Chrysos' Point of View

A sigh escaped from my lips, while my eyes were still sticking at the ceiling. Ginawa kong unan ang dalawang kamay ko habang nakatitig sa kisame. I don't have the strength to get up. Dahil mas gusto ko munang magmukmok sa kuwarto ko.

I was also quick to shove the thought away. Bumangon ako ng kama at dumiretso sa bathroom upang manghilamos. Tumingin ako sa table clock at napagtantong pasado alas siyete na pala ng umaga. After breakfast na lang siguro ako maligo.

As I got outside of my room, nakita ko ang mga girls na nakasabay ko sa paglabas.

"Good morning!" masiglang bati ni Violeta.

The other girls greeted her back. Me, on the other hand, I nodded at her as a response. Si Heshiena naman ay nanatiling tahimik. Sabay-sabay kaming bumaba ng hagdan. Violeta went straight to veranda. Nkri and Blei went to the living area. They even agreed to open the T.V.

Habang ako naman ay dumiretso sa kitchen upang magtimpla ng kape. At kumuha ng slice bread. Hindi ko rin kinalimutan ang mayonnaise na gustong-gusto kong ipalaman. Nang paalis na ako ng kusina ay siyang pagpasok naman ni Heshiena.

Nagkatinginan kami sa mata. But she was quick to avert her gaze. Tahimik siyang naglakad, habang ako naman ay nilagpasan siya. Dumaan ako sa living room. Nadatnan ko pa sina Nkri at Blei na nagtatawanan dahil sa pinapanood nila.

Iniling ko na lamang ang aking ulo bago pumunta sa veranda. Muli na naman akong napailing at napabuntonghininga nang makitang tinitigan na naman ni Violeta ang kaniyang sarili sa salamin. Hindi ko na lamang siya pinansin at umupo sa bakanteng upuan.

"Want some?" I asked.

She looked at me quick before looking back to the mirror. "Later," she said with a smile on her face. Pero mabilis ding nawala ang ngiti niya dahilan para magtaka ako. "Heshiena," she mentioned the name.

"Ace and I always felt her." Tinignan ko siya habang nilalagyan ng palaman ang slice bread na dala-dala ko. "She always had this negative emotions she always carry on her shoulders. It's as if it is engraved in her heart for eternity," she shared.

I didn't disagree. Kahit na hindi ako anak ni Aphrodite, kapansin-pansin na talagang may dinadala siyang mabigat na pinagdaanan. Kapansin-pansin din sa mga kilos niya.

She's no like me. She always distance herself away from people. Though, ganoon din naman ako minsan―most of the time, I mean. Pero sumasagot naman ako kung may nagtatanong sa akin. O 'di kaya'y nakipag-usap, pero may limitasyon ang mga salita ko.

Heshiena, on the other hand, her mind always seems beyond reach.

'Yong taong palaging malalim ang iniisip. She even rarely shows emotion, except yesterday. Gotta admit, she's terrifying when she burst out in anger in unexpected way.

"Do not think of any solution, Violeta," I warned her.

She looked at me in disbelief. "But―" she tried to insist but I cut her off immediately.

"Give her time."

Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa. I take a big bite to my sandwich before leaning my back to the chair. Subalit nagkatinginan na lamang kami ni Violeta nang makita naming papunta sa cabin namin ang academy director.

Pareho kaming natatarantang tumayo sa pagkakaupo't sinalubong ito sa harap ng pintuan. We heard a knock before Violeta opened the door herself.

"Good morning, Miss Aqua," Violeta greeted her.

She smiled. Dahan-dahan itong pumasok sa bahay. To our surprise nasa likuran niya pala ang babaeng nakalaban namin noong nakaraang isang gabi. When our eyes met, napayuko siya ng kaniyang ulo.

I saw her bit her lower lip before playing her own nails. Napaatras kami ni Violeta nang biglang nag-inspection si Miss Aqua. That made my forehead furrowed. Sina Blei at Nkri naman ay napahinto rin sa kanilang ginagawa.

"Your intention of coming here, Miss?" I asked her with a cold tone.

Napahinto siya sa pagtingin sa paligid. Her disappointed eyes directed to mine. We stared at each other. And no one seems to declare defeat. She caught off guard when we heard Violeta cleared her throat. I teasingly smiled at her that made her look at me in disbelief.

"No matter," she said. She gestured her hands towards the girl we fought the other night. "I would like to introduce the new member of this cabin." Tumikhim si Miss Aqua para kunin ang atensyon ng babae.

She raised her head and made an awkward smile upon her lips. "My name's Maria Theresa Banate. I was claimed as Erin, daughter of Eros," pagpapakilala niya.

Pareho kaming nagkatinginan ni Violeta. Kapuwa rin nakakunot ang aming noo. She's the daughter of Eros? Impossible. Eros and Psyche is mutually faithful to each other. And if she's really the daughter of Eros, bakit siya inilagay dito sa cabin namin?

For heaven's sake, Eros is a minor god. Nahinto ang pagtinginan namin ni Violeta nang marinig naming tumikhim si Miss Aqua.

