The Unknown God/Goddess

The Difference

August's P.O.V

I couldn't sleep that much yesterday. I keep on asking what's the difference between Austin and August? Is it really because of the s*x? A woman approaching another woman with the intent of flirting should be normal like guys approaching women. 

I tried thinking of other possible reasons why August hadn't kissed Rafaela yet and why Austin can do so. But other than pondering the reasons, I also can't get over the fact that we kissed. I worshipped Pharsa the very second I saw her yesterday. She has such godly skills! I had underestimated her. 

Rafaela's lips were so soft, so plump and so luscious. I could kiss them all day. The sensation lingered on my lips yesterday. How our lips were right. 

"You're touching your lips again," Mine stated for the nth time this day. 

I haven't seen Rafaela yet. I've greeted Sarah and Earl this morning and they said we were going to eat lunch together again since Earl doesn't have any practice. Mine and I were cool with it. It seems that the awkwardness yesterday went away, puffed like smoke. 

"Her lips were so surreal." I can't stop smiling. These lips landed on Rafaela's. I've finally crossed the first border but as Austin. 

I should keep this up. The slow steps I'm taking will definitely make me succeed. Rushing Rafaela won't do my any good. It'll scare her away. Take it slow. 

"Hey!" I feel someone hugging me from behind. The arms were slender and locked loosely around my neck. 

The scent. It was Rafaela. She brought her cheeks to mine and squeezed our cheeks together. She was giggling and happy. 

"Yo," I greeted with my usual smile. 

"Hey. Didn't see you this morning." Mine nods at Rafaela. 

"Yes, I was actually late. Don't tell no one."

Rafaela sits next to me and places her bag on the table before crossing her legs under the table. She was wearing short shorts. Must be because it isn't so cold. 

"I won't." Mine chuckles before rummaging through her bag. 

"Sorry I went out early yesterday." she turns to me as she says. 

"Oh, no, it's okay." 

"Don't worry. I'll make up later."

"Later?" she purses her lips together. The action made me remember yesterday. I felt hot and looked away instantly before I could re-live it again. 

"Yeah. Dad wants to ask you to eat dinner with us." she says it like it was nothing, like I was already part of their family. 

Now that I remember, I haven't seen her mother and they haven't mentioned anything either. I want to ask but what if she says her mother is no longer alive? I would be re-creating another awkward moment to the two of us. But if I won't, I won't be getting closer to her. 

"Oh, sure. Just the three of us?" 

"Yeeees, did you want to bring Mine?" Mine looks at me, shocked that I want her to come along. 

"Oh, no, no. She'll be having a night out with Pharsa." 

"Is that right?" Rafaela turns to Mine and Mine had no choice but to nod without any memory of that happening later. 

A few moments later, Sarah and Earl came and we ate our lunch. Thankfully, Pharsa didn't cause any more trouble s***h help. She was keeping quiet since this morning. She was keeping to herself. 

"Your father already likes August? That's, woah. Really?" Earl asks, shocked with the information. 

"I know, right?" Rafaela laughs and then looks at me. I just stare at her, confused, because I wasn't following their conversation. 

"I still remember him getting annoyed whenever he sees the two of us." Sarah indicates to her and to Earl before laughing. 

Rafaela grabs her water bottle and drinks from it. It was in slow motion again. I see her throat moving when she was gulping and how her lips curved. I wished I was the water. 

"Me, too! Maybe because August believes in gods and goddesses too. They share a common interest." Rafaela's voice was ringing inside my ears. Like a cave, echoing endlessly. 

"Or, or!" Earl stops everyone from saying anything by extending his long arms around the table and looked at each one of us intently before continuing his statement. 

"Or maybe because August is so beautiful and he can see that you two can have something more." Rafaela looks at me before giggling. She wasn't awkward anymore, unlike yesterday. 

I remember her thanking me yesterday because I made her realize something. She didn't tell me what it was but I wonder if that has something to do with right now. 

"Oh, shush." Rafaela shakes her head and tidies her part of the table. 

"But you two can make a really great couple." Sarah nods at herself as she looks at Rafaela and me. 

"I think that too." Mine inserts in the conversation. Finally, Mine was uttering a word. 

"Gosh, August will feel awkward if you keep saying things like that." Rafaela 

"Fine, fine. Anyway, it's almost time for class." Earl stands up and we all followed him. 

"I'll walk you to your next class." I stopped breathing. 

I look at Rafaela, unsure what she meant by that. Why would she walk me to my next class? Mine's eyes me before waving at me goodbye. Earl and Sarah did the same, leaving me alone with the beautiful Rafaela. 

"Let's go?" she was all smiley. 

"Right," 

As we walk through the hallways, everyone turned to look at us. I could hear their whispers but my heartbeat was louder. My mind was racing to many possible reasons why she'd want to walk me to my class. It would be easier to know if I just ask her but, but I can't. My knees were wobbly. I was more nervous right now than going to war. At one time, I was about to be deployed to war but the others were so against it, saying that I should stay and learn the basics of ruling. 

"August?" I flinched. She was just mentioning my name! Why'd I have to flinch like that? 

