'The King of the Sea'
XIN
"Xin! Xin!"
I found myself coughing out water at naimulat ko na ang mga mata ko. My senses were slowly coming back to me just as I could realize the situation. Jun was beside me, soaking wet and looking at me and he looked so relieved. Nandito rin 'yung iba at kumunot nalang ang noo ko nung makita kong maraming studyanteng nagkukumpulan sa ilog.
"A-Anong nangyari?" Tanong ko at tatayo na sana pero hindi ko maigalaw ang paa ko kaya napahiga nalang ako ulit.
"They said that there's a giant white snake in this lake, and it took you underwater. Jun and Baxter were able to get you out, but the snake escaped." Pagpapaliwanag ni Joshua na hinuhubad ang jacket niya at tinakip sa katawan ko. Napaubo nalang ako at naramdaman kong binuhat na ako ni Jun at naglakad na pabalik sa UHT. Napapikit nalang ako at huminga ng malalim.
I can't even remember a thing that happened.
"Aren't those mermaids?" Saglit na natigilan si Jun dahil sa mga tanong ng mga studyanteng nasa lake at nakaturo sila sa mga tumatalon sa tubig palayo sa UHT. We looked at the figures of what appeared to be mermaids, jumping out of the water like dolphins. Hindi ko na nakita ng maayos ang mga 'to dahil tumalikod na muli si Jun at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad pabalik sa UHT.
We were near the back exit when Dean Maleficent suddenly showed up.
"What happened? Is she okay?" Tanong niya at lumapit sa akin. I just clutched on to Joshua's jacket at tiningnan ang Dean na hinubad narin ang robe niya tsaka tinakip sa akin. "The water in that lake is freezing cold." Sabi niya at ramdam ko na ang pangangatal ng labi ko.
"Take her back immediately. I'll send a heater to your dorm. Quickly! Before she catches a cold." Tiningnan ko lang ang mukha niya na nakatingin sa akin. It's not like yesterday she was so against my decision for the trolls that she nearly hated me, and now she's worried sick. Tiningnan ko nalang si Jun na nakatingin sa akin at kay Walter na bahagyang inayos ang pagkakalagay ng jacket sa katawan ko.
The moment we arrived at the dorm, Jun immediately put me into the bath tub and started running hot water. Nilinis ko ang katawan ko at nagbihis na tsaka na humiga sa kama ko. But I was still shivering kaya lumapit si Xy sa akin at niyakap ako. His little hands were hugging me as tight as he could.
The natural heat of my body as a wolf was gone. I was just one shivering mess.
"Xin?" Sabay kami ni Xy na tumingin sa pinto nung dumungaw ang ulo ni Wolfie tsaka na siya tuluyang pumasok. Wolfie immediately transformed into his wolf form and moved closer then snuggled me in. Pinikit ko lang ang mga mata ko pero naimulat ko naman agad ito nung bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Jun na may dala-dalang heater.
He turned it on and pointed it at me, adding heat to Wolfie's natural heat.
"Sis, gusto mong kumain ng porridge mamaya? I'll make you some?" Rinig kong tanong ni Duke mula sa pinto. I just gave him a slight nod and snuggled closer to Wolfie. Tumabi narin si Xy sa akin pero aksidente niyang naapakan ang buntot ni Wolfie. Wolfie just groaned at him but Jun hissed a warning to be gentle.
Umalis nalang si Xy at bumalik sa kama niya matapos niyang batuhin ng unan si Wolfie. The pillow landed on my side kaya kinuha ko ito at niyakap.
"We tracked the snake. Pero hindi namin makita." Noise was buzzing everywhere at nakita kong pumasok sina Dino at Baxter. Baxter had a robe on him at halatang lumusob siya sa napakalamig na tubig ng lake na 'yun. I just pulled Baxter closer to share the heater with him. He just snuggled with me and looked at the others.
"May alam ka ba tungkol sa ahas na 'yun?" Tanong ni Matthew kay Walter na nakaupo dun sa couch ng kwarto namin ni Xy. Walter just made a confused face at him. "Well, because your girlfriend's a serpent. You should know things about snakes. I guess?" Matthew ended up questioning his own question. Tinapunan nalang siya ni Walter ng throw pillow at umupo nalang ito sa tabi niya tsaka tumingin sa amin.
"Ang laki talaga ng galit sa 'yo ng mga white witches, Xin." Dino said and sat on the carpet, next to Walter's legs. Mahina akong natawa dahil sa sinabi niya.
"I just disobeyed their request, and they became my enemies." I said, almost incompletely ending my sentence because it was too cold that my lips were still shivering.
