Chapter 25: Camp Olympus (Pandora)
Madilim na nang nakolekta ng ibang section ang lahat ng mga stickers. Tuwang-tuwa ang section A nang in-announce na kami ang nanalo.
"Hey, how did you decode the hint in your stickers?", tanong ni Gray sa akin.
"Ah, iyon? It's simple. The first hint was Golden Apple and we can associate that with Aphrodite. Remember the myth about the judgment of Paris? That's my basis. Nakita ko ang sticker sa taas ng puno."
"What? Umakyat ka ng puno?", he asked in amusement. Nakangiting tumango lang ako sa kanya. "They're out of their minds! Why put the sticker up on the tree?"
"Kaya nga kailangan daw ng strength and intellect."
He just smirked. He's not into climbing trees, eh? "Oh tapos?"
"Then the next hint I've got is a mathematical formula. I can still remember it. It goes like
a² - b² - (a+b)×2 a is an even number, b is an odd number while (a+b)×2 is an even number, where the sum of (a+b) is the same number it was when "a" has a longer tail and b is rotated 180° clockwise. Base sa clue na binigay, the a written in italicized letter and extend its tail looks like a number 9. Gayundin ang b, if rotated, it looks like 9. At first I thought I would use the Pythagorean theorem pero hindi pala. Hindi naman kailangan ng striktong paggamit sa mga math principles. I divided 9 into 2 numbers in which one is even and the other is odd. I come up with 4 and 5. If we square 4, we will get 16. And 5² is 25. (a+b)×2 is (4+5)×2 and we will get 18. So the numbers will be 16-25-18. If we substitute it with the alphabet, 16 is P", nagbilang si Gray sa alpabeth gamit ang kamay niya.
"Ah, now I got it. 16 is P, then 25 is Y and 18 is R, so you've got the word PYR, which is the Greek word for fire. And since kasama sa 12 Olympians ang god of fire na si Hephaestus, you think you've got the right deduction", wika niya at nakangiting tumango ako.
"Exactly! So I went to the place where palaging may apoy, sa may compost pit right? They always burn the garbages there and since it was surrounded by metal, I figured out na tama talaga ako since Hephaestus is the god of fire and metalworkings", I said at napatango ito.
"And what's the next hint you've got?"
"The next hint was no challenge at all, just a picture of lightbulb and a tooth."
"It's Athena then", he said.
"Yeah, and I found the sticker on Athena High student's tent", wika ko.
"And the other?"
I smiled widely. "Another piece of cake! It was date. March 19-April 21."
"Then it's Ares. That's the first zodiac right? Aries which pronounced the same as Ares, the god of war. Wait, since the zodiac Aries is symbolized by the ram, don't tell me the next hinted place ay sa pastolan ng mga kambing?"
Lumawak ang ngiti ko. "Bingo!" He just made a face. "The next hint was just a letter C but the way towards there has many trap. Nabitin pa nga ako ng patiwarik."
Nagulat ito at hinarap ako. "What? Patiwarik? How did you manage to save yourself?"
"There was another rope so I grabbed it at hinila ang sarili ko paakyat upang makaupo sa sanga", paliwanag ko.
"I can't imagine. If the hint is C, then it must be Poseidon, the god of the sea. Don't tell me the next sticker is on the shore?", nakataas ang isang kilay niya.
"You got it right", wika ko at nalukot ang mukha nito.
"So lame. Mukhang naubosan na sila ng magandang ideya. But the shore is far", wika nito. Yeah he's right. Malayo nga ang baybayin. "So, the next one?"
"It's a picture rebus. 3 pictures, the first one was a painting and a sculpture, the second one was a basketball team at ang pangatlo ay mga nakakalat na bagay", wika ko. Kumunot ang noo nito bago nagsalita.
"I don't get it. Enlighten me please."
"That's simple. The first picture is Art since painting and sculptures are known artworks. The second is team and the last one is mess. If we combine those three words, we'll have Art, Team and Mess."
Ngumiti si Gray. "It's Artemis then, the Greek goddess of moon."
