Heshiena's Point of View

Sinuot ko na ang ball gown na binili namin kahapon sa mall. Habang tinutulungan ako ng tatlong aurai na maghanda. Dumating sila kanina sa dorm house. I guess, each of us has its assistant to help us prepare. Especially, us, girls.

"You are beautiful, milady," bigay puri ng isang aurai na nasa aking tabi.

I smiled at her as a response. She took care of my make up. But I requested to wear a light foundation on my cheeks, a maroon colored lipstick, at kaunting blush on. Habang 'yong dalawa naman ay itinali ang aking strap sa likod. Slight showy ang likuran ko kaya kitang-kita ang mark sa likod ko.

"Hindi namin mawari ang iyong kagandahan minsan, milady." Napatingin naman ako sa aurai na nasa tabi ko. I give her a confused look. "What I mean is, sometimes your beauty is the beauty of the twelve Olympians. I don't know why, but it is what it is."

I possessed the beauty of the twelve Olympians? What does that mean? Or perhaps, a compliment?

"Thanks?" I awkwardly said.

Minutes later, I am done. Lumabas na ako ng room ko't pagkababa ko palang ng second floor ay nakita ko na silang lahat na naghihintay sa akin. They were all stunned to see me. Bumagsak kaagad ang aking mata sa sahig. Naramdaman ko kaagad ang pag-init ng aking pisngi.

But a couple of seconds later, tumingin ako sa mga suot nila. Chrysos, daughter of Zeus, was wearing a black lipstick, light blush on, and an intimidating elegant gold gown. Napunta ang aking atensyon kay Blei.

She's wearing a simple make-up and an ocean blue v-tube ball gown. Napansin kong hindi siya mapakali. Tama nga ang sinasabi nila. She's a shy queen. Violeta, on the other hand, were wearing a pink lipstick, with her light ocean blue gown. Kitang-kita naman ang cleavage niya't may turtleneck pa ang gown niya.

There's nothing wrong with her outfit. I think she's sexy and hot. Well, it's pretty obvious where she inherited that beauty. Lastly, Nkri. She was wearing a mild red lipstick. Dark gray naman ang kaniyang gown na may kulay blue with sparkling crystals as a design.

And now, I am wearing fitted gown na hanggang tummy. At tube rin ito na may slit sa gitna ng aking dalawang dibdib. The color of my gown is pink with flowers as a design. The color of the flowers is the combination of the four colors: pink, purple, ocean blue, and moon silver. Sinamahan ko pa ito ng six inches stilettos na suot-suot ng aking paa.

Actually, us, girls were wearing six inches stilettos. When I am done observing the girls, pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang boys. They are all looks fine: handsome and masculine. Ace was wearing a pink tuxedo. Sa ilalim naman ng kaniyang blazer ay suot niya ang puting polo. While 'yong lower niya ay kulay black. His necktie were stripes, combination of the two colors: white and pink.

Si Fuego naman ay nakasuot ng nagbabagang blazer. Puti rin ang polo niya sa ilalim nito. His necktie is as red as fire. And his lower is a black slacks and a shiny leather shoes. Si Dash naman ay nakasuot ng kulay green na suit. Well, at least almost. Ang kulay wheat brown leather shoes lang ang naiiba sa kaniya.

Si Blaze naman ay nakasuot ng dark gray blazer, white polo sa loob, at dark blue na necktie. His slacks also a plain dark blue. Si Zuki naman ay nakasuot ng golden blazer, at golden necktie. Black naman ang kaniyang polo, slacks, at leather shoes.

And lastly, Mavros. He is wearing all-in-black formal wear. From his polo, necktie, blazer, slacks, and leather shoes. He wears a silver necklace with a skull pendant.

He looks eerie yet . . . handsome. Nagulat ako sa sinabi ng aking utak. Did I just called him handsome? Isinawalang-bahala ko ang thought na 'yon at tiningnan sila isa-isa.

"As always, you look gorgeous." My face instantaneously flushed in red when I heard him complimenting my beauty.

It's actually overwhelming. Because it is my first time to receive a compliment. I never had those experiences in my eighteen years living here on Earth. What did I receive? Of course, bad luck! People around me make fun of me. They think of me as a weird person who always distances myself away from people.

Well, of course, people are being people. They will judge you based on what they see. I mean, we can't just base our judgment on what we see. Instead, we should base on knowing and learning the story of that person.

"T-thanks." Nauutal kong sagot. Sumunod kong narinig ang tumitiling si Violeta, at si Ace naman ay nakatingin sa amin nang nakangiting malapad. "We all look pretty fine though," nahihiya kong komento.

They all just smiled.

"Let's go," malamig na sambit ni Chry.

Nagsilabasan na kami ng dorm at lahat ng nadadaanan namin ay napapatingin sa gawi naming lahat. At dahil dito, dito na nagsimula ang bulong-bulungan. A smile quickly plastered upon my lips.

"They are stunning."

"Gorgeous and handsome."

"Heshiena's beauty really did stand out among them."

