Chry's Point of View

Kanina ko pa inoobserbahan itong si Heshiena. She's silent, and seemed distance herself away from others. Pero kung tinatanong siya, sumasagot naman siya. Her eyes were like an ocean, it's deep. Kapag tumingin ka sa mga matang 'yon, tila ba'y may humihila papunta sa kailaliman ng kalungkutan. Despite of those, there's still a hint of hope within her eyes.

She intrigued me.

"I'm in!" Napagulong ako sa aking mga mata nang marinig kong sumigaw nang malakas si Ace. "Basta libre niyo." He then laughed devilishly. Dahilan para sapakin ko siya sa ulo.

Napatingin ulit ako kay Heshiena. Sa mga oras na 'to, nakakunot ang kaniyang noo. She seemed teetering between two different courses. My guess, marahil ay kung sasama ba siya o hindi.

"Heshiena, are you in too?" sabik na sabik na tanong ni Violeta.

Of course, children of the goddess of beauty would be interested on going to the mall. And since Ace is here, mukhang may magiging ka-vibe na si Violeta sa mga kaartehan niya.

"But I have no―" Before she could complain, Violeta quickly grabbed her hand.

A scornful expression instantaneously plastered upon her face. But her scornful face disappeared when she saw Violeta's sweet smile. Ilang segundo lamang siyang nakatitig kay Violeta bago siya bumalik sa reyalidad. Seems like a simple gestures touches her heart.

Sa mga oras na 'to, naglalakad na kami patungong mall. The mall were located few meters away from the academy. Minutes have passed, we arrived. Nabaling ulit ang aking atensyon kay Heshiena. Her mouth fell half-open.

Pikit at dilat ang ginawa niya, habang nakatingin kung gaano kalaki ang mall.

"May tom and jerry merchandise kaya sila rito?" Napatingin kaming lahat kay Ace nang magtanong siya kay Violeta.

I silently scoff.

"Like seriously, Ace?" Napailing ako sa narinig mula kay Violeta.

"Huwag ka ngang mag-react ng ganiyan, Violeta. Nahiya naman ang barbie collection mo kay Ace." Tumatawang saad ni Fuego.

"Shut up, Fuego!" asar na asar na sigaw ni Violeta.

Dahil sa pamumula ng pisngi ni Violeta ay mas lalong tumawa nang malakas si Fuego. Violeta likes to collect barbie merchandise. Ace, on the other hand, like to collect tom and jerry. Like sister, like brother.

Great!

Well, they both really prove that they are siblings. They have the same taste when it comes of collecting stuff. Though, Ace is more like childish from head to toe. 'Yong parang showy siya at sobrang kulit. Malayong-malayo sa ugali ni Violeta.

"Really?"

Napamura ako sa sarili ko nang makitang nag-puppy eyes si Ace. Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib. The hell was that?

"Ugh! Fuego talaga!" Violeta growled.

I saw Violeta's eyes glowed, it's as if threatening Fuego to stop. Subalit, sa halip na matakot siya, tinawanan lamang niya ito. Hindi ko na lamang sila pinansin at piniling igala ang aking paningin sa kagandahan ng paligid.

Hanggang sa unti-unting nagiging visible sa paningin ko ang pigura ng isang aurai na kalalabas lang ng mall. Habang may dala-dala itong isang maliit na cartoon box.

"Excuse me," magalang na approach ni Ace.

Huminto ito sa paglipad at tiningnan si Ace nang nakangiti. "Yes?"

"May available po ba kayong tom and jerry merchandises?" puno nang pananabik na tanong ni Ace.

Tumango naman ito at nagpaalam na umalis na. Pumasok na kaming lahat sa mall habang nakamasid lang ako sa kilos ng mga kasama ko. Nasa kay Heshiena lang ang mata ko. Tila ba'y wala siyang ganang mag-mall kasi nakabagsak 'yong balikat niya.

Lumiko ako at naglakad patungo sa bookstore. Pagkarating ko roon ay hindi na ako nagulat nang makitang nauna pala sa akin ang dalawang anak ni Athena na sina Blaze at Nkri. Pareho silang nasa psychological, architectural, at war biography section.

I just shrugged. Nilagpasan ko lang sila at diretso sa action-romance section ng mga libro. They didn't knew I am into this kind of genre. Dinampot ko kaagad 'yong libro na inaabangan ko. This is the last installment of the book series I recently read.

