(POV Mackane)
I am Aristraeus, the god of earth. Unlike the fire god Arthos and the water goddess Arcella, I prefer to live peacefully with humans.
Every few decade, I move from one place to another to avoid detection. I decided to pose as a college student in a provincial state university in Northern Luzon. Tahimik dito at malayo sa magulong buhay ng Metro Manila kung saan nandoon si Arthos at Arcella.
Dito ko nakilala si Mackenzie Anne Salcedo or "Macky". Kahit college pa lang siya, matured na siyang mag-isip. She is an interesting human being. She is capable of asking hundreds of questions and obtaining information in a short period of time.
In other words, madaldal at makulit and definitely unstoppable....
"Kane, ano baon mo ngayon?" tanong ni Macky habang nasa canteen kami.
Like Arthos and Arcella, I also don't use my godly name Aristraeus. I go by the name Mackane Benavides and in our school I am known in my moniker "Kane".
"Wala akong baon. Nagtitipid ako," sagot ko sa kanya habang nagbabasa ng isang makapal na fantasy book while drinking my favorite coffee.
As an immortal god, I don't feel hunger but as I am posing as an ordinary mortal, I have to act like one to avoid suspicions.
But there are times that I feel a slight thirst and hunger, maybe because of the length of time I have been spending in this world. Maybe little by little, I am accumulating some humanly characteristics. At para maiwasan ang urge na ito, ay kailangan ko lang na uminom ng kape.
"Ikaw nagtitipid? Eh ang presyo ng kotse mo ay mas mahal pa ata sa paaralan natin eh! Kumain ka nga, baka pumayat ka!" sabi ni Macky sabay subo sa bibig ko ng favorite niyang Takoyaki.
Unlike Arthos and Arcella's extravagant lifestyle, I chose to live a simple life. Arthos gave me a sports car at huli na ang lahat nang mapagtanto ko kung gaano kalaki ang halaga nito sa mundo ng mga tao.
"Macky, ilang ulit ko ba sasabihin sa'yo na pinahiram lang sa akin ang kotse na ginagamit ko. That car is not mine because I can't afford an expensive vehicle," I answered her with a frown.
"Kane, di na uso humble ngayon. Alam ko na nakatira ka sa mansion. Sinundan kaya kita noon at alam ko na malaki ang bahay mo."
Hindi na ako magtataka sa nalaman ko. Mackenzie kept on bugging me the past few months kung saan ako nakatira. Based on my assessment on her personality, I was not surprised that she knew where I live.
"Stalker ka pala, Macky. Mind your own business. Curiosity is not a sin, but you should exercise caution. Baka may ma-discover ka ng bagay tungkol sa akin na hindi ma-comprehend ng utak mo," nakangiti ko na sagot sa kanya sabay kuha ng isa pang Takoyaki sa lunch box niya.
"Ano naman ang pwede ko ma-discover ko sa'yo? Na psychopath ka pala? Or isa kang government assassin? Or baka naman kakaiba kang creature na color ang pink ang blood with glitters?"
"Are you saying na bakla ako?"
"Ilang taon ka ng walang girlfriend. Malay ko ba..." bulong niya sabay subo uli sa akin ng Takoyaki.
"Macky, wala akong girlfriend pero meron akong---"
"F Buddies? Alam ko na din 'yan. Wala naman akong pakialam, Kane. Ikaw ang pinaka close friend ko dito sa school. Tanggap kita kahit alien ka pa."
Would she accept me once I told her that I am an immortal god?
No, I don't think so.
Madali sabihin na tanggap niya ko, pero matatakot lang siya sa akin kapag nalaman niya kung ano talaga ako.
"Tanggap mo ko or mahal mo lang talaga ako?" tanong ko sa kanya na nagpatigil sa kanya sa pagsubo ng Takoyaki.
Naging malapit ko na kaibigan si Mackenzie sa loob ng ilang taon. I don't have plans of losing a friend like her in this beautiful and cruel world.
I am very much aware that she is beginning to like Kane Benavides more than a friend. But the Kane Benavides she knows is just a character created by me so I can live in the human world.
"Eh ano naman ngayon kung mahal kita? Bawal ka ba mahalin, Mackane Benavides?" taas noo na tanong niya din sa akin.
"Bawal ako mahalin, Mackenzie."
"Will you tell me why?"
"Because I am an immortal god who is forbidden to fall in love with any human," seryoso kong sagot sa kanya.
Mackenzie looked petrified with what I have just said, but she gained her composure back and laughed at me. Hinampas pa niya ang braso ko na parang tuwang tuwa sa sinabi ko.
"Mamahalin mo din ako balang araw, Kane. Kahit ang immortal god na tulad mo ay mamahalin din ang isang tao na tulad ko," natatawa na sabi niya sa akin.
As expected, she did not believe me...