(Song used: Shimmer by Boyce Avenue ft. Tyler Ward)
Chapter Twenty-nine: Act of selfishness
-Zeus Achilles-
"Kuya..." Zeus soothed Aiane's back nung umagang iyon.
Their parents couldn't make it on family day kayang lungkot na lungkot ito. Katulad ni Aiane, nalulungkot rin si Ezra.
Naka subsob lang ang mukha nito sa lamesa, si Enzo naman ay naka tingin sa kanilang magkapatid kaya tinaasan niya ito ng kilay and mouthed a 'What?'
Aiane's back was turned to Enzo kaya hindi nito nakikita.
Tipid lang na ngumiti si Enzo at nag iwas ng tingin. Ngayon ay napapansin talaga niya ang tingin ni Enzo sa kanilang magkapatid.
Nawala rin ang atensyon niya kay Enzo dahil sa rustle na narinig niya galing sa itaas.
Seige just sat on the branch above them.
"Good morning," tiningala niya ito.
"Good morning," Seige waves before pointing at Aiane. "Is she okay?"
"Yeah," Zeus soothes Aiane's back again. "Just a bit saddened because our parents couldn't make it today. Ikaw? Is your brother coming?"
Umayos naman ng upo si Ezra at tinignan si Seige. "Oo nga. I want to see your brother"
Seige just shrugged. "He said 'No promises'"
"Mornin' Half Bloods and Common!"
"Morning noob. Ano yang dala mo?"
Nilingon rin ni Aiane ang kararating lang na si Asher para makita kung ano nga ang dala nito. Zeus however was wondering where Flame was.
He knew her parents couldn't make either. Parentless sila ngayong family day kaya para silang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa.
"This, my dear cousin, is called a guitar," Ash strummed the guitar. Ngumisi naman si Enzo dahil hindi ito naka tono.
"Oo nga gitara 'yan," Ezra rolled her eyes. "Anong gagawin mo d'yan?"
"Malamang kakanta! I'm going to lift all of your moods up because by the looks of it, you all woke up at the wrong side of the bed!"
"Please don't, Kuya. Baka umulan, you'll ruin the day for others pa. Wag ka nang manira ng iba"
"Loko 'tong kapatid mo pare ha!" Tinuro ni Asher si Aiane dahil sa sinabi nito. "Nakakasakit ka ng damdamin Athena Adrianne. Bad 'yon!"
"Uy! Kuya Ash bakit may dalang guitar? Kakanta ka?" Gianna suddenly appeared next to Asher at naki strum din sa gitara. "Hindi naman naka tono eh. Niloloko mo ata ako"
"Sandali lang kasi," sinimulan na ni Asher i-tono ang gitara habang si Gianna ay excited na nag abang dahil hindi pa pala nito naririnig kumanta si Ash.
Si Ezra naman ay patuloy na dini-discourage si Ash sa balak nitong pag kanta while Enzo was suprisingly joing his twin.
"Hindi naman maganda boses mo" Enzo said, throwing a fallen leaf to Ash.
"Panget ka Enzo. Panget!"
"Can he sing?" Seige whispered above.
Tumingala naman si Zeus. "He can, but he's really not that good"
"Yep" Tumango rin si Aiane at bumaling kay Zeus. "But if you sing with him..."
"No"
"Oh come on Kuya just one song! Iligtas mo ang araw namin!"
"You can sing?" Tanong naman ni Seige.
"He can sing and play a lot of instruments dahil kay Papa" Si Aiane na ang sumagot.
Zeus never boasted his hidden talent. He just liked playing because it's very calming. Matagal na nga rin siyang nakakatugtog.
And this brings him back to the 'things he's missing out on' kasi masyado siyang focused sa isang bagay.
"Kuya Ash kakanta din daw si Kuya Zeus!"
"Aiane!"
