Chapter Two: Where It All Began

Some people believe that there's an invisible thread that connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place and circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break. 

"Good evening, grandpa. Thank God I'm finally home." Dionysus sat beside his father, on their long, mahogany table. He tossed his briefcase on the carpeted floor before he loosened up his necktie around his neck and removed his coat afterwards.

A housemaid immediately prepared a plate and utensils for him while his grandfather tapped his shoulders before the old Chevalier resumed eating his own dinner. "What's with the long face, kiddo? Did something happen at work?" Dionysus sighed, instantly remembering Zoey.

The odd looking girl that spilled his coffee on his suits for two freaking times in a row. The first one, he can forgive that. It was clearly an accident. He was just teasing her about the issue on insincere apologies. But, the second one? Nah. He was rather furious and enraged throughout the whole day.

"Just this weird girl, grandpa. Damn. Just thinking about her makes my blood boil and makes my head hurt like it is going to split into two." Dionysus murmured then proceeded to massage his temples a little. "She looked like a witch, straight from my nightmares. And, she shrieked like a five year old as if someone would rape her or something." Contrary to his guess that his grandfather would sympathize with him, the seventy five year old Chevalier actually laughed like Dionysus just told him some funny jokes. "Grandpa, why are you laughing? Is this funny to you? That woman ruined my entire day. I even have to cancel interviewing all the final applicants for my retiring secretary's position because of her."

Dionysus' grandfather shook his head, laughing more before sipping on his own glass of water. He was absolutely amused at the intense emotions his grandson was showing in his blue eyes for the first time in history. "Your face was funny, kiddo. I'm laughing because for the first time ever, some random girl made you feel angry like that. It's a sign. Because you know, girls bore the bloody hell out of you oftentimes. That's why you can't blame me if I still think that you are. ." 

Dionysus blew out a deep, loud breath, intentionally interrupting the old Chevalier. "How many times do I have to tell you that I am not gay, old man? Just how many times?" Mr. Hermes Chevalier laughed more again, his personal nurse had to walk near him just to remind him not to strain himself too much.

"I'm okay, Miss nurse. I'm just teasing my grandson." The old Chevalier replied at the nurse's warning. Thereafter, he looked back at Dionysus. "Well, you're already thirty six. Turning thirty seven. And, you still haven't got any woman since you hit puberty."

"God. We're not having this conversation again, grandpa. Spare me for tonight, please." Dionysus started eating as well, silently showing his grandfather that he won't be talking for the next few minutes again. 

"I'm just saying that, you are still a virgin at that age. And, that's a shame for a man like you. A disgrace to our beautiful genes. To our clan. To our ancestors. I first banged a girl when I landed at fifteen. I first kissed a girl when I was ten. See, kiddo?" Dionysus wanted to hit his face on the table over and over again for he had heard that story a million times already. "I guess, being a genius has its own disadvantages? You wouldn't even burn for a woman." 

"What? Burn? Really? Burn? What kind of thinking was that, old man?" Dionysus exclaimed, he looked like he had enough already for that day.

"Stop calling me old man, kiddo. You're an old man yourself as well. You're nearing forty, right?"

"Goddamn it." 

"Language, kid."

"What? You're the second person to tell me that today. And, it's very encouraging, really." The sarcasm on Dionysus' voice was on point, it wasn't that hard not to be noticed by the old Chevalier. 

Mr. Hermes Chevalier grinned, wiping a napkin on his lips with much elegance. "Hmm. Let me guess, it was that random girl who said that to you first. Am I right? I guess we can get along well, ehh?" 

"Grandpa!" Dionysus groaned in so much frustration.

"What? Can't I guess now?" The old Chevalier tapped his grandson's shoulders again. "Come on, kiddo. Stop being a nerd and enjoy life while it lasts. You already have so much money. You already have proved yourself, being the most successful at a young age without my help. It's time to find a wife for yourself? How about that girl you're talking about? Is she pretty?"

