Thea's POV

Lumabas ako ng cr nang nakatuwalya at nakita si Cesia na natutulog pa rin. Katatapos ko lang maligo, nakapag-almusal na rin ako at nakapag-toothbrush, pero itong isang 'to di pa rin nagigising.

Sa pagkakaalam ko, sina Kara at Dio lang yung umalis kagabi kaya bakit kung makatulog 'to parang sinumpa ni Hypnos?

Umupo ako sa tabi niya.

"Cesia," sambit ko at pinatong ang aking kamay sa balikat niya. "Gising na. May lakad pa tayo mamaya."

Tinulak ko siya nang mahina. "Kung ayaw mong si Ria ang gumising sa'yo-"

Kumunot ang kanyang noo at humigpit ang kanyang pagkakayakap sa unan. "Eris-"

Napatigil ako nang mapansin na lumalalim ang bawat paghinga niya.

Dahan-dahan akong napahawak sa ulo niya. "Cesia..."

Binabangungot ba siya?

"Cesia, tapos na 'yon..." paalala ko sa kanya at hinaplos-haplos ang kanyang buhok.

"T-Thea..." Malamig ang kanyang kamay na humawak sa kamay ko.

"Mmm." Napangiti ako. "Andito ako."

Mabagal na bumukas ang kanyang mga mata. Nagbuga siya ng hangin, at pagkatapos akong titigan nang matagal, ay muling pumikit.

"Hoy!" Tumayo ako sabay hatak ng kamay niya. "Huwag ka nang matulog ulit, ano ba! Kaya palagi kang nale-late eh!"

"Bitawan mo'ko."

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata nang kusang lumuwag ang pagkakahawak ko sa kanya dahilan na mabitawan ko siya.

"Cesia!" sigaw ko.

Niyakap niya ang unan sa tabi niya at isinubsob ang mukha niya rito. "Inaantok pa ako..."

"Kung maka-antok, akala mo-" Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko nang may biglang pumasok sa isipan ko.

Unti-unting namuo ang isang ngiti sa labi ko. 

"Lumabas kayo ni Trev kagabi, 'no?" tanong ko.

Bumalik ako sa tabi niya at sinundot-sundot ang balikat niya. "'No? 'no? 'no?"

"Mmm."

Napasinghap ako. "Gago! Totoo nga!"

Humalakhak ako nang todo. "Sabi ko na nga bang may tinatagong kalandian 'tong si Trev!" Mabilisan akong tumayo at sinuntok ang hangin. "Kailangang malaman ng iba 'to-"

"Thea."

Lumipat ang aking tingin kay Cesia na binigyan ako ng nagbabantang tingin.

"Joke!" Binaba ko ang kamay ko. "Pero sa tingin ko di ko na kailangang sabihin, eh..." Pinadalhan ko rin siya ng nagbabantang ngiti. "Kung di ka pa babangon diyan."

Napabuntong-hininga siya saka umupo.

"Anong oras na?"

Dumako ako sa harap ng malaking cabinet sa kabilang dako ng kwarto. "Oras na para tulungan mo'kong pumili ng damit."

Kinuha ko ang isang spaghetti strap na dress at isang romper. Yung dress, ay dark green na may lace sa dulo ng skirt, samantalang yung romper naman ay caramel-colored at may pagka-puffy na sleeves.

Umikot ako at ipinakita kay Cesia ang mga ito. 

"Bagay naman yung dalawa sa'yo, eh..." inaantok pa niyang sabi.

"Alam ko," sagot ko. "Kaya alin yung mas bagay?"

Narinig ko ang mahina niyang tawa bago tumayo at lumapit sa'kin. "Yung pinakabagay sa'yo..."

Sa laking gulat ko, nilagpasan niya lang ako. May kinuha siyang isa pang damit mula sa wardrobe.

"Ay ito." Itinapat niya sa'kin ang isang sundress na kulay bronse at may layered skirt.

Agad kong tinapon sa higaan ang mga damit na nasa kamay ko at hinablot yung damit na napili niya para sa'kin.

"Thank you Cesia!" Lumundag-lundag ako papunta sa mahabang salamin sa tabi ng pinto.

