Ji Xia's face was unreadable. She didn't utter a single word of comfort nor apology. She just stood there, like a silent statue.
The atmosphere in the room which was filled with shouting and mild anger subsided into nothing.
The silent ensued for many more minutes until it was unbearable for the two of them.
The first to open their mouth was Ji Xia. But it wasn't what Ji Ke Mu expected her to say.
"You know what, I indeed felt something for Ares before." Ji Ke Mu parted his lips to say something but she stopped him.
"But it wasn't love, trust me." she paused before adding.
"It was more to admiration and respect.. between two partners in battle. And truthfully, that was enough. Being his partner at war was a great honor and even Aphrodite couldn't take that place from me. So I was content."
Ji Xia heaved up a breath and continued "But the shocking thing is.. the me right now. The Ji Xia in this world."
"What do you mean?" Ji Ke Mu was confused.
Ji Xia looked as if she was contemplating whether to tell him or not. Her frown deepened and she became uncomfortable. But she decided to just go ahead because Ji Ke Mu had first opened up to her. So it was her turn now.
"This Ji Xia is in love with Ji Haishan." she said while pointing at herself.
"Wh- what? Is that true?" Ji Ke Mu's eyes widened dramatically and his mouth formed an O. This was an unnecessary plot twist.
"Yeah. How come you never know about your own sister? Isn't it obvious?"
Ji Ke Mu quickly shook his head and raised his hands "But that's impossible! Gege is our cousin! C-O-U-S-I-N!"
"I know. Stop spelling that word." Ji Xia looked worn out.
"But maybe because he's not related to me in blood, that I found myself falling for him." she added while sighing. She put her hands on her hips and she looked darn annoyed.
Ji Ke Mu was lost in the universe. He never thought his twin sister would like their gege! He never did see any signs of it happening at all! When did it start? And how??
"Oh goodness.. this is trickier that I thought.." he pushed himself down on the bed.
"What's trickier? I didn't know about him being Ares' reincarnation before. But now that I know- I can just forget my feelings. No big deal."
Ji Ke Mu became speechless "No big deal?! Is your love that shallow? I'm not talking about you as Athena, I'm talking about you as my jie jie! As Ji Xia!"
"So what am I supposed to do?! Things happened! And it will pass!" Ji Xia exclaimed, irritation lacing in her tone. Her eyes were now watery though she tried so hard to hide this thing forever.
It seemed that she had to give up her love for Ji Haishan, her gege that she had known since young.
She tried to ignore it before but now that she recalled why she and Ji Haishan drifted apart 10 years ago.. she was certain it might have something to do with her feelings after all.
Maybe during that incident, when she tried to give him a hug, she had exposed her feelings and he was afraid to break it to her that he didn't feel the same.
'Yeah.. that was it.. why was I so clueless about it.. now I know..' Ji Xia smiled in a self-deprecating way. A smile that made Ji Ke Mu's heart ache for his sister.
He didn't try to comfort her in any way. Because he knew how it felt.
How it felt to love and not be loved back.
How to get stuck in an unrequited love and be unable to get out.
So much so..
That it hurt.
"It seems that we both have bad luck with love. Whether in Olympus or in earth, cupid won't be by our side." Ji Ke Mu chuckled humorlessly and he received a smack on his head from Ji Xia.
"That's right. There was time that I so hoped that I didn't remember Athena's memories. So that I can continue to love him. But now that I remember.. I realize Fate is truly a bitch."
"Yeah.. that bitch likes to play with us so much."
"Agreed."
Ji Xia went to lie beside her brother. She plopped down on the soft mattress and bumped her head with his. He shouted an "Ouch!" but she ignored it.
When she settled in her spot, he began "Hey Athena.."
"Hm?"
"Do you think you can stop loving him and move on?"
"Do you?"
"I asked you first."
"Well, as Ji Xia who's in love with her older cousin for a mere few years, I think I can. But I don't think you can though.." she said, giving him a pointed look.
"Huh?! Why?" Ji Ke Mu faced her and asked impatiently.
She rolled her eyes hearing his stupid question "Duh! You've been in love with Aphrodite for more than two f*cking thousands years! Longer than my case! So? What are you going to do about it?"
Ji Ke Mu became stumped and lost for answer. Her words seemed true. So how should he make himself stop loving someone who wasn't going to reciprocate?
"I don't know what to do, Athena. Seriously.." he admitted honestly. Now he looked sad and tormented.
A depressing sigh escaped Ji Xia's mouth but she wasn't planning to say anything. Just like him, she knew she also didn't have a solution to their predicament. As Ji Xia, she was in love with Ji Haishan. But it didn't mean she was also in love with Ares.
So knowing that Ji Haishan and Ares were two people with the same matching soul made her feel reluctant to continue this love. That was why she thought she was doing better than her brother. And that was also why she didn't plan to tell him about it in the first place.
On the other hand, Ji Ke Mu as Hephaestus, was in love with Aphrodite since a long time ago. And now that he found Bai Yulin who had a piece of Aphrodite's soul in her- he thought he could have a chance with Bai Yulin from this world instead of having to continue loving Aphrodite from Olympus.
But then again, he still couldn't love Bai Yulin because of the game which required for Bai Yulin and Ji Haishan to fall in love with each other.
To put it simply, no matter what world and what universe, his love was doomed to fail.
In the end, he wouldn't get any chance and any happy ending since he was just a side character.
"Athena, this might sound conceited of me but.. the moment I decided to forcefully travel through universe to chase after the piece of their souls, I had already made up my mind to bless them happiness. I'll do everything in my power to help them. To help our land of Eden. This isn't about me and my feelings anymore. I can't afford to be selfish."
Ji Xia agreed with Ji Ke Mu in silence. But she didn't respond to his words. It sounded depressing and she didn't plan to get into his boat. She just stared long and hard towards the ceiling.
"I know. I felt the same too when I first discovered my memories. So we're the same."
Ji Ke Mu faked a smile and made a joke "Who would have thought that in this world, I'm your twin brother rather than an enemy."
"You don't want me as an enemy, Hephaestus." Ji Xia chuckled.
"How come our conversation turns to this, anyway?"
"I have no idea."
Yes it was sudden. Unprecedented.
And at that moment they thought of something. And they reached a consensus that this conversation would stay a secret and nobody would come to know about it.
Nobody- even for a million years later. It would be buried along with their hidden feelings and these feelings were to be tossed aside for the sake of others.