Drowned (Lord Series #2)

Prologue

"Say hi to Tito Poseidon!" Juno said as she baby talk with Perseus. She even made his chubby hand wave at me.

The adorable baby made gibberish sounds. I smiled and watched him on the screen of my phone. Perseus giggled when he made a bubble from his saliva. Humalakhak si Juno at pinugpog ng halik ang anak.

"Perseus Diovanni..." I called him.

The baby stared at me through the phone.

"Mama! Ma! Mama!" he chanted.

Juno laughed. "Say Tito! Tito Poseidon!"

"Dada Poydon!" He smiled.

Parehong namilog ang mata namin ni Juno, then she grinned.

"I think he would call you Dada. Papa ang tawag niya kay Zeus, so Dada is really meant for you," she explained.

Napangiti ako at pinagmasdan nang mabuti ang anak nila. Their first baby is really cute. He has Juno's eye color but the shapes are exactly like Zeus' eyes. The baby is always smiling so I think, mas nagmana ito sa ama niya dahil hindi naman palangiti si Juno. Ngayon lang na may anak na sila.

If only that tragedy did not happen, my child is already five years old. Ano kaya ang magiging hitsura niya? Would he or she resemble Salacia? O ako?

My heart beat painfully as I stare at Zeus' wife and child. They are the picture of something that I should have but it was taken away from me.

"Hoy, Atlas! Bakit ka-videocall mo ang mag-ina ko nang ganito kaaga?"

Ang busangot na mukha ni Zeus ang sumakop sa screen.

"Zeus, tumigil ka nga diyan!" I heard Juno's warn.

Zephan glared at me. I just smirked at him. He went out of their room and gave me a death glare again.

"May gusto ka pa rin sa asawa ko, 'no?"

I chuckled. "Ibalik mo sa kanila ang phone. I wanna see Perseus, pati si Juno," pang-aasar ko.

"Tangina mo!" aniya.

"Zephan Adolphus!" sigaw ni Juno.

My friend's eyes widened.

"Yes, my Queen? Wala 'yon. Hindi ako nagmura," kabado niyang saad bago ako muling nilingon. "Tangina mo, Poseidon," bulong niya.

"Ibalik mo na kay Perseus ang phone, Adolphus. I wanna see and talk to him."

"Ayoko. Baka turuan mo magmura anak ko."

I grinned. "Ikaw ang magtuturo no'n sa anak mo." He just glared at me. "Do you know that Perseus is calling me Dada?"

His eyes widened again. Pinagmumura niya ako at narinig ko na naman ang sigaw ni Juno. He ended the call because of frustration. I chuckled, pero muling natulala dahil sa katahimikan.

I want to have Zeus' everyday life. I'll be honest, I envy him. He would wake up with his wife beside him. Lagi niyang nakikita sa bawat umaga ang mag-ina niya. That life must be fulfilling. I bet it is full of happiness and love. In work, he must be really inspired. He must be looking forward for the day to end so he could come home. At galing sa nakapapagod na trabaho, sasalubungin siya ng asawa niya at anak. Their voices must be more than enough to remove the tiredness.

Meron din dapat ako no'n. Gigising din dapat ako sa bawat umaga na nakikita ang mag-ina ko. Excited din dapat ako sa pag-uwi galing sa trabaho dahil sasalubungin nila ako. Salacia would surely hug me and shower my face with a lot of her smoochy kisses. She would cook delicious and homey food for me while telling me their whole day. She would be really excited to share anything to me. Pati ang anak namin ay magke-kwento rin at magsasabi sa akin kung ano ang gusto niyang laruan.

I covered my face with my palm. I felt a few tears falling from my eyes.

Why am I still even alive? Life without Salacia is a waste. And each day with these kind of imaginations is torture. Dahil meron dapat akong mag-ina pero ipinagkait ito sa akin. Each day is just my new death. These thoughts are killing me.

It feels like I am at the bottom of the sea. I am barely alive and darkness surrounds me.

