CHAPTER 31

My head was still hot when I arrived at Atlas' warehouse. I took a quick peek at the first floor of the basement before going down to the second floor, where our rooms are there. The first floor of the basement, which has a lobby, is only for laboratories because that's where they make the drugs.

The reason we were always there was because Atlas' office was located there, but now it's been moved to the second floor because he's finished renovating it. The first floor of the basement is all laboratories. This second floor of the basement is like his home. It has a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and even a gym. Everything here is complete. I just left my groceries on the kitchen island because I dragged Oceanus from his room to the gym area, which is also like our training area.

"Hey, chill. What's wrong? You look really angry," Oceanus asked.

I just stared at the gym ceiling, my chest rising and falling rapidly as I was out of breath. I could barely hear anything over the loud pounding of my heart. My whole body was sweating because we had just been sparring and didn't even take a break. That's why I was really tired, but I ignored it.

Helios' words kept replaying in my mind. I was getting annoyed again. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself down, but it didn't work. I was even more annoyed because even with my eyes closed, I could see him smirking at me.

"I saw him again," I blurted out to Oceanus as I opened my eyes.

He was sitting on the interlocking mat when I looked at him. He was now putting a bandage on his knuckles and putting on his boxing gloves.

"Who?" he asked and stood up to go to the punching bag.

"Helios," I stood up and went to a punching bag to punch it.

I should be resting right now, but it didn't happen because of Helios. Why can't I accept what he said!? I don't always forget to train here so that the self-defense skills I've learned don't get wasted.

I admit, I was offended.

He stopped punching when he heard what I said and turned to me with a furrowed brow.

"Helios? Perses' right-hand man, am I right?"

I nodded. "Yes."

I adjusted my body position and took a deep breath before punching the punching bag. I released all the pent-up strength and anger through punching. I threw a heavy punches as if Helios were in front of me. My chest almost hurt from the rapid beating of my heart, it felt like it was about to burst out of my chest.

"What happened?" Oceanus asked suddenly while punching his own punching bag.

"We tried to kill each other," I replied, panting. "We both have the same thing for each other besides the fact that he wants to know Atlas' real name."

"They'll never know Atlas' real name," Oceanus laughed. "Even I, who has worked for him for so long, don't know—how much more would you?"

I stopped punching the punching bag and held it to stop before turning to Oceanus.

"All I know is that his code name is just Atlas, right?"

"Yes."

We cleaned up the weapons we used in the gym before heading to our rooms. After that, he helped me store the meat in Atlas' large refrigerator. There are two double-door refrigerators here—one is solely for meat, while the other holds a mix of everything else.

"Atlas' code name is almost becoming his real name. That's why so many people, even from other factions, are chasing him because of his potential. They can use whatever is in Atlas' past against him," he said suddenly while displaying the juices in the box and the soft drinks.

"Where did you hear that?" I asked him, furrowing my brow, and walked around the kitchen island to throw the empty bag in the trash bin.

"On our website, I read it a long time ago, and it might have been deleted."

I just shook my head and sat on the high chair. "How can I be sure if what you're saying is true? It seems like it's just rumors on the feed of our website."

I saw him scoff at me and sit on the empty chair opposite me.

"Whenever I tell you something, you don't believe me."

"It's true. You don't have any proof," I replied.

He sighed. "It's the same thing, Hexia. Atlas is hiding so many things that a lot of people are curious about him. Many want to know who he really is because no one else knows except himself and Ismael."

I exhaled loudly and buried my face in the marble table. "Do you think my self-defense skills are getting rusty?"

"Huh? That's random," he replied quickly.

"I was just asking," I raised my head and met his gaze. His brow was furrowed, and he seemed weirded out by my question. "I think my movements have slowed down. That jerk Helios said I was a 7 out of 10, not too shabby for a little speed demon. Honestly, I was really offended by what he said. I guess it's still acceptable that I couldn't kill him because he's a guy and it's natural for you guys to be stronger. But I can't accept him saying that to me," I told him angrily.

"Little speed d-demon?" Oceanus's voice clearly showed he was trying to hold back his laughter at what I said.

"Why are you laughing? Maybe you want me to stab you with Saf, you jerk. If I see him again, I'll get him."

He couldn't help but laugh in front of me, so I just rolled my eyes at him. I stood up and left him in the kitchen to go inside my room. There's no point in talking to Oceanus. He's always acting like he has a headache.

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

I don't know how many times I've flipped back and forth through the photos of Rafael and me while sipping on wine. I'm leaning against the headboard of my bed now, and a smile creeps across my lips as I see the picture of the two of us again.

There's one where Rafael is holding his phone, the angle is raised, and I'm looking up to be pictured. We're both grinning in the picture. My gaze fixated on his arm around my shoulder. Without realizing it, I took another sip of wine while staring at it.

I wonder if he liked me back then? I also realized in other pictures of us the placement of his hand on me, I didn't notice it before because I was probably comfortable with him, but it's not the same hand placement of other guys with their female friends.

I touched my lips, remembering the kiss we shared by the river. Why did I suddenly remember that! Five years have passed, and I still can't seem to move on. I just sighed and smiled sadly while looking at our picture over and over again.

I feel like I'll never find another guy because Rafael is still in my heart. I know it sounds funny, but I still can't move on from him... from his death.

It still hurts in my chest even though I've accepted that he'll never come back to life. I just sighed and finished the wine in my glass before finally lying down on the bed. I've been drinking for a while now, and I've finished a bottle. I can already feel my vision blurring. I'm tipsy.

To Rafael:

I know it's been five years since I found out you were dead, Raf. and in those five years, nothing has changed because I still miss you so much.

I immediately stopped what I was doing. Did I just drunk text my dead friend? I must be going crazy. I shook my head and long-pressed my text to select all and delete it, but I couldn't because someone suddenly knocked on my door.

I was startled and accidentally clicked the send button instead of the erase button. My eyes widened, and I jumped out of bed because of what happened.

"Oh, shit! You're so stupid, Val!" I whispered to myself.

"Hexia? Are you already sleeping—"

"No," I replied quickly and got out of bed.

I put on my nightgown robe and opened the door. Atlas appeared in front of me, looking like he had just arrived from wherever he went. He was even holding a key in his right hand while looking at me.

"I have something to tell. I just need to tell you something, it'll just be a moment," he replied.

I looked down at the small black card he handed me, with a gold border on each side. At the bottom was just the name Hyperion, and the font of the letter was cursive. I immediately took it and looked back at Atlas.

"Let's talk to my office. It won't take long, I promise."

I nodded. "Okay."

SHANGPU