Strings and Arrows

Chapter 47

Cupid's Point of View

"Artemis, what is the meaning of this?"

"Dad, I'm here to accompany my dear cousin Cupid. We're here to take back what's his." Diretsahang sagot ni Art sa kaniyang Amang si Zeus.

"Care to Explain?"

"I am so done with these bullshits. Kailangan kong bawiin ang mga pagkakataong ninakaw niyo sa amin ni Psyche. Grant my Wife her freedom and give her back to me."

Zeus raised his eye brow and looked at me.

"And what are you exactly demanding young boy?"

"Giver her back her memories. Let her be with me."

Hindi ko inaasahan ang bigla niyang pagtawa.

"You can't have both Cupid. She was your punishment."

"I have served my sentence well. Hanggang kailan niyo 'ko balak parusahan!? Ilang milyong taon akong nagtiis, naghirap at nasaktan!"

"Sa tingin mo sapat na 'yon?"

Nakaramdam ako ng matinding galit sa sinabi niya. Hindi nila alam kung ano ang nararamdaman ko o kung ano 'yong dinanas ko ng mga panahong 'yon!

Mahirap maging parusa ang taong nagbibigay sa 'yo ng saya!

"Bakit kailangan niyong maging makasarili!? Bakit hindi niyo na lang ibigay sa amin kung ano ang nararapat para sa amin!? Bakit niyo pa kailangang ipagkait ang kasiyahan sa aming dalawa!? Bakit!?"

He remained silent.

"Ano!? Hindi kayo makapagsalita kasi tama ako? Tama ako na makasarili kayo! Ayaw niyong ibigay sa amin ang isang payapa at masayang buhay! Gusto niyo kayo lang ang makaranas no'n! Akala niyo kung sino kayong mga paerpekto! Kahit kailan ba naisip niyo ang nararamdaman namin! Naisipi niyo ba kung naging mabuti kayong tagapamuno sa 'min!?"

Wala pa rin siyang imik. Bumuga siya ng isang malalim na hininga at tumayo saka naglakad papalapit sa akin.

This is bullshit! All of these are bullshits!

"Alam mo ba ang kasalanan mo? You used your powers for your own benefit. You manipulated your arrows!"

"Those arrows were for me and Psyche. It was meant for the both of us."

"And don't you think the punishment isn't meant for you? Alam mo ba bakit ko ginawa 'yon? Naintindihan mo ba bakit kailangang mangyari 'yon!? Have you ever thought why things such those are happening? You are asking me why I did that. Simple, because everything happened too fast. It came to easy. It's like a food already served at the table waiting for the people to eat that. I had to punish you two and separate you to teach you lessons and make you feel things! The pain you were feeling? It isn't just pain. It's the lesson that I wanted to tell you. You had to be hurt first before getting what you want because nothing worth having comes easy. At ngayon, hanggang ngayon, mukhang hindi mo pa yata nakukuha 'yon. You may not be able to read my actions but there's nothing wrong in having a faith."

"Bakit? Bakit kailangan niyo pang gawin 'yon? Hindi pa ba sapat ang mga pagsubok na binigay niyo kay Psyche noon?"

"Bakit? Naghirap ba siya? Hindi ba at tinulungan siya? Kinontra ko ba 'yon? Dapat nga ay bibigyan ko siya ng kaparusahan dahil doon. Hindi siya ang gumawa ng mga pagsubok na ibinigay para sa kaniya. Hindi mo magawang intindihin 'yon dahil mas binibigyan mo ng halaga ang nararamdaman mo. Kaya mong lumabag ng mga batas para sa kaniya dahil mahal mo siya. Ngayon, hindi ba at nahihirapan ka? Dahil dapat lang na paghirapan mo ang mga bagay na maganda. Hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay makukuha mo na lang basta-basta ang mga bagay na gusto mo. Tama ka, those arrows? They were for you. Nakita ko na agad 'yon bago pa man iyong dumating sa iyo. At kung hindi ako nakialam, anong mangyayari? Makukuha mo siya ng ganoon kadali? Walang paghihirap? Walang pagsubok? Walang sakit? At higit sa lahat, walang maituturo? Ano? Na ganoon lang kadali ang mga bagay? Hinayaan pa nga kitang makita mo siya gamit ang kapangyarihan mo. At mas hinayaan kita sa sinabi mong paparusahan mo si Psyche at magpapakita ka sa kaniya. Sa tingin mo, hindi ko alam ang binabalak mo no'n? Naghihintay ka lang ng tiyempo na makapagpakilala sa kaniya pero hindi kita binawalan. Binigyan lang kita ng mga kondisyon na iyong mga nilabag."

Natahimik ako nang marinig ang paliwanag niya.

I felt too weak. My knees felt weak. I questioned him when in fact he was actually right.

Napaluhod ako sa sobrang hina. Hindi ko magawang tumayo at tumingin sa kaniya ng diretso.

"Ngayon, ibabalik ko sa 'yo ang sinabi ko kanina. You have to understand this that You can't have both, Cupid. Alam mo ba kung ano ang ibig kong sabihin?"

I slowly nodded as a response at his question.

"Mabuti. At ano ang ibig sabihin no'n?"

"I can't have both Psyche and my Life as a God."

"Tama. You have to choose which one to give up forever."

"May sagot na ako."

Nakita ko ang gulat sa kaniyang mukha ngunit agad din namang ngumiti.

"Sigurado ka? I can give you enough time to think things through. Timabingin mo ng maayos Cupid. Live with no regrets."

"No. I am firm with my decision."

"If you really are certain, then may I know what is it?"

"I'll give up my life but please just give her back her memories with me. I am begging you."

"Ano pa ang silbi no'n kung mawawala ka rin naman?"

"Gusto ko, ako ang magbabalik ng mga ala-ala niya. Hihiling sana ako ng bigyan niyo ako ng kahit isang araw na makasama siya nang may ala-ala kung sino talaga ako sa buhay niya."

"Isang araw? It's too much to ask Cupid."

"Kahit isang oras." Pagmamakaawa ko sa kaniya.

He looked at me intently before sighing.

"Alright. One hour it is. Sulitin mo na 'yan. Make the most out of it. It will be your hello and good bye to your wife. If you chose that, just think that you don't have to worry with what you lost. Instead, think of what you might gain after losing that."

A tear escaped from my eyes. I heard my mom crying behind me.

"Please Cupid. Don't do this my son. You don't have to do this. Choose your life. I can help you with Psyche."

I smiled sadly.

"No Mom. I don't want to put you in great danger. The world needs the Goddess of Beauty."

"No. They need you more. The world needs love more. I can settle. My service is done here anyway so I can go now."

"Stop it Mom. You can't change my decision."

I turned to Zeus and I saw him smiling sadly at me.

"It was a tough decision, son. Like what Coal said, make it worth it."

"It is. Choosing her will always be worth it. I have lived my entire life living in pain already. I can't live if I won't have her with me. It's like dying endlessly so I'll just have to end my life and let her live hers beautifully. She will always be loved by me."