Kill for Love

Chapter 13 - The Argument

“I can’t believe you’d do that, Ares,” Cytherea confronted Ares the moment they entered his room. Athena went to her room, so he dragged Ares inside his room so they could talk privately. She closed the door and made sure it was locked.

They already got back from the restaurant. After Gaus left, she packed up all her cameras without speaking any word. She was really pissed off but didn't want to create a scene. So, she decided to remain silent. Athena secretly smirked. 

'Oh, boy, you're in big trouble,' she thought.

She knows that if Cytherea is not saying anything, it only means one thing: she is mad and she's controlling herself not to do an outburst. 

She looked at Ares, who didn't seem to be bothered by Cytherea's silent treatment. He was still looking at the door where Gaus' exited. 

She decided to help Cytherea. She's getting excited about what will happen next because of Ares' stupidity. He already knows that Cytherea is a perfectionist when it comes to her vlog entries and doesn't tolerate rudeness.  And what had happened earlier certainly made her blood boil.

After a few minutes, all gadgets have been carefully put in the bag. Cytherea clings to Athena's arm. She completely ignores Ares, who is now looking at her.

"Let's go, Bestie," she calmly said while dragging Athena to the door. 

“How about, Ares?” Athena asked, but she didn’t respond. She just continued to walk. 

“Babe!” Ares called her when they passed him. 

“Not now,” she simply answered. She gritted her teeth. No matter how much she tries to calm herself, she just can’t. She couldn’t believe that Ares would do such a thing. He was nasty with the person that gave them a huge favor. She couldn’t believe that he can be unprofessional. She couldn’t find any reason why Ares acted the way he did. It made her think that even though they've been together for years, it seemed like there was still about him that she didn’t know.

“Are you upset with me because of that guy?” Ares demanded. His jaw clenched. He couldn't believe that Cytherea would confront him like this. He didn't do anything wrong!

"Really, Ares? Do you think you did nothing wrong earlier? You were so rude! How can you even do that?!" Cytherea couldn't help herself but scream because of frustrations. She doesn't know if Ares was just pretending not to know why she was so mad. 

"So, we are on a first-name basis now because of that guy?! Wow!" Ares sarcastically laughs. "I don't even understand why you're acting like this. I was just protecting what is mine!" Ares pointed to the door like an invisible Gaus was standing there. "Did you see how he looks at you? Obviously, that guy likes you and it seems like you are okay with it! Do you like him too, huh?!"

"What?! Oh my, God! You're impossible! I'm upset because that guy was giving me a favor to feature his restaurant and you were rude to him!" She frustratedly runs her fingers through her hair. "I can't believe you did that. I've worked with a lot of men before and you were okay with them. How is Gaus any different?" 

"He is different because he likes you! I am also a man, Babe. I know exactly how a man looks when he's staring at the person he likes!"

"I understand you are jealous, but you can't be rude to someone who's doing me a huge favor!" She sighed loudly. She feels like she's talking to a child who doesn't understand what she's trying to convey. "Babe, there may be tons of men who will show interest to me. There will always be someone like Gaus who will look at me like that, but they don't matter to me. What matters to me is you and that's why I said yes when you proposed to me because I love you. I signed up for this path and it is expected that there will always be a man who will show how much they adore me. Why do you make it a big deal? Gaus didn't even do something that may aggravate you." 

“Why do I feel that what he’s feeling is more important to you than what I’m feeling right now?” Ares angrily looked at Cytherea. He couldn’t believe that Cytherea is siding with that person. She should be siding him because he is her fiancé. But instead, she’s rubbing it in his face that he was wrong.

“What’s happening to you, Babe? You are not like that at all! You were always so kind and understanding. What changed?”

“Maybe I’m like this because you are so gullible! I always have to look after you to make sure they will not take advantage of your kindness! That guy Gaus? He was flirting with you, but you didn't even notice it! You continue smiling at him like you like what he's doing. Tell me, Cytherea, do you like him? Is that the reason why you're so upset with me?"

A tear escapes from Cytherea's left eye. She couldn't believe that their argument would escalate to this big. After long years of being together, she couldn't believe that Ares doubted her love for him. 