"What? No! Gross. She looked like she had this rare skin disease. She had dark patches all over her face and neck. She wasn't even attractive and had this weird fashion sense. Her big eyes looked like it would pop out from his thick framed eyeglasses. And, her hair. God, her ugly blonde hair. It looked like she didn't even know how to use combs or something. It also seemed like she hadn't showered for years. It looks so greasy." 

"My, my, my. You describe her so well. But, since when did you become so judgmental of other people, kiddo? Did I teach that to you?" A deafening silence engulfed the whole dining area of the Chevalier mansion right after. The maids standing on the corner and the head nurse were all lowering their heads, but Dionysus can still hear their suppressed laugh. "Now, I really want to meet this girl before God decides to take me away. She sounded like she can bring the worst out of you, kiddo." 

"What are you talking about, grandpa? You will still live for so many years. And, you will still see me have my family. When the right time comes, alright? Just wait for it. And, please, don't pressure me. I have multiple empires to handle around the world. I just can't afford to be dating right now." 

"But, it won't hurt you to look for someone right now. I know your motto was not to mix business with pleasure. But, you are now the big boss, kiddo. Set your own rules. Hang on! One of my nurses introduced an app to me. It looks beguiling, Dio. I am telling you." Right there and then, Dionysus eyed the four nurses he had hired to look after his grandfather's health.

All of them instantaneously bowed their heads after seeing his piercing glares. "You know I'm not a fan of any apps, grandpa. Come on. Let's just eat in peace. Shall we?" Dionysus was about to scoop at his soup bowl but the old Chevalier stopped his left arm. "What now?"

"Look. This is a dating app." Mr. Hermes Chevalier pointed at his phone's monitor. 

"A what?" Dionysus reacted while looking at the small screen of his grandfather's smartphone.

"A dating app, kid. Are you becoming deaf or what?"

"No, grandpa. I definitely know that app. What I'm saying is, what makes you think that you can make me use that app? And besides, do you really think I need an app to hook up with a woman? You said it yourself. Our ethnicity was one of a kind. We are a Dutch, German, Italian, Sicilian, English, with a distant amount of Welsh and Northern Irish all combined in one." 

"But, we're American citizens? Isn't that right?" Dionysus laughed a little at his grandfather's silliness.

"Let's just continue eating. Please? Please. Please." Mr. Hermes Chevalier shook his head. 

"No, kid. Because I already made you a profile." The old Chevalier said that in a loud, sing-song voice. "But, don't worry. On this particular dating app, no real names and real photos were needed. Just a username and you're all set. Isn't it exciting? When you meet with someone, there's this anticipation inside you that you wanted to satisfy whether your date was pretty enough or not, sexy enough or not and delectable enough or not."

Dionysus' grandfather even imitated a heart's thumping sound and even a disgusting slurping sound on which the infamous Chevalier's exhausted brain cannot comprehend and process anymore. 

"That's it, old man. I'm finished. I'm heading upstairs. Goodnight." Dionysus was about to walk away and stand up from his seat but his old man wasn't someone to back down that easily, especially not with his non-existent love life being the hot topic every god-damned dinner they will have. 

"If you meet with someone tonight, I promise I won't bother you about 'having a wife' for the next few months." Dionysus' eyes widened, palpably surprised at his grandfather's bargain.

"Really? Are you sure? Just meet?" Dionysus asked because he has to make sure of it. He drank his water because he really had lost his appetite seconds ago. 

"Just meet. It depends on you if you know, you want some live action, with you acting on it." Right there and then, Dionysus choked on the water he was drinking and splattered trickles of it on the table.

"Grandpa!" 

"Seriously, kid. Don't act like you're still sixteen. For Christ's sake, you are already too old enough to be shagging a girl left and right." 

"Goodness gracious." Dionysus had to massage his temples again for the ridiculous words he was hearing from his own grandfather. 

"What a gay." His grandfather really has to have the final say. Right there and then, Dionysus snatched the old Chevalier's phone and cursed under his breath.

