Zelus (Perseus Reimagined) (BXB)

Chapter 1

Things are changing every day. If only there was a pause button. Or even better, a delete button to delete this entire timeline.

2021 

IT'S ONLY THE THIRD WEEK of the semester, and I'm already begging for graduation.

What was I thinking that getting my college diploma after a four-year hiatus would be a good idea? Most twenty-five-year-olds would've had their lives checked by having a job, owning cars and houses, or even starting a family. The typical human cycle.

And here I am in college with classmates five years younger than me.

"Feathered sleeves? Love it! It just screams hot eagle," Mr. Hans straightens his back after peering over Jessica's progress in her drawing assignment. "I'd expect to see an eagle's head helmet to go with that outfit."

I wonder how Alex lived through fashion design class perfectly. I've only been in this class for three weeks and still can't work a sewing machine without drawing blood from my fingers. It sucks that my fingers sting whenever I reach for something. His fingers were godsent in creating clothes within a short time. Out of everything, the galaxy-themed hoodie he gifted me for my twentieth birthday was the best. The little details mattered as he included the features I find comfortable on clothes. Oversized, cotton fabrics and dark colors.

That was the last gift I'll ever receive from him.

"Jonathan," I jerk at Mr. Han's sudden appearance behind me. The guy moves like a vampire, even with those heavy pump boots. He hunches his back to check on my progress which I'd barely begun. "What's the look we're going for here? Transparent chic?"

"No, I don't have any ideas yet," I said without meeting his eyes.

"I understand," he pulls up a chair and sets his freshly manicured hands on the desk. It blows my mind that he does his own manicure, which is absolutely perfect. Not a cuticle in sight nor color smudges. "Think big, Jonathan; what is your style? Whatever it is, pair it up with some of the year's latest trends and picture the results in your mind. If you like it, then honey, it's a success. But if you don't, then keep thinking until you find the perfect look."

One thing about myself, I lack the modern mindset, but when it comes to fashion, I'm what they call old-fashioned. Or maybe just basic. When I turned four, we took a trip to Disneyland, and while my brother and sister were interested in Mickey and Minnie dancing on stage, my attention was drawn toward a man cosplayed as my favorite hero, Hercules. He taught me that I could go the distance and that every mile I took would be worth my while. Though, I believe the only reason I ran and wrapped my arms around his muscular legs was that I had a crush on him and lived for his outfit.

He wore a sweatband to match his caramel-brown tunic and a matching gauntlet around his arms. The sandals where the leather crisscrossed up to his knees were the cherry on top. From a further distance, he does look like an actual warrior paired with his prop sword and shield. Not that I know what a real warrior would look like, but four-year-old me thinks even the pizza guy was a god.

Mom got a picture of me in his arms, and I remembered carrying it around wherever I went. That is until high school began. The phase of our lives where everything falls apart or the opposite. Since then, my sense of fashion was always basic or classic. Until today, I prefer gladiator sandals over sneakers or flip-flops.

The people around me made me feel inferior for it. They'd sometimes eyed my footwear and chant, twinkle-toes.

"I was thinking about styling a tunic—"

"Oh, that is a brilliant idea," he cuts me off. "Come on, give me some more ideas. What about the pants? Are we thinking about denim? Straight cut? Or slim? Or perhaps, both?"