabihing, "Come with me."
Dinala kami ni Ms. Taal sa isang pribadong lugar at kasabay ng pagsarado niya ng pinto ay ang pagsabi nitong, "Nasaan si Selene? Bakit hindi niyo siya kasama?"
"She was captured by Hades," Sabi ko't sa hindi malamang dahilan ay agad na pinagkatiwalaan ang guro. "Tell me, paano mo nalaman ang tungkol rito?"
"I'm a time traveller, Zion," Ms. Taal said while looking straight into my eyes. "I knew what happened before and what is currently happening right now."
"That's why," Caleb said as a realization hit him. "She's a history teacher—Aww!"
Pinanlisikan siya ni Amara ng mga mata bago magpatuloy si Ms. Taal sa kaniyang kwento.
"I knew Selene ever since she was a child,"Aniya't napatulala. "I was a maid at their palace and I also saw how her sister killed their parents. Because of that incident, Eos cursed me and made me into an immortal being. She told me that I can never find true love and that I will live alone in this world, forever."
"Because of that curse, I was given the ability to travel in time and the opportunity to observe you. I saw how all of you grew up and turned into powerful Protectors." Sabi niya't tipid na napangiti. "It was me who brought you to your adoptive parents and made you live your lives as normal people."
Natahimik siya't bumuntong-hininga.
"Akala ko mapipigilan ko na ang muling pag-atake ni Eos oras na mahanap kayo ni Selene," Aniya't malungkot kaming nilingon. "I guess, nothing can change one's path especially if the one who wrote their destiny in stars are Gods."
"Hades is a powerful God and nothing can break his curse," Sabi niya't nilingon ako. "I hope I can do something to help you."
"Do you know how we can return home?" Amara asked while I am still deep in thoughts.
Hades.. curse..
Napalunok ako nang maalala ang mga nakaraang panaginip ko.
Ako ba ang tinutukoy ni Ms. Taal?
"Here," Ms. Taal said as she opened her palms and gave us, candies? "These are time candies, you must eat it and think of a place where you wanted to see yourself when you wake up." She said as she crossed her arms. "You must've been controlled by Eos' illusion. I mean, no one can travel in time except for me and other Gods." Aniya't tinitigan kami ng seryoso sa mga mata. "Mag-iingat kayo, Protectors."
Nginitian namin si Ms. Taal bago kinuha ang time candies at bumalik sa tamang oras.
"Gising na sila!" Malakas na anunsyo ni Heather nang makabalik kami sa kabilang mundo. Argh, my head hurts.
"Ok lang ba kayo?" Helios, the God of Sun and Selene's brother asked us as we opened our eyes.
"That evil Goddess," Heather said while gritting her teeth. "She took my master away and now, she even played with the Protectors' mind. Oh, how evil she is."
"Where are we?" Amara asked weakly. "Why aren't we back in the Protector's camp?"
"We are currently hiding in the other side of Hades' Kingdom." Heather answered and sighed sadly. "We can't leave Selene in this creepy place alone most especially when Eos tricked your minds and brought you into a world of illusion."
"I have to show you something," Helios said as he took something out from his back. "Here."
Napatigil ako ako't 'tila'y hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita ko.
"Ano to?" Caleb asked as he stared at the bold letters written in the invitation.
You're cordially invited to the unity of light and darkness as Selene, the Goddess of Moon and Hades, the God of the Underworld marry each other. We will be waiting for your presence.
"What a piece of trash!" Caleb said angrily after throwing the invitation. "Hindi 'yan totoo, bro. Believe me, hindi magagawang pakasalan ni Selene ang lalaking 'yan!"
Natahimik ako, nanlumo't 'tila'y hindi makagalaw matapos ng aking nabasa.
Selene is getting married to that man?
