Chapter Fifty-four: The lesser of two evils
- Athena Adrianne -
Athena had trouble concentrating. She tried standing in the middle of the platform, praying hard to vanish and open her eyes in a different time pero kahit anong gawin niya walang nangyayari.
Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga. Buti pa ang Kuya niya may katulong. She hoped her Father was here to help her train...
She's done for today. Hindi na niya pipilitin ang sarili niya kung wala namang nangyayari.
Athena sighed and pouted. Naupo siya sa platform at tinignan ang walang buhay niyang training room.
She made a mental note na mag reklamo tungkol dito. Her training room looks lifeless and it's not helping her focus. Hindi naman siya katulad ni Zeus na kailangan mag sira ng gamit dito, all she had to do is focus and snap back to a different time. But it's easier said than done.
Sinabihan na siya noon kung may ipapapalit ba siya sa training room pero sa iba nakalaan ang atensyon niya kaya heto siya ngayon.
"It looks like I'm in a silent room in an asylum. Kulang nalang ng straight jacket," Athena mumbled.
Ginulo niya ang kanyang buhok and tried to imagine the different times she wants to travel into. Bakit hindi niya magawa? She's done it before. All she had to do was visualize the place and time.
Kailangan niya pa mag tanong ng pointers kay Ambrose. She had to ask him if meron ngang mali sa kanya ngayon kaya nag ma-malfunction ang ability niya. Is that even possible though?
Ilang araw na rin niyang hindi nakikita si Ambrose. Kahit na dayuhin niya ang cemetery wala ito. Neither is Amarande. Para bang sumabay ang mga ito sa pagkawala ni Seige.
Baka naman may nangyari talaga...
Iniisip niya iyon habang wala si Seige. Sumasagap rin siya ng balita sa mga lakad ng Kuya niya sa Diner. The other angels were there pero bakit ang apat ay wala?
Sasabihin naman siguro niya sa'kin kung may mali. Or being the mischievous angel he is, he will leave me guessing until I finally figure it out.
Yeah, Athena thought it might be the latter.
Nag prisinta siyang tumulong kay Aria and train. That's what Ambrose wants her to do. She's struggling with training at mukhang may sakit na naman si Aria tulad ng sabi nito, kailangan ba niyang sabihin ito kay Ambrose?
Now that Seige is back baka bumalik na rin ito.
She won't find out if she keeps sitting here...
Tumayo na si Athena at dumiretso na sa pinto, as she was about to step out narinig din niya ang pag bukas ng pinto sa kabilang room. Specifically Enzo's room.
Kumabog agad ang kanyang dibdib and she slammed the door close louder than she intended.
Tinalikuran niya ito at hiniling na sana hindi siya napansin ni Enzo.
Oh hell.
Iyon nalang ang naisip ni Athena nang marinig niya ang katok sa pinto.
"Aiane!" Sunod na sigaw ni Enzo.
For a second Athena wanted to act like she's invisible and pretend she's not hearing anything. Why can't she act like a real vampire for once and just made a run for it nung marinig palang niya ang pag bukas ng pinto ng room ni Enzo but no she had to act like a little girl hiding from her crush.
"Aiane open up! I know you're in there!" Mas lalong lumakas ang katok ni Enzo.
Athena breath hitched habang iniisip kung ano ang dapat niyang gawin.
There is no way out!
Magpapalagay na din siya ng napakalaking bintana dito para may matakasan siya sa mga ganitong sitwasyon.
"Gigibain ko 'to pag hindi mo binuksan!" Enzo threatened loudly.
Athena, believing he will really do it, opened the door in a stat ngunit nang makita niya ang mukha ni Enzo sinarado niya rin agad.
She heard him curse on the other side.
"Aiane come on," he said, a bit lower this time.
"Buksan mo na 'to please"
Please.
Are my ears deceiving me? Did he just say please?!
Eaten by the sudden guilt at awa na rin, binuksan na ni Athena ang pinto at hindi na ito sinarado nang makita niya ang mukha ni Enzo.
