Cassandra

Melizabeth's Point of View

Napagkasunduan nilang maging allies nalang sa halip na maging kaaway. Well it made sense, they are demigods at kahiya-hiya nga naman kung mayroon pang mawawala sa kanila.

I sighed and looked sa iniihaw kong barbeque. Marami-rami na naman akong naihaw, but since we are six people, mas dinamihan ko pa.

I glanced at Asclepius who is know taking care of Cassandra. I smiled when they gave a sibling aura. Who knows? Baka nga magkapatid sila?

I ought to talk to Cassandra later, hindi magandang maging mahina. And with the short time that I am with her, masasabi kong napakahina niya. It's like she's very vulnerable.

Natapos ako sa pag-iihaw at nilapag ang mga barbeque sa ginawang mesa ni Autolycus. I actually don't know how he made it, but I'm thankful. Siya rin ang nanghuli ng mga meat para ibarbeque.

Napapikit ako nang makaramdam ng malamig na hangin. Hays, multo na naman.

Napatingin sa'kin si Cassandra as if naramdaman niya ang presensiya ng multo. Tumuwid siya nang pagkakaupo at marahas na umiling sa'kin. She's weird, okay.

"'Di mo sana nakalimutan ang usapan natin, Melizabeth," wika ng multo sa'kin. I turned to her, Atlanta. For a moment, I did forget about her favor from me. What was it again?

"Malapit nang sumapit ang gabi. Ang mapa, hukayin mo... bumulong ka ng hesperides matapos at makakarating ka sa isang grove," sabi niya ulit.

Tumango naman ako nang maalala na ang sunod na gagawin, "Pipitas ako ng gintong mansanas at dadalhin ko sa iyo, hindi ba?"

She smirked, and nodded after.

"I promise to help you throughout the event, Meli...," sagot niya sa'kin at tinapik ang balikat ko. Kaagad naman siyang nawala sa paningin ko at napatingin naman ako sa langit na halos hindi na makita dahil ng mga puno.

Kumain kaagad ako ng dalawang barbeque. Inanyayahan ko na rin silang kumain, kaya't lumapit sila sa mesa at kumuha na rin ng mga barbeque.

Hinawakan ni Cassandra ang kamay ko na tila ba may gustong pag-usapan. Well, may gusto rin naman akong sabihin sa kaniya.

"Pasaan ka, Ate?" Tanong niya sa'kin nang magalang. Napangisi ako sa 'ate' niya. She is three years younger than me. 16 palang siya samantala 19 na ako.

Umiling naman ako, "I'll just go around, and hunt, I guess." She raised a brow at me. Jeez, she doesn't trust me.

Hinawakan ko ang balikat niya, since she is shorter than me. Her empty eyes spoke a lot, how ironic.

"Cassandra, bukas tuturuan kita kung paano lumaban, okay? Hindi kasi maganda na maging mahina. Kung gusto mong manalo at maging Semideus, then you should exert effort and be strong," sabi ko sa kaniya at binigyan siya nang makahulugang ngiti. I am somehow reminded of myself when I was still innocent and pure. When I was still blind for the cruel world.

Sinabi ko sa kaniya ang sinabi ni Hades noon. I hate Hades, but his words inspired me and made me who I am now. That I cannot deny.

"The world will be more cruel to you. You should learn to be cruel, Cassandra," sabi ko at hinawi ang buhok na tumatakip sa kaniyang mukha. Sinabit ko ito sa kaniyang tainga, while carressing her shoulders.

"You speak of cruel too much, Ate," sabi niya sa'kin habang nakakunot ang noo.

"I have experienced it. At ayokong maging mahina ka kapag nakaranas ka nang cruelty. I want you to be strong, so listen to Ate, okay?"

"Alam mo, Ate. I believe more in hope rather than cruelty. You know something dark cannot be extinguished by dark too. It needs light- hope," sabi niya sa'kin na para bang binibigyan ako ng pangaral.

Umiling ako habang natatawa, how I wish I could view my life like that. "Okay, Cassandra. Pero syempre kailangan mo paring maging malakas para sa hope mo na 'yan."

Marahan siyang tumango pero she shot me a worried glance, "I will listen to you, but you will not listen to me, right? No one believes me, anyway..."

Hindi ko narinig ang huli niyang sinabi. It was a murmur, and I did not catch it. Taka naman akong tumingin sa kaniya.

She only sighed, and shook her head as if a motion not to mind what she said.

Iniba ko naman ang usapan, "Ano ba ang gusto mo? Bakit ka sumali rito para maging isang semideus?"

She smiled sadly, "I wanted for people to believe in me. Siguro kapag naging semideus ako, hindi na nila ako pag-iisipan ng masama. Minsan kasi ate, gusto ko lang namang tumulong, but no one dares to accept my help."

I patted her head at ngumiti sa kaniya. I did not know she held this within her, "Naniniwala ako sa'yo, Cassandra."

"Then, I will follow you," saad niya at ngumiti na rin. "Ikaw ate, why are you here?"

To seek answers and revenge. Isip ko, ngunit hindi ko sinagot iyon. I do not want to scare her away.

Napangiti nalang ako sa kaniya, "Sige na, kumain ka na. I will be back after my hunt. Sabihin mo nalang sa kanila na nag-ikot lamang ako saglit." Tinalikuran ko na siya. I felt disappointed at myself nang maramdaman kong nanlalambot ang puso ko para kay Cassandra.

If only she did not remind me of the old hopeful me. I sincerely wish that she forever holds that hope within her.

Thieves of Harmony

By lostmortals

Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!