Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Athena’s P.O.V.

I should be flattered by hearing those words from Daddy, but I was sure as hell that those words were meant to be heard by the real Helena… because those words were only for her. I suddenly got teary-eyed at the thought because even in my dreams, he would never be proud of me.

And hell yeah, my father could be a criminal in just a minute. There was no question with regards to that. Actually, he already did it—he was able to kill my identity for my twin sister to continue her legacy!

“Are you sure you’re just classmates? No other hidden agenda?” Daddy asked Cristoff straight to the point.

That made me sneer. As if Cristoff would ask me out for a date? No way!

“Yes, sir. W-We’re just classmates, and we have to work as leaders for this Annual Camp project. I hope that w-we can lead this activity successfully.” I didn’t know, but it seemed like Cristoff’s voice suddenly trembled. I would bet my savings that he would have a pair of clammy palms and shaky legs at this moment.

Oh, where did his overconfidence go? Did it fly already? That was so soon!

“Okay, if you say so. I know that the two of you can do it because there’s no question that you two are both smart!” He then looked at his wristwatch, “I better go. I think I can leave my Helena to you. Don’t make her think much as she’s still sick and might collapse anytime, okay? Nice meeting you, young man. I’ll see you later.” I saw how Dad patted his shoulder. It was as if he quickly got fond of Cristoff.

Helena would collapse… but Athena? Never!

“Nice meeting you too, sir, and thank you for trusting me. I promise not to break your trust,” Cristoff respectfully avowed.

“And from now on… feel free to call me Uncle, young man. If you are Helena’s friend, you are no longer different from her. I could treat you as my own son.” I was surprised by what Daddy announced. My eyebrows almost crossed paths.

Were my ears fooling me?

“Hmm, alright… U-Uncle. Drive safely,” he uttered while bowing his head as a sign of respect.

And he really feels great to call my father his uncle, huh!

Daddy did not speak again but just went straight to the garage and calmly got inside his car. I had waited for him to pass through the open gates first before I called Cristoff in.

“Hey, Cristoff! Let’s now go to the study room.” He cringed when I peeked my head through the open door and motioned him to enter.

We immediately discussed the project the moment we entered the study room. We had complete resources here: books, laptop, desktop computer, high-speed internet, printer, and even telephone if we needed to call the actual place. In short, everything was in here so we wouldn’t have any problems with regards to our research.

I just don’t know when it comes to us!

But after I gave him my USB files and some printouts, he insisted that he would be the one to continue working on our plan—advising me that I should continue my rest. Maybe, he was just following my father’s orders. Who wouldn’t be afraid of Daddy? Even if he tried to act as the kindest and caring father of all, he still looked scary. He was a deceiver.

And because I was still not feeling well, I laid my body on the couch inside the study room. The comfort made me doze for a moment, but I soon realized that I had fallen into deep oblivion.

It felt like someone was staring at my face making me decide to open my eyes. But why does disappointment reign over me after seeing that Cristoff was still busy typing on my laptop?

I guessed I only assumed that he was looking at me when he’s clearly not!

“I’m sorry, Cristoff. I slept,” I apologetically said.

He radiantly smiled at me. “It’s okay, Helena. I am almost finished, and this will only take a few minutes.” He glanced at the screen of the laptop before looking at me again. “How are you feeling now?”

“Hmm, my head still hurts a bit,” I replied before checking the time. “Oops, it’s already past lunchtime. Wait here,” I removed myself from the couch and went to the intercom. I pressed it and asked the maids to bring us some food.

Soon after, they immediately went to the study room and prepared lunch for Cristoff and me. When I was sick, I wasn’t in the right mood to eat and would always lose my appetite even the food was mouth-watering. But now, I didn’t know why but I was famished—in contrast to what I used to be.

I consumed all the beef stew, didn’t even spare the mangoes, and even asked for a caramel-flan dessert. After we had our lunch, the maids cleaned everything, and before they finally left the two of us here, I frowned when Cristoff asked them to leave one glass of water as he handed me a paracetamol tablet.

What the hell? Since Daddy was not here, I thought I was already safe from drinking my medicines! Did he order Cristoff to make sure that I wouldn’t escape these?

“You should take your medicines on time so you can get well soon,” he reminded me.

Even though I wanted to refuse his offer, I did not know why I did nothing to argue. I ended up closing my eyes, swallowed the tablet, and immediately drank the water.

Damn it, I’m going to puke! It felt like the bitter taste of the medicine was still rooting in my tongue.

“Your father gave me that, Helena. He instructed me that I should keep an eye on you—by making sure that you will drink your medicines right on time. You’re just one lucky girl because he loves you so much. He even considered not reporting to work today because no one will take care of you, but I assured him that I would look after you—that I will be taking care of his princess.”

He was all-out smiling at me, but I just couldn’t help to become teary-eyed. I already mastered the art of suppressing my tears, so I ended up giving him a fake smile.

Princess, huh? If only you knew everything, Cristoff—that my father’s one and only princess was the real Helena Mari and not the girl in front of you, not me, not Athena Cari.

I changed the topic so that I could stop pitying myself, “So you’re already close with my Dad, huh? I doubt where you got the courage earlier while talking to him. I heard that you even called him Uncle.” I smirked.

“I just answered his questions with all honesty, and he was the one who insisted me to call him Uncle. I think there’s nothing wrong with that, it was even in favor of me. I will get the chance to be closer to you.” He cockily smiled at me, and it looked like he was getting ready to provoke me again.

I wasn’t able to say anything. What my father always demanded from people was honesty and respect. He could easily know what other people thought based on their actions, and that might be the number one reason why he let Cristoff inside our mansion. He might have assumed that Cristoff was indeed a good guy.

But ironically speaking, yes… Daddy demands honesty, but he is the one living with lies. He is full of lies!

“Helena, since I was able to get here inside your house, it feels like we’re already friends—” he asserted, but I cut him off mid-sentence.

“Don’t get your hopes too high, Cristoff! Stop being delusional that we’re friends, okay?” I peeved while rolling my eyes. “We just have to work on this project as partners—nothing more and nothing less. You’re still my rival, and I think ‘frenemies’ would be the best word to describe our relationship status?” I then raised my left eyebrow.

“Partners?” He teasingly laughed. “We’re leaders, Helena. Oh, I think I know what you’re trying to convey now. So, you wanted me to become your partner, huh? Okay. I will grant your wish. Let’s wait until our J.S. prom, and I will be your partner, I promise! Anything else, princess?” He mischievously winked at me.

Shit! Did I really say, partners? I was supposed to say, leaders. Screw him!

I felt the redness of my face, and I was quite sure that my cheeks were now bloody red! Why would he even call me princess?

“And one more thing, in case you haven’t noticed it yet—we already have an improvement. You’re now consistently calling me Cristoff, no more Rivera, and I liked how you call me that way! It’s okay if we’re just ‘frenemies’ as you’ve said. At least, there is still the word ‘friends’ there, and we now have a relationship status.” He continued to mock me as if laughing like there would be no tomorrow.

“Whatever, suit yourself then!” I dismissed him while scratching the bridge of my nose due to my gradeless eyeglasses. I was about to go back to the couch when he suddenly asked me… making me freeze my bones at the moment.

“By the way, Helena. Who is A-Athena?”