Heshiena's Point of View

Napamulat na lamang ako nang makarinig ako ng sunod-sunod na katok mula sa labas ng pintuan ng aking kwarto.

"Heshiena?" Humikab muna ako bago sumagot. But, it was Violeta's voice. "Gumising kana. Today's our first day of school!"

Napabangon ako matapos marinig ang sumunod niyang sinabi. Kasabay ng pagkalaki ng aking mata. Kararating lang namin kahapon, tapos magsisimula na pala ang pasukan. I let out my sigh of defeat. Gusto ko pa naman sana maglibot sa buong school. Damdamin ang sariwang hangin na nanggaling sa dagat.

Napatingin ako sa aking suot. Napailing na lamang ako nang mapagtantong suot-suot ko pa rin ang damit na sinuot ko kahapon.

"Gising na," walang ganang sagot ko.

After I said those words, narinig ko ang papalayong mga yabag ng paa ni Violeta. And that's my cue to get up. Inayos ko muna ang aking pinaghigaan bago hinubad ang aking suot sa harap ng salamin. I am all naked. I slowly turn myself in front of the mirror to praise how much my body have changed after I was claimed.

My mouth quickly dropped upon the ground when I saw something behind my back. My forehead furrowed. What's this? It looks like a tattoo with a shape of a crescent moon, while it was surrounded by thorns.

Naglalakihan na naman ang aking mata nang may maalala.

"What the hell is happening to me?!" Sigaw ko habang mangiyak-ngiyak.

Ilang segundo ang lumipas, narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan ng bathroom at ang natatarantang mga hakbang ni Katarina.

"What happen to you?" pag-alala niyang tanong.

Napatakbo ako sa kaniya at humagulgol sa bisig niya. "I don't know what was happening to me, but there's something strange going on, on my back."

"Shush. It's okay," pagpapatahan niya sa akin.

Humakbang muna siya papuntang bintana habang ako nama'y nakayakap pa rin sa kaniya. Tiningnan ko naman siya at napansing tila parang may sinilip. Bigla namang nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata dahilan para mapakunot ang aking noo.

Ano ba ang sinisilip niya? She was weird yesterday when she picked me up at the orphanage and make me his legal child. So, what now?

"What is happening to me?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

"It's about the water and the new moon," she said, which left me puzzled.

A mischievous grin plastered upon her lips, as if she saw something interesting. Ano'ng tungkol sa tubig at sa bagong buwan? Ano ba'ng pinagsasabi niya? Kunot-noo ko siyang tinignan, nagbabaka-sakaling makakuha ng sagot mula sa kaniya.

"What's with the water and the new moon?"

She heaved a deep sigh and looked at me intently.

"Your curse is manifesting its true potential. When the moon and the water combine or the other way around, the curse within you is triggered. The mark of the curse is now visible in the eye," she precisely said.

Napamura na lamang ako sa aking isipan. Naalala ko na. Ito 'yong mga panahong naliligo ako sa bathroom. At bigla-bigla na lamang humapdi ang aking likuran. Therefore, ito pala ang tinutukoy ni Katarina. And for god's sake, I was cursed? The curse within me was triggered?

What's that supposed to mean? It's as if there's a lot of mystery with my identity. Tila ba'y hindi ko na kilala ang sarili ko. Now that I am in the world where impossible is possible, it feels like I am nobody even to myself.

Iniling ko ang aking ulo. Isinawalang bahala ko muna ito saka pumasok sa bathroom para maligo. Hindi naman ako masyadong maarte kaya hindi ako nagtagal sa loob. Lumabas ako't nagbihis. I was surprised when my things are already in the closet. I smiled. The house really did her duty.

When I finally done preparing myself, lumabas ako sa kuwarto't tinungo ang kitchen. Naabutan ko silang lahat na nakaupo habang kumakain.

"Good morning, Heshiena!" masiglang bati sa akin ni Ace.

Napangiti ako nang patago. Sana all energetic sa umaga.

"Good morning," I greeted him back. "Ano'ng oras na ba?" pahabol kong tanong.

Umupo ako sa available seat katabi ni Nkri.

"It's already eight in the morning. We have thirty minutes to prepare because our classes will start at nine o'clock," Violeta answered. At inabutan ako ng plato, kutsara't tinidor.

Napatitig ako sa kaniya nang tanggapin ko ito. How the hell is she still gorgeous first thing in the morning? Her hair even comb perfectly. Her lips were as if wearing lipstick. Iniling ko ang aking ulo. She's perfect in every angle.

"Thanks," I mouthed.

"Our classes have four subjects. The two subjects will end at exactly twelve noon. And the other two will be our afternoon period," pagbibigay alam ni Blei.

Pilit kong inabot ang lagayan ng kanin. Natigil lamang ako nang inabot ito ni Mavros sa akin. Nahihiya ko itong tinanggap at nagsandok ng dalawa saka inilagay sa aking plato. Nang matapos ko itong nilagay, tinanggap ulit niya ang mangkok. Nakangiting inilagay niya ito pabalik sa kinalalagyan nito.

