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When I looked over my shoulder
It got a little bit colder
It's like I lost love from an angel
And I feel like a stranger. . .
~Omarion

___________

Sandra.

Ever since Anteros mentioned the possibility of her being my Óshún, last night, her name hasn't left my head.

Sandra.

"Can it really be possible?" I blurt out for the hundredth time, the echoes of my voice flowing around the corner of the elegant restaurant we were currently sitting, awaiting her arrival.

"For the love of Zeus! Will you quit asking me that!" Anteros barks, his eyes sparkling with frustration.

If there is anything my brother hates, then that thing must surely be doubt. Especially, one directed towards him.

"I just - I just didn't feel anything when I was around her." I try to explain to him.

"Didn't you feel anything when your eyes met?" Anteros questions, shaking his head in disappointment.

Last night at the reception desk, I felt nothing. Unless I count the natural divine aura of the hotel itself and even that can be as a result of previous visits by other gods.

"I believe there is more to this girl and I can bet my godliness on it. Just wait until she arrives." He raises the red wine we ordered to his lips and takes a little sip, "by the way, humans make the worst of wines," he says scrunching his face in disgust as the liquid disappears within his mouth.

I feel the air in the restaurant shift into a divine aura and I know Anteros feels it too. We both move our attention from the wine in our hands to the door where, she is making an entrance.

She wears a small golden dress that stops above her knees, showing exquisite legs that glowed under the dim light of the restaurant. Her face brightens with a soft shy smile as she sees us.

As she approaches, I notice a young man accompanying her.

Óshún or not, this Sandra girl seem smart enough to bring a friend on a date with strangers. Especially a stranger who happens to be the god of passion.

"Why are you sporting that creepy smile?" Anteros whispers to me, "we don't want the girl to run off again, do we?"

Before I can respond to his taunting, our guests arrive and he rises to welcome them, "hello goddess!" He greets, landing her a peck on each of her flushed cheeks- an act that is absolutely uncalled for- "I am so glad you came. This is my brother, Cupid," he says motioning to me.

"Excited to meet you," I say, bowing my head a little. Her eyes barely shifts to me before returning to Anteros.

Point one: No wife of mine could stare at my brother that way.

"Did you just say your brother's name is Stupid?" Her friend says, his eyes increasing in size as he gawks at me. His sharp voice completely breaking my analysis of Sandra.

It is a very rare phenomena for me to not like someone very much and whenever it does happen, it takes at least a millennia. With this male human though, I do not think such a long period of time is required for me to loathe him. To top the insult, my very own brother, cracks up in laughter!

"Uche!" Sandra whisper yells palming her small face. "I am so sorry, he didn't mean to say that," she says pleadingly to me.

"It is not his name! Ah! I am sorry," the male human says. Now his face is even carrying a hint of amusement!

He just insulted me! And he finds it funny!

"It's okay! My brother never takes offence. Never!" Anteros says smearing more dark oil to my ego, "unless you mess with his beloved, then be prepared to face his wrath," he explains, "do have your seats, please."

"Thank you," Sandra whispers to him. Then she turns over to me, "I am really sorry, my friend has a very loose tongue," she says, pleading with her eyes. She wants me to forgive the thwart!

Point two: Sandra cares for the annoying male human. No wife of mine could associate herself with such uncultured beings.

"I noticed," I say dismissively.

If he opens his mouth one more time, he may lose the tongue altogether.

"I hope his beloved won't mind that we are here with him, Oh," the annoying male says, a smile playing on his face.

"Definitely not," Anteros answers with a smile of his own, "you want to know why?" He motions for the waiters to bring in more wine. The same wine he complained about a minute ago!

"Please tell me more, I love where this is going," he replies, squealing in excitement. What kind of male squeals like a girl?

Sandra on the other hand, looks like she wants Hades to open a portal for her to be taken whole right here and now.

"Because the beloved in question is sitting with us right now," Anteros tells him. The spark in his golden orbs mirroring the one in the annoying male's dark ones.

"Oh my God!" He cries out holding his heart like he is in some kind of pain. Sandra only grows even more embarrassed, while I narrow my eyes at Anteros. He is enjoying this male human' company!

"Wait!" The annoying male cries out again, "I know I am cute but I'm sorry, I don't do males, even the extremely cute ones like you," he says, raising a slim finger towards me-

"Do not even dream of laying that filthy limb on me!" I command, shocking everyone - except my brother.

"Relax Cupid," my brother begins, "he is barely making the evening enjoyable. Don't you think Sandra?" He raises the disgusting wine to his lips once more, grimacing as the bitter taste kisses his lips.

"Huh," Sandra awkwardly replies.

"See what you have done! You have scared the goddess!" Anteros cries dramatically.

Goddess indeed!

Point three: No wife of mine would be shaken by my uproar!

"I'll like to call it a night," I say instead of my thoughts, rising from my seat almost knocking the furniture off its position.

I have had a enough of this crazy meet and greet episode.

"Cupid, hold on!" Anteros calls out to my retreating back. "Excuse me." I hear him say to them.

"He dun vex?" I hear the annoying human whisper. The term he uses makes me question his literacy.

It's a bit fine for gods to mock a fellow god but humans? And annoying ones at that!

Vexed doesn't even begin to describe how I feel right now.

"What do you want, brother?" I gnarl, as soon as Anteros reaches my position at the centre of the restaurant.

"Where are you going?" He demands.

"Where does it look like I am going?" I reply back, my bruised ego still holding the wheels of my heart. Living with an eternal pain in my heart, coupled with this nonsense is the peak of it.

I have had enough!

Anteros places his hands on his well sculptured waist and studies my stance. After a while, he releases a small breathe and regards me,"tell me you didn't feel the energy balance shift the moment she entered this room and I will not question you further."

There he goes again with the aura!

"Brother, that annoying male friend of hers, has the aura too maybe even stronger!" I cry.

He looks back at the two humans gawking at us from the corner we both vacated and holds two well manicured finger nails to his temple. "Look, he is her friend. Her presence around him might rub off some of the aura on him, that is perfectly normal. All my servants have my scent and aura, same applies to yours. I really do think Sandra is your missing wife."

"You think I wouldn't know if that girl is my wife?" This is starting to get really annoying. I am a god! I am suppose to at least recognise my own wife in whatever form she presents herself.

"You are thinking with your heart and not your brain. Use your powers, Cupid! Read the divine aura in this place! She is the one!" He barks at me.

"If I should follow the divinity signature, then that annoying friend of hers passes the chart!"

"I just explained that phenomenon to you! Her aura must have rubbed off him! They are friends. It is normal!" He retorts, his olive skin brightening as his frustration increases.

Typical Anteros!

He and mother are the same. They want things done their way, every time. The few times I refuse them, they flare up in anger and misuse their powers. Just like mother got angry and took my wife to Zeus knows where, Anteros took me to Shaftesbury!

The aura signature he keeps barking about is stronger on the annoying male. But Anteros will not believe me.

There is no point arguing.

"I am retiring to my room, brother," I say instead, before walking out of the restaurant.

"Of course. Run off, like you always do!" I hear him mutter behind me.

The night has drained me. Rather than focus on his words, I focus on getting my body to bed.

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