Zoe awoke beside Helios the following morning. Naked. She shook her head as she locked her gaze on Helios, who was sleeping peacefully beside her.
She questioned herself at this point: how did she get in here?
She was a typical college student who was only concerned with her studies and her mother. Her mother, whom she adores, attempted to sell her to a man—a murderous devil.
However, how could she be certain Helios is not a mirror image of his father?
Zoe sighed and was about to descend when she felt a warmth draw her.
“Hey.”
When she felt Helios’s breath land on her bare neck, she closed her eyes. She sighed as she turned to face him.
Zoe smiled as she locked eyes with Helios. “Hey.”
“I apologize for last night—”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You are not required to be sorry. We both desired it,” she continued.
Helios smiled and kissed her temple softly. His hands caressed her right cheek.
“I’m reluctant to claim you, but I can’t help myself—”
“I understand,” Zoe sighed. “Believe me; I am knowledgeable.” She drew in closer, cupping his face and claiming Helios’ lips. And when she released her grip, she smiled once more.
The silence returned, and all that remained were their eyes as if they understood each other simply by looking.
“So…”
Zoe’s brow arched. “So, what?”
“Are you sure you don’t have classes today?” Helios inquired, his gaze falling on Zoe’s natural pinkish lips.
“Hmm... are you sure you didn’t forget the days of the week?”
Helios let out a soft chuckle and pushed himself away from her, locking his gaze on the ceiling.
Zoe squinted. “Is there a problem? Don’t you have work?”
“It's a holiday.”
Zoe smiled and moved closer to him. Helios stretched her right hand, and Zoe rested her head on it.
When she smells his natural scent, she closes her eyes. ‘Damn, he still smells amazing,’ she reflected.
“Did my father instill fear in you?” Helios inquired abruptly, causing a crease in Zoe’s brow.
Did he not?
Zoe sighed deeply. “Yes.”
“I am—”
“However, I’m more afraid of what mom did. How could she have done such a thing to me?” Zoe felt a tightening in her chest as she recalled what had occurred just a few days before.
“She would have informed me, and I will do everything I can to help her. I am aware that she is a gambler, but—”
“Shh… I do not want you to consider it. The important thing was, you’re here with me. Safe,” Helios said as he hugged her, making Zoe bury her face on his side.
Zoe smiled and raised her eyes to him. “I appreciate it.”
Helios beamed a smile. “My pleasure, but it is not gratuitous...” he paused.
Zoe’s brow arched. “What? Do you want something?” she moved away from him and sat. However, when she caught a glimpse of Helios’s gaze, her eyes widened, and she immediately grabbed the comforter and covered her chest.
“You are aware that there is no reason for that,” he stated meaningfully.
Zoe sighed and rolled her eyes. “Simply get to the point. What are your intentions? You already have me—”
“Marry me.”
Zoe’s eyes grew wider. Did she hear correctly?
The silence filled in, and for a brief moment... Helios squealed with laughter.
Zoe clenches her teeth, and invisible smoke begins to emanate from her nose as if she were portraying an enraged dragon.
“How could you!” Helios caught her hand as she was about to slap him.
“Hey, my apologies. I simply wish to brighten the mood—”
“By pranking me?”
Helios’ lips were pursed. “I wasn’t intending to—Hey, Zoe.”
Zoe rolled out of bed without looking at him. She let go of the comforter, oblivious to the fact that Helios would witness her nakedness. In any case, he has already seen it.
“Zoe. C’mon. I apologize.”
Helios rose from his bed and approached Zoe, but she glared at him.
“Stop. Keep a safe distance from me. And this will not happen again,” she stated as she began looking for the bathroom. When she did, she rushed towards it but was quickly apprehended by Helios.
“Leave me alone!”
“No! I expressed my regret.”
“Well, I don’t require your apologies—”
“I intend to marry you—”
“Stop!” Zoe made no further attempt to wiggle. “I’m not interested in hearing about it. And, oh, I’ve got some housework to do,” she said, cocking her head to the side.
She locked her gaze on Helios’s eyes before lowering her gaze to his arms that encircled her waist.
“Let me go, Helios,” she repeated.
“No. Not unless and until you forgive me—”
“Forgiven. Now, allow me to go; I desired to take a shower—”
“Then let us do it...” Helios carried her in bridal style, “—together.”
For a brief moment, Zoe is powerless. She was taken aback, and the next thing she knew, they were sharing passionate kisses inside the bathroom.
As they both intensify their kisses, she encircles her arms around Helios’s nape.
When cold, refreshing water dripped on their bodies, their lips parted.
Helios’ hands began caressing her back. His hands reached her bottom, and he squeezed one of them.
He nibbles the inside of her lower lip until his kisses reach her jaw.
Zoe raised her head and shifted it to the side, allowing Helios easier access to her neck.
Water drips down her face, causing her to gasp, and she feels her back collide with the cold wall.
Helios' tongue curled into her skin as she moaned softly. It made its way down to her chest, stopping just short of her left breast.
He swirled his tongue around her nipple and then sucked it, eliciting a loud mutter from Zoe.
“H-Helios…”
Helios continued swirling his tongue and proceeded one by one.
Zoe bit her lower lip in response to the sensation that something was growing inside her. She was desperate to explode. She desires him within her.
"H-Helios... please," she pleaded.
Helios smirked and came to a halt. He straightened his posture and met her gaze. "Please, what?"
She gulped and took a deep breath. “I want you… inside me.”
