Kill for Love

Chapter 40 - Back From The Beginning 3

The pain of watching her love, loving someone else is too much for her to bear. Athena couldn’t stop asking herself why. Why her best friend? Why not her? Isn’t she enough? She thought that what they have is something special, but it seemed like she’s the only one assuming it.

And who is she to say no to her loved one, when in the first place there’s no them?

Athena doesn’t have any choice but to say yes when Ares asked her permission. And because of that, every single day seems torture for her.

Every day she sees the effort Ares made to get Cytherea's sweetest, 'yes'. And she feels happy every single time Cytherea hesitates.

She regretted those times when Cytherea asked her if she and Ares had a relationship, and she answered no. She wished she could turn back the hands of time and told her best friend that she is in love with the man who is courting her best friend.

Days become weeks, weeks become months, and months become a year.

Ever since Ares courted Cytherea he decided to stay in the Philippines longer, he's just going back to America when there is a meeting that needs his presence.

She thought that Ares stood no chance with Cytherea. Until one day…

"Bestie, can you be honest with me?" Cytherea asked her one time when they were in the food court. They were shopping for some clothes and shoes and after a few hours of walking inside the mall, they decided to go to the food court to chill out and eat some green mangoes. The food court was famous for freshly peeled fruits though it also had some different foods that they offered.

They were already occupying one of the tables inside the food court and were enjoying the green mangoes which were already peeled and sliced. It has a cellophane container and is drizzled with shrimp paste, vinegar, and chili.

Athena used a barbeque stick to poke the green mango. She then dips it again in the shrimp paste mixture before putting it in her mouth.

"Sure, but about what?" she asked while gently chewing the mango. The combination of the sourness of the mango, the saltiness of the shrimp paste, and the spiciness of the chili explode in her mouth. Not to mention the crunchiness of the mango that sounded like a piece of music to her ears.

She closes her eyes to savor the satisfying taste of it.

"Hmmm, about Ares," Cytherea answered timidly.

She looked at Cytherea, urging her to continue what she was about to say.

"Well, you see, Ares is such a great man and-"

"You're going to accept his proposal to be her boyfriend?" she cut her off.

The familiar pain is hitting her again. Her hands are now starting to shiver. She put her hands on her lap so that Cytherea will not notice it.

"Umm, yeah. For a year, he showed me how much he loves me, how serious he is with me. And for the first time, my parents approved of him. You know how important it is for me to get my parents' blessing. Though you are my best friend and you're Ares' closest friend, I just want to make sure that you know, you don't have any relationship with him or anything more than friends-"

Athena was about to open her mouth for a rebuttal but Cytherea was too quick to continue, "Please, Bestie I don't mean any negative meaning with what I said. Hear me out first. I want you to be honest with me. Ares is such a great man and any woman will fall in love with him easily. Do you or at least did you fall in love with him? I'm asking you this because you're like a sister to me and I don't want to hurt you if ever I accepted him as my boyfriend," Cytherea explained.

Athena saw the hope in Cytherea's eyes that she would say, 'no'. She can tell that Cytherea is already smitten to Ares' charm. She knows that if she's going, to be honest with her, it would hurt not just her best friend but also the man she loves.

So, even if she wanted to say yes, she preferred to say no for the good of everyone. She knew she's an i***t because right now she regretted so much the lie she told when Cytherea asked her.

Athena thought the pain would still be bearable, but, oh boy she was wrong, oh so wrong. The pain just intensifies whenever she sees them together. How can she not when every single time, she's present on their dates?

She's always been the third wheel.

Athena thought that there would be no chance for her and Ares. Until one day, it seems like the universe bends in her favor.

She was at a party and a little bit tipsy. It's been a tradition of the company that every successful fashion show, there will be an after-party. Usually, she will only have a couple of drinks and will go home, but because of the pain in her heart that she keeps on enduring these past few months, she went overboard. She didn’t realize that she drank so much.

She felt tipsy and her eyes were starting to blur. She couldn’t even stand straight without wobbling! She decided to go home but she couldn’t find Lily anymore. Her manager, Lily picked her up at her house and was supposed to drop her back too. But whenever she walked, she felt that everything was spinning. She has to hold on to the walls to walk properly.

She opened her clutch and took her phone. She needs to contact Cytherea to ask a favor. She looks at the time on her phone. It's currently 2 AM. She hopes that she is still awake. She sat down at the barstool and leaned her forehead on the bar counter while waiting for Cytherea to pick up.

After a few minutes, Cytherea answered which gave her so much glee, “Bestie? Are you okay?”

She bitterly smiled. How can she hate this woman who always worries about her? Who’s always there whenever she needs someone?

“B-Bestie, I’m owkayyy. Am so drunk right now,” she said in a slurred speech.

“Where are you? I’m going to pick you up.”

“Who’s that?” a man with a hoarse asked. Athena’s forehead creased. The man’s voice is familiar. She looked at the time again and it’s already 2:15 AM.

Thinking that it might be Ares, felt a pang in her heart.

How can they still be together this late at night?

Even with the loud music of where she’s at, she can still barely hear the two on the other line, arguing until she hears Cytherea again.

“Bestie, where are you?” She worriedly asked again.

“I’m here in the Business Club. You know the usual place for the after-party.”

“Okay, Ares is going to pick you up. Don’t wait outside like you always do. Stay by the entrance so that he can see you right away,” she instructed.

“Huh?! Why him?” She exclaimed. She felt normal again after hearing Ares' name. It seemed like she’s no longer drunk. She got excited that it was Ares who would pick her up.

“Yup, it’s already past 2 AM and he doesn’t want me to go out at this late hour so he will pick you up instead.”

“Wait, are you two together now?”

“Yeah, remember we invited you to go to the Enchanted River but you have a show so you didn’t come with us. Have you forgotten?”

Athena slapped her forehead when she remembered that they indeed invited her. “Oh yeah. I forgot,” she just simply answered.

“Yup, so right now we just got back. Actually, we just arrived. Ares wants me to rest and says he will pick you up.”

“Yep, I’ll pick you up, Ena. Just wait for me there,” the man from the background said in a loud voice.

‘I’ve been waiting for you ever since so, waiting for you to arrive in a few minutes is nothing,” Athena thought.

“Okie Dokie, I’ll be waiting then. Thank you both. I love you, Bestie, and I’m sorry,” she said in a low voice, as evil plans crowded her mind.

"I love you too, Bestie. Always remember I'm always here for you. We are family. You don't have to say sorry. This is just a small favor compared to the one you've done for me. You're the reason why I have Ares now. And I would like to repay all the things you do for me."

"'Mmm, okay, Bestie. I'll be waiting then," she said in a toneless voice

"Bye, Bestie see you tomorrow."

Tears streamed down her face. Her expression hardened as she disconnected the call.

'Yep, this is just a small favor compared to my happiness that I gave to you.'