Inagaw na rin ni Aiane ang gitara kay Asher at binigay ito kay Zeus. "Ikaw na rin tumugtog, mukhang hindi naman marunong mag tono si Kuya Ash"
Zeus' lips were pressed in a thin line. Hindi niya tinanggap ang gitara. They were outside, ayaw niyang kumanta kung saan may makakakita sa kanya.
"I want to hear you play," rinig niyang sabi ni Seige sa itaas. She was swinging her feet while smiling at him. He remembered the first time he talked to her, she came down from the very same tree.
"Ano pare? Kantang kanta na ako dito! Nag practice pa ako kanina!"
Zeus sighed and took the guitar from Aiane who was now smiling. He's going to do this for his sister and for Seige.
"Try to keep up Ash," Nanunuyang sabi ni Zeus at inayos ang pagkakatono ng gitara.
Asher snorted. "Ako pa?"
"Siguraduhin niyong sasaya kami d'yan sa performance niyo ha" Tinuro silang dalawa ni Ezra.
Zeus started strumming. Siniguro naman niyang alam ni Asher ang kanta para makasunod nga ito.
She calls me from the cold
Just when I was low, feeling short of stable
All that she intends
And all she keeps inside, isn't on the label
She says she's ashamed
And can she take me for a while
And can I be a friend, we'll forget the past
But maybe I'm not able
And I break at the bend
Pinigilan ni Zeus tumawa sa pagkanta ni Asher. He kept on playing. It was a duet song, they've played it a few years ago. Ito lang talaga ang unang pumasok sa isip niya.
We're here and now, but will we ever be again
Cause I have found
All that shimmers in this world is sure to fade
Away again
She dreams a champagne dream
Strawberry surprise, pink linen and white paper
Lavender and cream
Fields of butterflies, reality escapes her
She says that love is for fools that fall behind
And I'm somewhere in between
I never really know
A killer from a savior
'till I break at the bend
Enzo was now bobbing his head while mouthing the lyrics. Ezra was silently listening.
Si Gianna ay chini-cheer si Ash. While swaying along with the beat.
When his eyes wandered to Seige...
He saw her smiling again.
Her smile wasn't rare anymore. And it was pretty contagious.
We're here and now, but will we ever be again
Cause I have found
All that shimmers in this world is sure to fade
Away again
It's too far away for me to hold
It's too far away...
It's too far away for me to hold
It's too far away...
It's too far away for me to hold
It's too far away...
It's too far away for me to hold
It's too far away...
It's too far away for me to hold
It's too far away...
It's too far away for me to hold
It's too far away...
It's too far away for me to hold
It's too far away...
Guess I'll let it go
Nag bow pa si Ash as the song came to an end. Hindi naman ito nabigo dahil pumalakpak naman ang lahat ng nakinig sa kanila.
"Isa pa Kuya!" Hirit pa ni Gianna.
Bumaling naman si Asher kay Zeus. "Isa pa daw pare! Game?"
"Pwede bang iba naman kumanta? Ayoko sa boses mo Ash"
"The feeling is mutual. Ayaw ka din daw ng boses ko"
"Seige!" Nilingon naman ni Ezra si Seige. "Can you sing?"
"You look like you can sing," Ash added.
"How can you tell someone can sing just by looking at them?" Ngumiwi naman si Zeus.
"Wag ka nga!"
"Come on Seige get down from there! Kanta kayo!"
Gusto rin naman marinig ni Zeus ang singing voice ni Seige. With a voice as soft as hers, he bet she can slay ballad peices.
"I don't---"
"Dali na!" Pamimilit muli ni Ezra ngunit natigilan rin ito, all of them stopped dahil sa naramdamang presensya.
"Nagawa ba natin to nung high school tayo? Si Adri at Sen lang ata mahilig mag jamming noon eh"
"Tumigil ka nga Cain. Hindi ka nga marunog mag gitara"
"At sinong nagsabing hindi? Wag ka kambal tinuruan kaya ako ni Erised! Kaya nga marunong si Ash!"