Diretso kaagad ako sa counter at binayaran ito. When I finally got what I wanted, lumabas na ako. Nakita ko pa ang dalawa na nandoon pa rin sa lugar kung saan ko sila nakita kanina. They were busy talking with something. Mas mabuti na ring ganito na hindi nila ako napansing pumunta rito.

"Hindi ka ba bibili?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Violeta kay Heshiena nang makabalik ako sa lugar kung saan ko sila iniwan.

Nahihiyang tumingin si Heshiena sa kaniya. "Wala naman akong dalang pera," sagot niya. Napailing ako. She really don't know anything.

I heard Violeta chuckle. "Come with me," she insisted.

Naglakad naman palayo si Violeta dahilan para kagaad na sumunod sa kaniya si Hesheina. Sumunod ako sa kanila papuntang counter. Nagtatakang tumingin si Heshiena kay Violeta nang i-angat nito ang kaniyang kamay.

"We want to check the account of Heshiena, please." Nakangiting pakiusap ni Violeta doon sa aurai na nasa counter.

Napatingin ulit si Heshiena sa kaniya nang naguguluhan. Kasabay ng pagkunot ng noo niya. Pero ang kaninang naguguluhan niyang ekspresyon sa mukha ay napalitan ng paghanga nang kunin ni Violeta ang thumb finger niya. At iniligay doon sa finger scanner.

"Balance of Heshiena is two hundred thousand euro, ma'am," magalang na saad ng aurai habang nakatitig pa rin doon sa screen ng computer. She then glance at Heshiena. "That is eleven million, six hundred seventy-four thousand, and nine hundred seventy-five in Philippine peso." I was surprised after I heard the next thing she said.

Damn, kalahati lang diyan 'yong akin kumpara kay Heshiena.

I heard Heshiena cuss in surprise. Her eyes even grew twice wider. She then gives Violeta her wandering look. "H-how?" she stuttered.

"Remember the claiming ceremony?" Sa halip na sagutin siya ni Violeta, sinagot siya nito ng isa pang tanong. When Violeta saw her nod, she continued. "That's when you received that amount. Receiving grace from our deity isn't just about power, or different kinds of deadly weapons, but they also provide financial support to sustain your daily living. You can even buy everything you want, because you'll receive grace once again every school year."

Heshiena's mouth fully opened. Violeta then told her to buy everything she wanted. Excited Heshiena quickly excused herself with a wide smile plastered upon her lips.

"So, you are spying now?" Biglang sulpot ni Violeta sa likuran ko.

Napagulong kaagad ako sa aking mata. Dahil sa pagiging focus ko kay Heshiena, hindi ko na namalayang nawala pala si Violeta sa lugar kung saan siya nakatayo kanina.

"I am not. Just observing her," naiinis kong sagot at naglakad palayo sa kaniya.

Pero naramdaman ko ang presensya niya na nakasunod sa akin. Mas lalo akong nainis dahil sa mga mahinhin niyang mga tawa.

"You do know I have the ability of empathy, right?" she asked. I give her an uninterested nod. "I could hear your cold heart beating slow. And from that moment, I already knew it was you."

I ignored her. Napabuntonghininga ako nang maluwag nang tumahimik siya. But I bid my goodbye when I decided to go first. She just give me a nod and an assurance smile.

☽ ♆ ☾

Hingal na hingal silang pumasok sa classroom. Habang ako naman kanina pa nag-e-enjoy sa katahimikan. Pagkaupo nilang lahat sa kani-kanilang upuan ay siyang pagdating ng aming second teacher. The new Anostatos looked at him from the head to toe.

Heshiena, Ace and Dash's eyes slowly grew wider.

"What the—" bulalas na saad ni Dash.

We heard our teacher chuckle in amusement. "I guess, the new Anostatos are wondering what kind of creature I am, yes?" The four of them nodded as a response. "I am a satyr, half-goat and half-human. We were characterized for ribaldry and known for being lovers of wine, dancing, music . . . and women. We are companions of the god Dionysus." Nakangiti pa ring saad nito.

Napatango sila. Maliban na lamang kay Heshiena na diretso sa sahig ang tingin niya.

"My name's Crispin. I am the only satyr who became a teacher. The rest of my kind are searchers. My kind are working for the academy and go out into the world to search for demigods," pagpapakilala niya.

Since I am uninterested with this subject, pinili ko na lamang na matulog sa buong time period ng Understanding the Self. Wala namang ibang pag-uusapan kundi ang sarili. And I hate it when others starting to ask about myself.

