The Zodiacs

Rogan Arres Hindi ko mapigilan ang inis na nararamdaman ko para sa kanilang lahat. Kanina pa ako nakatayo sa kwarto na 'to, nakikinig sa mga ginagawa nilang sigawan at pag-aaway tungkol sa akin. They're shouting at each other as if they think I don't hear them. They're doing it because I defeated my brother Roen in The Selection. They don't want me to represent the House in the Upbringing, they want Roen to do it but as I said, I defeated him. Natigilan ako sa pakikinig sa kabilang kwarto nang biglang pumasok si Roen kung nasaan ako ngayon. Hindi ko makita sa mga mata niya ang lungkot at dismaya na mayroon ang mga magulang namin para sa akin ngayon. Hindi ba siya galit sa nangyari? Bakit parang okay lang sa kaniya ang lahat? Kunot-noo ko siyang pinanood na umupo sa upuan. Pinagpatong niya ang mga paa niya at isinandal ang likod sabay pikit ng mga mata nito. "Good luck on your journey, Rogan. Bring pride to our house. May the I rise in you," sambit nito na para bang wala siyang pake na nagkakagulo na ang mga magulang namin at ang Chancellor. "What do you want? Why does it seem you don't care about it?" He sighed heavily and just made himself more comfortable on his seat, "Because I don't. Isn't this what you want? Ikaw na ang bahala, alam kong kaya mo at magagawa mong makakuha ng puwesto sa council. Just focus on it and don't mind the distractions," I paused because of what he said. We're both the same age, he was just born minutes before me but since then, our parents, Elders, and even the Chancellor cheered for him to win The Selection. They have prepared him throughout his life for this while I live mine in his shadows. Everyone thought he was going to win but when we reached the finals and it showed my name, I remembered how the whole crowd got silent. I can still see their faces, their shocked and confused faces. They didn't expect him to lose to his two competitors. Yeah, just two. I and my cousin Kassar fought him while no one else even dared to do it. People were certain that Roen was going to win, so no one tried their luck and we were the only ones who took risks. I swore to myself that I would prove to them that I'm worthy of bringing the House's name and today it finally happened but why does it feel so wrong? Sasagutin ko na sana siya nang biglang magbukas ang pinto ng kwarto kung saan naroon kanina ang mga magulang namin at ang Chancellor. Lumabas silang lahat doon at hinarap kaming dalawa ni Roen. Bakas sa mga mukha nila ang pagkadismayado sa nangyari. Pinagmasdan ko kung paano pilit inilalayo ng mga magulang ko ang tingin nila sa akin. Napangisi ako sa nakita at sinubukan itago ang sakit dahil akala ko matutuwa sila kapag nagawa kong manalo pero parang kabaliktaran pa ang nangyari? Ilang saglit lang din ay pumasok sa bahay namin ang ilang mga Elders. Lumapit ito sa mga magulang namin at sa Chancellor sabay may ibinulong, pagkatapos ay agad din nila kaming hinarap. Napansin naman ni Roen ang pagdating ng mga nakakataas sa amin kaya agad siyang napatayo. Tumayo kaming dalawa sa harap nilang lahat at nag-antay ng kanilang sasabihin sa amin. Hindi ko alam kung gagawa ba sila ng paraan para si Roen ang magrepresenta ng House of Aries sa Upbringing o hahayaan nila ako ang gumawa noon. Wala akong ka ideya-ideya sa mangyayari dahil ngayon lang 'to nangyari. Sa mga nakaraang Selections, kung sino ang inaasam at inaakala nilang mananalo ay nanalo talaga pero sa pagkakataon na 'to, nagkamali sila dahil ako ang nanalo at hindi ang kapatid ko. "We want Roen to represent the House of Aries in the Upbringing. Rogan, you may step back," said the Chancellor while firmly looking at my eyes. I can feel and see that this is their final decision. I didn't react, I tried to comprehend what he said. I trained, practiced, and sacrificed for years so I can fight in The Selection. I worked hard for this, I did everything for this, and for what? To be replaced by someone who doesn't even want to do it? The absurdity! "I lost to Rogan, Chancellor. He should be the one to represent the House of Aries and not me. I'm sorry but I will not do it and it's my decision." nakayukong sambit ni Roen sa Chancellor. I can feel my emotions trying to burst out, but I tried to control myself because I know it won't be any help to my situation and maybe it will just