"Both of you shut up"
"Ikaw din, Sen. Shut up to you too"
"You're a pain in the ass, Woodsen"
"Hoy Jacob kung makapag salita ka d'yan! Ngayon lang ulit tayo nag kita kaya wag mo kong inaano! Nangaano ka eh"
"Inaano ka ba?"
"Magtigil Cain at Jake! Nakaka ano na kayo!"
Aiane was the first one to scream, "Oh my god Parents you're here!"
Their family day wasn't so boring after all. Instead of joining activities, napili ng magulang nilang mag picnic nalang at sa cemetery pa.
Zeus' Mama said, "We used to do this noon"
Ezra was the happiest dahil hindi na mawala ang ngiti sa labi nito. Si Aiane ay ayaw na namang humiwalay sa Papa nila, and Blake and Lizzy was witg their parents too.
Si Ash at Flame lang ang hindi kumpleto ang pamilya. Flame's parents really couldn't make it and Ash's Mum was back at London para naman asikasuhin si Casper dahil may event rin sa school nito. It was safe to say Ash was bummed. Halos hindi nga ito maka ngiti kanina but he eventually smiled when he saw Ezra happy.
Zeus was comfortably laying on the grass as their parents reminisce their moments in Sinclaire Academy. Aiane would sometimes join dahil dumating rin naman ang punto na na-experience nito ang pinag uusapan ng magulang nila. It's funny dahil noon ay nakikinig lang ang kapatid niya then magtatanong like the curious child she is.
"Jake, kamusta na pala yung anak ni Celeste? She's in town diba?" Adrianna asked.
Ezra groaned, kahit na hindi naman binaggit ang pangalan ni Callie ay naiinis na ito.
"Yeah. She's been in town for a while now. Ang sabi niya baka tumagal pa siya dito"
"Great" Ezra grumbled at agad rin itong siniko ni Enzo.
"Dapat pala inimbitahan natin siya dito"
"Mom!" Angal naman agad ni Ezra.
"What? She's a nice girl Ezra Alexandra. Don't you think so?"
"Oo nga, Ez. She's a nice girl" Ngumisi si Asher.
"Shut up british boy" Ezra narrowed her at Ash.
"Asan nga pala si Ate Flame?" Aiane asked and started to look around.
Nakita naman ni Zeus na umayos ng upo si Asher. He already felt something was off.
Asher cleared his throat and straightly told all of them, "Masama mo pa ng pakiramdam niya kagabi pa so she decided to stay in. She says she's sorry she can't join us"
"Poor girl. Malungkot siguro dahil hindi nakarating sina Vera"
Zeus made a mental note to check on her later. Ash said she wasn't feeling well, hindi naman siguro magsisinungaling si Asher sa ganong bagay. He doesn't loathe Flame. Concerned parin naman siya
"V said she already gave Flame a heads up bago pa man magsimula ang exam week. Coven problem, I think. Gav's got his hands full too" Cain informed.
"Eh yung kaibigan ninyo? The blonde girl where is she?"
"Oh. She disappeared somewhere Mom. No one really knows where she goes" Ezra answered.
"Hindi ba pumunta ang Kuya niya, Ate?" Gianna asked.
"Mukhang hindi eh"
"Seige's brother works for the La Valse clan" Adrianna said.
"La Valse huh?" Jake mused. "That family is strict when it comes to loyalty"
Later that day Zeus, Asher, and Enzo were summoned by Senri Sinclaire in the Fearsome Four's old Leisure Room.
Ang akala ni Zeus ay nag iisa lang ito ngunit hindi pala. His Mother, Tito Jake, and Tito Cain were with his Father.
The four were staring at their old graduation photo when the three of then walked in the room.
Alam na ni Zeus kung bakit sila pinatawag. Tungkol ito kay Aiane.
"Alright, lay it on me" Senri started.
