5

chapter 5

"Joshua and I."

I looked up from the book and looked at Artemis smiling in front of me. I looked at him and thought of what to say to him.

"Uh.. I guess it's the speed?" I said hesitantly. It seems like it hasn't been a month since she told me that Joshua was dating her.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I also know myself that I love him, so why should I wait?"

I finally put down the book I was reading and gave my full attention to Artemis. She really looks happy and her face is even glowing. I'm always afraid that his smile might disappear from what I say.

"That's not it, Artemis. it is not because you love your lover that you will answer immediately. You have to know the person first so that you'll know that you choose the right person for your heart. That's really the purpose of courtship."

"I think that's not it, Daphne." it's against what I said. as far as I know, Joshua is her first boyfriend so I think she doesn't know anything about things like this. "When a man flirts, he only shows his good side. To impress the girl, of course. You will only know the real them when you become one. if he's really caring, gentleman and all. He doesn't have to make any effort unlike when he was just flirting. Because it's you, eh. He got your precious 'yes' now."

I don't expect that there is a point in what he said. Instead of me preaching, he gave me a lesson. I don't think he knows much even though he just got into a relationship.

"How did you know about that? Joshua is your first boyfriend, right?" I asked him in amazement but I saw that he was in agony.

"Apollo, of course. maybe he will make an effort when courting, but once he's answered, he's gone."

I didn't say what he said. I never thought that Apollo would court a woman. I thought it was the girls who were courting him.

"Speaking of Apollo," I said and looked at him. "Does he know about you and Joshua?"

I know how overprotective her brothers are. She is the only girl among the siblings and the youngest. That's why they restrict it like that. Especially Apollo. maybe he is afraid that his twin will be punished by karma for what he did.

"Honestly, no." he said and his smile disappeared. I expected it. I know Apollo will not allow his twin to have a relationship. "That's why I'm asking for your help. Help me with this, please. pretty please?"

I just held my breath. It's fine with me. She's my best friend after all. No matter what happens, I will help him. But it's hard because Apollo and I meet every night. Maybe he'll find out I'm lying when he looks for Artemis with me.

"I'll help you, Artemis." I said and I saw her smile again. "But I'm sure that Apollo will find out about this eventually. What will you do when that happens?"

He was the one who breathed his last. It seems that he didn't think that Apollo would also know about him and Joshua.

"I hate my life." It doesn't seem like he said it himself, but it had a big impact on me. "My siblings are very overprotective! Especially Apollo! I wish I had a normal life."

"Don't you ever say that again." I didn't mean it but I said it to him out of spite. Artemis's eyes were surprised when they looked at me.

"What?"

"Don't you ever say again that you hated your life. People would kill just to be in your shoes Artemis. they would kill just to become you. You don't know that there are people who are going through more pain than you."

I couldn't stop myself from being annoyed because of what he said. It was just so unfair. Artemis has everything. fame, wealth, beauty, and most importantly, family. The love of her family. His brothers will not be overprotective because there is nothing. It is because they love her and want her not to get hurt as much as possible.

She was so unlike me. I who no one loves. me begging to be loved by my own mother. I am being hurt by the parents themselves. I almost beg just to be loved and change my life.

I'm so full of all the pain I've suffered.

"I'm sorry." I heard Artemis say so I was stunned and felt guilty. He didn't do anything wrong but he still apologized to me.

I tried to smile but it didn't seem like the outcome was good because I saw Artemis' worried look on me.

"Are you okay, Daphne?" she asked.

I didn't answer right away. she's the very first person who asked me that question. And right here and then, I wanted to cry. I wanted to cry and tell him everything but I stopped myself. She's the only friend that I have. I don't want him to think of me differently.

Moreover, what he sees is not the real Daphne.

"I'm okay." I said and smiled at him. "Don't worry about Apollo. I'll help you."

He stared at me for a few seconds. I know that he no longer believes that I'm okay and I also know that he knows that I'm hiding something. But just like the last time, as always, she just nodded her head and smiled.

"Thanks, Daphne. Just if you ever need help, remember that I'm just here okay?" she said with her sweetest voice. I just nodded and smiled at him.

I didn't eat after I got home. I don't want to see Mama because I know she will hurt me again. These past few days he has been constantly hurting me. I don't know why it's happening now. I want to leave this house but I don't want to leave Mama. No one will take care of him when Manang Rosi comes home.