Binigyan niya ako ng isang malambot na ngiti. "Maliligo na ako," paalam niya. "May mga accessories ako kung kailangan mo, Thea, nasa suitcase ko lang, pati make-up."

Oh diba? Di ko na kailangang magdala ng mga pampaganda kapag si Cesia ang kasama?

Humagikgik ako.

Mabuti nalang talaga at siya ang kasama ko sa kwarto. Eh ito pa rin yung suite na ginamit namin noong huling beses kaming pumunta rito at magkasama sa kani-kanilang mga kwarto ang mga kasal na, pati na rin sina Kara at Dio, since ikakasal na rin naman sila.

At kung kasama ko si Cesia sa iisang kwarto, ibig sabihin, magkasama naman sina Seht at Trev.

"Tangina mong Trev ka, ah-" Bumubulong-bulong ako sa inis habang nagsusuot ng damit. "Anong punto ng pag-iibang kwarto kung magsasama pa rin naman sa gabi?"

Nang makaayos na ako ay yumuko ako sa tabi ng suitcase ni Cesia at binuksan ito. Bahagya akong napapikit dahil sa silaw nang salubungin ako ng nakahanay na mga alahas at perlas.

Napamura ako sa pagkamangha.

"Cesia!" sigaw ko. "Ba't di mo sinabi sa'kin na dealer ka pala?!"

Seht's POV

Greek coffee has never been the same.

I took a sip of the white cup and glanced at the girl sitting in front of me. She was laughing so hard a few crumbs of bread flew out of her mouth.

Natawa ako nang mahina at napailing.

While Matilda and Kaye are still window shopping for baby clothes, the rest of us decided to stop by one of the cafes near the market to wait.

We were seated outside, beside the bustling street.

"She's going to melt, Seht." I heard Dio whisper beside me.

"Ah," I leaned back on my chair and still didn't take my eyes off of her. "But I do have the ability to melt things, don't I?"

He chuckled. "Well..." He raised his cup of coffee. "Can't deny to that."

"Dio," I turned to him. "How did you do it?"

He settled the cup on its saucer. "Do what?"

"Propose," I said, almost to a hush.

"Mmm." Pinaningkitan niya ang kanyang kape. "I-" He pursed his lips for a moment, before looking at me. He leaned closer and whispered, "I actually didn't."

Kumunot ang aking noo. "What do you mean? You said-"

"I lied."

Mas lalo akong nagtaka sa sinabi niya.

"It was Kara who proposed," he said. "But don't get me wrong, I was going to propose. I was going to ask her.... kaso, inunahan niya ako."

My mouth formed an 'oh'.

"Strange," puna ko.

"It was unusual," he agreed.

Then, we both laughed, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Twinny?" usisa ni Art. "Anong meron?"

"Nothing," I answered with half a grin on my face.

"It's already late in the afternoon at wala pa rin yung dalawa," ani Ria. "Should we start looking for them?"

"You don't have to," Trev lazily stirred the cup of coffee in front of him.

"Papunta na sila rito," dugtong ni Cesia na may kasamang matamis na ngiti.

No one had to ask how the both of them knew.

Trev, who had the ability to control the mist can look for anyone in places where the mist reaches, which is basically everywhere. Cesia, on the other hand, can detect heartbeats for gods know how far.

The fact that the two of them can use their abilities without anyone sensing, already speaks volumes of their power to control.

Biglang nag-ring ang cellphone ni Chase kaya sabay kaming napalingon sa kanya.

Binunot niya ito mula sa kanyang bulsa. Sasagutin na niya sana ito nang makatanggap siya ng nakakamatay na tingin mula kay Ria na nakaupo sa tapat niya.

"You said you weren't bringing your phone." sabi nito sa kanya.

Lumitaw ang isang kabadong ngiti sa mukha ni Chase, saka niya hinagis ang cellphone. Sa sobrang lakas ng pagtapon, nagkahiwa-hiwalay ito sa gitna ng kalsada.

"Wala nga," aniya.

Ria, looking contented, shrugged and joined the girls in their conversation.

