SCIAS OF THE UNDERWORLD

TWENTY

"At least he doesn't look as monstrous as how the stories go," saad ni Juno habamg naglalakad sila sa kahabaan ng pasilyo. Tiningnan niya ito nang masama.

"If you are taking his side, just say it directly," tipid iyang sagot dito.

"This is not about taking sides. I am just saying na he is willing to protect you—"

"Because if anything happens to me, then he's doomed. Let's not make it sound like it's the highest honor to be protected by this god when I didn't even choose this fate!"

"Hey," mahinahong tawag sa kanya ni Juno. Napatigil siya sa paglalakad nang hawakan nito ang braso niya. He stood in front of her and held her shoulders. He sighed and looked at her. Napatingin naman siya sa pinsan niya.

"I'm sorry," saad nito sa kanya. She shook her head.

"It's just...one moment, I was totally fine with it. Being this destined one to break the curse—I think I can do it. But another moment it would seriously creep the hell out of me. What if I die? What I am not the one who will lift the curse? Will he kill me? What if I wasn't prepared for it? What if it is too late, Juno?"

Naramdaman niyang humigpit ang hawak ni Juno sa balikat niya. "Some days you may feel like you got it, some days you feel like it's spinning out of control, slipping away from your grasp." He squeezed her shoulder. "If worse comes to worst, I will be here. I will protect you not because I swore an oath to our grandma but because you're my only family, Ally and I love you. Hindi ko hahayaang may mangyaring masama sa 'yo. Huwag kang mag-alala."

She looked at his cousin and for a moment, she couldn't see the little boy who used to follow her around. She couldn't see the little boy who used to cry when he falls to the ground. At the moment, all she could see was her cousin, all grown up. And for a moment, she could believe what he said. It was very reassuring that she forgot that they are not only dealing with those sea monsters but with Scias himself. Should everything go wrong, Scias will definitely end her life. That's why, whether she likes it or not, she has to side with one of the two evils she's currently facing. As Scias said before.

She sighed and smiled at Juno. Alam niyang nag-aalala ito sa kanya. "Thank you," she muttered at ngumiti sa pinsan.

"For now, even just for today, don't think too much about it. It's the first day of school, Ally. We can't be frowning on our first day!"

She resisted rolling her eyes. A week ago, Scias was following them around that day they were at the shopping mall. Matapos ang insidenteng iyon, hindi na ito nagpakita sa kanila. Hindi naman sa hinahanap niya ito, nakakapagtaka lang. And she was thankful that he didn't grace them with his presence because she's had enough. She needed a break.

Ngunit kahit anong pilit niyang kumbinsi sa sarili na ayos lang ang lahat ay hindi niya pa rin maiwasang mangamba. It was that kind of feeling when you know something is coming. You don't know what is coming but somehow your gut tells you it is coming. And it was unsettling. Hindi siya mapakali.

With her history of being attacked by monsters at the most inconvenient times, she couldn't blame herself for getting jumpy and paranoid all the time.

"Ally? Ayos ka lang ba?"

Napalingon siya sa pinsan na nakatingin din sa kanya. "I'm...I'm fine now. Kinakabahan lang siguro ako."

Tumango naman si Juno na para bang sinasabing naiintindihan siya nito. "Well, the past month had been rough for you," saad nito. "I wouldn't be surprised to see you getting anxious. You're safe in this school. Ally. At least in here, you wouldn't have to deal with creepy creatures."

She groaned. "I needed to take a break from anything supernatural," saad niya at naunang naglakad. When they reached the end, they went in opposite directions dahil magkaiba ang building nila. She waved goodbye to Juno before she trudged the hallway patungo sa kanyang building.

The past weeks was indeed rough. And during those past weeks, hindi niya akalaing magbabago ang buhay niya. Hindi niya mapigilang isipin kung anong posibleng mangyari kung hindi siya umuwi noong pinilit siya ni Juno. If she hadn't gone home, the monsters wouldn't have been able to attack her. Hindi sana namatay ang lola niya. And she would have been going to school today, like any other normal girl who believe that gods do not exist. Ignorance was bliss for her and now that ignorance is gone and she will be dealing with lots of monsters before she lifts the curse.

Wala sa isip siyang naglalakad sa kahabaan ng pasilyo kaya naman labis nalang ang gulat niya nang may humawak sa pulsohan niya at hinila siya papalapit dito. The next thing she heard was the sound of glass shattering. She blinked as she realized she was in the arms of someone. Nang tingnan niya kung saan ang basag ay napasinghap siya nang makitang mga kagamitan iyon para sa Chemistry Laboratory. Napatingin siya sa ikalawang palapag kung saan may mga estudyanteng dali-daling nagtatatakbo pababa.

"That could have hit you in the head."

Napatingin siya sa humila sa kanya kanina and he realized it was someone she knows.

"Cedrick," tawag niya dito. Agad naman siyang lumayo mula sa pagkakayakap sa lalake. She could see the boyish grin curving his lips. Before she could say another word, a girl touched her arm dahilan para mapalingon siya rito.

"Ate, pasensya na po kayo. Ayos ka lang po ba?" tanong ng babae.

