Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Athena’s P.O.V.

“Later, Helena. I made a promise to your father that I’ll go home once he’s here,” he said. “And mind you, there was no chance I would be ever left behind. I could study our topics even with my closed eyes. I could even tutor you if you want. So how was it? Any comments so far on our proposal? I’m excited to hear your feedback!” He smirked again, looking so delighted in himself.

As if I would get lured with that smirk? Hell, no way!

Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I held my head up high and snapped at him. “Stop bragging, okay? In case you haven’t realized it yet, you’re already cutting your classes! Hmm, do you really want to hear my comment? Well, the report is… ugly. It looks terrible! I was kinda hard to please, so sorry, it doesn’t even reach half of my expectation!” Then, I slyly smiled as I couldn’t keep up with my deadpan expression.

His aura suddenly changed. It looked like all of his remaining pride started to vanish away.

Well, that serves him right! I confidently pushed my chest forward as I rolled my eyes.

So, he immediately placed himself in front of the laptop, moved the wireless mouse, and double-checked the report.

“I wonder, how could be this ugly? My craft was even beyond perfect. I have consolidated everything flawlessly, and I’m sure I didn’t forget anything!” Cristoff rebutted and scratched his head while he was still reviewing our report. He even attached my USB again to check if he indeed missed something else.

“You were asking for my comment, but you didn’t want to believe it? You’re really something, huh!”

I was holding myself not to laugh. Scrolling the report from start to finish, Cristoff looked like he was very eager and desperate to know where he could have gotten wrong or which part of the report turned ugly for me.

“And excuse me… nobody’s perfect, okay?” Now, it was my time to smirk at him.

“Yeah, but for me… you’re almost perfect, Helena. And I wasn’t joking just to please you,” he said meekly.

It suddenly stopped me from bursting a laugh. All of a sudden, it felt like my heart skipped a beat, and my stomach twirled around. I didn’t know what was happening to me… but it only happened the first time in history. With him.

Did he really say that I’m almost perfect? No, he was only making fun of me! Or maybe, I have to clean my ears because I started to hear things I didn’t suppose to hear.

With the attempt to bark at him, I ended up looking at him intently until we stuck up having unbreakable eye contact. So here he goes again, he was making me blush again as I could feel my abrupt heated cheeks at the moment.

I also had crushes back in my elementary school and the previous high schools I had attended. I even talked to some of them in terms of academic matters, and I must admit that they were even more handsome than Cristoff, but it was only him who could make me feel this way, to think that I didn’t even have a crush on him. He was making me happy, yes… but I hated him. We looked like a dog and cat every time we were together.

We were still not breaking our eye contact, and I didn’t know what to do anymore when my cellular phone suddenly rang. It instantly made me look away as if taken aback over a trance.

Oops, saved by the bell. Thank, God!

By removing the phone in my shorts’ pocket, I saw that Daddy was calling based on the screen. “Hello, Dad?” I immediately answered it because my father was not fond of waiting.

“Helena, so how’s my unica hija? Are you getting well, my princess?” He greeted me.

As much as I wanted to be happy, I couldn’t. Those words were meant just for Helena, not for me. The realization hit me, and that fucking hurts. I was suddenly devastated by the mere fact that he was only treating me as Helena when I was clearly not his favorite daughter. Already hurt by the truth, I had also been suffocated by pretensions and being killed by lies.

When will I be able to live as Athena again? When will I be able to continue my own life?

“I—I’m fine, Dad. I’m getting well real fast. However, I’m still having a rough voice,” I replied, trying to ignore my intensified feelings.

“I’ll be going home late, okay? I needed to close a big deal. By the way, is your classmate still there?” he asked.

But if I am the real Helena, Daddy would probably go home right away. Helena was more important than anything. In the first place, Daddy might not have reported to his office this morning knowing that Helena was sick.

He was a CEO anyway—the one in control of his time. Daddy was a successful businessman, owner, and CEO of Delgz Automobiles and Delgz Limousines across Europe, Asia, and America. Although he wouldn’t be able to work, his business would work for him, and he could still earn a lot of profits all over the world.

I glanced over Cristoff and rolled my eyes at him. “Yes, Dad. He’s still here, why?”

“Well, I’m glad he didn’t break his promise. Let him stay until dinner.”

“But, Dad? We already finished our report. I think he should go.” I protested.

“No. Why don’t you tour him around so that you two were not just sitting there in the study room doing nothing, and for you to get out of the house to breathe some fresh air? Give him your phone, I wanted to talk to him…” he instructed.

I really wanted to oppose my father’s decision, but I had no other choice. Contrary to my feelings, I ended up giving my cellular phone to Cristoff.

What did he do to make Dad treat him this way?

I knew my father so well, and I could say that he was very strict when it came to boys asking even a single word for Helena. He would be glad to push me instead of in replacement for her.

Is it because he is starting to accept the fact that I was actually Athena? No, I guessed it’s too impossible!

“Thank you, Uncle. Yes, I will.” That was the last thing I heard from Cristoff before giving me back my phone, for me to continue talking to my father.

“Hello, Dad? Are you serious about this? He should go now!” I was sending Cristoff some sharp glares, but all he did was mockingly smile at me like a mischievous kid.

“What’s the problem, Helena? He’s a good young man. You see, he paid you a visit, and he did your report. He even looked after you while I’m not around.”

“But, Dad! You know that I can take good care of myself even if you’re not here,” I still objected. Cristoff was laughing while I was murdering him with my stares. He was even wiggling his dark eyebrows to upset me even more.

He could really, literally, and figuratively… make my blood boil, ugh! I so hate him.

“I’ll hang up now, Helena. Daddy will resume the meeting, I love you.”

“I love you too, Dad. Bye,” I bade him goodbye, and my father soon ended the call. “Hey, geek! What did my dad tell you?” I asked Cristoff right away after placing my phone on the center table.