William's POV_
I've been like this for fifteen minutes.
Hands stuck in midair as I was trying to type. Today has been mundane, like any other day of my life. But nothing I usually do every day registered. My head can't wrap itself yet around what happened.
I glanced at the phone sitting beside my laptop. Metal, cold, and still. Waiting for "Let's have lunch." or "I'll cook dinner tonight." messages to flash. I am still in denial, I admit. But managing to go to work, function like a compensated human being weirded me out. I, myself, am aware I will barely move a muscle if it was true. I blinked several times, stopping heaviness weighing my eyes shut.
"Hey, Will, the boss wants the report by tomorrow. Is it okay if you send it to my table later? I have to review it ASAP."I looked up, Jerry's cheery face greeted me. He is my team leader. His grin, stretching from an optimistic man dancing in the rain to a psychotic killer's. I wonder if he finally got his roof leak sealed or struck a conversation with that pretty girl on the pantry. Or both.
"Should I add vultures with that dead meat get–up?"
I sighed.
"That was me, laughing."I rummaged into the collection of binders, stacked up in perfect chaos. "Here's the report, Jerry."
"Damn, Will. You don't have to be this cold." He made a shivered gesture as he gets the folder. Jerry cleared his throat, the sound unexplainably getting on my nerves.
"So, I saw this new girl in our department. My man, hallelujah! Never such beauty graced these barren, slippery office floors ever since I worked here. You should, you know, get out of here. With her."
"Are you here to talk about nonsense again? Coz I'm quite busy, Jerry."
I started to work my hands and type.
"You've been staring at your phone since you sat down, idiot. And, you just started typing." Jerry indignantly scuffled his fingers in his hair. "Will, I love you."
"That absolutely plummeted my mood further but thank you."
"Will, I love you and I can't watch you be miserable. How long has it been? Three months?"
"Why do you care? Besides, it's not affecting my work."
"It does affect your work."
"Nope. I've never felt so thrived than I am these last three months."
"Oggy's, after shift. Drinks on me."
If my brain could possibly drool in the sound of Oggy's name, it would've drowned my neurons and put me into a sudden short circuit, if it's not currently malfunctioning. Oggy's beers are the best in town. No, in the world. And that guy, right there, Jerry, kneaded me into being pliable in his best interests. Oggy, if only I can marry it.
"Fine." I swallowed, my throat anticipating the taste of Oggy's beers hitting it.
"Ha! Oggy is your Jesus!" He smugly pointed at me and made a mini woot-woot dance.
"Now, woot – woot dance all the way back to your cubicle." I continued what I've been trying to do a few hours ago, the afterthought of Oggy's occupying my head.
Aphrodite's POV_
I wonder if I can tilt my head until my neck breaks then it'll drop to the ground. Will it make a loud thud? I contemplated when another stack of paperwork appeared on my desk. They simply won't finish, ever.
One of the reports says, "The guy prefers to be alone. Despite the heavy rain. Despite the woman sharing her umbrella. Despite that brilliantly executed introduction of his upcoming romantic prospect."
I thumbed through the rest of the unread report. "Then this indicated that this guy intentionally rejected this other girl because she looks just like "her". But I kind of understand where he is rooting from on that one. But this."
I picked the paper out, stopping myself from disintegrating the report with my very own hands. "He dismissed the girl he likes since junior high when she confessed to him. Give me a proper explanation. I still remember, clear as day, that this person has been praying on every god and goddess of love in every mythology. I complied and this idiot refused." I let go of the paper, exasperated by the idiocy this human showed.
"Miss Aphrodite, you might want to rest for a bit."My assistant, Arion started to mend the parchment I crumpled earlier.
I breathed deeply, helping my chest to at least decompress all the tightness that's in there. "What should I do now? I give up." I can't think of any solutions for now. I rested my back on my chair and closed my eyes. I miss nestling in the confines of my comfy bedroom, downing ambrosia without single attention to give to the world.
"Maybe you should let the guy alone for now miss. He must learn how to love himself first."
I slightly opened my right eye to see Arion looking at me.
"What do you mean?"
"If you will give me the consent to say what my observation is, I think he needs to move on, Miss. And forget her completely."
I looked straight at Arion.
Move on?
"Moving on? From what?"
And all of them looked at each other and sighed.
