SOLEIA'S POV

"The secrets of the chosen have found you..."

Tatlong araw na pala ang nakalipas mula nang insidenteng 'yun. Tatlong araw na rin akong tulog habang patuloy na binabangungot ng mga boses sa utak ko. Mas lalo silang lumakas.

Sumalubong sa'kin si Dr. Phoebe na may malaking ngiti. "You're finally awake, Lady Soleia."

Lady Soleia?

Napasimangot ako. Hindi bagay sa'kin.

"Hello, Doctor." Nahihiya akong tumingin sa kanya bago napahawak sa aking ulo. Pakiramdam ko ay sinisira ito paunti-unti.

At doon ko lang naalala ang huli kong narinig bago ako gumising.

"The secrets of the chosen have found you..."

'Yun ang pangalan ng misteryosong librong nakita ko, diba? Ipakita ko kaya kina Amari? Baka sakaling matulungan nila ako.

Akmang babangon na ako nang pigilan ako ni Dr. Phoebe. "Where are you going?" striktong tanong nito. "You're not okay yet. Wait here, I'm gonna get some ambrosia."

Dahil sa sinabi niya, palihim akong napanguso at nanatiling nakaupo. Edi... hindi pa rin ako makakalabas dito?

Bumalik si Dr. Phoebe pagkatapos ng ilang segundo. "Here, drink this." Inabot niya sa'kin ang isang baso na may laman.

I peeked curiously into the cup, and my eyes sparkled at what I saw. The liquid appeared to be a blend of orange and yellow, with a touch of red. From a certain perspective, it even had a golden hue. "Pwede pong inumin 'to? Sigurado kayo?" Natawa siya sa tanong ko bago tumango.

When I first took a sip, it tasted a bit sweet and bitter. Not bad.

Nagulat ako nang marahas na bumukas ang pinto. "Tch, Apollo talks too much sometimes." Boses ni Mavi ang bumungad sa'kin.

"Pagpasensyahan mo na si daddy, Mavi. Ganon talaga siya hihi," sagot naman ni Tazyn. 

Nandito ang Elysians!

"Apollo's mouth has no filter, I can't believe he's an Olympian god-" Pare-parehas silang napatigil at napatingin sa'kin nang mapansin ako.

"Am I hallucinating or is Soleia really awake?"

"Sampalin kaya kita para malaman mo," suhestiyon ni Callie kay Cole. Biglang napasimangot ang lalaki.

"Huwag na pala. Hindi ka naman mabiro."

I was watching them with innocent curiosity, silently hoping they would speak to me, even though I secretly hoped they wouldn't at the same time.

Maybe it was because of the growing guilt and regret inside me. Hanggang ngayon kasi, nagsisisi ako sa nangyari.

But deep down, I know there's no time for regrets.

"Hi," mahinang bati ko sa kanila. I flashed a small smile, and they did the same.

We stayed silent for a few seconds, just staring at each other. No one dared to move.

Well... that was until Talia decided to break the silence.

"Soleia, my love! I missed you so much!" Niyakap niya ako nang mahigpit. Nang gawin niya 'yun, sumunod na ang iba maliban kina Raven at Haze.

Asa pa akong yayakapin ako nung dalawang naglalakad na statue.

"Sorry..." That was the first thing I said. Naintindihan nila ang nais kong sabihin kaya lumawak ang mga ngiti nila.

"Wala kang kasalanan, Soleia," sambit ni Callie."Kung merong may kasalanan dito, si Medusa 'yun. Siya lang naman ang pwedeng magpadala ng mga daemon at cyclopes, diba?"

"Pero-" Pinatahimik niya ulit ako kaya wala akong nagawa kundi mapanguso. Tatahimik na nga ako.

"Is she good to go?" seryosong tanong ni Amari kay Dr. Phoebe. Kanina niya pa itong kinakausap. Nakita ko ang pagtango ng doktora sa anak ni Athena.

"Oh my greeks! We can finally take you home, my love!" masiglang sigaw ni Talia nang makita ang tugon ni Dr. Phoebe. Mahina akong napatawa.

Inasikaso nila ako. Ang mga lalake ang nag-ayos ng mga papeles ko sa clinic habang ang mga babae ang tumutulong sa'kin sa paglakad. Sa huli, sabay-sabay kaming bumalik sa dorm.

While walking, someone tried to communicate with us through telepathy.

"Elysians, please bring Soleia to my office. I have something tell her. Alone, preferably," saad ng isang pamilyar na boses.

"Si Headmistress Adhira 'yun, diba?" takang tanong ni Cole. Tumango ang mga kasama namin.

"Mauna na kayo sa dorm, kami na ang maghahatid kay Soleia. Mag-order na kayo sa canteen ng dinner natin, ha?" sabi ni Callie. Agad na napatango-tango ang mga lalaki bago maglakad paalis.

Tinatahak na namin ang daan patungo sa opisina nang muling pumasok sa isip ko ang librong nahanap ko. Plano kong ipakita ito kina Amari at baka magtanong din ako tungkol sa lalaking may pilak na mata.

