Zuki's Point of View

The cloven elders didn't hesitate to kneel while bowing their heads. The elders on both the other sides are skinny, except for the one on the middle. Napahawak ako sa aking baba. Is this the reason why they summoned us? To personally meet Lady Heshiena?

All of us, well, of course, except Chry, looked at Heshiena with a wide smile.

She, on the other hand, was embarrassed. It warms my heart, honestly. Sinasabi lang nito na hindi pa talaga siya sanay sa pagbabagong nangyari sa buhay niya. And it's the most natural reaction I've ever seen.

"We're fully honored with your presence, Lady Heshiena," Silenus said.

The fat cloven elder was about to say something when Chry clicked her tongue to interrupt. The three satyrs looked at her displeased. They all hissed, and walked back to their stone chairs. Napailing na lamang ako.

Ipinag-krus naman niya ang kaniyang mga braso. "I wasn't notified we were summoned just to hear your flowery words," she commented.

Leneus hissed. Unti-unting umaasim ang kaniyang mukha. I gritted my teeth to restrain myself from bursting out laughing. The usual Chry. Madaling mainip. Plus, she hated sugarcoated words. She prefer to be specific, and straightforward.

"Chry . . ." Heshiena called her name.

Chry casually ignored her. The cloven elders were surprised.

"Now," madiin niyang saad, "state your business or we will return to the academy," pagbabanta pa niya. "I am the captain, talk to me directly."

Leneus once again hissed so angrily. But the brothers immediately told him to calm. Pinapaalalahanan nila ito kung kaninong anak si Chry. He never listened to his brothers, instead he continued looking at Chry as if she's some kind of spoiled little demigod.

Chry being Chry. She looked at him back dead seriously, twice as intimidating as his. And apparently, he averted his gaze. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Chry's victorious smile instantaneously plastered upon her lips.

Maron cleared his throat to break the tension that seemed to continue to linger in the air.

"Well," he said. Inayos niya muna ang kaniyang pagkakaupo't muli kaming tinignan sa mata. "You were summoned for a one particular reason," muli niyang wika.

"Our searchers found four demigods in the mortal realm," Silenus continued. Therefore, our eyes drifted to him. "Three in St. Francis Academy ―" he paused.

"And one in Nangka National High School." It was Leneus who continued. "These two schools are located in the Northwest part of Cebu."

We were so attentive. Trying not to miss out any information of why we were summoned here in the Sacred Forest. The others nodded. Chry's forehead furrowed. She's still wasn't convinced. And I am either.

"We were notified that these two schools will be having a field trip together," Maron said nonchalantly. "But!" his voice suddenly became nervous. "The satyrs, who found these four demigods of your age, sensed a danger they couldn't handle alone."

And that's what I'm waiting for.

"You mean, this is our mission?" Chry finally threw them a question. Surprisingly, the three of them nodded as a response. "All the eleven of us? Including a goddess?" she asked.

I get it why she asked those questions. I mean, truly, our class would handle it successfully by sending half of us. To think of it, Chry is already powerful. There's Blei, as well as Mavros. The three of them were the offspring of the Big Three.

Plus, there's Lady Heshiena. A new born goddess who descended from Poseidon, Lord of the Seas, and Artemis, the goddess of wilderness.

"Are you mocking us?!" I wasn't surprised when Chry's voice suddenly raised. Lady Heshiena was startled by that. "We can handle anything by sending half of us! You don't need to send the eleven of us when there's that traitor of a bastard who destroyed our realm running free!" he added.

The ambiance went silent. The new Anostatos were surprised by what they witnessed from Chry. This is their first time to witness how fit Chry is to be the leader. How determined she is, and how naturally she is when it comes to leadership.

She may be a woman of few words, but she put all the trust in her team's abilities.

"That's not what we meant by sending the eleven of you, daughter of Zeus," Maron is the one who spoke. "Our searchers sensed there's not only two monsters in both schools, but dozens of them."