"Alright, alright. You win. I'm meeting with someone and you. ." Dionysus pointed at his grandfather whose eyes only glinted in so much happiness. "Are gonna stop calling me gay for the rest of my life." 

~~~~

"Seriously? You didn't get the job, so what? Are you just going to mope inside your room all night long? Come on, sister. Stop crying now. Let's do some bar hopping. It will definitely lighten up your mood. Let's just not tell mama." 

"Go away!" Zoey got up from being plonked down on her bed, picked up some pillows and threw it straight towards her closed door. Her older sister, Zara, shrieked outside after what she did.

"Heavens! I am just trying to cheer you up! Why do you always resort to violence! That's why you still haven't got a boyfriend until now!" Zoey's eyes widened, something inside her snapped and she trudged towards the door like a soldier getting ready to fight for a war again. 

Zoey unbolted her door and attacked her sister like a madman. "Argh! I hate you!" Just like that, the two of them wrestled on the floor, clawing each other's faces, pulling each other's hair and hitting each other's body.

"What the bloody hell is happening here!" Zoey and Zara's mother materialized behind them, with hands placed on her waist, waiting for her daughters to explain everything but Zoey and Zara still haven't finished what they started off.

"You always have to rob it on my face that I'm ugly and no one would literally like me no matter what!" Zoey screamed at the top of her lungs while painful tears cascading down her eyes. 

"Because that's the truth! Don't make it like it was my fault! It's not my problem you look like that, ugly face!" Zara shouted back, pointing at the dark patches almost covering half of Zoey's skin and body. 

"Alright! Praise the prettiest face in this house, then. Praise you! You know what, why don't you just marry yourself because you are so in love with your unpigmented appearance you forgot that your behavior sucks and there's nothing you can do about it! You're a devil! You deserve to rot in hell!" 

"So, you're not a devil yourself?"

"I am!"

"See? At least, I'm a pretty devil. Unlike you. Suck on that, loser!"

"Argh! I really hate you!" Zoey screamed for one last time before rushing back to her own room, slamming the door shut and strutting towards her bed just to cry some more. "I really hate everybody." It was only Mrs. Lavigne and Zara who were left alone in the hallway.

"I was just trying to cheer her up, mom. She started this fight. I am not apologizing to her." Zara said with so much conviction before she strutted towards her own room as well, leaving Mrs. Lavigne all by herself. Mrs. Lavigne calmed herself down and contemplated on what the bloody hell she wrongfully did on raising her daughters for them to become like that. 

Seconds later, Zoey heard her mother knocking on her door. "Darling, come on. It's dinner time. You can't miss dinner. I cooked your favorite beef casserole." Zoey grunted and readied herself to scream for one last time. 

"Go away, mom. Please! Not now!" Afterwards, Zoey's throat hurt like hell; she had to run downstairs to the kitchen, surpassing Mrs. Lavigne just to get herself something to drink. 

"Zoey! Zoey! At last! You came out of your room! I need your help." It was Zoey's little sister, Zamantha, who was eight years younger than her that suddenly emerged behind her. Zamantha pulled Zoey towards their kitchen's backdoor and the two of them trailed the way towards the swing located at their backyard where Zoey used to play with her older sister back when she was a child. 

"What is it, Zam? I'm tired. Please. Can you just all leave me alone right now?"

"No, this is important. This is code red. Look." Zamantha showed Zoey the small screen of her phone. Zoey examined the monitor with her sleepy, puffy eyes.

"Great. As if I care if you chat with some random guy on a dating app. Good for you, though. Just don't meet up with them, alright? It's too dangerous. You're just eighteen." Zoey slapped her little sister's cheeks and was about to walk away when Zamantha stopped her.

"Actually, I agreed to meet with someone tonight, Zoe." 

"What? Are you insane? Give me that." Zoey snatched Zamantha's phone only to peek at her conversation with a guy. "His name is 'iamsher.Locked'. What an odd name."

"Silly. It's just his username. That dating app allows its users to just use a username instead of using their real names and pictures. In that way, everyone's privacy can be protected." Zoey's forehead creased.

"Alright? That sounded so dumb because why the bloody hell would you agree on meeting him if you value your freaking privacy!" Zamantha giggled, even though she can unequivocally noticed that Zoey's nose was now flaring in so much anger. 