Pinahinto ko sila sandali kaya't nagtaka sila. Hinawakan ko ang aking singsing, at nang umilaw ito, lumabas ang isang lumang libro.

Inabot ko ito kay Amari. "It's a book I found at the library. Can you analyze it?" tanong ko. Tinitigan niya muna ito nang ilang segundo bago niya ito tinanggap.

"Yeah. I'll keep it safe, don't worry." Ngumiti ako bilang tugon.

"By the way... when I lost consciousness, did you see a man with silver eyes?" I asked.

Saglit na nagkatinginan ang mga babae bago umiling. Huh, they didn't see anyone?

Was I hallucinating? But that was impossible.

"Then who caught me?"

"May sumambot sayo? Nakahiga ka nalang sa damuhan nang makita ka namin," paliwanag ni Callie.

Bigla akong napasimangot. Then who was that man?

I guess I'll find out when the time comes.

"Nga pala." May kinuha si Callie sa bulsa ng uniporme niya. "This is yours."

She took out my amethyst necklace. The same necklace that concealed my powers for years.

Kinuha ko ito mula sa kamay niya. "Thank you," saad ko. I don't think I'll wear this anymore.

It took us a few seconds to reach the headmistress' office. Apparently, her office was farther than I thought. My feet began to ache for awhile.

"You can leave me here. Thank you, girls," I said. Tinanong muna nila ako kung magiging ayos lang ako bago nila ako pinapasok.

Bumungad sa'kin ang isang pamilyar na opisina. Nakaupo ang isang magandang babae sa silya at nasa likod niya ang isang litrato.

"Sit down, Soleia." That was the first thing she said to me. I followed her without a second thought.

"First of all, how are you feeling? Do you still feel like your powers are consuming you?" Wala nang patumpik-tumpik pa, tinanong niya na agad ako ng ilang katanungan tungkol sa kapangyarihan ko.

At higit sa lahat, hindi siya mukhang gulat.

"I know what you're thinking, and yes. I've known about your abilities since you were a child."

Naalerto ako sa kanyang sinabi. "Does that mean you also know what happened bef-" Napatigil ulit ako nang tumango siya.

"I have always watched you, Soleia. I've seen the shadows within you that you desperately wish to conceal," seryosong sambit niya.

Imbes na siya, ako ang nagulat. Bakit niya ba ako pinapunta rito? Para sermunan? Para pagalitan? Para ipaalam sa akin ang mga alam niya?

"Headmistress Adhira, I don't understand..."

"I just want you to know that you don't have to hide anymore, Soleia. I told you..." She smiled at me. "You're safe here. We will protect you."

"Set yourself free. If you keep everything inside, one day, it will explode," she added. Napatigil ako sa mga salita niya.

"I just... I honestly don't know if I belong here," I admitted.

She chuckled, which left me feeling a bit confused. "It's totally normal to feel that way. You're a powerful demigod, Soleia. You'll find your place soon enough. So why not stay until you do?"

"Thank you, but..." I trailed off, looking at her.

"Iyan lang ba ang dahilan kung bakit niyo ako pinapunta rito, headmistress? Sigurado akong hindi niyo ako pinapunta upang bolahin lang," nakasimangot kong sambit. Natawa siya bago sumeryoso muli. 

"The elders found out, Soleia," she said. It felt like a splash of cold water had hit me. Was I really going to be expelled from the academy?

"Am I... going to be kicked out?" I asked cautiously.

She shook her head, which relieved me. "I'll make sure that doesn't happen, but they won't make it easy. It will take a lot of persuasion, but trust me. You'll be staying."

Muntikan na akong umiyak sa saya. "Thank you, headmistress…"

"Plus, I don't think the elders will prevail against Amari. She's working hard to convince the council as well."

Hearing Amari's name made me smile. Naririnig ko na agad ang mga banta niya. 

"However, there is a downside we can't avoid," the headmistress added, frowning just like I was. I could hear thunder rumbling outside. Anak nga siya ni Zeus.

"You're going to get detention, Soleia. Luckily, all you have to do is organize the books in the library later." Lalo akong sumimangot. "Those elders wanted you to clean the entire academy for Zeus’s sake!"

I had never imagined myself sweeping classrooms or cleaning bathrooms.

"'Yun lang ba, headmistress?" I asked eagerly, ready to head to the library and finish my work.

"I can't believe they're making a young woman organize books after her time in the clinic," bulong niya sa sarili. I cleared my throat to catch her attention.

"Nandiyan ka pa pala. You're dismissed. Thank you for your time, Soleia." She smiled at me, and I returned the gesture.

"Thank you, Headmistress Adhira." I got to my feet.

As I reached for the doorknob, ready to leave, she spoke again.

"Don't worry. I'm sure someone will come to keep you company during detention." I heard her soft chuckle.

And true to her words, someone did show up to help me organize the books.

Who would have thought that Aphrodite's son would be such a helpful demigod?