"Yes, and the picture hint, the second picture was encircled so I guess it was the hint to the next place kaya nagpunta ako doon sa may basketball ring and the sticker was up in a tree again."
"Don't tell me umakyat ka na naman?", nakabusangot nitong wika. "Iisipin ko na talaga na may lahi kang unggoy."
I laughed at his lame joke. "Sorry to disappoint you ngunit this time ay hindi na ako umakyat. I got the sticker with another picture in it on the side. It was a ring around a circle."
"It must be Zeus. Kapag nakakita ka ng circle with a ring around it, you'll remember the planet Saturn, the hint you said was a circle before a ringed circle so the planet before Saturn is Jupiter, which is also the name of the Roman counterpart of Zeus." Ngumiti ako sa kanya. He's right on his deduction.
"And then? Where did you find the sticker?", tanong niya.
"I don't have to find it. The facilitators have it. Remember what Ma'am Saderna said?" He shrugged his shoulders.
"She said it's a cycle. The end would be the same place", nakangiti kong wika. I can still remember her exact words.
Ngumiti si Gray at ginulo ang buhok ko. "As expected, ang galing mo." He keeps on messing my hair. Inis na iniwas ko ang ulo ko.
"Stop it, hoy ano ba! Stop it, nakakapagod magsuklay, aray!", I tried to push away his hands ngunit makulit ito. Patuloy lang siya sa ginawa kaya binato ko siya ng bottled water ngunit hindi siya natamaan.
"You can't hit me", nakangising wika niya. Tumayo ako at pinulot ang bottled water upang muling ibato sa kanya. Tumakbo na siya palayo habang tumatawa. So childish! And there's no way na hahabulin ko siya! Masakit nga paa ko diba?
It was already dark at malamig ang paligid. Nasa kanya-kanyang tent na kami at naghahanda na para sa hapunan. Even Athena's students were preparing for their dinner. Nakakatuwang isipin na nagkasabay na nagcamp ang Bridle at Athena. I lay down on my tent. My body is tired and my foot is aching, but I am very happy. Naging malapit ako sa ibang mga kaklase ko. Sila na ang lumalapit sa akin at kinakausap ako. I can hear the sounds of the crickets and other insects outside. Maliwanag ang buwan at malamig ang simoy ng hangin. Sinulyapan ko ang paa ko. It was swollen at masakit iyon. Ah! Kung hindi ba naman ako nataranta dahil sa ahas, hindi sana ito mamamaga ng ganito. May papalapit na yabag sa tent ko at may nakita akong anino. I want to lay here peacefully.
"Tao po, narito po ba ang mahal na prinsesa?", narinig kong tanong ni Gray mula sa labas. I mentally rolled my eyes.
"Wala", sagot ko. Ayoko siyang pagbuksan. I'd like to spend my night alone kasama ang binabasa kong classical novel na Guillever's Travel.
"Tao po, hindi po ako aalis hangga't hindi ako pinagbubuksan ng mahal na prinsesa", wika nito. Naiisip ko ang nakabusangot nitong mukha habang nakatayo doon sa labas ng tent. I sighed at bumangon. I've got no choice kundi pagbuksan ito. Knowing Gray, malamang hindi talaga iyon aalis kapag hindi ko pinagbuksan.
"What?", tanong ko at bigla na lang siyang pumasok. May dala siyang maliit na palanggana at bimpo. Umuosok pa ang tubig na nasa palanggana kaya nahulaan kong mainit iyon. "Akala ko ba walang tao rito?"
"Pinapasok ba kita?", tanong ko sa kanya and he just chuckled. Inilagay niya ang palanggana sa gilid at nag-ayos ng tuwalya sa kandungan niya.
Kapagkuway tinapik niya ang espasyo sa harap niya at tinawag ako. "Upo ka dito mahal na prinsesa at akin na yang paa mo."
He brought towel and warm water para sa akin? Hindi agad ako gumalaw at nakatingin lang sa kanya. Siya na mismo ang nag-adjust at lumapit sa akin.
