No Longer a Player

Change: Eight

Payback Time

It was like a hefty object was lifted from everyone's chest, when finally, after an almost ten hours being missing in action Athena came back with no injuries or wounds.

"Saan ka ba nanggaling anak! Pinag alala mo kami lahat dito.." madamdaming wika ni Hera.

Tahimik naman siyang ngumiti at lumapit rito, she hugged her mother tightly then whispered, "I'm sorry mama.."

She felt her mother froze, alam niya kasing napaka tagal na panahon na noong huli siyang humingi ng tawad rito, her apology carries all of the wrong deeds she had done to her mother for the past years.

She closed her eyes when Hera hugged her even more tightly.

"Oh, Athena.."

Bago siya kumawala sa mga yakap nito, she kissed her mother's hair first. She looked at her brother Dimitrius who is sitting beside Atlas, relief is evident on their faces she smiled to them and mouthed..

"Gracias.."

The patriarch rose from his seat as well as Dimitrius, they both went to Athena and Hera's side, niyakap ni Atlas ang mag-anak niya ng buong puso. He sighed, he knows he failed at the parenting department, he was not a father to his children and that thought pains him more than they could ever imagine.

"Come here princess.." pag tawag niya sa anak nitong si Athena. He, as Athena's father nearly had a heart attack upon hearing that his unica hija is missing. Sobrang natakot siya dahil baka dahil sa mga pagkukulang niya bilang ama ang dahilan kung bakit ito umalis ng hindi nag papaalam.

Bumalik lamang si Athena ng sumapit ang alas dose ng tanghali, hinatid siya ni Marky sa hotel na tinutuluyan niya. She is going to rock that concert whatever happens, that is what she wants and been thinking. Tuloy ang show kahit hindi na siya nakapag rehearsals for the last time, not to brag but she knws she can ace the event effortlessly.

Atlas mentioned her to seat on the couch beside him. Hera and Dimitrius went to tell everybody that she is back. Dinismiss na din ng kapatid niya ang mga pulis na tinawagan nito upang hanapin siya even if she is not yet missing for twenty four hours, nag pa deploy pa rin ang kaniyang pamilya ng pulisya na tutulong sa paghahanap sakaniya. She is a little guilty yes, but what happened while her whereabout is unknown to everyone weighs more than her guilt. Nakabuti kasi iyon sakaniya, she mentally smiled.

I am ready to show the world the real Athena Francheska Benitez— a redeemed soul.

"Can you tell papa what happened to you princess?"

Athena gazed at her father. Ang daming taon ang sinayang nilang pareho, a combination of a rebel daughter then a neglecting father. Alam niya, hindi naman perpekto ang kanyang pamilya but this time, they will make it as one. They will try to make up the things they've lost through the years.

"It was nice papa, I actually had a great time earlier. I was able to find my lost self and bond with the man who never left my side for the past nine years pa.."

Confusion is written all over Atlas' face. Totoo, he does not have any idea about the people surrounding her daughter other than Elmo and Calista.

"Really princess? Care to tell papa what the two of you did?" He asked with a little smile on his face.

Athena placed her right hand on top of his, there is a beaming smile on his princess' face.. and then her eyes, they are twinkling with joy. Pakiramdam niya ay may kamay na humaplos sa kanyang puso, when was the last time that he saw his baby girl smile genuinely?