Chapter 5: The Other Lockser

『SKYLER』

“What the hell…”

I looked at him with disbelief. And to be honest, I didn’t know how to react to his unrealistic statement—like I’m too you to be his father, not only that, but I can tell that we’re just in the same age, and for Poseidon’s sake, I am still a living virgin!

I twisted my lips when I remembered Sue’s words, she saw her freaking daughter, and now, someone’s claiming as his father. The fuck is going on right now?

“Skyler the Great… that is—”

“Most demigods knew about that name. I won’t—”

His cerulean eyes glimmered along with the appearance of a mischievous smirk in his face. “Bakit hindi ko na lang ipakita sa’yo ang blessing ko para maniwala ka sa ‘kin?”

“I’ll agree with that, but this place cancels out every demigod’s blessing,” I said.

Nagkibikit-balikat lamang siya’t may kinuha sa kanyang bulsa, isang maliit na bote iyon na kasing laki lamang ng palad, puno iyon ng mga kulay pulang bilog na candy.

“These are Exo-Balls, and with this, I can use my blessings in places like your dormitory,” he explained. And without any hesitation, he ate one of the candies called Exo-Balls. “Any place that demigods cannot use their blessings… any place.” He repeated as if he was emphasizing behind those words.

And before I could even react, the room suddenly became eerier and heavier as he concentrated. All the water around us slowly gathered on the top of his palm, leisurely forming a small sphere.
His cerulean eyes glimmered along with the water in his command. As I focused on him, his cerulean eyes changed into the color of a crystal, so is the water, slowly freezing until it became a shine marble.

Walang kahit anong salita ang lumabas sa aking bibig, hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. Ayoko rin na tanggapin na lamang basta ang lahat pero… kamukha niya kasi si Ice. Bukod do’n ay nagawa niyang gamitin ang blessing ko’t parehas din kami ng kulay ng mga mata.

O sadyang may anak lamang sa ibang tao si Poseidon na hindi ko alam? Pero ano naman ang explanation sa blessing na katulad ng kay Ice?

“So?” He asked.

“I don’t know what to say. This is kind of weird.”

“Dude—”

I squinted my eyes at him. “I thought I was your father? Why are you calling me dude, then?”

“Oh… about that.” He paused and pursed his lips as if he was suppressing his laughter. “Ayaw mong tinatawag kay Daddy kaya ang tawag namin sa’yo ni Winter ay dude.” Winter, huh? I think that’s a cute name for a girl.

“Tell me why.”

“Ain’t nothin’ but a heartache…” He suddenly sang.

I squinted my eyes, “I said, tell me why.”

“Ain’t nothin’ but a mistake.” He continued, making me frown because he was trying his best to lure me into singing, especially that this is my favorite song.

“Tell me why… I never want to hear you say.” I sang, actually giving in to the temptation. He suddenly gave me a thumbs up as we both sang along.

“I want it that way…”

Nag-apir pa kami matapos ang napakaganda naming performance. Ang ang kaninang ilangan ay naglaho na lamang bigla dahilan upang harapin ko siyang muli ng seryoso. “So, mind telling me why?”

“Oh, I forgot about that part.” At muli siyang nagpigil ng tawa sabay iwas ng tingin sa ‘kin. “You only want mom to call you daddy…”

Bigla na lamang akong natuyuan ng lalamunan dahil do’n. Tangina, Sky, anong gimmick ‘yon? Naramdaman ko bigla ang pag-init sa lugar kasabay nang mapupula ng mukha ko. Nakakahiya talaga.

‘Yan, present self. Paki-take note na h’wag gagawa ng ganitong pet name para sa future.

Tumukhim ako’t umarte na tila hindi ako tinubuan ng hiya sa huling mga kataga niyang sinabi. “So… why are you here? Are you going to warn us about something?”

“Yes,” he answered. “Though, hindi itong panahon na ito ang tunay na pinuntahan namin. But, since we are here, we might as well help you. Since we still needed to wait for the hourglass to function again.”

“You just jammed with the time.”

“Yeah, but we needed to,” he argued. “I am helping someone… which made me think, do you think it is possible for a servitour to fall in love with his king vessel?”

