Chapter 12

Pain

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Cleopatra POV

I looked in the mirror. I look like Aphrodite. I sighed. What else am I going to enter it for? I know there will be trouble if I do this but why did I agree?

"Van is out." I could see Aphrodite approaching me. She took a deep breath and held my hand.

"I don't know what I would do without you Cleopatra." I didn't answer. I just looked at her.

"Thank you for agreeing." She smiled hard.

"I'm going down." I said and turned my back on her.

I walked downstairs and toward the door until I saw Van. I just smiled and approached him.

"You're so beautiful." He says. I just smiled and looked inside the house. I saw Aphrodite hiding in the dark. He just smiled at me.

"Let's go?" Van asked. I nodded then he helped me into his car.

The whole trip I was silent, my heart was pounding. Its pulse is too fast. I couldn’t be bothered because I knew in myself that I was fooling Van.

I knew he would be angry if I said I wasn't Aphrodite. I turned to him. He smiled as he drove.

I can feel the fun he feels. I don't want to ruin his day so I'll be as careful as possible so he doesn't get upset that I'm not Aphrodite.

"We're here." I looked out the window. We are already here. I was about to open the door when he stopped me.

I look of him.

"I will give you something." I watched him take in the backseat whatever he would give me.

"My siblings give me advice on what is good to give to women." He said then handed me the White roses and bear toy.

I took it then looked at him and smiled.

"Thank you." I said. He got out and quickly turned around in the car to turn me on.

I went out. I was surprised when he barely raised his hand after he closed the car.

"Let's go?" He asked. I looked at his hand and slowly you took it then smiled looking at him.

"Let's go." I replied with a smile. We walked into the restaurant, we were immediately greeted by the servers there and hoped to get to our table.

I was immediately amazed to see the romantic setup reserved for us. I don’t know but I immediately envied Aphrodite.

"Do you liked it?" He asked. I turned to him and nodded. he helped me sit in the chair then he sat in his chair. There's a romantic candle in the middle of our table, roses petals on the floor and red balloons. The venue is so romantic, pairing with the romantic music.

Aphrodite was very lucky.

"Van, you don't need to do these things." I said trying to act like Aphrodite. He shook his head.

"As I said, just let me love you." He said and smiled. I smiled at him hard.

I don’t know why Aphrodite doesn’t like Van. In fact, she was lucky because a Van wanted her.

"Aphrodite." He held out one hand I was laying on the table. "Thank you because you agreed for us to date." He said.

I was suddenly startled and slowly depressed but I also immediately smiled. Aphrodite is very lucky to have Van.

"No, thank you for taking me to such a beautiful place." I said. Because honestly, it’s just my first time in places like this.

"Can we dance?" He asked. I nodded and stood up. He approached me, I wrapped my two hands around his neck, while he put his hand on my waist.

We dance slowly. I stared into his eyes as we danced.

I thought, I wish I was just Aphrodite. I don't know why but it entered my mind that I wish I was just Aphrodite.

"I feel so lucky today." He said while looking at me.

'I'm also Van, I feel like I'm the luckiest woman in the world even right now.'

We have been in that position for a long time. Just quiet, no one speaks and feels the romantic music we hear.

"I love you, not for now but for always." He said and hugged me.

I was even more jealous of Aphrodite.

Van loves her so much but why can’t she see Van’s worth?

She's so lucky. I wish I was her.

"Van ..." I called to him in a trembling voice. He looked at me and I could see how worried he was. My tears immediately flowed. That I realize I’m doing it wrong. I make a fool of Van.

"Why are you crying?" He asked and wiped away my tears.

"I-I have something to tell you." I said while looking at him. He smiled.

"What's that?" He asked. Will he be angry with me? But I'm doing it wrong.

"No--"

What I was about to say was cut short when he put his finger in my mouth.

"Shh, if you were going to reject me again please don't. I'm still enjoying the atmosphere here. Just pretend that you like me too." He said and give me a small smile.

"No Van, I'm not--"

"Sir, here's your foods. "We looked around at the waiter who was carrying trollies where our food was placed. Van helped me to sit on my chair then he sat on his chair and looked at the food.

This is no longer right.

"Are you alright?" He asked. I looked at him and nodded.

"If you need something Sir, just ring this bell." The waiter smiled as he set the bell on the side. He nodded and looked back at me.

"Let's eat?" He asked. I nodded and touched the cutlery.

But why is there a part of me that I don’t want to say that I am Cleopatra? Am I becoming selfish because of the envy I feel?

"How's your day by the way?" He asked.

I looked at him.

"It's fine." I said casually.

"By the way, I didn't see Cleopatra today." He said. I was stunned and looked at him.

"Where is she?" He asked.

'I'm here Van. I am in front of you. '

"Look, Van I have something to tell you." I said and held his hand. I can not take it anymore. I want to tell him.

"What is it?" He asked. And wiped his mouth.

"I'm not ---" I stopped when his phone rang. I looked at his phone and saw it was Von.

"I can cancel the call." He said. I shook and let go of his hand.

"Answer that." I said and ate. He nodded and picked up his phone then stood up and answered.

I could only look at him when he turned to me as if confused. He put down his phone and approached our table.

"What's that?" I asked.

He just looked at me and seemed to think something.

He stood up and approached me something that surprised me then crushed me with a kiss. Suddenly my heartbeat quickened. I immediately pushed him and slapped him.

"Van what the fuck ?!" I shouted.

He looked at me.

"Who are you?" He asked, reason to stop me.

A/n: play I don't want to be you anymore by Billie Eilish

"Van ..."

"I Said who are you ?!" he shouted. He knows?

I took a deep breath and returned to my former form.

"Cleopatra." He calls. I just looked at him. He laughed

"So all this time you're fooling me?" He asked laughing.

"No Van listen--"

"HOW DARE YOU ?!" he shouted holding back his tears. I was scared because he was so angry.

I did not answer.

"Why did you imitate Aphrodite? Is it because you envy her? Is it because you want something for me? Cleopatra, I trusted you." His tears flowed. I want to tell the truth but don't want to open my mouths.

"This is the best day in my life but then you ruined everything."

"Van ... Let me explain."

"Explain for what Cleopatra? Will you lie just to excuse yourself?" He asked and shook his head.

"I wont, i will never listen to you again. You traitor." He said and passed me. With that I sat down and my tears immediately dripped.

What I don't want at all is to be called a traitor. Because I have never betrayed anyone

He left me without hearing my explanation. I got up and chased him but it was too late because right when I left the restaurant his car was leaving.

I even saw on the side of the road the White roses and bear toy I had left inside her car. I cried over the one who took it and looked at the road he took.

I started walking while crying and being watched by those I met. I don't know what they think. Because the flesh of my mind is the fool I made.

If I hadn't complied with Aphrodite's request I wouldn't have hurt Van like that. The people began to riot because it suddenly rained.

I stopped and looked up at the sky. It's raining so hard but it just doesn't seem to matter to me. I started walking again as I remembered what Van had said.

I hurt him. The same as me. I hurt Van.

I felt like a fool walking on the side of the road carrying what Van gave me.

Wrong, Van gave for Aphrodite.

"You Traitor"

Sorry ....

"So all this time you're fooling me?"

"I'm sorry ..." I whispered.

"Cleopatra!" Someone called me but I ignored.

"Traitor."

"I'm sorry." I whispered again and I sat up and tripped.

"I'm sorry." I whispered again.

Now I know why Mama wants to take a bath in the rain while saying her grievances. Because no one will see you crying while bathing in the rain.