"You're not talking to me," Enzo pointed out the oh so obvious.
Umiwas ng tingin si Athena. "Wala naman kasi akong sasabihin sa'yo"
"Meron kaya"
She was shook a bit by his answer.
"That day when Ash punched me may sasabihin ka dapat sa'kin," he advanced on her hanggang sa ilang dipa nalang ang layo nila sa isa't isa. "We found out something life changing, Aiane. Why are you keeping me in the dark now?"
She knew what he's referring to is about finding out that there are more Half Bloods other than them. Maniniwala kaya ito kung sasabihin niya na ayaw lang niyang dumagdag sa problema nito that's why she's not telling him the rest of her recent discoveries?
And god ang dami na niyang nalaman hindi niya alam kung saan magsisimula!
Before she could formulate the right thoughts to say to him, natigilan silang dalawa when a whistling sound came.
Asher emerged, his up beat tune whistle did not stop as his eyes landed on them. He was holding some old looking parcels tied together by a thin rope.
"What's that?" Athena asked, eyeing the parcels.
"Flame's stuff," Asher gave her a lopsided smile. "You seen her anywhere?"
"She's in the library," Enzo answered his cousin in a clipped tone. Halatang nainis ito sa pag dating ni Ash.
Asher just nodded and brisk pass them but then looked back at Athena again, "Zeus has gone mad by the way"
"What?" She felt alarmed all of a sudden.
"Go outside and see for yourself"
Hindi na siya nag dalawang isip na lumabas. Enzo was following fast on her tail.
As soon as Athena stepped outside ang madilim na langit agad ang sumalubong sa kanya.
It's not raining.
Madilim lang ang langit like it's threatening to pour rain. Lightning struck as though it was light flickering in the sky followed by loud thunder.
"I need to find him," Athena said hurridly not even glancing at Enzo.
"Sasamahan kita"
"No," maagap niyang tutol dito. "I have to deal with him on my own"
Dahil ngayon palang may idea na siya kung ano ang dahilan ng kakaibang panahon na ito. At alam na rin niya kung saan niya hahanapin ang Kuya niya.
"Then what am I suppose to do?"
"Just uhm..." Sasabihin niya kay Enzo ang lahat but she has to find Zeus first before he unintentionally kills a living creature with random strikes of lightning.
"Go find Aria and make sure she's alright"
"Why?" Kunot noong tanong ni Enzo pabalik.
"Just do it and I'll tell you later!"
Iyon na ang huling sinabi niya dito bago tumakbo patungong cemetery.
But as soon as her eyes landed on the gate, a figure standing by it made her stop.
"Seige?"
Athena slowly approached Seige, nakatayo lang ito sa tabi ng gate as if contemplating if she's going to enter or not.
This girl may be the reason why Zeus had gone mad.
"He's by the lake," Seige whispered, eyes looking empty.
"Seige," Athena called softly, touching Seige's shoulder.
"He's there," Seige repeated. "You need to calm him down..."
"Or else he'll kill someone," Athena added before assuring, "I know what to do"
"He's mad at me..."
Seige whispered more to herself looking like something tragic had dawned on her. "I made him do this..."
Walang masabi si Athena dahil wala siyang alam sa kung ano man ang nangyari sa dalawa but this is the first time she saw Seige like this.
Like she realized the stuff she'd done and ended up looking so screwed.
"I'm going to fix this," Athena assured instead.
She stared as Seige's violet eyes glazed with something she's trying hard to decode. And just then Seige eye's revealed everything.
She wanted to fix it herself but she can't because something was pulling her back.
Athena ran to the woods without looking back, this is what Seige wanted her to do that she cannot do herself.
She has to kick some sense in her brother.
Nakita niya si Zeus na nakasandal sa puno at taimtim na naka pikit.
Driven by adrenaline, Athena picked up a rock as she ran to her brother and threw it at him, hitting him square on the chest.
"Fuck!"