Meanwhile, Chase turned to us with a sarcastic smile. "Ang saya ng buhay mag-asawa, mga tol." He gave us a thumbs up. "Highly recommended."

Cal raised his cup of coffee as if to agree.

It was my phone's turn to ring, though it didn't, because I set it on silent. It just vibrated while in my pocket.

Tumayo ako. "Excuse me."

I walked further until I could only see them in the corner of my eye. I held the phone beside my ear after accepting the call.

"Yes?"

'Seht,' Doctor Liv's voice greeted me on the other side of the line. 'I just sent you a layout of the clinic for renovation.'

"I'll open it when we get back."

I heard her laugh. 'At this point, it's not a clinic anymore. It's an entire hospital.'

Natawa na rin ako. "It's what we'll need."

'I also need you to sign a few papers ASAP. It's about the transfer of supplies... and mine.'

Napatigil ako. "Yours?"

'My transfer.'

"I'm sorry, I don't remember you transferring-"

'That's why I called. Gusto kong sabihin sa'yo bago mo makita ang resignation letter na kasama sa mga papeles na ipinadala ko.'

"Is it..." My voice trailed off. "Is it already signed by the principal?"

'Yes, and it also needs your signature, Doc.'

"Why?"

'Because I wrote your name as my successor.'

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa, dahilan na marinig ko ulit ang tawa niya sa kabilang linya.

'Come on, Seht. You shouldn't be surprised.'

"No-"

'You've been working with me ever since you arrived in the Academy and I know how dedicated you are, that even though you weren't the one gifted with the ability to heal the deepest wounds or resurrect the dead, you still have the heart to heal others.'

"Olivia..."

'The Academy needs a chief physician like you, Sebastian.'

Napalunok ako.

'And what I need... is to take a break and look for another purpose.' She giggled. 'And maybe, god-willing, a loving husband that I can start a family with.'

A smile formed on my lips.

'It's not too late, you know?'

"You're right," sang-ayon ko. "It isn't."

'I've already spent an entire lifetime in the Academy, Seht. I think it is time for me to step outside its walls and live a little.'

I took a deep breath, preparing myself to agree again.

"Mmm." Nakapamulsa ako. "You deserve it, Liv."

'Alright. I'll see you, then,' paalam niya. 'Congratulations, Seht, and it's an honor to be the first to say that to you.'

Slowly, my hand fell on my side. I leaned my head back to look at the clouds in the sky, wondering if I had it in me to help... to manage... to cure... and to lead.

Matilda's POV

"Lola!"

Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Chase pagkarating namin ni Kaye sa table nila.

"Here." Marahas kong sinampa sa kanya ang bags na bitbit ko. "Be a dear and don't let an elderly woman carry them."

Sinimangutan niya ako bago tanggapin ang mga ito.

"Woah, ang dami," puna ni Art.

"Kaye emptied an entire shelf." I sighed. "I'm not kidding."

Lumapit si Cesia sa'min na may dalang dalawang brown paper cups.

"Coffee," She handed one to me, then another to Kaye. "Hot chocolate."

Tinanggap ko ito. "Thank you."

She's such a godsend.

"Pupunta sana tayo sa Lycabettus Hill para panoorin yung sunset eh, pero mukhang hindi na tayo makakaabot..." Nginitian niya kami. "Kaya bukas nalang."

"Ang tagal niyo kasi," ani Chase.

"Kung pwede lang sanang gumawa ako ng portal kaso-" Cesia chuckled bitterly. "Hindi pa ako nakapunta do'n. Nakakagawa lang ako ng portal kapag nakita ko na nang buo yung lugar na pupuntahan ko."

I continued to stare at her.

Portals...

I held my head high and grinned. "We can make it."

"Pass." Itinaas ni Thea ang mga kamay niya. "Nakakapagod na kayang umakyat ng bundok!"

"Oh no," I shook my head. "We're not walking."

Nakatanggap ako ng nagtatakang tingin mula sa kanilang lahat.

"Kaya mong gumawa ng portals?" tanong ni Kaye.

I grinned knowingly.

What they didn't know, is that it only takes me to call on one god to summon a portal.

