WET THE SERIES 2: CAR (SPG)

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE:

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YEARS had passed since Caesar Decipher Morales left, and although we’d made all those promises, we never saw each other again. I kept our notebook and often found myself flipping through it, remembering the laughter, the whispered plans, and the warmth of having a friend who understood me. It felt like a distant dream now, one I could only revisit through memories.

One afternoon, I decided to visit my brother Hades' grave. I didn’t go often, somehow, facing his grave always left me with more questions than peace. His death had always been a mystery, something our parents wouldn’t talk about. They never told me the details, and whenever I’d ask, they’d just say, “It’s complicated.” I knew, though, that an investigation was underway.

As I walked through the cemetery, the wind felt colder than usual, carrying with it a silence that seeped deep into my bones. When I reached Hades’ grave, I stood there quietly, trying to piece together the bits and pieces I remembered of him—his laughter, his gentle touch, and the way he would ruffle my hands and hair

I knelt beside the grave, placing my hand on the cold stone. “Hades,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I still don’t understand why you’re gone. Why no one will tell me what happened.” I clenched my fists, feeling a wave of frustration. “They’re investigating, but I don’t even know where to start looking. Sometimes… sometimes I wonder if I could solve it myself.”

It sounded ridiculous—me, just a kid back then, thinking I could unravel the truth behind my brother’s death. But a part of me couldn’t let it go. Hades had always encouraged my curiosity, had always believed in me. If he were here, he’d probably be helping me figure out the codes and mysteries surrounding his own story.

“I met someone who would’ve liked you,” I murmured, thinking of Caesar. “You would’ve liked him, too. We made our own codes. But now, he’s gone too.” I let out a shaky breath, feeling the weight of all the unsolved mysteries in my life—Hades, Caesar, the questions that lingered without answers.

As I left the cemetery that day, I made a silent promise. I would keep searching for the truth, no matter how long it took. Whether it was finding out what happened to Hades or figuring out how to navigate the world alone, I’d hold onto that curiosity he’d encouraged in me. Even if I had to do it all on my own.

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THE NEXT DAY, bumalik ako sa sementeryo. Kahit mahirap, parang may humahatak sa akin na bumisita ulit kay Hades. He was only one year old when he passed, ang bata pa, and it always felt unfair. Si Hades, ang bunso namin, ang adopted na anak nina Mama at Papa—sina Cronus at Rhea. I couldn’t imagine kung gaano kasakit sa kanila ang pagkawala niya, but they never talked about it. Laging may pagkukulang ang mga kwento, palaging may natitirang tanong na hindi sinasagot.

Naupo ako sa tabi ng lapida niya, tahimik na nakatingin sa pangalan niyang nakaukit sa bato. “Hey, Hades,” bulong ko, kahit alam kong wala siyang maririnig. “It’s me, Ate Athena.”

Nakaramdam ako ng lungkot at kakaibang pakiramdam ng pangungulila, lalo na’t hindi ko siya nakasama nang matagal. Isang taon lang siya nabuhay, and I barely remember much, but I always wondered what he would be like if he were here.

“Minsan, naiisip ko, kung nandito ka pa sana… siguro mas masaya ang bahay,” sabi ko nang mahina, pilit na nginingitian ang alaala ng isang kapatid na halos hindi ko nakilala. “Sina Demeter at Kuya Zeus, siguro mas close tayo kung magkakasama tayong lahat.”

Huminga ako nang malalim, naglalabas ng bigat sa dibdib ko. “Alam mo, Hades, nagtataka pa rin ako sa dahilan ng pagkawala mo. Hindi nila sinasabi sa’kin kung ano talaga ang nangyari sa’yo. Nakakapagod magtanong nang walang kasagutan.”

Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko, pilit na inaanod ang sarili sa mga alaala kahit kaunti lang ang natitira. “Pero kahit na hindi kita gaano nakilala, mahal kita, Hades. Palagi ka naming nasa isip namin. And maybe someday, I’ll find out what really happened.”

Tahimik akong nag-stay doon ng ilang sandali, feeling a mix of longing and peace. Hades may be gone, pero habang nandito kami, habang may alaala siya sa amin, he’s never truly lost.