"Tsk, ang tigas talaga ng ulo mo mahal na prinsesa", bigla na lamang niyang kinuha ang namaga kong paa at nilagay iyon sa kandungan niya. Kinuha niya ang bimpo mula sa maligamgam na tubig sa palanggana, piniga niya iyon at dahan-dahang ipinampunas sa paa ko.
"G-gray, what are you doing?", I don't know why I am stattering.
I saw his brow raised. "This is called hot compress, in case you don't know."
Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong hampasin siya ng palanggana. I don't get him sometimes, minsan ay mabait ito, minsan may topak. He's hot and cold. I can't determine his mood. Minsan kasi ay parang wala itong pakialam sa akin and then there would also be a time na nagiging maalaga at maalahanin ito.
"I can't read you Gray", wika ko sa kanya. Ang hirap niya kasing basahin. I don't have any clue what's going on his mind. Hindi ko mabasa kung ano ang mga posibleng aksyon niya.
"Then don't. I'm not a book anyway", wika niya. It may seem like a stupid answer but there was something behind it. Seryosong-seryoso din ang mukha nito habang sinasabi iyon.
"I want to know you deeper. Pakiramdam ko kasi na isa kang libro na nasa harap ko but I can't do anything but just stare at the cover. I cannot scan through your pages", wika ko sa kanya.
Nag-angat siya ng tingin. "So as you Amber. You're still a mystery to me."
Tila mas lalong tumahimik ang paligid. The only thing I've heard is my heavy breathing. Ano ba ang ibig sabihin nito? I don't how long I've been staring at him habang pinupunasan nito ng maligamgam na tubig ang paa ko. Unti-unti namang nawala ang sakit ng paa ko, as if he just wiped it away.
Nagulat na lang kaming dalawa nang sumulpot si Marcus mula sa pinto ng tent.
"Bossing, dinner na", wika nito kay Gray. Ngumiti din siya sa akin. "Pati na rin ikaw boss ni bossing."
Boss ni Bossing? Ano ba ang pinagsasabi ni Marcus? Tiningnan ito ng masama ni Gray ay itinaas naman nito ang dalawang kamay, waring sumusuko.
"Hehe, kainan na daw", wika nito bago patakbong lumayo doon.
Lumabas na ng tent si Gray at inalalayan ako. "Halika na mahal na prinsesa."
Ayan na naman ang mapaglarong side nito. His mood shifts easily, eh? Kanina lang ay seryosong-seryoso ito tapos ngayon ay mapagbiro naman.
Tumalikod siya at itinapat ang likod sa akin. "Hop in."
Nanlaki ang mata kong napatingin sa kaniya. What? Did he want me to ride on his back?
"What? Don't tell me binibigyan mo ng malisya ang pagtulong ko sayo? I just don't want to strain your foot dahil marami pang activity bukas and tomorrow's activities will be strenous, that's what I've overheard kanina", wika niya. "Kaya sumakay ka na sa likod ko, I'll give you a piggyback ride."
Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin. I know we would be the talk not only of Bridle's student but as well as Athena's. "B-but -"
Hindi ko na natuloy ang sasahihin dahil muling nagsalita si Gray. "You want the bridal style again? I can carry you like that too", wika niya at napalunok ako! He carried me in a bridal style nang matapilok ang paa ko dati! I know if wouldn't ride on his back, hindi ito magdadalawang isip na buhatin na naman ako sa ganoong paraan! I sighed in defeat bago ako sumampa sa likod niya.
"Good girl", wika niya at naglakad na siya papunta sa dinner table namin. I felt dagger stares hindi lamang sa mga taga Bridle kundi lalong-lalo na sa mga taga Athena! They still adore Gray after all!
"Kung nakakamatay lang ang tingin, I don't know how many times I'll be dead by now", wika ko malapit sa tenga niya.
Nilingon naman ni Gray ang paligid. "Don't mind them."
