Exchange of Hearts

Chapter 3

After I went to the mall, I finally made it on Zeus' birthday!! Tried to fix myself, freshen up a bit.
"Okaay! You can do this, Venus. Surprise him, I bet he'll be happy."  I encouraged and calm myself down as I approach him.

"Hey! Hey, Ze.." I was trying to call him, unfortunately, "Hi, Zeus. Happy birthday!" said Alexa. I saw how Zeus smiled and how his eyes lit up. Ohh yeah, Alexa was Zeus' elementary crush. I didn't knew she's back here again in our city. Hehe.

The party is fine, friends are approaching me from here and there. I knew I wasn't happy, my heart went heavy when I saw how someone made him happy. I tried to distract myself and chose not to focus on the pain that I felt.

"Hey Venus! How are you?" "I'm good. How are you?" "how's Life?" those are some of the questions and conversations that I had with my friends. Oh my, Thank you Lord for friends that were there! I didn't felt out of place.

After they left, I went to the pool side. Trying to reflect and think for a while, until I heard a familiar voice shouting my name from somewhere "VENUS!! VENUS!!".

"Oh!!! Hi Apollo, how are you??" That was Apollo. Our friend since elementary. "Venus *with excitement in his voice, he hugged me out of nowhere*" "How are you? I'm happy you're here! How was your day? Who went with you here?" Apollo uttered. "Okay, Apollo. One question at a time please! Haha. I'm okay. My day, uhhm it's fine. I went here alone, I passed by the mall."

I had a meaningful and catch up conversation with Apollo. I'm glad we're okay, seems like nothing happened before. Apollo was smiling all the time, I guess his okay now.

The night was getting dark, time is getting fast. I decided to rest and leave the party already. I searched for Zeus, but I guess he was too busy with his party. Apollo insisted to walk me home, "Let me walk with you home. It's getting dark anyway, don't worry. It's okay with me."

"Oh, okay. Are you sure with that?" I asked. He nodded with a smile, as we walk home, our conversation continues. Reminiscing our elementary days, until he askes "Venus, what if.." "What if what, Apollo?" "What if, we'll live here again. Am I still welcome here?" he asked.

Apollo left our village when we got to high school. As he asked that question, I answered "Of course. Everyone's welcome here and you know that."

"How about in your life, Am I still welcome?" He looked at me in the eyes, seriously. "oh, Haha! Of course. You're a great friend. A brother" I answered. "I guess, I can't still make it to your heart. Zeus is still the number one.." I looked at him with a curious face "Ha! I'm just joking. Anyway, we're here now. Good night, Venus."

"Ah yes! Thank you, Apollo. Good night! Stay safe."
"Yes, I will. Thank you, Venus. Goodnight" and Apollo walked away as I entered our house.