A couple of days ago, I read this book out of curiosity.
It is about a creature who saved the world.
This creature used his ability to save mankind way back in Titamonachy, during the great war between mankind and the Gods.
Helping the weakling.
Saving a hundred thousands of lives.
Spoiler, he ends up dying.
But it wasn't sad, because he saves mankind.
And the world became peaceful.
"In Greek mythology, Titanomachy (Titan Battle) was a ten-year series of battles fought in Thessaly. This event is also known as the War of the Titans, Battle of the Titans, Battle of the Gods, or just the Titan War. The war was fought to decide which generation of gods would have dominion over the universe; it ended in victory for the Olympian gods..."
"This is boring."
I can hear Gerald babbling, but I jut ignored him. I didn't take my eyes away from our professor. He has no interest in mythology and finds it boring, but for me, considering that I've read that bizarre book, I grew to be curious about mythology. More specifically, about the creature who saved mankind. I found him admirable, based on the book I read he save the world and no one knows, aside from the man who wrote the book and its not even recorded to human history. If its a fictional or a real deal, It really draws my interest.
"Hey, what are you up after school?"
He keep poking me using his pen. I sighed and decided to look at him. He won't stop unless I answer him. "I go to my place and you go to your place." He is not asking, actually, but trying to get me to invite him to tag along. He's living with his mom and his stepfather, who always beats him that's why he always wanted to come with me. He lives a few rides away from my house, but its really doesn't bother him.
"What a bummer," he said with a sour face.
I just shrugged my shoulders and ignored him again and focused on our teacher. I was trying to get some hint about that creature who save the mankind.
"Greeks of the Classical Age knew of several poems about the war between the gods and many of the Titans. The dominant one...."
As she is explaining about how the war started I fall into a deep thought. The world is surely changing rapidly after the Ragnarök (The Battle between Gods and human) The truce between the Gods and Human race bring prosperity to the world than any time before. Plus, the human's limitless evolution help in the advancement and development of mankind. With the help of Gods lineage. The Demigod. Demigods are mortals or immortals, descendants of gods and humans. People's describe them with "supernatural powers and extraordinary abilities." In ancient time, the concept of a demigod did not have a coherent definition and the associated terminology seldom appeared. However, after the Great Battle of Gods, the demigods have been commercialized as allies of mankind. They are out there, living with us like a normal human being. Some are good and some of them are bad.
Therefore, the society was divided into three categories; The High Average level or much more known as Titans, composed of those so-called demigods. The god's lineage. They run this world. With their powers and their money, they are ahead of us. Leading the mankind while utilizing their place using their power.
Average level; Mos likely the Society, those who have no power or abilities, but have a lot of money. They are the lap dogs of those demigods. The kind of people who eats their shit just to get what they want from those half-gods. Authority.
And the below-average, a creature who has nothing.
No multi-billion.
No companies.
No ability.
No power.
As in, zero.
Nada.
They were also labelled as Crippled because they can do nothing without money and without powers.
And I, Lucian Perez age 17, belong to the third category. I'm just a regular senior high school student, who's afraid of being questioned, "What college are you going in into?" Or "What do you plan to do for your future?" I'm not sure about myself either, based on my current grades, I don't think I'll be able to go to university. I'm trying my best to avoid that kind of conversation as much as possible. I know my parents have my back, but I don't want to disappoint them. I can't simply tell them that I wanted to quit studying. And I don't want to place them under a lot of stress right now. They are too busy working hard day and night just to put some food on the table.
We had a little bakery along the lively street of San Vicente. My father's dream is to become a famous breadmaker. My mom is supporting him and as his son, I should also be happy, if only those averages people not prying into my dad's small business. They're trying to convince my dad to purchase his little bakery. But my dad doesn't want to sell it. "It has a sentimental value," he would constantly say. And I'm afraid that those average people will harm my dad just because of that piece of land.
A perk of being a low average, they can stomp on you easily using their money and you can't do anything.
The bell rang.
"That's all for today class, catch you all tomorrow."
Everyone seems relieve that our class is finally over. But I feel like It was a short period of time. I didnt get what I wanted to hear. I should ask our professor directly if I wanted to know something about our class lesson.
When our professor walked away, Gerald's face was all over mine. Snooping his nose again. "So, my friend, tell me, why are you so into Ms. Kamari's lesson?" Our other classmates started to pack there things and went out.
"I just find it odd." I pushed his face with my left palm as I got out of my chair and heads towards the classroom doorway.
"Odd? What do you mean? I see nothing special about the lesson today," Gerald said in a deep thought while catching up with me.
"Never mind," I just said to end the conversation. Gerald wouldn't get it even if I told him. I looked around, searching for Ms. Kamari, but I couldn't see her anymore, even her shadow. That was fast. Maybe I'll just ask her tomorrow.
