I'm gonna try writing in 1st person POV. Experiment lang kasi gusto kong macompare ang feels sa omniscient pov.

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ATHENA'S POV

Nagising ako nang dahil sa konting kirot na naramdaman ko sa gilid ng baywang ko. I actually really still want to sleep dahil sa sobrang pagod at pangangalay ng katawan ko but these stabwounds are keeping me up and I can't help but to just get up and take a look at it. SObrang sakit kasi.

So I pulled up my shirt and SHI-- I got like 12 stab wounds from Leith??!! A-And t-they're many, and t-they're deep, a-and... a-and THEY REALLY HURT!!! A-and... well good news, I'm still pretty, sexy and smart...

"Yes. Athena is Alphonso's niece. Fabio, Alphonso's father, was the second in line king of kings of the European mob, next to his cousin-Andres Luciano. Fabio married a Filipina, Marina Laguindab. Dahil galing siya sa Asia, pinakasalan siya ni Fabio so she would be naturalized and could intervene with the affairs of the syndicate. Because of Marina, Fabio rose on top. And Alphonso inherited his legacy..."

Is that Theo? Well, duh of course. Basta konyo, si Theo yun. But what the hell? Is he teaching history or writing Alphonso's biography?

"Andres still tried to take back what he believed was his and he groomed Fiammetta, his daughter to follow his footsteps. Syempre, masyadong makapangyarihan sina Fabio kaya mabilis nilang nadispatya si Andres. Nakatakas si Fiammetta at nakabuo siya ng sarili iyang pamilya. Hindi na naabutan ni Fabio dahil namatay na siya kaya ibinilin niya kay Alphonso na hanapin si Fiammetta at patayin niya para masecure niya yung posisyon niya."

Dammit Theo. Stop telling them... Fiammetta never wanted the syndicate. She ran away to live a normal life but fuck Alphonso just won't let her... Talagang hinanap niya si Fiammetta and massacred her whole clan...And I had to be his pawn...

"In one of Fiammetta's properties, natagpuan ni Alphonso si Athena sa basurahan na tinambakan lang nila ng tela. Inupahan yun ng inutusan ni Regina na ipadukot si Ameerah, who was also a friend of Fiammetta. Pinatay rin nila yung dumukot kay Ameerah noong natuklasan nilang kakampi siya ni Fiammetta... Kinupkop ni Alphonso ang sanggol, assuming na anak yun ni Fiammetta. And he trained Athena roughly... made her his soldier... made her clean his mess... So far, yun lang ang alam ko... So it's possible that Athena is Fiammetta's daughter na ibinilin niya sa kidnapper or... it's possible na ang batang natagpuan sa basurahan with the kidnapper is Ameerah..." -Theo

Or I could be the kidnapper's kid? I mean, mas gugustuhin ko nalang yun kesa maging anak ni Helena.

"Well, how do you explain the necklace? Imposible naman na ipagpalit pa ni Regina. Nasa Italy si Athena, nasa Pinas ako." -Dulce

"Kawawa pala si Athena noh?"

Helena? I think it's her voice.

"Mula pagkabata, puro nalang pagdurusa yung pinagdaanan niya..."

Oh so kinakaawaan niya ako? Oh god. I don't need her pity. It's not like she's any different from Alphonso. Pare-pareho lang naman sila ah. Manipulative and selfish people who don't give a fuck kung sino yung maaapakan nila long as they get what they want. Fuck, I'm going out. I can't stand this sob story sharing.

Dahan-dahan akong umahon dahil masakit pa rin yung mga saksak ko... And I went straight to the dining room. I'm not wrong... They were all there- Dulce, Theo, Lia, Clarke... and Helena.

"Well, hindi niyo naman sinabi sakin na may bible study pala kayo... ah este, biography study..." -me

They all turned their heads and looked at me as if gulat na gulat sila. Awkward silence filled the room. IDK why. Helena turned to look at me, full of concern. It's not the first time na tinignan niya ako ng ganyan. I'll admit, I may have had some episodes of mommy complex with her just because I never had an actual mother, but I could never manage ro see her as a genuine loving momma. I've always seen her as a hateful, callous and deceitful bitch, and I probably always will. Yes, I can see she has a heart, pero alam ko na lahat ng pinakita niya ay binalutan ng pagpapanggap at kasinungalingan. So who's to say this is true? Finding her long lost daughter definitely doesn't make her a good mother and definitely won't forfeit her ill-doings.

"Hey, Athena..."-Helena

She walked closer to me pero umatras ako and gave her that stop hand signal and she understood that I want her to stop.

"So glad we understand each other... I'm skipping breakfast."

Seriously I'd rather die of hunger than eat with Helena. Alam kong si Regina ang totoong kaaway pero I still can't stand the sight of Helena. I started walking away but...