Ares got stunned when he saw the tears start to fall from Cytherea's eyes. It seemed like he awoke from a deep sleep and realized the words that just came out of his mouth. He walked towards Cytherea and tried to hold her hands, but she shoved his hands away.

"Babe…" 

Cytherea angrily wiped her tears away. She looked at him with cold eyes.

"I didn't know that after all these years, you think so little of me. I never thought it would come to the point that you will doubt my love for you," she whimpered. She started walking backward as Ares stepped towards her. He wanted to hug her, console her, and apologize for the things he said out of anger and jealousy. But Cytherea was so hurt. Ares turned out to be a completely different person in which she no longer recognized. "Am I that too easy for you? Do you think it's easy for these people to sway me? Don't you trust me? Years, Ares, years! We've been together for years, and you just doubted me? Do you even understand why I'm upset? That guy helped me out by allowing me to feature his restaurant in my vlog without asking for anything in return. He didn't do anything but be professional while Athena was videotaping us.  He was formal throughout the video and if you noticed, he was just talking purely about his restaurant, the foods being served, and his recommendations. But what did you do? You were rude and sarcastic all the time! What do you expect me to do? Just sit there and act as nothing happened? And what do you mean he's flirting with me? He was just answering the questions I asked. Where is flirting in that?"

"Babe…" Ares felt guilty. He knew he was wrong. The jealousy takes over his sanity.

"You know what? Whatever! I'll get some fresh air. Don't even try to come along." She wiped her tears again using her fingers before storming out of the room. 

Athena could hear bits of the couple's argument even if she were in Cytherea’s room. She couldn’t help but smile. She knows it’s wrong to feel happy when her very own best friend is hurting and has an argument with his fiancée. But what can she do? More conflict with them would mean an opportunity for her to be with Ares. 

She stood closer to the wall adjacent to Ares’ room. She puts her right ear against the wall, hoping she can hear their argument clearly. She bit her lips as she heard the couple’s arguments become intense. She already thought a lot of plans in her mind. She felt her heart racing with excitement. She couldn’t wait to call the unknown caller. She still didn’t know his name until now, but she had a hunch who it is. 

She went to her bag that was on the bedside table and hurriedly took her phone. She was biting her nails while scanning through her phone. 

“Gotcha!” she murmured. A sly grin broke across her face. She pushed the call button and put the phone on her right ear.

After a few rings, a familiar husky voice answered, “To what pleasure do I owe you?”

“It seems like you already know why I’m calling,” she giggled. She sat on the bed and crossed her legs.

“And?” he answered, uninterested.

“You’re no fun.” She frowns as if the person can see her. “Anyway, they’re fighting right now. I think that I should let you know. This will be a great time to reveal yourself. Be her crying shoulder or whatever. Cytherea has soft spots for sympathetic people. She doesn’t forget people who were nice to her.”

“Thanks for the information. Anything else?”

Athena’s eyes furrowed. She’s confused. The caller doesn’t seem to be interested in what she’s telling him.

“Are you not interested in her anymore?” she couldn’t help but ask.

The man chuckled. “Who said I’m not?”

“Then, why do you sound like you are not interested?”

“Do I have to be?” the man chuckled. It seemed like he was having fun throwing her back the questions she asked.

“I’m now contemplating if I did the right thing by calling you.” She frowns when she hears the man chuckles again. 

“I’m not saying you didn’t.”

Athena annoyingly scratches her head. She has a feeling that the man was just playing with her. “I don’t understand you. To be honest, I’m curious why you have to do this. The way you talk, you sound like an eloquent man.”

The atmosphere becomes heavy. The man’s voice became dark and even though Athena can’t see the man, shivers still went down her spine. Warning bells keep on ringing in her ear. It’s as if she pushed a button that shouldn’t be touched.

“Curiosity killed the cat, Athena.”

Her heart started to pound so hard. She couldn’t utter a single word. Her world was shaken just because of his last sentence. She now clearly knows that this man is not someone to be messed up with. 

“Have a nice day, Athena,” the man said after a few seconds of silence. The man ended the call, and all Athena could do was stare at the phone.