I look back when I didn't feel Gerald's presence, he usually following my pace. I saw him standing on the classroom door. And I knew what he was thinking from the look on his face.
" No. Idiot, it's not like that. " I abruptly denied what he was thinking and continued to walk.
"Come on, man! You and I are friends, aren't we? Friends are meant to share their darkest secrets," he said with an evil smile while lifting his left brow back and forth. "You know I'm the great Gerald Beltran, I can help you when it comes to women," he added.
We reached my locker. I opened it while he was keep on going about his delussion and put my things before I turned to face him again. "Whatever running down into that dirty mind of yours---" I give him a flip on his forehead.
"---Ouch! That's hurt!"--- He give me a grimace look while scratching his hurting forehead.
"It's not like that, so give it a rest." I added. And I turn my back on him after closing my locker. Trying to get away from him but he block my way to stop me from leaving while smiling from ear to ear like a real idiot.
"What is it now?" I rolled my eyes. I really wanted to wipe those mug smiles off his face. I was about to scold him when his eyes ran through my shoulder, so I look where he's looking.
"Speaking of the hot and sexy devil," he said and lust is written all over his face.
It was Ms Kamari, our History teacher. She walks gracefully in the corridor of the school and all the students are looking at her, specially boys. Considerably, I can say she is beautiful and elegant in her very own way and she has a perfect and a firm body. But surely, she wouldn't pay me a second look. She is pretty and smart and she is older than me. Besides, a woman like that probably has already a boyfriend.
She smiled at me when she is about to pass through where I was standing. I awkwardly smiled back at her, because I know someone is being nosy at my back and I couldn't be more wrong when I turned around and saw "that" demonic smile on Gerald's face.
"I saw that," and he's having a lot of fun.
"Saw what?"
"Those shining-simmering-splendid smile you give to each other." he said while doing the puppy eyes.
"You and that nasty thought of yours will put you in danger one day," I said and leaves him behind.
"Why? What's wrong with that? Well, she is an average, while you are a low average. So what? That's a pure love story. Ms. Kamari can be your Juliet and you can be his Romeo---"
"--- they ended up dying," I cut him off.
"Well, yes, you are right, but--hey! That's not the point here. You don't see the big picture, Lucien."
I decided to ignore him so he can quit blabbering nonsense.
"You're such a virgin."
I stopped and looked around to make sure no one heard him say anything about me—being a virgin. Luckily no ones around that area. Though, there is a few students from a distance busy doing there own businesses.
"Look who's talking," I turn to face him. He is really trying to get into my nerves. He is just trying to squeeze something out of me and I don't have anything to give because in the first place, its not about Ms. Kamari. But I couldn't tell him that, of course. It'll be weird.
"I-I am no longer a v-virgin," he stated in a low voice and started to get tensed.
"Yeah, right, since when?" I knit my eyebrows while looking at him square in the eyes. I know he can't lie. He is precisely being a douche, trying to be nosy again. He's always like that, pretending to be a know-it-all, even though in the first place, he- himself-never had a girlfriend. I've known him long enough to know everything about him. Even the color of his shit when he got a diahrea.
He dodged my eye and scraped his neck. There was no answer, so I turn my back. "Everything you say makes no sense," I said and walked out.
"Hey! I'm trying to help you out, how about a piece of 'thank you'?" he shouted.
"I'm going to leave you behind," I shout back.
I heard him running towards me.
"I'm hungry," he said out of the blue.
"What do you want to eat later?"
"You can decide..."
"Idiot, don't make me choose."
"Oh, then anything's fine."
Arg! He is really a handful. I just decided to keep my mouth shut before things get ugly again.
"Hey, there is a new episode..."
We talk about random things, as if we didn't almost punch each other just a few minutes ago. Like always, we're best friends after all. We get into each others nerve, but we don't take it seriously. And whatever we were fighting over wasn't worth it. Gerald is a nosy-buddy, but he's someone you can count on when you need him. He maybe a scaredy-cat, but he's never gonna leave you behind, he's that kind of guy. Come to think of it, I've known him since we wer kids. He used to talk really loud and acted like a gangster. He even got into a fight and told our teacher he did that to save humanity.
I remember the first time I met him, I was being bullied and he came to the rescue and in the end, we ended up being beaten together. It was comical and hilarious moment, but instead of weeping we just laugh about what happened and since then we became friends.
Our house is a few blocks away from our school, we can get there by just walking. Its way better this way too, walking makes my mind ar ease. I can think clearly or I can enjoy the things around me while walking.
