Mavros' Point of View

You know when waking up thinking her is the best alarm I could wish for.

Papanaog ako ng hagdan papunta ng kusina. It's already ten in the morning. Kusot-kusot ko ang aking mata dahil hindi pa fully gising ang diwa ko. Kanina paglabas ko ng aking kuwarto, nadatnan kong si Chry kalalabas lang ng kuwarto ni Ace.

We both looked each other in the eye. I didn't smiled, instead I teased her with my stares. Wala siyang binitawang mga salita, pero sinamaan niya ako ng tingin bilang babala. After that short interaction, she didn't think twice to excuse herself.

Bumalik na naman sa isipan ko ang namumugtong mata ni Chry. I am sure there's something happened. Whatever it is, sa kanya na 'yon. It is not in my nature to invade someone else's business.

I respect the law of privacy.

If Chry isn't ready to open up, it's fine. If only if meron siyang nakaraan na takot siyang hukayin sa alaala niya. I mean, we all have one. Memories that we chose to bury. Ang mga alaalang walang ibang dulot kundi saktan ang ating mga damdamin.

A law of forget and forgive.

There is always a lot of time. And there's no shortcuts for healing and peace. Just like the woman whom I hold close to my heart. She arrived broken, learned to fight against life, healed with people she considers her home, and found her moonlight path she deserves.

"Aba, good mood na good mood ang ating Dark Prince!"

Nabalik ako sa reyalidad nang biglang sumigaw si Dash. Dahilan para makuha niya ang atensyon ng lahat sa living room, at sa kusina. I looked at him gloomily, causing him to smile for his life, and stepped backward while raising both of his hands.

Tinawanan naman siya nina Blaze, Ace, at Fuego. Habang ako naman ay pumasok ng kusina para mag-almusal. I immediately gritted my teeth when my heart skipped a beat. I swallowed to calm myself.

"Good morning . . ." ang pagbati ko sa kanya.

Napatingin siya sa akin pagkatapos niyang sumubo ng pagkain. "Good morning, Mavros." She greeted me back, and smiled.

Tila parang piniga ang puso ko dahilan para hindi ako makahinga. Ngiti pa lang niya nakamamatay na. It's just too much. How much more if I could see it often? I mean, I am not complaining. I love seeing her happy. I love seeing her with so much grace.

Napatingin ako kay Fuego nang marinig ko siyang tumikhim. Tila napansin niyang nakatitig na lamang ako kay Heshiena. Awkward kong kinamot ang likod ng ulo ko. At napaiwas ng tingin nang marinig kong mahinang tumawa si Heshiena.

Naglakad ako papalapit kay Fuego na abala na sa kanyang ginagawa. Nakatalikod ito sa direksyon ko kaya hindi ko alam ano ginagawa niya. Pagkalapit ko'y inabot niya sa akin ang tasang may lamang kape, habang hindi pinuputol ang tingin niya sa mata ko.

"Lakas ng tama mo," mahina niyang komento.

Nginitian ko lang siya ng matipid bago tinanggap ang inabot niyang baso. Tumawa siya, at tinapik ako sa balikat. Pagtalikod kay Fuego, napansin kong tumayo si Heshiena, bitbit ang isang puting round glass na plato.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

Dinampot ko ang isa ring plato at nilagyan ng dalawang tinapay na may palamang mayonnaise.

"Veranda."

"Can I join you?"

She flashed a smile. "Sure, no problem."

Sabay na kaming dalawa na umalis ng kusina. Naiwan namin si Fuego nang mag-isa sa kusina. I opened the veranda's door for her. She mouthed thanks before entering. I was about to entered when I saw Erin join Fuego in the kitchen.

Nang makaupo kami pareho, napansin ko kaagad na diretso ang tingin niya sa karagatan. Habang ako naman ay humigop muna ng kape bago ako humanga sa kagandahan ng kapaligiran. Sinunod ko naman ang pagkagat ng tinapay.

"Ang ganda . . ." rinig kong saad niya.

Napatitig ako sa kanya. "Kasing ganda mo," I commented.

