Kill for Love

Chapter 39 - Back From the Beginning 2

Ever since the meeting in the restaurant, Athena always sees Ares in the shows that she is in. They had some chit chats and sometimes will go to a bar together. Whenever there is a gathering, she is always Ares’ plus one and vice versa.  Ares was such a sweet guy. He always makes her smile and laughs. There were no boring moments with him. And for the first time in her life, she found a man she already imagined herself to be with for the rest of her life.

Athena thought that they have a mutual understanding already. She was patiently waiting for Ares to court her officially. For six months, they’ve been spending time together except that there is no s****l contact between them. She thought that Ares is indeed one of a kind and she’s lucky that she had him. Until one day, everything changed when she introduced Cytherea… her best friend.

“Hey, Bestie how are you? I’m sorry I was not able to call you. I’ve been very busy with work,” Athena said when she answered her phone. She just got back from the party where she and Ares attended. Ares just dropped her off too. She’s already in her hotel room and was taking off her shoes. It was a great night for her and she couldn’t wait to tell her best friend about the guy that she’s interested in. It was good timing that she called her first.

“Wow, you sounded like you really had a fun night!” Cytherea teased. 

She looked at the time at the wall clock that was adjacent to her bed. It’s already 2 AM in Singapore which is the same time in the Philippines.

“Well, you bet,” she giggled. She felt a warm feeling inside her heart every time she remembers Ares. “Why are you still awake anyway?” she asked, curiously.

“I was waiting for you. If you didn’t notice I had a few missed calls to your phone and no, no, no, don’t feel guilty about it,” Cytherea said as if she already knew what she was about to say.

Athena chuckled. 

“By the way, the reason why I called you is to remind you that my birthday will be next month and you have to be there. You are free by that time, right? Pretty please?” Cytherea added.

“Of course, I will be there. I wouldn’t want to miss my best friend’s birthday. But can I ask a favor though?” she asked while biting her lips. Cytherea didn’t know about Ares yet and she wanted to introduce him personally to her. 

“Sure, you know I wouldn’t say no to you.”

“Can I bring someone with me?”

“Of course! Is that gonna be your boyfriend?” Cytherea curiously asked. 

“Oh no! He’s just my friend but he told me before that he wanted to go on a vacation in the Philippines. And I think, this will be a great opportunity for you to meet the one who’s been taking good care of me here.” 

“I would love to meet him! And yes, yes, yes, you can bring him. I’m excited!”

Athena smiled. “I know you’ll like him, Bestie. He’s just like you, so sweet.”

“Well, I’d love to hear more about him. By the way, how long did you know this man?” Cytherea sounded like a mother confronting her daughter.

Athena laughed her heart out. Her best friend is getting overprotective of her again. “I’ve known him for over six months, Mom,” she gently teased her. “And I can vouch for him. He is really a good man.”

Cytherea sighed in relief. “ That’s good to hear, Beastie. If that’s the case, I’m looking forward to meeting him.”

“I’m sure you’ll like him, Beastie," she confidently stated. 

They talked more for about two hours before they decided to let each other go and bid themselves goodbye. 

Days pass by so fast. Ares indeed came with her to the Philippines. Athena was so excited that she could finally introduce him to her best friend. Even though Athena has a guest room in her house, Ares still decided to stay in a hotel. This is one of Ares’ characters that she loved the most. Ares respects her so much and not once that he tried to take advantage of her. 

Athena picked up Ares in his hotel and they went together to Cytherea’s house. They are already in front of Cytherea’s humble abode. It is a two-story house. The colorful lights are already seen outside, indicating that the party has already started. 

Athena looked at her phone to check the time. It is already 9 PM. 

She smiled excitedly and faced Ares who just got out of her red Mercedes car.  “We are just on time. Let’s go! I’m excited to see my best friend again. It’s been a while since I saw her.”

“Alright, alright, I’m coming. Can’t wait to meet your best friend. You’ve always been bubbling about her and so I’m now curious,” he chuckled.

“I’m sure you’re gonna like her,” she excitedly said. 

“Well, what are we waiting for? Lead the way, Ena.” He offered his arm in which Athena gladly clung her arms into his.

She smiled. Whenever he calls her Ena, a warm feeling fills her heart. She is definitely smitten by him.

They went to the side of the house that led them to the garden where sweet, gentle music greeted them. The colorful string lights are sophisticatedly decorated like a roof and walls. The chairs and tables are decorated in white cloth. On top of the table is a rattan vase that is full of red roses and baby’s breath and on the left part of the garden lies the buffet of food that is manned by uniformed staff. Athena is certain that Cytherea’s parents hired an organizer for the party.  It is already full of people proudly wearing their evening gowns and suits. Some of them are sitting and some are on the dance floor, dancing sweetly with their partners. Uniformed waiters and waitresses are serving the visitors.  

They stopped at the entrance and Athena was roaming her eyes to find Cytherea in the crowd. And not too long, she found her best friend talking to her parents happily. She took Ares’ right hand and dragged him towards Cytherea. 