"I can't, but he can." Ngumuso ako sa direksyon ng lalaking nakatayo sa likod nila. He wore a white button-down shirt and black pants. His brown leather shoes were as shiny as his silver watch. He also wore silver rings on his fingers.

From his hands, my eyes shifted to the large tattoo that ran on the entire length of his left arm.

"You called?"

Inangat ko ang aking tingin at nginitian siya. "Kailangan namin ng portal."

"Hi, Dad!" bati ni Kaye sa kanya.

Biglang nabuga nina Ria at Thea ang kape na iniinom nila. Napatigil naman si Kara at napaatras nang isang hakbang si Cesia.

"Thanatos?" ani Dio.

The god sighed. "Where do you want to go?"

"Lycabettus Hill." sagot ko.

He gave me a bored look and with one flick of the hand, shadows gathered under our feet. I let out a subtle gasp when it pulled us from the surface.

Darkness immediately filled my senses, though I can still feel that I was standing on the ground.

Sa sandaling humakbang ako, bumalik ang liwanag sa aking paningin.

I was surrounded by an orange sky, with specks of blue and pink. The clouds walked, so what's left of the rays of the sun could run behind them, like light spilled on a painting.

"It's..." It took me time to take in the magnificent view. "It's beautiful."

"Seht! Picture-an mo nga ako!"

Narinig ko ang tinig ni Thea mula sa likod ko ngunit hindi ko pa rin nagawang mailipat ang atensyon ko mula sa tanawin.

I stood in awe, because who wouldn't feel weak at the sight of true beauty?

After a few minutes, I finally noticed the presence beside me.

"You've been here?" tanong ko kay Thanatos nang hindi siya binabalingan ng tingin.

"I have," sagot niya. "I have also brought someone here before."

Napalingon ako sa kanya at nakita siyang nakatingin din sa kawalan.

"Not to watch the sunset..." His voice softened. "But the sunrise."

The way he speaks about that someone... I can't help but ask, "Who was it?"

His eyes fell on the buildings of Athens. "Kaye's mother."

"She looked at every sunrise the same," dagdag pa niya. "She loved every one of it."

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't know you had a history with this place-"

"I haven't been here since she passed away." Yumuko siya, at namuo ang isang mapait na ngiti sa labi niya. "Perhaps it is time to be here, again."

Binalik ko ang aking atensyon sa lumulubog na araw. "Why did she love the sunrise?"

"She never told me," he replied. "And I never asked."

Napangiti ako. "Why do you think she loved it?"

Sinundan ito ng katahimikan. Ilang sandali pa'y narinig ko siyang humugot ng malalim na hininga at pinakawalan ito.

"She loved looking at the sun rise because it simply meant a new day, a new beginning, and she loved the concept of beginnings," he finally answered. "She was a daydreamer, a romantic..."

"And she fell in love with someone like you?" Hindi ko napigilang matawa.

"She wasn't afraid of me," aniya. "She loved death as much as she loved life."

Tinignan ko si Thanatos. "Is that why you also fell for her?"

Sinalubong niya ang aking tingin. "Like a shooting star."

Pagkatapos, ay napalingon ako sa direksyon ni Kaye. Nakangiti siya kasama sina Thea habang tinitignan ang nakuha nilang mga litrato.

"She must have been beautiful," bulong ko.

"She was."

I took a deep breath and smiled.

She was beautiful, he said...

And for some reason, my heart ached.

Gusto kong pagalitan ang sarili ko dahil nakaramdam ako ng sakit nang sabihin niya 'yon.

Of course, he'd say that. He's talking about Kaye's mother. Damn it. And she's already dead. 

Which just makes me worse. 

Hindi dapat ako masaktan sa tuwing pinag-uusapan namin siya ni Thanatos.

Gods.

How selfish have I become?

"You're not jealous of someone dead, are you?"

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. "No!" sigaw ko. "What the-" Napahalakhak ako. "No way!"

"Matilda-"

"Please," seryoso kong sabi sa kanya. "I'm not."

Pinaningkitan niya ako. "I still love her."

Mabilis akong umiwas ng tingin. "I-I know."

