Cesia's POV

"Thank you, Auntie!" Nananabik kong binuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan at nagmamadaling lumabas.

"Abigail!"

Napatigil ako at nilingon siya.

"Huwag magdalawang-isip na tawagan ako kung hindi makakahatid si Trev sa'yo-"

"Sige po! Ingat ka, Auntie!" paalam ko sa kanya saka patakbong naglakad papasok ng mall. Luminga-linga ako para hanapin yung boutique na tinext ni Art sa'kin.

"Cesia?"

Nilingon ko si Kara na kararating lang din.

"Hi," bati ko sa kanya at niyakap siya. "Buti nalang sabay tayo. Di ko alam kung sa'n sila, eh."

"It's the first time I've heard of such place, either," aniya. "You think you can look for them using your ability?"

Lumiwanag ang aking mukha, at kasabay nito ay ang panandaliang pagbago ng kulay ng aking mga mata.

"Nasa third floor," masigla kong sabi.

Sabay kaming pumunta sa third floor, at nang makarating na kami sa boutique ay sinalubong kami ng nagtitiling Art at Thea.

Pagkatapos magpalitan ng pangungumusta, kinawayan ko sina Kaye at Ria na nasa gitna ng pamimili ng mga damit nang mapansin kami. Sa likod din nila ay mayroong mahabang bench kung saan nakaupo sa magkabilang dulo sina Cal at Hector.

Lumapit sa'kin si Ria. "Finally! You're here!" Bigla niya akong hinatak sa direksyon ng mga nakahilerang dresses at gowns. "We need you to choose."

"Hello, Cesia," ani Kaye nang tumigil ako sa harap niya.

"Hi!" Maingat ko siyang niyakap dahil sa tiyan niyang di maipagkakailang malaki-laki na. "Kamusta?" tanong ko nang bitawan siya.

"Tired," sagot niya. "Kanina pa kami namimili rito..."

Dahil sa sinabi niya, sinulyapan ko si Ria na napakibit-balikat lang.

"Maupo ka muna." Tinulungan ko si Kaye na maupo sa gitna nina Hector at Cal. Tinawag ko rin ang isa sa mga associates, na sa laking gulat ko ay isang aurai, at humingi ng tubig.

Inabot ko kay Kaye ang isang baso ng tubig na ibinigay ng aurai sa'kin. "Diyan ka lang," sabi ko sa kanya. "Ako na ang mamimili para sa'yo."

"Thank you," ani Kaye nang tanggapin ito.

Yumuko ako sa harap niya. "Hello..." Hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti nang marinig ko ang mabibilis na tibok ng puso nito. "Baby Henri."

"He likes you."

Inangat ko ang aking tingin kay Kaye.

"I can feel it."

Natawa ako nang mahina at tumayo. "Talaga?"

Tinanguan niya ako. "He's been frantically moving since we got here," aniya. "Now he's calmed down."

Nakatuon lang ako sa tiyan ni Kaye nang biglang mag-ring yung cellphone ko. Agad ko itong kinuha mula sa bag ko at nalamang si Trev ang tumatawag.

"Teka lang, ah, si Trev-" Lumayo ako sa kanila at sinagot ito.

"Hi, nasa third floor kami-"

'I know,' maikli niyang sagot sa kabilang linya.

Kumunot ang aking noo. "Eh ba't ka napatawag?"

'To tell you I'm on my way.'

Kinagat ko ang aking pang-ibabang labi, nagpipigil ng ngiti. "Okay."

'Don't hang up the phone,' tugon niya. 'Not until I could see you.'

Nilingon ko si Ria na nakapameywang habang nakakapit sa clothing rack. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay nang magkasalubong ang aming tingin.

"Trev," natatawa kong sambit. "Kanina pa ako hinihintay ni Ria-"

'Just don't hang up the phone.'

Yumuko ako at napangiti. "Okay," sagot ko. "Ikaw na may sabi."

Binaba ko ang aking kamay at bumalik sa kinaroroonan ni Ria na dagliang napasulyap sa phone ko.

"Trev?" usisa niya.

"Mmm." Sinimulan ko na ang pagtitingin-tingin sa mga dresses at gowns. "Ilan ba yung nandito?"

"A dozen."

Sinagi ko ang aking mga daliri sa sleeves ng mga damit na nakasabit. Saka ako huminto sa isang pale blue na chiffon gown.

