Ria's POV
I already tied my hair into a ponytail. Kanina ko pa rin suot ang uniporme ko, ngunit sa hindi malamang dahilan, hindi ako matanggal sa harap ng vanity mirror. Nakatitig lang ako sa sarili kong repleksyon, nagtataka kung bakit nakatitig ako dito in the first place.
Naglagay ako ng kaunting make-up, just to see if I can make my face look less tired. Looking my best is one of the ways that I assure myself that I'm fine, even though I'm not. Ayoko kasing mahalata ng iba na masama ang pakiramdam ko. Knowing that others know you're not okay is a sign of weakness, and the last thing I want to do right now is give off a weak atmosphere.
I'm not that kind of person, nor will I ever be.
"I'm not weak..." Dahan-dahan kong inilapag ang make-up brush sa mesa. "I'm not meant to be weak." Ever since I step foot in the Academy, I have always asked myself the same question. Ilang beses ko ba dapat kumbinsihin ang sarili ko na hindi ako mahina? Dahil pagod na ako. Pagod na akong tignan ang sarili ko gamit ang mga mata ko. Ako lang ang nakakakilala nang husto sa sarili ko kaya napakahirap, napakahirap kung pilit kong iniisip na hindi ako mahina pero sa paningin ko, isa ako sa pinakamahina dito.
Setting all my thoughts aside, I finally got a grip of myself and left my reflection. Tumungo ako sa pinto at nang buksan ito, nakita ko si Chase na nakatayo sa tapat ko.
"What the hell is your problem?" Umangat ang isang kilay ko.
"Kanina pa nagsimula yung meeting. Ikaw nalang ang wala kaya inutusan ako ni Trev na gisingin ka or..." Nanghina ang kanyang boses sa bandang huli. "Tapos ka na bang kumain?"
Sinarado ko ang pinto at nilagpasan siya. "I'm not hungry." Pagkatapos, napahinto ako nang biglang tumunog yung tiyan ko.
"Bwisit." puna ko. Ang gandang timing n'on.
"Kumain ka muna." Sa isang iglap, nasa kusina na si Chase. Naglabas siya ng sandwich mula sa ref at inilagay ito sa microwave. "Walang snacks sa meeting. Ako lang."
"Gusto mo ipasok din kita sa microwave? Tsk." Umupo ako at nag-antay na mainit yung pagkain. Kumuha si Chase ng isang plato at saka baso. Inilapag niya ito sa gitna ng dining table kaya nagtaka ako.
"May atraso ka na naman ba sa'kin?" tanong ko.
"Bakit?" aniya at muling binuksan ang ref para ilabas ang isang pitsel ng juice.
"You're being kind to me. I don't like it. It's weird."
Napatingin siya sa'kin, saka sa plato at baso na nakalatag sa mesa. "Huh? Para sa'kin naman 'to ah." Nilagyan niya ng juice ang baso at ininom ito. "Gutom din kaya ako. Anong akala mo?"
Napasimangot ako at nagsimulang magbilang kung ilang segundo ang kailangan ko para mag-summon ng espada at ipahilig ito sa leeg niya. "Chase... can you just-" Wala talagang ni isang segundo na hindi nandidilim ang paningin ko sa tuwing nakikita ko siya. "Can you just get me another set of sandwiches from the fridge?"
Sinunod naman niya ang sinabi ko kaya nagawa kong pakalmahin ang sarili ko.
Nasa kamay niya ang sandwiches na nakabalot sa foil nang mapatingin siya sa microwave. "Hindi pa tapos yung akin eh." Inabot niya sa'kin ito. "Idikit mo na lang 'yan sa noo mo."
Nagtaka ako sa sinabi niya pero tinanggap ko naman ito.
"Tutal palagi namang nagbabaga 'yang ulo mo."
Lumalim ang bawat hugot ko ng hangin at dahan-dahan kong kinuyom ang aking kamay na may hawak ng malamig na sandwich.
"CHASE!"
• • •
Pagkapasok ko sa conference room, dumako kaagad ako sa Alphas na nakaupo sa pinakalikuran.
The conference room was just the same size as our classroom, at may platform din sa gitna kung saan naroon si Sir Glen, nagdi-discuss ng magiging kapalaran namin the moment the war begins.