"Baka naman inggit lang sila sa 'yo. You're surrounded by thirteen hot guys and you're pretty as hell. Who wouldn't be jealous at that?" Tumingin agad ako sa pinto at nakita kong sabay na pumasok sina Keya at Lorisse. Lorisse rushed to me and covered me with a blanket. Lumapit rin si Keya sa akin at hinawakan ang pisngi ko. She just hissed at how cold I was. Lumayo na siya sa akin at umupo sa tabi ni Walter.
Tiningnan ko lang sila na unti-unti nang nagkukumpulan dito sa kwarto namin ni Xy. I like that they're here. It's much warmer.
"What about you, Keya? Do you know anything about that snake?" Tanong ni Seth sa kanya na nakasandal lang doon sa door frame. Jayden also walked in and sat on the single seater sofa then looked at Keya.
"It's a myth here in UHT. That there's a giant white snake in that lake. Pero wala namang nareport na kinuha o 'yung pareho sa nangyari kay Xin. It was the first time that that snake attacked a student of UHT. They said, it's supposed to be asleep during this season when the lake is cold. But I don't know what triggered it to come out." Pagpapaliwanag ni Keya. Pumikit nalang ako at pinakiramdaman ang init ng paligid.
"Where'd you know all that?" Tanong ni Jayden sa kanya dahilan para maimulat ko ang mga mata ko at tiningnan si Keya.
"There's a book of myths here in UHT. Palagi kasing tumatambay si Walter sa library, so I decided to read one and came over that certain page." Mahinahong pagpapaliwanag ni Keya at dumukit pa kay Walter.
"Keya, since you're a serpent. You've never transformed into your full form, have you?" Tanong ulit ni Jayden sa kanya dahilan para kumunot ang noo ni Walter at tiningnan naman agad si Jayden. Jayden just shrugged his shoulders and looked at Keya who was shaking her head as a no. "Hindi pa. But I'm pretty sure I'll be a green serpent. It runs in our family." Kalmadong sagot ni Keya. She was clearly unaware that Jayden was interrogating her and suspecting her just because she's a serpent. Jayden can be so smart sometimes and sometimes, it's out of place.
But I think he's got something. Jayden won't ask follow-up questions if he has nothing going on at the back of his head. Tiningnan ko lang si Walter na nagtiim-bagang dahil alam kong alam niya ang ginagawa ni Jayden.
"Stop it. You'll fight like kids again." Seth warned them. Walter and Jayden immediately eased up and ngumiti nalang si Jayden kay Keya na tumingin kay Walter. Tiningnan ko lang si Keya na nakaupo sa couch hanggang sa napunta ang tingin ko sa kamay niya.
Her hands were shaking.
✥✥
After an hour of suffering from the coldness, Baxter and I finally warmed up. Bumalik na siya sa kwarto nila pati narin si Wolfie na halatang nangangawit dahil sa kakasuporta ng timbang naming dalawa ni Baxter. Ngumiti lang ako sa kanila at nag-inat na tsaka tumingin sa wall clock. It's nine in the evening.
I'm guessing Jun's already in class. Hindi naman siya kailangang pumunta, but as a respect to his fellow vampires and as a King, he needed to know more about other vampire clans and histories. A knowledgeable King is a well-respected one.
Tumingin ako sa kama ni Xy at nakita ko siyang natutulog na. Tahimik akong lumabas sa kwarto pero nabigla ako nung bumukas rin ang kwarto nina Hoshi at lumabas si Jun na nagpupunas ng basa niyang buhok. "Diba may pasok k—"
"I don't have to go." Sagot niya at pinagpatuloy ang pagpapatuyo ng buhok niya. Sinabayan na niya ako pababa at dumiretso ako sa kusina. Jun opened the microwave and put something in it habang kumukuha naman ako ng apple sa fridge pero kinuha ito ni Jun at binalik sa fridge dahilan para kunot-noo ko siyang tiningnan.
"Duke cooked porridge for you, remember?" Paalala niya at pinaupo na ako sa dining area. Napaawang nalang ang bibig ko at bahagyang tumango at tsaka na naghintay sa kanya. I almost forgot that one. Jun was busy doing stuffs in the kitchen habang naghihintay lang ako dito sa mesa. I was tapping my fingers while unconsciously pouting which made Jun giggle and I looked at him with brows raised.
Natawa lang siya at ginulo ang basa niyang buhok.
"Nah, you're just too cute." Nakayuko niyang sabi at saktong tumunog na ang microwave. Jun didn't even need to use a pot holder to carry the steaming hot bowl in front of me at kumuha ng kutsara tsaka nilagay ito sa bowl. Kumain agad ako habang umupo naman si Jun sa harap ko at umiinom ng hot choco.
I was silently eating Duke's deliciously made porridge when the flirty demon came in sight.