Her attention drifted to mine. I could trace a fragment of shyness beyond her moon-like eyes. I could almost saw my reflection. Her face then flashed in red. At inilagay ang nakabagsak na strand ng buhok niya sa likod ng kanyang tenga.

"Ganyan ka na lang palagi," pagrereklamo niya.

I stared at her. Pero siya naman itong iwas nang iwas. Hinayaan ko na lamang siya. At patuloy na nakatingin sa kanya. I mean, this woman deserves everything in the world. Hindi ako mapapagod iparamdam 'yon sa kanya.

"You are like the surface of the deep, Heshiena," I commented. This time, kuhang-kuha ko na ang pagkabigla niya. Tumingin ako sa kalawakan. "Giving light to my darkest side . . ."

"A moonlight guiding all the lost travelers right into their destination," ang papatuloy ko. "A waves that calms the storm of an unending suffering . . ."

Madalian ko siyang tiningnan. She was looking at the horizon, at the waves of the sea crashing against the shore, and the people of the academy who were scattered at the campus.

"The patron of demigods."

Sinadya kong lakasan ang boses ko, dahilan para mapatingin sa amin ang iilang demigods na malapit sa cabin. Mahinang niyang sinapak ang aking braso. But that won't stop me from saying all the words she deserve to hear.

"And the protector of the realm of half-bloods." Inabot ko ang kanyang kamay. She never protested when I get a hold of her hands. So smooth I could caressed it with my cheeks. "Heshiena . . ." Ang pagtawag ko sa kanya habang tinitigan ko siya.

To my surprise, she stared back.

A smile gradually plastered upon my lips.

"The beauty you possess is incomparable." Muli na naman siyang pinamulahan ng mukha. My heart once again skipped a beat. "Far precious than any jewels I could find under the ground."

Mabilis kong pinunasan ang luhang bumagsak sa mga mata niya gamit ang aking hinlalaki. Ako na naman ang nabigla nang patungan niya ang kamay ko ng isa pa niyang kamay. Dahilan para mapagitnaan ito.

"You deserves everything in this world, my moonlight," ang huli kong wika.

Uminit ang aking tenga nang dahan-dahan niyang haplusin ang aking kamay. Hinawakan niya ito nang mahigpit. She looked at me with so much affection within her eyes. Her wet moon-like eyes glistened so beautifully.

"Mavros . . ." she called me by my demigod name. "Joshua Bigcas . . ." Hindi ko alam, pero ang laking epekto sa akin nang banggitin niya ang mortal name ko. "Under your intense black eyes, it warms my cold heart."

I was taken aback by what she said.

"Ironically, with your dark personality, you despise negative things." Napangiti ako. Hindi ko inakalang pati 'yon mapapansin niya sa akin. "You maintains casually calm and reserved manner, but I know you are capable of being violent and a terrifying temper." Muli na naman akong napangiti.

I instantaneously gritted my teeth when she raise my hand, holding it tightly. Naramdaman kong uminit ang pareho kong tenga nang dahan-dahan niya itong hinaplos sa kanyang pisngi.

I didn't see that one coming.

"You are solitary and independent demigod . . ." pagpapatuloy niya. Pinikit niya ang kanyang mga mata, habang haplos-haplos pa rin niya ang kamay ko sa pisngi niya.

Me, on the other hand, quickly caressed my chest. "You respect everyone's decision, and respect the laws. And . . ." she paused to open her eyes, ". . . you are the only shade of dark that I don't care to share my light with."

Nginitian naming pareho ang isa't isa.

"You are like the depth of my surface, my Dark Prince . . ." she said genuinely.

Siya ang babaeng bukod tanging bibigyan ko ng lahat ng bagay na alam kong deserve niya. Because her existence is enormously a blessing. We both look each other in the eye. The second turned to seconds. Minute turned to minutes.

Till we burst out into laughter.

☽ ♆ ☾

Author's Note: Normalize Heshiena and Mavros' compliments to each other. Hoy! While writing this one, pati ako kinikilig. Hindi papakabog ang ating Dark Prince. Gate keep na raw ni Heshiena si Mavros. Tabi kayo!