"What did I miss?" tanong ko kay Kara na katabi ko.
"Nothing much. They just finished introducing our allies." sagot niya.
Inilibot ko ang aking paningin sa mga tao na kasama namin. I already read all their records kaya pamilyar na silang lahat sa'kin. We were surrounded by mortals and mythological creatures, all of which has a debt to pay to the Academy. I know this because in this realm, a debt to be paid is what it takes to convince others to fight for you.
Isa ito sa purpose ng missions namin. We help other creatures so that one day, they can return the favor when we ask for it. Alam nilang hindi sila makakatanggi kapag yung Academy na mismo ang nakapagsabi na kailangan nito ang tulong nila.
It's kind of selfish, really. Kailangan mo pang tulungan ang iba para masiguro mong tutulungan ka rin nila kapag nagkataon na kailangan mo ito. But that's just how the world works, I guess. You have no choice but to be selfish even when you believe there are still ways not to be.
Anytime, you can promise the world that you would be good... but the world will never promise to be good to you.
Napadako ang aking mga mata sa lalaking nakatayo sa gilid ng platform.
Humilig ako papalapit kay Kara. "Kasama siya sa pinatawag?"
"I told you, his father, Theosese, had a significant bond with the school."
"Huh." My brows met. "I thought he was just one of the staffs." The professor, with a stern look on his face, had his arms across his chest. Sa sandaling napatingin ako sa kanya, kusa kong narinig sa aking isipan ang mga sigaw niya no'ng pinagalitan niya kami dahil nalaman niyang pupunta kami sa Garden ng Hesperides.
I was trying to be understanding... but then, I remember, he made Art cry.
"My hands are itching to stab him." Pagbibigay-alam ko kay Kara na agarang napalingon sa'kin nang marinig 'yon.
"No."
Ngumuso ako. "But I'll be careful. I mean it would still hurt but only like a prick of a needle. Hehehe." Kumisap-kisap ako habang binibigyan si Kara ng nagmamakaawang tingin.
Ginantihan niya ako ng isang mariing sulyap. "Learn how to control yourself, Ria." Narinig ko ang buntong-hininga niya nang maibalik na niya ang kanyang atensyon sa gitna ng platform. "You can't just stab everyone you're not fond of."
"Well, I can-"
"But that would be attempted murder." Muli niya akong tinignan. "This is exactly why you failed our ethics class."
Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. "Kara naman eh!" Luminga-linga ako. "Don't say that out loud, will you? Hindi lang tayo ang nandito!"
"Someone has proclaimed war. For the first time, the Academy is participating in such battle." Nabaling ang aking atensyon kay Sir Glen. "Fortunately, some of us are already good with danger." He glanced at our direction. "Tomorrow morning is the start of the implementation of our plans." Sinimulan na niya ang pagbabahagi ng mga detalye ng gagawin namin. The plan was simple, we just need to keep the damage on a minimum level which demands proper distribution of the allied groups. If one of us fails, then it can cause a breach.
"At kung mangyari nga ang hindi inaasahan?" The headmistress of the Aurai asked, after raising her hand. I forgot her name but she's the one in-charge of the Aurai who reside in the Academy and are currently working for the school.
"In that case, report to us immediately and we will dispatch some of our students to help you." sagot ni Sir Glen. "If time is of the essence, then you can just call any random students near your area and surely, they will respond."
My gaze shifted to two Beta students seated a few tables away from us. One of them, the guy with black hair and eyes, is the current president of their class, and a descendant of Hecate. They say, siya ang may kapakana ng majority of the contribution of their class. Ibig sabihin, kung ipinagsama-sama mo lahat ng missions ng Beta para kunin ang kabuuang success rate nito, siya ang nagmamay-ari ng pinakamalaking percentage.
Sa tabi niya ay isang babae na kasalukuya'y nagbabasa ng mga dokumento, ang vice-president ng class nila. I really don't know much about her except that she's a daughter of Tyche, the goddess of prosperity and fortune. She doesn't have the power to grant fortune because her presence is already one. She's literally a walking lucky charm, that's why she has to take their exams alone. Kung isasama mo kasi siya sa ibang students, lahat sa kanila'y magkakaroon ng perfect scores, doesn't matter if they studied or not. She may sound fun to be around with, pero nagdudulot din ng misfortune ang presensya niya, lalo na kapag wala siya sa usual happy-go-lucky mood niya.
