WET THE SERIES 2: CAR (SPG)

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR:

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AFTER a long moment of quiet, Kuya Zeus sighed and looked at me, a hint of weariness in his eyes. “Come on, Athena. It’s getting late. We should head back.”

I nodded, brushing my hand over the cold stone one last time. “Bye, Hades,” I whispered. “We’ll figure it out. Someday, we’ll know the truth.”

Kuya Zeus placed a hand on my shoulder as we started walking away from the grave. For a while, we didn’t say anything, just walking side by side down the winding path of the cemetery. There was a certain heaviness that lingered, but at the same time, a strange sense of comfort, like we were somehow closer, both to each other and to Hades.

As we reached the cemetery gate, Zeus turned to me. “You know, Athena, if you ever want to talk about this… or anything, I’m here.”

A small smile crept onto my face. “Thanks, Zeus. Same goes for you.”

"And, you still don't have a respect to me."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "What?"

"Nevermind." Tinalikuran niya ako.

I smirked. Gusto kong matawa sa inaasta niya. Inaasahan niya siguro na babanggit ako ng 'Kuya' kapag tinatawag ko siya? No way! Hanggang utak ko lang muna ang salitang KUYA.

WE continued our walk in silence, feeling the evening chill settle in around us. But somehow, even with all the unanswered questions, I felt a little more at peace. We may not have known the truth yet, but we had each other—and maybe that was enough to start.

By the time we reached home, a quiet resolve had settled over us.

...

...

THE NEXT MORNING, there was a somber feeling in the air. Kuya Zeus was packing up his things, getting ready to catch his flight back to Japan. I stood by his doorway, watching as he carefully folded his clothes and organized his bag. He looked focused, but there was a heaviness in his expression that he couldn’t quite hide.

“You sure you don’t want to come with me?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder.

I shook my head, trying to keep my voice steady. “No, Zeus. I feel like I need to stay here. I don’t know… something tells me I might find more answers if I stay.”

He paused, taking in my words, then nodded. “I get it. Just… promise me you’ll be careful, alright?”

A small smile formed on my lips. “I promise.”

As he finished packing, he walked over to me and gave me a tight hug, surprising me. “Take care of yourself, Athena. And remember, if you need me, I’m only a call away.”

I hugged him back, feeling the warmth and strength in his embrace. “You too, Zeus. Stay safe. And… maybe ask Mom and Dad about Hades again. Maybe they’ll tell you more now.”

He pulled back, his face serious. “I’ll try. But if they don’t… I’ll keep looking too. For Hades.”

A few hours later, I watched as his car pulled away, heading for the airport. A strange mix of emotions washed over me—loneliness, determination, and a quiet resolve. I didn’t know what I would find, but I was certain that staying here was the right choice.

As I walked back into the house, I glanced at the family photos on the wall, each face smiling, frozen in time. Somewhere behind those smiles lay secrets that only I could uncover. And as long as I was here, I’d keep searching for the answers we both deserved.

...

AFTER a few days of adjusting to the quiet of the house without Kuya Zeus, I found myself wandering into the living room, where I spotted Hera. She was perched on the edge of the couch, her expression as cold and calculating as ever, scrolling through her phone. Hera had always been sharp, both in wit and mind, and she had a way of commanding attention without even trying.

“Athena,” she said, not looking up. “You might want to pay attention to what’s happening in America. Poseidon is in serious trouble.”

I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms. “What do you mean? What happened?”

Hera finally looked up, her Hazel eyes locking onto mine. “He confessed that he fell in love with Hestia. You know that’s illegal, right? Cousin to cousin, especially in our family.” Her voice held an edge, a mix of concern and satisfaction that piqued my curiosity.

My heart sank as I processed her words. “Wait, are you serious? Poseidon loves Hestia?”

“Apparently,” she replied coolly. “And now their father is trying to expel him for it. The whole situation is a mess, and it’s only getting worse. Poseidon is stubborn, and Ares, of course, is jumping in without thinking. He’s ready to take on their father to defend Poseidon.”

I swallowed hard, trying to wrap my mind around the chaos. “What’s their father saying? Is there any way to fix this?”

Hera smirked slightly, her confidence unwavering. “Their father is furious. He believes this is an affront to the family, a violation of all the unspoken rules we’ve held onto for generations. He won’t back down easily, especially since Poseidon’s feelings could jeopardize the family’s reputation.”

I nodded, realizing the weight of what was happening. Poseidon’s infatuation with Hestia could fracture our already complicated family dynamics. “And Ares? What’s he planning to do?”

“Ares is always impulsive. He thinks he can fight their father and protect Poseidon, but that’s a dangerous game,” Hera warned, her tone serious. “If he pushes too hard, it could backfire on both of them.”

I took a deep breath, my mind racing. “What do you think will happen next?”

Hera shrugged, her expression enigmatic. “It depends on how far Poseidon is willing to go for Hestia and how stubborn their father remains. The situation is volatile, and I’d recommend keeping your distance for now. But if things escalate, we all might get dragged into it.”

Her words hung heavy in the air, filled with unspoken implications. I respected Hera for her intelligence, but there was something unnerving about her nonchalance regarding Poseidon’s predicament.

“I just hope Poseidon knows what he’s doing,” I muttered, worry creeping into my thoughts. “He needs to be careful. Love shouldn’t come at such a steep price.”

“True, but love can make people do foolish things,” Hera said, her tone as cold as ever. “Just keep your eyes open, Athena. You never know when information might come in handy.”

With that, she returned to her phone, and I stood there for a moment longer, contemplating the turmoil my cousins were facing. The world was full of uncertainties, and I knew I had to stay alert—both for myself and for those I cared about.

After a moment of silence, Hera’s gaze shifted to me, her expression serious. “Athena, you need to understand something important. This stays between us. No one else can know about Poseidon and Hestia.”

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden intensity. “Why? It’s not like we can just ignore it. If their father finds out we knew and didn’t say anything, it could look even worse.”

She leaned closer, her voice low and urgent. “Exactly. If others find out, especially our parents, it could turn into a family scandal. We both know how they react to situations like this. They’d only make it worse for Poseidon. So promise me—this is just for us.”

I hesitated, weighing the implications. “But what if Poseidon needs our help? He might need someone to stand by him.”

Hera nodded, acknowledging my point, but her expression remained firm. “I get that. But right now, the best way to help him is to keep this quiet. Trust me, Athena. The fewer people who know, the better. We can find a way to support him without drawing attention to the issue.”

'I don't really trust you, Hera...'

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her request. “Alright, I promise. It’ll just be between us.”

“Good.” She relaxed slightly, the tension easing from her shoulders. “We’ll figure this out together. Just keep an eye on things from here. If anything changes, let me know.”

“Of course. I’ll do whatever I can to help.” I felt a mix of apprehension and determination. If Hera was right, then protecting Poseidon and Hestia would require strategy and discretion.

We stood in silence for a moment, each lost in our thoughts. I couldn’t shake the feeling that the storm was far from over. With Ares’ impulsive nature and Poseidon’s boldness, trouble was likely just around the corner. But at least for now, I had Hera on my side, and together, we’d navigate the tangled web of our family’s secrets.

TO BE CONTINUED .....