Zeus cleared his throat before speaking. "She's figuring out everything by herself, Pa. The last time she travelled was before exams. She spent two minutes at katumbas naman iyon ng dalawang oras dito, iyon ang napagtanto niya but hindi ko pa nakukumpirma because she hasn't had any recent travels"
Zeus noticed how Enzo's gaze was locked on the ground, as if in deep thought. Asher was listening intently next to Enzo like the others.
"What happened last time?" Ash asked.
"Eto na nga, hindi niya alam kung asan niya at anong oras siya non. She said a name Ysobelle was mentioned before she snapped back to reality"
"Ysobelle?" Kumunot ang noo ni Adrianna.
"Wala naman tayong kilalang Ysobelle," Cain added.
"If she went to that certain time, Senri then connected iyon sa buhay niya." Jake told his cousin.
"It's too early to conclude, Jake" Senri's voice lowered.
Para silang kumukonekta ng puzzle sa ability ni Aiane.
"How about the future her? Wala pa ba?"
"Wala pa" Diretsong sagot ni Zeus. "We'll keep an eye out for her, Pa"
"Her travels might answer some unanswered questions from the past also a glimpse of the future..." Enzo wondered aloud kaya napatingin si Zeus dito. "Intriguing yet dangerous"
Napa tango si Zeus sa sinabi ni Enzo. He underestimated Enzo in this whole matter, akala niya hindi nito seseryosohin ang sitwasyon ni Aiane. He was shocked by the way Enzo was speaking right now.
"If the future her travelled back at this point of time and interact with us, affect our decisions in some way... Will it alter the future?" Curiosity filled Enzo's voice as he directly asked Senri.
"The future can always change, Enzo. It depends on the decisions you make right now so yes, she can change the future with the way she meddled with the past"
"Future Athena can come from different points of time. If she ever visits, always ask for her age para malaman niyo kung saang time siya galing. Her age can tell a lot."
"What if she doesn't talk to us?" Zeus asked.
"Then h'wag niyo siyang pilitin. Hindi naman natin alam kung paano siya mag isip, hindi nga rin natin alam kung magpapakita ba talaga siya. I have high hopes that she will."
"What if we ask her, iba't ibang scenarios Tito and she answers a number not higher than 25 o kahit ano bang edad?"
Kumunot ang noo ni Zeus sa tanong ni Asher. Hindi niya naisip iyon at nagulat naman siya kung bakit iyon pa ang naisip ni Ash.
"That only means one thing, Ash. She died at that age"
- Enzo Alexander -
Enzo felt dazed for days. His encounter with future Aiane bothered him more than it should.
Ni hindi nga niya matignan ito ng diretso ngayon. But he would sometimes find himself studying her when she's not looking. Just this day for example, habang nakayakap si Aiane kay Zeus kaninang umaga hindi niya maiwasang pagmasdan ang umaalong buhok nito pababa sa bewang. Alam niyang nakita siya ni Zeus at siguro ay na weirdohan din sa kanya ng konti.
He made it clear na hindi niya papatulan si Aiane.
After the conversation they had at the Leisure Room, Enzo grew more curious of future Aiane's purpose sa pag bisita sa kanya. Why him? Anong meron sa kanya?
Enzo had an inkling but he did not want to push to the point na ito nalang ang tangi niyang paniniwalaan.
Could Aiane still possibly have feelings for him in the future? Her first visit told him so. Hanggang saang point ito tumagal?
He was thinking of time durations. Kung saan nagsimula at natapos. Aiane's feelings might have grown stronger over time. Right now she was marely curious.
Alam ni Enzo ang mga tingin na tinatapon ni Aiane sa kanya. She wanted to unravel all of his mysteries. She viewed him as a book; a page turner. Hindi ito titigil sa pagbabasa hanggang sa makuha ang mga sagot sa katanungan.
There was something stopping Aiane for digging deeper in his life. Maybe it's their relationship. Hindi naman sila ganon ka close ngunit nirerespeto nito kung anong meron sila at ang privacy niya. The same goes for him, he values their relationship with the Sinclaires. Lalo na kay Zeus.
