CHAPTER 26: SPENDING TIME WITH HER
1396 Words
Zane was walking on the school grounds when he noticed a student staring at him, somewhere laughing and making weird noises. He put his hoodie on to cover himself.
"You are hiding yourself again."
He looked behind him and saw Aera approaching him. She was carrying her bag and a few notebooks in her hand.
"Aera, glad to see you." He showed the happiest smile to her.
"Why? Do you need anything?" She tilted her head, wondering if he needed anything.
"I need to talk to you about something, but it's already time for my first subject. Can we talk later after our classes?"
"Of course. What time are you out?"
"Three o'clock. I have straight classes from seven to eleven, then we have a meeting in the archery club for one hour, and then back to classes from twelve to three. No lunch breaks." He waited for her answer.
"Okay then, I'll go to your room later and wait outside. See you later." Aera waved her hand and walked towards their building.
Zane proceeded to their college building. He was excited to end all his classes immediately so he could talk to Aera and spend time with her.
***
Later that day, Aera waited for Zane outside his classroom.
"Hi! Did you wait too long?" He was worried because a girl was waiting for him, and it was Aera, of all girls.
"No, I just waited for five minutes. What are we going to talk about?"
Zane looked around. His classmates and other students are looking at them, including Bridgette. "Let's go to my place. It's something important."
"Sure. Let's go." Aera did not even notice the other girls glaring at her. She just walked with Zane confidently. "Your fans are mad at me." She laughed.
He chuckled. "They are not my fans. They are just curious about me."
They reached his unit in the old apartment complex. Zane peeked outside his unit first before closing the door.
"You are acting weird," Aera asked, puzzled about his actions.
"First thing's first. I know your Dad. He is my friend."
Her jaw dropped. "My Dad? Really?"
He nodded. "Eurus."
Her eyes became wider, and her mouth opened; she could not even say a word.
"Yes, I know he is immortal, and I only found out last night that you are his daughter. He was spying on us yesterday." He scratched his head.
"No freaking way!"
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me," he assured her.
"But,,, but... you didn't think I'm a freak, right?" Zane can read anxiousness on her face.
"Why would I think about you as a freak? You're awesome! Imagine your father is my hero. And being immortal does not mean being a freak. You are extraordinary to me."
"Thank you, Zane," she said. She sighed deeply as a sign of relief.
"Besides, I think we are the same."
"We're the same? You're immortal, too?"
He shook his head. "I'm not sure if I am immortal, but I also have abilities that normal people don't have." He breathed deeply and released it. A mild sound wave enveloped his room and shook his place. "I just minimized the strength and force. I don't want to ruin this building."
Her jaw dropped. "Oh my... you're a demigod?"
"I searched about it, demigods have one immortal parent. I doubt I am one, my parents are both humans." He sounded sure about it.
"Are you sure about that? One of your parents may be immortal or a descendant of a demigod."
"I need to ask them to confirm. Let's go back home this weekend. I will also help you find your mother." If his parents were immortal, the accident that happened years ago would have a different result, and Anne would not struggle in her wheelchair. He suddenly heard his stomach growling.
"You were not bullied earlier, right?" Aera laughed.
He scratched the back of his head. "No. I didn't have enough time to eat my lunch."
"Do you have anything you can cook here?" She glanced at the kitchen counter.
"I think we can just go out and eat. I am really hungry."
"That's a better idea. Let's go out and have something to eat." Aera stood up.
"But can you eat human food? I mean..."
"I lived as a normal human for ten years without knowing my real identity. I ate human food for more than half of my life. Don't worry about me," she assured him.
"You did not notice any powers before?"
"No, they blocked my powers and covered my identity. It has been removed." She held Zane's hand. "Let's talk later. You need to eat."
Zane's heart was moved. Aera cares about him. They went out and searched for a nearby fast-food restaurant.
"I think this one is good." Aera pointed at a chicken restaurant's poster placed outside. "I missed fried chicken! Oh, they have spaghetti and fries, too!"
Zane laughed. He finds her gorgeous every time she gets excited and happy. "Let's eat everything." He glanced at their hands still holding together, and his heartbeat skipped. "Let's get inside."
The restaurant was half-empty. They sat on the table good for four places near the glass wall.
Zane called the waiter. Aera ordered all the food she liked on the menu. "Two orders of fried chicken, spaghetti, fries, and burger. Also, include one veggie salad, and a glass of large iced tea."
The waiter took down her orders and excused himself.
"I thought I was the one who's hungry?" He cannot stop laughing, and he is amused by her. "But it's okay, we will fill our stomachs today."
"Sorry, I missed everything on their menu." She grinned.
"Where did you live the whole time you were gone? What were you eating all this time?"
She leaned forward and whispered. "I stayed in Olympus, and they only fed me ambrosia. I drink nectar, too."
"Just those two, for years?" He was shocked when he heard it. "I don't think I can live without eating other things for how many years. You're so strong."
"I know, right." Her eyes twinkled when she saw the waiter carrying the food they ordered. "Here it comes!" She clapped because of excitement.
They both enjoyed eating while chatting and laughing. He was happy spending time with Aera, and he loved seeing her like this, lively and jolly. "Is this a date with her?" he asked himself. He felt butterflies in his stomach.
"How do ambrosia and nectar taste like?" he asked, almost in a whisper.
"For me, it's like bitter brownies. The taste and flavour of it depend on the person who would eat it."
"Glad you can still eat these." He pointed to all the food on their table.
"I think that's the advantage of living in the human world; we can adapt to the environment," she replied in a low voice.
"Do you have any plans of going back there?" he asked the question he wished she would answer no.
"I'm not sure yet, but I prefer living here than in Olympus, but it wasn't my call to decide for myself." She took a bite of chicken. "This is so delicious."
"Right... I wish you could stay longer here," he said to himself.
"Don't worry, I have a task that I need to fulfil, and it wasn't an easy task. I will surely stay longer in the mortal world," she assured him.
"What task?" he asked out of curiosity. "I might be able to help you."
"I need to find the young man who was destined to kill Zeus," she whispered. "I don't know where to find him. I don't even know him."
"Someone will kill Zeus?!" he almost said the world a little too loud. He looked around. He saw some diners looking at him with a puzzled look. "I-I mean on the book you just read?" He intentionally said it louder for them to hear him. He scratched the back of his head.
"Be quiet!" she said in a low voice. "There was a prophecy that someone was born to kill him. Zeus wants him dead."
"I will try my best to help you."
"Thank you, Zane." She sighed. "I do hope I can find him soon. I want to live freely after my mission."
"Let's finish our food. They are getting cold."
- Writer
