Kara's POV
"Wow! I just got here from helping the staff and then you're already going on a mission?! WHAT THE F-"
Tinakpan ni Cesia ang bibig ni Galatea. Pinapatahan niya ito. She was trying to use her ability to calm the little talking statue down.
"Oo nga Galatea! What the f-"
Kasunod namang tinakpan ni Seht ang bibig ni Thea.
I shook my head while listening.
We're going to leave later at dawn and look for Mnemosyne's oracle. Kaye and Matilda decided to stay. May iniwan lang silang litrato ng hahanapin naming oracle.
Also, they were busy with something regarding about Mount Pinatubo...
I should feel secured dahil lahat ng Alphas ay present sa mission na'to.
But why do I have this feeling that our time together... is going to be short?
"Shh.. Galatea.. safe naman ako eh kasi lahat sila kasama ko.." tugon ni Cesia.
"ABA DAPAT LANG BECAUSE I WILL MURDER EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU KAPAG-"
"Tama na."
I suddenly felt the pull of gravity getting stronger after her command echoed. Lahat kami ay napatingin sa kanya.
After that, we all looked at each other wondering what the hell just happened.
Mukhang hindi lang ako nakaramdam ng kakaiba.
Cesia heaved a sigh. "Ikaw muna ang magbabantay ng dorm okay? Please?"
Galatea rolled her eyes. "Fine." she answered while looking away.
"Okay. Yun naman pala. Sige matulog na tayo." tumayo si Cesia at kinuha si Galatea na nakapatong sa mesa. Sumunod naman si Thea sa kanila.
Then they all went into their rooms. Huling gumalaw si Dio sa kinatatayuan niya and when he did, tinawag ko siya.
"What?" tinignan niya ako.
Sinabihan ko siyang umupo sa harap ko. Hindi naman siya umangal at sinunod ito.
Gusto ko lang sanang kamustahin siya. Napansin ko kasing kakaiba na ang trato niya sa'kin sa tuwing magkasama kami. It's like... he got cold.
I mean, I am not that dumb. I can read every bit of his body language.
And he's avoiding me.
"Is something bothering you?" tanong ko.
"Kara... I'm tired. Let me sleep." sagot niya.
So something really changed. Even the way he speaks... noon, nakangiti nga siya palagi sa'kin and I can easily determine his feelings just by listening to him.
"Listen Dio. I am not going to tolerate lies in this relationship." I cleared.
I may sound stiff and strong but deep inside... nasasaktan ako.
Dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang nagawa ko at bakit siya nagkakaganito. Ang gusto ko lang naman ay magkaayos kami.
I am willing to spend the whole night listening to him if he tells me what's up.
I gave him a soft smile afterwards and tried to tone my voice down a bit. "I want you to share your problems with me."
"I know that Kara." maikli niyang sagot dahilan na magulat ako.
Okay. Now this is serious.
Something's off. It's obvious.
"So?" my brows met. "Aren't you going to tell me something?"
He sighed again. "I told you.. I'm just tired."
"You're messing with me." I replied with a stern look on the face.
Wala akong balak na makipag-away sa kanya but I didn't expect this from him. Pinangako niyang hindi niya ako sasaktan but...
He's already hurting me.
"Do you love me?" I asked.
Matagal niya akong tinitigan.
This is unbelievable.
Every second that passed by na wala pa akong natatamong sagot mula sa kanya, a dagger slowly stabs me.
"I..." inawasan niya ako ng tingin.
"I don't know."
I was completely taken aback.
I gripped the edge while looking at him directly in front of me. Huminga ako ng malalim at sinusubukang kumbinsihin ang sarili ko na hindi totoo ang narinig ko mula sa kanya.
"D-do you still love me?" inulit ko ang tanong.
I stuttered.. and he didn't even react.
What the hell is wrong with him.
Tinignan niya lang ako. Meanwhile, my vision is starting to get blurry. Tears were threatening to spill.
This is why I should not have fallen for everything he said to me.
I shouldn't have gotten too attached.
"Kara... please.." aniya.
"Am I that hard to love?" tanong ko habang nagdadasal kay Athena to give me strength not to cry in front of a guy.
