Oculus of Time

Chaos

Kara's POV

'Kara, gising.'

Cesia's voice woke me up, but I didn't open my eyes until I remembered what happened by the lake.

Napaupo ako sa higaan at palihim na napasinghap pagkatapos makita si Dio na mahimbing na natutulog sa tabi ko.

So... last night wasn't a dream?

Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata.

Right.

It was my decision to do that.

The moment I fell in his arms when I was exhausted... and when he whispered he loved me, was the same second I decided I'm giving up everything for him.

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko at nagbuga ng hangin.

And I easily did.

"Dio..." I mumbled under my breath. "What are you doing to me..."

He's making me weak in ways I am not supposed to be.

'Kara.'

Kasunod akong napatingin sa labas ng bintana at nalamang isang oras pa bago magliliwanag, kaya nagtaka ako kung anong meron at ginising ako ni Cesia ng ganitong oras.

Pinulot ko ang damit ko at sinuot ito. Slowly and silently, I walked towards the door and unlocked it.

Bago pa ako makalabas, muli kong sinulyapan ang demigod na natutulog sa higaan.

'You're the strongest, Kara. That's why I love you.'

The embarrassment is slowly creeping in, but I don't regret it.

Not a second of it.

I got out of the room and carefully closed the door.

Naramdaman ko kaagad ang kakaibang tingin na dala ng mga mata ni Trev nang makalabas ako kaya pinadalhan ko siya ng mapanakit na titig bilang sagot.

"What?" I asked, coldly.

To my surprise, he stood beside Cesia, and in front of Kaye and Slade. The four of them were in the middle of a conversation when all our eyes met.

I approached them with a stern look on my face. "What are you all doing here?"

"We're evacuating the students." ani Kaye. "Because she said so." She glanced at Cesia, and I did too.

"Why?" tanong ko.

"Sinabi kasi sa'kin ni Mama- ni Aphrodite kung anong pakay ni Zeus." sagot naman ni Cesia. "Gulo lang ang dadalhin niya rito at ayokong madamay yung iba."

I continued to stare at her.

"M-May tiwala ka naman sa'kin, diba?" aniya.

Matagal akong nakasagot hindi dahil nagdadalawang-isip ako, kundi dahil may bahagi sa'kin na nasaktan pagkatapos mapansin ang lungkot sa boses niya nang maitanong 'yon, na para bang siya mismo ang hindi sigurado.

Kinuyom ko ang aking palad nang maalala kung sino ang maaaring nagdulot nito sa kanya.

There's only one person I know that could've hurt her to the point of self-doubt.

Ria.

"I do." I answered. "Always."

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nasabi ni Ria kay Cesia dahilan na pakawalan siya nito.

But it must've hurt.

Because I felt it.

I felt it before I heard the explosion from the clinic.