Zeus opened his eyes while Athena had to close hers because of the sudden flash of lightning.
"Are you crazy?" Zeus snapped.
"Ikaw pa ang may lakas ng loob mag tanong niyan ha," Aiane countered. "Gusto mo bang bumalik agad dito si Mama because of this storm?!"
Zeus shot daggers at her.
"God Kuya think of the damage you're gonna cause,"Athena stressed. "Wag ka nang man damay ng iba sa galit mo!"
This is not the first time Zeus lashed out like this. There was a time when he was so annoyed with Ash on a very bad day and he lost control.
This is more dangerous than lightning strikes Zeus can control driven by his anger.
Athena gazed up at the sky for a second.
This... This is out of control.
Hindi alam ni Zeus kung ano o sino ang tatamaan niya.
She pitied every living creature that would suffer the receiving end of her brother's anger.
"Calm down before you hurt someone..." Aiane pleaded.
"I am calm," Zeus sighed. "But my mind isn't..."
"Just forget whatever Seige did..."
Zeus' sharp eyes pierced through Athena. He was once again a ticking bomb waiting to explode and what she said might have pushed him off the edge again.
"Gusto mong kalimutan ko yung ginawa niya?" Zeus exploded. "Aiane she wants to forget me and I'm left here wondering why. Alam mo ba kung gaano kasakit 'yon?
"I don't," Athena bit her lip. She doesn't know Seige's absence would affect Zeus like this.
"B-but I know she has her reasons..."
"Mga rason na ayaw niyang sabihin sa'kin" Zeus said through gritted teeth. "I have the right to know after what she did, Aiane! Tapos gusto niyang umalis sa buhay ko ng ganon lang... like she's not worthy to be part of it in the first place. Bakit ganon siya mag isip?"
Seige is worthy. Hindi lubos maisip ni Athena kung ano ang tumulak kay Seige para mag isip ng ganon. Of course they'd be hurt kung aalis nalang ito basta basta. Alam niyang binibigyan lang ito ng oras ni Ezra before inviting her back in their lives again. Zeus is the persistent one. He acts on his own, sometimes without caring about what others would think.
Naalala niya ang itsura ni Seige sa gate kanina. Sigurado siyang may rason ito and it might involve her absence.
"I don't know what completely happened between the two of you but Kuya, you have to understand her too," Athena said.
Zeus scoffed at her words.
Despite of his insensitive reply, Athena noticed how the sky is slowly clearing. That means Zeus took her words by heart.
"Intindihin mo rin siya, Kuya" She repeated. "Believe me, she doesn't want this to happen. Tingin mo sasabihin niya ang lahat ng 'yon sa'yo ng wala lang? Isipin mo din kung ano ang nag dulot sa kanya para mag isip ng ganon"
"How'd you know?"
The image of Seige filled Athena's mind again. How Seige told her how she truly feels through her eyes dahil hindi nito kayang sabihin ang lahat ng diretso.
"I just do," Athena sighed before smiling at her brother.
She had her arms wrapped around a second later.
"You don't know how bad she wants to be here with you right now, Kuya"
----
- Enzo Alexander -
Ginawa ni Enzo ang inutos ni Aiane sa kanya. For a second, he wanted to follow her but he thought against it. She would be dealing with Zeus wrath, Enzo trusted him not to hurt her.
Nilakad niya patungong Dusk to do as he was told. Alam niyang nasa dorm na ngayon si Aria dahil tapos na ang klase.
He was taking his time walking. Iniisip kung ano ang posibleng nalaman ni Aiane tungkol kay Seige.
Had she been going on secret adventures without him?
If Asher hadn't punched him that day, Aiane would've told him by now. The conflict with his cousin ruined everything.
Alam niya na hindi ito sinasabi ni Aiane sa kanya para hindi siya maabala.
He's expecting a lenghty talk with her after all this shit. She can't escape him now.
Humans practically gawked at Enzo when he stepped in Dusk. Napailing nalang siya at umakyat papuntang room ni Aria.
