Third Person's Point of View

Paglabas niya ng kaniyang k'warto ay nagawa pa niyang humikab dulot ng antok. Kagigising pa lang niya and fortunately peaceful naman ang tulog niya.

It's been days since she had the last peaceful sleep. And she was fortunate to finally be able to experience it. Lalo na't katatapos lang ng kanilang misyon.

Hindi na niya mabilang kung ilang araw na sila sa bagong mundo.

Marahil ay dahil sa daming nangyayari. First, their unfortunate first time embracing their new world. Yumi considered it "unfortunate" because of how the timing of embracing her new world doesn't realign to what she expected.

The peace she was always hoping for.

Second, everything's in chaos. Lastly, of how several times everyone speculating of everything that happened was pointed directly to Heshiena.

Hindi pa niya fully kilala ito, pero ramdam niya ang sakit na pinagdaanan nito. At ramdam na ramdam din niya kung gaano niya pinahalagahan ang grupo nila. Kung paano sila tignan ng diyosa.

She sighed softly.

And a smile gradually plastered upon her lips when she laid her eyes on the view across the second floor's wide window. Despite how the world has gone dim, nature is still capable of calming people. Capable of making them forget the things that bothers them for a limited duration of time.

Gano'n ang nagawa nito nang masilayan niya ito.

Yumi only smiled as a response.

Maglalakad na sana siya patungo sa hagdan nang bumukas ang pintuan ng kwartong kaharap niya. Iniluwa roon si Dion. Humikab pa ito habang gulong-gulo pa ang buhok.

Yumi blushed from that sight. And quickly averted her eyes in different directions.

"Oh." Dion mumbled when he realized Yumi was there. "Good morning, Yumi," he greeted her.

His forehead furrowed in confusion. Tumaas pa ang kaliwa niyang kilay. Hindi nagtagal, tumikhim ang dalaga. Tumingin ito sa kaniya't ngumiti.

"Good morning . . ."

Yumi said it in a low tone. But enough for Dion to hear it.

With that interaction, umalis si Yumi at dumiretso sa kusina. Nadatnan niyang nagkakakape si Chry. She greeted her too before passing by to prepare herself a cup of coffee. Himala dahil wala sa kusina si Fuego na lagi niyang nadadatnan. Maging si Erin na nandoon para tulungan ito.

Or perhaps she woke up too early.

Pagkatapos niyang magtimpla, dumiretso siya sa living room. But when she saw the veranda is empty—the place where Heshiena's favorite place—she chose to stay there until she finish sipping her coffee.

While sipping, hindi niya iniiwas ang tingin sa karagatan.

Naiintindihan na niya kung bakit paborito ni Heshiena ang veranda na pagtambayan. From the sound of the waves crashing against the shore quite remedy the peace that she's been longing for a while now.

Her attention turned to the fragrance of grapes that passed her by.

Hindi na siya nagtanong kung saan galing iyon nang makita niya si Dion. He was holding a mug, while mesmerizing the view in front of them.

"Don't tell me you're drinking alcohol." Natatawa niyang komento.

Dion turned his head to see Yumi. He playfully smiled and wink at her. Yumi was caught off guard by that wink. Her forehead furrowed as her heart beat rapidly.

Hindi niya naiintindihan kung bakit. Because as far as she can remember, Yumi doesn't saw him as a man. She wonders, what's the difference now?

Yumi snorted to shove the thought away.

"Are you perhaps worried if I get drunk?" Dion asked her without breaking his stares.

Yumi never hesitates to avert her eyes. Because the more she stares back, the louder her heart beats. Making the air prevents her from breathing normally.

She heard her scoff.

She silently gasped when Dion walk towards her. What left her speechless when he pat her head. Tumingala siya para tignan ang lalaki. Sumalubong sa kaniya ang matamis na ngiti nito. But Yumi didn't even flinch and responded him with her annoyed gaze.

The moment Dion saw those, he mouthed 'sorry'. At mabilis na inalis ang kamay niya sa ulo nito.

Yumi scoffed victoriously.

"I don't care if you get drunk, dumbass."

Dion managed to chuckle. Hindi na lamang niya 'yon pinansin. At nagpatuloy sa pag-inom ng kaniyang kape. Her encounter with Dion gradually faded because of the panorama. Nagpakawala siya ng isang malalim na pagbuntonghininga.

"What a beauty." Nabaling na naman ang tingin niya sa lalaki. Causing her eyes to roll in annoyance. "Just as beautiful as the woman sitting on the couch."

Halos masamid siya sa sunod na sinabi nito. She couldn't help her face but to burst in red. Nahihiya siyang tumayo sa pagkakaupo. At tinignan ng masama ang lalaki. But the more she was annoyed, the more his smile grew wider.

