Heshiena's Point of View

I opened the cabin's door with my shoulders dropped. Faistus, the talking house, greeted me when I entered. But I don't have enough strength and words to greet him back. I have to go back to my room before others see my situation.

I am pretty miserable right now, and I cannot let them see me like this.

"Good morning, Heshie―" Hindi natapos ang pangungusap ni Ace nang makita niya ang namamaga kong mata. "Are you okay?" nag-aalalang tanong niya sa akin.

I didn't responded. Nilagpasan ko lamang siya't dire-diretso ang paglalakad patungo sa kuwarto ko. As I entered my room, ibinagsak ko kaagad ang aking katawan sa kama. I stared the ceiling and a heavy sigh escaped from my lips.

Ilang minuto ko itong tinitigan bago napag-isipang tumingin sa wall clock. It's past seven already. I have no other choice but to prepare myself to go to school. After I prepared everything, I immediately went to the kitchen to at least eat breakfast if I can.

Nang makarating ako roon ay nadatnan ko na ang lahat. They were busy talking and teasing each other. Pero nahinto lamang 'yon nang dumating ako. Silence took over. My eyes went straight to the floor when I felt their stares.

Tahimik akong umupo sa bakanteng upuan katabi ni Mavros. Kaagad kong pinagpasalamat nang wala akong nakuhang tanong mula sa kanila. Nagpatuloy ang lahat sa kanilang ginawa kanina. Me, on the other hand, just minding my own business.

Ako ang huling dumating. Pero ako ang unang natapos kumain ng agahan. I didn't even finish my sandwich, perhaps, I don't have enough appetite after everything I learned about my father, Poseidon.

Hindi ko na hinintay ang iba. Nauna na akong pumunta sa classroom. While walking alone in the hallway, palaging nasa sahig lang ang mata ko. Raped is the unforgivable crime I will condemn for the rest of my life.

And I don't want to justify that just because he is a powerful deity!

Dumating ako sa classroom nang matiwasay. Muli na naman akong bumuntonghininga at saka tumingin sa labas ng bintana. From afar, I could hear the sound of seagulls, and the waves that crushed against the edge of the sea back and forth.

The weather is peaceful. Hindi katulad kaninang madaling araw. When my tears fell upon my eyes, the rain started to poured down. Tila ba'y sumabay ito sa mga emosyon ko. And the rain actually stopped when I calmed down.

It's weird, but I am pretty sure it's just a coincidence.

I spent my remaining time at the edge of the sea later after I found out the story of Medusa. Nahinto ako sa pagbabalik tanaw sa nangyari kanina nang biglang dumating ang mga kasama ko. Violeta and Ace's eyes went straight to me, but they are also quick to avert their gaze.

Nabaling ang aking mata sa lalaking nakatingin sa akin. I gulped when I realized it was Mavros. He didn't even averted his eyes. Nakatitig lamang siya sa akin. It's as if he's trying to read me. But I noticed there's a hint of worry within those deep black piercing eyes.

"Are you fine?" I read his lips.

I only nodded at him as a response. At iniyuko ang aking ulo para makawala sa mga mata niya. The children of Aphrodite are oddly quiet. The reason why my forehead furrowed. But Dash, on the other hand, is the only one who is in his usual boisterous self.

Napaangat ang aking ulo nang marinig ko ang tunog ng sapatos ni Miss Meriam na kapapasok lang ng aming classroom. There I saw her usual smile upon her lips. Nakasuot siya ng black pencil skirt, white long sleeve polo on the inside of her unbuttoned tux, and a black leather shoes.

"Did any of you study Olympians?" she asked. Both Blaze and Nkri nodded. "Good. What about the other newcomers?" she asked the class.

No one answered.

"Mavros?" She started to call our demigod names.

"I already know them, Miss," he confidently answered.

Miss Meriam flashed a smile. "Who is the goddess of women, marriage, childbirth, and family, then?" panghahamon niyang tanong kay Mavros.

"Hera, Miss. The queen of the gods, wife of Zeus," Mavros once again answered confidently.

Miss Meriam nodded in proud. Then flashed a smile before walking around the classroom with arms crossed. Habang ako naman ay kinakabahan dahil si Poseidon lang ang inuna ko kanina sa library.

"One last time," panghahamon niya ulit. "Who is the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, virginity, archery, childbirth, protection and plague? She is also considered as the goddess of the moon," tanong niya.

Si Mavros na naman ang napangiti.

"Artemis, Miss. The daughter of Zeus and titaness Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo." My mouth fell half-open in admiration.

He indeed know about them. Miss Meriam nodded. Naglakad siya pabalik sa lamesa niya. Habang ako naman ay hindi makagawang makatingin nang diretso sa mata niya. In the name of the underworld, I didn't got the time to study because of what happened.

"For today's lesson, we'll talk about the rulers of heaven," she said with her arms crossed. "None other than Zeus and Hera." Nakangiti niyang dagdag na sabi.

She cleared her throat before proceeding. "Zeus is the ancient Greek god of the sky, lightning, and thunder. He was regarded as the king of all other gods and hence he is the chief figure in Greek mythology." Panimula ni Miss Meriam sa topic namin ngayong araw.

"Maraming mga kwento na nauugnay kay Zeus. Isa na rito ang pagbagsak ng kaniyang amang si Kronos, at dahil dito pinamumunuan niya ang mundo kasama ang asawa niyang si Hera."She paused for a second to roam her eyes around the room before proceeding. "Zeus was infamous for his numerous sexual escapades and there are several myths regarding them including Leda and The Swan; The Abduction of Europa; and Zeus and Semele."