Alam niyang hindi maganda ang pakiramdam ni Aria nitong mga nakaraang araw pero bakit kailangan pa siyang utusan ni Aiane just to check up on her?
Aria told them not to call any of their parents yet to inform her condition.
Accoring to Aria, her body is just stressed by all the training. It was understandable dahil hindi naman katulad ng sa vampires ang immune system ng humans.
Enzo sighed before knocking.
Si Aria ang inaasahan niyang magbubukas ng pinto pero hindi iyon ang nangyari.
He was greeted by the loud gasp of Aria's roommate.
"Hi," kunot noong bati ni Enzo. The girl did not even care if she's gaping at him. Naka awang ang bibig nito habang naka kapit sa door knob like her life depended on it.
"I'm looking for Aria..." Enzo trailed. "Andyan ba siya?"
"A-Aria?" Nauutal na ulit nito.
"Yes Aria. I need to see her" Enzo wanted to roll his eyes. Parang may kausap siyang bata.
"S-she..."
"She's what?"
"Well she's..."
"Come on I don't have all day"
Mukhang natauhan na ito dahil sa inis niya. "The redhead, Asher Woodsen's girlfriend, took her to the clinic kasi nagsusuka siya"
"Yun lang pero hindi mo agad nasabi" Enzo said in dismay before walking away.
He rushed to the clinic at tama nga ang babae. Naroon si Flame sa cr inaalalayan ang nagsusukang si Aria.
"It's okay just let it out" Hinahagod pa ni Flame ang likod nito.
"You need anything?" Tanong agad ni Enzo.
Flame smiled sadly, "Si Ash na yung pinakuha ko ng damit niya"
Nag hintay nalang si Enzo sa kama.
Pumasok naman ang nurse kasunod si Gianna.
"She has to drink all that?" Gianna questioned the nurse who looks uncomfortable by her presence. May dala itong stainless tray na puno ng gamot.
"H-hindi naman lahat"
"Maybe may tummy ache lang siya" Ngumuso si Gianna. Hindi naman makasagot ang nurse.
"Gianna" Enzo called to lift the nurse's burden.
"Ay andyan ka pala," agad itong ngumiti nang makita siya. "May issue na naman si Kuya Zeus nakita mo Kuya?"
Enzo nodded. "Dito ka na muna baka tamaan ka pa"
"Sabi nga din sa'kin 'yan ni Ate Flame"
Gianna sat on the couch with her legs swinging. Iyon naman ang pag labas ni Flame habang inaalalayan si Aria.
Agad naman dumalo si Enzo sa dalawa. Siya na ang nag higa kay Aria sa kamang inuupuan niya kanina while Flame asked the nurse for the right meds.
"Masakit ang ulo niya. Nahihilo din daw siya and she's puking her guts out..." Dire-diretso nitong sinabi sa nurse ang kung anong nararamdaman ni Aria.
"We'll call her parents---"
"Don't" Mahinang tutol ni Aria. "I don't want them to worry"
"But Aria---" Flame exclaimed in exasperation before Aria cut her off again.
"It's just a cold. Bubuti rin ang pakiramdam ko. I just need to rest" Aria seemed to be convincing herself than them.
"Okay," Flame sighed. "I won't tell but you have to stay here for the night and you're not going to class tomorrow"
"That's the best decision for now" Tango ng nurse.
The nurse left to return to her desk by the door.
"Inom ka ng maraming water," naka ngusong suggest ni Gianna kay Aria sabay ngiti. "I heard it does wonders to humans"
"Asan na ba si Asher? She needs to change"
"No one is outside kasi takot sila sa storm kaya hindi na traffic 'yon. Baka naman nahihirapan lang pumili ng damit"
"Hindi naman fashion show ang pupuntahan ni Aria para mahirapan siya pumili ng damit" Naka simangot na sagot ni Flame.
"Baka tinamaan na ng kidlat. Inis pa naman si Zeus don kaninang umaga" Enzo smirked.
