Dio's POV
Gusto ko sanang lumabas dahil kanina pa ako naghihintay dito kasama ang principal, iilang staff members at ang dalawang leaders ng mga huntres at amazons.
Tsk. Nakapamulsa akong nakatayo sa isang sulok ng classroom.
Wala naman akong balak sumali sa meeting na'to. But then, tinawag ako ni Sir Rio.
I was about to ask permission to go out and never come back when an angel entered the room. Kasama niya si Galatea na nakaupo sa kanyang balikat while humming a song.
"Nevermind." I mumbled under my breath. Bumalik ako sa pwesto ko, hoping that she'd spot me.
She did.
Napangiti ako nang makita siya na papunta sa'kin.
"You're here.." pumwesto si Kara sa tabi ko.
Napansin niya siguro kung paano ako makatitig sa kanya kaya't namula ang pisngi niya. Which I find is utterly attractive.
Ngayon lang ako napaisip.. how the hell can I get through a meeting with her? I can't focus on the important details especially when she's beside me.
"Am I distracting you Dio?" tanong niya.
Nagulat ako saglit pero napangiti nalang ako. Ano pa ba ang inaasahan ko sa isang anak ni Athena? She can read every one of my moves.
I let my arms encircle her waist and pulled her close. "Yes but I kind of like it this way."
"Umm hellooo??" napalayo kami sa isa't-isa nang magsalita si Galatea. "Gods. Please take into consideration that there is a single lady here. Tsk."
Nagtinginan kami ni Kara. We both chuckled at the little statue's remark.
"Nasaan nga ba ang Pygmalion mo?" natatawa kong tanong.
"Well.. hindi ako ang original na Galatea you know.. and besides, why the hell do I need a boyfriend when I have myself." inirapan niya ako.
Fair enough. Si Aphrodite naman ang gumawa sa kanya so maybe the goddess have other plans for her.
Tumango nalang ako at tinapik ang noo niya. "Hahanapan kita." nakangisi kong sabi sa kanya.
Dagliang nagliwanag ang mga mata niya. Quickly enough, she managed to hide it behind a poker face.
"I need no man." she flipped her hair.
Really?
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
"Dio." binigyan ako ni Kara ng nagbabantang tingin. "Not every girl needs a boyfriend.. like me. I didn't need one."
Needless to say, nagulat ako sa sinabi niya.
"Fine." I folded my arms on my chest. "Let's break up then."
Sinunod ko si Galatea at inirapan si Kara. I know it's unusual of a guy to do so but then... men can do unimaginable things for their women so..
Atsaka, gusto ko lang talaga siyang tuksuhin.
"Dio." my ears jerked up when she says my name again.
.. and I find it too hot to handle.
I should've known. Tsk.
If only I could snatch her away from here to a place where I can be alone with her. At doon, sisiguraduhin kong isisigaw na niya ang pangalan ko.
I grinned.
"I didn't need one until I met you." nginitian niya ako.
"Same goes for you Galatea." tinignan niya si Galatea na nakasimangot pa rin hanggang ngayon. "Maybe you'll have to meet that special person to make you realize that you do need a boyfriend."
"No way." she flips her hair on the other side again.
"How can you find love while there is a war anyways? Relationships these days are only distractions. Pag nalaman ng chthonic deities ang pagmamahalan niyo, gagamitin nila ito para matalo kayo. Psh."
I let out a breath. What she said was something. Posible ngang mangyari 'yon.
Silently, Kara reached for my hand.
I stared at our intertwined fingers for a while. Saka ako napatingin sa kanya.
She was just as scared as me. Mukhang alam niya rin ang iniisip ko ngayon.
"We already have a plan if that ever happens. Right Dio?" she gave me a soft smile and squeezed my hand.
Kumunot ang noo ko. Wait. Kailan kami nagkaroon ng plano?
I decided to go with her statement and nodded.
•••
"Anong ibig mong sabihin kanina? Anong plano?" nagtataka kong tanong sa kanya.
Binuksan ni Kara ang pinto. Sabay kamig pumasok sa dorm. Kanina ko pa siya sinusundan dahil nga sa sinabi niyang plano o kung ano man ang tinutukoy niya..
Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang tumigil siya sa tabi ng counter sa kusina. Nakatayo siya na may seryosong ekspresyon sa mukha.
Teka.. ba't ganyan hitsura niya?
May nagawa ba akong masama?
May nasabi ba akong mali?
Oh shit. Did I unintentionally made her jealous or is she mad-
"We need to talk about the war."
Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang malamang di pala siya galit sa'kin. Minsan talaga mahirap intindihin ang mga babae. Psh.
"What about it?" umupo ako at humarap sa kanya.
"Yung sinabi ni Galatea... it.. it gave me an idea.. or a hunch but I'm sure it will happen." umupo rin siya sa tapat ko.
My brows met. She means the rebels will use the both of us to defeat us?
Never gonna happen.
"Dio... I remembered... a priestess telling me that a hero will kill me with a knife.. dripped in Athena's blood.. he will stab me in the neck." tinignan niya ako.
My eyes squinted.
What does she mean?
"Teka nga." napaisip ako. "Are you telling me I'm going to kill you?" natawa ako.
This is pathetic.
"Well. She's the same priestess who sent the cake who burned my neck... you remember?" kinuha niya ang kamay ko.
She's cold.
Tumango ako.
Is she really serious about this? If she is, then fuck. Natatakot na ako.
Alam niyang hindi ko siya kayang saktan. How much more end her life?! How the hell do the Gods expect me to kill my other half?!
"You know." ngumiti ako. "Hindi kita kayang saktan Kara. Nangako ako sa'yo. You damn well know how much I love-"
Nagulat ako nang bigyan niya ako ng halik. I was about to respond pero lumayo na siya sa'kin.
Deep inside, my heart ached a little. YOU CANNOT JUST PAUSE A KISS.
She cupped my cheeks. "I know Dio. I know."
"But for now.. I want you to trust me with this. Okay?" malungkot niyang tugon.
Napansin ko ang dahan-dahang paglabas ng tubig sa mga mata niya pero pinigilan niya itong pakawalan.
I nodded.
Napalunok siya bago ako nginitian. Gently, she sat back again.
"You will kill me Dio.. with that blade." aniya at kinuha ulit ang kamay ko.
"The rebels will do anything once they know everything. They will try to trick you. But promise me.. Dio.. hindi ka magpapadala sa kanila. It will be hard but.. they will force you to stab a dagger on my neck, okay?" her voice broke at the end.
Matagal akong nakasagot.
May nakatakas na luha mula sa mata niya na agad kong pinunasan.
"I promise you." mahina kong sabi.
I'm not crying.
Fuck. Am I crying?!?!
"Just..." hinigpitan ko ang paghawak sa kamay niya. "Promise me you're not gonna die."
Malaki ang tiwala ko sa kanya. She's the kind of woman who doesn't break her promises, does she?
"Let's keep our promises..." her subtle smile reappeared.
Slowly, we leaned closer. I felt the tip of her nose when we heard someone cough.
Tinignan ko ang lalaking nakatayo at may dalang vials ng ambrosia. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.
He gave us his usual frown.
"Where is she?" tanong niya.
Nagtinginan kami ni Kara at magkasabay kaming napangiti.
"She's in her room, sleeping. Galatea is busy with the other staffs if you would like to know." sagot ni Kara.
Natawa ako ng mahina nang makita kung paano dagliang lumiwanag ang mga mata niya nang marinig ang sinabi ni Kara.
"Good." dumiretso siya sa kwarto ni Cesia.
Napabuntong-hininga ako.
"He has changed." narinig kong puna ni Kara. "I didn't know he's good at taking care of a girl."
Eh syempre. Leader namin yan.
"Sa tingin mo... mana siya sa ama niya? you know.. Zeus and his affairs.." naalala ko ang mga kwento ni Zeus.. ang mga gawain niya na nagdulot ng matinding galit ni Hera.
"I doubt it." umiling si Kara. "The two of them have more than just feelings.. they're unbreakable."
"Like us?"
"Dio. I can sense their connection literally. Can't you? The first time they met, when they fought side by side... wala ka bang napapansin na kakaiba sa kanilang dalawa?"