Descendants of Olympus

XXIII: The Man Who Saved Me

Isabelle's POV

"Kina-"

Hindi ko na natapos ang salitang sasabihin ko sana nang may narinig kaming sumigaw. Boses ito nang lalaki at mukhang nanggaling ito sa may likuran ng bahay, kung saan nagtungo ang may ari ng tahanang ito.

It looks like he is still experimenting with the Aconite. With the offer that he gives to mortals, tiyak na hindi na tatanggi ang mga ito. Looking at the subdivision where we are in, people are less to none privileged here. And because of that, it is easier for him to continue his experimentation and evil plan. I was thinking, did the mortals knew the consequences or outcomes of their decisions? Disregarding the fact that they would receive a huge amount of cash? Kasi kung hindi, this act is inhumane. He has no mercy for mortals. Just as he said earlier, he is a demon after all, and demons lack hearts. 

Siguro ay nasa isang minuto ring tuloy-tuloy ang pagsigaw ng lalaki hanggang sa humina ito at nawala. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagkukwento. 

"Kinabukasan, sinabi sa akin na hindi raw darating si papa. I prayed to all the gods, saints and other holy beings that maybe they were fooling me." Naalala ko pa ang reaksyon ko nang sabihin nila 'yon sa akin. Para bang tumigil ang mundo ko. Parang nawalan ako ng dugo. Parang nawalan ako ng dahilan para huminga. And I was right.

"Then, on that moment, I was sentenced to death." 

Death...

Imagine how a child would react knowing that she will die. I was still a child, dreaming, thriving for my own future. Thinking of the things that I might do tomorrow, the food that I will eat, and the countries I might visit. I was looking forward to my birthday, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. But everything turned into ashes when I knew I was going to die. The most heartbreaking part? When I knew the only person who can save me, is the person who will give me to death. 

"Noong gabing 'yon, nakakulong lang ako sa isang kwarto, that served as my cell. I was thinking everything. The life I would not have. The life I was forbidden to continue."

"Tapos, may lalaking dumating, may dala-dalang plastic plate na may pansit." Nakakatawa nga, alam talaga niya kung ano ang kailangan ko. Gagana ba itong pansit niya para humaba buhay ko?

"He sat with me the whole night, sitting outside my cell. We shared the food he has. I told him how my life was, why would it end. Surprisingly, he was an open book, so he let me know his story as well. He even told me that I am too young to be an angel. He knew."

Napangiti ako nang maalala kung paano kami naging magkaibigan ni Nathan. Nagpapasalamat ako na hinayaan niya akong malaman ang buhay niya. Kung paano siya lumaki, ano ang mga hilig niyang gawin at mga paborito niyang pagkain.

"Nataranta kaming dalawa nang narinig namin ang ilang boses nang lalaki. Nang nawala ang mga ito, sinabi niya sa akin na babalik siya. He left and he really did come back, with a key. Itinakas niya ako mula doon at pareho kaming nagtago. We achieved our freedom together." 

Ilang araw kaming nagpalaboy-laboy pero hindi rin nagtagal at nakahanap kami ng part-time job. Nang makaipon, nanirahan kami ng mahigit kumulang na isang taon nang magkasama. Tapos isang araw, bigla nalang may sumipa sa pintuan namin tapos libo-libong uwak ang pumasok sa tinitirhan namin. Bigla rin nawala ang mga ito nang may dumating na isang babae at dalawang lalaki. 

"After that incident, they brought us to HD. Then we knew we were descendants." That incident was one of the most terrifying events that happened in my life, but that was also the key to a new life. On that day, I promised myself to not be dependent on a man, to avoid falling in love with a man. A man I know only gave me disappointments, my father. If my father could, others would.