Flame's lips lifted into a smile but worry was evident in her eyes. Hindi niya alam kung para kay Zeus o Ash.
Flame started fixing Aria's bed para maka higa ito ng maayos. Putting pillows to random places to elevate her body.
"You're mother and wife material Ate Flame" Gianna said.
"The one she's going to marry is one lucky bastard," Asher emerged with a wide grin na para bang nang aasar.
"This happens when you have two baby siblings, Gigi" Flame did not even stare up at Ash, inaayos kasi nito ang hita ni Aria.
When she was done, masamang tingin agad ang tinapon nito kay Ash at hinablot na ang dala nitong damit.
Asher set up the panel screen next to Aria's bed para hindi na ito pumunta pang cr.
Lumapit naman si Gianna kay Enzo. "Do you think when my baby brothers come out magiging kagaya ako ni Ate Flame?"
"I'm sure you'll be a great big sister"
They recently discovered that Rianne Sinclaire is having twins. It wasn't a big shock since that's what they all hoped for. In fact, it will be two baby boys. Jake, Gianna's Dad, almost fainted when he found out courtesy of Zeus' parents.
"I had to talk to someone kaya ako natagalan," Asher reasoned as he helped Aria back to bed.
Flame and Ash kept bickering until Aria fell asleep so they had to keep their mouths shut. Gianna was moving things again kaya ilang beses na lumilingon ang nurse sa kanila galing sa desk nito, looking tensed dahil baka maka basag si Gianna.
Athena came rushing in half an hour later.
"How is she?" Mahinang tanong nito at lumapit agad sa kama ni Aria.
Flame started filling her in about Aria's condition in a hushed tone.
Enzo watched as Aiane took everything in seriously, glancing at Aria from time to time with worry etched on her face.
"How's your Kuya?" Flame suddenly asked.
"Oh he's okay now. Pinatulog ko na"
"I'm sleepy" Bulong naman ni Gianna kaya natanggal ang tingin niya kay Aiane.
"Doon ka sa kabilang kama"
"Baka naman pagkamalan akong pasyente, Kuya"
"Just lay down Gigi"
And she did. Humiga ito sa kama na inuupuan naman ni Ash who's attention is solely focused on his phone.
"Got some important news half bloods..." Asher exclaimed. "And here comes Ezra to tell you all before I do"
True enough, Ezra was walking toward them with a tight smile.
"Mom texted. Council Ball saturday night" she said in distaste. "Invitations will be delivered tomorrow"
"That's the ball where every high rank family has to have at least one representative right?" Gianna asked.
"Yes. That means it's gonna be one hell of a night for us" Ezra answered. "So let's talk about dates!"
"Ez can you keep it down. Aria is sleeping" Mahinang saway naman ni Flame.
"It's alright. I'm awake. Hindi ako makatulog sa inyo eh"
Napailing nalang si Flame before motioning Ezra to move on.
"So the set up will be---"
Enzo raised his hand, politely cutting his twin off. Tumigil naman ito at tinapunan siya ng tingin.
He cleared his throat before asking "Is that necessary?"
Ezra looked slightly ticked off by his question.
"Our parents are council members and it is a council ball that means they will be around doing their thing and I do not want to be stuck in one table with some strange freak so yes it is freaking necessary!"
"I was just asking" Enzo shrugged.
Ezra then pointed at him.
"You go with Gianna"
"But I'm taking Aiane" He answered nonchalantly.
"What?" Aiane almost fell off her seat.
Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Ezra. "You're what?"
Enzo shrugged again. "For a change"
He hasn't really thought it through. Nag pop in nalang sa isip niya bigla.
Ezra rested her hands on her hips. "Then what about Gigi? Take her with you! Dalawa na date mo. You're good at baby sitting naman"
"I feel like I should be offended by that" Aiane muttered.
"You should" Ngisi naman ni Ash.
She had the right to feel offended because Ezra classified her as a child. Enzo thinks she isn't though.
