Legends of Olympus (On Hold)

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Reign's POV

Pumasok sa loob ng classroom ang isang babaeng may dalang libro at nakasuot ng manipis na salamin.

"Good morning, class," bati niya sa'min nang makarating siya sa likod ng teacher's table. Ibinaba niya rito ang libro at nginitian kami.

"Good morning, Miss Ira," sagot naman namin.

"It's a good thing you're all seniors now, right?" Natawa siya. "Nagkagulo-gulo kasi schedule ko, until last year, because I had to teach the least populated class both arts and ethics."

"Now, it's just ethics." She seemed relieved.

Tinignan niya si Henri na nakaupo sa pinakadulo ng row na kinauupuan ko. "Hello, Henri."

Bahagya lang ipiniling ni Henri ang kanyang ulo, at ginantihan siya ng isang nangunguryusong tingin.

"I introduced myself to your father once," ani Miss Ira. "He was the president of our class, and he looked at me the same." Kumibit-balikat siya. "Turns out he was Destiny."

"Hendrick Slade..." bulong ni Miss sabay bukas ng libro. "Now, Henri, if given the chance to face Destiny, what are you going to do?"

Inangat niya ang kanyang tingin kay Henri. "Knowing that there's a possibility the reason why your mom died is because he came to collect her, the same moment you were born."

Napatigil ako.

"She didn't get to hold you, did she?"

Bahagyang bumukas ang aking bibig.

"Ethics..." Narinig ko ang namamanghang bulong ni Amber na nakaupo sa likod ko. "Putangina..."

Alam kong nakatuon na silang lahat kay Henri ngayon, kaya dahan-dahan kong nilingon si Henri at nakita siyang nakatitig sa likuran ng kaharap niyang upuan.

Madahan niyang inilipat ang kanyang tingin kay Miss Ira. "It will take an eternity for me to meet my father."

"I asked what you will do once you meet him," ani Miss Ira. "Even if it takes an eternity."

"I don't know," sagot ni Henri. "You've met my father. What would he do once he meets me instead of just watching?"

He leaned against his chair and rested his elbow on the edge of his desk. "What I will do depends on what he will do," dagdag pa niya. "I don't care about what he did."

"Because it's all in the past?"

"Because I have another dad." Namuo ang isang ngiti sa kanyang labi. "And though I don't have my mother, I have Thanatos and Matilda."

"But it's still different, isn't it?" tanong ni Miss Ira.

Natawa siya nang mahina. "But feeling bad about it will not change anything, does it?"

Muli akong tumuon kay Miss Ira at nakita siyang napangiti. "Right."

Dahan-dahang bumagsak ang aking tingin sa harapan.

It's only now that I've noticed, but why does he seem empty to me? 

Sure, he smiles and talks and obviously enjoys teasing me but...

Nagkasalubong ang aking kilay nang maalala ang sandaling napatitig ako sa kanyang mga mata.

Inside his eyes, I only saw golden mist. Nothing more. No underlying gentleness, nor bitterness.