Naghanda na ako para sa trabaho. I am already sipping on my coffee when my phone rang. I received a video of Perseus from Juno.

"Flying kiss kay Tito!" utos ni Juno habang vini-video-han ang anak.

Perseus smiled on the camera and gave flying kisses while chanting Dada. Napangiti ako at nagpasalamat kay Juno. Somehow, Perseus' cuteness is making me feel happy.

I sighed and conditioned myself. It is another dull day.

"Engineer, ngayon pala ang punta ni Architect Leonora sa site," Rody informed me as I came out of my room.

My forehead knotted. "Why would she go here? She's a naval architect. Hindi na natin siya kailangan. Meron na tayo no'n."

Napakamot ang tauhan ko at hilaw na ngumisi. "Bakit nga ba pumupunta rito ang kung sinu-sinong babae, Engineer? Kahit 'yong anak ni Governor, pupunta rin 'ata."

I clenched my jaw. "I don't want anyone to disturb me once I am already working."

I picked my hard hat and put it on my head.

Humalakhak siya. "Nababaliw ang mga babae sayo, boss. Engineer ba naman tapos malapit ng maging kapitan. Naku!" tumawa pa siya ulit.

I just stared at him blankly. He smirked at me.

"Magtrabaho ka na," utos ko.

I proceeded on my work. I checked the site and talked with the workers about the plan. The heat from the sun made us all sweaty. Nameywang ako at tiningala ang ginagawang malaking marine vessel.

"Engineer Atlas!"

Luminga ako at nakita ang pamilyar na babae. I sighed and shook my head when I saw her not wearing any hard hat.

"You must know that you should wear something for protection in your head, Architect."

She smiled at me and touched my arm. Sinenyasan ko ang isang tauhan para sa isang hard hat. Inabot niya 'yon kay Leonora na agad naman nitong isinuot.

"What are you doing here?" I asked and scanned the site.

"Nagpadala ako ng pagkain para sa inyo. Lunch niyo!" she said merrily.

"Hindi naman kailangan. We can provide our own food," I coldly said and walked away from her.

Agad siyang sumunod at humawak sa braso ko. I removed her hand causing for her smile to fade. I just stared at her coldly before looking away.

"Sungit mo talaga! Pero gustong-gusto pa rin kita!" she giggled.

"I'm not interested."

Humalakhak lang siya. "Dadalhin na rito ng mga maid ko ang foods. Can I see the blueprint of the vessel?" she asked.

I nodded and pointed the table from afar. She pouted that made my brow raise.

"Samahan mo 'ko..." malambing niyang sinabi.

Tinalikuran ko siya at iniwan para maglibot pa. Napansin ko ang pagkakagulo sa may entrance. I thought it's the food coming pero ang pumasok ay ang anak ng governor na may dalang maraming guards. I clenched my jaw in irritation. Damn it.

"Hi, Poseidon!"

I stared boredly at the woman in front of me. May dala siyang pamaypay at tumatagaktak agad ang pawis dahil sa init dito.

"Nagpadala ako ng pagkain," she said and smiled sweetly.

Tuwang-tuwa ang mga nagtatrabaho. Tumango na lang ako. Inabutan siya ng hard hat at nakakaramdam na ako ng iritasyon dahil sa abala na dinadala nila.

"May lunch na sila, Divina," saad ni Leonora. "Ako ang nagpadala."

"What!?" tila nandidiri niyang tinignan ang babae na tumabi na sa akin. "Ang desperada mo naman at pumunta ka pa rito!"

"At ano ka? Desperada rin!"

"Umayos ka ng pananalita! Anak ako ng governor—"

Iniwan ko sila roon at lumabas ng site pero natigil ako nang makita ang dalawang grupo ng tila entourage na may mga dalang pagkain. I gritted my teeth and removed my hat. Napahilot ako sa sentido at umiling.

Atleast my men are going to eat something really delicious today. Hindi lang regular meal na hinahanda para sa amin. Ikinalma ko ang sarili na masyado ng naiirita.

