The next day, all were still gathered in the hospital except for Clio and Seth. Clio was back in her office making an article about Ares' assault. Seth, on the other hand, simply didn't want to stay. Halos lahat ng tao sa ospital ay may suspetsa. Cybele suspects either Seth or Sol. They both have motives since they like Hebe whom Ares disrespected twice.
"What will happen to us now? Are we in danger, too?" Artemis suddenly blurted, breaking the deafening silence. Nakatambay silang lahat sa labas ng ICU.
"I don't think we are." Silvan answered. He was also curious and somehow scared about the sudden attack but he wanted to assure Artemis everything is under control. "Cyb, ok ka lang?" pag-aalalang tanong ni Silvan kay Cybele. Tumango lamang ito at bumalik na sa kaiisip ng kanyang hinala.
"Where's kuya Seth?" Cybele asked, her suspicion with Seth suddenly went ablaze. Between Seth and Sol, mas kaya gawin ni Seth ang pagsasaksakin si Ares. He got three stab wounds, one went deep that he needed to get surgery for his ruptured abdomen. Luckily, Ares' surgery went well.
The gang didn't answer, not wanting to let Cybele's suspicion grow ngunit hindi rin nila ito masisisi. Hebe and Cybele arrived minutes after Seth went back to the headquarters. It was normal for Cybele to suspect the person not present, lalo na't magkaaway talaga sila ni Ares. "Baka nagpahangin lang?" Sol answered, kababalik lang nito galing sa vending machine. He handed Hebe a canned coffee, Artemis looked away. Hebe got awkward seeing Artemis' expression: "Artemis, gusto mo?"
Artemis' face turned grim. It was a mixture of anger, shame and discomfort. Hindi alam ni Hebe kung mali ba ang nasabi niya ngunit huli na ang lahat, nagalit na ito sa kanya. Artemis didn't answer her and instead excused herself from the crowd whose attentions were focused on her.
"Ate, I'll follow her" As Hebe stood up to follow Artemis, pinigilan siya ni Cybele at sinundan ito. The atmosphere got awkward. Sol sat beside Apollo and offered him the drink instead. He didn't hesitate to take it.
"I think I should head back" She was ashamed of the tension she created and wanted to just escape the awkwardness. As she stood up, tumayo rin si Apollo.
"Tara, sabay na tayo. Pabalik na rin naman ako sa headquarters" It was okay with her. Apollo surely brought a car which would be a lot convenient than hailing a taxi. Gusto pa samang pumalag ni Sol at siya na lang ang maghahatid at sasabay kay Hebe ngunit naisip niyang hindi nito magugustuhan kung gagawin niya iyon. He figured out she would be awkward around him.
Apollo and Hebe bid goodbyes and see you laters kina Silvan at Sol at sabay na naglakad. "Nagdala kang sasakyan diba?" pagbibirong sabi ni Hebe kay Seth noong nasa elevator na sila.
Apollo chuckled and tapped B1, basement 1 which also meant the first floor of this hospital's parking lot. Need not say, he did not answer and let his gesture speak for itself. Tahimik na lang rin si Hebe at sumunod lang kay Apollo.
She sat at the passenger seat. Their drive was silent until Apollo told her something she didn't want to hear.
"I like you, Ms. Belle"
Without taking his sight from the road, he left her startled. "Parang pinagti-tripan niyo na akong magkapatid ah" Hebe chuckled, regaining her composure.
"I know you are my father's mistress, and Ares proposed to you but was declined, and Sol promised to protect you but—"
This time, Hebe was already running thoughts around her mind. She had so many questions that got in and out her head. Bakit niya alam? Bakit niya ito ginagawa? Bakit tatlo sa magkakapatid ang biglang naglahad ng damdamin sa kanya. She thought that thinking it was a coincidence and they genuinely like her is stupid. Impossible namang kababalik lang nila galing sa iba't ibang bansa at gusto na nila siya agad, taking note that they never really were so close when they were younger.
"But what?"
"Pangako pa lang ni Sol, pero nagawa ko na. Sol can be very promising but he's kindhearted. He can protect you only until a certain point. Dadating ang araw na wala na siyang magagawa para sa'yo pero hindi ako ga'non"
Her gaze focused on him. "What do you mean?"
"Sol promised you he'd protect you but unlike him I'm not good with words, I will act it out. I acted it out."
Little did she know, the man beside her knew about what Ares did to her as she told Sol yesterday. He also knew about his younger brother's confession as behind that gigantic rock Sol was leaning on by the lake was him.
BINABASA MO ANG
MTBMW: Wealth, Pride and Love
Fanfictiona 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