Nang makarating kami sa mesa ay ibinaba na niya ako at nagsimula na kaming kumain. Matapos ang hapunan ay gumawa ng malaking bonfire si Sir Rolly. The Athena students were having their bonfire too at mukhang nagkakatuwaan ang mga ito. We gathered around the bonfire and have a sharing. Ilang oras din kami doon hanggang sa sumapit ang alas nuebe. Nagpaalam na ang iba na matutulog na samantalang naiwan naman ang iba. Doon na kami naghiwahiwalay at nag-by section. Some went near the tents, samantalang kaming mga Section A ay naiwan sa harap ng bonfire. Some Athena students were resting already on their tents samantalang nasa labas pa rin ang iba. Maraming bituin kaya it's a perfect night for stargazing.
"I know what should we do", wika ni Marion na nakangiti. May dala itong bagay na tinatago nito sa likod.
"Ano?", Ina, one of my classmate asked. There were 14 of us there at kasama na kami ni Gray.
"Tadaaa!", inilabas ni Marion ang bote na siyang tinatago niya sa likod. It was an empty wine bottle.
"Ano naman ang gagawin natin dyan? Wala namang laman yan kaya hindi tayo mag-eenjoy", Lexus said.
Marion pouted. "Hindi naman tayo mag-iinuman eh! We will play truth or dare."
"Ah tama! That would be very fun!", Tina said. Natuwa silang lahat sa "brilliant idea" ni Marion. Truth or Dare huh? I'm not into those crazy stuff.
"I'll pass", halos magkapanabay namin na wika ni Gray. Tiningnan naman nila kaming lahat ng masama.
"Walang magpa-pass. Sasali lahat. And we'll just play pure dare, walang truth", Marion said and it was an order. Nakipagsukatan siya ng tingin kay Gray and Gray surrendered. I saw his face crumpled ngunit pumayag na rin ito. Wala na rin akong nagawa kundi sumali na lang.
"Let's make this challenging. You have to do the dare and the consequence ng kung sino mang ayaw gawin ang dare ay kailangang maghubad", Marion announced.
Did I hear it right? She said maghubad "What? Nababaliw ka na ba Marion?", gulat kong tanong. Paano kung utusan nila akong pumunta doon sa madilim na gubat, edi maghuhubad ako?
"No, not all your clothes. Lahat ng nasa katawan mo, huhubarin gradually. Katulad na lang kapag ayaw kong gawin ang dare, huhubarin ko itong suot ko na relo, o kaya ay singsing or anything hanggang sa panloob na lang na damit ang matira. So let's start", wika niya at hindi man lamang dininig ang protesta ko.
Oh, looks like everyone liked that rule too! Ang lamig kaya ng gabi tapos pahuhubarin pa kami? Wala na akong magawa nang pinaikot na nila ang bote.
Una itong tumigil sa tapat ni Lorie. "Game!", masiglang wika ni Lorie. Oh, tuwang-tuwa pa ito na ito ang naturo? Uh, unbelievable.
"Ako ang mag-uutos", Rico asked. "Pick up that frog at ilagay mo sa tent ni Roan."
Lorie smiled. Look's like she's not afraid of frogs at all. Ginawa nito ang iniutos ni Rico at hindi nagtagal ay narinig namin ang sigaw ni Roan mula sa tent nito! Tuwang-tuwa naman sila! That's so mean! Nakakatakot kaya ang palaka! I saw Roan hysterically ran out from her tent. Kawawa naman ito! Panay naman ang tawa ng mga kasamahan namin.
The next one to do the dare was Marion. Nakaupo ito sa tabi ni Gray at sa kabila naman ako, bale napapagitnaan namin si Gray. She refused her first dare at agad hinubad ang t-shirt displaying her sexy body! Goodness! Hindi ba siya giniginaw sa ginagawa niya? At hindi man lamang niya pinag-isipan kong gagawin ba niya ang dare or not! She immediately took her shirt! Goodluck na lang sa kabag!
We continued playing at halos lahat kami ay wala ng maihubad. We've been playing for a while and I've already removed my watch, earings, hairpin at jacket! Shorts at tshirt na lang ang natitira! Ang iba din sa mga lalaki ay nakatopless na. Even Gray! Tanging jeans na lang nito ang suot! Nauna na niyang hubarin ang suot na belt.
