WET THE SERIES 2: CAR (SPG)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:

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I was about to take another picture of Alice and the mysterious guy when my phone buzzed in my pocket. My heart skipped a beat when I saw who it is—Hera.

I quickly answered, trying to sound casual even though I was on edge. "Hera? What’s up?"

"Don’t do it." Her voice was stern, like a warning I didn’t want to hear.

I frowned, a sinking feeling in my chest. "Don’t do what?"

"Stop following Alice Rillera." There was no hesitation in her tone, just cold authority. "This is not your mission, Athena."

I narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean? I think I have a right to know who she is, especially if she’s connected to—"

"She’s none of your business." Hera cut me off, her voice now more commanding. "I have my reasons for keeping my eyes on her. Alice Rillera is my target. You do not need to interfere."

I felt a chill run down my spine. Hera wasn’t someone who just told you to back off for no reason. She always had a plan, and when she told you something, it was meant to be followed.

But this… this was different. It felt personal.

"Why?" I whispered, more to myself than to her. "What’s going on with her? Why does she matter so much?"

"You don’t need to know. What you need to focus on right now is Aphrodite and Artemis. They’re your priority, not Alice." Hera’s voice softened slightly, but the warning was clear. "Do not cross me on this."

I clenched my fists, struggling with the urge to defy her. But I knew better than to push Hera too far. She was dangerous when she wanted to be, and if she didn’t want me interfering with Alice, there was probably a good reason for it.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, letting her words sink in. "Fine," I said, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. "I’ll focus on Aphrodite and Artemis. But if Alice is part of something bigger, I’ll be keeping an eye on her."

There was a pause on the other end, and I knew Hera was weighing my words carefully. "Good. Stay focused, Athena This is bigger than you realize."

Before I could say anything else, the line went dead.

I stared at the screen of my phone, frustration building inside me. I hated being told what to do, especially when it came to matters like this. But Hera wasn’t someone I could ignore.

I looked up at Alice one last time. She was still sitting there, talking to that guy, unaware that she was being watched. I could feel the pull of curiosity, the need to know more about her.

But Hera’s words echoed in my mind, and reluctantly, I pulled my gaze away. For now, I had to focus on what I was told. Aphrodite and Artemis. They were my mission, not Alice.

I let out a deep sigh, stood up, and walked out of the café, my mind still racing. Whatever was going on with Alice Rillera, I knew it wasn’t over. It was just the beginning of something much bigger, and I wasn’t about to stop until I knew the truth. But for now, Hera’s orders were clear. I had to put Alice on hold, no matter how much I wanted to dig deeper.

Time would tell when I’d be able to go back to her.

...

...

A WEEK passed, and everything felt like a blur. School and the mansion, pareho lang, parehong routine. I wake up, attend my classes, do my homework, study kapag may exams, then after all that, I spend the rest of my day hacking into the mansion’s CCTV cameras. Parang wala naman nang bago, ‘di ba? Pero may something sa isip ko na hindi ko matanggal.

Laging bumabalik sa utak ko si Alice Rillera. Hindi ko alam kung anong meron sa kanya, pero parang may mali. Parang kailangan ko siyang alamin, pero hindi ko alam kung bakit. Kahit ilang beses na sinabi ni Hera na mag-focus ako sa mission ko, hindi ko matanggal ang curiosity ko.

The whole week, hindi ko talaga siya makalimutan. Bawat pagkakataon na nagla-log in ako sa CCTV system, tumitingin kay Aphrodite, Artemis, o kahit sa mga pinsan ko, parang laging may something na tumatama sa puso ko. Pati yun, hindi ko matanggal—si Alice. Hindi ko alam kung anong meron siya, pero sigurado akong may koneksyon siya sa lahat ng nangyayari.

Tapos, school na naman. Classes, assignments, and everything in between. Honestly, it was a good distraction. Nakakalimutan ko yung mga alalahanin ko kahit papaano, kasi seryoso ako sa grades ko. Hindi pwede magka-screw up, kaya kahit anong mangyari, I just keep pushing.

Sa mansion naman, ayun, tuloy lang ang pagbabantay kay Aphrodite at Artemis. Parang wala nang bago sa kanila. Minsan na lang silang magkasama, kaya lagi ko silang binabantayan sa magkaibang anggulo ng CCTV. And yet, parang may kulang. Laging may feeling na may hindi ako nakikita, may nangyayaring iba sa pagitan nila.

Tapos, laging tumutok sa utak ko si Hera. 'Focus on Aphrodite and Artemis...' sabi niya. Forget about Alice. Pero bakit, ano bang meron kay Alice na hindi ko pa nakikita?

Minsan, kapag mag-isa ako sa room ko, sumasagi sa isip ko si Alice. Bakit ganun na lang yung takot ni Hera na makialam ako? Anong connection nila? Tapos, napapaisip ako, may connection ba siya kay Aphrodite? Hindi ko alam. Pero deep inside, feeling ko, may deeper reason kaya hindi ako pinapayagan ni Hera na mag-imbestiga.

Pero siyempre, school pa rin, ‘di ba? Focus lang sa school, hacking, at watch-watch. Pero sa kabila ng lahat ng ginagawa ko, I know one thing for sure. Hindi ko matitiis na magpatalo sa curiosity ko. So, kahit gaano pa kadaming warning ni Hera, I know I’ll find out what’s really going on with Alice Rillera... sooner or later.

TO BE CONTINUED .....