Lumapit ako sa isang sasakyan na naroon nang may makitang juice na nasa jug. Natataranta na lumapit ang isang maid.

"Can I have a glass of this?" I asked.

It is pineapple flavored and it is my favorite.

Natulala ito sa akin bago kumurap at lalong nataranta.

"Hoy, Dessa! A-asikasuhin mo nga muna 'to si Sir Pogi, oh! Kuha ka diyan ng plastic cup sa loob!" sigaw niya sa loob ng van.

I sighed and crossed my arms, waiting for it. Umalis ang maid na hiningian ko. Akala ko ay wala ng magbibigay sa akin pero mula sa kabilang gilid ng van ay nakita ko na may gumalaw. Hinintay ko na lang 'yon at dinama ang presko na hampas ng hangin dito.

"Ito po, Sir..."

I froze when I heard a familiar sultry voice. Dahan-dahan kong nilingon ang babae sa tabi ko na inaabot ang isang cup ng juice. My lips parted seeing her very familiar face. It became hard to breath for me when my heart constricted in pain.

"Sir? Ito na po," aniya at tumitig muli sa akin.

Dahan-dahan kong iniharap nang tuluyan ang katawan ko sa kaniya. I scanned her from head to toe. Nanghina ang mga tuhod ko at hinawakan siya sa braso nang marahan. I am afraid that she might fade when I hold her carelessly.

"Sa..." I breathed hard. "..lacia."

"Po? Ano'ng sinabi mo?" she stared at me curiously.

Hinila ko siya at niyakap nang mahigpit, walang pakialam kahit natapon sa akin ang juice. I snaked my arms around her waist and I don't want to let her go. I buried my face on her neck but then, I felt her pushing me away.

"Sir! Ano ba, Sir? Bitawan mo ako!" she shouted and bit my shoulder.

Napalayo ako sa kaniya at muli kaming nagkatitigan. All I can see is fear and anger on her eyes. There is no recognition...

I tried to reach for her again.

"Salacia, please! This is me, Poseidon. I am—"

"Hindi kita kilala!" She stepped backward and shook her head.

She's denying me and it is painful! For the past few years, she have never left my mind. And now... this?

"Goddess Salacia, I am your boyfriend. Please! Don't do this to me, baby. I've been looking for you. Ang tagal-tagal kitang hinintay..." napailing ako at nanlabo ang paningin dahil sa luha na nagbabadya. "Huwag ganito na... Don't act like you don't know me!"

"Sir, hindi po talaga kita kilala! Atsaka Dessa po ang pangalan ko. Hindi Goddess Salacia. Baka nagkakamali po kayo. Pasensya na po, Sir. Naku, huwag ka na umiyak at pasensya sa pagtulak at pangangagat ko. Natakot lang ako. Pero mali po talaga kayo."

Napailing ako at tuluyan ng naluha. No. This can't be. I am sure she's my girlfriend. Buhok pa lang niya na medyo kulot, ang kulay brown na mga mata at mapang-akit na mukha, alam ko na siya ang pinakamamahal ko. Kahit tindig ng katawan niya ay kabisadong-kabisado ko.

My mind became in chaos. I tried to reach for her again out of desperation but she just pushed me. Mukha na siyang natatakot at lalo akong nawawasak habang lumilipas ang mga segundo na itinatanggi niya ako. Malakas niya akong tinulak kaya natumba ako sa maalikabok na sahig. Takot na takot siyang tumakbo palayo at pumara ng tricycle.

But I am sure that she's the love of my life. I saw the tattoo on her foot. The trident.

Gusto ko siyang habulin pero hinang-hina ako sa sakit na nararamdaman ko. Sumubsob ako sa tuhod dahil sa kabiguan. I want to cry in despair and sorrow. But I stopped myself.

Ngayon pa ba ako susuko na nakakita na ako ng munting liwanag sa kadiliman?