Kaye's POV

"Dad!" Patakbo akong naglakad papuntang library at dumiretso kay Thanatos na nakatayo sa harap ng mga istante.

Mabilis ang paglingo'ng ginawa niya sa'kin nang tumigil ako sa harap niya.

"He moved!" nananabik kong sabi sa kanya na ikinatuwa niya rin.

"Did he now?" Dali-dali siyang lumapit sa'kin nang nakangiti at marahang napahawak sa tiyan ko.

Sure enough, both our eyes widened with delight when we felt the baby kick from under my skin. A sign of life, a sign of wanting to live, was all that I needed to be back on my feet after spending two whole months in my room, bedridden.

"Dad, now that I'm fine, can I pay a visit to the mortal realms?" tanong ko sa kanya. "Gusto ko sanang bumawi kasi hindi ako nakapunta sa kasal nina Kara at Dio."

"But it's only been a day since you came out of your room-"

"I'm okay." Hinawakan ko siya sa balikat. "I promise."

Matagal-tagal niya akong tinitigan, hanggang sa magpakawala siya ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga.

"Alright." Umayos siya sa pagkakatayo. "I'll have someone escort you."

Napangiti ako nang malapad.

"Call Artemia so she and her husband can meet you outside the portal."

Hinatak ko siya para yakapin nang mahigpit. "Thank you, Dad!" Halatang ikinagulat niya ang ginawa ko dahil hindi siya gumalaw, kahit nang bitawan ko na siya.

"You're the best," sabi ko sa kanya. "That's why I love you."

He looked at me for a couple more seconds. "Kaye..." He whispered my name with worry. "Are you certain you're..."

"I'll be fine," I assured him. 

He took a step closer and gently wrapped an arm around my head. "My dear..." Niyakap niya ako at hinalikan sa aking noo. "I will give you everything that you want. All I need, is just for you to call me once you feel the slightest discomfort."

"I will."

Ilang sandali pa'y nakarinig kami ng katok kaya sabay kaming napalingon ni Thanatos sa malaking pintuan ng library.

"Sorry for interrupting." Ibinaba ni Hector ang kanyang kamay sa gilid niya. "But I have the list you've asked for, Thanatos."

I gave my dad a curious look. "List?"

"The list of souls that paid the price of the rebellion." Tinanggap niya ang mga papeles na inabot ni Hector sa kanya. "I have to see for myself that they're all in Elysium." Isa-isa niya itong tinignan. "-or in the Asphodel Meadows, at least..."

Inangat ni Dad ang kanyang tingin. "Perfect timing, Hector," aniya at nilingon ako. "My daughter wants to go the mortal realms..." Muli niyang tinignan si Hector. "You think you can accompany her?"

Bahagyang bumukas ang aking bibig para sana'y umangal nang sulyapan ako ng god mula sa sulok ng kanyang mga mata.

I pursed my lips and objected in silence.

Hector looked at me. "I would love to..." Nginitian niya ako. "-but I still have a lot of things to do."

Nice, puna ko. Nabasa niya ata ang katahimikan ko.

"Whatever could possibly be more important than my daughter?"

Tinapunan ko si Thanatos ng isang tamad na tingin.

"I have to earn my father's trust back, Thanatos," sagot ni Hector. "-and Persephone's... and most importantly, my mother's."

"Well, how about your brother's?" ani Dad. "Cal and Art will welcome her on the other side."

Umiling ako kay Hector, dahilan na matawa siya nang mahina at yumuko.

Nakapamulsa siya nang iangat ang kanyang ulo. Sighing, he replied, "I wish I could."

Napabuntong-hininga rin ako.

"Then we might just have to postpone your visit in the mortal realms, sweetheart."

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata nang sabihin 'yon ni Thanatos. "What?! Why?!"

Dad looked at me with a darkened expression on his face. He was serious. Deadly serious.

"Wait- no-" Lumundag ako kay Hector at kumapit sa braso niya. "He's coming with me."

Marahas ko siyang siniko.

"Oh- haha-" Hector grabbed my arm and squeezed it tight.  "As a matter of fact..." Pinandilatan niya ako bago ngitian si Thanatos. "I am."

Seemingly satisfied, Dad nodded and turned his back against us.

Napabitaw na rin ako kay Hector na ngumingiwi sa sakit habang hinihimas ang kanyang tagiliran.

Ibinaba ni Dad ang mga papeles sa mesa. "I'll give you time to pack."

Yumuko kaming dalawa at sabay na lumabas ng library.

"What the hell just happened?" tanong ni Hector nang makalayo na kami.

"Sasamahan mo ko sa mortal realms," paalala ko sa kanya. "Bingi ka ba?"

"I heard everything," sagot niya. "But why does it have to be me?"

Huminto ako sa paglalakad at humarap sa kanya. "Because for some reason, my father trusts you."