This is just the worst feeling. No other words can describe it.
"Hindi mo'ko naiintindihan-"
"That's why I'm asking you so that I can." my voice broke at the middle of the sentence.
Shit. I can't be like this. Why am I even crying for a person who doesn't know if he loves me anymore?
"Eris..." he began to speak. "She showed me the man who broke you. Nakita ko siya Kara. And then.." his voice trailed off.
"And then I stabbed him..." nanghina ang boses niya.
"But only a few seconds later did I realize... it was you that I tried to kill." pain slowly emerged on his eyes.
"I promise not to hurt you but after that, I began doubting myself." yumuko siya.
I wanna slap that doubt out of him but I stopped myself from touching him again.
"Dio." My knees felt weak. I should have known this would happen.
"What you're doing right now..."
I held back my tears.
"....is so much worse than what you did to me."
Nagmamadali akong tumungo sa kwarto.
I surrendered myself completely at hinayaan ang mga luha ko na makawala. I never cried like this... I never thought I would cry like this again.
The last time I cried myself to sleep, it was because my stepfather tried to poison me.
But you know what...
I'd choose to cry over my own family trying to poison me than cry over a guy that broke his promise.
•••
Lumabas ako ng kwarto bitbit ang bags ko.
"Hala. Kara... namamaga yung mga mata mo." I can hear Art's remark.
I just looked at them and proceeded to go outside. Usually, magkasabay kaming lumabas but I'd like to walk alone for now.
"Kara-"
I closed the door when I heard him call me.
Dumiretso ako sa ibaba ng Academy at pumasok sa pangalawang kotse na para sa misyon namin.
I settled myself beside the driver's seat. I know the girls are going to use this because we have used it before.
I leaned back and tried to compose myself.
The moment I heard sounds, I saw them walking towards the vehicles.
Ria was the first to get in followed by the rest. Tahimik lang sila nang makapasok sa sasakyan.
Nakita ko sa labas kung paano ako tignan ni Dio before he went inside. I just changed my gaze and looked straight ahead.
"Psssshhh... boys right?" natatawang tanong ni Ria pagkatapos ipaandar ang kotse.
"TANGINA SINONG NAG AWAY KAY KARA NAMIN HA?!" sigaw ni Thea. "NANGGIGIGIL AKO."
A smile made way on my lips. Sabay-sabay kasi silang nag-ingay.
"SI DIO BA HA?! HA?! ANO RESBAKAN NATIN-"
"Stop it already..." natatawa kong sabi sa kanila.
"Eto Kara oh para gumaan yung pakiramdam mo.." akala ko kung ano ang inabot ni Art. Yun pala, she gave me her buttercup plushie.
I nodded before receiving it.
"GAGONG YON?! ANO? PAFALL LANG?!" hindi pa tapos si Thea na ibuga ang galit niya.
We're already on our way and she still hasn't stopped.
"Wag kang mag-alala Kara. Hahanapan ka namin ng bagong Dio. Yung hindi ka sasaktan." Thea declared with a hint of determination in her voice.
"Hala. Huhuhu! Wag namang ganun.." Art reacted.
"Alam naman natin kung gaano katapang si Kara diba? Hinding-hindi siya iiyak ng ganun ganun lang! Kaya alam kong grabe yung ginawa ni Dio!" binuksan ni Thea ang bintana saka sumigaw. "AMBOBO MO- WHAT THE- nakakain ako ng lamok! Pwweeee!!"
Natawa kaming lahat sa ginawa niya. She's one crazy demigod indeed.
It's a mystery how Seht keeps up with her...
"Wag nating pansinin yung boys ah? MWAHAHAHA! Damay-damay na'to!" Art raises her hand and fist bumped the air.
"You know what? Art's right. Damay-damay na'to." pagsang-ayon ni Ria.
"Hmm.. bilang anak ni Aphrodite, I second the motion." dagdag pa ni Cesia.
I pursed my lips.
These girls are clever. They know the other boys can't stand it so they'll be forced to address the situation as well.
"Tangina kinakabahan ako kasi pati si Trev madadamay pero YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE!! HAHAHA!" tawang-tawa si Thea.
Gods.
What have I done.