Speaker/POV: Hebe Aphrodite Belle
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Tahimik lang ako sa buong byahe. Of course, I got what he was talking about. Maybe, andun siya at nakinig sa usapan namin ni Sol. Maybe, he knew when I told Seth about it. Maybe, he knew wayback the time Ares did it to me? Maybe, ginusto niya lang talaga akong protektahan. Or maybe, he had something against his brother to do that at ginagawa niya lang akong panakipbutas at dahilan sa kanyang nagawa. Sa totoo lang ay wala akong pakialam. For as long as they do not drag me into their mess, or Seth, i don't care.
He parked his car in front of the king's headquarters. Bumaba ako agad. Hindi na ako nagpaalam na papasok dahil sumabay naman siya saakin. "Going to dad?" Tanong niya sa akin. Tumingin ako sa gawi niya at tumango.
Pagdating namin sa kuwatro ay nakaupo ito sa kanyang kama. He was on the line with somebody.
"No buts, Clio. Don't air anything about Ares' assault" When he heard the door crack and swing open, sinenyasan niya kaming umupo na muna sa sofa. Yun naman ang ginagaw ni Apollo. I stood still and waited for him to end the call.
"Hindi kita bibigyan ng dahilan. Just do what I say" A side-smile formed on Apollo's lips. Ngiting tagumpay but his smirk dissolved in thin air. He handed me the phone and when I took it, hinalikan niya ang kamay ko. It was sudden. Pinilit ko ang sarili kong hindi magpakita ng kung anong gulat na ekpresyon lalo na at may nakatingin saamin.
"Apollo, what brings you here?" pag tutuon niya ng pansin kay Apollo. Tumayo naman ito at lumapit sa kanya. Apollo is scary. Sa labas ay parang ang bait bait niya. He looks gentle and kind but deep down he's someone you can never trust. He's so good with making music na para bang kayang kaya ka niyang pasundin. If we're in some soft of fantasy then his character would be someone capable of hypnotising a person using music.
"I just wanted to see if you're doing good, dad" A lie. Of course, he went here to ask his father to cover him up. The king chuckled but I know he didn't buy his excuse. Judging from his looks, he knew Apollo did it. Nakikita ko sa mga mata niyang he's... proud? What the fuck. I looked away.
The door opened after three knocks. Niluwa ito si Seth na mukhang gulat na makita kaming magkasama ni Apollo sa loob ng silid. Sa likod naman nito ay si Clio na umuusok na sa galit. They were clearly not in great terms. They were asked to close the door to avoid other people especially houseworkers to talk about what they're about to say. Probably, it's about Ares.
"Clio, what I said over the phone is final"
"Pero dad! You should reconsider. What happened to Ares is not a joke" Clio was furious. Sa tabi niya naman ay pokerface lang si Seth.
"What I said is final. Now, if you can leave Aphrodite and I.. alone" Wala ng nagawa si Clio at padabog na lumabas. Apollo hid to his father's command at umalis rin sa silid. The king, Seth and I were left in the room.
"Seth." his father called him out but wala naman siyang kibo. He looked at me and as I raised an eyebrow, he said: "Meet me outside."
BINABASA MO ANG
MTBMW: Wealth, Pride and Love
Fiksi Penggemara 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