"Did I disturb a romantic nine o'clock date in the kitchen?" Tanong niya at umupo sa center aisle, between Jun and me. Jun just threw an apple at him at tiningnan ko naman si Luce na tumingin lang sa apple at tsaka ako tiningnan.
"Hades wants to talk to you, remember?" Tanong niya kaya natigilan agad ako. Bakit ko ba nakalimutan 'yun? It must have slipped my mind. Tiningnan ko lang si Jun at sinabi sa kanya na nakalimutan kong sabihin sa kanya ang tungkol dun. Pinaningkitan lang ako ni Jun at binaba ang basong hawak niya. "You keep forgetting things lately." Sabi niya at tiningnan si Luce na tahimik na kumakain ng apple at nakatingin sa aming dalawa.
"Yeah. Just having too many thoughts." Nakayuko kong sabi. Walang imik na tumayo si Jun at umalis tsaka bumalik na may dalang jacket niya at sneakers ko. Luce just looked at him and snorted.
"How come he gets to be a gentleman to you, and I can't?" Reklamo niya at tiningnan ako. Narinig ko agad ang mahinang tawa ni Jun nung sinuot niya ang jacket niya sa akin. Tiningnan ko lang si Luce at tsaka na sinuot ang sneakers ko. I just gave him a smile which he replied with a jokingly irritated roll of his eyes. Nung matapos ko nang suotin ang sneakers ko ay tiningnan ko na si Jun na nakatingin lang sa akin.
"I'll be back." Pagpapaalam ko sa kanya. He just gave me a reassuring smile and waved at me.
"Thank the devil that there's no cringey good bye kisses." Tiningnan ko lang si Luce na inilahad na ang kamay niya. Natawa nalang ako sa kanya at hinawakan na ang kamay niya. The moment I touched his hand, the phone in the dorm rang and I was about to say something but then I found myself being taken to hell.
Inalis ko na ang pagkakahawak ko sa kamay ni Luce at pinagpag ang jacket ni Jun. Pretty sure Jun will answer that phone call. Sinundan ko na si Luce papasok sa living room ng palasyo at dun ko na nakita si Hades na naghihiwa ng steak. When he saw me, he immediately stood up and greeted me with a smile.
"There's my pretty princess." Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako sa sinabi niya o hindi. Lumapit lang ako sa kanya at niyakap siya. Hades gave me a tight hug before assisting me to sit on a chair next to the aisle, next to him. Tiningnan niya naman si Luce at pinaupo ito sa harap ko. Luce just grimaced at him at naguguluhan pang umupo sa harap ko.
Hades just smiled and looked at me dearly.
"How are you?" Tanong agad ni Hades sa akin at pinagpalit ang steak na hiniwa na niya at binigay ito sa akin. "Confused." Sagot ko at kinuha ng tinidor pero natigilan ako at tumingin kay Hades na nakatingin lang sa akin. Hades just looked at me for a few minutes at tiningnan lang si Luce na nananahimik sa harap ko.
"Here's to your confused mind." Hades just made a toast to me and Luce was just there, sitting on the chair and stiffened like a rock. Hades had to tell him to relax at nag-akto naman siyang parang wala lang at kumain na. Natawa nalang ako dahil sa toast na ginawa ni Hades. What a very supportive one.
Hades and I talked more, and he keeps checking if I was fine for at least every ten minutes. Luce was busy playing the piano and sometimes he would play off-key and hiccup. Seriously? Is he drunk?
"Anyway, I'll get to the point why I wanted to see you." Naibaling ko agad ang tingin ko kay Hades dahil sa sinabi niya.
"I want you to leave UHT." Agad na kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya at narinig kong tumigil si Luce sa pagpapatugtog ng piano. I had to blink for a couple of time just to process Hades' words. Ibinaba ko ang tinidor na hawak ko at tiningnan siyang maigi. "Why?" Agad kong tanong sa kanya. Hades just looked at Luce's direction at tsaka tumingin muli sa akin.
"Well, vampires attack you. Students wants to poison you. The white witches hate you and wants to kill you. So, it's not safe there. It's better to leave that place." Napabuga agad ako ng hangin dahil sa sinabi niya. Not safe in UHT? I know that. But there's got to be another reason why he's sending us away from UHT.
"But Zeus just ordered us to stay in UHT." Mahinahon kong sambit at tiningnan si Luce pero kumunot ang noo ko nung wala na pala siya dun malapit sa piano. Luce left and I didn't even notice. Binalik ko nalang ang tingin ko kay Hades na nakatingin lang sa akin habang nakangiti. "I know what he said. But trust me, it's best for you to leave." Aniya at hinawakan ang balikat ko. Tiningnan ko lang ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa balikat ko at tsaka ako tumingin sa mga mata niya.