Tumingin siya sa akin na para bang naghihintay siya ng sagot ko hanggang sa nagkibit-balikat na lamang siya. Anong ibig niyang sabihin sa mga salitang ‘yon?

“What do you mean?” I have a king vessel in mind, but… I still don’t know who his servitour is.

Servitours are winged beings bound to serve and protect their king vessel, and they have been tangled by silver string since the day they were born. And the king vessel’s life is determined by the loyalty of his servitour because once a servitour falls in love with someone, her king vessel by the oath of their silver string.

“Nothing. I’m just asking you,” he mumbled. “H’wag mo na lamang isipin ‘yon. Mas mabuti kung haharapin mo ang mismong laban mo ngayon.”

“You said you’ll guide me, right?”

He nodded. “My first reminder, Dad. Do not loathe those who made a pact… and starting from now, I will guide you based on the stories you’ve told us—from being the greatest student of Demigods Academy to being the most awesome father to both Winter and I.”

“But before that…” I smiled and extended my hand to him. “Can my son introduce himself to his father?”

Mahina siyang tumawa’t inabot ang aking kamay. “Cloud Simone Lockser. Rank 6 in Primus Section.”

Ilang beses akong napakurap dahil sa sinabi niya. Bakit pakiramdam ko’y natapakan ako ni Light dahil sa rank n’ya? At bakit naman hango sa kabayong iyon ang second name niya?

“Simone, seriously?”

Tipid siyang ngumiti sa ‘kin at tinapik ang aking balikat. “Well… sa ayaw at gusto mo, ipapangalan mo ako sa kanya. But that is not my story to tell… what I want you to do is find your yelo, find my mom.”

Mom… Tangina, okay lang ba kahit hindi timely ‘yong kiliti sa sikmura?

I cleared my throat. “I am suspecting two people to be Ice. The first one is Sapphire, the one with your mother’s face, and the second one is the woman with a hoodie who has Reina’s face.”

But… just like what I’ve told myself since day one, something is really wrong, as if they lack every aspect that Ice has except the face. Cloud nodded while listening to me. I silently walked to the door and double-locked it in case that Phoenix barge in because that moron didn’t even know how to knock.

As I thought deeply, I asked Cloud about Phoebe. And just like as Sue said, she really saw her daughter—the stupid lovey-dovey couple’s daughter. The only reason why Phoebe showed up to her mother was that she was intrigued to see how her younger mom looked like. Though according to Cloud, Phoebe is much closer to Phoenix than to Sue.

“Dad,” Cloud called. “Isipin mo ang differences nila.”

Ice is…

I heaved a sigh and drowned myself with thousands of thoughts. My first and last encounter with the woman who has Reina’s face was last week. She may have stolen the last strawberry cake, but aside from that, she lacks everything.

And while Sapphire Mendoza, the one who has Ice’s face. She looks like Ice, but she’s clearly manifesting a different, unfamiliar vibe, as well as her attitude is different. It was odd as if she was giving her best shot just to act.

Cloud smiled and looked at me. “What do you think?” Dahan-dahan na nalukot ang mukha ko’t dahilan upang lumawak ang ngiti niya. “Akala ko mga isang linggo pa bago mo ma-gets e.”

“Where do you think I can find them?”

“Greenhouse.”

“Thanks.”

Nang makarating ko sa tapat ng greenhouse, mabagal akong naglakad papunta sa pinto no’n. At dahil gawa sa salamin ang buong greenhouse, kitang-kita ko ang umiidlip na si Sapphire sa may lamesa.

Tahimik akong pumasok sa loob at naupo sa kanyang tabi. Hindi ko alam kung nagpapanggap siyang hindi niya ako nararamdaman o sadyang natutulog siya.

Saglit akong nagmuni-muni sa paligid, pinagmasdan ang mga halaman sa lugar hanggang sa tuluyan na gumalaw si Sapphire at inangat ang kanyang ulo, nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay gulat ang agad na rumehistro sa mga mata niya.

“What the hell are—”

“Where is your master?” I calmly asked. Her face suddenly changed, showing how terror captivated her whole.

She pursed her lips and tried her best not to avoid my eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“You are not Ice, so why are you pretending to be her?”

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