Ngumiti na lamang ako sa hiya. I mean, I am not really used this kind of attention. Most of my life before was living in the shadow. Trying to distance myself almost everything. Dahil sa takot na sa tuwing ma-a-attached na ako sa isang tao o bagay, saka naman sila kukunin sa akin.

And that fear is still with me.

Papunta kami sa ballroom, at hindi ko alam kung saan 'yon. Tahimik kaming lahat na naglalakad sa hallway, maliban na lamang kay Ace. Dada kasi siya nang dada. Kwento siya nang kwento tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay kay Chry. Kahit na obvious na obvious sa mukha ni Chry na hindi siya interesado, patuloy lang siya.

Sa kalagitnaan ng paglalakad, sinalubong kami ng isang lalaki. Huminto siya sa harapan namin at nag-bow bilang pagrespeto sa amin. This kind of gesture is also one of those things that I am not used to. The students pay respects to us. Just because of one reason; we are an offspring of a major Greek deities.

"My name's Xsanter, the direct descendant of Khione, goddess of snow. I am the escort of Zuki, son of Apollo," magalang niyang pagpapakilala sa kaniyang sarili. "Hi again, Nkri, daughter of Athena," nakangiting bati niya kay Nkri.

"Hey." Nakangiting bati rin ni Nkri pabalik sa kaniya.

Zuki was surprised. "So you two have met?" he asked the two. And they both nodded as a response.

Pagkatapos ng pagtatagpong 'yon, naglakad ulit kami. Chry said we are already there. Diretso lang ang aming lakad. Kanina ko pa napapansin na hallway lang aming dinadaanan. Sa sobrang taas ng kisame dito ay talagang masasabing mong palasyong-palasyo ito.

Seconds after, tumambad sa aking harapan ang red carpet sa labas ng isang nakabukas na room. Tila parang nakasilip ito. Pumasok kami roon. And my mouth quickly fell upon the floor because of what I saw. The floor were widely open.

May hagdanan pa pababa.

I silently gasped when I realized. Therefore, the ballroom were located under the school's premises. If we say, under, that means we are going to my father's palace? I don't know yet. Pinahinto muna kami sa isang satyr at pinauna ang mga estudyanteng Mesi Magna at Chamilos Magna.

Pinagpila kaming lahat. Nasa unahan sina Chry at Ace. Kasunod naman sina Violeta at Fuego. Pangatlo ay sina Nkri at Dash. Pang-apat ay sina Zuki at Xsanter. Panglima ay sina Blei at Blaze. At panghuli ay kaming dalawa ni Mavros.

When the satyr confirmed everything is fine, he gesture his hand to let us enter. The stairs are made up of pure gold. My heart keep on pounding, and my lips can't stop from smiling. Nang makababa kami ay tumambad sa akin ang napakalaking gintong pintuan.

Napatang-tango ako. There are actually glass windows that prevent the water from entering this section. A slight disappointment quickly runs in my mind. I thought I could see my father's realm.

"They are beautiful," puri ko sa mga isda.

"Yes, they are," sang-ayon naman siya sa sinabi ko.

Isang satyr din ang nagbabantay sa napakalaking pintuan. Kasing laki ito sa claiming hall. Couple of seconds later, he opened the door. Dumaan ulit kami sa isang madilim-dilim na pasilyo. We take turn on our right.

Tumambad sa amin ang iba't ibang klaseng disenyo. There is a mini-staircase with a five stairs in total. Nilagyan nila ito ng red carpet. Sa hawakan naman ng hagdan ay nakapulupot roon ang mga flower vines. A smile plastered upon my lips. The flowers are real.

Nakangiti lahat ng estudyanteng nakatingin sa amin. May iilan ang humanga sa aming kasuotan at kagandahan. Everyone's attention quickly averted to the stage when emcee suddenly speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you the offspring of the major gods, the class of Anostatos. It consists of old and new ones!" Energetic na sabi ng emcee. "First, we have Chrysos, the daughter of Zeus, and Ace, the son of Aphrodite!"

I cannot believe it. May grand entrance pa talaga? Sosyal! Pumanaog na ang dalawa, habang si Ace ay hanggang tenga naman ang ngiti niya. At si Chry naman ay ganoon pa rin ang ekspresyon na suot-suot niya sa kaniyang mukha.

"Ang guwapo ni Ace, 'no?" rinig kong puri ng isang babaeng naka-dress na kulay light brown. Narinig ko siya dahil malapit lang ang table niya sa kinaroroonan namin.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Ace looked at the girl who just complimented him. Binigyan niya ito ng flying kiss. Parang pusa naman itong nagtitili dahil sa kilig. Sa ekspresyon naman sa mukha ni Chry, tila ba'y handang-handa na niyang kitilan ng buhay ang babae.

Another smile plastered upon my lips. Nagseselos kaya siya? Meron na kayang nabubuong pag-ibig? I mean, I don't have a blood of Aphrodite, but it says the other way around. Whatever that is, I am certain there's something happened with Chry.

