✔Sold to Medusa

EPILOGUS

It's ironic how they all became closer after fighting off Ares' army. Pero para kay Markus, nagpapasalamat na lang siya sa "distraction" na ibinibigay nila. Matapos ng nangyari kay Caprissa, ilang linggo rin silang nagluksa nina Rein at Lady Medusa. Mabuti na lang at dinamayan sila nina Desmond at Pamela (yes, they're still calling her by that name). Paminsan-minsan, bumibisita ang kambal. But with Eros and Anteros' tight schedules especially with Valentines Day just around the corner, madalang na lang silang mangamusta. On rare occasions, Adonis would visit them too.

'Ang hirap sigurong maging diyos.'

Inside the living room, he saw Lady Medusa sitting on the couch. Morgana held a hand over her growing belly. Gustuhin man sanang magkumento ni Markus na hindi magandang ideya na isang mangkukulam ang maging oby-gyn ni Lady Medusa, he knew Morgana will probably used a spell on him to shut him up. Lalo na dahil siya pa mismo ang nag-volunteer.

"Late ka na naman," mahinang sabi sa kanya ni Pamela. Isang matamis na ngiti ang sumilay sa labi ng dalaga habang nakatuon pa rin ang atensyon kina Medusa. "Do you think it's a boy?"

"It's a girl."

"Sigurado ka?"

Markus nodded.

Pinanood lang nila ang mangkukulam sa kanyang ginagawa hanggang sa matapos ito. The witch smiled and proudly announced, "You don't need to worry about anything, mortals. The baby is healthy... She's healthy."

She.

Kasabay nito, nilapitan na ni Rein si Lady Medusa at masuyong hinawakan ang kanyang kamay. He nodded in acknowledgment when he saw Markus. "Took you long enough! Akala namin humihilik ka pa."

Lady Medusa smirked. Pregnant or not, bumalik na naman ang pagiging mataray nito, "It's a good thing you did, you lazy ass. Papagalitan sana kita kung hindi ka sisipot ngayon. Sa ayaw at gusto mo, magiging ninong ka. Nagkakaintindihan ba tayo, Markus?"

Napahawak na lang sa kanyang batok si Markus at mahinang natawa.

"Opo, Lady Medusa."

Damn. Some things will never change.

"By the way, may naisip na ba kayong pangalan?"

Nagkatinginan sina Lady Medusa at Rein. Kailangan na talagang masanay ni Markus sa kanila. Nonetheless, he was happy that their little "ship" was finally sailing. At nang sumagot si Rein nang may bahid ng lungkot sa boses nito, natigilan ang tamad na henyo..

"Caprissa. We'll name her Caprissa."

Markus nodded. In some way, they all missed that bubbly twelve-year-old kid who had always been too mature for her age. Sa wakas, huminga nang malalim si Markus at malungkot na ngumiti.

"Yeah. That's a nice name."

*

Papalubog na ang araw.

Habang abala ang lahat sa pakikipagkwentuhan, marahan kong hinawakan ang kamay ni Lady Medusa at hinila siya papalayo. She rolled her eyes at my antics, but didn't complain as we sat down on our favorite spot on the front porch.

It may sound a bit creepy, but the sunset looked prettier over the cemetery.

Kaya siguro dito rin namin piniling tumira.

It's been five months since that battle with Ares. Five months since Zeus returned the temple to Mt. Olympus and erased the memories of those who saw the incident. Five months since Orpheus reunited with Eurydice. Five months since Caprissa died.. five months since Lady Medusa sa had been brought back to life in Athena's temple.