A lot can happen in five months.
For example, after what happened in Eastwood, he started studying again. In fact, it was a miracle that his parents let him stay. Sa ngayon, ipinagpapatuloy na niya ang pag-aaral niya ng Criminology sa Eastwood Central University. He was also relieved when his parents stopped comparing him to his older brother.
'Tinanggap na siguro nilang iba ang forte ng isang tamad na henyong kagaya ko,' Markus thought and checked his phone when the notification tone chimed.
A lot miracles happen.
At isa na roon ang nangyari sa kanilang Lady Medusa.
Pero sana naghimala rin ang langit para sana naalala niya ang naka-schedule niyang lakad ngayon...
From: Mukhang pera
BRAD LATE KA NA!!! KANINA PA NANDITO SI MORGANA! 😂 Gising tamad bwahaha
"Shit. Oo nga pala!"
Mabilis na bumangon si Markus mula sa pagkakahiga niya sa kama at agad na sinilip ang orasan. It was Saturday afternoon, at nag-usap nga pala silang magkikita kina Rein ng 4:00 p.m.
It was already 4:30 p.m.
'Lazy at its best.'
"Crap," napabuntong-hininga siya at mabilis na nag-ayos. Bakit ba hindi na niya namalayan ang oras? Psh. After taking a shower faster than the speed of light (that was impossible, of course), Markus grabbed his black "The Script" printed t-shirt, ripped jeans, and his favorite spiked combat boots.
Agad siyang lumabas ng kaniyang kwarto at nakitang maingay na namang nagku-kwentuhan sina Bart sa may sala.
'Paano ba natatagalan ni Rein ang ingay ng mga 'to? Tsk.'
Humikab siya at tamad na nag-abang ng taxi sa gilid ng kalsada.
After Rein moved in with Lady Medusa, Markus rented his space in the dormitory. Maayos naman ang dating silid ni Rein, but a part of him still feels awkward whenever he laid in bed. The bed, a.k.a. the same spot where Rein and Lady Medusa...err, yeah.
Awkward.
Napapailing na lang si Markus. Ilang sandali pa, bumalik na naman 'yong lungkot. Limang buwan na ang nakalipas, pero sariwa pa rin sa mga alaala nila ang nangyari. 'Kung nandito lang sana si Caprissa, she'd probably be laughing at me right now.'
*
The taxi stopped in front of a lavish two-storey house near the cemetery. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin maunawaan ni Markus kung bakit dito nila piniling tumira. After paying the taxi driver, he lazily walked towards the front porch. Katulad noong una nila itong napuntahan, its pastel green exterior gave a peaceful ambiance to the place.
'With Lady Medusa's money, they could easily buy a condo.. pero mas pinili nilang mamuhay nan simple. Tsk! Naging cheesy lalo ang dalawang 'yon,' lihim siyang napangiti.
Bago pa man siya kumatok, agad na bumukas ang pinto at bumungad sa kanya ang nakangising si Desmond.
"Markus, my friend---!"
"Gago. Wala akong pera ngayon."
Agad na nawala ang ngiti ni Desmond. Mahina itong natawa at gumilid para papasukin siya. "Hahaha! Nah, nagbibiro lang ako. Pati kasi si Pamela, ayaw na akong pautangin mula noong isinangla ko 'yong kwintas niya. Geez, I never thought the goddess of beauty can be really ugly when she's angry!"
"Nagkakamabutihan na kayo ah?"
"Unless Pamela's hair turns into money, she's not my type, dude. Hahaha!"
It's ironic how they all became closer after fighting off Ares' army. Pero para kay Markus, nagpapasalamat na lang siya sa "distraction" na ibinibigay nila. Matapos ng nangyari kay Caprissa, ilang linggo rin silang nagluksa nina Rein at Lady Medusa. Mabuti na lang at dinamayan sila nina Desmond at Pamela (yes, they're still calling her by that name). Paminsan-minsan, bumibisita ang kambal. But with Eros and Anteros' tight schedules especially with Valentines Day just around the corner, madalang na lang silang mangamusta. On rare occasions, Adonis would visit them too.
'Ang hirap sigurong maging diyos.'
Inside the living room, he saw Lady Medusa sitting on the couch. Morgana held a hand over her growing belly. Gustuhin man sanang magkumento ni Markus na hindi magandang ideya na isang mangkukulam ang maging oby-gyn ni Lady Medusa, he knew Morgana will probably used a spell on him to shut him up. Lalo na dahil siya pa mismo ang nag-volunteer.
