Heshiena's Point of View

The sudden thunderstorm never comforted me of what I am feeling right now.

Mas lalo lang nagpadagdag sa bigat ng aking nararamdaman. Kahit na patuloy pa rin sa pagkulog at pagkidlat, patuloy din akong palakad pabalik. Thinking of possible way to outsmart the enemies.

Napasinghap ako ng makaramdam ng mas mabigat pang presensya sa hindi kalayuan. I followed what my instincts tries to tell me, and caught two shadowy figure from the forest few meters away from where I am.

My forehead furrowed in confusion as I tried to feel their presence.

One was foreign, but the other was a presence that I already felt within the academy's premises. Out of curiosity and precautions as well, I have to find out what they are talking about in secret.

I heaved a sigh first before snapping my fingers to create a trance. Where they could never detect my presence.

As I was approaching, my heart skipped a beat as if depriving me from breathing normally.

"Dark Prince . . ." Mas lalong kumunot ang aking noo sa itinawag nito sa kasama niya.

Napaka-formal naman nito sa kaharap niya. I still couldn't clearly see their faces, but I could now heard their voices. Kailangan ko pang lapitan sila para mamukhaan.

"Why are you here?"

Nagtagis ang aking bagang nang marinig ko ang boses na 'yon. Bumilis ang pagtibok ng puso ko. Sinundan ito ng pagkuyom ng aking mga kamao. Bukod tanging ang boses na 'yon ang kabisado ko.

And I have to prove my mind wrong about who I am thinking of based on that voice.

"The king wasn't happy of how sluggish your mission has become," ang sagot nito.

The guy who called her "Dark Prince" clicked his tongue in disbelief. It was then followed with his annoyed sigh.

"I am taking my time." My broken heart leaped out of my throat as the face of a man I am praying it wasn't him became as clear as crystal. Tila pinanghinaan ako ng tuhod. "I was about to convince her tonight yet you arrived unannounced."

I can't recognize what I am exactly feeling right now, but except one.

The trust that I have been sharing with him seems nothing but all lies.

Tumulo bigla ang mga luha ko. Kasabay ng pagbagsak ng ulan, at ang paglagapak ng kidlat sa kalangitan. This is not what I've had envisioned.

"Your father was afraid of you falling in love with the weapon that the underworld is trying to retrieve." My eyes grew wider. "He expects that by sunrise, you will accomplish what we've been planning. But if not . . ." the Fury paused, giving Mavros the "unless" stares to give him the warning as she was ordered to, "the underworld will arise to use brute force just to get her."

Mavros remained silent, but a moment or two later, he laughed wickedly. I almost didn't recognize him.

"Falling in love?" He then snorted. Tila kumirot ang puso ko sa naging remark niya. "Tell father that by dawn, Heshiena will be in our hands." Puno ng kasiguraduhan niyang saad.

The Fury smiled as if she already got the answer. She spread her wings, and before flapping them, she looked at the dark prince one last time and nodded at him before leaving.

"She's that valuable to our cause, huh." Mavros whispered to himself. Tila ba'y ngayon pa lang niya nalaman ang impormasyong 'yon.

Before he could gather his darkness under his feet, I snapped my fingers to teleport myself back inside the cabin. To my surprise, nandito sila lahat sa living area. Kumunot ang aking noo sa pagtataka.

Pero mabilis ko itong isinawalang bahala dahil mas mabuti ng ganito. Para na rin mabilis kong ipaalam sa kanila ang tungkol sa mga narinig ko. Nagbagsakan kaagad ang balikat ko nang mahagilap ng mata ko si Mavros.

He was looking at me worried.

Me, on the other hand, silently scoffed in disbelief.

Muli na namang nanumbalik ang galit sa katawan ko. The thunder echoed once more. And the lighting dances along its rhythm.

"What were you thinking, Heshiena?"

Bigla nawala sa isipan ko ang natuklasan ko kay Mavros nang sumalubong sa akin ang galit na timbre ng boses ni Chry. Kinunutan ko siya ng noo. Dahil hindi ko alam kung saan galing iyon.

"What . . ." I paused, and scanned the surroundings within reach of my eyes. And there I realized, everyone was looking at me as if I committed a grievous mistake. "What are you talking about, Chry?"

Chry scoffed distastefully. It was then followed by clicking her tongue.

"Manipulative bitch." Umigting ang tenga ko sa komento niya. But still I remain calm, oblivious of what she's talking about. "Are you having a good time manipulating our memories? Charmspeaking against the family you are always proud of bragging about?!"

Tumaas na ang kaniyang boses.

Nangilid na rin ang luhang gustong kumawala sa kaniyang mga mata.

She scoffed, this time offended. "I can't believe you forgot about it!"

"Then make me remember!" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sariling sumigaw pabalik sa kaniya.

Namayani ang katahimikan. Only the heavy rain, and thunderstorm were dominating the silence. Tuluyan ng bumagsak ang mga luhang kanina pa pinipigilan ni Chry.

"Back at Nero City, Ace called me a monster," basag ang boses niyang wika. "And you yourself already know why that word triggers me." My eyes grew wider as the memories of myself back at Nero City flashed like a lightning strike.

It is a memory of when I used the charmspeak ability to force them to rectify their mistakes against their own will. Guilt immediately swallowed me whole, knees trembling, and tears gradually threatening me to fall upon my eyes.

Mas lalong nadurog ang puso ko nang humahagulgol siya ng iyak. It was my first time seeing her breaking down. It's as if she has been carrying that pain until now. Out of the corner of my eyes, Yumi was sobbing silently.

"And you don't have the right to outed me, Heshiena." Nanggagalaiti sa galit niyang wika, habang walang tigil pa rin sa pagbagsak ang kaniyang mga luha. "It doesn't mean you are a deity, you don't have the fucking right to share my memories to everyone!" she shouted.

"I . . ." hindi ko alam kung paano simulan ang mga katagang gusto kong sabihin.

Chry looked at me with her sharp gaze.

"Oh, you're sorry? Fuck that!" she continues. "You don't know how much I endured to be the monster that I am now! I suffered! I pretended to be tough! I chose to be because I don't want to lose everyone in my life! I am hurt, Heshiena!"

Ace and Nkri were about to approach, but Chry warned them with only her gaze.

"I am hurt . . ." Tumingin siya sa akin, nagmamakaawa. By that look, the guilt gradually devouring me. Napatakip ako ng aking baba, habang walang tigil din sa pagragasa ang mga luha ko. "Tao din ako, Heshiena! Hindi porket siga ako, hindi ko na alam kung ano ang pakiramdam na iwan at magsakripisyo. I couldn't even asked myself if I am okay, if I truly wanted to live longer, or even have the guts to settle down. I am at the process of trying to forget and accept what I have committed from the past yet you fuck everything up!"

Hindi ko naalalang nagawa ko ang bagay na 'yon. It fueled my fury even more and ended up hating myself for it.

"I guess what Artemis is trying to imply is making sense now." Naglakihan ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. Tumulo ang luha ko. Sumikip ang dibdib ko, at tila may bumara sa lalamunan ko.

"You shouldn't have been born, Heshiena."

And with my last resort, napahagulgol ako ng iyak.

It's even more painful when she made me remember the exact words of my mother. The words that shattered me into pieces.

The words that cut me deeper than a sharp knife.