Do Not Touch Me!

Chapter 13: The Birthday of Athanasius

Chapter 13: The Birthday of Athanasius

We all got to the mainland of Metropolis City safe and sound. Ang mga babaeng nadakip at dapat na ibebenta ng mga Maxwell at Argentine ay agad namang sinundo rin ng lokal na mga polisya. Bago pa man magtanong ang mga awtoridad kung sino ang nagligtas sa kanila ay agad na kaming umalis sa lugar na mga miyembro ng Seven Deadly Sins, si Viveron naman ay piniloto muli ang submarine upang lumubog ito sa katubigan at mawala nang tuluyan sa paningin.

It was a rough and exhausting night. Nang dumating kami sa mansion ay tumungo agad kami sa Control Center at tinawagan si Dr. Achilles. On the fourth ring, he answered. His background this time was a. plain white wall with a few sticky notes on it, a few blueprints as well, and outlines. Mukhang abala ito sa kaniyang dating ginagawa na bahagya niyang tinigil upang bigyan kami ng atensyon.

"The operation is a success. We have successfully decapitated CALM." It was Athanasius. His tone was professional and monotone. Hindi mo agad maiisip din na ama niya ang pinuno ng RAGE dahil sa lebel ng propesyonalismo na pinapakita niya, gayon din sa kaniyang ama. They must be keeping their personal relation in private, and work is work. I guess that is something admirable.

"Good job, Seven Deadly Sins." Saad ni Dr. Achilles, tumingin siya sa akin matapos ang ilang sandali rin. "This will not be possible if not for you, Mary... You did well."

I faked a smile, knowing I did nothing but just be a bait holding the tracker. Did I really contribute anything at all? I was doubtful, but everyone looked at me with such confidence and pride. That somehow made my heart melt. For the first time, I felt like I finally belonged and that I was acknowledged for something bare minimum that I did.

"You should give yourself the credit you deserve," mukhang napansin ni Sayuri ang reluctance ko kaya niya sinabi iyon sa akin. I faked another smile and nodded.

"Anyway, Viveron will simply input a written report on the series of events that occurred in your missions. You may now all take a break and rest. You did great, once again, all of you," Saad ni Dr. Achilles, kasabay nito ay namatay ang ilaw sa screen ng malaking flat screen. Lumabas na rin kaming lahat, syempre, gaya ng dating gawi ay ako ang nahuli, pero sa mga sandaling ito, medyo lumiit nang unti ang distansya sa amin ng aking mga kasquad.

Were they warming up to me? Or I guess it was just me and my imagination.

"Good night," Athanasius told me. Doon ko lang napansin na wala na ang iba. Ginamit siguro nila Shinigami at Sayuri ang kanilang ultra-speed, habang sina Sunhell at Portgas naman ay malapit lang aa Control Center ang kanilang mga kuwarto. Kami na lang ni Athanasius ang natira sa may pasilyo.

"I am not yet sleepy despite being exhausted, but yes, good night too." I replied.

"Me too." Saad niya, kumunot ang aking noo dahil hindi ko siya nagets agad, "I mean, I am not yet sleepy too." He clarified. Napatango naman ako matapos ang ilang sandali. "Anyway, since both of us are nowhere near to sleeping yet, wanna hang out at the garden and watch the night sky together? That is what I usually do, tapos dadalawin na lang ako agad ng antok."

"Sounds like a plan," I smiled. Naunang naglakad si Athanasius. I let him lead the way towards the backyard garden of the mansion. It was filled with white roses and the dim illumination of the moonlight was enough to make us see the place somehow. Awtomatiko na bumukas ang ibang mga fairy lights na dinadaanan namin din, as if sensing our motion.

Umupo sa damuhan si Athanasius, nilagay niya ang kaniyang mga kamay din sa kaniyang tuhod. He looked at me after, and he patted the spot next to him, as if telling me to sit there.

I smiled and sat a meter away from him. Bahagyang natauhan naman si Athanasius, mukhang naalala niya na isa pala akong makamandag na lason at walang cure sa aking virus din.

"You don't look like your father," I commented as we stargazed.

"I get that a lot." Humalakhak si Athanasius, "but we have the same principles and morals in life, I guess what I got from dad is the character, while I got my looks from my late mother." Athanasius stated. Hindi ako nagtanong kung ano ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng kaniyang ina, I guess that was too invasive and it was none of my concern as well. "How about you, Mary?" He asked.

"I am an orphan. My parents died when I was fifteen, it was an airplane crash. They were scientists too." I stated, "they left me behind, and I lived off for years through the life insurance that they had, and all that stuff."

"I see..." He stated. "It must be tough, losing both your parents at the same time. I cannot fathom the pain you must have went through, but you have nothing to worry now, you got a new family..."

I faked a smile. He was still pushing the idea that we were a family, but I cannot bring myself to think like that. I had to retain the emotional distance among us because I am afraid to get attached and lose them in the process. He was right that it was tough, though, and that is also why I do not want to go through that same phase again, and that is why I have to keep my distance, not only physically, but emotionally too. Lalo at alam ko na may tinatago rin silang lahat sa akin.

"By the way, tomorrow, we will have a celebration. Just us Seven Deadly Sins people, and Thalia if she is in the mood to join." Athanasius stated.

"For today's success?" I asked.

"No." Athanasius chuckled, "tomorrow is a special day for me... It is my twenty-seventh birthday," he declared.

Napatango naman ako dahil sa kaniyang deklara, "advance happy birthday, then." Kasabay nito ay tumunog ang relo ni Athanasius.

"Oh, it is 12 already." Aniya, "my birthday."

I smiled, "happy birthday."

