Chapter 27: Chapter Twenty-six

Athena

I fail to sleep afterward, and Alex didn't come upstairs either. Just knowing how much this room smells like him kills me inside. Am I like—liking him? Or is this just like a sexual attraction? I shake my head in disapproval. What am I thinking? I end up punching my own head, which causes me to groan in pain. 

Stupid.

Turning to the other side, I look at Alex's spot. It's empty. Well, I'm not really going to check up on him because he might think of me differently. So I stay still and try my best to close my eyes and drift into sleep. 

Staring at the ceiling, it makes me wonder how nails are made of? How about hair? Oh wait, wait, how about colors? Are they just called shades because they are colors? How did they even come up with that name? I pucker my lips to the front as I keep thinking, oh, and why are boobs called boobs? I mean, they are like round but hey, why boobs? Why breasts? 

This is getting pretty confusing. I roll on the bed without me realizing that the sun has already risen. My eyes wander to the window, seeing that the sunlight has finally come into view. Wait, how can I even see the light? I groan before pulling the comforter and cover my whole body up to my neck.

Closing my eyes, I finally start to feel sleepy. Just with that, I let myself sleep. 

Oh, what am I kidding? My eyes shot open. I can't even sleep! I sit up straight, letting out a deep sigh, and just in time, Alex walks into the room. There's a light shade of dark circles under his eyes, and the bags under his eyes seem slightly visible too. He looks at me, and I quickly look away. 

He walks toward the walk-in closet and closes the door. I sigh once more before hurrying myself to step out of the room. Wait, should I go back and change first? I shake my head before pressing hard onto my own head. What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I thinking too much?

My my my. I turn the doorknob and push the door open, revealing Alex, who steps inside the bathroom with a towel hanging loose around his hips. I gulp, calm down, Athena, calm down. He closes the door afterward, not even realizing I'm here eyeing him. His body is still visible. I'm sure they won't disappear unless I die. 

I look at myself in the mirror, and I almost jump in horror. 

''What is this?'' I say to myself as I look up close. Dark circles forming under my eyes because of lack of sleep. Seeing my light brown eyes shining brightly with lightweight gold specs. They are visible because of the paleness of my skin. I take a closer look at my pale chapped lips. Like seriously, how can Alex have moisturized lips, and I'm here and stuck with chapped lips? What is wrong with the world?

Taking out my light beige shirt and match it up with a pair of dark skinny jeans and black converse. I quickly change into them—afraid if Alex might barge in and see me in only my underwear. Oh wait, he did saw me, didn't he? Like a few hours ago. I roll my eyes at the fact before buttoning my jeans. 

Putting on my shirt, I walk out with the converse in my hand. As soon as I step out, Alex steps out of the bathroom. I raise an eyebrow at him, but I quickly walk away.

''Where are you going?'' His voice stops me from continuing. 

I turn around and see him tilting his head to the side as he continues to look at me. He is a towel is a distraction. Huge distraction! I groan mentally as I try my best to keep on looking into his eyes only. And when I say only, I mean only. 

''Um—'' I furrow my eyebrows, ''I—I think I'm going out.'' 

He holds onto his towel, ''Where exactly?'' Then he starts to walk toward me, closing our space. I can feel my heart beating as fast as a race car. 

''I don't know, just out,'' I mutter quickly. Before he could say anything, I cut him to it, ''And I'm famished. Like really really really really really really hungry, so I better get going and get some food, yeah get some food.'' I start saying really fast, and he furrows his eyebrows at me, ''Maybe like a cup of coffee because coffee is great to start the day, and then I might as well-''

He cuts me off by placing his lips on mine. My eyes wide as I see his eyes closed—as he keeps on kissing me. Both of his hands cupping my face. His lips moving softly and passionately, leaving me wanting more. I kiss him back just the same. Oh my lord, his mouth tastes like peppermint!

As soon as he breaks the kiss, I can still feel his lips brushing against mine. He holds my face up so that it would have been easier to kiss him. He looks down at my parted lips. Just in time, his towel drops to the ground. 

I look at his eyes only, not daring myself to look down. Alex smirks, causing me to feel my cheeks heat up in embarrassment. He keeps on cupping my face, ''Look down.'' His voice low and deep. 

Shaking my head in denial, ''What?! No.'' 

''Just look.'' He rolls his eyes.

I try to remove his hands away from my face and run out of the room, ''I'm not going to look at your dick! What the hell—'' 

But he grips harder onto my face and pulls my face so that I am staring directly into his eyes. His thumb brushes against my cheek, making me feel breathless. Our faces are inches apart that if I try to move, our lips would be brushing, ''Just. Look.'' He says as he looks straight into my eyes.

I peek down, and I see him wearing boxers. Without me knowing, I let out a sigh of relief. He loosens the grip on my face, ''W—w—who wears a towel over that?'' I stutter as I start to feel uncomfortable from his stare. All he does is just staring into my eyes. His gaze is as deep as—okay, I'm not saying that.

He chuckles, and he pecks onto my lips. My eyes widen once more, but he smiles.

I gulp, ''Why did you just kiss me?'' 

''Because you talk too much,'' Alex replies.

''Well, you weren't complaining when we first—'' 

He cuts me off, ''—met.'' I stop talking, and I see him rolling his eyes, ''I know, but you need to learn how to stop talking, or I'll stop it for you.'' He purposely leans in before backing away and letting go of my face. He runs his hand through my hair, ''Don't be home late.'' 

''Alright, dad,'' I smirk before walking out of the room.

Walking down the street, something caught my attention as I pass the newspaper stall. Taking a few steps back, I pick up the paper and start to read the front page.

Athena—chased by an ex-boyfriend in Rome?! 

My eyebrows furrow as I turn the page to look inside;

Athena Herrera was witnessed running away from her 'ex-boyfriend.' her husband found her, Alexander Herrera, who immediately—

I stop reading and put back the paper on the stand before quickly walking away. Feeling as if people are staring at me, I shove the door to the nearest cafe and calm myself down with the smell of coffee. I rub my temples as I dial Joanna's number.

No answer.

After a few rings, I call once more, and she starts to pick up, ''Ah, Athena? You've finally decided to call me.'' 

''What the hell is your problem?'' I say through gritted teeth—trying my best to control my anger and my voice—so that no one else could hear me talking. I breathe out, looking at my shaking fingers.

She chuckles for a bit, ''What do you mean?'' 

''Don't bullshit me.'' I feel myself getting angry and angrier, ''This isn't about me! Our deal was about Alex, not me. Why the fuck do you have to put me?'' Breathing in and out, trying to avoid tears from sliding down my cheeks.

People pass me as they glance my way, but I keep my head down.

''Athena,'' She calls out my name, ''This is just a reminder so that you won't forget who you're dealing with. It is also for you to realize that I'm doing my job here. If you don't give me details, I'll keep on involving you so that people know how messed up your life is.'' 

I bite hard onto my lower lip, ''What?'' I let out a sigh, ''What do you need?'' 

''Nothing much.'' I can imagine her sinister smile behind all of this.

''I don't have time for games,'' I mutter angrily.

She laughs, ''Alex's background.''