Masters of War

LXXV.

INT. ZEUS' UNIT — 11:25 PM

Natigilan si Zeus nang buksan ko ang pinto. This is the downside of having your boyfriend's key to his unit: the pain of catching him with a leech who couldn't take a hint.

"What did you say?" I asked, with an eyebrow raised. My eyes kept going back between the girl and Zeus. "And why are you topless!?"

"Babe, it's not like that..." depensa ni Zeus at tumango ako bago tumaas ang kilay sa babae'ng nakatayo sa harap niya. "Do you know that he's my boyfriend!?"

"I don't know you," iling niya na para bang baliwala lang sa kanya ang tanong na binigkas ko.

"Gusto mo magpakilala ako?" nagtitimping tanong ko at nakita ko ang pag-irap niya.

"What for? Are you Zeus' fling?" mapagpanggap ang tono niya kahit na alam kong may ideya siya kung sino ako.

"Tanga ka?" balik ko bago ako dahan-dahan na lumapit sa kanya. "I am his girlfriend."

"So? Ako rin naman."

"Noon 'yon," ngisi ko at mariin kong ikinuyom ang mga palad ko. "You're Io, right? The ex. The past," sabi ko pa habang idinidiin ang bawat salita. "You're... nothing to Zeus."

"He just met you on an app. Feel na feel mong seseryosohin ka ni Zeus?" she looked smug as she spat every word. I stayed quiet. "I figured. You know, Hera... it's Hera, right? Zeus became a playboy after I left him. That Dione? Oh boy, she was a good distraction. And you? Just one of his girl toys. Ewan ko nga kung bakit ka naging girlfriend? Probably, ikaw ang naghabol."

Zeus came forward and stood in the middle. "That is enou—Hera!"

Walang nagawa si Zeus nang sumugod ako kay Io at sinabunutan ko siya. Alam kong mali na pumatol but hell, if Yvanna was here, she will be the one pulling the hair of this stupid bitch. Ang kapal ng mukha!

"I don't care if you think that you're the only girl that Zeus can take seriously! But never, ever, make me feel like I'm someone's dirty little whore!"

Kinaladkad ko sya sa sahig ng unit habang pilit ako'ng hinihila ni Zeus palayo sa kanya. The bitch was crying already but I couldn't careless. She brought this to herself.

"Hera, stop!"

"NO!" tulak ko kay Zeus bago ko muling binalingan ang ex niya. "You're the fucking ex! Know your place!"

"Z-zeus..." nanginginig niyang sabi, nagpapaawa. "Look at what your girlfriend did! You call this cheap girl your woman!?"

"Aba! Talaga nam—"

"STOP IT, IO! HERA!" saway ni Zeus sa amin. "LEAVE!"

Natigilan kami nang sumigaw si Zeus. Napaatras ako pero hinawakan niya ang pulsuhan ko.

"Hera, leave," ulit niya at napalunok ako. Nakita ko ang patagong ngisi ng impaktang si Io at napaatras na lang ako.

"Zeus..." mahina kong sabi.

"Leave, I said," mariin niyang sabi bago niya tinulungang tumayo si Io. "Go fix yourself in my bathroom, Io. I'll take you home."

"Are you serious!?" hindi makapaniwalang bigkas ko. Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko. Hurt, confusion and frustration piled up like a bile in my stomach.

"Go now, Hera. I'll book a ride for you."

"No need," I shook my head, fighting for the stupid tears that are pooling in my eyes. "You know what, Zeus? Fuck you."