Nalaglag ang panga ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Dozens of them?! That many for a four demigods? If that means, they may be an offspring of a major deity for them to be able to attract various monsters.

"Monsters sometimes took the form of a mortal to disguise themselves till they get what they want," Sileneus commented. "Fortunately, these monsters hadn't made contact with these four demigods yet. Which means, they'll strike the day of the field trip," he continued.

Chry remained silent, it was then followed with her deep sigh.

"The realm will be under satyrs and centaurs surveillance while you all are gone on a mission," said Leneus. "I've heard the hunters and amazons will arrive later this evening."

Blei gasp. "That's quite a relief, don't you think, Chry?"

"We'll leave at dawn," Chry frugally said, and without saying a word, she immediately excused herself.

☽ ♆ ☾

Napapangiti at napapailing ako nang marinig kong sabay-sabay na napabuga nang malakas ng buntonghininga sina Ace, Blaze, at Dash. Tinitigan nila pareho ang kisame. Tila ba'y kagagaling lang nila sa isang nakaka-surpresang sitwasyon.

"Was she always like that, Zuki?" tanong sa akin ni Ace.

I couldn't stop myself but smile widely. Hindi na ako nagulat pa kung si Chry ang naging dahilan ng kinikilos nila ngayon. Kasi napapansin ko ring gano'n din naman sina Nkri, Erin, and Lady Heshiena.

"That's why she's the captain," I answered. "She's cool, right?" Binatuhan ko siya ng isang tanong, habang hindi pa rin nawawala ang nakangisi kong labi.

Ace impetuously nodded, "and hot," he whispered.

Too bad, I heard it. It seems like Blaze and Dash heard him too when they burst out laughing. Dahil dito ay nahawa na rin ako sa dalawa. Napalingon ang iba sa amin na nasa kusina. Ace, on the other hand, realized what was happening.

Pinamulahan kaagad siya ng pisngi, dahilan para mas lumakas ang tawanan namin. Mabilis niyang tinakpan ang kaniyang mukha. I scoffed.

He's so adorable in the name of Olympus!

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Dash's shoulder disappointingly dropped. Maging si Blaze rin. Because Chry wasn't here for them to teased her. Akala namin dumiretso na ang babaeng 'yon sa bahay, pero wala. Marahil ay nagpunta iyon sa opisina ni Miss Aqua.

Time went so fast.

The others went immediately to their rooms after dinner. Some were still in the living room to watch T.V. Lahat masaya dahil punong-puno ang tiyan. Thanks to Fuego of course! Minsan napapatanong ako sa sarili ko: Hindi ba napapagod ang lalaking 'to?

I mean, mabibigat kaya ang trabaho sa armory. Tapos sa halip na magpahinga pag-uwi, diretso kaagad siya sa kusina. Fuego is the one who enhance the academy's spherical barrier, and strengthen the defenses. I can't imagined how draining it was for him.

But still, he was able to put a smile on his face.

I bid my goodbye to Blaze, Dash, and Mavros who are still in the living room. Si Erin naman ay nasa kusina, naghuhugas ng plato. Habang ako naman ay papunta na sa kuwarto ko. I have to prepare as well. Para mamaya hindi na makakaabala sa pag-alis naming lahat.

As I finally entered in my room, sumalubong sa akin ang kadiliman. I switched on the lights, and I was greeted with my twin sister's picture frame. Nang maisara ko ang pintuan ay dinampot ko ito't niyakap.

Naglakad ako sa patungo sa kama.

"Bitawan mo ang Mommy ko! I thought you are―"

Napasinghap ako nang muli na namang dumaan sa utak ko ang mga masasakit na alaala. Ang mga dahilan kung bakit nasira ang pamilya ko. At kung bakit nawalay ako sa kakambal ko. Oh, how I wish I could turn back time.