Kinuha ko ito at inangat sa harap ko.

"May silver or gray ba nito?" tanong ko sa aurai na nakamasid sa'min.

Itinaas niya ang kanyang kamay kaya't inabot ko yung gown sa kanya.

"I will ask." Bahagya siyang yumuko saka umalis dala-dala ito.

Mayamaya'y bumalik siya bitbit ang isang maxi gown na may sequin top at mahabang chiffon skirt. Sleeveless ito at yung kulay, ay pinaghalong beige at gray.

"Kaye?"

Nilingon ko si Kaye na nakatingin na rin pala sa gown.

"It's perfect," puna niya.

Nginitian kami ng aurai. "Then we shall pack it beautifully."

Pagkatapos, tinignan ko ang phone ko at nakitang wala na sa screen ang pangalan ni Trev.

Nagkasalubong ang aking kilay.

Aksidente ko bang na-end yung call?

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata at dali-daling hinanap ang pangalan ni Trev sa contacts, nang biglang-

"Who are you looking for?"

Kamuntikan na akong mapatalon sa gulat pagkatapos marinig ang boses niya sa aking likod.

Umikot ako. "Trev!" Mahina ko siyang tinulak. "Pwede bang itigil mo na 'yang panggugulat mo?"

Umangat lang ang kanyang kilay bilang reaksyon sa sinabi ko.

"Kung may balak kang magparamdam, magpakita ka muna, pwede ba?"

"You were occupied-"

"Kaya nga," naiinis kong sabi. "Huwag mo'kong gulatin..."

"But I like surprising you."

Napatigil ako sa sinabi niya. "H-Huh?"

"I like making fun of you."

"Trev!"

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinila ako papalapit sa kanya. "I'm sorry, though I can't promise not to do it again-"

Marahas kong hinatak ang braso ko, na ikinabigla niya. "Bahala ka na nga."

"Cesia."

Hindi ko siya nilingon.

Cal's POV

"Does he usually do that?" Hector whispered beside me after Kaye left us to follow Cesia.

Trev, deeply sighing in defeat?

"No." I shook my head. "Gods. No."

Sabay kaming umiwas ng tingin nang lingunin kami ni Trev.

I stared at one of the tiles on the floor, and silently suffered under the pressure of a powerful demigod boring his eyes on me.

"Cal." Trev spoke with a cold tone.

Tinignan ko siya.

"What did I do?" tanong niya.

I gave him a bored look, when deep inside, I was already laughing my ass off because I never once thought of him as someone who would ask me that question.

"I don't know," sagot ko. "I can't read women's minds."

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "She's not really mad at me, is she?"

Kumibit-balikat ako, saka siniko si Hector na napayuko at napatakip ng bibig.

I slightly scratched my brow and not once looked at Trev while he stood in silence, confused as to what he did that triggered Cesia to walk out on him.

"I'll tell you what happened, Trev." Hector, being the suicidal maniac that he is, decided to break the silence. "You have just put yourself in a very difficult situation, and now, the only thing you can do is woo her back."

Trev threw us an empty glare. "Woo her?"

"And in order to be successful, you have to pray to the gods that she will at least let you see her because trust me, brother," Hector said, wide-eyed. "There's a good possibility that she will NOT talk to you."

"What are you talking about?"

With my brows raised, I looked at my brother who also looked back at me with the same expression.

"He has not done this before," bulong ko.

Hector let out an 'oh' before nodding his head.

"Trev?" Lumapit si Art sa'min. "Ba't ka pa nandito? Akala ko ihahatid mo si Cesia?"

"Why?" nagtatakang tanong ni Trev. "Where is she?"

"Nauna nang umuwi."

I almost choked on my own breath after hearing what she said.

Don't laugh, Cairo. Do. Not. Laugh.

Sinundan ko ng tingin si Trev na napaalis nang wala sa oras.

"And off he goes..." My brother whispered, forcing me to crack a smile.

Ilang sandali pa'y tinawag na rin siya ni Kaye.

Tumayo kami at nagpalitan ng kakaibang tingin bago humarap sa magkataliwas na direksyon.

"Let's go home?" I asked my wife, and gently pulled her to my side.

"May nangyari ba?" nangunguryuso niyang tanong.

"It's nothing." I gave her a slight nudge so she can start walking.

"Pero bakit-"

"It's not our business, Art."

"Ooh..." She blinked a couple times. "Nag-away sina Cesia at Trev, 'no?"

