ATHENA (Book 2: Siegfried & Athena) (On-Going)

Chapter 11: Heart to Heart

Author's Note: Ituloy natin. Not proofread.

Parang sumasabog ang utak niya sa sinabi ng pamilya niya. All along she's been daiting a drug user and pusher all these 4-months? God! How lousy were your judgment, Athena?

Everything was laid to her by her father and brother this evening. Yong pag-aalala sa mukha ng ina niya made her more angry at herself. She can't help but blame herself for falling into a wrong man.

Sometimes she asks herself if being this kind and so giving is a curse or a blessing. It's 1 am in the morning, di siya makatulog sa kakaisip at pag aalala bakit humantong sa ganito? She took a deep sigh, nasa garden siya, nakaupo sa swing nila, gusto lang niyang lumanghap ng sariwang hangin. She saw Steve and Ryan peeking at her awhile ago. Pinakilala na din ang mga ito kanina sa kanila ni Siegfried and tomorrow two more will arrive and her Mom wanted another two more para kay Siegfried at sa ama niya.

Their cars even their phones will have a motion detection device installed, so, everyone knows where they are and the security details could monitor them all.

How does this one becomes complicated? It was just a simple and happy family back then, but now, there's this looming danger waiting to be executed for her entire family and that's because of her and her dumb sense of not knowing when to trust or not to trust people.

She's not compelled to trust people, but it's innate in her to give people a chance to prove themselves regardless of who they are. Para kasi sa kanya, she doesn't want to add up to the number of people who can't see passed the mistake of others, gusto pa rin niyang tignan ang kabutihan ng lahat ng tao, but just like how her Mom put into words: Not all people have the same heart as hers.

She suddenly felt na hindi na siya nag-iisa sa garden. She turned her head at the back and she saw her father.

"What are you doing here, Athena? Lumalalim na ang gabi, at malamig na, baka magkasakit ka..."

She smiled at her Dad. Paano ba siya naging sobrang swerte na maging anak ng mga ito? Her heart wants to burst with so much love and affection for her family right now. They are her constant source of happiness, strength, inspiration, and she would do everything too to keep them safe.

"Hindi ako makatulog, Daddy."

"Can I join?" His Dad gestured at the swing.

"Of course, Daddy..." she said while giving her Dad enough space besides her.

Her Dad took his seat and extend his arm at the back. She moved closer and lay her head on his Dad's shoulder. She felt her Dad's hand caressing her shoulder and kissing the top of her head.

"I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too, Daddy and I am sorry..."

"Ssssh. Don't be—"

"—but, I brought this problem into the family. I felt so guilty, Daddy. Hindi ko alam, and I am not sure if in the future hindi to mangyayari ulit..."

"Athena, it's not your fault that your heart sees the goodness of everyone. It's the way how I raised you, love, even when your Mom wasn't here when you're still at the ages 1 to 4. I've always inculcate in your mind to never judge people, nor look down on them, that you should always see the good in them, and I am so proud of the woman you become, love. Me and your Mom are so lucky we've seen you and your twin brother becoming the person we want you to be. A good head on your shoulder and a kind heart for others. We wouldn't want any other way. So, stop being guilty, okay? Sometimes, we met people in our lives to learn a few things for sure. Take this as your own journey to knowing yourself more, love. Daddy and Mommy will always be here..."