"I loved her then and I still love her now."

I didn't say anything. I was too focused on blinking away the tears forming in the corner of my eyes.

"I still see her every time I look at my daughter."

Napalunok ako.

Why the hell am I on the verge of crying?

"But I don't see her in every sunrise anymore, Matilda."

Napatigil ako.

"I see you."

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng panghihina.

"I still love her. I will always love her..." saad niya. "-the memory of her."

I looked back at him, tears threatening to spill. "Thanatos-"

"I will never love someone the exact same way I loved her, but love does not have to be the same."

Kinuyom ko ang aking mga palad. "Stop it."

"Let me speak, oracle," sabi niya. "I am not finished."

I had nothing left to do but bite the inside of my cheek.

With a corner of his lips raised, the god spoke, "You already escaped death twice, demigod. The first time, you turned into the Elysian Oracle. The second, you turned into an Omega."

"Gusto mo bang patayin ko nalang sarili ko para sa'yo?" suhestyon ko.

"You have died enough times to become immortal."

"I am not immortal."

"You are," he insisted. "Because I said so."

"Tatalon ako," pagbabanta ko.

He crossed his arms on his chest. "Go on."

I sighed, defeated. "What do you really want from me, Thanatos? Pinatawad na kita. Ano pa bang kailangan mo sa'kin?"

"You," mahinahon niyang sagot. "I want you."

"Tell that to Kaye's mother."

"I'd rather say it to Thea's grandfather."

"He's-" Napahinto ako nang bumalik sa aking isipan ang bawat sandali na nakasama ko ang lalaking kauna-unahan kong minahal.

"He's already gone..." I murmured under my breath. "Long gone..."

Isang luha ang nakatakas mula sa mata ko.

How many years has it been since I last saw him in his deathbed?

Pagkatapos, napatingin ako sa palad ko.

How long has it been since I last held him? Since I last touched him?

Inangat ko ang aking tingin kay Thanatos nang naluluha ang mga mata.

"I loved him..." sabi ko sa kanya. "And I still do."

"I know." He gave me a gentle smile.

Tinuyo ko ang aking mga luha. "Gods. I miss him."

"Matilda," sambit niya. "I can give you everything, but I can't promise the same life you had with him."

The same life I had... the same love...

Natawa ako nang marahan. "You said it yourself. It doesn't have to be the same."

Halatang nagulat siya sa sinabi ko. "You mean-"

"I want you too," sabi ko. "I love you too, Thanatos."

"Thank you," my head slightly tilted to the side. "Thank you for promising me everything, but you know I don't need it."

To be on top of a hill in Athens, to watch the sunset with the people I love...

"I already have everything." 

Inangat ko ang aking ulo nang nakasuot ng malambot na ngiti. "I've never been happier."

A gentle wind brushed in between us. Slowly, and assuringly, he raised his hand to move the strand of hair that fell on my face.

His fingers lingered behind my ear, then crawled on the side of my jaw.

"You can't kiss me," pagbibigay-alam ko sa kanya. "Not in front of the others."

We both looked at the group of demigods who stood together, wearing the same expression. They didn't dare to speak, even Thea, whose camera fell on the ground when I smiled at her.

Kasunod niyang nilabas ang kanyang mga pakpak. Isa sa mga ito'y gumalaw upang takpan kami mula sa nag-aabang na mga mata ng iba.

He was so swift I barely saw him move, but instead of kissing me, his lips lightly touched the corner of my mouth.

"I love you," he whispered close to my ear. "Terribly."

I pulled my head back to look at him. "Desperately," I whispered back.

And just like what I said, I desperately closed the space between us, pressing my lips against his. I felt his jolt of surprise, but only for a moment. He was quick to regain his stance. His hand clasped tight on the base of my face and slowly lifted it to accommodate his height.

He kissed me back, open-mouthed, and I'm suddenly brought to face a realization.

Death does not feel cold. He is warm to the touch. 

Death does not make your body numb and leave it empty. He makes you take another breath as if it's your last, and leave you unable to resist him.

People are wrong about death, except for one thing.

He was, indeed, inevitable.