"Akala mo mabait akong tao? Of course not! I am just pretending to be one to get what I want from your family! Nandito ako para nakawin lahat ng yaman niyo!"

Till now, vivid pa rin sa mga alaala ko ang rebelasyong isinigaw niya sa mismong harapan namin. I scoff sarcastically. Apollo told me that my sister is still alive. Pero hindi ako maniniwala hangga't wala siya sa aking tabi.

Hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin mawala ang konting galit ko para sa kaniya. If he was there, he could've save my mom. He could've save all three of us. Napangiti ako nang mapait. He can't because he's a god. He can't meddle with mortal's affair.

And yet! They love to screw them.

We were so young at that time!

"Mazuki, tumakbo ka na! I can save myself! Hahanapin kita saan ka man magpunta! I will follow you even in unending darkness!" Mabilis kong pinunasan ang luhang kumawala sa aking mga mata. Lumunok ako ng laway. "Because there's always light over darkness, right?"

I snorted with a flood of tears in my eyes.

"I will find you too, ate!" Muli akong lumunok ng laway, "and I will be waiting for you."

I did tried to find her. I never gave up. Most of my time, ginagamit ko ito para hanapin ang kakambal ko. Sa tulong ng mga satyrs. Pero hanggang ngayon wala pa rin akong makuhang impormasyon sa kaniya.

This mission!

And these four demigods of our age that the cloven elders mentioned, I am hoping deep down that Mayumi is one of them. That this is the time where I can finally reunited with her.

I raised the frame, and looked at her picture. She's smiling so widely. I know you may not be the person who I used to know, but I'll be there to accept your every flaw.

Ibinalik ko ang portrait sa lamesa. At muling bumalik sa kama upang matulog na. Nagising na lamang ako sa mga sunod-sunod na katok. Lumingon ako sa wall clock na nakasabit malapit sa ibabaw ng closet ko.

It's already past one in the morning.

I didn't waste any time. Bumangon na ako't dumiretso sa banyo upang maghilamos. When everything is done, dinampot ko na ang bag na nasa gilid ng lamesa. Nadatnan ko ang lahat sa labas ng aming dormitory.

Tumambad sa aking harapan ang tatlong sasakyan. Napansin kong may mga tents sa school grounds. At sa likuran naman ng academy, kung saan paborito ni Chry mag-insayo. I would love to say hi to Reann, but there's no time.

Napatingin ako kay Blei nang ngumuso siya. Kinunutan ko siya ng noo. Pero muli siyang ngumuso kaya't lumingon ako. There I saw Xsanter. His hair is still messy. Marahil ay kagigising lang ng isang 'to.

Natawa ako sa hitsura niya. Sinimangutan lang niya ako bilang pagtugon.

"You don't have to wake up to send me off, babe."

This time, kinunutan niya ako ng noo. "Pwede ba 'yon?" He then hugged me tight. Yumakap ako pabalik sa kaniya't napapikit. "Be careful, okay?" he said.

Kumawala na kami sa pagyayakapan matapos niya akong halikan sa noo. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya, at tumango bilang tugon sa sinabi niya.

"Zuki!" tawag sa akin ni Chry.

Natataranta akong napatakbo patungo sa pangalawang sasakyan. Narinig ko namang tumawa si Xsanter. Nang makapasok ako ng sasakyan ay sumalubong sa akin ang mapang-asar na ngiti ni Fuego, na nasa driver's seat. Sa tabi niya naman ay si Erin.

Mukhang magiging third wheel ako rito, ah.

Fuego caught my reaction. He just stared at me through the rearview mirror. I snorted, at sinundan ito ng mahinang pagtawa. The car's engine came back to life. Sumilip ako. Xsanter was still in the place where he was. Nginitian ko siya. Kinawayan ko kaagad siya.

He waved back with a sweet smile plastered on his lips.

"I love you," he mouthed.

"I love you too," I mouthed him back.

Hanggang sa nawala na siya sa paningin ko.