When Miss Meriam mentioned the bomb, I gritted my teeth. So Zeus is like my father Poseidon. They like to screw women for their own personal desire.

"Sa pagsasaalang-alang sa mga tao, mayroong dalawang kilalang mitolohiya na nagtatampok sa hari ng mga diyos: Ang Pagnanakaw ng Apoy ni Prometheus; at Ang Deucalion Myth." Miss Meriam's eyes once again roam around the class. "Miss Nkri, who are the first generation of Olympians?"

Oh, I think I knew that. I remember that it was mentioned in the story where Zeus' siblings were devoured by his father. It only took a couple of seconds to make Nkri stand up from where she's seated. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw her chest move, a sign that she heaved a sigh.

"Zeus' sisters are Hera, Hestia, and Demeter. And his brothers are Poseidon and Hades," taas-noong sagot ni Nkri.

"Very good." Miss Meriam commented with a smile on her face. "Zeus have a numerous love affairs before Hera." Naglalakihan na lamang ang aking mga mata nang mapagtantong magkapatid pala sina Zeus at Hera.

"What the f*ck?" I whispered to myself.

"Hera was one the sisters of Zeus. Ngunit nahulog siya rito, pero mabilis siyang tinanggihan ni Hera. Nang malaman ni Zeus na hindi ito madaling maangkin, alam niya na si Hera ay may malaking pagmamahal sa mga hayop at sa iba pang mga nilalang. Therefore, he transformed himself in a cuckoo, flew outside her window and pretended to be in distress due to the cold." Miss Meriam started the lesson.

Me, on the other hand, realized how messed up Greek mythology is. And couldn't believe that they are actually true. And I am now one of the products of those miserable tales.

"Naawa si Hera sa ibon, dinala niya ito sa loob at idinikit sa kaniyang dibdib para mainitan. Sinamantala ni Zeus ang pagkakataon at nagbalik sa kaniyang sarili at ginahasa siya." I gasped for air when once again I heard that word.

Dash, and Ace even had the same reaction as mine.

Napakuyom ako ng aking mga palad. "Hera, ashamed of being exploited, agreed to marriage with Zeus. And the result, Hera gave Zeus three children: Ares, the god of war; Eileithyia, the goddess of childbirth; and Hebe, the goddess of eternal youth."

Napailing ako sa narinig. Ashamed for being exploited? There's nothing to be ashamed of. These kinds of people who took advantage are the ones to be condemned.

"Though Hera remained faithful to Zeus, he often betrayed her by sleeping with others." Hindi lang rapist, kundi manloloko pa. Napaigtad ako sa kinauupuan nang biglang lumagapak ang malakas na kidlat sa labas. "At saka, hindi niya nakalimutan si Zeus kung paano siya niloko nito para pakasalan siya. When the king of the gods was harsh on the other gods, kinausap sila ni Hera ng isang pag-aalsa laban sa kaniya."

"Deserve," I whispered.

The lightning and the thunder became louder. Dahilan para matakot si Miss Meriam. Ganoon din ang ibang dating Anostatos. That made me looked at them puzzled. I saw Miss Meriam closed her eyes. It's as if she's praying. Seconds later, she stopped and heaved a sigh.

"Where are we?" she asked. Bumuntonghininga na naman siya. "Right. Hera drugged Zeus and the other gods bound him on his bed and stole his thunderbolt. Gayunpaman, si Briareus, na pinalaya ni Zeus mula sa bilangguan ng Tartarus, ay narinig ang kanilang pag-uusap at napagtanto na ang hari ng mga diyos ay nakatali."

Muli siyang naglakad paikot ng room. Still with arms crossed.

"Zues woke up and was furious. He hung Hera from the heavens with golden shackles. Buong gabing umiyak si Hera ngunit walang nangahas na tulungan siya dahil ang ibang mga diyos ay takot kay Zeus. The next day, Zeus showed her mercy and released her but only after he made her swear that she would never again plot and rebel against him." Miss Meriam ended the lesson about the rulers of heaven.

Habang ako naman ay hindi makapaniwala't napailing na lamang.

"Yes, Heshiena?" Nabalik ako sa reyalidad nang marinig kong tinawag ako ni Miss Meriam. I looked at her. Sumalubong sa akin ang nakakunot niyang noo. "Is there something you want to say?" she asked.

"The gods are messed up," I commented.

Fear took over her face. Lightning became louder and louder. Rain started to pour down. Thunder was drumming across the sky. Harsh gust of wind suddenly goes back and forth. At that moment, bigla akong natakot.

"Heshiena," Fear completely took over my system when I saw how terrified Chry was based on her expression. It was my first time seeing her like that.

Napatilapon ako sa pinakadulo ng classroom nang bigla na lamang may sumabog sa harapan ko. Sa sobrang bilis ng pangyayari, napatulala na lamang ako. Weird sound rang in my ears. Tila ba'y nabingi ako.

Mavros is the first person who rush towards me to help. Inalalayan niya akong makatayo. That was lightning strike!

"Are you okay?" Violeta was the one to ask.

Minalas na naman ba ako?

"Do not do that again," Chry's voice was serious and seem a warning.

Kumunot ang aking noo. Before Chry could answer me, Mavros was the one to respond.

"You offended the king of the gods."