Kill for Love

Chapter 52

Gaus was ecstatic while looking at Cytherea's smiling face. The one that reaches her eyes.  He was following them as they went to every store in Canal Place. It is a three floors shopping mall in New Orleans that caters to luxurious products. 

He knew that it's going to be tiring to tag along during women's shopping, but he didn't mind. Seeing Cytherea smiled is already enough to make him feel energized.

“Omg! There’s Louis here. Let’s go there!” Athena excitedly exclaimed as she saw the store of Louis Vuitton. Athena let go of Cytherea’s hand and left Cytherea and Gaus in the hallway. She hurriedly walked towards the store.

Cytherea stopped walking and shook her head. Gaus caught up to her and stayed by her side. Cytherea faced him and smiled at him apologetically. Her eyes were sparkling with joy. She looked again at Athena who was waving at them to walk faster before excitedly going inside the store.

“I’m sorry about that. Athena can be really childish sometimes most especially if she saw her favorite brand."

Gaus chuckled. "Isn't it a normal reaction for most women?” he teasingly asked.

“Well, I guess I’m not one of those women then,” Cytherea giggled. 

“Really? Are you playing with me?” Gaus chuckled again. He couldn’t believe what Cytherea told him. Everything that she has, screams luxury even the one that she’s wearing right now-- a Gucci dress, Christian Louboutin sneakers, and a Louis Vuitton bag.

“Of course not. To tell you honestly, I didn’t spend even a dime on my luxurious items. It was Ares who constantly buys everything for me."

"I'm sorry," he immediately apologized when her expression changed. 

"Oh, no! You're good," she said, smiling right away. "You don't have to apologize. It can't be helped in my case. Ares has been with me for years and even though it's been months already, I still can't get him out of my system. He's been a part of my life. It's just so hard to forget him when all the things I have reminded me of him." 

"Let me help you forget about him," he muttered.

"Huh?" Cytherea asked. She was taken aback. Her heart starts beating rapidly and it is as if there are butterflies in her stomach that she can no longer contain and just want to fly freely. 

Gaus held her two hands and looked intently into her eyes. “I’m sorry if I’m making you uncomfortable and I know this is not the right place to confess. But I just want you to know that I’m willing to help you with anything.”

Cytherea looked at their hands and then at Gaus’ face. She looked confused by his sudden confession and for some odd reason, fear starting to consume her.

 “I-I don’t know what to say, Gaus,” she stammered while still looking at their hands. She was too afraid to look at Gaus’ face again. She’s afraid that she might see an emotion that she doesn’t want to see.

 “You don’t have to say anything and please don’t think that I’m asking for something in return for all of the help that I gave you. Please, please don’t think that way. I’m willing to help you no matter what,” Gaus said sincerely. He touches her face and then he tucks the loose hair stands at the back of her ear while still holding Cytherea’s right hand. “I’m sorry if I suddenly blurted out my feelings for you. I like you, Cy, and I’m willing to wait. I know you are still grieving Ares’ death but I hope you’ll give me a chance. I will do a formal confession not like this that we are in the middle of the mall.”

“Thank you, Gaus and I’m sorry if I can’t say anything to you right now. I-it was so sudden and I don’t know how to react.”

“And that’s okay. You don’t have to say anything to me right now. But I hope you’ll let me show how much you mean to me.”

Hearing the sincerity in Gaus’ voice, Cytherea had finally the courage to look him in the eye. He had the warm smile plastered on his lips while softly looking at her and all she could say was, “Thank you.”

Gaus understandingly smiled and nodded. 

“Let’s go. I bet Athena is wondering why we are still here,” Cytherea giggled

“Oh, yeah,” Gaus agreed. He lets go of Cytherea’s hand and holds her back to guide her towards the Louis Vuitton store. They saw Athena standing by the door who was obviously waiting for them.

“What took you both so long?” her left eyebrow raised as she asked the two.

“We just talked about something,” Cytherea looked at Gaus and smiled before looking at Athena again. She clung her arms to hers and pulled her closer. “Don’t be mad we are already here. Have you already found something you like?” she asked, dodging her question. She dragged Athena towards the bag’s shelf, trying to widen the distance from Gaus.

“I saw you both holding hands, what was that about?” Athena whispered. 

Cytherea chuckled. 

“I’ll tell you about it when we get back to the penthouse,” she whispered back. 

“Ohh… intriguing,” Athena teased. Cytherea just chuckled and pinched Athena’s waist in which the latter just laughed.

***

It was such a great day for them. They went to different malls, did the swap tour, and even went to the Aquarium of the Americas. There are still that Cytherea wanted to see but they were not able to because it was already dark. They had so much fun that Cytherea almost forgot Gaus’ confession until Athena asked her about it when they are already in the penthouse.

She just got out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped in her body. She also has another towel in her hand which she uses to dry her hair. She sat on the chair in front of her dresser which has a big mirror and all of her skincare products.

Athena was sitting on the bed hugging her legs. She already took a shower and already in her PJs. She was already ready to sleep but just waiting for Cytherea because there were some questions that she wanted to ask most especially the one at Canal Place where she saw her and Gaus holding their hands. She was looking at Cytherea’s reflection in the mirror.

“So, what was that in the Canal Place?” Athena asked.

Cytherea stopped what she’s doing and looked at Athena’s reflection in the mirror. She blushed as she remembered the confession that Gaus made.

“Hmmm, someone is blushing. Did he confess?” she asked teasingly.

“Well, he did. But he also said that he will do a formal confession.”

“Oh my god! I knew it! I told you. I was right all along. So, do you have any feelings for him?” she curiously asked. She laid on the bed with her tummy and put her palms under her cheeks.

Cytherea sighed and put the towel on the dresser and faced Athena who was biting her lips, so eager to know what Cytherea would say.

“I don’t know, Bestie. I’m still confused. He is really good to me and I don’t want to confuse that with something romantic.”