𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 [𝘼𝙥𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙭𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧]

CHAPTER 18

THE E/C EYED WOMAN PLACED THE HOT STEAMING CUP BEFORE THE MAN.

"Is everything alright? You don't look well." She voiced out her concern as she took a seat infront of him. The flowers in the vase beautifully portrayed his troubled gaze like a painting. "Is the family business not doing well?" She added when she recieved no response from him as she clearly recalled he told her about his concern over it when she had asked the reason behind his long face. Unaware it was all lies.

Hermes eyes trailed up to gaze at her just to immediately tear his gaze away from her. He stared down at the cup of tea, the lies he had fed her slowly starting to weighed his heart down like the clear raindrops weighed down the clouds till it grow grey and heavy.

"No." His hues wandered up to meet hers. "Everything is fine." He forced a smile. He could not bring himself to continue on with the lies. "with the family business. It's just I have been quite..." He paused. His gaze wavered a little. "Feeling a lot."

"..."

Y/n did not know what to say in respond to his words. She had never been good with words of comfort. She racked her mind to form a single sentence appropriate for the situation at hand which might help ease him. Yet, she could come up with none.

"I see..."she finally responded, feeling pressured to say something quickly. "I really don't know what to say to comfort you as I have never been through what you are feeling. But...just know that I am always there to hear you out if you need someone to talk to and I hope, everything gets sorted out with time."

"Always?" He repeated her words, his pleading gaze fixed on her. "Y/n..." The way he called out her name with those eyes which foretold a thousand emotions made her heart swell with pity for the man. He looked so troubled. Was he going through some hard times she wasn't aware of?

"Yes. Always." She replied and forced a smile to comfort him. "We are friends afterall."

His pupils dilated and his lips curled up in a small melancholic smile. He nodded his head.

'am I just a friend to you,y/n? Does it mean you would let me go easily?'

.............

Sandra sat looking at her collection of clothings to wear. The wedding day was soon approaching and she could hardly contain herself. The day she had always dreamt of was going to turn into a reality soon, much to her delight.

"Which one do you think is better? This?" She picked up a linen beige gown. "Or this?" She picked up another gown — this one was a silk gown, the shade of a wandering white cloud.

Y/n examined the two dresses under her gaze. "Both are good."

"Come on.... You cannot say that. I have to meet Theo in about a few hours. I haven't even styled my hair or put on any makeup." The sandy eyed woman whined. She was finally going to introduce her fiance to her beloved friend. Her betrothed was from a different town and being a merchant he was a very busy man and hence, she did not get the time to introduce him to y/n.

"Really... Both are nice." Sandra gave her a done look. "Okay, fine! The beige one. Happy."

"But I feel like this silk one would go perfectly with the pearls." She pouted, staring at the silk gown.

'Every. Single. Time.' Y/n thought. If she wanted now was the time she could roll her eyes till it disappeared behind her skull. Her companion was too much to bear sometimes. "I am going out. I need a minute away from you." She confessed and headed out of the chamber.

"But y/nnnnn...."

"Call me when you are done." She waved at Sandra and headed out to the balcony. The sun had long set and the moon was up in the sky, glowing in all its beauty. She placed her hands on the railings and stared up at the celestial stars.

Belen troubled look still bothered her. Was there some serious issues he was facing? She did not wanted to pry into his personal business least it made him uncomfortable. However, she could not help but ponder what was wrong with him. He had disappeared for a whole couple of months just to appear at her doorstep all of a sudden with the most troubled look on his visage.

'Should I ask Apollo about it? He must be aware of his troubles considering Belen is his brother.' She looked up at the skies filled with stars, unaware the sun of god, the very man she wished to ask about the well being of his brother was staring down at her from his balcony.

His golden locks swayed with the breeze in a beautiful dance as he watched the young lady gazed at the stars, a flicker of worry in her plain e/c hues.

'Is something troubling her?' his brows furrowed as he observed her facial features. 'No...' He leaned away from the railings and turned away from the sight as the realisation dawn on him. 'I can't possibly concern myself with that woman.'

He placed his hand on his head as if he was suffering from a severe headache. His brows knitted together. 'I must be going insane. She cannot be growing on me. Can she?'

A/N: FINALLY BACK AFTER THE LONGEST HIATUS EVER. I AM GENUINELY SURPRISED AT HOW FAR THIS BOOK HAD COME. I HAD NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD GAIN THIS AMOUNT OF LOVE AND SUPPORT. I CLEARLY REMEMBERED STARTING THIS BOOK A YEAR BACK AS I HAD NEVER COME ACROSS ANY 'BLOOD OF ZEUS' FANFICTION.