"I'll discuss it with the team." Mahinahon kong sabi at nakita kong tumango-tango lang siya sa sinabi ko.
"Someone wants to talk to you as well." Kumunot agad ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi niya at tumingin sa pinto nung tinuro niya ito. I just looked at the door until one of the holy trinities came in sight. Poseidon was walking towards me while fanning himself and looking at Hades who was gulping his fifth glass of wine for the night.
"Do we have to talk in this wretched place of yours, brother?" Poseidon asked. Tumayo ako at yumuko para batiin siya. He just looked at me and nodded. Umupo siya sa isang upuan habang pinapaypayan ang sarili niya at tiningnan si Hades na nakatingin lang sa akin. "You know that I treasure you so much, right baby cakes?" Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin o gagawin ko kaya tumango nalang ako habang nakatingin ako sa kanya.
Napabuga lang siya ng hangin at tinapon ang wine glass niya tsaka tumingin sa akin.
"I can't even keep a single secret from you." Sabi niya at humarap sa akin. I just looked at him, and then to Poseidon who was clearly waiting for Hades to state his case.
"I just want to tell you the real reason why I didn't kill Storm." Naningkit agad ang mga mata ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Real reason? Hades just looked at me and then to Poseidon.
"The real reason why I didn't kill him is not because I don't want to wage war against this psycho." Sabi niya at tinuro si Poseidon na nakaupo lang sa harap namin at nakatingin sa kanya. "Because believe me, I'd like to pop his head off—anyway, the real reason why I didn't kill him, was because hybrids need to stick together, right?" I don't know if Hades was drunk, or was he even supposed to be drunk because he sounds drunk and he's not making any sense. Tumingin lang ako sa kanya na nakatingin sa akin.
"I didn't kill him, because he's a hybrid. Hybrids protect hybrids. Am I right, douche bag?" Hades asked Poseidon with a grin. Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin dahil sa mga sinasabi niya. He didn't kill Storm just because he's a hybrid? And hybrid protects hybrids?
"His duty was to keep her safe. Now where is your bastard of a son?" Natatawang tanong ni Hades sa kanya. Storm's mission? My head was falling into a pit of confusion when Poseidon knocked Hades with a flood of water and then looked at me. Luce came in sight again and he was just staring at Hades who was on the ground, shutting his eyes and stretching his limbs.
I just looked at Poseidon who was now looking straight at me.
"I think it's time for you to return my trident."
✥✥
"How's the visit?" Salubong agad ni Jun sa akin nung makabalik ako. Tiningnan ko lang ang wall clock. It's two in the morning. Hinubad ko na ang jacket ko at tumingin sa kanya. "Confusing." Sagot ko at uminom ng tubig tsaka lumapit kay Jun dun sa couch at ginawa kong unan ang hita niya. Jun just looked down on me and just stared at me like that for a couple of minutes.
Kumunot ang noo ko nung maramdaman kong may dapat kaming gawin ngayon pero hindi ko maalala kung ano. It took me a minute to recall that memory. Oh, right. We're supposed to return Poseidon's trident. Napapikit nalang ako at hinawakan ang sintedo ko. Jun removed my hands and gave me a massage.
"You keep forgetting things. You're scaring me." Mahina akong natawa dahil sa sinabi niya. It's not that I keep forgetting things. It's just that there's so many things going on that they're all mixed up in my head.
"We need to wake up the team. Poseidon wants his trident back." Nakapikit kong sabi habang minamasahe pa ni Jun ang ulo ko. He just hummed as an answer at sabay na kaming tumayo. Siya na ang pinagising ko kina Seth habang ako naman ang pumasok sa kwarto nina Hoshi.
Even though Zeus told us to stay in UHT, we still need to return Poseidon's trident.
Pagpasok ko ay nakita ko si Milo na gising na pala pero nakatalikod sa pinto habang naglalaro ng pc games. Tiningnan ko nalang ang kama ni Hoshi at Dino at nakita kong natutulog silang dalawa. Kumunot agad ang noo ko nung makita ko si Hoshi na nakakunot ang noo at pinagpapawisan.
"Hosh?" Napalingon agad si Milo sa gawi ko at agad na tinanggal ang headphones niya at sabay naming tiningnan si Hoshi na nakahiga lang sa kama. He was shivering kaya agad ko siyang nilapitan ang hinawakan ang kamay niya. The moment I touched his hand, he immediately woke up and grabbed me.
Tinitigan niya lang ako hanggang sa makita kong nagliwanag ang kwintas niya. My star necklace also glowed kaya nung tiningnan ko si Hoshi, nabigla ako nung nakaupo na pala siya at nakatingin sa akin.
"Dad's calling us."
❅ Snow ❅