Umangat ang kanyang kilay sabay kurap. "He does?" Tapos, bigla siyang napangiti. "He does," sabi niya sa sarili.

I sighed. "Wala na akong magawa," mahinahon kong turan. "I'm sorry, gusto ko lang kasing makita ulit yung iba..."

"And so I heard," aniya. "What happened, Kaye? I haven't seen you in months."

"I..." Umiwas ako ng tingin. "I was resting."

Mabilis na nagbago ang nangungusisang ekspresyon sa kanyang mukha. Nanlambot ito, na tila ba nag-aalala.

"Please," sambit ko. "Don't look at me like that."

Ilang sandali pa'y nginitian niya ako at ipinatong ang kanyang kamay sa aking ulo. "Of course." Ginulo niya ang buhok ko. "Everything for you."

Pabiro ko siyang inirapan.

Hinatid ako ni Hector sa aking kwarto at nagpaalam para bumalik sa palasyo ni Hades, nang makapag-impake na rin siya. Pagkaraan ng ilang oras ng paghahanda, muli kaming nagkita sa labas ng naglalakihang gates, kung saan nag-summon si Thanatos ng portal.

"Bye." For the last time, I hugged my Dad. "Say hi to Matilda for me."

"Be safe, Kaye."

I chuckled after realizing that the god of death just wished for my safety.

Umikot ako at tinanggap ang kamay ni Hector na nasa kabilang panig na ng portal. I took a slow step inside, and was immediately greeted by sunlight.

"Kaye!"

Napaatras ako nang salubungin ako ni Art ng isang napakahigpit na yakap. Pagkatapos niya akong bitawan, luminga-linga ako at nalamang wala na si Hector.

Napangiti ako nang maalala ang usapan namin na hindi siya magpapakita at susundan niya lang ako sa pamamagitan ng mga anino sa aking kapaligiran.

Cal will know, and those who are able to sense another presence nearby, but they'd come to know too, that he won't be any harm. He said he will try to blend in as much as he could, without disrupting anyone's feelings.

My smile grew bitter.

Hector...

Sa may di kalayuan, dumako ang aking mga mata sa isang malaking bahay na under construction pa, at laking gulat ko nang makita ang mga satyrs na nakapalibot dito.

"Oh!" Napansin ni Art kung saan ako nakatingin. "Bahay namin 'yan," pagbibigay-alam niya. "Dito namin napiling magtayo kasi kadalasan dito lumilitaw yung portals galing sa Underworld, ih."

Inikot ko ang aking paningin.

We were in the middle of a wide bermuda field, surrounded by a thin blanket of trees. From a distance, I could see a black car on the highway, where we headed while Art explained their plans for their future home.

Nakatuon lang ako sa aming paanan habang nakikinig sa kanya.

"Nasa right wing yung office ni Cal," aniya. "-na konektado lang sa library..."

Napangiti ako.

A home... a house... and a husband...

Wala sa sarili akong napatingin sa singsing sa aking kamay. Ito yung natagpuan kong nakabaon sa ilalim ng pinagpapatong-patong na mga bato sa Underworld.

'Time will keep it safe for me, but destiny will give it to you...'

And time did keep the ring safe for him, until destiny made me find it.

Until now, I still don't know when Slade made this ring, what's it made out of, and when he buried it. Maybe after he realized that not even destiny can escape the consequences of his own actions.

Nang makapasok ako ng kotse, humilig ako sa sandalan at ipinikit ang aking mga mata. Napahawak din ako sa demigod na dala-dala ko.

"Kaye..." mahinang sambit ni Art na nakaupo sa front seat. "Okay ka lang?"

"Mmm." Tumango ako. "Na-jetlag lang sa portal," natatawa kong sagot sa kanya.

To my relief, she also laughed.

Cal settled himself on the driver's seat and gave me a quick glance on the rearview mirror, before finally moving the car.

The trip was short but eventful, sapagka't kinuwento sa'kin ni Art lahat ng nangyari sa kasal nina Dio at Kara. She told it in a way that I felt like I was there, and I was grateful.

Sinalubong kami ng nanay ni Art at ng kambal niya sa pintuan ng mansyon na bumungad sa'kin pagkalabas ko ng sasakyan.

"Kaye," ani Seht at niyakap ako. "How are you?"

Nginitian ko siya. "Fine."

"And the baby?"

I let out an exhausted sigh. "Getting heavier and heavier..."

He was about to say something when an aurai interrupted him. She carried a tape measure on one of her hands, and a stick on the other.

"Excuse me," aniya. "Sir, I haven't finished reviewing your final measurements-"

"Let's continue it later," tugon ni Seht sa kanya. 