"Erin had two deities," Miss Aqua said. Ang pagkunot ng aming noo ay mas lalong dinoblehan dahil sa sinabi niya. "That made her ichor in her system equals to the criteria of being an Anostatos," she explained.

Tumingin si Miss Aqua kay Erin nang nakangiti. "Would you like do the honor to introduce yourself completely, Miss Erin?"

Erin slightly nodded as a response.

"I am the daughter of Eros. My mother is also the daughter of Hermes," she said.

Pareho kaming nagulat ni Violeta. For the first time, we had a member that didn't directly descendant of a major deity. At kahit na ilang taon na ako rito sa academy, ngayon ko lang ito nalaman na posible pala.

"At bakit ngayon lang namin ito nalaman, Miss Aqua?" Hindi ako makapaniwalang tanong sa kaniya.

I heard Miss Aqua said. "Unang nagkaroon ng ganitong klaseng demigod ang academy twenty-five years ago, Chry," she answered without averting her gaze upon my eyes. "Noong panahon ko pa bilang isang estudyante."

Miss Aqua's eyes drifted to another direction. Dahilan para lahat kami ay mapatingin sa tinitignan niya. To my surprise, si Heshiena lang pala ang tinignan niya na kalalabas lang ng kusina. I saw Heshiena slightly bowed her head as a sign of respect to Miss Aqua before excusing herself.

"Her name is Melis," Miss Aqua whispered. Pero rinig ko pa rin. "Zeus prohibited us to―"

Nahinto si Miss Aqua sa pagsasalita nang biglang kumulog at kumidlat nang malakas sa labas. Fear was quick to plastered upon her face, but her anger prevails. Dahilan para magtaka ako sa inasta niya.

"Alright! Alright! Geez!" she said in annoyance, it's as if she's talking to the sky. Her eyes once again drifted to us. And made an awkward smile. "To be part of Anostatos, of course, a demigod should've the blood of a major deity. And since Erin's mother is a daughter of Hermes, an Olympian, that makes her ichor sixty percent," she explained once again.

I saw Violeta nodded. Habang ako naman ay nanatili pa ring tahimik. Thinking of what my father prohibits Miss Aqua to say something about the demigod named Melis. Nahinto ako sa pag-iisip sa bagay na 'yon nang maglakad ito papalabas ng pintuan.

"Treat her well."

When she bid her goodbye and her figure lost in our sight, our attention averted to Erin. She was so surprised when Violeta hugged her. Habang ako naman ay napailing. Violeta, as usual, offers her a handshake.

"My name's Violeta, daughter of Aphrodite."

The girls starting to introduce themselves to Erin. Ako naman ay bumalik sa veranda upang ipagpapatuloy ang breakfast ko. Ang kaninang pagkulog at kidlat sa labas ay bumalik ang magandang panahon ngayong umaga.

While sipping the coffee, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang isipin ang posibleng bagay na ayaw ipagsabi ni Zeus sa mga bagong demigods. And what's with the demigod named Melis? Is this connected to the rebellion that the Olympians were afraid to happen it again?

A couple of minutes later, tumayo na ako sa pagkakaupo. Hindi na nakabalik si Violeta rito sa veranda. Marahil ay tino-tour niya si Erin sa bahay. As I entered the living area, nadatnan ko ang lahat na nakikinig kay Erin. Including ang mga lalaki.

Heshiena is in the corner of the living area, as usual, few inches away from the crowd. Iniling ko na lamang ang aking ulo. Naglakad ako nang diretso patungo sa kusina, subalit nahinto lamang ako nang marinig ko ang sinabi ni Erin.

"My father, Eros, is held hostage by Eris." Eris, the goddess of discord. She's the goddess who is one of the involved in the Trojan War. And what the hell is her business with the god of erotic love, affection, and desire? "Eris killed my mother." A cracking voice escaped from Erin's lips.

I heard her scoff. "My mom always tells me about a place where demigods can be safe. Hindi ko akalaing totoo pala 'yong sinabi niya," she said in disbelief and sadness. "I couldn't forgot that she said she was recruited by a satyr to attend a school for people like us. But she refused dahil ayaw niyang iwan ang may sakit kong Lola."

Magpapatuloy na sana ako ng paglalakad nang muli ko na namang narinig ang sinabi ni Erin, na nagpatigil sa akin.

"Psyche is the reason why Eris killed my mother. That led to her husband's abduction." I could trace an anger in Erin's voice.

I understand her part. And I also understand Psyche's anger. Her once a faithful husband suddenly betrayed her. I scoff scornfully. Bakit pa ba ako nagulat? Pare-pareho lang naman halos lahat ang mga Greek gods.

Nagpatuloy na ako sa paglalakad patungo sa kusina. Pagkarating ko'y nadatnan ko si Fuego na naghahanda ng agahan ng iba. Nang mapansin niya ang presensya ko ay tumingin siya sa akin. He greeted me good morning, and I only responded him a nod.

"As far as I can remember, Eros and Psyche are mutually faithful to each other, right?" Narinig kong tanong niya habang hinugasan ko ang baso at kamay ko.

"Not anymore," I answered emotionlessly.