"Yes?" that's right. Keep it cool. Keep it cool. 

"Do you have a twin? A cousin?" 

Okay. So she wanted to ask me this that's why she wanted to talk me to class. I thought she had ulterior motives, the romantic ones. I wished it was like that. 

"No, not really. Why?" I know why, I just want to ask. I don't want her to think I'm doing something behind her back. 

"I met someone yesterday. He had the same eye color as yours." 

I wonder if I can make her spill if I ask. 

"Really? Purple?" 

"Yeah. It was really bizarre. It almost felt like I was still talking to you." 

"How did you two meet?" 

"We just bumped into each other. I should've made you come with me. I wouldn't have bumped into him." she starts chuckling at herself. 

"Did he say anything?" 

"No, not really. I told him about you but I think he didn't appreciate it." she laughs again. 

I smile at myself. Her voice always soothes me in ways that I can't understand. No magic nor power can make me fee at ease yet nervous at the same time. 

"You guys talked?" 

"Yeah, and we went to drink some lattes." 

"Awe, I'm jealous." I try to joke. 

"What? Don't be. You're eating at my house later." I scoff.

"I want to go out with you too." 

That's right. BE aggressive. Make her think you're joking yet she'll still consider the possibility that you're after her. Yes, that's right. Do it the Austin way. Let's try to differentiate by seeing her reaction. 

"You want to date me?" she giggles and pinches my cheek. 

She turns around and walked backwards while still pinching my cheeks. I place my hands on her waist and looked ahead to guide her. 

"Wphy? I kan't?" she was still pinching my cheeks so yes, that's how I pronounced it. 

"Sure, why not." she laughs again and pulls me closer. 

We stopped walking and stood still in the middle of the hallway with other students gawking at us. She pulls me closer and our noses touched. Her green eyes were mesmerizing. I got lost, searching how deep they were. 

"What?" she laughs and pulls me. 

"You're going to be late, weirdo." she teases. 

She waved at me goodbye and disappeared. I was played by my own game. She completely got ahold of the situation and turned the tables on me. If I was Austin, will she be able to do that again? She was so lovely. 

The rest of the afternoon went by like a blur. I was too fixated on our moment earlier. Go out? Go out as? And what did she mean by 'sure, why not'? What did she mean by that? What about her laugh? Was she joking? Because I wasn't. There's only one way to find out. And that's to test it out if she'll really do what she says. 

"Class dis-" I didn't let the teacher finish and I ran to where Rafaela's last subject was. 

Mine heard Rafaela inviting me over so I guess she won't be having to worry about me for the night. 

"You got here fast." Rafaela smiles as she sees me. 

"Can I hold your hand?" her eyebrows raised. 

"Excuse me, coming through." someone says behind Rafaela. Rafaela steps aside, unblocking the door. 

"Sorry," she says to the student and the student just nodded before walking away. 

I extend my hand. 

"Your hand," her lip curved upward and she takes my hand. 

"So, are we dating now?" she laughs. 

"Not yet," I laugh too, playing her game. 

"Shall we?" 

"We shall." 

We walk hand in hand to her house. I never thought it'd be this soon that I'll eat here again. Rafaela opens the door and it instantly smelled delicious, the air, I mean. 

"Dad?" Rafaela calls out. She lets go of my hand and searched for Mr. Wilson. 

"Sweetie! Right here!" I hear him yelling but I wasn't the one he called so I didn't approach him. Rafaela came to him. 

"I thought we were having dinner?" I hear Rafaela's high-pitched voice. 

I made myself comfortable and sat on the sofa. They're not really making their conversation private, hearing that they're shouting. 

"Yes, we are." 

"But why is it so early?" 

"Because August deserves a feast." I'm flattered Mr. Wilson. I laugh at myself for replying to him even though we're not talking. Do humans do this? Talking to themselves and whatnot? 

"But this feast is too early!" 

"Quiet down. You're an embarrassment." I laughed at that. 

I've never talked with father like that. I'm afraid of even raising my voice in front of him. I didn't want to anger him. I don't know why but I feel like that's what I should do. Our conversations were a series of greetings and questions. Only recently did I jump and showed him excitement. We looked like a normal family then. 

"Ah, whatever. We'll be upstairs." 

Rafaela emerged from the kitchen and smiled at me. She's acting like she isn't annoyed by her father, which made me snicker even more. 

"Stop that." her smile disappeared and she rolled her eyes. 

"Right, right."

She guides me to her room again and we entered. She throws her bag somewhere and I did the same. She throws herself on the bed and sighs. 

"Had a long day?" I sit calmly on the bed. 

"Yes, I did." 

"How so?" 

"Because you and Austin kept on invading my mind all day." I smile and try to hide it but I failed. 

She sits up and looks at me. 

"You're having fun tormenting me, aren't you?" I scoffed. 

"What? How I can be happy when you're thinking of someone else?" 

"You're right." 

She lets her upper torso fall on the bed and stares at the ceiling. 

"Thank you." 

"For what?"

"I just want to thank you." 

"If you're going there, then I should too." 

"Please don't." she laughs and opposes but it was no use. 