Art was quick to figure it out, which didn't surprise me at all.

"Yes, they did." I confirmed.

"Bakit daw?"

I shrugged my shoulders.

And out of nowhere, she asked, "Ikaw, Cal? May kasalanan ka rin ba sa'kin?"

Napahinto ako.

Was it a trap? Or an innocent question? And also... what the fuck, Trev?

"Oh? Napatigil ka?"

No, it's only a random question, I concluded. Because I don't remember doing anything wrong.

"I didn't do anything wrong," sagot ko.

"Sigurado ka?"

Sunod-sunod na lumabas sa aking isipan ang lahat ng ginawa ko sa nakaraang mga linggo. Kasali na rito ang bawat pagsauli ko ng mga susi sa tuwing umuuwi ako, at kung nagawa ko bang ibalik sa tamang pagkakasandal sa mga unan ang tatlong stuffed toys niya.

"Cal..."

I cleared my throat. "Artemia."

Why in the Underworld is my heart beating unusually fast when I know I did nothing wrong?

"Final na talaga? Na wala kang nagawang mali?"

"Yes."

Pagkatapos, nginitian niya ako. "Okie."

I almost lost my balance and took a step back.

"Cal? Okay ka lang?"

A nervous laugh escaped my lips. "I..." Napalunok ako. "I'm fine."

"Bilhan natin ng waffles sina mama at twinny?"

"Sure."

I saw Kaye hand Hector a large white paper box. Thea also handed him two smaller bags before turning to us with a triumphant smile.

"Ayos," ani Thea. "Nakabili pa ako ng dalawang heels sa tagal niyong mamili ng damit."

Trev's POV

I knocked on the door once, and then twice, and to my surprise, it wasn't Cesia who opened the door.

"Trev!" Her aunt greeted me with a wide smile. "Ba't ka naparito?"

"Cesia," sagot ko. "Is she home?"

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. "Hindi kayo magkasama?"

Umiling ako.

"Sabay daw silang magdi-dinner nina Ria at Kara. Akala ko kasama ka," aniya. "Hindi niya ba nasabi sa'yo?"

"No..." Yumuko ako at napatingin sa gilid. "She didn't."

"Let him in."

Napaangat ako ng ulo pagkatapos marinig ang pamilyar na tinig ng lalaki.

Sure enough, Cesia's father, Gabriel, stood behind her aunt. He held the door and slowly opened it wider, while giving me a look I can't decipher.

He knows, I then realized. He knows why I'm not with her.

I guess I have no other choice.

Pumasok ako.

"Di pa ako tapos sa paghain kaya-" Her aunt ran towards the kitchen and hurriedly prepared the table.

Meanwhile, I was left standing until her dad closed the door.

"Take a seat," He gestured me to sit on their sofa, and silently, I did.

What the hell did I just get myself into.

"How's your mother?" He sat on the chair across me. "And your sisters?"

"They're doing fine," sagot ko.

"You're sitting too straight," natatawa niyang puna. "Hindi kita inimbitahan sa pamamahay ko para hatakin 'yang kwelyo mo at itulak ka sa isang sulok."

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya.

"Trev..." Komportable siyang humilig sa sandalan ng kanyang upuan. "Kamusta na kayo ng anak ko?"

Tinitigan ko lang siya, dahilan na matawa siya nang mahina.

Alam niyang alam kong may kapangyarihan siyang makakita ng mga ala-ala, katulad ng anak niya. For all I know, he could have already watched my entire life as if he lived every moment.

He held out his hand, and summoned a glass half-filled with brown liqour.

"Did you know I can also summon objects that I have touched in my memories?"

I glanced down at the bottle of rum that appeared out of thin air in front of me. Mist glistened beside it, and slowly formed another empty glass.

"Please." Sinenyasan niya akong kunin ito. "Help yourself."

Obviously impressed, I reached for the glass and poured myself a drink.

"I haven't had the strength to ask my daughter if she enjoyed her stay in Greece..." tugon niya. "Perhaps you know why."

I emptied my glass in one gulp and cleared my throat. "I'm not apologizing."

"You don't have to," he said, while swirling the rum in his hand. He took a quick sniff before drinking it.

"I understand." He poured us both another shot. "Why wouldn't I? Have you met her mother?"

I raised a glass at his question.

