Chapter 25

When everything in your life seems perfect, you'll just hope that it will last.

That's how I feel right now. Everything to me is fine. I never felt content in my whole life, just now.

Just now... with my children and Zeus. They were my everything.

I smiled at the thought. What are they doing now? Earlier, I left them busy, so I had to go to them.

"Is mom ready for the food outside? Maybe it will be lacking," I said while sweating, mixing the spaghetti sauce. I've been cooking for the whole day and I'm really sweaty.

"Yes. It was too much. You only have a few guests. Only hacienda workers," My Mother answered me.

I stopped what I was doing and turned to my mother.

"Mom, I'm just going outside. I'll just look for them."

The old woman nodded so I kept going outside. Even if I feel sticky, I don’t care. It was more important for me to see the situation outside before I went with the party.

I came out of the kitchen door. This is a shortcut to the garden. I was just taking a few steps with someone over my arm. It was a bit dark in this place so I could not see the face very well. But when it spoke, I confirmed who it was.

"Maybe you have fun now? Zeus is with you, and your children are still together. While I am mourning!"

"Aria, what are you doing? How did you get in?" I told her calmly.

She grinned and shook her head. This is not the Aria that I know. This one looks wasted and crazy. Has messy hair and a bit of dirty clothes.

"This is what you made me. You and Zeus. You know Sofia, I thought of something. Will Zeus still love you if... you are dead?" she said once then took her carry-on bag. When I realized what it was, I was terrified.

Aria is carrying a gun and she's pointing at me. He smiled while I was nervous.

"Please, Aria. Let's talk about this. This is not you. There are many other men, Aria. The one who will love you back," I told her.

I hope she would listen to me. But she only returned a foolish smile to me.

"You think, I would love any man other than Zeus? No! He is for me!" she shouted at the same time touching the trigger of the gun. I closed my eyes. I was ready to accept whatever would happen to me, but not everything happened.

Someone hugged me and protected me from the bullets. Someone seized the bullets that were for me. And when I opened my eyes, my tears started falling.

"Zeus!"

Zeus fell to the ground and because he hugged me, I also fell down with him. I looked at his face and it was pale. He had been shot on the back of his chest and on his shoulder. There was blood coming out from his mouth too. I was horrified by what I saw. I was holding him so tight. I even embraced him tight so that he would feel that I am here.

"Please baby, wake up! You said you were going to marry me. Tomorrow, we will! Just don't fucking leave me…please!!" I shouted. I cried with great concern. There is also a painful part of my body, but I know it doesn't matter compared to how Zeus feels now.

Zeus didn't answer. I know he can hear me. I know that he is still alive. I felt it. I can feel it in my heart.

"Please just say something love. I love you so much. Hold on, please!" I said begging. Tears still welled up in my eyes. I felt him grab my palms and carry them to his lips. He kissed it slowly. My crying got louder.

Why is this happening to me? I thought it was over. I thought I would be happy.

"I love you..." he said with difficulty. He stared at me before closing his eyes again.

Just like that, I wish I could bear the pain that he was feeling. I did not ask for this.

"Help !!" I screamed. We need help right now. Zeus needs help right now.

When I looked at Aria, she was crying too. Even in the faint surroundings I knew she was crying. She was screaming. She's hysterical. She pointed the gun in her head then pulled the trigger. It fell and blood flowed from her head.

I was surprised and stunned at what she did. I want to blame her now, but for what else? She killed herself too.

I couldn't contain the feeling anymore.

And I broke down.

***

My head is throbbing with so much pain. I also slightly moved my body, but I still could not move it very much. I can smell the natural scent of a hospital, so I know I am in the hospital now. I opened my eyes but immediately closed my eyes again. The light coming from the hospital light was dazzling so I slowly opened my eyes.

When I looked around, I saw Mother Belen lying at the foot of my bed. I roamed my eyes and saw an unfamiliar figure of a man on the other side of me. He looked at me with concern.

"W-Who are you?" I asked. He looks worried at me. Something I wonder because I do not know him.

"Careful. Don't speak yet. It's bad for you," he said as he helped me lean against the headboard of the bed. Because of my actions, my mother also woke up.

"Sofia..." Mom is starting to get emotional again. She quickly took some water and gave it to me to drink. After I drank my voice came back a bit.

"Mom, Zeus? I want to see him," I asked them. My eyes are watering again. When I remember what happened I can't breathe. Everything seemed like a nightmare to me.