Gianna hugged a pillow and pursed her lips. "I think Dad won't let Mom attend the ball para hindi siya ma-stress so I'll go with him nalang as his date. Kuya can go with Aiane"
Enzo suppressed his smile dahil alam niyang nakatingin si Aiane sa kanya ngayon.
"Okay you guys are cleared," tinuro silang tatlo ni Ezra before turning to Ash. "You go with Flame"
Asher whistled under his breath and shook his head. "Sorry I can't. I've already got a date"
"Are you freakin' kidding me?" Ezra threw her hands up in disbelief.
Naiinis ito dahil mas kumplikado ang pag set nila ng dates ngayon kumpara noon.
"That's new," Flame said in an amused tone.
Asher grinned. "I kid you not, dear cousin"
"Don't tell me it's that Banana girl who molested you the other day"
"Her name is Lana and no hindi siya ang date ko. And For freaks sake get over that. I did!"
"That horrible scene will forever be embed in my mind"
Enzo nodded at what Ezra said. Kahit siya ay hindi makakalimutan 'yon.
"Now who's taking Flame?!"
"I dont mind going dateless"
Asher clicked his fingers in truimph at Flame's answer. "So Flamy will be dateless. Enzo is going with Aiane. Gigi with Uncle Jake. Then let's assume Aria's not going because she's sick. Let's assume Zeus is going with Seige and lastly let's assume you," he points at Ezra with a wide smiled. "Are going with Aiden. Problem solved! Yay we can all eat dinner now!"
No one had the energy to argue with Ash. Kahit si Ezra ay walang nasabi because he was practically right. They had to discuss who's going to stay to take care of Aria but in the end she all convinced them to leave at hayaan na ang nurse ang mag bantay sa kanya.
"Kailangan ko palang dalhan ng pagkain si Kuya" Enzo heard Aiane say.
"Ako nalang. Kailangan ko rin siyang makausap" Prisinta naman ni Flame.
Hinablot naman ni Enzo ang braso ni Aiane when Flame left and the others were walking ahead.
"Hindi naman kita tatakasan" She muttered as they walked together.
"Alam ko. Naniniguro lang naman"
"Seryoso ka sa sinabi mo?" She asked in an audible voice na para bang nahihiya.
"Marami akong sinabi"
"What you said about me being your date..."
"Of course I'm serious about that. Ayaw mo ba?"
Aiane didn't answer. Inunahan siya nitong mag lakad.
Enzo smirked because he saw her blush.
Ezra and Asher were discussing about the ball at the table while Gigi was too hungry to even care kaya malayang nakakatingin si Aiane sa kanya.
Her eyes motioned to Seige's empty table and mouthed "Later"
Tumango naman si Enzo, understanding what she's trying to say.
They need to find Seige.
Iyon nga ang ginawa nila once they all parted ways.
Aiane dragged him to the parking lot. "Hindi na si Seige ang hahanapin natin. Ayos lang ba sayong mag drive?"
"Ayos lang naman. Saan tayo pupunta?"
"The diner"
Mabilis lang ang naging byahe and Aiane looked relieved dahil hindi ang motor niya ang gamit nila ngayon.
"Bakit hindi nalang si Seige kung siya ang mas malapit?" Enzo asked as he took off his seatbelt. Closed na ang diner but the lights are still on and someone is still inside.
"She's got uhm... Some issues right now. I'd rather leave her alone"
Nakasunod lang si Enzo kay Aiane nang pumasok ito sa diner.
He had no idea where this is all going. Go with the flow lang siya.
May isang babaeng crew ang sumalubong sa kanila. Pinasadahan lang sila nito ng tingin at tumango.
"Ariel will guide you"
Aiane nodded. "Thank you. We'll wait here"
The disappeared to the kitchen kaya naiwan silang dalawa.
Aiane was looking at Enzo expectantly. "Hindi ka man lang ba magtatanong?"