Paano ba naman kasi, puro imposible ang mga ipinagagawa nila kaya mas pipiliin mo na lang maghubad! Katulad na lamang ng mga dare na mambato ng isang tent ng taga Athena! There's no way I'll be doing that! Inutusan din akong bumunot ng buhok sa kili-kili ni Sir Rolly na nakahiga sa tent niya habang nakataas ang kamay! Ang ibang mga dare naman na hindi ginawa ni Gray ay pawang kabaliwan din! It seems like Marion likes crazy stuff!
Nang muling umikot ang bote ay sa akin na naman ito tumapat! I don't like this! Halos wala na akong maihubad! At kapag imposible na naman ang ipapagawa nila, I don't know what will I take off!
"Ako ang mag-uutos!", wika ni Marion. "Maglap dance ka kay Marcus." She was smiling evilly.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko! What the hell?! Dance and Amber don't go together. Hindi ako marunong sumayaw and there's no way I'll be dancing!
"Ano? You're crazy Marion", wika ko sa kanya. Lap dance? So not me!
"Don't be kill joy Amber, wala namang mawawala sayo, and it's just a dare kaya gawin mo na. It's just for fun, you know", Marion said. Sumang-ayon naman ang iba sa sinabi nito. God, they're hopeless case! Tawagin na nila akong kahit ano basta ayaw ko ngang mag-lap dance! Ang laswa kaya nun!
"Kung ayaw mong gawin, you can remove something from your body."
I've decided! This is a better decision to choose between dancing in Marcus' lap o maghuhubad. Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo ko sa damo. I have to do this! Hinubad ko ang suot kong shorts. Di bale, may suot naman akong pantyshorts at medyo mahaba naman ang Tshirt na suot ko. Ayaw ko rin namang hubarin ang t-shirt ko kaya pinili kong hubarin ang short ko. Napakaginaw ng gabi kaya hindi pwedeng ang t-shirt ko ang huhubarin ko. Nagulat silang lahat sa ginawa ko. Ayaw ko rin namang tumigil na sa paglalaro, I don't want them to think that I'm easily chicken out just because of a dare game.
"Are you serious?", tanong ni Gray sa tabi ko. I nodded my head. Ano naman? Nakapanty short naman ako. Hindi rin naman malaswa tingnan kapag ganon, mas malaswa pa rin yung nakabra na lang. We continued playing ngunit muli iyong tumapat sa akin, I don't know what to do!
Kapag ito ay mahirap na naman, ano na ngayon ang huhubarin ko.
"My turn. Ako ang mag-uutos", wika ng kaklase kong si Yohan. Tinuro niya ang madilim na bahagi ng gubat.
"There's a mango tree there at naiwan ko kanina doon ang cap ko. Kunin mo iyon."
I was shocked when I glanced at where he was pointing. It was dark there for heaven's sake! And I'm afraid of the dark, for crying out loud!
Nagulat na lang ako nang biglang napatayo si Gray. "There's no way she can do it. She's nyctophobic kaya mag-isip ka na lang ng ibang dare", malaki ang boses na wika nito kay Yohan.
Yohan just smirked. "Then that makes it more challenging", sagot niya kay Gray. Bumaling naman ito sa akin. "Or maghubad ka na lang ng either underwear mo o tshirt", he said and chuckled.
Hindi ko inaasahan ang sunod na nangyari. Gray grabbed him by the collar.
"Could you be atleast be respectful to women?!", he said habang hawak si Yohan! My other classmates were too shocked to move, marahil ay nagulat sa sudden outburst ni Gray.
"Stop it Gray", wika ko at tumayo. "Gagawin ko 'to. Maybe it's a training ground for me to overcome my fear."