Nginitian niya ito saka tumango, "Yes. Ayos lang ako. Mag-iingat kayo sa susunod," paalala niya rito.

"Pasensya na po talaga, ate," the girl said and then proceeded to clean the mess.

She then faced Cedrick na nakatayo lang doon at nakatingin babaeng naglilinis. He then looked at me and smiled.

"It's been a long time, Ally," he started. And his voice was still the same. Hinding-hindi niya makakalimutan iyon. And yes, it's been a long time. She hasn't seen him for a year.

She let out a small smile before she said, "Yeah." And she doesn't know what else to say. Sa loob ng isang taon, she has forgotten about him and now that she's seeing him in the flesh, she felt her heart in turmoil.

Napakamot naman sa batok si Cedrick habang nakatingin sa kanya. "I..." he started ngunit tila napagdesisyunan nitong huwang nalang ituloy ang nais nitong sabihin. "Can we have lunch together later?" tanong ng lalake sa kanya. And she has every reason to say no. She has every reason to decline his invitation. After all, he was the one who hurt her the most. Ito ang nakipagbreak sa kanya.

"Sure," sagot niya dahilan para mapamura siya sa kanyang isipan. Gusto niyang ipukpok ang ulo sa dingding na naroon. And before she could take back what she said, nakangiti na si Cedrick sa kanya.

"See you, then." At saka ito naglakad papalayo. Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya. She still couldn't say no to him. After all this time. It's the start of the school year ngunit pakiramdam niya ay nasa kalagitnaan na siya nito. But she couldn't do anything other than to go through with it. Wala na siyang magagawa.

The classroom was chaotic when she entered. Mahaba rin ang naging bakasyon kaya naman hindi na siya nagtaka nang makita ang mga tao sa loob na abala sa pakikipag-usap. Some glance briefly in her direction while others paid no attention. She could hear a group of girls talking about the things they did over the summer. One was particularly bragging about the time she went to Greece and met a man. She could also hear another group of guys talking about sports and games. They were all unfamiliar to her. And her first class is Mythology.

Great. She mumbled in her mind. What a way to start my year.

Napaupo siya sa bakanteng upuan. They still have ten minutes before their professor comes in. And now that she was surrounded by groups of people, nagsisi siya kung bakit pumasok siya nang maaga. Wala siyang ni isang kaibigan rito.

She was about to close her eyes nang may maramdaman siyang kumalabit sa kanya. She looked beside her only to see a woman also looking at her. She pointed to herself. "Ako ba?"

Tumango naman ang babae sa kanya. "Kaano-ano mo si Juno Meriden?"

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Alam niyang isa na naman ito sa tagahanga ni Juno. This is the moment she's been dreaing. Ayaw niyang nilalapitan ng mga kababaihan para lang magtanong tungkol kay Juno.

But still, she managed to smile at the woman before she said, "He's my cousin."

The woman said sweetly and before she could even react, nakahawak na ito sa braso niya. And it was tight. Napatingin siya rito at kitang-kita niyang bumaon ang daliri nito sa balat niya. It hurt but she didn't show it. The woman was trying to scare her and she isn't going to give her the satisfaction.

She looked at her face and she was still smiling sweetly at her.

"Tell your cousin 'f**k you'," saad nito dahilan para tumaas ang kilay niya. Nakatingin pa rin ang babae sa kanya but this time, her expression is hard. The woman removed her hand from her arm at umupo ng maayos. She couldn't help but chuckle at that. Umayos na rin siya ng upo.

In her periphery, kitang-kita niya ang paglingon nito sa kanya. "Why are you laughing?"

"Because I find it funny," agad na tugon niya saka niya ito nilingon. "I will tell your words to him. I'm sure he'll be delighted to hear a refreshing remark." Ngumisi siya rito but the woman's expression remained hard. A smirk played on her lips as she looked in the front. Hindi niya alam kung ano na naman pinaggagagawa ng pinsan niya. But based on the woman's grudges, she could only guess it was terribly wrong. She'll certainly have a word with him later.

Their professor entered the classroom and it was then that the classroom became quiet. Since it was just the first day, their professor just briefed them on how the class would go. There would be a lot of activities that will be done by pair which, for her, is dreadful since she doesn't know anyone to be pair with. Maybe she could ask the woman who hates her cousin so much?

The discussion only lasted for half an hour. Agad siyang lumabas and texted Juno to meet her on the lawn. Ngunit maglalakad na sana siya palayo nang may biglang humawak sa braso niya.

"This is the third time someone grabbed my arm," sabi niya saka hinarap ang babaeng katabi niya kanina.

Agad naman siya nitong binitawan but there was no trace of apology in her face.

She sighed. "What is it?" tanong niya.

"Where is he?" tanong naman nito.

"In his class, probably." She shrugged. "Ano bang kailangan mo sa kanya?"

"That's none of your business," the woman said at akmang maglalakad na ito papalayo sa kanya nang hawakan niya rin ang braso nito. Napatingin ang babae sa kamay niya but she did not let go.

"Let go," the woman warned but she just gave her a blank look.