"But sir-"

"My fiancée's coming over shortly, perhaps you'd like to review hers' while you wait for me?" suhestyon ni Seht nang nakangiti. "I have guests to attend to."

Lumiwanag ang mga mata ng aurai. "Of course!" nananabik niyang sagot saka bumalik sa loob.

Pagkatapos, umangat ang aking kilay kay Seht. "Fiancée?"

Sinenyasan niya akong tumingin sa likod ko.

I turned around and saw a girl park a motorbike in front of the house. She twisted the handle, releasing a loud throttle, before turning off the engine.

"Thea!" tawag ko sa kanya nang tanggalin niya ang kanyang helmet.

Lumiwanag naman ang kanyang mukha nang lingunin ako, at nagmamadaling bumaba. "Kaye!" sigaw niya na may kasamang tili.

Napaatras ako nang yakapin niya ako ng sobrang higpit. "Sabihin mo sa'kin na andito ka para sa kasal ko!"

Tinapik-tapik ko ang likod niya. 

Kasal...

"Kailan ulit 'yon?"

"Hindi mo ba natanggap yung sulat na ipinadala ko?!" Halos sigawan niya ako sa aking tenga. "Sa susunod na araw na, Kaye!"

"Oh," I acted like I just remembered, but the reality is, I haven't got any strength to read all the letters sent to me. Sumasakit lang kasi ang ulo ko sa tuwing nagbabasa ako, o naglalaro ng board games sa palasyo. "Right..."

Ilang sandali pa'y napakurap-kurap ako.

I don't know if it was a coincidence that I decided to pay a visit a day before Seht and Thea's wedding, but I'm so glad I did.

"Dress," bulong ko sa sarili. "I- I forgot to bring a dress-"

"Ano ka ba!" ani Thea. "Pwede naman tayong bumili mamaya! Sasamahan ka namin!"

Tumango-tango ako nang nakangisi. "Sure!"

Nilapitan kami ni Art nang nagtitili. "Tinawagan ko na yung iba. Magkita-kita nalang daw tayo sa mall!"

Thea and Art clasped their hands together and squealed. Tapos tumalon-talon pa silang dalawa sa harap ko, hanggang sa tawagin kami ni Seht para papasukin.

Natawa nalang ako nang mahina sa inasta nung dalawa at sumabay sa kanila papasok ng bahay.

The inside of the house was bright and airy. Light from the sun came in from different angles, and I can't help but wonder how different it would have been if I grew up in a place as warm as this.

But destiny... even though I loved him, was still cruel.

I grew up without a mother and a father. I was only an orphan who followed the voices in her head and ended up in an academy where she learned the truth about herself, and eventually, betray it, after listening to the voices and spending too much time with the deities behind them.

And despite everything I went through, I still fell for the man that made my life as miserable as it was.

Napailing ako nang nakangiti.

Destiny was cruel, but even more so, was love.

Iginiya ako ni Art sa isa sa mga kwarto kung saan ako mananatili. Sinabihan niya rin akong magpahinga muna para sa lakad namin mamaya.

"Hector," sambit ko nang maisarado na ni Art yung pinto.

Kumalat ang anino sa paanan ko at humiwalay. Tumakbo ito sa gitna ng kwarto at mula rito, namuo ang anyo ng isang lalaki na nakapamulsa ang isang kamay. 

Agad niyang inilibot ang kanyang paningin sa kabuuan ng kwarto. Samantalang, napaupo naman ako sa higaan. 

"You're sleeping on the couch," I said, and leaned my back on the headboard. 

To my surprise, he didn't protest and casually sat down on the sofa across the foot of the bed. "Good enough."

I ran my hands from my forehead and softly pulled my hair back.

Ever since I got back from Greece, everything I do has been a chore. Mabilis akong napapagod, kahit tumayo lang ako't umupo.

Sinundan ko ng tingin si Hector nang lapitan niya ako. Tumabi siya sa'kin at inangat ang namimigat kong braso.

He pressed his thumbs on the base of my palm, and gently rubbed it, as well as my wrist.

Napapikit ako sa ginawa niya.

"Why did you come here, Kaye?" tanong niya habang minamasahe ang kamay ko. "Alam mong kailangan mo pang magpahinga."

"I don't know..." I swallowed the fatigue forming in my throat. "I thought I needed to see them."

"He's tiring you out, isn't he?"

Hindi ko naiwasang padalhan siya ng nagbabantang tingin. "Do not, ever, blame my child, Hector."

Tinitigan niya lang ako, halatang walang balak na manghingi ng paumanhin o bawiin ang sinabi niya.

Hinatak ko ang aking kamay mula sa pagkakahawak niya at sinenyasan siyang umalis. Sinunod niya naman ito at tumayo. Narinig ko rin ang binitawan niyang malalim na buntong-hininga bago bumalik sa sofa.

