SOLEIA'S POV

"Are you done? Pagod na ako." Cole groaned while carrying the shopping bags.

Napasimangot si Talia. "But we've just started, Cole!" reklamo nito.

The latter rolled his eyes. "Pake ko?" pagsusungit niya. "Tignan mo 'tong mga hawak ko. Lahat nang 'to ay sayo, Talia!"

Napanguso ang anak ni Apollo. "I'll just buy you something then..." bulong nito.

Mahina akong napatawa sa kanilang dalawa. "Ang cute niyo naman," pang-aasar ko. Sabay silang napatingin sa'kin, nanlalaki ang mata.

"Luh?"

"Respectfully, it's a no for me, my love."

I let out a small chuckle. "I didn't say anything though." Ngayon ay sinabayan na rin ako nina Tazyn sa pagtawa.

"Whatever. Where do you wanna go next?" Talia asked, trying to change the topic. "Gusto mong pumunta sa flower shop, Callie?"

Agad na nagliwanag ang mata ng katabi ko. I guess she's excited. "Of course! I'm gonna ask the nymphs if they have new campanulas in stock!"

Naalala ko tuloy ang unang beses na pumunta kami sa flower shop dito. Nung una, natakot pa ako sa mga nymph ni Persephone. Mabuti na lamang at mabait sila, katulad ng diyosang kanilang sinasamba.

I'd want to meet her someday, I thought. Sigurado akong mabait at maganda siya katulad ng mga kwento nila sa'kin.

"Kayo? Sasama ba kayo sa flower shop?" natatawang tanong ni Callie sa mga lalake na wala nang gana.

"I'd rather stay here," agad na sagot ni Mavi. "But since I don't want Cole to be alone with any of you then I'll tag along."

Cole faked a cry. "Wow, I'm so touched naman, bro!" pag-iinarte nito. I couldn't contain my little laughter.

"How about you, Raven?" Si Talia ang sunod na nagtanong.

He shrugged as a reply, and I didn't know if that meant a yes or a no. "I'll take that as a yes, my love," Talia said as she giggled. "I'm assuming you'll come with us too, Haze?"

The latter squinted his eyes before frowning. He silently walked away and took the lead in walking. Ang daldal niya talaga, noh? Ramdam na ramdam mo palagi 'yung excitement niya.

"Aba, bastos 'yun ah!" pangbabara ni Callie, hindi alintana na anak ni Aphrodite ang kausap niya. Natatakot akong galitin ang mga katulad ni Haze dahil baka mamaya, mapaluhod ako nang wala sa oras.

"Very mature," Amari remarked sarcastically. She shook her head in disbelief before walking while reading her book once again.

Seryoso, ba't hindi siya natatapilok habang nagbabasa at naglalakad?

Agad kaming sumunod kina Haze at Amari. Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, nakarating na rin kami sa flower shop. Binati kami ng masasayang ngiti ng mga nymph.

Yumuko sila nang pumasok si Haze. He nodded as a reply. "Welcome, Elysian Class!" pagbati nila sa'min. Nginitian namin sila.

Naunang pumasok si Callie na pumunta sa mga campanula. Si Tazyn naman ay agad na hinila ni Talia patungo sa mga sunflower samantalang si Amari ay nagbabasa sa isang gilid.

The boys? Well, they're just standing in a corner, boredom written all over their faces. Even so, I'm thankful that they decided to come with us.

I went over to the forget-me-not flowers. "Ang ganda," namamangha kong saad.

Napangiti ako. Nagtingin-tingin pa ako ng mga bulaklak hanggang sa makarinig ako ng isang boses.

"Your smile is a treasure itself, young one," bulong ng isang nymph sa tenga ko. I flinched but after a while, I giggled in return. "Are you perhaps one of lady Aphrodite's children?"

This nymph was really beautiful.

"Thank you po, ang ganda mo rin," I replied. I wasn't joking. "But no, I'm not one of Aphrodite's children," mahinang sagot ko habang nakatitig pa rin sa mga bulaklak.

"How much for these?" turo ko. Agad siyang napatingin sa mga bulaklak na hawak ko. Pagkatapos, kinindatan niya ako.

"I'll make it only a hundred dollars for you, my lady," she said, chuckling.

Napasimangot ako sa presyo. Ang mahal naman! Mukhang napansin ng nymph na hindi ako natuwa kaya napasimangot na rin siya. "Fifty dollars then?" hindi sigurado niyang tanong sa'kin.

"One bundle please."

"Coming right up!"

Saktong pagkaalis niya ay ang paglapit sa'kin ni Callie. Nginitian niya ako.

"Hey, Soleia!" Pinakita niya ang isang bouquet ng campanula at pink carnations na hawak niya. "I'm planning to add this to my collection. What do you think?" Tinaas-taas niya ang mga kilay niya para ipakita ang kanyang saya.

"I think it's perfect," I whispered softly.

"Sina Mavi?" tanong niya bigla. "Hindi pa naman sila nanghihinalo, noh?" biro niya. Natatawa akong umiling.

"Not yet, but soon."

Hinampas-hampas niya ako habang tumatawa. "Then I better pay for these before they do." She waved at me. "I'll be right back!"

"Yeah," I replied.