"Late ka na naman," mahinang sabi sa kanya ni Pamela. Isang matamis na ngiti ang sumilay sa labi ng dalaga habang nakatuon pa rin ang atensyon kina Medusa. "Do you think it's a boy?"
"It's a girl."
"Sigurado ka?"
Markus nodded.
Pinanood lang nila ang mangkukulam sa kanyang ginagawa hanggang sa matapos ito. The witch smiled and proudly announced, "You don't need to worry about anything, mortals. The baby is healthy... She's healthy."
She.
Kasabay nito, nilapitan na ni Rein si Lady Medusa at masuyong hinawakan ang kanyang kamay. He nodded in acknowledgment when he saw Markus. "Took you long enough! Akala namin humihilik ka pa."
Lady Medusa smirked. Pregnant or not, bumalik na naman ang pagiging mataray nito, "It's a good thing you did, you lazy ass. Papagalitan sana kita kung hindi ka sisipot ngayon. Sa ayaw at gusto mo, magiging ninong ka. Nagkakaintindihan ba tayo, Markus?"
Napahawak na lang sa kanyang batok si Markus at mahinang natawa.
"Opo, Lady Medusa."
Damn. Some things will never change.
"By the way, may naisip na ba kayong pangalan?"
Nagkatinginan sina Lady Medusa at Rein. Kailangan na talagang masanay ni Markus sa kanila. Nonetheless, he was happy that their little "ship" was finally sailing. At nang sumagot si Rein nang may bahid ng lungkot sa boses nito, natigilan ang tamad na henyo..
"Caprissa. We'll name her Caprissa."
Markus nodded. In some way, they all missed that bubbly twelve-year-old kid who had always been too mature for her age. Sa wakas, huminga nang malalim si Markus at malungkot na ngumiti.
"Yeah. That's a nice name."
*
Papalubog na ang araw.
Habang abala ang lahat sa pakikipagkwentuhan, marahan kong hinawakan ang kamay ni Lady Medusa at hinila siya papalayo. She rolled her eyes at my antics, but didn't complain as we sat down on our favorite spot on the front porch.
It may sound a bit creepy, but the sunset looked prettier over the cemetery.
Kaya siguro dito rin namin piniling tumira.
It's been five months since that battle with Ares. Five months since Zeus returned the temple to Mt. Olympus and erased the memories of those who saw the incident. Five months since Orpheus reunited with Eurydice. Five months since Caprissa died.. five months since Lady Medusa sa had been brought back to life in Athena's temple.
Tandang-tanda ko pa ang araw na 'yon.
I thought I lost her again. Noong binawi niya ang mortalidad niya kay Athena, ang buong akala ko hindi ko na ulit masisilayan ang buhay sa mga mata ni Lady Medusa. Well, I can't really blame her for what she did. The night she lost everything, she also lost a piece of herself. She only went back to Athena's temple in order to complete herself despite the risks.
Pero sa kabila nito, mukhang pumanig sa'min ang tadhana.
So when she slowly regained her youth and fluttered her eyes open on the altar, it felt like everything was falling into place. Caprissa saved her and our unborn child.
Lady Medusa's a mortal now and that means she can finally live a normal life.
And we have to thank Athena and Linae for that.
Tahimik naming pinagmasdan ang papalubog na araw.
Inihilig ni Medusa ang kanyang ulo sa balikat ko. Her green hair fell over my shoulder, but I didn't mind.
"This is her 57th reincarnation, isn't it?"
Ngumiti ako nang ilapat Lady Medusa ang palad ko sa tiyan niya. My hand against her growing belly. The small bump on her skin eased all the worries away. The night Lady Medusa and I made love, we also made a little angel. I honestly don't know how, but Linae knew about this and chose to reincarnate herself for the 57th time inside Lady Medusa's womb.
Yup, crazy stuff.
I have to admit, there are times I doubt myself. Nag-aaral pa ako sa kolehiyo at hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko bang maging perpektong ama para sa magiging anak namin. Hindi ko alam kung kaya kong maging perpektong ama para kay Caprissa. Ni hindi ko nga rin alam kung magiging perpektong asawa ba ako kay Lady Medusa eh!
Pero tuwing tititig ako sa mga mata ni Lady Medusa, alam kong kakayanin namin ito. We're together now, and that's all that matters. Dumako ang mga mata ko sa kamay niya. The engagement ring I gave her a week ago sparkled under the sunset.