Humiga siya rito nang nakahalukipkip ang mga braso sa dibdib. Saka niya ipinikit ang kanyang mga mata. 

Silence filled the space between us.

"Hector, I-" Binasag ko ang katahimikan, di kalaunan. "I know what I'm doing..." Dahan-dahan akong napatingin sa malayo. "At alam kong ito ang kailangan ko ngayon, ang makita sila."

"So, please..." hingin ko nang muli akong mapatingin sa kanya. "Don't- don't say that again." Umiling-iling ako. "You can't say that-"

"It wasn't just Slade, Kaye." Dahan-dahan niyang iminulat ang kanyang mga mata. "It wasn't just Slade who had his eyes set on you ever since you showed up."

Napatigil ako sa sinabi niya.

"A-Ano?" nanghihina kong turan.

"At first, it was just out of curiosity," sabi niya habang nakatuon sa kisame. "How a mortal like you could have possibly made a primordial deity fall in love..."

Natawa ako nang mahina. "You're seriously not telling me-"

"I am."

Bahagyang bumukas ang aking bibig habang nakamasid sa kanya.

"I was too enthusiastic of meeting you..." dugtong niya. "-and too... weak."

"And Slade-" He paused to laugh. "That asshole must have known."

"Because why, Kaye? Why else would I be destined to fall in love again but just fall?" aniya. "If you thought destiny was cruel to you, then what was he to me?"

Namuo ang isang mapait na ngiti sa kanyang labi. "Hmm?"

"I will never have you... I will never have anyone..." bulong niya. "Because I was destined to."

Napalunok ako nang mamuo ang mga luha sa aking mga mata.

"Hector, I'm sorry-" saad ko. "I didn't know."

"The shadows, Kaye, I belong to nowhere else but the shadows..."

Realizing that I had nothing to say to relieve him from pain, I let my tears fall down on my cheeks.

Destiny... what have you done?

Napatakip ako ng bibig at taimtim na naiyak.

"You're not crying, are you?"

Humikbi ako at umiling.

"I-I'm pregnant-" paalala ko sa kanya nang lingunin niya ako.

He let out a soft laugh before sitting up straight on the couch. "Stop that. You're making me feel sorry for myself."

"Hindi nga ako umiiyak-" sabi ko sa kanya habang humahagulgol ng iyak. "It's..." Sininghot ko ang aking mga luha. "It's the hormones. I swear."

He stood on his feet and paced back to the bed, where I was terribly crying.

Huminto siya nang nakatayo sa tabi ko. "Here," aniya sabay abot sa'kin ng panyo na agad ko namang kinuha.

"L-Let's go out together-" naiiyak kong sabi, na halatang ikinagulat niya.

"Kaye-"

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya sabay tingala sa kanya. "Huwag ka nang magtago ulit," pakiusap ko. "Samahan mo 'ko, mamaya... at sa kasal..."

"You know I can't-"

"Say you will." Hinigpitan ko ang pagkakahawak sa kanya. "Please."

Matagal-tagal niya akong tinitigan nang nakakunot ang noo.

Ilang sandali pa'y napabuntong-hininga siya. "I will..."

Bumagsak ang aking kamay sa sandaling sabihin niya ito, dahilan na mapaupo siya at hawakan niya ako sa balikat.

"Are you okay?" nag-aalala niyang tugon.

"Henri..." Dahan-dahan akong napahawak sa tiyan ko. "I think he's listening."

Hector looked at me, eyes filled with curiosity and wonder.

Kinuha ko ang kamay niya at pinaramdam sa kanya ang mahihinang sipa nito.

He let out an 'oh' before breaking into a smile. "Why do I have this feeling that he's mad at me for making his mother cry?"

Kumisap-kisap ako. "Oo nga 'no-"

I gasped when the baby kicked harder, right on the spot where Hector's hand laid.

Tapos, sabay kaming natawa.

"He can sense me..." namamanghang puna ni Hector.

Tumango-tango ako. "He's pretty much sensitive to everything around him."

"Three more months, little guy..." bulong niya rito. "Three more months, until I'll let you kick me right in the face."

I groaned when the baby kicked again, way harder than ever before. "Hector!"

Tinawanan niya lang ako.

"But for now..." Hector caressed the part of the bump that stretched from the last kick. "Let your mother rest... and have fun..."

Huminga ako nang malalim at hinanda ang aking sarili na masipa na naman. Ngunit pagkaraan ng ilang segundo, wala nang nangyari.

Pinaningkitan ko si Hector. "He listens to you."

He shrugged his shoulders, as if it meant nothing to him.

Pagkatapos, dahan-dahan akong napatingin sa tiyan ko, at unti-unting napangiti rito.

'That's right, Henri... always listen to others... and don't ever let anyone feel left out, like they belong to the shadows.'

Because you're not destiny.

You are my child.