Silvan and Cybele were camping on the woods near their headquarters. Bata palang sila ay palagi na silang magkasama since they both love nature. Simula pa noon ay sila na talagang dalawa ang matalik sa kanilang mag kakapatid. They would go on trekking, hiking, etc. way before Silvan and the other boys went to different places.
"It's been so long" Cybele muttered.
"Oo nga, na-miss ko 'to"
The two of them installed their portable camping chairs and the hood that comes with it. Cybele had it on white and Silvan on black. Pareho ang kanilang likmuan sapagkat sabay nila itong binili noon.
"Do you still like Apollo?" tanong ni Silvan sa tonong di maintindihan ni Cybele. She can't seem to figure out if he means something deeper than just the question itself— if he's asking as a brother or man. She shrugged it off. Matagal na rin naman 'yon.
"Oo" Upon leaving Cybele's mouth, silence filled the air between the two of them. It was deafening but the birds continued chirping and the trees swayed still. Tahimik lang silang dalawa ngunit ayos lang naman. Cybele thought they were better that way. Silvan, on the other hand, had to stop the urge to ask her why.
"Can I ask something?" Curiosity got into Cybele. Sa totoo lang ay di niya maintindihan kung bakit biglang umuwi ang kanyang mga kapatid. Sa kanyang pagkakaalam ay matagal ng may sakit ang kanilang ama kay hindi na iyon sumagi sa kanyang isip. After all, the princesses were never really close to the king. In fact, hindi sila basta bastang nakakapasok sa silid ng hari.
"Oo naman"
"Why did you suddenly come home? You hated it here."
Silvan didn't know what to say. Totoo naman talagang hindi niya ginustong umuwi. Nothing about Ambrose excites him, not the people nor the place. Ngunit, kung meron man siyang inuwian dito ay yun ang tuluyan ng palayain ang kanilang pamilya sa walang katapusang pagtatalo para sa kapangyarihan at kayamanan. He stared at the woman beside her. She had her eyes fixed on the scenery in front of them. A frame full of greens and tree trunks, a place where you can't find an exit nor entrance. A maze he have been exploring non-stop before. Kung tutuusin ay araw-araw niya itong tinatahak noon. The woman beside her seemed like the woods. She was also a maze to him. Hindi niya alam kung sino ang papanigan ni Cybele sapagkat noon pa lamang ay malayo na talaga ang loob nito sa pamilya. When they were younger, Artemis and Clio hanged out most of the times until they got tired of each other. Something happened for certain but Silvan didn't know. Sa mga lalake naman ay walang ibang kalapit si Cybele kundi si Silvan. On that note, maybe it was alright to tell her—
"His health.. Ah, father's health, di na kasi ganun ka ganda kaya napagpasyahan naming umuwi
na muna." — but he can never fully trust her knowing she have feelings for Apollo. Cybele was satisfied with the answer.
"Babalik po ulit ako sa susunod."
They heard a faint voice deep into the woods. Nagkatinginan ang magkapatid at tumambad bigla bigla sa kanilang harapan isang babae. May dala dala itong upuan tulad nila at sa isang kamay ay plastic na may lamang inumin at kakanin.
"Bakit kayo nandito?" Utal-utal na sabi ng babae. Tila ay nakakita siya ng multo at nabuhusan ng kay lamig na tubig.
"Ate, saan ka galing?"
"Ms. Belle?!"
BINABASA MO ANG
MTBMW: Wealth, Pride and Love
Fanfica story among half-brothers: Ares, Silvan, Seth, Apollo and Sol on their journey to being their father's chosen one. five men, one spot, one condition: to marry Hebe Aphrodite, the most beautiful and youngest; their father's favourite mistress
