Chapter 4

Sophia was walking around the school’s campus with her sling bag swaying from side to side. She was heading to the school’s library because she was still fussed about the ugly pictures her mother had. “Sophia!” Sophia looked where she heard her name come from and a familiar face greeted her, a face that she has not seen in hundreds of years.

“Uncle Kevin! I thought you were in France!” Sophia held tightly on to her sling bag and rushed to her uncle’s side. “I missed you so much Stefania!” Her uncle held her tightly as Sophia groaned in his sear. “I told you Hermes, my name is Sophia. Do you want me to cry in your eyes?” Sophia hissed quietly into Hermes’ ear. “Is that the greeting you give from the man who raised you?” Hermes’ eyebrows raised.

“Well you should be more careful uncle!” Sophia playfully slapped Hermes’ arm. “Sophie!” Sean came running and gave Sophia a friendly back hug. “Oh! Who’s this Ste- Sophia?” Hermes stuttered while giving Sophia gives off a shy smile. “Uncle! He’s my friend, Sean. This is his twin Xian and-” L was walking towards them while reading a book.

“Ferdinand?” Hermes’ eyes widened. Sophia shook her head furiously. “This is L, short for Leo.” L’s head snapped and quickly shook Hermes’ hand. “Guys, this is my Uncle, Kevin.” Sophia introduced Hermes with his other name as Hermes shook the others hands. “What are you reading there son?” Hermes asked as L showed the front cover of the book.

“It’s said to be a book written by Hermes. It’s all about the Gorgon sisters. I need this for our History class about Greek mythology, I…” L was talking non-stop as the other four were looking at him with their heads tilted. “You have interesting friends Sophia.” Hermes said sarcastically. “Oh sir, you have no idea how long L can continue talking about Greek mythology.” Sean sighed inwardly.

Hermes chuckled. Hermes pats L back which made L FINALLY stopped talking. “Son, I’m sure you have more interesting things to say, but can I and my niece be excused? It feels like years the last time I saw her.” L nodded in embarrassment and Hermes and Sophia headed off to Sophia’s dorm room

“You really had to mention Ferdinand?” Sophia scoffed with her arms folded. “I’m sorry. But I know that Ferdinand was the only person you loved for 2999 years. And don’t use that tone with me, I’m older than you.” Hermes explained. “Only by 100 years. And I know, it has been hard for the past two weeks I’ve been staying here. Ferdinand is extremely like L.” Sophia said with worry in her eyes.

“Oh Hermes. He’s amazing. He’s exactly like Ferdinand. And he likes mythical creatures. He gets excited when he hears creatures like us.” Sophia’s eyes sparkled while talking about L. “And thanks to you, I had to go back in time.” Hermes’s eyes widened. “I knew it! I know that I didn’t eat that chicken just once. Did you know I had to argue with the cook that I tasted the chicken before?” Hermes complained.

“Well is it my fault that you’re a food critique? And it’s your fault because I had to remove my picture there.” Sophia pouted. “But enough with that, L is just Ahhhh!!!” Sophia continued.

“Sophia, you can’t. You know you can’t. It’s-” “…FORBIDDEN! I KNOW!!!!” Sophia hugged her knees and cried. “Why did Zeus forbid me to love Ferdinand? Why?! Why did he kill Ferdinand? I’m not a God! I can love mortals!” Sophia whined while breathing heavily. “It’s for your safety.” Hermes crouched and caressed Sophia’s back. “IF I CAN’T LOVE THEN I SHOULD HAVE JUST DIED TOGETHER WITH MY MOM AND DAD.”

 “YOU ARE A DEMI-GOD!!! IT COUNTS!!!! AND HOW COULD I LET MY OWN DAUGHTER DIE?” Hermes blurted out. Sophia stopped crying and looked at Hermes with her eyes full of confusion. “Demi-god? Daughter?”

How could I’ve been so stupid? Ugh. Of course, it had to be now. Hermes thought.  “I was flustered Sophia, okay? I didn’t mean any of that.” Hermes tried to go back to France, but she only followed him. Of course, teleportation, she got that from me too. She’s so stubborn. Just like her mother. Hermes giggled.

“You don’t just blurt things like that Hermes.” Sophia’s eyes full of determination. “Sophia, go back to school. I don’t want you to be here. Poseidon moved here to watch me and I don’t want him-” “Good day Stefania.” Too late. Hermes cursed himself. “You should have not followed me here. Stefania go back home.” Hermes ordered. “But-” “Go back. NOW.” Sophia pouted and went back.