"Idiot drunkard." She clicked her tongue. "Go bathe yourself, idiot. You fucking stinks."

Humagalpak ito ng tawa.

Habang siya naman ay tinalikuran ito. She slams the door, but quickly regretted it when the others who already awake looks at her confused.

"Are you okay?" Tanong ni Blei nang makasalubong niya ito, kasama si Blaze.

Blaze's forehead furrowed. Napalunok siya ng laway nang pasadahan siya nito ng tingin. It seem the offspring of Athena is trying to read her soul. She cleared her throat as she trying to compose herself.

As fast as Seilo's speed, Blaze smiled playfully as he understood why she acted like that. Her red face speaks volume.

Yumi's shoulders dropped, as if surrendering of finding an excuse.

"Where are you guys going?"

Blei's face blushed.

Yumi smiled back. A reverse card indeed.

"Morning walk," Blaze precisely responded.

"Date?"

"We are."

She was taken aback of how Blaze proudly answered it loudly. The others who heard his response, teasingly whistled.

Sasagot na sana siya nang bumaba si Nkri. Nakasuot ito ng cycling short, sport bra, at sneakers. Nakasuot din ito ng silver jacket, pero nakabukas naman ang zipper nito.

"Dash!" she shouted. "Bilisan mo ang kilos mo!"

The moment Dash heard her, mabilis itong bumaba na tila pinagbagsakan ng lupa.

"Mag-jogging tayo, hindi 'yong puro hilata ka lang sa kama." Panenermon pa nito. "Hindi maganda sa health mo," dagdag pa nito.

Dash flexes his muscles. "I am healthy."

Mabilis na binatukan siya ni Nkri.

"Idiot."

Hindi magawang pigilan ni Yumi ang sariling matawa nang mahina dahil sa naging reaksyon ni Dash.

After that encounter, umalis na ang apat. While Yumi went straight to the kitchen. Napansin niyang wala na roon si Chry. Plano niya sanang kamustahin ito. She shrugged enthusiastically. Hoping that maybe tomorrow if not later she can be able to talk to her.

Hinugasan niya muna ang baso bago bumalik sa kaniyang kwarto.

☽ ♆ ☾

Blaze and Blei were having a good time.

Pauwi na silang dalawa sa mga oras na 'yon. He was enjoying watching Blei eating her favorite flavored ice cream. Every second of it, seeing Blei enjoying, he absentmindedly fell harder.

"Thank you, Blaze."

Tumango lamang si Blaze bilang pagtugon. Sumilay na naman ang malawak niyang ngiti sa labi. Blei smiled back, making his heart beat like a drum.

Sa kabilang banda, pauwi na rin sina Nkri at Dash. Pareho silang pawisan. Sa halip na mag-jogging pauwi, napadesisyonan nilang maglakad na lamang.

"Oh . . ." Dash surprisingly commented when they passed by at the rumored newly opened store. "Nkri!" Hinabol niya ito dahil medyo napag-iwanan na siya sa kanilang paglalakad. "Aren't you hungry?" Ang kaniyang tanong nang makahabol siya sa dalaga.

Nkri looked at the store he pointed to. She just shrugged.

"Right, you prefer to eat with our friends."

Nkri looked at him with arms crossed.

"Don't be discouraged, you wild plant." Nkri scoffed, it was then followed by her cute chuckle. Making Dash's face burst in red. "Maybe soon. But for now, I don't want Fuego's cooking will be left to waste. Umalis tayong wala silang dalawa ni Erin. Ibig sabihin lumabas sila—"

" . . . para bumili ng mga sangkap para sa agahan natin." Siya na mismo ang tumapos sa mga kasunod na salita ni Nkri.

The woman nodded.

Dash understood what Nkri meant.

That only means that the offspring of Athena appreciates the effort of someone.

Dumaan ang ilang minuto, hindi na nila namalayang nasa harapan na silang apat sa cabin. Kumaway pa si Dash nang makita niya sina Blaze at Blei.

But before they could open the gate, a rush of memory appeared in their minds. Making it harder to endure the pain that provides. Their eyes glowed in pink, as if a spell of someone wears off.

A memory of where they argue over something that crosses the boundaries of the other. And a memory of how pain consumes their hearts.

That situation only lasted for about a couple of seconds.

Nagkatinginan sila sa isa't isa. Kumunot ang kanilang noo sa pagtataka. Ang galit na pansamantalang nawala, muling sumabog.

An image of the goddess using the unforgivable power to force them to follow what she wants.

They thought it's their right to feel those feelings. From that moment, ramdam nila na wala silang karapatang magalit at magtampo dahil sa ginawa ng diyosa.

It's as if they don't have the rights to reflect and redeem themselves to the person they've hurt.