"Athena... sit. Kailangan mong kumain. Lalo na maraming dugo yung nawala sa'yo..."

I simply rolled my eyes on Dulce and agitatedly sat on one of the seats. Tas kinuha ko na yung bacon and rice and every food I want. Umupo na rin ulit si Helena. But she sat between me and Dulce. Fckn shit. Mahirap bang intindihin na ayokong makasama siya? Can't she understand the meaning of space?? I tried my best not to look at her. Lahat sila biglang nanahimik din.

"I know it's bad timing... but gusto ko sanang malaman kung sino talaga sa inyo ang anak ko." -Helena

"Lucky for you, the feeling's mutual. The suspense is killing me. Except that ayokong maging anak mo." -me

"Athena... I understand your concern, Helena. But we don't have much time for a DNA test given the circumstances."-Dulce

"Alam ko... Kaya sana wag niyong masamain if I want to know more about both of you... Handa akong maghintay after all of this is over. Gusto ko lang na makilala kayong dalawa nang mas maigi. Pareho ko naman kayong mahal. Pareho ko naman kayong tinuring na parang anak kahit papano." -Helena

"At pareho mo rin kaming sinaktan." -me

Natahimik bigla si Helena. Probably narealize niya na wala siyang karapatang tawagin kaming 'anak' niya pagkatapos ng mga nagawa niya sa amin.

"I know na mahirap toh sa inyong lahat... Nasanay na kayong ituring akong kaaway... I have done horrible things in the past that has put your lives in danger and for that, I'm sorry... Serena, I'm sorry dahil sinukuan kita. I'm sorry because I chose to protect our reputation over standing for what's right."

Tinignan ko si Dulce. God. Is she seriously falling for this? I mean I can't tell. Nakayuko siya. Nababasa ko yung lungkot sa mga mata niya. She's still hurting but she managed to put on a feigned smile for Helena. Kilala ko si Dulce. Mabilis magsink in ang lahat sa kanya. Pero hindi nya iniinda yung nararamdaman niya. Itatago niya yung emosyon niya at pipilitin niyang ipakita sa lahat ang gusto nilang makita. Is Helena that numb? Pinipilit ni Dulce na maging ok para sa kanya but she's just so selfish isn't she?

"Clarke, I'm sorry if you had to get in the middle of all these. Pasensya na kung ginamit ka pa namin ni Miranda para sa mga negosyo namin. Sorry, for kidnapping you and putting your life at risk." -Helena

"It's ok. We didn't know the truth at kung ako yung nasa lugar mo, I'd do what I have to survive..." -Clarke

"Thank you... at sana mapatawad niyo rin ako, Lia at Theo. I may have not been the boss of the year, lalong lalo na sa'yo Lia..." -Helena

"Naku, wala po yun. Malayo sa bituka." -Theo

"Tsaka, yun naman po talaga yung target namin. Peace." -Lia

At lahat sila'y nagtawanan. What the f's so funny? 

"No really. I'm sorry... for putting your lives in jeopardy... Patawad kung ilang beses ko kayong pinagtangkaang patayin... I know this all isn't easy... At alam ko na hindi mabubura ang nakaraan... at hindi sapat ang sorry ko..." -Helena

"No it won't be enough... But we have a bigger enemy to face and we all need to be the bigger persons here... Kahit gaano kahirap, we'll all have to put the past behind us so we can bring the real enemy down..." -Dulce

"Thank you... Sa inyong lahat... Hindi ko aakalain na ang mga taong naagrabyado ko pa pala ang magliligtas sa akin... " -Helena

"Well not everything is the way we thought it was. That's the art of the Mask of Deceit... " -Dulce

SOoOo MuCh DrAmAA. *Insert rolling eyes emoji*. I just sighed deeply atsaka pinaglalaruan yung pagkain ko. I don't know why I'm hating on Helena... I just... I'm not feeling her.

"Athena..." -Helena

Oh goooood! Uuuugh! Hindi ko siya hinarap... But damn, hindi ko siya natiis. I faced her noong hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. 

"I'm sorry too dahil ginamit kita noon. I'm sorry for the many times na napahamak ka dahil sa'kin." -Helena

Srsly dude? It's as if wala siyang maisip na kailangan niyang hingan ng tawad. Well, wala naman talaga. She barely exposed me to danger.

"One, you weren't using me, I was. Two, danger is my kind of place and I thrive at that so it's my decision if I ever put myself in that compromising situation.  Three, please stop acting like you're sorry for me. I don't need your pity." -me

"Athena... You don't have to be mean." -Dulce

And there she goes again. Yan ang problema sa kanya eh. Masyado siyang mabait.