"Ang ganda rin ni Chry, 'no? Kaso nga lang kasing sungit din siya ng kaniyang ama," rinig na rinig ko ulit ang binulong ng isa pang babae na katabi ng babaeng pumuri kay Ace.

Kita ko naman si Chry na umirap. At kaagad na ibinalik ang blankong ekspresyon sa mukha niya. As usual.

"Next in line, we have Violeta, the daughter of Aphrodite, and Fuego, the son of Hephaestus!"

Namayani ang bulong-bulungan ng mga estudyante rito sa loob ng hall. Habang si Violeta naman ay taas-noong naglalakad sa red carpet na nakapulupot sa braso ang kamay niya kay Fuego. Sinabayan pa niya ito ng isang matamis na ngiti.

"She's gorgeous."

"Yes, indeed. But, girl, they all look fine though."

Ngumiti ako nang mag-isa. Iniyuko ko ang aking ulo at diretso sa sahig ang aking tingin. They showered us countless compliments. And I am not really used to that kind of appreciation.

Hindi ko na lamang napansin na tinawag na pala sina Nkri at Dash. Naglalakad na silang dalawa sa red carpet papunta sa table na hinanda para sa amin. Namayani ang walang tigil na palakpakan sa loob ng hall na 'to.

"Next, we have Blei, the daughter of Poseidon and Blaze, the son of Athena!"

Ganoon din ang ginawa ng dalawa. Si Blei naman ay mahinhin niyang inilagay sa likuran ng kaliwang tenga niya ang iilang strands na buhok na nabagsakan. Kapansin-pansin din ang mahiyaing ngiti ng kaniyang labi. Blaze, on the other hand, seemed fascinated of what he just saw.

"Second to the last, we have Zuki, the son of Apollo and his escort Xsanter, the son of Khione!"

Mas lalong lumakas ang palakpakan. Kasabay ng bulong-bulungan ng karamihan. May mga naririnig pa akong manang-mana si Zuki kay Apollo. They said Apollo had multiple male lovers. I was flabbergasted, of course, but just for a seconds.

The left side, I've heard the name Adonis as Apollo's lover. Adonis is the Prince of the island Kypros who was loved by the god Apollo. The gossiper even said that Adonis was described as androgynous, acting like a man in his affections for Aphrodite, and like a woman with Apollo.

May narinig din ako na included din daw si Hyakinthos. He is the Prince of Lakedaimonia who was loved by the gods Apollo and Zephyrus. He was accidentally slain by Apollo in a game of quoits and transformed into a flower.

On the right side, they mentioned the name Hymenaios. He is the Prince of Magnesia in Thessalia. Lastly, they also mentioned Kyparissos. He is the Prince of the island Keos. When he died of grief over the death of a pet stag, Apollo transformed him into a cypress tree.

"Lastly, we have Heshiena, daughter of Poseidon and Mavros, the son of Hades!"

Ang kaninang nagbulong-bulungan ay huminto at ibinaling ang kanilang atensyon sa aming dalawa ni Mavros. We both looked at each other and a slight smirk plastered upon his lips. I quickly averted my gaze.

Nabigla ako dahil biglang tumahimik ang lahat. They are all looking at us, specifically on me. Their forehead quickly furrowed. I've noticed boys are looking at me as if I am some kind of chick they can easily go out with.

Ang noo ko naman ang kumunot nang makita ko silang umiwas ng tingin. And the next thing I found out, Mavros was furious. I don't know why. Isinawalang-bahala ko na lamang 'yon at taas noong naglakad.

Nang makarating kami sa table ng Anostatos ay umupo na kaming dalawa ni Mavros. He even pull the chair for me. Seconds later, a man with a half-body of a horse walking towards the emcee. Nang makalapit siya sa emcee ay nginitian niya ito. The emcee smiled back and handed him the microphone.

He looked at everyone and stopped his gaze in our direction. He slightly bowed his head. "Welcome students for another school year!" he shouted with a microphone in his hand.

The students yelled in excitement.

"But of course, welcome to those new students that had been claimed by their deity. I am sorry for my absence during your claiming ceremony for I've been summoned by Zeus in Olympus on the same day," his sad voice echoed in this spacious ballroom. "Rest assured you will have all your freedom to experience this kind of activity. Let the ball party begin!"

When everyone heard his last sentence, they all yelled in excitement. Tiningnan ko nang maigi ang lalaking may katawang kabayo. From the looks of him, he seems like a middle-aged man. He had thinning brown hair, bushy eyebrows, intense brown eyes, and scruffy beard. His lower half is that of a brown stallion.

Tumingin ako kay Mavros. "Mavros, who is that man?" Itinuro ko ang lalaki dahilan para mapatingin din siya.

I saw him nodded. "He is Chiron, an immortal centaur. He is the son of Kronos and Oceanid Philyra. He is also a famed trainer of heroes. I've also heard that he is the activities director here in the academy," he responded.

I mouthed him 'thank you' as a response.