Ria's POV

Demigods need a break too.

"Ah... Finally." Napapikit ako nang itapat ko ang aking likod sa bahagi ng jacuzzi kung saan lumalabas ang massage bubbles. "We deserve this." Kasabay nito ay ang pagpakawala ko ng stress na naipon ko simula pa nung first day of school. Alam kong hindi lang ako ang nakaramdam ng pagod dulot ng mga pangyayari kaya naisipan kong dalhin yung girls dito pagkatapos ng training namin.

Surprisingly, once Cesia found out where we were heading to, she offered to make it her treat. Siya na mismo ang nagboluntaryong magbayad, and she opted for the whole VIP bundle. Tapos na kaming mag facial massage, so now, nasa Jacuzzi kami to prepare for the full body massage and application of essential oils.

Wearing a pair of bronze-colored bra and undies provided by the spa, it's safe to say that each one of us is in our own Arcady.

"I told you this was a good idea." puna ko nang nakapikit.

"It tickles! Hihihi..." Art giggled. "Sobrang dami ng bubbles!"

We remained silent for one whole hour. There was no sign of tension or stress, just a calm atmosphere na namamagitan sa'ming apat. Naririnig ko pa nga ang mahihinang hilik ni Art na nasa tabi ko.

I immersed myself into relaxation. Hinayaan ko ang sarili ko na kalimutan ang mga problema na nag-aantay sa'kin sa labas. This is the only time where I can stop worrying about everything else, and I am certainly not taking it for granted.

'Hindi niyo nakikita ang nakikita ko. At maniwala kayo sa'kin, hindi niyo ito nanaising makita.'

I was already dozing off when I started hearing Kaye's voice from a distance.

'Paano ako makakatulong kung hindi niyo ako tutulungan?'

'Give it back, Ria. Please. Bago pa mahuli ang lahat.'

Nagising ako sa field ng Academy. I looked around and saw no one. Mag-isa lang akong nakatayo sa gitna. Yumuko ako nang may maramdaman akong kakaiba, na tila may humahatak sa'kin pababa. Sa laking gulat ko, nabalot ng dugo ang mga kamay ko.

'K-Kara! Art!' Sinubukan kong tanggalin ito pero mas lalo lang itong dumarami. 'Cesia!' Walang tigil ang pag-agos ng dugo mula sa mga daliri ko.

Napaatras ako nang ilang hakbang.

Bakit ito nangyayari sa'kin?

"I was informed that we will have a meeting about the preparation."

"Luh! Excited lang?"

Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang aking mga mata pagkatapos marinig sina Kara at Art na nag-uusap. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin at saka ko lang nahinuhang nasa jacuzzi pa rin ako, kasama silang tatlo, at hindi sa field.

Napansin ko si Cesia na nakatitig sa'kin, bakas sa mukha ang pag-aalala. Iniwas ko ang aking tingin at inilipat ito sa mga kamay kong nasa ilalim ng tubig, nakapatong sa magkabilang hita ko. So far, wala naman akong nakikitang dugo.

"What do you think will happen?" mahina kong tanong.

"Sa'n?" ani Art. "Sa meeting?"

I bit my inner cheek before looking at her. "I'm talking about the violence that is to take place in the Academy. The war." Sunod-sunod na lumabas sa aking isipan ang posibleng masasaksihan namin. "Expected naman siguro na mamamatay tayo."

"Ria." Kara called out my name, dahilan na bumalik yung diwa ko.

Natawa ako sa pinagsasabi ko. "I'm just kidding, okay?" I rolled my eyes at them and shook my head. "Knowing that it's our first time to fight in a war, together with a lot of creatures, I'm sure napaka-entertaining ng mangyayari." I clasped my hands in excitement. "I'm talking about blood, disfigured bodies, detached heads. What a sight it would be."

"Ah... H-hahaha..." Umusog si Art papalayo sa'kin, at papalapit kay Cesia. "Alam mo, Cesia, parang mas mabuti na rin siguro kung di tayo kasali ano?" bulong niya rito. "Gusto mo mag trip to Europe nalang tayo?"

Kumunot ang aking noo. "Oh. So you don't want to die with us? Why?" I pretended to be disappointed, kahit hindi naman talaga. Mas gusto ko nga na ilayo sila rito, at kung sakaling may mangyari sa'ming Alphas, at least may dalawang miyembro pang matitira.