"But-", napatigil siya dahil tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Fine, you can enter the forest. But if it's past 10 minutes at hindi ka pa bumabalik, susunod ako sayo", wika niya at nakangiting tumango ako bago humarap sa direksyon ng pupuntahan ko. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papasok sa kakahoyan. I'm so nervous. I don't know why ngunit nanginginig ang mga kamay ko. I can see some things ahead dahil maliwanag naman ang buwan but this night just creeps me!
The mango tree was a distance from the base kaya kailangan kong magmadali. Naramdaman ko ang malamig na dampi ng hangin sa katawan ko and then I realized, I was just in my pantyshort and shirt. This is double suffering, eh?
Napansin ko ang ilang mga anino mula sa 'di kalayuan kaya nagtago ako. I don't know kung kanino ang mga aninong iyon, I just felt the need to hide. I almost stop my breathe when I hear voices.
"Hermes just finished him off. Hindi siya sumunod sa instruction so the reaper just did his part", boses iyon ng babae.
I heard a faint laughter. "I see. Aren't the reapers are becoming blood thirsty? Narinig kong may tinapos din si Ares", boses iyon ng matanda. Well, not old enough but it seems like very authorative. Nakakatakot! I can't completely heard them dahil malayo na sila sa akin. I held my chest at huminga ng maayos, nagulat na lamang ako ng paglingon ko ay may dalawang tao na sa gilid ko!
Holy shit! Mabuti na lang talaga at pinigilan kong mapasigaw. Napaatras ako and it was too late when I realized I was on an elevated area kaya napasigaw ako nang gumulong ako pababa roon. I rolled down at naramdaman kong tumama ang katawan ko sa mga damo. It's a high place! Mabuti na lang talaga at hindi mabato roon.
Damn those guys, my eyes are blurry and I can't move well. Napakatanga ko naman para mahulog ng ganoon! And how come I didn't realize na may dumating palang mga tao sa likod ko? I'm so careless! Naramdaman kong may mga paparating palapit sa akin. It was the same people na dahilan ng pagkagulat at pagkahulog ko dito. Apollo and a masked man and I'm positive it was Zeus.
"We meet again young lady, bakit ba palagi na lang tayong nagkikita? Iisipin ko na tuloy na itinadhana tayo", Apollo said at inalalayan akong tumayo. I felt my breathing almost stop. Am I dreaming or not? When I felt the pain in my body, I confirmed it was all real. Damn, kaharap ko ngayon ang walang maskarang si Apollo! His handsome face was smirking at me.
"W-why aren't you in your mask?", hindi ko mapigilang tanong. He smirked at me again.
"Why would I? I know you already recognized me noong nasa clinic tayo, so there's no point, unlike this man here", tinapik niya ang katabing si Zeus. "He doesn't want his identity be exposed to you kaya kailangan niya ng maskara. My turn to ask, why aren't you in your shorts or skirt or whatever?"
I was frozen because of his question. Parang gusto ko tuloy kainin na lamang ako ng lupa dahil sa hiya! This is so embarrassing! Gumulong ako mula doon hanggang rito and I'm just in this little piece of clothings! Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita.
Apollo's eyes widened. "Don't tell me you're pooping he-"
"I'm not! May CR naman doon sa campsite base! Were playing a dare, a stripping dare or what the hell they call it!"
Apollo laughed at me. Ano naman ang nakakatawa doon? He crossed his arms at tila amused na tiningnan ako. "So I see, you're really troublesome huh?", wika nito. Bumaling ito kay Zeus. "What shall we do to this girl then?"
Kinabahan ako. Tatapusin ba nila ako? I remembered when they got me for the first time. Nakaligtas ako sa pagpatay ni Apollo dahil hindi ko nakita ang mukha niya. But now ay malaya kong nakikita ang gwapong mukha nito! The face where the word death was scribbled. Nagsimula na namang manlamig ang mga kamay ko. My body was numb at hindi na maayos na nakapag-isip ang utak ko.
"We've already talked about this Apollo. I already told you na 'wag mo siyang pakialaman", Zeus said. His voice was different from the first time I've heard it. Don't tell me there's a voice changing device in that mask? Malaki kasi at tila kakaiba ang boses nito.