Pumunta ako sa isang gilid para umupo. Pagod na pagod ako. Pinagmasdan ko ang mga Elysian mula sa kinauupuan ko at hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti sa nakikita ko.

Sina Mavi ay nakatingin lang kina Tazyn na masayang namimili. Binabantayan nila ang mga babae mula sa malayo at mukhang handa silang lumusob sa sinumang mang-aapi sa kanila.

Matagal ko nang napapansin ang sitwasyon sa grupo nila. Matibay ang kanilang samahan, isang bagay na sana'y maranasan ko rin balang araw kasama sila.

"Why the long face, beauty?"
Bumalik ako sa katinuan nang dumating ang nymph na dala-dala ang mga bulaklak na pinamili ko. "These flowers are already paid for, by the way," biglang aniya.

"Really? Sino po ang nagbayad?"

Proud niyang tinuro ang sarili niya. "I noticed how sad you looked, and I paid for you. I don't think this is the first time you've received free stuff though," she joked.

Nahihiya akong ngumiti. "But I really want to pay for it-"

"Whoops! I don't think I hear anything." She chuckled. "Now tell me, demigod. What's bothering you?"

I hesitated to tell her, but there was something about her presence that made me feel safe and at ease. Her kindness was evident.

"I'm just... lost in thought," I muttered under my breath. I fidgeted with my hands, my fingers brushing against the ring my father had given me.

Saglit kaming binalot ng katahimikan na naisipan niyang basagin. "Why do you look so sad, dear child?"

I offered her a small smile. "Hindi ako malungkot."

Her green eyes gazed into mine, searching for answers, as if trying to unravel my thoughts. "Your eyes tell a different story. For a demigod, you carry such a sorrowful aura."

"I'm just worried about what the future might bring. Everyone feels that way. It's not anything to stress over," pag-amin ko.

Nightmares haunted me in my sleep every night. They were so terrifying that they made me question the fabric of reality itself-what distinguishes past from present, or future?

"All I see is darkness," I added.

Instead of echoing my sadness, the nymph chuckled softly. "Have you ever known fear, child?"

Tumango ako. "Of course. Right now, I fear the future."

"And yet, you don't appear frightened," she observed, amusement woven into her voice.

Napangisi ako. "Someone once told me that in our darkest moments, we must strive to see the light."

I immediately thought of Mira and her calming words that always helped me when I felt lost. Even in her absence, I felt her presence.

"That person must be quite wise," sagot ng nymph.

Tumango ako. "Mhm."

"You remind me of Elpis," aniya. "Those eyes of yours... it fills me with hope that perhaps this realm can finally know change."

"Elpis, the embodiment of hope," bulong ko. "It's the spirit that guides us through despair."

"Right," pagsang-ayon niya. "In fact, it is said that Elpis resides in the heart of those who dare to dream. I see that you carry her within you."

"I would entrust my destiny to someone like you," dagdag niya.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "I've always dreamt of becoming my own person. That's why I keep trying, and that's why I chose to attend this academy."

"So if you finally have the courage to go back, my dear..."

"Because someone reminded me that true strength comes from courage."

"Remember that I will always be with you no matter where you are. Instead of escaping your fears..."

"That I no longer need to be afraid, and instead, I must seek hope. For it is not only by facing my fears..."

"Embrace it, Solstice."

"But by embracing them, I can become powerful and worthy because I will be fighting for a purpose. And with Elpis as my guide, I won't be alone."

Nginitian ako ng nymph. Binalik ko ang ngiti sa kanya.

I feel like I just lifted a heavy burden off my shoulders, I thought.

She gently patted my head. "Never let that smile fade. I have faith that you will achieve everything your heart desires, and as long as you carry Elpis within you, there is always a way through the darkness."

Lumawak ang ngiti ko. "Thank you." Pagkatapos nun, binalot na kami ng katahimikan. Nabasag lamang ito nang tawagin ako ni Callie.

"Tapos ka na ba?" tanong sa'kin ni Callie. I signaled for her to wait, and she nodded.

Humarap ako sa nymph. "It was nice talking to you. What's your name? Gusto kong bumalik ulit dito."

"I'm Sophie," she said. "You're welcome to come back here anytime."

"Talaga?

"Yep!" She clapped her hands in glee.

I stared at her for a few seconds before bidding her goodbye. "It was nice meeting you, Sophie."

She gave me a small wink. "It was nice meeting you too, dear."

Tumalikod na ako at sasama na sana ako kina Callie nang muli sumigaw si Sophie. Agad akong napatigil at napaharap sa kanya.

Ano'ng meron?

"Ah, before you go, I have something to give to you!"

I gazed at her with anticipation, and I could feel the stares of my other friends too. "Ano'ng meron?" bulong sa'kin ni Callie. I shrugged. I have the same question as her.

The nymph came back and handed an object to me. "I believe this rightfully belongs to you." That was all she said before she walked away, leaving me dumbfounded.

Hindi ko pa nga napoproseso ang sinabi niya sa'kin nang mapatingin ako sa binigay niya.

No way...

Holy Hades?!

Bakit... bakit nasa kanya 'to?

The Elysians peeked from behind. "Soleia, ano 'yan?"

I was confused, and maybe a bit scared.

What she gave me... was something I thought I had lost.

I stared at the familiar cover and title.

"Secrets of the Chosen."