I looked at the other two students sitting directly across them, the president and vice-president of the Gamma class, the class of oracles, seers and keepers. Their president, the girl wearing a pair of thin round glasses, is said to be one of the kindest. She's the chief priestess of the Anemoi, the four gods of the wind. Sa pagkakatanda ko'y isa sa abilities na ibinigay ng gods sa kanya ang bumasa ng kapalaran sa pamamagitan lang ng ihip ng hangin. Kung siya ang chief priestess ng Anemoi, katabi niya naman ang bagong chief warden, si Ice. Ice was specifically chosen by Khione, the goddess of snow. So possibly, he has the ability to summon ice and snow.
Napasimangot ako pagkatapos maalalang wala nga palang official officers ang Alpha. Hindi naman kasi kami katulad ng ibang classes na marami-rami ang mga miyembro. Out of the entire population of students in the Academy, there are only eight of us.
"Kara, do you think madadagdagan pa tayo sa class natin?" bulong ko.
"Soon we'll know."
Napatingin ako kay Cesia. Katabi niya si Art at may pinag-uusapan din ata sila.
Paano niya kaya nagawang mamuhay sa mortal realms nang gano'n katagal? With all the danger surrounding a demigod, nakapagtataka kung bakit ngayon lang siya napadpad sa Academy.
Hmm. Baka siguro gano'n nalang kagaling ang pillar niya at nagawa niyang protektahan si Cesia sa loob ng napakaraming taon.
Pillar ang tawag sa mga piling mortal na pinagkalooban ng deities ng kanilang descendants. Kaya isang malaking karangalan ang maging pillar dahil ibig sabihin nito, malaki ang tiwala ng deity sa'yo. Pero sabi nga nila, to hold the trust of a god or goddess, is to let them hold your life for you. The moment a deity entrusts you his or her child, you are expected to live the rest of your life with one purpose: protect that child with everything you have, including your own life.
As for me, my mom was my pillar. She gave birth to me, gave me a childhood, and in order for me to find out who I really am, she died. It was her death that forced me to look for my father that eventually, led me to Olympus Academy.
I didn't ask for a life like this. Sapilitang pagkabuhay 'to at ayoko ng pinipilit ako. Gusto kong mabuhay dahil may sarili akong dahilan.
Napangiti ako.
It's a good thing I have seven.
• • •
"Students are not required to go to school for a week after the celebration tonight." Narinig namin ang announcement sa speakers. "Students who will not be staying are advised to seek the comfort of other residences outside the school premises."
Malapit na kaming makarating sa dorm namin nang mapadaan kami sa isang grupo ng mga estudyante.
"So who's staying at my beach house starting tomorrow?"
"The one in Maldives or in Greece?"
"The one in Los Angeles."
"Nice! Sama ako!"
"Huhuhu..." paghihinagpis ni Art na nakarinig din sa kanila. "Gusto ko ring pumunta tayo sa isang beach house."
"When the war is over, Art." Nginitian siya ni Dio. "We'll be staying at one of mine."
"Talaga?!" Art clasped her hands in excitement. "Woah! Amazing with a-" Kasunod siyang tumama sa pinto ng dorm dahilan na mapa-"ooh" kaming lahat.
"Z-Zee..." bulong ni Art habang hinihimas-himas ang kanyang noo. Dinamdam niya ang door knob at pinihit ito. Nauna siyang pumasok nang hindi tinatanggal ang kanyang kamay mula sa noo. "M-Magbibihis na ako..."
Pumasok na rin ako sa kwarto ko para makapaghanda sa selebrasyon mamayang gabi. Isa pa naman ito sa pinakapaborito kong event ng Academy.
Aside from the program and offerings that take place at the start, there is also a ball where students can interact with one another and of course, dance. And even when there's a war coming, this night will still be ethereal...
Because tonight, the sky will be starless and only the moon will appear alongside a spectacle of light called Aurora.