Thieves Of Olympus

5

BRIANNA

Tinkering things is not for me. Maybe I'll learn some about it after this. I am a brain child after all.

Olympians and Demigods are total opposites. As oppose to our ancestors munual labors we now do things mechanically.

This time only for the time being. Dahil babalik sa dati ang barrier kapag nakuha na namin ang apoy ni Hephaestus. Hopefully, without pain pero hindi ganoon ang nangyayari.

"Should we make this for aerial also or for ground only?" tanong ko kay Mason.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin, "We can have patrol duties. If it is okay."

May sariling mechanical room si Mason. I see numbers and electrical symbols na pumupuno sa glass board sa pader. Magkahalo ang luma at bagong sulat sa puting tinta na ginamit.

A tech geek is always inside this room.

Nilibot ko ang mata ko sa kabuuan ng silid. Too clean for someone like him. Mahilig magbutingting ng kung ano-ano pero maayos ang mga gamit.

"Waterproof and hidden." bulong niya sa sarili, "You should sit down."

"Oh. Okay!"

Naupo ako sa dulo ng kama niya. Habang pinapanood siya. I gave him my plan. I want to help pero siya na daw ang bahala gumawa sa physical form since forte naman niya ito.

He's been at it for hours. Tanggal-kabit ang cycle na ginagawa niya. Finding the right piece tulad sa isang puzzle.

Kanina ko lang naisip ang idea.

"Alarm?"

He narrows his eyes at me. Blinking and thinking kung magagawa ang sinabi ko.

I nod, "Yes. For trespassers and emergency."

"Why? What for?" his eyes and voice was full of curiosity.

"We can't fix the barrier. May dents pa din kahit ilang beses ng ginamitan ng mist."

"Another problem, huh?"

Nilagay ko ang kamay ko sa likod ko, "Can we try that? It is only temporary."

Why is he so tall? Hindi man lang ako nabiyayaan tulad ni Clea. Hmp!

Ang hirap tumingala. Tantsa ko ay nasa 5'9" siya samantalang ako ay 5 flat.

"Sure, why not." pagtango niya.

That's why we are here. Noong una ay nakakahiyang tumapak sa personal space niya but he insist. Kung sakaling may mapansin ako sa ginagawa ay sabihin ko lang.

Nakapasok na kaya si Soleil dito?

Pinakita na ba sa kanya ni Mason ang espasyong ito?

All I know is he is interested in her before me. And then... Kumunot ang noo ko sa naisip.

Soleil is classy and beautiful. Hindi ko maiwasang ikumpara ang sarili ko sa kanya. Though we are close. Hindi ko lang naisip na may magkainterest pa pala sa akin.

"Hey. Brianna... What's wrong?"

Bumalik ako sa realidad ng makita ang mukha ni Mason. Concern is in his eyes.

"Nothing. May sinasabi ka ba?"

Kinapa niya ang noo ko, "Wala ka naman sakit."

Stop! Remove your hand on my forehead. Please.

Mom might be seeing this. Baka magpadala siya ng espada sa pagitan naming dalawa ng lalaking ito.

He is closer to my face but not too close.

"Uh, yeah." I laugh akwardly.

Focus Brianna! Masisira na ang camp niyo wag mong unahin ang landi. You know your priorities and this one is not part of it.

"It is finished."

Already? Ang bilis naman niya. What do I expect from Hephaestus son? Nimble and fast hands that moves precisely when building things.

Isang maliit na metallic box ang nakalagay sa lamesa. Iron and bronze makes it look like a junk na hindi papansin ng kung sino man. The small antenna emits an infrared light.

"Wow." mangha akong nakatingin sa gawa niya, "I can't believe it."

It is light-weight and fits into my palm.

We test it with one a single branch outside. As expected from him. Gumawa ng ito nakakaalarmang tunog nang tamaan ng sanga ang pulang ilaw.

He created six more para itanim bukas sa perimeter ng camp. Since malaki ang buong lugar. Tomorrow we will put it into action.

"Thank you." I told him after that.

"For everyone's safety." he smiles small at me.

Yeah. For everyone's safety, "For the camp."

"And for—"

Hindi ko naintindihan ang huli niyang sinabi. It came out a whisper. But I saw his lips move small barely opening them.

Mason and I got talk to Sir. Atheo. He is also looking for solutions to fix the barrier.

"Tapos na po ang alarms and I suggest that we have patrols." saad ko.

"Patrols? May alarms na tayo." He asks.

"Only for the night." Mason joins us, "We can communicate in the morning since we are awake."

I keep pushing my idea, "We can use the hippogriffs for aerial monitoring, Sir."

"I see." napahawak siya sa baba niya, "Inner and outer security."

"Yes, sir." sagot namin ni Mason.

We have the alarms for ground monitoring, aerial monitors in the morning, and night patrols by three's. For everyone's safety.

Kinabukasan ay inayos ang pagkakalagay ng mga alarm. They were placed five yards from the perimeter around camp premises.
Nagsimula na din ang pagpapatrol.

"When are we heading to Japan?" tanong ni Clea.

I swallowed my food, "As soon as possible."

"Aww, sana sa inyo na lang ako." sabi ni Rosaleen. She badly want to go to Japan. "Uuwi kayo ng buo ha. Balita ko madaming gang at yakuza doon."

"Sure." I smile at her.

"Will bring you a souvenir if we can." Mason chimes in.

Napahawak sa dibdib si Gareth, "The statue speaks!"

"Did you eat something delicious?" malokong tumingin si Cyrus sa kanya.

Kaito holds his laughter.

Nasamid ako dahil sa paglipat ng tingin niya sa akin. Bumara pa yata sa lalamunan ko yung sandwich. A glass of juice appeared in front of me.

Mabilis kong ininom ang juice. I want water pero okay na ito makahinga lang ulit. My eyes are watery from choking and I feel hot on the face.

Kumalma ako pagkatapos noon. Gasping and gulping some air to breathe in.

Gods, I want to kill Apollo's son.

Right now!

Ah, I have an idea! Pinunasan ko ang labi ko bago ngumiti at magsalita.

"Let's train after this."