"Cesia..." mahina niyang sambit. "My Cesia." He glanced at me while looking down at his glass. "-is someone I cannot easily give up to another, Trev."

What he said brought a subtle smile on my face. Because I, too, would say that, if it was time for me to entrust my sisters to who their hearts chose to keep.

I was about to tell him that I don't remember asking for his hand, but instead, different words escaped my lips.

"I love her, Gabriel," saad ko. "And I will make her mine."

His mouth slightly opened, taking in a shallow breath, before laughing light-heartedly.

"Oh, you will." Tumango-tango siya. "With or without my approval."

Lumingon siya sa direksyon ng kusina. "Narinig mo ba 'yon, Annais?" pasigaw niyang tanong. "Mahal niya raw si Abigail."

"That's good enough, Gab," sagot nito sa kanya. "Itigil niyo na rin 'yang pag-iinom niyo at kumain na."

"Well..." Tumikhim siya. "That was all that we needed. A verbal confirmation." Tumayo siya kaya napatayo na rin ako.

"Her aunt had her worries." He gripped my shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze. "She wanted to personally hear it from you."

I looked at Cesia's aunt. Her pillar, that fought with us during the first war.

She will never know how she mourned her.

It's because of her death that Cesia learned how to suppress her ability of emotions. Because how else would she be able to hide her own tears from us, in days she remembered her.

The Alphas have their own ways of mourning.

Silence... violence... one drowns himself, and some, grow cold from crying alone too much.

But only one looks at the sky and warmly smiles.

I sat across the two people that Cesia loved, and will always love before me. She remembers them when she's happy, sad, and overwhelmed, and I know this because I have come to understand every spark in her eyes.

I always thought it unfair, that she could read everyone's emotions, while no one else could do the same to her.

So I did.

Every moment she looked at me, I tried to study how her eyes glinted, how the faintest corner of her face moved, even the slightest.

And while we were sent on to different missions, I had a mission of my own: Her.

"I told you, Annais, he loves her."

Napatingin ako sa dalawa na pinag-uusapan ako. Napatigil sila, hanggang sa mamuo ang isang malambot na ngiti sa aking labi.

"He does..." Her aunt finally confirmed, eyes wide with delight.

Natawa ako nang mahina at napailing.

Maybe coming here was a good idea, after all.

Nagsimula na kaming kumain nang tanungin nila ako tungkol sa sarili kong pamilya. It was just a basic conversation, about my mother's plans for my sisters, and my own plans for them.

"I might just have to send them to France," pagbibigay-alam ko sa kanila. "It's where they want to study, along with our distant cousins."

"How about your business?"

"It will take time, but eventually I will clear my stepfather's name," sagot ko. "He has done great things, good and bad... but I'd rather keep the good."

"But he did leave you everything he had?"

A smirk formed on my lips. "I fought for it, while studying in the Academy."

But the truth is, I almost gave it up.

I only considered inheriting my stepfather's name and wealth for my sisters... who died.

Taking a deep breath, I remembered how I fought to seize the company until I could finally decide what to do with it.

Quite selfish, I know, but for some reason, something made me hold unto it.

Hope.

Deep inside, I hoped that I will find a reason to claim it for myself and use it for the better, because heaven knows I can support myself on my own with or without anyone's wealth.

What I needed, was a purpose.

And I did find it.

I had six reasons at first, and then seven... and two more came in... until they became eleven. But in the end, it all came to one.

One that made me realize I wanted to start a family of my own.

"When my sisters turn the right ages, I will transfer everything to them," sabi ko sa kanila. "But for now, I will do everything in my power to see to it that their future, including mine, will not be scarce."

We were interrupted by the sound of an opened door. Sabay kaming napalingon dito at nakita si Cesia na nakatayo sa may pintuan.

Sinarado niya yung pinto. "H-Hi..." Halatang ipinagtaka niya ang makita ako.

Silence filled the air around us, until her father called out to her with a wide grin.

"Cesia, anak, halika nga."

Panandaliang umangat-baba ang kanyang lalamunan. "Pero tapos na po akong kumain."

"It's okay." Tumayo ako at inayos ang aking sarili. "Thank you for inviting me over."

"Please, bumalik ka muna sa upuan mo." Her aunt asked. "Hindi pa tapos ang hapunan hangga't hindi ko pa nailalabas yung ice cream."

Sinulyapan ko si Cesia na nakatayo lang, tila naghihintay sa magiging desisyon ko.

