Athena: The Goddess of Violence

Chapter Three: The Jerk

Cynthia's POV

"You think so? She can beat all of us in just a snap, just a trivia for you, Jed." I told Jed with a smirk, a confident one. Kasi alam ko kung gaano kahusay yang kaibigan ko. She's been trained in all kinds of martial arts (courtesy of Tito Michael) sa New Jersey. When I say all, I mean it literally. She's been trained for five years, and in the remaining years, she trained by herself.

Kung ikukumpara mo kami sa lakas ni Athena? Sus, wala pa kami sa kalingkingan niya. Idol ko nga siya e. Unlike us, she fights with burning passion. Yes, kami rin merong passion sa fighting. Pero I know, iba parin ang skills niya. Kasi natuto siya with an aim. Iyon ay ang pumatay ng tao, though masakit man iyong aminin as her bestfriend, kailangan ko na din siyang intindihin. Afterall, ano pa bang magagawa ko?

There's a good thing naman na nadulot yung pagkahilig ni Thene sa pakikipaglaban e. Through her, I found what I needed. No, wala akong desire na pumatay, pero to do those reckless things... Yung makipaglaban ka with the amazing adrenaline rush, I discovered that this is also what I needed. To break free from my shell, from the shell my demanding parents created.

It happened two years after the burial of Tito Christoff and Tita Catherine, the parents of Athena. We flew to New Jersey to visit her there, to visit my bestfriend. Pero surprisingly, ibang Athena ang sumalubong saamin. Instead of the bubbly and kikya girl I used to know, we were greeted (coldly) by a kid with an iced expression. Wala na yung kalaro ko lang dati ng barbie, okaya ng make up-an. Isang batang wala nang emosyon ang nakita ko.

Sinubukan ko. 

Sinubukan ko siyang abutin, sinubukan kong magreach out. Pero hindi na pala ganoon kadali yun. Kung iisipin, ang mga bata bigla nalang yan magkakasundo, hindi ba? That wasn't the case. We were just ten years old then, but I felt like I was trying to be friends with someone who's mature. Someone who had experienced alot more that other adults can. 

While we were left 'playing' by my parents sa playroom nila Thene, na halatang hindi nagagamit (mas magugulat pa ata ako noon kung makikita kong ginagamit ni Thene ang playroom), bigla na lamang tumayo si Thene at lumabas ng kwarto nang hindi nagsasalita. Pero seryoso, nakakakilabot noon si Thene.

Syempre, being the kid I was, sinundan ko siya.

I never knew na sa isang training room niya ako dadalhin. Kumpleto yung kwarto, all with different equipments. Tipong may ring, at nakahilerang punching bags pa. I'm surprised na alam ni Thene ito let alone na meron silang ganito.

"What are we doing here, Thene?" Tanong ko, confusion all over my voice.

Tinignan niya ako ng masama, "What do you mean we? i didn't ask you to follow me."

 "But-" hindi ko na natuloy ang dapat na sasabihin ko, dahil naglakad palayo si Athena. Tumungo siya sa isang corner ng room kung saan may naka-pile na blocks of thick woods. Humablot siya ng isa, upto now it still amazes me na nabuhat niya iyon with just one hand at that young age. Hindi niya ako pinansin, she walked past me .

Dumiretso siya sa dalawang poles na nakatayo at isinabit doon yung block of wood.

"I don't know why you're here, but I want you to leave." Malamig niyang sabi habang inaayos ang pwesto nung kahoy doon sa mga poles.

 Hindi naman ako nakasagot kaagad dahil sa gulat at sa taka kung ano yung ibig niyang sabihin.Pinapaalis niya ako? Ayaw niyang makipaglaro? Ano bang gagawin niya?

"I'm supposedly training, not playing with you." Tuloy pa niya habang lumalayo na sa kahoy. Nasaktan ako doon sa mga sinabi niya. Hindi niyo naman ako masisisi, bata lang ako noon at masakit masabihan na ayaw ka nilang kalaro. Hindi ko pa naman din maintindihan kung anong ginagawa niya.