“You knew she was coming here Poseidon, you just had to show up.” Hermes scoffed. “Are you seriously still angry Hermes? Come on! It was 3000 years ago!” Hermes charged to hit Poseidon, but Poseidon quickly turned to water. Hermes was in a daze. “You killed Euryale! You knew that I loved her! You were my friend!”

“Hermes. It was not my choice. At least I told Zeus that it was not you but it was Nessus who loved her.”   Hermes groaned. “Then why didn’t you kill Stefania? WHY?! It’s really painful for her to believe that she has no parents.” Poseidon turned away from Hermes then sighed. “You know how Perseus felt about her.”

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“Daughter? Demi-god? I-” “Hey Sophia!” Sophia’s thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. She turned her head and a smile formed on her face. “L.” Sophia said sternly, yet sweet. L flashed his smile, and was panting in front of Sophia. “Where have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you?” Sophia’s heart fluttered.

“Sophia.” L repeated. Sophia dazed out of her “fantasy thoughts” and directed her attention to L. “Sorry L, I was just talking to my uncle and I’m still a bit dazed out of the moment.” L nodded but still a hint of worriedness lingers in him. ‘Why am I even worried? She said that she was only dazed out. Get a hold of yourself L.’ 

The bell rang and Sophia was looking at all the other students rushing out of their classrooms. “Oh. Is it lunch time already?” L did the same and was surprised how time went flying. “I guess it is.” He replied. “Come on, let’s get to the cafeteria, the twins might be there already as we speak!” L held Sophia’s wrist and pulled her towards the cafeteria. Sophia giggled a bit imagining the faces of the twins already at the start of the line waiting the food to be served.

Sophia was happily munching on her chicken sandwich while doing the activity she missed in her Physics class when she was talking with her uncle, oh so she thinks Hermes is her uncle. Sean was answering the questions Sophia was asking, being the Physicist between the twins.  Sophia lived for a thousand years, and yet Physics was still oh so new to her. One word, Hate. She hates Physics. L, being his usual self, was sleeping during lunch break after eating his whole me for 5 minutes only. While Xian, well let’s not disturb him.

The students’ breaks were 2 hours, depending on their schedules. By an exact 30 minutes, every student was in the cafeteria.  But it was already an hour to their break when the students heard the cafeteria door’s open. The whole student body was all eyes at the mysterious man. He looked new to everyone. A transferee they thought.

He had the same height as L, having navy blue eyes, and blonde hair. He had his hands on his pockets and was walking directly in one way, not even bothering himself to get food. Looking sweetly at a girl whose hair strands was landing on her face, writing stuff down and eating at the same time. L looked up and noticed the students were all so quiet.

The mysterious guy was standing in front of the said girl, and moved the strands off of her face and placed it behind her ear, just as always he did before. “Physics again Sophia?” The latter’s eyes widened and dropped her pencil. L was now looking curiously at the both of them. Sophia’s head raised up and saw the boy smiling oh so sweetly. “Percy.”

[Flashback]

The moon’s light was the only thing giving light at that moment. The stars were watching happily as two of the legendary demi-gods were in their own moment. Perseus snaked his hands on Stefania’s waist, and his eyes were staring caringly into Stefania’s. “Perseus what are you-” Stefania’s words were cut off by the sudden pressure she felt on her lips.

They were soft and full of care. Perseus backed off and watched Stefania’s eyes. It was weird in a way, her lips were slightly trembling, her eyes were wide but she was looking downwards. He can hear her soft breaths. Perseus held Stefania’s chin and tilted his head, slowly inching his face into hers. Stefania shuts her eyes close and backed her head a bit, but that didn’t stop Perseus. He smiled softly and continued inching his face to Stefaina’s, aiming for another kiss.

Perseus felt the warmth in Stefania’s lips. He sighed in satisfaction. Every time he would hang out with Stefania, his mind was screaming at him to hold her hand, hug her, kiss her, anything to show Stefania how he loved her. But he would always be mistaken as his holding hands and hugging her were mistaken as friendly.

Perseus slightly moved his head, devouring everything in Stefaina, he just wanted to show how much he loved her. He backed up and laid his forehead on hers. Their heavy breaths heard by each other, both were trying to catch their breaths. Their kiss wasn’t demanding or rough at all. It was a sweet first kiss, it was full of innocence. It was a slight touch, a peck, but all the difference made. It was pure love. “I… I love you.”