"Shut up, Saint Dulce. Oh wait you're not a saint." -me

"Neither are you. What the hell is wrong with you?? Bakit ka ba nagagalit kay Helena? Biktima lang rin siya katulad nating lahat!" -Dulce

"Oh yeah right. Regina might be the real enemy but that doesn't mean that Helena is an angel. Bakit, Dulce? Sa tingin mo kung hindi isa sa atin ang posibleng anak niya, magiging ganito siya kabait?? Sa tingin mo, kung nasa kanya pa ang impluwensya at pera niya, magsisisi siya sa lahat ng ginawa niya? NO! She's not gonna be like this. Nagpapakabait lang siya dahil isa sa'tin si Ameerah."  -me

"So why can't we give her a second chance??" -Dulce

"Second chance to what? Hurt us again? Hell no! Sapat na ang sakit na napagdaanan ko all my life!" -me

"A second chance to make things right! Hindi ibig sabihin na sinaktan ka ng iba, sasaktan ka rin ng lahat. And stop acting like ikaw lang yung nasaktan. Lahat tayo, we had a fair share of pain! And yes, Helena did awful things but she was hateful because she lost her daughter! Not because she was mad and evil. She was that kasi malungkot siya. Kasi nasasaktan siya. At kahit sinong inang nawalan ng anak, they will be shattered and they're never gonna be the same! Maybe, if you could expand your understanding even just a bit, we'd all get along." -Dulce

"So ngayon ako yung makitid ang utak? What do you know, Dulce? Do you even know what life is like in the syndicate? Being used and trained to be a killer, no love or care from parents? NO, because you had Esang, and you had Regina." -me

"Oh so this is pity party now? Stop acting like you know pain Athena because between you and me, you haven't had the worst yet. You don't even know a mother's pain." -Dulce

"And you do?" -me

"Yes, I do! Dahil katulad ni Helena, ina rin ako, Athena. Ina rin ako na namatayan ng anak. Ina rin ako na nawalan ng liwanag sa buhay ko. Ina rin ako na naghihinagpis at kinain ng galit. Ina rin ako na gumawa ng masasamang bagay dahil sa anak ko..." -Dulce

Sht. Right... I got carried away and nakalimutan kong namatay pala ang anak ni Dulce sa sunog... Now I feel terrible... Especially now na umiiyak na siya... She never opened up about Brielle until today and it must really hurt for her...

HELENA'S POV

"Brielle was my only hope. She was the only thing keeping me together and she was the last thread Regina had to pull before I broke into insanity... And she had to take everything away from me..." -Dulce

Patuloy pa rin si Dulce sa pagsasalaysay... I know how hard this is for her to recall her past just to prove a point to Athena... And yes, I'm wishing na sana si Dulce nalang yung magiging anak ko... It seems easier to deal with her... Pero alam ko na masasaktan rin siya and she's been through a lot at ayoko nang dagdagan ang nararamdaman niya... Or to either of them. Masaya ako na buhay si Ameerah pero kung masasaktan lang rin ang anak ko, wag nalang...

"You're right, hindi ko alam kung ano ang pakiramdam na mula pagkabata hinubog para maging mamamatay-tao. Pero alam ko ang pakiramdam na maging masaya at sa isang iglap, lahat yun, nawala... " -Dulce

"K. Fine, you win this round Potter. Whatever. Just shut up and let me leave." -Athena

"Oh HELL NO! This is not a game!" -Dulce

"Athena, Dulce, huminahon kayo!" -Lia

"Oh shut up Lia!" -Athena

"Hey, dude, not cool!" -Theo

"Why cause she's your girlfriend?!" -Athena

"Athena, I think you need to calm down." -Clarke

"Oh Clarke, you know nothing!" -Athena

"Sumosobra ka na ah!" -Dulce

At lahat na sila nagsisigawan. Napabuntonghininga nalang ako... This is all my fault. Sometimes I wish I either died and Ameerah isn't one of them... Not because I hate chaos... Pero ayoko lang na may masaktan pa. I better stop them before this gets any worse.

"Tama na! Huminahon kayong lahat. Please... Wag na tayong mag-away away pa. Tayo-tayo nalang yung nandito... Who knows, Regina is already assembling her army? Point is, we need to stay together..." -me

I guess it worked. Nanahimik silang lahat at napaupo... Except for Athena... Damn. How high are these walls she built? Ang hirap makapasok sa puso niya... Nararamdaman kong malungkot siya... That she's broken within... And whether or not she is Ameerah, I won't to help heal her because I know I was broken once, I still am, I know how it feels and no one should ever feel that way again. I meant everything I've said. Marami akong naging maling desisyon at gustong itama lahat yun... Starting with Athena... Nagsimula akong humakbang palapit sa kanya.

"Athena... Alam ko ang nararamdaman mo... I'm not a stranger to pain... and suffering... Alam kong mahirap magtiwala... pero sana, sana hayaan mo akong tulungan kang paghilumin ang mga sugat mo... Please?"-me

I can read her mocking me through her teary eyes, and her absurd smirk. She just scoffed at me, at umiling-iling siya without breaking her judgmental stares on me.

