Legends of Olympus (On Hold)

Parental Guidance

I gave Mom and Dad a quick glance, just to see if they still don't plan to talk, before looking at Zack who sat across his mother and father.

Mrs. Prince was radiating red. Her hand was placed on the table and under it, a dagger continued to repeatedly appear and disappear.

Meanwhile, Uncle Chase let out a long sigh and slowly shook his head.

His lips parted to mouth the words, "Wrong move, bro."

Zack widened his eyes intimidatingly and mouthed back, "Tapos na, bro."

"What happened to your wings?" biglang tanong ni Tita Ria kaya sabay silang napatikom ng bibig.

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Zack bago sumagot.

"Pinutol nila," aniya.

"And?" Tuluyan na ngang napahawak si Tita sa kutsilyo na palitaw-litaw sa kamay niya.

"Ayon, sinunog ko para bumalik ulit..." dugtong ni Zack.

Kumunot ang noo ni Tita. "And you're not feeling anything unusual? At all?"

Umiling si Zack.

Umangat ang magkabilang kilay ni Tito Chase, na para bang dagliang namangha.

"Bakit?" usisa ni Zack. "Dapat bang may mangyari sa'kin?"

"Nung nawalan kasi ng pakpak yung nanay mo, anak..." Si Tito ang sumagot. "Nag-anyong lolo Ares mo siya bigla-"

"Shut the fuck up, Chase."

"Wala naman akong nararamdamang kakaiba, Ma," ani Zack. "Maliban nalang sa paminsan-minsang pagsakit ng likod ko."

"Pero sa tingin ko..." Komportable siyang sumandal sa kanyang upuan. "Sa kakaaral ko 'to, eh."

Agad umiwas ng tingin si Tito at marahang napakamot ng kanyang labi upang pigilan ang isang namumuong ngiti.

"Chase, did you hear that?" tanong ni Mrs. Prince.

Mabilis na tumango-tango si Tito.

"Your son thinks it's funny to lose his wings."

Umiling si Tito.

"This is not something to joke about, Zacharille."

Tumango ulit si Tito.

"Pero Ma, totoo naman talagang dati pa sumasakit yung likod ko-"

"Just-" Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Mrs. Prince sa dagger na nasa kamay niya. "Just for once, Zack, shut your mouth, will you?"

Zack shifted on his seat and looked back at her with squinted eyes. 

It seemed as if he was daring his mother to throw the dagger at him when he replied, "Paano ako makakasagot sa tanong mo kung ayaw mo 'kong pagsalitain?"

"Woah, okay-" Pinigilan ni Tito ang kamay ng asawa niyang nagtangkang gumalaw. "Paano kung pagsalitain nalang natin si Trev na kanina pa nakatingin sa'tin?"

He was right.

On the other end of the table, Uncle Trev stood quietly with arms crossed against his chest.

"My apologies," aniya. "Do the Princes need some time off this meeting?"

"Wag na 'tol," sagot ni Tito Chase. "Maawa ka."

Beside Paige, Grey and Henri sat next to each other, across Reign and her mother.

"Yesterday, late in the evening," Uncle Trev finally spoke. "One of the huntsmen's biggest facilities, specifically their headquarters in Asia, was destroyed by the Alphas, a couple of representatives from the Beta and Gamma Class and some allies."