Thieves Of Olympus

13

LIONEL

We went Quezon-bound to look for souvenir and antique shops nearby. All that there was were distancing neighbourhood of houses. Nagtanong-tanong na din kami ni Cyrus sa mga local na matagal ng nanunuluyan dito.

He won't stop blabbering, too, since then. Other than the information from the town's people, his was the least I need right now.

"Hindi mo ba talaga nakita yung—"

I glared at him. Sana pala ay nagdala ako ng packing tape sa bag ko. Maingay na siya simula ng dumating kami sa dorm hanggang dito ay dala niya ito. I have to use ear plugs just to sleep at night.

There are other things worth bothering for.

"Dapat pala si Desmond na lang ang kasama ko," ngumuso ito na parang bata, "Pwede din naman si Soleil na lang," pilyo nitong dagdag.

My brows furrowed, "Tsk, you wish."

I heard him mumble the words "possesive", "label", at "ligaw." Kung pwede lang siyang iwanang malamig ang bangkay ay ginawa ko na. Ares will be glad but it might cause another war among the gods. Their issue: Demigods killing each other.

"Just shut up, focus on the mission."

"You're a boring mission partner."

The exhausting heat from the sun did not help with his rumbles. Lalo lang naging nakakapagod ang paghahanap namin. Bumili kami ng mga inumin sa isang tindahan malapit sa pwesto namin. Matanda na ang tindera yet she is able to entertain our questions.

"Manang may alam po ba kayong nagtitinda nito?" Cyrus showed the printed picture.

Nanliit ang mata ng matanda kahit nakasuot ito ng salamin. Siguro'y malabo na din ito kahit nagagamit pa. She squinted more kaya binigay na ni Cyrus ang picture.

"Ahh tambuli. Sandali hijo."

"Tambuli?" naguguluhan naming tanong.

"Sungay ng kalabaw na ginawang instrumento," she explains, "Ganito ang itsura hijo," dagdatg niya.

Pinakita niya sa amin ang tambuli o sungay ng kalabaw. It has a black color, rough texture, small hole at the back and a larger one in front. May nakatali din sa dulo nitong pangsabit. Yes, it looks similar but it is not. The horns are from the same family of bulls only the cornucopia is more ancient. Coming from the time of Hercules itself. It was a dark ivory like appearance almost smooth to the touch and larger than what we have. Also curvier in form.

"Salamat po, manang!" sinauli namin ang sungay sa kanya.

She referred us to someone called Mang Nestor. A carabao farm owner and an antique collector.

Isang kahoy na tarangkahan ang nakita namin. Pinagsamang yero at barbwire ang nakapalibot na gate sa bahay na bato. Maingay din ang asong tumatahol sa bahay at sa kapit-bahay. The blazing sun only made us uncomfortable waiting. I let Cyrus do the talking, he won't stop anyway.

"Tao po!" tawag niya, "Tao po? Mang Nestor?"

Carabaos graze at the large backyard. May kabayo din sa di kalayuan sa bahay. Tila manok din ang nasagot sa amin.

"Tao po? Mang—"

A mid 40's man came out. Hawak ang tasa ng kape ay lumapit ito sa amin. He is almost bald pero mukhang masayahin ito. Contented.

"Pasok kayo mga, hijo." he shushed the dog, bago buksan ang gate, "Ano ang atin?"

Naupo kami sa kawayang upuan, "May itatanong lang po kami. May nagturo po kasi sa amin na mahilig kayo sa antique."

"Ay oo, teka gusto niyo ba ng kape o maiinom?" masiglang alok niya.

Kape? Hindi ba siya naiinitan?

Cyrus nudged me, "Lionel." he chuckles lighly, "Pagpasensyahan niyo na po dala lang po ng init. Tubig na lang po."

The dog smells our knees while wagging it's tail at Cyrus noong umalis si Mang Nestor. Nilabas nito ang pangil pagdating sa akin.

"What?" kunot noo kong tanong dito.

"Bisita tayo dito, okay? Chill!" he reminded me, "Tignan mo pati aso ayaw sayo."

Chill? Olympus is slowly crumbling, our camp is at stake tapos chill! I should've sent this idiot away from us! Soleil will be better than this demigod with me!

Mang Nestor entertained us. Giving us drinks and showing his collected antiques. He is a warm host, welcoming us in his home. Tambuli, carabao horns, are displayed on glass cabinets... but not the Cornucopia.

We bowed and bid our goodbye. Cyrus also bids goodbye to the friendly dog on our way out. Sa huli ay wala kaming napala. Bumalik kami sa van waiting for Desmond and Cole. We decided to eat lunch after meeting them. I took the wheel from Desmond, he is a keeper not a driver.

Lucky them, they knew where the item is and who has it. Also, what are the chances you'll see a reminder of your past?

The girl from the portrait in their dorm... is here...  lives as a clueless mortal. Nakikipaglaro pa yata ang tadhana sa amin. Is this the Fates trick to delay our mission?

Hindi namin naubos ang pagkain dahil umalis si Desmond. Walang pasabing tumayo sa lamesa kaya nagiwan na lang kami ng pambayad. Wala pa sa kalahati ang pagkain namin ay umalis na kami.

"Nainitan lang ako sa loob," he said.

Napabuntong hininga si Cyrus, habang tahimik si Cole. Ang maitim niyang mga mata ay misteryosong kumikinang.

Hinayaan namin siyang magpahinga. Mukha siyang pagod at nakakita ng multo. Ako na ang nagmaneho paalis.

Sino nga bang hindi matatakot kung makikita mo ang taong matagal ng patay ay humihinga pa? Walking and talking, smiling too!

Maybe one doesn't seem so scared. Because Cole is used to seeing death, mas naeexcite pa yata siya kapag may namamatay. For she told us that the undead and souls are her nannies and playmates when she was a child.

"What's the plan?" I ask, eyes on the road.

"We will trace his location first, saka natin siya hahapin. Steal the my father's stuff and get back to the camp," her unblinking eyes checks her phone.

Missing someone? I thought.

"Bro, okay ka na?" Cyrus tap's Desmond.

He nods at him, smiling, "Yeah, dala lang siguro ng init ito."