HABANG tahimik akong nakaupo sa tabi ng lapida ni Hades, narinig kong may mga yapak sa likuran ko. Paglingon ko, nakita kong si Kuya Zeus pala, nakatayo doon, hawak ang isang bulaklak. Napansin kong seryoso ang mukha niya, pero may lambot sa mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa lapida ni Hades.

“Zeus…” bulong ko, hindi ko inaasahan ang pagdating niya. Madalang ko lang siyang makita sa sementeryo, lalo na’t bihira rin siyang mag-open up tungkol kay Hades.

Tumango lang siya at naupo sa tabi ko, tahimik na inilagay ang bulaklak sa harap ng lapida. “I figured, kailangan ko rin siyang bisitahin,” sabi niya, mababa ang boses. “Kahit maikli lang ang oras na nakasama natin siya… Hindi ibig sabihin noon na hindi na natin siya pwedeng maalala, di ba?”

Napatingin ako kay Kuya Zeus, at sa unang pagkakataon, nakita ko ang bigat na dala-dala rin pala niya. "Bakit hindi nila sinasabi sa atin kung ano talaga ang nangyari kay Hades?” tanong ko, sinasamantala ang pagkakataon na baka may alam siya kahit kaunti.

Sandaling natahimik si Kuya Zeus, bago siya sumagot. “Hindi ko rin alam, Athena. I asked them once, pero sinabi lang nila na complicated daw ang mga bagay-bagay.” Napabuntong-hininga siya. “Minsan, naiisip ko na baka iniingatan nila tayo, ayaw nila tayong masaktan pa.”

Naramdaman ko ang frustration sa mga salita niya, pareho kami ng tanong, parehong walang kasagutan. “It’s just so unfair,” bulong ko, ang lungkot at galit sabay na bumibigat sa dibdib ko. “Kung nandito siya, mas kumpleto sana tayo.”

Huminga nang malalim si Kuya Zeus, at ipinulupot ang braso niya sa balikat ko. “I know, Athena. Ramdam ko rin ‘yun. Pero alam mo, habang nandito tayo, habang hindi natin siya nakakalimutan, Hades will always be a part of our family. Kahit hindi man natin maintindihan ang lahat.”

Napayuko ako, nakaramdam ng kaunting ginhawa sa mga sinabi niya. “Yeah, you're right. Hangga’t nasa puso natin si Hades, hindi siya mawawala.”

Magkasama kaming nanatili doon, tahimik na nag-aalay ng sandaling ito para kay Hades.

As we sat there in silence, I felt a strange sense of comfort having Kuya Zeus beside me. It was rare for us to share moments like this, especially moments filled with so much vulnerability.

Kuya Zeus spoke up, his gaze fixed on Hades’ grave. “You know, Athena, sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like if he’d grown up with us,” he said softly. “I think about the things he would have liked, the way he would’ve fit into our family.”

I nodded, feeling the same ache he did. “Yeah… Maybe he would’ve been just as curious as us. Or maybe he’d be the quiet one, just watching all of us and keeping the peace.” I managed a small smile, imagining a younger brother who would have softened some of our rough edges.

Kuya Zeus glanced over at me, his expression thoughtful. “Do you ever wonder if there’s something we missed? Like… maybe there’s a reason our parents don’t talk about what happened.”

I sighed, knowing he voiced the same suspicions I’d had for years. “I’ve thought about that a lot, actually. It’s like… they’re hiding something from us. But then, what could be so terrible that they’d rather keep it buried?”

He frowned, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. “I get that they want to protect us. But Athena, we’re not kids anymore—"

"Anong we're not kids anymore, you're only 13, Zeus..." tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"But still, we deserve to know the truth, whatever it is.”

I looked at him, grateful for his words. It felt reassuring to know I wasn’t alone in wanting answers. “You’re right, Zeus. Maybe one day we’ll get the courage to confront them and finally ask for the truth.”

He took a deep breath, as if steadying himself. “And if we don’t get the answers… then maybe we’ll have to find them ourselves.”

I glanced back at the grave, feeling a newfound resolve. “For Hades. He deserves that much.”

TO BE CONTINUED .....