"As a matter of fact, I only downloaded that app to find you a date, and a boyfriend if luck goes our way. And, all the information I said to 'iamsher.Locked' were all about you. So. ." Zamantha grinned like she was the third devilish daughter of Mrs. Lavigne. "In other words, it was you who was really meeting him tonight, at exactly eight thirty at Dacre Club. Goodluck, 'millieleven'. It's your username, by the way." Then, Zamantha winked at her. "Let's swap phones for the meantime, alright?"

Zoey was still processing everything she heard from her little sister when she finally realized that Zamantha had already gone back inside their house and she was all left alone in their dark backyard. Zoey gazed down at her sister's phone on her hand and read the last thread of messages on the dating app's chat box. 

@iamsher.Locked: I changed my mind. Let's meet now. I'm on my way. 

@millieleven: Alrighty! I'll prepare now! See you there! 

"What the fuck, Zamantha Rane Lavigne!" Zoey started typing on the chat box. She definitely didn't want to oblige at her sister's orders. Yet, before she could hit the 'send' button, her older sister appeared in front of her again.

"Ohh, no, Zoe. You can't do that. Here, let's make you presentable, shall we?" In the blink of an eye, Zoey's little sister started removing her shirt and pants in the middle of their backyard and made her wear a long sleeve pink dress, a denim jacket and wedge shoes. All the while, Zoey didn't even try to stop Zamantha because she was just too tired to do so. "There. Come on. I already called for a cab. It's already waiting outside. And, don't worry about mom. I'll just make her believe that you have gone back to your room to sleep some more."

Zoey's jaw almost dropped on the ground. "Wow, Zam. What can I say? I'm really impressed. You have planned all of this beforehand?" Zamantha proudly nodded.

"Took me a day and a half to finish plotting my schemes. Come on. You have been working your ass twenty four seven for us your whole life. It's time for you to have fun sometimes and blow up some steam. Rawr." Zoey could only shake her head at that as Zamantha pulled her again to sneak towards their gate without their mother detecting that she was about to sneak out in the middle of the night. "I have already paid for that. By the way, I got your wallet from your room."

"Great. Now, it's all on me to spend everything I need for this god-damned meet up." When they arrived in front of the taxi cab, Zoey felt Zamantha pushing her inside the backseat but she remained standing on her spot. "Nope. I am not going anywhere. I'll wait here until mom notices that I was missing and she will be definitely mad at you." Zamantha sighed.

"Alright. I won't be asking for a two months allowance from you if you hop inside that cab." Zoey flicked her eyeglasses and made sure that it was really her little sister who had said that to her. What a miracle, indeed. 

"For real?" Zamantha nodded immediately and without further ado, Zoey stepped inside the cab willingly, with all her heart like she wasn't so against that a while ago. Zamantha laughed.

"Enjoy, Zoe. Text me on your phone, alright? Love you. Take care." The sound of the cab's door being slammed shut by Zamantha made Zoey wake up from the trance. But, it was too late. The taxi cab driver already maneuvered the car.

"Ohh, my god. What have I done?" Zoey asked herself as she looked down at her sister's phone when a new message popped at the dating app's chat box.

@iamsher.Locked: I am wearing a dark blue shirt. Just in case we don't recognize each other right away. 

Then, a text from her little sister using her own number from her own phone popped up as well. Zoey felt a little bit weirded out upon seeing her own name texting her. 

From: Zoeythenerd

I just want you to be happy with someone, Zoe. Slap Zara's face later on if you finally have a boyfriend of yours. You go bitchin'! 

Zoey typed a reply for her little sister, looking like she wanted to almost destroy Zamantha's phone with her nails. 

To: Zoeythenerd

I'll slap yours once I get back, lil sis. So, better ready that face of yours instead.

From: Zoeythenerd

If you get a boyfriend because of my plan, I will make you crown braids for the rest of your life. So deal or no deal?

Zoey was unequivocally tempted at that, given that her long, frizzy and wavy blonde hair doesn't look good all the freaking damn time. All the freaking damn time. Zoey pondered about that for a few moments, until she had typed a reply to Zamantha.

To: Zoeythenerd

Deal.