"I'd rather ask questions when this is over. I'm just going with the flow right now"
Napailing si Aiane sa kanya. "Ipapakita ko nalang sa'yo para mas maintindihan mo. They can explain it more clearly than I can"
Hindi na tinanong ni Enzo kung sino ang "They" na tinutukoy nito dahil pupunta rin naman sila doon.
Isang babae na mukhang ka edad lang ni Enzo ang lumapit sa kanila.
"They've been informed. Aisling wants us to take the shortcut. It's too risky to fly dahil kakatapos lang ng storm"
Aiane casted Enzo a glance before nodding at Ariel. Still no questions.
But he wondered what the girl was talking about. Too risky to fly?
"Come with me" Ariel motioned for them to follow.
They went inside the kitchen. Mukhang sa back door sila dadaan.
"It's been a while since Aisling allowed us to do this," Ariel smiled at them and pointed exactly at the back door.
"That door leads directly to the castle"
"It's a secret passage"
Ariel nodded at hinarap ang pinto. She muttered something under her breath na hindi naintindihan ni Enzo.
Aiane's arm slowly looped with his when something... some transparent thing dissolved that was somehow blocking the door.
Enzo's forehead creased. He knew it was some kind of invisible barrier that only turned visible when taken down.
Ariel was the one who opened the door.
And they were greeted by a room with intricate designs that was mostly made out of marble.
Ariel leads them further to the hall until they reached two oak doors. Bukas ito kaya kita agad nila ang loob.
Enzo's brow shot up because of how impressive the room looked. Like it was something taken from books.
When Enzo looked down at the stairs his gazed zeroed on a woman with grayest eyes and whitest hair he has ever seen.
"Hello, Enzo Heath"
- Cassandra Flame -
Flame had a hard time balancing a big tray filled with her and Zeus' dinner.
Nakayanan naman niyang dalhin ito sa kwarto ni Zeus. She had to knock with her foot and open the door with her elbow.
Buti nalang bukas ang bedside lamp nito kaya nailapag niya ng maayos ang tray sa study table.
Flame rested her hands on her hips. Zeus was lying on his bed face down, his bare back greeting her.
"Do me a favor and go put a shirt on"
Zeus muttered a muffled reply that goes along the lines of "You're no fun"
"Andito na yung dinner mo. Get up" She stood at the foot of his bed and pulled his covers down.
Zeus groaned as he flipped over then sat up, his hair sticking to different places.
"Did I hit anyone?" He asked sleepily with his eyes closed.
Kinuha muli ni Flame ang tray. "Wala pa namang sumusugod dito so you did not hit anyone"
Kumuha siya ng unan at ipinatong dito ang tray, pinwesto niya ito sa gitna nilang dalawa.
"That's good news..." He nodded, still not opening his eyes. Halatang inaantok pa ito.
Flame rolled hers at muling tumayo to grab a shirt in his closet. She won't eat with him shirtless.
Inabot niya ito kay Zeus and he lazily took it. She sat down in front of him again.
Zeus finally opened his hooded eyes after putting on the shirt.
"Let's eat" She gave him a closed mouth smile.
They were eating in silence for a few minutes until Zeus finally stopped to stare at her.
"I told you not to look at me that way" She continued to focus on her food.
"What way?"
"Like you're figuring me out"
"I am, actually" Zeus smiled, showing his cute dimples. "I'm also wondering why you're here instead of my sister. Not that I'm complaining"
Flame dropped her utensils and finally stared back at him. "I had to make sure you were alright"
And he looks completely fine to her. She bet he will no longer stay like when she finally ask what happened.
"Well, I'm okay now" He admitted like a child, clamping his hands together.
"You need to sort out your anger issues"
Zeus frowned and grumbled "I know. Aiane told me the same thing before she left"
A part of Flame felt sorry for him and also for herself. She was the sole reason why had anger issues.
She knows how he's struggling to express his anger and letting it out through his ability is the only thing he can't resort to.