"Thank you, too." 

"Crap. Did you really have to?" I laugh and stare at the ceiling too. 

"Say, Rafaela." 

"Hmm?" 

"Why don't you believe in gods and goddesses?" 

She sits up, crawls next to me and stares at the ceiling again. 

"That again?" 

"I'm just curious." 

"Why? Are you feeling threatened?" my head hastily turned to her. 

"Threatened how?" she knows who I am? 

But how? How did she know? When did she know? Was I too obvious? Was I making it too obvious? 

"Because you believe they're real. Maybe you feel threatened because I don't believe in them." 

Oh, I thought it was because she finally knows. 

"No, not really. I'm just curious. Seeing as how your father is a crazy fanatic of them." 

"Crazy, I know." she sighs but with content 

"Nah. I've been meaning to ask," 

"What is it?" 

"Can I hold your hand?" she covers her face and laughs before extending her hand. 

"Was that it?" 

I intertwined our hands together. My heart tugged again. My stomach was doing somersaults. My toes were restless and they keep on moving. I smiled lopsidedly, feeling the butterflies inside my stomach and I suddenly feel full, ready to burst any second now. 

"Nope." 

"You keep asking for my hand." I wink at her and she rolls her eyes again. I notice she likes to roll her eyes. 

"You keep rolling your eyes." she was shocked and gasped. 

"I did?!" I nod. 

"You don't feel it?" 

"No, I don't. Do I really? Wow. I must look like a snob." 

I shake my head. 

"No, no, no. You look goofy, actually." she huffs. 

"You must be looking at me so intently for you to notice that." 

She's always in my mind, of course I'd notice those. She is what my world is for. She'd brighten me up, she'd shower me with affection, friendly affection but still affection, and she'd be there for me without me ever looking for her. She was always present and always beside me, like she made sure she was there in every free time I have. 

"I can't help it. Everywhere I turn and look, you were there. You must want to be watched." 

"Or maybe the school is too small. I know everyone so maybe that is the answer." 

"You're justifying your own answer and claiming it as fact." her eyebrow raised at me. 

"You're pretty smart for someone who's not paying attention." 

I clicked my tongue. 

"Mine told you?" 

"All of us. Well, we threatened her." 

"Why, that's so rude." 

"We want to know how you are in class. I heard that you always answer correctly even though you're not paying attention." 

She squeezes my hand and I squeezed back. I massage her forehand using my thumb while we still look at the ceiling. It's odd how we kept our eyes on the ceiling when it has nothing on it. The room was slowly getting dim but that was what makes it romantic. 

"Did Mine just told me out and complimented me?" 

"No. It was another student that told us you were smart hence us threatening Mine to tell us something." 

"Really? Who was it?" 

"Why? You want to meet your own classmate?" I giggle. 

"My own classmate? And why would my classmate tell you that?" 

"Remember when I said you guys were famous?" 

"Nope," I said popping the 'p'. 

She shoves me to the side. using her own shoulder and giggles. 

"Rude," 

"Spill, come on." 

"Your classmate is a friend of ours, not that close but will conversing. One day, when the three of us were going to the cafeteria, she greeted us and was even fan girl-ing about you, oh and Mine too." 

"I don't understand that one bit." 

"Which part?" 

"Us being famous." 

"So you do remember." she pushes but I won't admit. 

"Nope," 

"Ah, rude again." 

"Explain to me first." 

She sighs and turns to me. My heart jumped. It was a good thing it was almost night. She would've seen how nervous I was and still am. I could feel her breath on my arm. 

"Because you're beautiful. You and Mine." 

"What about Pharsa? Not beautiful?" 

"She seems a little on the naughty side?" 

"Oh, you don't like naughty?" I try to joke about it.

"I do, but not like that." I click my tongue on the top of my mouth and nod. 

Of course she wouldn't like Pharsa that much. Pharsa was rude and so on point that it caught Rafaela off guard. I completely understand. 

"Ah, but she's beautiful?" 

"Is she?" 

"Yeah? I can tell if a girl's pretty or not." she hums and pauses. 

Did I say something wrong? 

"Am I beautiful?" 

"Absolutely! Uh," I might've been too excited to answer that. I cleared my throat but it was too late. She giggles and went back to her position. 

"You should meet Austin." 

Oh, no, no, no. What do I do? 

"I don't want to." keep it firm, August. Keep it firm and believable. 

"What? Why not?" 

"As much as I like to meet new people, I don't like to meet potential competition." 

I hope my joke sounding words gets through to Rafaela as sincere. I'm already laying my intentions out and all she needs to do is to understand that I'm being serious with her. That would be easier if I just tell her that but I can't. It's still not the right time. 

She needs to know who I am, and what I really am before I can tell her everything. I look like a hypocrite but that's what I should do. 

"I still get the feeling that you're somewhat the same person or separated twins." I burst out laughing. Now that she's told me about it, I remember the human world having separated twins, something like that. 

"We're not different in any way?" she turns to me. I feel like she's looking at my eyes but I can't see since it's so dark. I don't want to see too even if I can. 

"Nope." 

Silence. 

"DINNER'S READY!"