"Thank you, Mary." Athanasius stated. Parang ilang oras lang bago ngayon ay nasa barko ako. Parang kanina lang ay may digmaan na nangyari. Hindi rin ako makapaniwala sa bilis ng lahat ng mga pangyayari. Who would have thought too that I get to spent a night alone with Athanasius?

I looked at him. His eyes were locked unto the sky. He was admiring the moon and the stars. He was a beautiful man, and he was my total opposite too. His facial features appear like he was a man carved by the angels into perfection. I looked away when he looked at me.

I was already feeling cold, kaya naman nagpaalam na ako at sinabi kong inaantok na ako kahit hindi talaga. I do not know, but I felt something strange tug my heartstring, and before that gets worse, I had to move away.

~*~

Nagising ako dahil nairap ako sa liwanag na tumatama sa aking mukha, galing ito sa araw na sumisilip sa aking nakabukas na veranda. Humikab ako at bumangon. I looked at the grandfather clock beside my room and saw that it was already ten in the morning. I overslept, but it was understandable given how exhausting yesterday was and how late I slept. I think it was around 3AM when I finally slept.

Tumungo ako sa banyo at naligo't nagbihis. Hindi ang transparent skin ang suot ko ngayon kundi ang gloves lang. Masyado rin kasi akong naiiniran sa transparent skin na iyon, mas maganda na gloves na lang kung saan kamay ko lang ang nakasuot. I do not intend to be near anyone in the first place, so it is okay. I will just wear the full body skin if I get out of the mansion for mission and stuff.

Nang nakapagbihis at ayos na ako ng sarili ay lumabas na ako at tumungo sa dining hall, kung saan nakita ko sina Sayuri, Shinigami, at Athanasius na naghihiwa ng mga gulay sa may pahabang mesa. Si Sunhell naman ay nasa kusina at tila nagluluto at nagbebake, habang si Portgas ay tila naglalaro ng mobile game sa cellphone.

"Mary is up," Sayuri grinned. "Good morning."

I nodded, "good morning."

"We are preparing food for Athanasius's small party today." Portgas told me.

"Anong 'we' e wala ka namang ambag," Sayuri rolled her eyes. "Naglalaro ka lang dyan."

"Ako na bahala maglilinis ng mga kalat mamaya," aniya.

"Talaga ba? Tatamarin ka lang, and the ending will be Thalia doing it for you." Umiling na lang si Sayuri habang sinasabi iyon at sinesermunan Portgas na mukhang hindi na nakikinig dahil sinuot na niya ang kaniyang earphones.

"Is there anything I can help with?" I asked.

Umiling si Athanasius, "do not worry, everything is covered."

"Alright, then." I said. Since I had nothing better to do, napagpasyaan ko na tuumungo na lang sa Training Arena sa underground na parte ng mansion. I was alone here, I went to my block. Kasabay niro ay lumabas ang hologram ni Viveron.

"Are you going to train today, Mary?"

"Yes." I replied to her. Rather than wasting my time doing nothing, I will just use it wisely by improving myself further. I cannot just rely on this lethal touch of mine. I also have to gather as much combat experience as I can.

"Alright, then... We shall start with your training." Viveron stated.

Pawisan na ako at hindi ko namalayan kung ilang oras ang lumipas. Basta ang alam ko ay sinabi ni Viveron na tapos na ang aming training. Muli akong bumalik sa kwarto ko at naligo nang mabilisan lang, nagbihis muli ako. Sakto na iyon ay may kumatok sa pinto.

It was Thalia, sinabi niya sa akin na tumungo na ako sa dining hall upang kumain na kasama ang ibang mga miyembro. Nagpasalamat naman ako at bumalik sa dining hall kung saan naroon na ang lahat ng miyembro.

"Before we start, let us sing a happy birthday for Athanasius." Sayuri noted, kasabay nito ay sinimulan na niyang kumanta at sumunod naman ang iba, pati na rin sa akin. Sunhell then came out from the kitchen that was connected to the dining hall, and he held a cake with a candle on fire. Nilapit niya ito kay Athanasius.

"Make a wish." Portgas grinned.

Tumango naman si Athanasius at saka pumikit. A few seconds later, he blew the fire off the candle.

"Let's eat!" Sayuri smiled. Nauna na siya na kumuha ng mga pagkain. Ako naman ay nanatili pa rin ang distansya, at kumain ako sa gitna. May limang upuan sa pagitan namin ng lahat din. Para sa kanila rin at akin ito. I sighed. If only I can flip my power on and off, I guess that will be more convenient.

I looked at everyone. They were all smiling and beaming. It was a peaceful day, unlike yesterday. But ur was too peaceful and that is why I had this bad premotion, it felt like this was just the calm before the storm.

"So, Athanasius, what did you wish for?" Usisa ni Sayuri.

"Sayuri, baka hindi mangyari ang wish kapag ishare." Shinigami scowled.

"That is just a superstition, and I do not believe such thing." Athanasius grinned, "my wish is simple, for us to live long and stay safe despite the danger we are exposed in. After all, alam niyo naman kung gaano kadelikado lagi ang ating mga ginagawa. Buhay natin lagi ang nakataya, but we have the advantage since we all got each other's back and we are all also bestowed with an unrivaled power."

Tumango ang lahat.

"Iyon lang ang wish mo?" Sayuri asked.

"Yes... That is all I ever wanted as the leader of the Seven Deadly Sins too." He stated.

Nang matapos kaming kumain ay nagpaalam na muli ang lahat sa isa't isa, each going to their personal business. Ako naman ay tumungo lang din sa aking kuwarto, and I spent the rest of my days there, in solitude and in my own comfort.