But then a sly smile changed the frown on his lips. "You said you'd be there to calm me when I wreck havoc"
"I never agreed to that," she pointed out with a raised brow, remembering their past conversation in Asher's room.
"I was supposed to," she admitted a second later. "Tingin ko kayang kaya ka namang pakalmahin ni Aiane kaya hinayaan ko na siya. And Aria needed me"
Gusto niyang habulin si Zeus kanina and stop him before he creates a storm but she couldn't just leave Seige...
When Seige finally pull herself together to run after Zeus, Flame followed closed behind.
She kept a safe distance away from Seige. She thinks Seige's mind was too clouded to even notice her.
She watched as Seige stopped by the gates of the cemetery.
Nakita niya kung paano ito kumapit sa metal gates at bumitaw muli na para bang nagdadalawang isip kung papasok ba o hindi.
That's when Aiane emerghed, running.
Doon na umalis si Flame. Knowing Zeus will be in good hands.
"I saw you..." She trailed, smiling sadly at him. "At the glass hall. I was there and I heard everything"
"Funny, isn't it?" Zeus let out a bitter. "Luna sure hates me para maranasan ko ulit 'to"
"She doesn't hate you, Zeus" Flame sighed, trying to find the right words to say to him. She feels guilty all of a sudden pero hindi niya pinatuonan ito ng pansin.
"Sabi ni Aiane kailangan ko din intindihin si Seige..."
"She's right," Flame smiled slightly. "Yes, you have the right to be angry dahil may pagka insensitive naman talaga yung ginawa niya but Zeus her point of view is not the same as yours" she grabbed both of his shoulders.
"What seems hard for you might be hard for her too" Zeus' eyes were so intense Flame had to pull herself together to keep going.
"Are you speaking base on personal experience?"
"Yes," diretso niyang sagot. Base na rin sa nakita niya ngayon.
She saw herself in Seige in that moment.
Hindi iyon maalis sa isip niya.
"Was it..." Zeus breathed. "Was it hard for you stay away from me?"
Flame was slightly caught off guard by his question. Hindi niya naisip na pwedeng bumalik ang sitwasyong ito sa kanila.
"Yes" But letting you go was much harder.
Zeus' gaze went down. He looks like he's thinking of something deep.
He lifted his gaze to stare at her again.
"What if the pyramid fell and society finally gives us a chance---"
"I don't like where this is going"
"Will you give us another chance too?"
Flame kept mum. She bit her lip, thinking his What If through.
If the Pyramid fell and society's eyes weren't on them anymore. Family morals and ranks were pushed aside...
Habang iniisip niya iyon all she could think of is nirvana.
"Bakit mo sa'kin tinatanong 'yan? I thought you like Seige"
"Just answer it, Cassandra Flame"
By saying her name that way means he isn't fooling around.
"If that kind of peace ever happens then yes, I would" Kung bibigyan sila ng isa pang pagkakataon tatanggapin niya ito ng buong buo. Living in a peaceful world with him like what she imagined is all she wants. But they were living in a world with a different kind of peace right now at kung magiging sila ulit meron paring masasagasaan. Sometimes you have to push aside what you want, even how bad you want it, for the greater good.
"I'd like to remind you though, you gave up on us first"
Zeus chuckled and reached to tuck a lose strand of her hair behind her ear. "I wanted you to be happy. Kung hindi ka naman masaya sa'kin, papakawalan nalang kita kaysa naman magdusa pa tayong dalawa sa piling ng isa't isa"
"I want you to he happy too but clearly you are not"
A lazy sly smile crept up his lips. "Take me back?"
She reached for his hand and entwined it with hers. "Truth is, I want to but I won't. Seeing you like this pains me. Nasasaktan ako kasi kahit wala ka na sa'kin nararanasan mo parin yung mga ginawa ko but in the hands of another girl," Humigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay nito. "Nasa kanya ka man o sa'kin, either way you'll end up getting hurt. It's picking between the lesser of two evils, Zeus. You just have to choose the one worth hurting for"