"Medusaphile ako."
"Huh?"
I shrugged, "A person who loves Lady Medusa is called a Medusaphile---aray!" Napadaing ako sa sakit nang kurutin niya ang pisngi ko. Damn, baka naman pinaglilihian na niya ako? Ang swerte ang baby namin.
"Stupid mortal. Tsk!"
Before I could even complain, she pulled me in and kissed me.
Yup, I'm not complaining.
Oh, did I mentioned that the cookie Morgana fed me before actually had an "honesty serum"? Nah. I'll tell my lady another time. Sa ngayon, susulitin ko muna ang pagkakataong ito.
We kissed under the vibrant hues of the sunset as the cemetery stretched on beyond us. Her hands rested on my chest, as mine traced her waist. I smiled when I touched her belly. A life was growing inside of her.
Our Caprissa.
Nang maghiwalay ang mga labi namin, I pushed a strand of her green hair aside and touched her face. She was smiling sincerely again, and it made her even more beautiful. Sino bang mag-aakalang mamahalin ko ang pinakasikat na "halimaw" sa Greek mythology books nating mga mortal? Pero syempre, magiging personal goal ko nang i-edit ang mga nakasulat doon.
Because Lady Medusa may be stubborn, bossy, demanding, sexy, and jealous at times...but she is not a monster. Those who judge her without knowing her story are.
"You have my loyalty, my respect, and every single part of me, Lady Medusa.. kahit na ilang beses mo pa akong itulak papalayo, tatandaan mong babalik at babalik pa rin ako sa'yo. Ikaw ang pinili ko at ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin ko, ilang siglo man ang lumipas."
Hindi na niya napigilan ang mga luha niya. Hindi ko alam kung lalo lang siyang nagiging emosyunal dahil sa ipinagbubuntis niya o talagang may masterals na talaga ako sa pagpapaiyak.
"Thank you, Rein Aristello."
Akmang hahalikan ko na sana ulit si Lady Medusa nang---
"REIN, MY FRIEND!"
Inis naming binalingan si Desmond na malawak na naman ang ngiti. Sa kasamaang-palad, kasama siya sa magiging ninong ng anak namin. Ang ikinakatakot ko, baka si Caprissa pa ang hingian niya ng aguinaldo tuwing Pasko.
"Ano na naman 'yan?"
Bakit may crib?
Tumawa naman nang malakas si Desmond at buong magmamalaking nagsalita, "Advance gift ko na 'to sa magiging inaanak ko, 'tol! Akala niyo ba magiging kuripot ako kay Caprissa? High quality pa yata 'to! Only the best crib money can buy! Hahahaha!"
"Umamin ka na. Saan mo ninakaw 'yan?" Medusa smirked.
"Hey! Binibili ko nga! Damn it."
Sinipat ko ang crib. Mukha nga namang mamahalin. Baka nga nagbabagong-buhay na ang kaibigan ko. I smiled at Lady Medusa and leaned against it.
"I think Desmond is ri----"
CRASH!
Natulala na lang ako nang bilang kumalas ang mga piyesa ng crib. Nagkapira-piraso ito. Behind me, Desmond laughed nervously. 'Akala ko ba high quality?!' Naningkit ang mga mata ko nang makita ko ang pricetag.
Lady Medusa laughed at my pissed expression.
Inis kong binalingan si Desmond. Tangina, nagsisisi na yata akong magiging ninong siya ni Caprissa.
"Shit! Desmond...walang high quality crib na tig-250 pesos! Paano kung madiskrasya ang anak ko diyan?! Damn it, I'm gonna kill you!"
Desmond paled.
Lady Medusa smirked and kissed my cheek. "Go easy on him, darling. Kung hindi ka binenta ni Desmond nang ₱250 sa'kin, baka wala tayong love story ngayon."
'Well, she does have a point, you know,' my logical side reminded me again. I sighed. Medyo nawala ang inis ko kay Desmond. May mabuting dulot rin naman ang pagiging gahaman niya sa pera...minsan. At ngayon hanggang ngayon, nagpapasalamat pa rin ako na sa tamang babae niya ako naibenta.
Of course, how could I ever forget that my own greedy bestfriend sold me to a mythological character?
I was sold to Medusa.
THE END.
P.S. I'm still gonna kill him for the crib.