"It is my business, though. You look like you're going to kill him once you spot him and that is something I don't want to happen. So tell me," she stepped closer to her, "what do you want with him?" This time, her voice was sterner. Nakita niyang napakurap ang babae.

"I just want to tell him something. Malaki ang kasalanan niya sa akin. I have to make him pay."

She looked at the woman for a moment and somehow, parang alam na niya ang problema nito.

"Did he break up with you or something?" tanong niya dahilan para mapatingin ang babae sa kanya. True horror was visible in her face.

Then she scoffed. "What he did was way worse than that," saad nito at naglakad na papalayo. And when the girl turned to the corner, saka niya naalalang hindi niya pala nakuha ang pangalan nito. But she couldn't care less. Whatever it is, sigurado siyang katarantaduhan na naman iyon ni Juno.

Akmang maglalakad na siya nang may magsalita sa likuran niya.

"Is she gone?"

Napalingon siya at nakita si Juno na nakatago sa haligi. She rolled her eyes. "Anon a namang ginawa mo?" tanong niya rito.

Juno looked around before he came out from where he was hiding.

"That was Olivia," saad nito. "She was my friend back in high school."

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "And?"

"I..." Juno sighed. "Well, I told her we're a couple but she saw me making out with another girl the next day. That was like a month ago. And then everything happened with the Glenrils, your awakening, and grandma's death that I totally forgot about her. And I saw her earlier. Mabuti nalang at mabilis akong nakapagtago."

"She saw you. She knows you're in here. Good luck," saad niya saka tinapik sa balikat ang pinsan. She heard him groan.

"Just tell her what happened. But I can't guarantee you won't have bruises on your face after that."

She looked at her watched and it was already eleven o'clock. Naalala na naman niya si Cedrick at ang imbitasyon nito sa kanya kanina. Sisiputin ba niya? Kung sisiputin niya, ano naman ang pag-uusapan nila? They've already broken up. Ano namang gustong sabihin ng lalake sa kanya?

Naptigil naman siya sa paglalakad nang maramdamang nakahawak sa kanyang braso si Juno. And he stopped walking too dahilan para mapatingin siya sa pinsan. Nakatiningin ito sa unahan nila and when she followed his gaze, halos manlamig siya sa kinatatayuan.

The students in the hallway stopped whatever they were doing. The students that were walking froze on their feet. And she was the same. Not for the reason that she was starstruck but for the reason that she couldn't believe what she is seeing at the moment.

Nang makalapit ito sa harapan niya, he was grinning from ear to ear.

"Scias?" she called. Then she looked at the man behind him and saw Azul looking at her blankly. Ngunit ang mas kinatatakutan niya ay may suot itong mga ID.

Napansin ni Scias kung saan siya nakatining at kinuha nito ang ID saka iwinagayway sa harapan niya.

"We got these earlier. The woman in the booth was very nice and—"

"What are you doing here?" Hindi na niya ito pinatapos.

Ngumisi naman si Scias sa gawi niya. "Well, if it isn't obvious yet, I am here to study. You see, I didn't expect you to be a student. And since I am here to protect you, I have to be a student too," he said and looked at her as if he was very proud of what he had done.

But for Alaska, it was a disaster. Hindi niya alam kung paano nalaman nito kung saan siya nag-aaral. And she was thinking earlier that the school is the only place na hindi niya makikita ang pagmukukha ni Scias. And yet here he is, standing in front of her, grinning from ear to ear na para bang inaasahan na rin nito na matutuwa siya.

She shut her eyes firmly, trying to control herself. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes ngunit wala na ang lalake sa harapan niya. Nasa gilid na ito at nakikipag-usap sa isang babae. She could hear the woman giggling. Napatingin siya kay Azul na nakatingin pa rin sa kanya.

"The Lord has been bored," saad nito.

"And is that my problem?" she hissed.

"We didn't expect you to have this tediously boring life," Scias butted in dahilan para pandilatan niya ito ng mata.

"I don't need protection, okay? The school grounds are safe—"

"We can't be too certain. If you die, the lord will stay cursed forever."

"I will not die! Bakit niyo ba pinagpipilitan iyan?"

"Because death is inevitable. It can happen to anyone. It can happen to you anytime. And we are here to prevent that." Azul pierced her with his gaze but she will not back down.

"You just said death is inevitable. If I die, then I die—"

"We can't let that happen."

She groaned inwardly. But realizing she really didn't have much choice at wala na rin siyang magagawa, she just sighed. Ang tanging pinagdadasal niya lang ay sana hindi niya ito magiging kaklase sa kahit anong subject.

"By the way, I told the dean we should have the same classes together.What better way to stick closer to you than to be with you in your classe, right?" maligayang saad ni Scias dahilan para tumakas ang kaluluwa niya sa katawan.

"Are you kidding me?" Hindi niya napigilang magtaas nang boses dahil sa nalaman. Everything was too sudden and everything happened too fast she couldn't keep up. Ngunit nakangiti lang si Scias sa kanya na para bang wala lang ito sa kanya. And she instantly knew her life won't be peaceful from now on.

* * *