Wala namang maganda sa buhay ko.

☽ ♆ ☾

We are all here at training room. Tapos na rin kami sa unang subject namin ngayong hapon which is physical education. Naglaro lang naman kami ng volleyball. Well, I enjoyed it. Maybe because we won against the new Anostatos.

And as of this moment, we are now attending our last subject. Honestly, kanina pa ako naiinis at nababagot. It's been minutes have passed, we haven't still started. Ito pa naman ang paborito kong subject.

"Are you sure that you don't have the ability to manipulate water since your father is the god of the sea?" teacher Michael patiently asked Heshiena.

Nakita ko naman siyang umiling habang kinakabahan.

"That's not true. You just didn't know how to start or how to use your ability," teacher Michael disagreed.

Napabuntonghininga ako sa inis. Lumabas ako ng training room without teacher Michael's permission. Tinungo ko ang favorite training spot na nasa likuran ng academy. Maraming kakahuyan dito. At sinamaan ako ng tingin ng mga wood nymphs. I glared at them back, the reason why they back off and swallowed.

They don't have to worry. Hindi ko naman sisirain ang mga kahoy. I will just create a fake clone opponent using my aerokinesis ability. I created five opponents, and they are all wearing golden armor, a sword and a shield. I raised my left hand and generated powerful hurricanes.

They sky darkened quickly. The thunder were drumming and the lightning were dancing beyond those dark clouds. Umihip nang napakalakas na hangin. My opponents starting to charge while raising their swords. Nang matangay sila ng ipo-ipo ay walang kasing-bilis na naglaho sila nang parang bula.

A smile plastered upon my lips. But, it quickly faded when I saw one opponent remained unharmed with my hurricane. Sumugod siya. Kaagad kong iniwala ang ipo-ipo at nag-summon ng scepter, the first grace I received from Zeus.

When he reached me, he tries to slash me using his sword. But instead, sinangga ko ito sa hawak-hawak kong scepter. Umikot ako sa kaniya't ibinaon ang dulo ng aking scepter mula sa kaniyang likuran dahilan ng kaniyang paglaho. Napadaing ako ng kaunti nang maramdamang may dumamping espada mula sa aking braso.

Galit akong lumingon at doon ko nakitang may natira pang isa sa mga kalabang aking ginawa. Tinadyakan ko kaagad siya sa sentro ng kaniyang tiyan. Dinadaganan ko siya. At walang pag-alinlangang pinugutan siya ng ulo.

"You are good at fighting, huh."

Napatigil ako nang marinig ko ang boses ng lalaking 'yon. Tiningnan ko siya. Hindi nga ako nagkamaling siya. Nakasandal ang kaliwang braso niya sa isang kahoy. Nakatingin sa akin na manghang-mangha.

"What are you doing here?" Kalmado kong tanong, restraining myself to lose my temper.

Namutawi kaagad ang mapaglaro niyang ngiti. I was taken aback but I immediately withdrew it. "Following you?" I looked at him in disbelief after hearing his response. "You seem irritated earlier. Your heartbeats tells me everything," he added.

So, he's here just to tell me that?

"Tsk." Iyan lamang ang lumabas sa aking bibig.

Dahil sa kaniya, nawalan kaagad ako ng gana. Naglakad na ako palayo sa kaniya, pero talagang mapilit siya.

"I didn't mean to disturb you. Just continue, please," he pleaded.

First thing first, I hate when someone interrupt me. At dahil sa inis na kanina ko pa nararamdaman, hindi ko napigilang patamaan siya ng kidlat. Static Shock, that's one of my abilities. Nakita kong napaluhod siya sa lupa matapos ko siyang patamaan.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw the wound I've caused on his arm. Bigla na lamang humina ang tibok ng puso ko nang makaramdam ako ng tensyon sa pagitan naming dalawa. Tumingin siya sa akin. Bumungad sa akin ang malademonyong kulay ng kaniyang mga mata.

Royal pink. Nagtagis ang aking bagang. I won't allow him to intimidate me by his eye color.

"How dare you!" When I heard him yell those words, very Aphrodite. "You wounded me, you insolent woman! You will regret messing up with me, daughter of Zeus."

I hate to admit it, but his voice sends chills down my spine. Because of that hit, I triggered his evolution. An ability evolution. It means, when his abilities are triggered by something, he will go rampage.

It is also means, hindi pa niya kontrolado ang abilities na meron siya.