worsen it. Agad kong iniyoko ang ulo ko at nag-antay sa mga sasabihin nila. Alam kong hindi sila papayag agad sa naging desisyon ni Roen. Ariens are known to be firm and unyielding. I know for sure they would do everything to make Roen do it. Force him, manipulate him, or whatever. I don't know why he doesn't want to do it. I have no idea what he's doing and I have no interest in knowing it because the only thing I know that is for certain, is that I won The Selection and I should be the one to do it and not Roen, and that is the fact they need to accept and acknowledge. "I won. I will be doing it," "No, you won't. The House of Aries has been in the Odiacus Council for centuries because for a long time, Chancellors and Elders have already been choosing who will be trained and prepared for The Selection and Upbringing and in this case, Roen Arres was the chosen one and not you. We can't risk losing a seat in the council so stand back, Rogan Arres." one of the Elders exclaimed. Kung ganiyan pala ang nangyayari, ano pang silbi ng selection? Bakita kailangan pa naming gawin at ipakita sa ibang tao na kaya naming lumaban at ipakita ang kaya naming gawin kung una palang ay pili na kung sino ang mananalo? Ano 'to, palabas? Tuluyan akong napapikit dahil sa galit at kasabay no'n ang pagkuyom ng pareho kong palad. Handa na sana akong sagutin sila, ipakita na mali ang naging desisyon nila, handa na akong isugal ang lahat nang biglang may sinambit si Roen na napagpatigil ng mundo namin. "I lost half of my powers," After hearing those words from Roen, I could see the terror in the faces of the people around us, including me. Don't tell me he did it. He gave up his powers for what? Is this the reason why he doesn't want to do it? I can't believe he would do something like that. I don't like Roen or hate him either, but losing power is something that is unforgivable in our noble family. He's a pure fire blooded, people look up to us and respect us because of that. What could possibly make him lose his power? What was he thinking?! "I don't want to fight in the Upbringing! I wanted to live a civilian life, a normal life. I don't want a seat, nor that power. I don't want this kind of life and I know you all wouldn't allow me to do it that's why I resorted to it. I pledged back to the Ram." "What is wrong with you, Roen?!" our mother exclaimed. Agad na lumapit ito kay Roen, niyakap siya at sunod-sunod na tinanong tungkol sa binitawan niyang salita. Gumilid ako dahil lalo lang nagkagulo ang mga tao sa loob ng bahay. Nagsilapitan silang lahat kay Roen at kinausap ito. Naiwan naman akong nanonood sa kanilang lahat na alalang-alala sa kapatid ko. Suminghap ako at nagdesisyon na lang na umalis muna sa bahay dahil alam ko namang hindi ako kailangan doon at si Roen ang pinakamahalagang tao sa loob ng bahay na 'yon. Pagkalabas ng bahay namin ay kitang-kita ko sa daan ang mga taong nag-aabang sa magiging desisyon ng Chancellor at ng mga Elders sa nangyari. Nakasabit pa rin ang mga bandana at walang kakalat-kalat sa daan na nagsasabing walang feast na naganap. Traditionally, the feast is executed after the The Selection. They want to celebrate the Arien who won, to wish him or her good luck for the Upbringing. It just hard to accept that the people you look up to don't think good as much as you do to them. They doubted my abilities. They think that I will end the record of House of Aries in being the longest clan that have served in the Odiacus Council. They think so little of me. Pumunta ako sa lugar kung saan madalas kaming naglalagi ng pinsan kong si Kassar. Naabutan ko siya roon na naka-upo banda sa puno malapit sa tuktok ng burol kung saan matatanaw mo ang buong kabuuan ng House of Aries. Nakita niya ang pagdating ko kaya tinawag niya ako at sinenyasan na umupo sa tabi niya. Tumakbo naman ako papunta sa kaniya at tumabi sa gilid nito sabay sandal din malaking puno sa likuran namin. "So what happened? Will you do it?" bungad na tanong nito sa akin habang nakatingin pa rin kami sa malayo. Napabuga ako ng hangin, "You know I will do it, except the Chancellor and the Elders wouldn't allow me. But I think I may have the chance now." Napatingin siya sa akin at nakita ko sa mukha niya ang bakas ng pagkagulat dahil sa sinabi ko. "What do you mean?" "Roen pledged back to the Ram,"