Nang umalis na ang mga magulang nila, officially ending Family day, lumabas agad si Enzo. He found himself walking on the path leading to the cemetery.
Babalikan niya ang lugar kung saan niya nakita si future Aiane. Baka sakaling bumalik ito.
He had to see her. She might hold answers, not just for his questions right now but also solutions for his problems.
She holds answers from the future that can change the past.
Enzo shoved his hands in his pocket, keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. Kapag may narinig siyang kakaiba hinahanap niya agad kung saan ito nanggaling ngunit wala siyang makita kundi puro berde.
Enzo lifted his gaze when he heard footsteps approaching.
He found the girl he least expected to see.
Seige van Syckle was walking towards his direction.
Her violet eyes bore into his.
Hindi naputol ang eye contact nila hanggang sa tuluyan itong makalapit sa kanya. Their shoulders almost touched when she walked past him.
Nilingon niya parin si Seige nang maka lagpas na ito but she wasn't looking at him anymore. Naisip niya bigla kung saan ito nanggaling.
But then his thoughts were cut short when he felt it.
The feeling of being watched.
Enzo stopped dead in his tracks at trailed his eyes over the whole area. The sun's almost gone tinalasan niya talaga ang kanyang tingin at pandinig.
He heard rustlings from tree branches, hindi ito dulot ng hangin. The rustlings were caused by movement.
Panakiramdaman niya ito. It was the sound of feet meeting wood and swift jumps.
"Athena I know you're there..." he said as he followed the movement hanggang sa tumigil ito.
"Show yourself! Athena!" Hindi na niya naiwasan pa ang pag taas ng boses dahil lumipas ang ilang segundo nang wala siyang na detect na kahit ano. No movement or sound.
"Eager, aren't you?"
Enzo turned to his right. The voice came from the girl he was expecting to see. 50/50 lang talaga ang chance na makita niya ang future Aiane ngayon, siguro ay sinuwerte lang siya.
She was wearing a white turtle neck sweater, black shorts, and sandals while holding onto a tree branch, eyes staring down at him amused. He couldn't decipher if she looked older that the girl who first visited. It was really hard to tell.
"How old are you?" He directly asked her.
Athena was humming while balancing herself on the branch. Tinatangay rin ng hangin ang buhok nito. She has both of her arms spread out like an kid imittating an airplaine while balancing herself.
"I'm 24"
24. Somehow he was pleased to hear that. That means she made it in her twenties. "You don't look like you're 24"
Ngumiti si Aiane bago siya tignan. "Why? Do I still look like a kid to you?"
With they way she's cutely balancing herself on the branch, he wanted to say 'Yes'.
She jumped off the branch. Now she was standing a safe distance away from him.
She did not make a move to run when he steps closer... Hanggang sa magkaharap na sila.
"The curiosity in your eyes reminds me of myself" She told him like it was nothing. She already knew he bared questions.
"Is that a good thing?" His brow raised.
Her lips curved up. She's 24 yet he's still taller. He finds it really amusing and fascinating at the same time.
Sa pag kausap niya sa future Aiane, malaki ang posibilidad na mabago rin ang tingin niya kay Aiane ngayon.
"I can't answer whatever questions you have. I'm going to break my own rule kung gagawin ko iyon"
"Rule?"
"When I visit the past, I should never speak of the future" she whispered. "If I meddle with the past then I might do something that can drastically alter the future"
"Then why are you here talking to me in the first place?" He can't understand her. He wanted to know why she's here. Why wasn't she visiting her brother or her other family members.
"What I'm doing is an act of selfishness," her eyes found his.He saw a tinge of sadness in them, or was it longing?
"I shouldn't be doing this but... c-can I touch you?"
Her request appalled him but then he found himself nodding.
The next thing he knew her warm hand touched his cheek. And then he laid his on top of hers.
"What do you want from me Athena Adrianne?" He found himself asking her in a whisper.
He didn't get to hear her answer because she was already fading with the wind.