ZOE’S POVStanding in the hallway, in front of the open door… is Helios. He was holding our daughter’s hand.Is my third eye open as well? I did the sign of a cross and closed my eyes. Lord, God, I may badly want to see him, but this shocked me. I opened my eyes, and he was still there.I also heard the seemingly suppressed laughter of those with me inside.He smiled at me, which made my heart thumps so fast that I could even overhear it. Astonishment registered on my face. Confused…What is this?"Mommy, daddy!" Hela shouted.I looked down at the bouquet of roses that he was holding. It has assorted colors.What’s going on? I turned my gaze to my parents to find an answer. But they just nodded.I backed away when Helios started to walk inward. Our daughter was still next to him, smiling. Helios’s face remains calm as he slowly walks toward me.He stopped a few inches away from me."Baby," his soft voice almost feels so unreal.I shook my head. My vision started to blur again. My hear
ZOE’S POVWhen we got inside the hospital, and inside Helios’s room, I fell on the floor, crying incessantly. They were all inside Helios’s room. Helios is already covered with a white blanket. The apparatuses are also gone.I no longer knew who had pulled me up and led me near him.He gave up!He didn't fight for me... for us.God never answered my prayers.Why?Why do I have to feel this agony?Why do I have to experience this epic romance? I thought things like this would just be in a movie.I immediately hugged his corpse.Corpse?No. I didn’t know what to feel as I hugged his body. Why didn’t he fight for me… for us? Why did he let this happen? Did he not miss us? He promised me. He’s a fighter, but why?“Why?! I screamed. “Why did you leave us? Why did you let go?! You promised that you were going to marry me. You’re being unfair! You’re leaving me alone again while I deliver our child. I want… I also wanted to you—"“Zoe, calm down. Breathe, sweetie. Slowly… Something might hap
ZOE’S POVSIX MONTHS.Six months had passed swiftly, but Helios was still not waking up. There’s still no progress. And I almost wanted to give up, but I knew he was trying to fight. He’s trying to come back for me… for us. And every single thought of losing him almost tears me apart.How many medications have been injected into him? I lost count.I pray every day, especially when I’m on his side, holding his hand, pressing it, and talking to him. I know there’s still hope. And I believe a miracle could exist.Our daughter turned one about a month ago. We celebrated it inside his room, trying to lighten the atmosphere that day, but even if we tried hard, we all knew we couldn’t. We can’t be happy, seeing Helios lying on this hospital bed, apparatuses plunged into some parts of his body and sleeping so sound that it gives a false alarm—that he will let go at any moment.Damn it! May God forgives me. Many people out there wanted to take themselves for useless things. Why should it be hi
“WHAT a cute family?!” shouted Bill and laughed. “Do you think things will be easy just like that? I’m not a fool, Helios. If I die, I will drag you down. And I’m going to take this building down. Now, let’s play, finding the bombs,” he said and grinned.“Helios...”Helios kissed Zoe on her forehead, “Everything’s going to be fine. Let’s get you out,” he said. “Don’t let them escape. Take all of them out of this building!”They were about to leave when Amanda screamed. Her sister’s attention was on Beige. Helios turned to them.“Sir, the bomb in him is activated,” one of the assassins said.“I told you. I’m not a fool, Helios!” shouted Bill, who the two men were holding.Her eyes widened as she trembled because of fear. The timer is only one minute and twenty seconds. Her eyes were enveloped by tears again, as she was afraid of what she was seeing. But Helios led her out. Her chest was heavy as she left the place.“Helios, where’s Sam and Cindy,” she asked between her sobs.“Grant to
BILL came out from an old room and laughed as he pointed a gun at Helios.“Hello, Helios,” he said demonically.The man stopped a few meters from where Helios was. “So, Helios… let’s start some convo, shall we? How are you, my brother?” asked Bill as the muzzle of the gun still aimed at Helios.On the other hand, Helios remained calm that even if he wanted to blow Bill’s head off, he couldn’t because his loved ones were inside.“I’m not your brother,” he replied emphatically.The man laughed. He put down his gun, and his men pointed theirs at Helios.Zoe wiggles and tries to speak even though Helios can’t understand them. Helios glanced at her, and pity registered in the young man’s eyes. And his heart pounded fast when he saw his daughter lying on a wooden table, sleeping as Bea patted her.“Do you like what you see, Helios?” asked Bill.Helios turned to Bill. “No. Let’s end this. Let them go, and you can have me. I’m the only one you need, right?” he said and gritted his teeth.Bill
“I’m begging, Bill. Please, let us go. And please, let me hold my daughter,” Zoe pleaded.Her heart was almost broken because of the constant crying of her daughter, who Bea was holding. They give her milk in the bottle, but her daughter is still dependent on her—she’s breastfeeding the child.How cruel will they be?“B-Bea, please, let me hold my daughter! Let me go!” Her voice was cracked, trying to hold back her tears. “Let me go… let me go,” she said, almost whispering.Bill just laughed while he could see her suffering. What a demon!“That’s right. Feel my wrath, Zoe—Helios’s kryptonite that can serve to be the source of his death,” he said and devilishly laughed along with her daughter’s loud cries.“L-Let me hold my daughter…” she said weakly. She felt dory for her daughter, who won’t stop crying.She doesn’t know where they are. They were immediately blindfolded when they saw the driver on their way to Batangas. When those demons removed their blindfolds, they saw tall trees.