Zeus took of his hoody jacket at inabot iyon sa akin. "Here, suotin mo 'to." I was shaking when I accepted the jacket.
Bumaling sa akin si Apollo. "You're one lucky girl you know. You've been protected by someone like Zeus, that's a lifetime previlege."
I gave Apollo a frown at nagsmirk naman siya sa akin. I still was shaking habang sinusuot ang jacket ni Zeus. God, they're living nightmares at ilang beses ko na bang ipinagdasal na sana hindi na kami mulang magtagpo ng landas, but it's the opposite! Palagi na lang nagkukrus ang mga landas namin! Why am I on this mess on the first place?
"Since you've been protected by Zeus, I guess you'd better take heed of this advice of mine, don't be deceive in what your eyes can see, look closer. And another, don't stick your nose on this matter, from what I've heard from this guy, that's your forte. This is mafia at hindi sila magdadalawang isip na patayin ka incase you will do something that will expose the us."
I felt the turmoil inside me. Ayan na naman iyang mga bagay na alam na alam ni Zeus tungkol sa akin. Isa nga ba siya sa mga taong araw-araw ko lang nakakasalimuha? And yes, akala ko ay sa mga palabas lang dati ang existence nang mafia. I didn't know that I'll be dealing with one. Umihip ang hangin kaya lalong akong gininaw ako. I put my hands inside the pocket of the hoody jacket and I almost scream when I felt the cold thing there, sa loob ng bulsa ng jacket. It was a gun. Natatarantang naitapon ko iyon! A mere sight of a gun freaked me out tapos ngayon ay nahawakan ko pa?!
Pinulot iyon ni Zeus. "Are you looking for something here?", tanong ni Zeus habang isinukbit sa beywang ang baril. Why are they carrying guns?
"Yeah, I asked to get somethi-"
Hindi ko na natuloy ang sasabihin dahil bigla na lang akong hinila ni Zeus. He pinned me on the tree samantalang naglabas naman ng baril si Apollo. Are they going to kill me? Akala ko ba pinag-usapan na nila ito at protektado ako ni Zeus?
The next thing I knew ay may mga papalapit na yabag. "Hello boss? We've negotiated with the mafia at ibinigay na nila ang classified information na kailangan natin", wika ng isang lalaki na may kausap sa cellphone nito.
So, that's what it is all about. Kinakabahan ako sa kanila. Nagtangis ang bagang ni Apollo nang marinig ang sinabi ng lalaki.
"Of course we have given them the fake items, ang tanga din nila, they fell for it", wika ng lalaki ay tumawa. His laughter creep me.
"Just as you thought Zeus, this transaction is a hoax", bulong ni Apollo. "Curse them! Artemis and Poseidon thought it was a beneficial transaction." The transaction is a hoax? Naloko ang mafia na kinabibilangan nila?
"I've warned Artemis about this ngunit ayaw niyang maniwala", mahinang wika ni Zeus.
Nagpunta ba sila dito upang tingnan ang mangyayaring transaction na pakiramdam ni Zeus ay isang malaking lokohan?
"Yes boss, the real item was in the warehouse. Hindi alam ng negotiator nilang si Artemis na conterfeit ang jar na iyon", wika ng lalaki. Kinakabahan ako sa mga nangyayari, what if mahuli kami rito?
Nakarinig naman kami ng isa pang boses. Sumilip kami mula sa pinagkublihan namin.
"You think you fooled us?", wika ng boses. It was the woman I heard kanina lang.
Kinuha ng babae ang cellphone at kinausap ang nasa kabilang linya. She was talking to the guy on the phone samantalang nakatutok naman ang isang kamay nito na may hawak na baril sa lalaki.
"Hi, I'm Artemis at gusto ko lang ipaalam sa inyo na nasa amin na ulit ang Pandora", wika niya at pinatay ang cellphone. She threw it away at binaril ang cellphone. I was very afraid kaya hindi ko napigilang mapayakap kay Zeus. Dinig na dinig ko ang putok ng baril. The next thing I know was she shot the guy dead. Hindi ko namalayan na umiiyak na pala ako. Ni hindi ito nagdalawang isip sa ginawa!
