Enchanted: Prologue

"I accept apologies, of course. I understand why mortals do such things." Zeus responded. "But I only accept genuine one. So — I'm very sorry but I am not accepting yours,"

How can he make me feel so little to myself? I feel humiliated right in front of everyone as of this moment.

Naramdaman ko ang pagkuyom ng aking kamao na mabilis ko namang binaklas. I don't

want to give him what he wanted. Masisiyahan lang siya sa kaniyang nakikita habang I'm feeling low for myself.

Very evil.

"Using foul words to someone else's name has consequences to pay." Zeus spoke

again. Pakiramdam ko ay nanuyo ang lalamunan ko nang marinig 'yon. Such specific words is enough make me tremble in front of him. He's so direct to the point. He's being blunt. "Meddling with

someone else's deals and/or businesses has consequences to pay." Tumalim ang mata

ko habang pakiramdam ko ay namumuo na ang butil-butil ng pawis sa aking noo. "Mocking the beliefs of the people has consequences to pay." Napapikit ako nang mariin. I got three strikes?

"Oh, wow, very impressive," ani Aphrodite, "She made a lot of violation in just one week." dugtong pa niya. Abala itong tinitingnan ang mga palamuti sa kaniyang kamay.

"Spare the child, Zeus." Arucis begged, bakas sa mukha nito na hindi maganda ang mangyayari o kung ano man ang sasabihin ng isa. "Give her mercy. I'll explain everything to her. I'll teach her about the things around here. And then I assure you, she'll learn, eventually, after that."

"Stop it, Arucis," wika ko.

Lumingon sa akin ito saka ako binigyan ng matalim na tingin.

Damn.

Tumango-tango si Zeus, na para namang nagbigay ng liwanag sa mukha ni Arucis. "I

understand the concern, Iñigo." Zeus agreed. "She's a family — the princess and your

granddaughter. But I don't want you to take the judgement." Bumalik ang panic sa ekspresyon nito. "The verdict is only for sinners. They have to pay for what they have done."

Nanatili akong tahimik habang iniintindi ang kanilang usapan. Something is going to

happen. And I am not going to like it — for sure.

"Let the Unseen and the Judges make the verdict." Someone spoke in a baritone voice.

Hinanap ko ito saka nakita ang halos ka-resembla lang ng kasuotan ni Athena. Ang

pinagkaiba ay lalaki ito. Malaki ang pangangatawan, mahaba ang kulay pulang buhok, at tsokolate ang mata. Matapang ito kung titingnan kung kaya't hindi ko maiwasang

iiwas agad ang tingin.

"Don't be too harsh, Ares, she's still alive." Malumanay na sambit ni Zeus. "I can handle

this."

"What do you mean by you can handle her? Did you hear about how she thought that

we're just a stupid fiction?" Bakas ang iritasyon sa mukha at boses nito habang

nagsasalita. "I want her dxad. Her remains will be fed to different monsters."

"Ares — "

"That's final,"

"Calm down, Ares," mahinahong singit ni Athena. "Let's make this discussion a little lighter for the kid. "

She's saying that while her face is still blank. What the hxck?

"Take my suggestion or I'll do anything to get rid of her." Mariing sambit niya. "You all

know that I have the power to do that, right? I have a mind and strength for wars and

battles."

Bakit ba galit na galit sa akin 'to?

"Mind is for Athena," bulong ko. I heard Arucis cuss under his breath. He's probably

thinking I'm making the scene worse.

Which happened to be heard by him. Why would I be surprised in the first place? He's a

freaking god.

"What'd you say?" tanong nito na parang naghahamon.

Umiling ako. "I refuse to answer."

"You saw that?" tanong niya pagkalingon kay Zeus. "You saw that, right? And you also

heard that. Don't even lie."

"Enough," bigkas ni Zeus na parang hindi na natutuwa sa nangyayari. Umayos ito ng

pagkakaupo saka tumingin sa akin, mata sa mata. "Iñigo, I'm very sorry." Panimula nito

habang nakatingin sa kaniya. Nanatiling tahimik na nakamasid si Arucis habang

hinihintay ang kaniyang sasabihin. "I am going to give you an amount of time you can

spend."

I slightly tilted my head. "What?"

I think I know what he's talking about but I don't want to think about it. I could be wrong,

right? He doesn't want me dead after a certain period of time. Right?

Oh, god, I think like I'm going to pass out. My head feels like it's beating. Para akong natutuliro. Hindi ako makapag-isip nang maayos habang nags-sink in sa utak ko ang sinabi niya.

"Twenty years," aniya habang ang asul nitong mata ay nakatitig na sa akin. "Twenty

years is all you have left before the Fates will cut your thread."

Para akong binuhasan ng malamig na tubig sa kaniyang sinabi.

Twenty years?

Lumingon sa akin si Ares. "Spend it wisely." He smirked.

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