*19 years later*

lee donghyuck walked inside the corridors of his school, bringing back a bit of light in this gloomy place. it was the end of a normal monday afternoon, nothing particular had happened today, just like any other day.

donghyuck's life was getting boring at some point. always the same journey from his small apartment to his school. always the same useless classes. always the same people around him. well... always the same.

"donghyuck!" a group of girls he didn't know came running towards him.

donghyuck smiled brightly at them.

"yes?"

that was something usual as well. he was kind of popular in his school. why though? he had no clue. he had never done anything particular except rejecting the many girls and boys that had asked him out, but doing that couldn't have built him such a good reputation. was it because of his kindness then? or just because he was him?

"we were wondering if you could share with us your skin routine..." one of them asked. "you have such a beautiful skin and we wanted to use the same products as you."

"huh..." donghyuck scratched his nape. "thank you very much, i guess. but i'm sorry, i don't use any products. my skin is just naturally like that." he smiled sheepishly.

"really?! woah..." another girl exclaimed. "you are damn lucky!"

"you could say that." donghyuck chuckled.

"and do you- "

"get the fuck out, chicks." a low voice groaned beside donghyuck.

the group of girls soon nodded before dashing away from donghyuck without finishing their sentence.

"you don't need to be so harsh, jeno... they were asking about my make-up routine."

lee jeno. donghyuck's only friend since forever.

they had met in middle school and had stayed together all the way from there. and jeno was a bit... particular with people.

he was always glued to donghyuck, no matter what, and every time someone dared to approach the tanned male, he would be shooing them off. donghyuck felt like he had a bodyguard with him, but he didn't mind. jeno was great company.

"they should know that beauty isn't something you get by putting make-up on your face. either you're born pretty, either you'll deal with your ugly face forever."

donghyuck chuckled. "someone is a tiny bit angry."

"i failed my test. it's nothing."

donghyuck linked his arm with jeno's. "let's have an ice cream to make you forget about that."

the two boys walked to the ice cream parlour and ordered their ice creams. they decided to eat them while walking to donghyuck's house.

"why the hell is my ice cream melting this quick?!" donghyuck exclaimed before licking his ice cream quickly. "it isn't even sunny nor hot!"

"well, you're hot. that's why." jeno said not really concentrated.

donghyuck stopped in his tracks. "you think i'm hot?"

"huh... i meant corporal temperature. look."

jeno took donghyuck's hand and placed it on his forehead. "now check your forehead."

donghyuck did as he was told, gasping in realisation. "oh my god you're right!" he placed his hand back on jeno's forehead. "why is that? do you think i'm sick?!"

jeno rolled his eyes. of course, he knew the reason.

donghyuck was the son of apollo. the god of sun, arts, knowledge, diseases and oracles.

of course, his body would be hotter than the others. of course, he had a beautifully tanned skin. of course, he was radiating light everywhere he got.

but could jeno tell him any of these? no.

his father had been very precise about his orders. never let donghyuck know about our existence except if it is absolutely necessary.

so... that meant he had to lie again...

"donghyuck." he sighed. "have you ever been sick since we've met?"

donghyuck thought for a second while licking his ice cream. "no?"

"then, why would you be sick today?" jeno asked.

"point taken."

the two boys arrived quickly to donghyuck's apartment. they entered it and plopped down the couch with a loud sigh.

none of them talked for five minutes straight. they just enjoyed the silence and the comfortable fabric of the couch.

"jeno?" donghyuck asked.

"mmh?" jeno mumbled, eyes closed. he would have fallen asleep if donghyuck hadn't spoken.

"aren't you bored of this normal life?"

"what do you mean?" he questioned on the same tone.

"i don't know... have you never wanted a more... active life? think about people during the medieval age, or even in the mythology... no day was like the other. they always had to go on quests and things like that! haven't you ever wanted to do things like that instead of going to school?"

jeno opened his eyes and looked at donghyuck in shock.

before his father assigned him to be donghyuck's protector on a daily basis, he used to live in the half-blood camp. a place where you didn't go to school, but where you trained all day to become the next hero. and you could even go on quests if you were old enough.

could donghyuck know about any of it?

"what are you saying?" jeno mumbled.

"that i want more action and unpredictable events in my life." donghyuck stated.

jeno scoffed internally. he was 100% sure that donghyuck would freak out if he came to learn about the truth. why?

first, donghyuck was a scaredy-cat.

second, donghyuck didn't know shit about greek mythology.

and third, he would be very sad about jeno lying to him.

anyways, donghyuck wasn't made for a life like this. he was too precious.

"you wouldn't survive ten minutes." jeno raised a brow.

"excuse me?!" donghyuck yelled. "i am fully capable to fight!"

"you're not." jeno broke his dreams. "you're not even able to say 'no' to someone."

donghyuck lowered his head in defeat.

"anyway, it doesn't matter. none of those quests exist. i'll stay in my boring life forever..."

jeno looked sadly at his best friend.

why did he have to hide him that secret?

he couldn't bear it anymore.

"yeah..." he mumbled. "none of those exist..."

Ω

donghyuck put some music on as soon as jeno left his apartment to go back home.

seconds later, he started singing, his beautiful voice resonating into the small flat, bringing more life into this lifeless place.

he let his voice guide him, hitting every note perfectly, eyes closed to appreciate the beautiful music, and dancing lightly to the beat.

in the background, he heard the door of his apartment opening.

"jeno? what did you forget this time?" he asked, opening his eyes. jeno had a set of keys of donghyuck's apartment, so he didn't freak out that much.

but jeno never answered his question.

instead, some strange creature appeared in his vision range, making him scream in fear higher than he ever had.

and the next thing he knew, the creature jumped on him.