"Wow. You think you get the right to act like my mother now? I'm sorry if I'm acting like a bitch to everyone right now. I'm sorry that I'm so screwed up. I'm so sorry if I can't be kind right now. And I am so sorry because no matter how much you try, Helena, you will NEVER be my mother. And even if all signs of being your long lost Ameerah would point to me, I will NEVER. EVER. Be your daughter... So please, DROP the act. STOP being kind to me. DON'T even try. I DON'T need your pity. I DON'T need you. Mark my words, Helena.  HINDING HINDI kita tatanggapin bilang ina ko. So pray harder na sana si Dulce ang anak mo. Mas mabait siya eh. Kaya palagi siyang naaabuso..."-Athena

Wow. Ang sakit... Grabe naman magsalita si Athena. Tagos sa puso eh... I'm trying to hold back my tears. At wala na ring nagawa ang iba sa inasal ni Athena. Samantalang ako, nanatiling nakatayo... Waiting for her hurtful words to sink in...

Sana nga si Dulce si Ameerah. Kasi ang hirap hirap pasukin ng puso ni Athena... at ayoko na rin siyang pasakitan. Athena has been through a lot. Ayokong naladagdag sa pasanin niya.

Nagsimulang maglakad palayo si Athena, pero paika ika, nakahawak sa dingding, at hawak hawak rin ang tagiliran niya. Oh my god, ayos lang ba siya??


"Athena??"


Bigla siyang bumagsak sa sahig at lahat kami ay lumapit para alalayan siya. Wag naman sanang may mangyaring masama sa kanya....

Tinignan ni Theo ang tagiliran ni Athena kung saan siya sinaksak.... JUSKO, dumudugo ang kanyang mga sugat! Anong gagawin namin?? 


"Oh my god!! Athena!" -Lia


Agad siyang binuhat ni Theo at sinugod namin siya sa ospital. Athena was rushed sa emergency room at naiwan kami sa labas para maghintay...

Naku... Diyos ko, wag mo namang kunin si Athena sa akin... Isa siya sa posibleng anak ko but I don't care if she really is Ameerah or not pero please don't take her from me... I would give anything para maging ok ang anak ko... Whichever of them it may be... Pangalawang pagkakataon ko na toh eh... Ayokong mapunta sa wala ang lahat...

I clasped my fingers together and took a deep breath as I waited what the doctor would say... Natatakot ako... Parang yung takot na naramdaman ko noong nawala sa akin si Ameerah, parang bumabalik ngayon... I couldn't help it as tears fell down my eyes...

It seemed like my world was falling apart again until naramdaman kong may yumayakap sa akin... Si Dulce... Her hug made me feel safe, relieved... it made me feel better... Her hug removed that thorn in my heart that's suffocating me... Her hug brought some light into my dark world...


"It's going to be okay, Helena... Malakas si Athena... Hindi yun basta bibitaw." -Dulce

"T-Thank you..."


She just smiled at me... And as if a miracle, the bitter memory slowly faded. Maya-maya pa, lumabas na ang doctor.


"D-Doc, a-ano pong nangyari?? I-Is she going to be okay??"

"Malalalim at malala yung mga saksak na natamo ng pasyente, at dahil sa stress na naramdaman niya, it caused a rupture and tore her stitches open kaya nagdurugo yung mga sugat niya and she's lost a lot of blood... She needs a blood donor... Sino pa dito yung pamilya niya?" -Doctor

"We are her family..."-Theo


I felt what he meant... Family not by blood but by spirit... This thing they have... It's not just a team... It's a family... Something I never understood or had or could give until today...


"Pwede naman akong magdonate if ever. Type O ako. People with a blood type O are universal donors... so worse comes to worse.. I could help." -Dulce


She's a type O?? Oh my god.... I-Ibig sabihin-- a-anak ko s-s-i.... Jusko....


"Ano ba ang blood type ni Athena?" -Clarke

"A" -Theo


At Type A si Athena... Ngayon, sigurado na ako... Ngayon, malinaw na sa akin kung sino ang anak ko... I-I just never thought that siya ang anak ko... I really thought she was my daughter pero hindi... I-I can't believe it... Mas lalong tumulo ang mga luha ko... pero hindi dahil nalulungkot ako, kundi dahil masaya akong nagbalik na sa akin si Ameerah...


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Wait, may part 2 pa toh. Putol lang muna kasi the last time I checked it was 4000+ words and I know it bores people out. Sorry, it's kinda crappy. I don't know what I did to Athena. So, ok lang ba yung 1st person POV? 

Love lots GlaiSanya Kimdiazguadalupe Arghieglaiza mariehoy Sangrelenisabelle glaizadclovers