"Joke lang! Hehe!" Bumalik si Art sa tabi ko. "Ang weird naman siguro kung kumakain kami ni Cesia ng gelato sa Italy samantalang kayo, nasa bingit ng kamatayan." She gave me a determined look. "Kung handa kayong salubungin si Thanatos with open arms, dapat kami rin!"

Tumango si Cesia bilang pagsang-ayon sa sinabi ni Art.

That's why we have no choice but to let them join us. Kinutuban kasi kami na hindi sila aalis kahit anong pagpupumilit namin. We only have a few days left, and even if we were able to relocate both of them to the other side of the world, we're a hundred percent sure they'll find a way back to the Academy.

"Umm... hindi naman siguro kayo galit sa'min, diba?" tanong ni Cesia. "Dahil sa pagmamatigas namin?"

"Wala na silang choice! Mwahaha!" Nag-evil laugh si Art.

Napangiti ako habang minamasdan silang dalawa.

That's my girls.

Bigla akong may naalala kaya nilingon ko si Kara. "By the way, when's the celebration of the lunar goddesses again?"

"Next week, Thursday." sagot niya. "Based on my lunar calendar that says it should be on Friday, they moved the celebration a day earlier."

"Of course." I nodded. "Of course, they would."

Gaganapin ang celebration earlier than expected, in order to fully prepare the Academy. To extend the travel time of students who chose to go home and not participate in battle, to make sure that the school's barrier and defense systems are maximized for any of the anticipated attacks, and to finalize everything.

"Excuse me, ladies." Pumasok ang isang aurai na may dalang mga tuwalya. "It's time for your body massage."

Nagsitayuan na kami at isa-isang kumuha ng tuwalya mula sa aurai at itinapis ito.

"Per the request of Lady Cesia, we have prepared the most expensive essential oil in the world, the champaca absolute essential oil, not just known for its unique fragrance, but also famous for being a powerful aphrodisiac. Shall we?" Sinenyasan kami ng aurai na sumunod sa kanya.

Sabay kaming napatingin kay Cesia.

"U-Uhh... may pinaamoy kasi silang essential oils sa'kin, tas pinapili nila ako kung alin daw yung pinakanagustuhan ko." pagpapaliwanag niya.

"You did, and you chose the best one." ani Kara.

"An aphrodisiac? Really?" A light-hearted laugh escaped my lips. "That is so Aphrodite."

Hindi ko alam kung ako lang ba ang nakakapansin pero habang tumatagal, unti-unti ring nagbabago si Cesia. There's something about her that makes her more and more compelling every time you look at her, and I can't help but admire.

Sana nga lang ay hindi niya namana yung selfish traits ng deity niya. Sobrang sayang kung gano'n, and instead of being the bestest of friends, we might end up as enemies.

• • •

We were on our way back to the classroom to meet up with the boys when we were stopped in our tracks. Bigla nalang kasing sumulpot si Sir Glen sa harapan namin.

"Ria, Kara, you are tasked to welcome the troops that are scheduled to arrive starting tomorrow." pagbibigay-alam niya. "They're the creatures that volunteered to help us. My assistant will personally deliver the files to your dorm, which includes their profiles and arrival time. Okay lang ba sa inyo 'yon?"

Tumango kami ni Kara.

After our very short encounter with Sir Glen, nagpatuloy na kami sa paglalakad.

"Yun ba yung first phase of preparation ng school?" tanong ni Art. "Ang i-summon lahat ng allies natin?"

"Yes." maikli kong sagot.

"Huwah! Ang cool!" Tumatalon-talon siya habang pumapalakpak. "Magkakaroon na naman ako ng panibagong friends! Wieeee!" Tumili siya at naunang tumakbo papuntang classroom namin.

Mayamaya pa'y nakarating na rin kami. Nadatnan namin yung boys na pinapalibutan ang files sa teacher's table. Nakakunot ang kanilang mga noo habang hinahalungkat ang mga ito. The next thing I noticed was their tired eyes... and their very messy hair.

Kanina pa kami nakatitig sa kanila, ngunit ni isa sa kanila ay hindi nakapansin sa pagdating namin.

I sighed. "You see, girls? This is why a spa is important."