Chapter 359 - 358: Utmost Respect (1/2)

Chapter 359 - 358: Utmost Respect

"Are… you serious?"

"I a the war on his cheek, Van could not help but take in a sneaky but large gulp Van would not argue that Athena was one of the most beautiful women he has ever met in his life, but he would lie if he said he was romantically attracted to her

"But… I do not have feelings for you, Athena"

Van could feel Athena's hand slightly treasp that escaped froo of Van's cheek and only let out a s Evans," Athena said as she shook her head, "I will only be doing one of my duties-- to ensure the Oly and secondary matter"

"That's--"

"You do not need to give an answer now," Athena did not let Van say a word; taking off her hand and proceeding to walk away, "It will be a few hours before we reach the Acade in my cabin until then Your presence… or absence shall be a sufficient enough answer"

"" Van could only stare as Athena disappeared into the shi+p For Athena, it had already been tens of thousands of years since he and Artemis last saw each other It wouldn't be far-fetched to even say that Artemis had most probably moved on from him

But for Van… Artemis was so between the his, the warmth of her sweat, her breath that s hi in the world could take it away

Love Van doesn't know if it was truly love they had… but it was probably the closest thing to it Of course, he was a growing s for Athena, but he would lie if he said he wasn't attracted to her But that was it… the feelings he had for Artemis were co her if he slept with another woman

"" However, Van could not help but reht shi+ft in Athena's expression when he told her that he didn't have feelings for her That was probably the most vulnerable he has ever seen Athena

No, he has seen her like that before-- when he kissed her in order to win their duel back when they just et? Even if he did it for an entirely different reason, he was the one who made the first move on her

Was that it? Was that the point when Athena had begun harboring feelings for hi like that, when Athena barely showed any signs of what she was feeling? It was always 'duty this, plan that' for her… never once did she give out what she was feeling

Or ain? Maybe it really is just some sort of duty for her?

"" Either way, Van had already reached his answer Artemis… was still too is for Athena would grow-- but right now, it just didn't seeht

A second

A minute

An hour

Van remained to stare at the vast and almost endless ocean on his horizon If only he didn't run away, if only he re the Explosion; then it was ht now

Maybe both his children would have lived Maybe Yone down the path he took

But he didn't Every mistake he made led him here… to his child, to old friends… and now to Athena

Van then turned his head towards the door to the inside of the shi+p, his eyes clearly hesitating He already had an answer, but he should at least respect Athena and tell it to her directly; she deserved at least that

And so, with a nod, he sloalked back inside the shi+p All of his steps were sluggish until he reached Athena's cabin

"It's open"

And before he could even knock, he heard Athena's voice seeping fro in," Van said before opening the door and letting out a long and deep sigh, "Athena I have the ut for us to… to…"

And before he could finish his sentence, Van could not help but slightly stutter as soon as he saw Athena standing in front of her bed Athena usually had her hair tied up to a ponytail, and now, seeing her brown cara seamlessly on the surface of her bare skin… Van could only stare

"Please… wear so the door behind him, afraid that one of the crew members would see Athena co his best to avoid Athena's silhouette

"Is that an order?"