I pretended I didn't see it.

"And these subjects are History, Understanding the Self, Physical Education, and Semideus Ekpaidefsi." It was Violeta who said those words. At habang nagsasalita siya ay nginunguya niya ang pagkaing sinubo niya.

I was about to ask when Ace preceded me. "What is Semideus Ekpaidefsi?" naguguluhang tanong niya. His forehead even furrowed.

"Physical Education and Semideus Ekpaidefsi are quite the same. But, physical education is the subject that we learned in an ordinary school in the mortal realm. Semideus Ekpaidefsi, on the other hand, is the subject where we learn how to fight, and how to control our abilities." Sa halip na si Violeta ang sumagot, sumabat si Fuego.

May ganoon pala. Napakapit ako nang mahigpit sa aking suot na pants at kinagat ang aking ibabang labi. Simula ngayon mag-a-adjust na talaga ako. Lalo na't wala ako sa mundo na nakasanayan ko.

"Are you okay, Heshiena?" Napatingin naman ako kay Nkri nang idantay niya ang kamay niya sa aking balikat.

I looked at her. Binigyan ko siya ng assurance na tingin, saka tinanguhan siya bilang sagot. She smiled. Pagkatapos ay ibinalik niya ang kaniyang atensyon sa pagkain niya. Habang ako naman rito ay tahimik habang nakikinig sa pinag-uusapan nila.

Before they knew it, I was done eating. Marami-rami silang napag-uusapan. The old Anostatos are asking us what it looks like growing up in the mortal realm, the world of ordinary people. Others happily shared their life story, me and Mavros remained silent.

Kung sasagot man ako, magsisinungaling lang ako. And there's nothing special with my life but negative experiences I had for the past eighteen years. I don't want them to pity me or feel sad for me.

And I believe, each of us has one particular part of our life stories we want to keep only for ourselves.

☽ ♆ ☾

Sobrang gaan sa feeling habang sinusuot ang uniform ng class namin. Sabi sa akin ni Violeta, ang aiguillette ay exclusively for Anostatos. Each emblem on our uniform signifies that we are belong to that class.

Ang uniform na suot namin ngayon ay dumating sa dorm kanina pagkatapos naming kumain ng agahan. The one who deliver it was an aurai.

At this time, we are now walking in the hallway. Kanina ko pa napapansin na kapag dumaan kami sa harap ng ibang estudyante, kasing-bilis ng kabayo na iyuyuko nila ang kanilang ulo. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero palagi nila itong ginagawa kapag makita nila ang mga Anostatos.

"Umm . . . Violeta?" Napatingin siya sa akin. "Ano'ng meron sa kanila? Bakit sa tuwing dumadaan tayo sa hallway, tumatabi sila sa daan at sundan nila ito ng pagyuko ng kanilang ulo?" tanong ko.

She smiled. "They respected us as they respected our deities. We are the direct descendants of the Olympians. Our deities ruled every aspect of human life." Nakangiti niyang sagot.

Direct descendants . . .

"Aren't they like us?" I asked.

"The answer is yes and no. Yes, they are one of us because they're demigods. And no, because we are different from them. You see, there's three types of class here in the academy, Heshiena. First, Anostatos, that's us, we are the offspring of a major deity. Second, Mesi Magna, the offspring of a minor deities. Lastly, Chamilos Magna, are the chosen mortals to be the protectors of god's temples, seers, healers or a member of the four cities." Paliwanag naman niya dahilan para mapatango ako nang maiintindihan ko na.

Therefore, Poseidon is one of the Olympians that Violeta was talking about. Hindi lang siya isang hari ng karagatan, kundi ay isa siya sa mga diyos kung saan namumuno sa bawat aspeto ng buhay ng tao.

"Okay."

Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang idantay niya ang kaniyang kamay sa aking balikat. Sumalubong kaagad sa akin ang nakakahawa niyang mga ngiti.

"Don't worry. You will know everything when our history class starts," saad niya. She then tapped my shoulder twice before letting go.

I know, I am still unknowledgeable about most everything. Gusto kong makilala ang lahat ng mga Greek deities if possible. Especially sa mga parent deity naming mga Anostatos. I want to know their stories. Kasi feeling ko, if I have knowledge regarding about my father, mapalapit ako sa kaniya kahit na malabo.

Everything that happened to me right now, it's still surreal. I don't know how I could cope with this new environment. World is indeed surprising. And we all know that there are a lot of mysteries that want to be discovered.

Gaya nga ng sabi sa akin ni Miss Katarina, mahahanapan ko ng sagot lahat ng mga tanong sa aking isipan. And I am grateful to be here honestly. I just hoped I could consider this place a home. Home I always hoping for.

Well, hindi ko rin maipagkakaila na hindi naman masama ang first day ko bilang isang opisyal na estudyante ng Imitheos Academy.

A school for half-bloods.