"Put your gun away Artemis! You're scaring her!", narinig kong sigaw ni Zeus.
Lumapit naman ang babae sa amin. "Just as you thought Zeus, it was a hoax jar. Mabuti na lang at natrace namin ang tunay na pinaglagyan nila sa Pandora's box", sinulyapan niya ako at ngumiti ito. Oh, she's so beautiful!! Kung hindi ko lang nakita na pumatay siya ng tao sa harap ko ay baka sinamba ko na ang kagandahan nito. But she's a killer and a killer is not beautiful.
"This must be the girl that Apollo said you're crazy with", wika nito at ngumiti sa akin. "Bakit ka umiiyak?"
Sumabat si Apollo. "She freaks out seeing a gun. Let's flee Zeus. Artemis didn't use her silencer kaya marahil ay nagdududa na ang mga tao sa mga putok na iyon. As of that girl, ibalik mo na yan sa pinanggalingan niya", Apollo said at hinila si Artemis palayo. "We'll wait for you in the car Zeus."
Artemis bid me farewell ngunit hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako nagsasalita. I saw the dead body of the guy at nanlamig na naman ako. Ganito lang ba kadali sa kanila ang pumatay? When Zeus pulled me away ay nagpatangay lang ako.
Nang makalayo na kami doon ay nagsalita ito. "I'm sorry about that", wika niya. "Bumalik ka na sa base ng campsite. Don't walk around here at night, you don't know this place."
"What's Pandora?", tanong ko sa kanya. Napatigil siya sa paglalakad at tiningnan ako. I also stared at his masked face.
"It's a codename for an item. You don't need to know about it", wika niya. He was standing there habang nakatingin sa akin. Kating-kati ang kamay ko na tanggalin ang maskara nito. "I have to go. Goodbye Amber", wika niya at bumalik na sa kakahoyan. I wiped away all my remaining tears at bumalik sa base. Marami ang nagising and they all look worried. They were awaken by the gunshots at tumawag na rin sila ng mga pulis.
"Amber! Where have you been? Narinig mo ba ang mga gunshots?", tanong ni Marion nang sinalubong niya ako.
I shrugged my shoulders. The truth is I want to tell everyone na hindi ko lamang narinig ang putok ng baril, I witnessed it with my two eyes. "I didn't hear anything at hindi ko rin nakita ang cap ni Yohan", wika ko. Wala akong ibang magawa kundi magsinungaling.
"Don't mind it Amber, kaninong jacket ba yang suot mo?", tanong ni Lorie.
Napatingin naman ako sa suot ko. It was Zeus' jacket. I forgot to give it back to him. Hindi ko sila sinagot. When I looked around, hinanap ko si Gray ngunit wala siya sa paligid.
"Nasaan si Gray?", tanong ko. Kumunot naman ang noo ni Marcus.
"You didn't see him? He went in the woods after you", wika nito and I was shocked. Si Gray, sumunod sa gubat? But I didn't see him there. I saw Apollo and Zeus instead.
Gray and Zeus. Nalilito ako ngayon dahil sa kanilang dalawa. And I don't want to think further of the hunch I have in my mind. As I've said, it's impossible. We heard sirens at dumating na ang mga pulis and they checked the woods. Kinuha ko na ang mga gamit na hinubad ko kanina at nagbihis na. Saka ko lamang nakita si Gray. He was running from the woods. Pawis na pawis ito. Saan kaya siya nanggaling?
Agad siyang lumapit sa akin. "Okay ka lang ba Amber?"
I stared at him. Zeus has the same height and body built as Gray but I cannot imagine it. I don't want to think about it either. I gave him a weary smile at tumango. "Magpapahinga na ako, goodnight."
I walked away at nagtungo na sa tent ko. Just like the Pandora's Box, there's still "Hope" inside me. Hope that I'm gonna make it out of this mess and I'm hoping that Gray is not Zeus.
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-ShinichiLaaaabs.