Aphrodite's page: the trophy boy

Hyunjin's narrative

"Your son is so beautiful."

"He will be a heartbreaker."

"Exactly like his mother."

"He will become such a handsome God."

"We should keep our daughters away from him haha!"

That's all I heard for the first years of my life.

How beautiful are my eyes, my hair, my face, my lips... How beautiful I was.

Mom was walking around Olympus, holding my hand and displaying me like some sort of new shoes. I was her prettiest accessory.

Once she was done with me, she would leave me at Hephaestus's temple to sleep there.

She had "other plans".

I didn't know what she was doing. I was too gullible and young.

Hephaestus wasn't necessary a bad father figure.

I knew he wasn't my father, but he tried his best. And he was a good husband too.

We used to have dinner together once a week. We were like a family. It felt like that.

"Hyunjin, this is Minho! Play with him a little while me and his father are talking like adults, okay?"

My mom pushed me forward to greet the kid.

He was so innocent then. Big glassy eyes and hands full of bruises. He couldn't even say a word in front of me.

I tried everything to make him open up. I even brought my favourite ball and started passing it back and forth.

He slowly gave in and I saw a smile on his pale face.

The more courage he gathered the harder he threw the ball.

He had force. Even for the son of Ares, he was insanely strong. And he wasn't even aware of it.

From that day it become a routine for him to come at me, grab my tunic and beg me with his eyes to play with him.

He was so excited about it.

I was quite bored, but he didn't seem to fall into the ordinary. He was constantly focused on the ball.

"How was your playtime with Minho?" Hephaestus asked me while tucking me in bed.

"As always. He doesn't want to try anything else. He is kind of annoying."

"Hyunjin-ah... Just because it became a habit, it doesn't mean it's bad. If he can be this happy over something so small, his heart must be pure and lonely. I don't think he loves the game, but rather his partner. He is happy to have a friend. So play along, okay? He will start talking with time. Maybe you will form a connection. Be nice with him, okay?"

"Okay." I sullened.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

To my shame, I didn't get to keep my promise. And reflecting now upon my actions, I am guilty of more than I admitted to.

The day after I said I will give Minho a chance, the ball he threw made its way a bit further. He must have used all his strength.

I went after it and spotted a boy under the shadow of an old tree brought up there for its sweet heavenly apples.

He was holding an odd object in his hands. I was drawn by it.

"Hello?"

The boy looked up and seemed very surprised to encounter someone.

"I'm Hyunjin! Who are you?"

"Jeo-Jeongin."

"What is that?" I pointed to the item.

"A book?! You've never seen one before?"

"I think Hephaestus had a few of these, but mom didn't allow him to show them to me."

"So you can't read?"

"No. Should I?"

"Nevermind. Go by your day. Let's act as if our paths didn't intertwine at all." he sighed.

"No! Please! Teach me how to read!"

"Why should I? You're no more than a stranger to me."

"Who are your parents?"

"Hermes. I do not know my mother."

"Mine is Aphrodite. I don't know my father either. See? We're not only cousins, but we are also with a parent missing! We share an experience. I'm begging you!"

"Why are you so eager to learn how to read?"

"Because it's something new. Sometimes I have never tried before. It's something that can get me out of the routine."

Jeongin accepted to teach me after another hour of my persuasion.

At the dusk, he got up and I finally noticed the wings attacked to his back.

Those majestic wings he was too afraid to use them.

It was not long before the accident was about to occur. Neither of us knew. I wish I knew. I could have stopped him.

When I returned, I witnessed my mother laughing and playing with Minho which she never did with me.

My heart dropped to the ground.

She looked so pleased to be around that boy.

That boy wasn't me. That boy wasn't her perfect trophy. That boy was ugly and bruised and sweaty.

And she was enjoying carrying him on her back and getting her satin dress stained while running after him.

That was a side of her I hadn't seen before.

"Mother?"

"Hyunjin, I'm very disappointed in you! How could you let Minho alone? Where were you?"

"I was with a friend. I met one of my cousins!"

"Cousins? Who?"

"Son of Hermes!"

"Hermes is a bastard I do not want to associate my family with! You stay away from that boy! Next time I find Minho crying alone, you will support consequences."

I soon developed a hatred towards the kid my mother seemed to love so much. Even his name didn't appeal to me anymore.

Every second with him was filling me with jealousy.

I decided to reveal my desire to read to Hephaestus since he had books in his library.

He encouraged me to keep going and even helped me for a while to sneak out and find Jeongin.

In the daylight I was keeping Minho entertained and at nighttime I was swimming in the pool of knowledge Jeongin was showing to me.

Every book brought by Hermes from all the corners of the mortal world.

"I'll go bring the ball" I said with the hidden intention to sneak back to Jeongin and borrow a book for the day.

I was intrigued by the story of Icarus and I wanted to finish it in no time.

"Are you going back to him?"

I was left aback by the sound of his voice. He spoke. He talked to me for the first time.

"To who?" I played dumb.

"To the boy you like to play with. Isn't he the reason why you left me?"

"I stopped seeing him as my mother ordered me."

"Lies! I hate that boy! He took you away from me! Why won't you play with me? I hate him so much! I hate hate hate hate him!"

"Don't say that! He's my cousin!"

"But I am your future brother!"

The shock upon my face could not be described in words.

"What?"

"That day... I saw your mom and my dad. They were kissing. Your mom noticed me and she played with me to make me shut my mouth. I also saw your dad on his knees in front of her, begging her not to leave him."

"My dad? Hephaestus is not my dad."

"Whatever he may be. He knows about her cheating on him and he still wants her back. I Don’t think he will convince her. We will be brothers. That's why that kid should dissappear. I hate him so much!"

I have always been an impulsive soul. I am no stranger of that aspect.

Nevertheless... what I managed to do then was beyond anyone's expectations.

I jumped on top of him and cut open his abdomen with a single slice.

He didn't even scream.

The screams were mine.

I was horrified of what I have done.

He looked me dead in the eyes and a tear streamed down his cheek.

I was more than punished. I was locked up in my room for 6 human months.

My relationship with Hephaestus became colder the more I thought about what Minho said. He begged on his knees for his unfaithful wife to stay. How pathetic.

As about Jeongin...

When I finally reached back to him one last time before my mom completely forbidding me to do so I heard about the accident.

I saw his wings and understood what it has become of him.

I regretted not being there for him. He had the same scare eyes as Minho had when I took out the blade out of his flesh.

I sometimes find myself remembering those times and wondering why am I still alive. I do not deserve this life after my atrocious doings.

Therefore why...