Country Bread
As we got in to our bakeshop a man in his late fifties is taking off the newly baked bread from the oven. I instantly smell the melted chocolate mixed with the freshly grated Parmesan. I can hear Gerald's stomach growling.
"Ah... your Choco-bread is the best in the entire universe, Uncle," he said while sniffling.
The man turn around and looked at us with a proud smile—that's Marcellus Salvatore, my dad. He is five feet and five inches tall. His bronze skin sparkles in the sight of sunlight. His beard is almost covering his face aside from his pointy nose and sharp eyes.
"You're talking nonsense again, you haven't tried any other than my dad's bread," I enunciated. And it's true he likes my father's bread because it's free of charge. Just last day, he said that the burger I bought at the cafeteria was the best, too, because it was free.
"You are a bad son, you think your dad's bread wasn't the best?"
"Dad, don't fall for his words. Every free thing is best for him."
"Hey! That's not true!" he denied strongly while shooking his head.
My father just laugh.
"Alright, you two get inside and pack some bread with you." Dad gives us a tray and thong.
"Aye! Aye! Captain!" Gerald said and he gives my dad a salute before taking in some bread.
"Where's mom?" I haven't seen her around, usually by then she's here to help dad because at a time like this our bakery got busy.
"She's upstairs, she says she has a backache, I told her to rest."
"Ok." I said and went to the kitchen.
Our bakery is interconnected with our house. It's one half of our first floor. Dad makes that portion as the bakeshop while the other half is our kitchen and dinning area. He does it alone. I may not born as an Aveage one or a High Average, but I am still lucky to have a pair of wonderful parents. I couldn't asked for more.
"I'm stuffed," Gerald said while caressing his belly. We just finish eating dad's famous Choco-bread.
"Thank's for the hospitality," He got up and went to the living room as if he owns every corner of the vacinity.
I started to collect the dishes we used so I can wash it.
"Slothful mutt! Help me with the dishes," I demanded.
"I'm an honored guest, you shouldn't have your guest do the dishes, Lucien."
I toss the pot holder on him and landed it on his face.
" Hey!" he shouted.
"Eating everyday at my house for more than 10 years and you still called yourself a guest? I really wanted to imprint your face on the ceilings."
"Auntie, look at how mean your son's are. I've been meaning to ask you this for a long time. Is he really came out from yout tummy? I'm really having a doubt if he is really your son, you are too kind to be true, while Lucien here is concieved with too much dissatisfaction." he is yelling so that my mom who is resting upstairs can hear him.
"Pfft!"
I saw Alyana Perez---my mom---she's standing on the stairway, holding his breathe to stop herself from bursting into laughter. She is in her early fifties.
"Seriously?" I feel so frustrated that my mom is so fond of that idiot. Gerald is really good in sugar coating.
"You two keep on fighting but in the end you can't leave each other behind,"she said and walk towards me. She gently tapped me on the shoulder while smiling beautifully. I just rolled my eyes trying to convince her that she is a one million times wrong.
"I could've agree more," I heard Gerald's response.
" Shut up, bastard! At least rinse the dishes!" I march to the living room where he is at while holding the sponge and the glass full of bubbles.
" Hey-hey-hey! Chill out!" he panicked when he saw me and the things I was holding "I was just joking! There is no need to be physical," he said while getting up from the sofa and planning to sneak out.
"At time like this, it is needed," I said and throw the bubbles I gathered on the glass on him.
"Lucien!" he shouted while trying to dodge the bubbles and he jump off from the sofa and hurriedly run towards the kitchen.
"You really run fast for a sluggish bastard," I said and run after him.
"Stop it, you two!" Mom said while running after us.
I caught him at the front of our bakeshop. We are both catching up our breathe. "Take this!" I wrapped my right arm on his neck and rubbed the sponge on his face.
"---elp! Save m---" he is struggling to escape from my grasp. But I wouldn't let him. I even tughten my arm around his neck.
"No one's gonna save you, sluggish!" I said while laughing.
"What are you two doing?" Dad came out from the shop. I automatically release him and we pointed at each other.
My dad give us an earful scolding.
A strange sounds of a noisy wheels caught my attention. Followed by the ratcheting of heavy metals after the loud banged! I look in the direction where it coming from and I saw this truck heading towards the direction where we are standing. I was taken aback for a minute. I strained to move my body after pulling myself together, but I couldn't. I was stucked there! And as that crazy thing are getting closer, everything went to a slow motion and someone pushed me. I screamed using every ounce of my strengths but I only heard the schreeching sounds of the wheels. I saw my mom coming out from the shop on my side vision before I felt something hard hit my body and went flew into the mid air and fell on the cemented road. The pain intensified. Everywhere felt numb. I heard people screaming. And on my hazy vision, I saw everything being crushed. The shop, our house and my family.
And everything went dark...