Aphrodite's POV_I never wanted to kill somebody this bad. Not until today."Goddess of Love, and she doesn't know about moving on?" Athena yelped as she cackled even more. That's very unladylike, I do hope she's not drunk. I rolled my eyes."Aphrodite hasn't even fallen in love for who knows how many eons ago." Artemis tried to stifle the laughter and wiped the tears on her already wet cheeks."What about Heppy? Hephaestus is a kind man. Aren't you two going out?" Athena smirked."Shut up, both of you. And Athena, don't drag Hephaestus in this conversation. He's kind, I know. But he's just a friend, no
William's POV_If there's one thing I hated whenever I drank beer, it is the hangover. That tang taste on my tongue and my ridiculous headache. It's a good thing it's the weekend. I can wake up whenever I want.And being single means no date at weekend and no plans for anything.Good.I'll just stay on my bed and stare at the ceiling of this room. I can actually stay until evening doing nothing. Not unless I didn't feel hungry.I feel my stomach crumbling as if asking me to cook even it's just noodles.My fridge is almost empty. I can see only two cans of le
Aphrodite's POV_"WHAAAAAT-?!!!"The whole room becomes tense after my reaction. I just can't believe it.I never really imagine what should be my reaction about this. What happens to my father suddenly thinks about marriage.Marriage? Hephaestus?I glared at Hephaestus once I think about his name. What did he do? Father should have forgotten this topic, eons ago.Why now?"Father, you seem to forget what we talk about the last time. I said I'm not gonna marry Hephaestus. I like him, but not as a lover. He'
Aphrodite's POV_I fight back my amusement after Hephaestus said those words.I don't remember him saying he likes me and that other same stuff.I'm looking at him, dumbfounded.Fighting the urge to launch myself and strangle him. Should I take him down here? Can I even do that when my father is here?"Oh! A very honest guy! I really like that!"My father can't hide his delight. He's enjoying his own idea."Hephaestus! What are you saying?" I shouted at him.
Aphrodite's POV"So you mean, he suddenly called you and open the topic about marriage again?"I can't believe what I'm hearing from Hephaestus.We're both sitting on a bench inside the palace's garden, and wow catching up with each other, it's been hundreds of years since the last time we talk."I can never understand Lord Zeus. Why he's so eager to give you away. Maybe he's worried?" I can see the concern on his face, knowing Heppy, he might be thinking I'm sad and alone."Hold it, I'm totally fine. You don't have to worry. I'm fine being single. I can always deal with it." I smiled at him; I just hope he b
Aphrodite's POV "My name is Venus." I smiled so much and I thought I'm showing my whole teeth to them. I'm so glad I arrived on time. Or this stupid guy will be in much danger or embarrassment. I know something bad will happen to him once he confronts this woman. Well, I knew she's cheating. Because despite what I write about her love life plan, she chooses not to follow all of it. Humans can be so stupid when they are not contented with the good things they got. I feel sorry about this guy. I should prepare good stuff for him in the future. I'm surprised when I felt his hand on my shoulder. Did he get my plan then? Good. "Yes, Vera. She's my girlfriend."
Aphrodite's POV "My name is Venus." I smiled so much and I thought I'm showing my whole teeth to them. I'm so glad I arrived on time. Or this stupid guy will be in much danger or embarrassment. I know something bad will happen to him once he confronts this woman. Well, I knew she's cheating. Because despite what I write about her love life plan, she chooses not to follow all of it. Humans can be so stupid when they are not contented with the good things they got. I feel sorry about this guy. I should prepare good stuff for him in the future. I'm surprised when I felt his hand on my shoulder. Did he get my plan then? Good. "Yes, Vera. She's my girlfriend." Looking up to him, I can see much how affected he is. How sad his eyes look. He really likes this girl. Somehow I feel responsible for this. I did make him fall for her, somehow. "I-I can't believe you got a new girlfriend so early, William! I didn't ex
Aphrodite's POV I'm pissed, I'm way more irritated. How dare he say those words to me? Me, the Goddess of Love meddling with people's business? If only I can throw away this tiresome job I did eons ago! In the first place, I didn't know why I ran from Mt. Olympus just to save this human from embarrassing himself. I'm tired of rewriting every single plan for him. I don't have time for all of this. I can just introduce myself and then proceed with deleting his memory. I can't really hide my powers to him, am I scaring him so much. I can really see how confused he is. Is he not afraid of me? "What are you? What are you-" he stops talking as soon as I walk towards him. I stopped time, though I can only do that temporarily since grandfather is the god of time. It's just to make an impression on him and he should feel afraid. "Listen to me human, my name is Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, pas