Cytherea’s parents noticed her sneaking behind Cytherea so she put her finger on her lips to shush. They understandably smiled and continued to listen to Cytherea’s gratefulness for the birthday party.

She let go of Ares’ hand and hugged Cytherea’s waist from behind. Cytherea was startled by the gesture and looked at who was behind her, hugging her. Her eyes widened when she saw Athena’s smiling face. 

“Ahh!!” Cytherea excitedly squealed. She faced Athena and with glee, she hugged her tightly. “Oh, my god! I missed you so much, Beastie. I thought you’re not gonna make it!”

Athena chuckled and hugged her tightly as well. Cytherea put her hands on Athena’s arms and pushed her a little bit so she could see her clearly. 

“Oh my, you looked so amazing tonight,” Cytherea said, expressing her admiration. 

“And so are you! You looked like a goddess as usual.”

Cytherea’s parents laughed as the two started complimenting each other. “You two are really best of friends. You’ve been complimenting each other since Athena arrived,” Cytherea’s mother, Emily joked.

“But of course, Tita Emily. Who would compliment us but ourselves? Well, except for our parents too,” Athena answered, laughing. She went to Emily and gave her a hug. She also did the same to Cytherea’s father, Sean. 

Ares was just looking at them with a smile on his lips. He was impressed while looking at the two friends who were obviously having a great friendship. Deep inside, he was already excited to meet Athena’s best friend. Athena didn’t show him any picture of her. Athena kept on saying that the pictures don’t justify how her best friend looks personally. That is why he got more curious about her. He likes Athena but he just wants to know her better so he’s taking everything slowly. He just wished that Athena’s best friend would approve of him.

“We missed you, Hija,” Emily said.

“Same here, Tita. Oh, wait! Before I forget. I brought someone with me. She looked back and signaled Ares to be beside her. 

All eyes were on Ares and for the first time in his life, an unknown feeling filled his heart while he set his eyes on Cytherea. He just couldn’t take his eyes off her. He felt lost while looking into her bluish, silver eyes. He didn’t even notice that Athena held his right arm and was already introducing him to the people in front of him.

“This is Ares Pendleton, he’s originally from the US but we met in Singapore during my stay there. He is one of our clients,” Athena enthusiastically introduced him.

Cytherea and her parents were smiling while looking at the first man that Athena introduced to him. 

“Is he your boyfriend, Athena?” Sean asked.

“Oh no, Tito Sean. He’s just my friend,” Athena shyly responded. I wished he was though. I’ll be the lucky girl in the world for sure.

Athena noticed that Ares was not responding even after she introduced him so he looked at Ares to see why.

She felt her heart turn to pieces when she saw Ares who is obviously smitten with Cytherea’s beauty. She looked at Cytherea and her best friend’s face was flushed in red. 

For the first time in her life, she regretted introducing Cytherea.

Ever since the birthday party, Ares keeps on suggesting to her to bring Cytherea with them whenever they hangout or during their travels in the Philippines. And because Cytherea loves to travel, she always agrees. 

Athena never felt so jealous of Cytherea until Ares’ attitude changed. He was more focused and attentive to Cytherea than her. Ares was still the same when it came to her but she noticed that Cytherea was given more. She started to dread the day that she came back to the Philippines. If only she didn’t introduce the two, then maybe she’s the one in Cytherea’s shoes. If only she made sure that Ares is her boyfriend, then maybe Cytherea will not be able to get between her and Ares. 

“Ena,” Ares softly called her. They are currently in one of the beach resorts in Samal. She was lying on the lounge chair while Ares was sitting on the other lounge chair beside her. In front of them is a blue-greenish sea whose waves softly reach the shore and a few people who were enjoying their time in the water. Cytherea went to the bathroom, so they were alone. 

She turned her face to Ares. She didn’t even bother taking off her sunglasses and big beach hat.

“Hmmm?” she hummed. 

“I-I have something to tell you and I hope you wouldn’t mind,” Ares stammered. She can tell that he is still hesitating. She became excited and thought that maybe this is the time she’s been waiting for. That maybe what she observes between him and Cytherea is wrong and she was just overthinking. 

“W-what is it?” Her heart starts beating loudly as she awaits Ares‘ confessions.

“I know it would be best to tell you this. You know you are important to me,” he begins.

She was biting her lips as the feeling of excitement took over her whole being.

“So, I think that I should tell you about this first. You see, even though we just meet I feel like I should not waste any opportunity. I have to do this or I feel like I will regret it for the rest of my life if I wouldn’t.” He took a deep breath as if his life depends on it. “I’m in love with your best friend, Ena. Is it okay if I court her?”

Athena’s jaw dropped. She felt her heart turn into little bits of pieces. She couldn’t speak. The pain in her heart is ringing in her ears and it’s as if a broken record, it keeps on repeating over and over again in her mind.

I’m in love with your best friend, Ena…

Is it okay if I court her?

I’m in love with your best friend, Ena…

Is it okay if I court her?

Over and over again...