"I don't think-"

Pinaningkitan ako ng ama niya sabay utos, "Sit."

Tinignan ko si Cesia na napabuntong-hininga at napailing.

"I'm sorry," I gave him an apologetic look. "But it's already getting late-"

"Hindi." Ibinaba ni Cesia ang kanyang bag sa sofa bago dumako sa kinaroroonan namin. "Okay lang."

I took my seat and followed her with my eyes when she opened their fridge to reveal a tub of vanilla ice cream. She then grabbed three small bowls from a cupboard and set it on the table.

"How was dinner?" Her dad asked.

"Okay lang," she replied with a smile. "Masaya."

Umupo siya sa tapat ko. "Kayo?"

She helped herself with dessert, calmly carving and transferring spoonfuls in her bowl.

Kasunod niyang inangat ang kanyang tingin sa'kin. Tinitigan niya lang ako, dahilan na magtaka ako.

"What?" I mouthed.

She quickly glanced down at the glass bowl in front of me.

Oh.

I slowly pushed it towards her. Kinuha niya naman ito at nilagyan din ng ice cream, saka ibinalik sa aking harapan.

"Abby," ani tita niya. "Nakahanda na ba yung damit mo para sa kasal?"

"Kukunin ko pa po bukas."

Letting out a sigh, I was about to start eating when I noticed how her lips parted and slowly curved around the edge of the spoon partially inside her mouth.

Pinaningkitan ko siya.

"Eh yung heels mo?"

"Nasa kwarto na."

The tip of her tongue licked unusually slow. Either because she was in the middle of a conversation, or because she liked the ice cream enough that she's taking time to taste it.

Agad akong umiwas ng tingin.

What in the actual fuck am I thinking.

"Trev, may lakad ka ba raw bukas?"

I cleared my throat. "I-"

Napatigil ako pagkatapos niya akong ngitian, na para bang ikinatutuwa niya ang makita akong nagpipigil ng hininga.

I pursed my lips and gritted my teeth.

She's making fun of me, isn't she?

Taking a deep breath, I rested my arms on the table and shook my head. "I believe I don't."

"Mmm." She took notice of how I looked at her and shifted on her seat. "Pwede mo ba akong samahan bukas?"

I clasped my palms together and pressed my tongue against my cheek.

"Sure..." I smiled at her. "Why not?"

But the longer I played her game, the harder it became for me. Defeat was already waving back at me when I managed to lift myself up.

"It's getting late." Napagdesisyunan kong magpaalam na. "I need to go home." Bahagya akong yumuko. "Thank you for dinner. I will try to repay you."

Napatayo na rin sila.

"No need to rush." Her father held out a hand. "Thank you for your time, Trev."

I gave him a decent shake. "Until we meet again, Gabriel."

I walked around the table where her aunt bid me farewell with an embrace.

Nakatanggap ako ng isang mahinang tapik sa likod mula sa kanya. "Mag-ingat ka," sabi niya nang mabitawan ako. "And send our regards to your family."

"I will."

Nginitian ako ni Cesia at sinenyasan akong sumunod sa kanya.

I gave her aunt and dad a final nod before turning my back against them. I could feel their eyes follow me on the way to the door.

Once outside, I closed my eyes for a moment and let out a deep heavy breath.

I counted five seconds.... before spinning around and grabbed her by the jaw to kiss her, open-mouthed, until she could hardly breathe.

Her back landed on the door after she was forced to take a step back.

"Trev-" With no room to move, she pleaded.

But I didn't hear anything.

She pressed her palms weakly against my chest when my lips left her mouth to trail the side of her neck.

I grabbed one of her legs and gripped it tight, bringing it higher to her side, while I continued to rage a storm on the surface of her body.

And then... that storm calmed.

Itinukod ko ang aking palad sa pinto.

"Daughter of Aphrodite," I whispered, my lips slightly grazing the edges of her ear.

Instead of talking back, she panted.

Lifting her leg higher, I slowly rammed my waist against hers'.

Kasunod kong naramdaman ang pagbigat ng kanyang ulo sa aking balikat, dahilan na mapangiti ako.

I gently lowered her leg and landed fleeting kisses on her neck.

Her chest was heaving heavily when I looked at her. I brushed my thumb against her flushed cheek before leaning in to give her one final kiss on the lips.

"I'm sorry." I tenderly wiped the corner of her mouth. "And I'll see you tomorrow."