Even though my life is like this, it cannot be taken away from me that she is still my mother. And that man and I are really the cause of his suffering.

When I got dressed in leather shorts, a tube top and a leather jacket, I immediately left the house and went to that bar. I walked straight to the couch where Apollo was always there. He was there when I arrived.

He whistled when he saw me.

"Now here's my Miss Prim and Proper." he said smiling at me. I ignored him and sat on the couch.

Apollo immediately ordered a drink for me. Ladies drink only. It's fine with me because I have no plans to get drunk tonight.

I hadn't been sitting here for five minutes before Apollo had a tantrum. The woman was still sitting on his lap. And Apollo's sinful hands started to roam the girl's body. I just shook my head and looked around.

In the few nights Apollo and I spent together he got used to my presence. And this guy is really a flirt! The night we spent together at the bar, the girls he flirted with were also different. Not that I care though. Just don't include me in his nonsense.

I just kept watching until someone sat next to me. I was about to slap him but I saw that it was Gray.

"Hey, Daphne." he greeted me and seductively drank from his glass of wine. I was exhausted.

"Your moves won't have an effect on me, Gray."

He laughed at what I said. He leaned on the couch and spread his arms. If someone sees us, they will think it is with me. But Gray was just resting his arms on the couch's headrest.

"You didn't tell me that you knew Apollo. I wish I would have freed you before." he said. I sipped on my drink again before I answered him.

"We're not really friends. And besides, I won't use it." he just smirked and he emptied the alcohol in his glass.

"Gray, move away from her."

Gray and I both looked at Apollo. His girlishness is gone. His face was dark as he looked at Gray and me.

Laughing, Gray removed his hand from the couch and stood up.

"Calm down, Gallagher. she's all yours." then and he winked at me before leaving us there. I just started crying.

I looked at the couch next to us. I saw a familiar face but I wasn't sure because it was dark around. I squinted my eyes. unable to take it anymore I pointed at it and looked at Apollo.

"Is that Joshua?" I asked. Apollo took a glance at the guy I was pointing at and he nodded.

"Yeah."

"Is he going to a bar?" Does Artemis know this?

"Yeah." he said like it wasn't a big deal. "That's what I'm telling Artemis. That jerk is not good for him. No sane man goes to a bar every night."

"Yeah. Just like you." I said.

I looked at Joshua again. He's with his friends and he's just drinking alcohol. there is no woman next to him so I guess there's nothing wrong about it? But Apollo said that he also goes to the bar every night. Maybe I just didn't see him because I was always at the bar counter.

"I'm hurt, Miss Prim and Proper." I heard Apollo say so I looked at him. "You really believe I'm a playboy, huh?"

"Yes. Well, I saw and I heard from Artemis how quickly you change women. And you're throwing them away like a trash after using them."

"Well, they deserve it." he said and took a sip of wine. "I didn't like this before. But something happened."

I was about to ask what happened but I stopped myself. It's none of my business and I shouldn't care.

But it seems that this person also went through something that made him a playboy. Was it because of some girl? That's exactly the reason why men become playboys. Because they were hurt once.

When I didn't speak, Apollo looked at me.

"Aren't you gonna ask me what happened?" he asked, confusion was in his eyes.

I shook my head. "No."

"Why?"

"I don't care so why would I? And it's none of my business."

I saw the suppression of his smile because of what I said. "How about you? you're acting like a demure nun at school. You know they make fun of your clothes because you cover almost your entire body? But when you're here at the bar," he stopped then looked at me from head to toe. "Damn, girl. You can burn this whole club with your hotness."

"I don't care." I said and drank my drink again.

"So why, Miss Prim and Proper? Care to tell me why you're hiding this side if yours?"

I looked at him and brought myself closer to him. I didn't stop until my face was just a few inches away from his face that I could even smell the alcohol on his breath. I saw his eyes looking at my lips while he was smirking.

"It is none.." I told him slowly. "of your.." i saw the desire in his eyes while he's still looking at my lips. "business."

I quickly walked away from him and acted as if nothing had happened. I sipped at my drink again before looking at him. He was just in that place and didn't move. Until little by little I saw his smile.

"Figures. Don't worry, Miss Prim and Proper. Your secret is safe with me." he said before he winked at me.