ATHENA (Book 2: Siegfried & Athena) (On-Going)

Chapter 24: Falling

Author's Note: Not proofread.

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He received the text from Tito RJ. It's almost 1am. He texted back that they just arrived at the condo and Athena is still at the room freshening up. He was able to quickly snap a chicken stir fry, a sandwich and a noodle soup for their dinner. He's done preparing for their very late dinner when he decided to knock at Athena's door.

"Coming up..." He heard.

After a few minutes, he saw her in a white tee and a legging. Hair in a bun, no make up, no nothing but the Enchantress still manages to make his imagination run wild. Hindi niya alam kung kailan siya makakapagtimpi not to snatch her in his arms and crash those lips into his. But, it has to be reigned. He promised her parents and twin brother to take care of her. If there is any consolation on his part, it is the idea that her family knows how he feels—they know he loved her.

Napakunot ang noo niya when he noticed the reddening eyes.

"Have you been crying?"

She looked at the floor. She was about to walk but he hold her arm and let her face him.

"Athena..." He said.

The Enchantress sob and he couldn't do anything than enclosing her in a tight embrace. He wrapped her in his arms making sure the warmth of him will somehow ease what's aching. He knows, the past weeks hasn't been easy for Athena, and for someone who grew up from a close-knit family—the recent events took a toll for the family as it's a threat to everyone's safety.

The sob somehow subsided and he slowly pull away from the embrace, move his hands to her face and cups it—looking directly at the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen, even when it got tears in it.

"Sssshhhh...it's fine, you will be fine..."

"Thank you. I miss my family."

"Hmmmm..." He begin wiping her tears again with his thumb finger, gently caressing her face.

"Can we call my parents, please..."

He kisses her forehead, and smiled at her.

"Come..." He grab her right hand, intertwine it in his, and he guided her towards his kitchen. He saw his phone at the table, reaches for it and faces her.

"Do you want to talk to them first or you want to eat first?"

"Talk to them, please. I can't eat either—I just want to talk to my parents."

"Of course. Here..."

"Thank you, JD. I owe you a lot. Thank you."

"Anything for my Enchantress..." He playfully but sincerely quipped.

He saw her eyes confused but slowly take away her gaze from him, and then unclasp her hand with his..."

"Excuse me..." she said.

He let her have her private moment with her family. He saw her went to the living room. Sat cross-leg at the carpeted floor, beside the center table, dialed her parents number and wait for the other line to pick up. He didn't notice that he was already sitting at one of the chair in his kitchen table watching her and the play of emotions on her face.

She's biting her nails—frowning and patiently waiting for the other line.

"Daddy?" She said and her tears starts to fall again. She quickly pick one of the pillow and put it on the carpeted floor, lying facing away from him. She's curling up, and he knows that she's crying once again. He decided to leave her and give her the time she needed to be with her family. He went to his room and pick up the phone to do some check at the guard house.