Chapter 8
"I don't need many maids to tend us."
Natahimik naman ang lahat. So, 'yon pala ang ibig niyang sabihin. Akala nila ay galit ito.
Iris smiled at the other maids who bowed before leaving them alone to continue their works. Loki watched them leave, too scared to look at his mother.
Nang mawala sila sa paningin niya, he silently sat straight. He's happy that his mother visited him, after all, this is the first time he has someone who he can call mother dahil wala siyang gano'n sa una niyang buhay. But he admit it, he's scared of the same woman who gave birth to him.
Dahil sa sobrang tahimik, he cleared his throat.
Kaya niya 'to. No need to be nervous. Just be cute to avoid despair and bloodshed.
He raised his gaze, gulping a bit when he saw the piercing yet cold purple jewel-like eyes looking at him. "P-pwede na po bang k-kumain?" He eyed the sweets at the table as he fiddles his fingers nervously.
Sigyn stared at her youngest son before pushing the plate towards him. Napatingin naman sa kaniya si Loki, nagtataka. Hindi ba siya kakain?
Fred noticed it. Lumapit siya kay Iris bago binigay ang dalawang maliliit na treasure box sa kaniya. "It's coffee beans and tea. Please brew it to be served." May patago pa siyang binigay kay Iris na nagulat sa nakita. "Serve this too."
Iris immediately did her deeds.
After brewing the tea and coffee, she served the tea to Loki who's currently munching a macaron, and the coffee to Sigyn who's only staring at him, chin on her palm as a daze expression was written all over her face.
Loki smiled at Iris, quietly thanking her. Napatitig siya sa tea cup na may lamang tsaa. Hindi pa siya nakatitikim ng tsaa dahil madalas juice o gatas ang iniinom niya. This will be the first time.
Iris bowed after serving a cup of another dessert to them, the cold snack that Fred gave to her earlier. "Please enjoy your snacks." She respectfully stand a bit far away from the mother and son duo.
Loki put down his tea cup after niyang humigop sa tsaa niya.
It was good! From the fragrance to the taste, A+!
Nang mapunta ang tingin sa bagong lagay na dessert, his eyes widened in familiarity. It's an ice cream! Cookies and cream pa ang flavor, his favorite! May ice cream pala sa ganitong mundo?
His gaze averted to his mother whose purple jewel-like eyes flickered down to stare at the cold snack. Her eyes, then, flickered up, staring at him. "Go." She gave him permission.
He beamed at her, slightly embarrassed because she only looked at him with a blank stare kaya tinuon niya ang atensyon sa paglantakan sa ice cream. Akala niya ay hindi na siya makakatikim ng ganito rito dahil pang-sinaunang panahon sa ibang bansa sa Earth ang pagkain nila, yung pang-Victorian era.
"Why are you only eating the one with the cookies?"
Natigilan si Loki nang marinig si Sigyn. He met her sleepy gaze. "Uhm... It tastes better than the cream lang eh, hehe. It's bland without the cookies. Uhm... K-kahit sa 'yo na po yung cream part, 'wag lang yung cookies." He tried to offer some to Sigyn who doesn't have an ice cream.
Sigyn froze after hearing his response.
She sighed, looking away. "But I also like the one with the cookies."
Natigilan si Loki. Pareho sila ng gusto...
He stared at his ice cream before looking at Sigyn then at Iris. His nanny, Iris, who noticed his dilemma, smiled at him, nodding.
She gave another serve to Sigyn whose eyebrows rose in amusement.
"Share na lang po tayo." He's a bit hesitant. "P-pero kunti lang sa 'yo, ha?" His voice lowered in embarrassment.
"But I owned the ice cream though." Sigyn seriously looked at him, noticing how Loki cowered in fear. "Shouldn't I take around 86% of it?"
"How about we get 50/50 na lang po?"
The three adults stared at the 5 years old child who offered in such speech.
How can a 5 years old kid knows such way of speaking? It was as if he's offering a deal with his business partner or something.
Sigyn glanced at Fred who walked towards Iris. They both bowed, leaving them alone kaya kinabahan ulit si Loki.
May ginawa ba siyang mali? Ba't sila naiwan ng sila lang? He's now panicking inside for the nth time.
Sigyn leaned on her chair, closing her eyes. "Finish it. It's yours anyway." She's slightly dozing off now.
Loki stared at his mother, admiring her beauty. She looks so peaceful as she doze off. Kahit ata anong gawin niya ay maganda pa rin siya. Well, she's the reason why they have the hot genes. Napaisip tuloy siya kung gwapo rin ba ang tatay nila.
Loki grabbed the glass with ice cream at 'yon na lang ang tinutukan niya ng atensyon niya kaysa sa panoorin niyang matulog ang nanay niya. That'll be creepy.
As he stuffed his mouth with ice cream, noise came closer to their place kaya napalingon siya and he saw his siblings running towards them with a glint of annoyance shining in their eyes.
"Mom!"
"You damn old geezer!"
"Mother,"
"Fred." With one word from the Empress, the said man already appeared in front of Loki's siblings.
"Hey! Don't block our way!"
Fred effortlessly dodged Hera's dagger, holding her softly to stop her movements. When he noticed the imperial princes, he lifted his foot, tripping Ares before lightly kicking Hades' knee using the same foot.
"Ah! Kuya! Ate!" Nataranta si Loki. He jumped down from his seat, running towards Fred as tears unconsciously fell from his eyes. "Anong ginagawa mo?!" Pilit nitong inaalis ang pagkakahawak ni Fred kay Hera. Hindi niya na mapigilang hindi humikbi dahil mas hinigpitan lang ni Fred ang pagkakahawak kay Hera.
He cried loudly in panic. When he saw Fred looking at the Empress, wala sa sarili siyang napalingon sa ina. "Mama! Mama!" He cried.
All of them froze while Sigyn raised her brows in amusement. With one hand motion, Fred stopped, softly releasing Hera's wrist. He dodged when Hera swung her dagger towards his direction, annoying Hera to a certain extent.
"Heathrania."
Hera pouted when she heard her mother's warning. She huffed, walking towards Hades who offered his arms to comfort her, hugging his little sister tightly. He grabbed Hera's wrist when he felt Hera swinging her hand with dagger behind him. She only giggled as a response to Hades' heavy and tired sigh.
"Lokesio."
Loki froze when he heard his name from his mother's lips. Iris stopped helping him on drying his tears with a towel. Napahiya bigla si Loki dahil sa inasta niya.
"Her Imperial Majesty is calling you, Your Highness." Iris pats his head. "Go."
He hiccuped and sniffed, too scared to let go of Iris' skirt but after he saw Iris' reassuring smile, he slowly let go. He trusts Iris and if Iris trusts his mother, he'll try to open up.
He dried his tears using the back of his palm, walking towards his mother's direction as he hiccups while sniffing, having a hard time breathing. After Fred lifted him up, sitting him in Sigyn's lap, he met her cold gaze. "Y-yes, Your Imperial Majesty?"
"Hmm?" Sigyn hummed in amusement, staring at Loki who hiccuped again.
"So, you only call me mama when you need something, Lokesio? How disgraceful."