Mother Belen glanced at the man before answering me. But the man preceded her in speaking.

"He's fine but still in the ICU. He's in a coma, Sofia."

What the man told me was like a broken plaque that replayed in my brain. As I stared at him, I did not realize that my tears were dripping again.

Why is life so unfair? Why is this happening to me? Why now?

"I want to see him, Mom. I'm fine. I want to see him," I said pleadingly. Even the man I turned to and I begged. They just nodded at me.

As we waited for the doctor who was taking care of Zeus to arrive, Mom told me everything. The man is not just a stranger. His name is Andrius Monterio, and he is my older brother. He has also known me for a long time and is just looking for the right time to introduce himself. Although I could not believe what I found out, I just accepted it. I do not want to add to what I am thinking right now, because Zeus is more important to me.

"Let's go." The man led me to Zeus' room. I was in a hospital gown while they were not. I'm the only one who goes inside.

As we walked, I was nervous. I don't know what to do. I also do not know if I can look at him in his condition.

I feel guilty. I think it's all my fault. Because if it weren't for me, it wouldn't have happened to him.

As we approached the door my hand trembled as it opened. The doctor who was looking at him immediately approached me.

"You can talk to Mrs. Vergara. That is better for his faster recovery," the doctor said to me while patting my shoulder. He passed me and left the room.

I slowly approached Zeus and sat in the empty seat at his feet. I searched the area, but I could only see white and devices.

I sighed. My chest hurts from what is happening to us. One moment we were happy then suddenly the tables were turned.

I burst into tears as I gently touched his cold hand. I brought it close to my face and rubbed it.

I want him to feel my presence. I want him to feel my warmth. I want him to feel my love. I want him back.

"Come back to me..."

***

Two years later "Mommy, are we gonna visit daddy?" Athena asked me. They are eight years old and studying as well.

"Yes baby. But we're going to buy flower first. Okay?" I answered and Icarus glanced at them both in the backseat of the car.

For the past two years I have only made self-improvement. I learned new things for me to improve. I studied homeschooled for a course. All that became possible because of Andrius, my brother.

I parked the car opposite a flower shop. I will buy flowers for her. I miss her as well as the kids so we will visit her today.

After I bought flowers, we went straight to the cemetery. I stopped the car on the side and got out. Icarus and Athena followed me. They can manage themselves already. And I can say that is one thing I can be proud of.

I didn't spoil them. Instead, I teach them how to stand on their own. I want them to be independent at all times. And they did. I know I did not miss them. Those past years just tightened our bond. I showed them how much I love them at the same time I impose discipline.

When we got close to the mausoleum, we opened it and immediately entered. I laid the flower at the foot of the tomb.

To this day, I still can't believe what happened two years ago. I know I've been happy for the past years, but I can't change the fact that I am mourning too.

"We miss you so much, Mom..." When I talk to it as if she can hear it.

Mother Belen passed away last year. She died because of a heart attack. What happened to me was very painful, but I did nothing. I just accepted everything.

Maybe when the pain is too much you will just numb. Because in recent years I have trained myself in pain. I need to feel numb, to be sane. Because if I had implemented the pain I was feeling, I would have given up a long time ago.

In all that has happened to me, I also thank my brother. Andrius is always there for me. To back me up.

We only need one person in our life to stand with us. A true and genuine person who patiently helps us in times that we thought nobody cares. And Andrius, he helps me in every possible way that he can, without hesitation.

We offered a heartfelt prayer before deciding to go to the hospital. Zeus was still in a coma. The doctor said that he was responsible for all the treatment done to him. But until now he is still asleep.

I do not know when he will wake up. But I hope that he will wake up. I wish he could hear me and his children. Because we have been waiting and waiting for him for a long time.

When we entered Zeus' room, I immediately took a towel and a tub. While the children immediately approached him and hugged him tightly. I can still hear them singing their father.

I am here every day. I clean him like this every day. I know how tidy he is when it comes to the body. I also get hurt every day when I see him like this. Lying down and not moving.

When I noticed that my children were quiet, I peeked at them from the bathroom where I was. I was so shocked to see why they were silent. My tears precede the shedding. I quickly approached to confirm that I was not just imagining.

Zeus opened his eyes.

He looked at the kids and then roamed around the place. And when his eyes meet mine. He smiled. Tears welled up in my eyes.

"You....come back..."

"I'm home," he whispered.

Yes, he's home.

And I felt it in my heart too.