"Say, are you up for some seafood?"

???

PARADISE, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN interpretation of it. It could be scenery, a piece of art, or a loved one, but for me, I never really knew what my paradise was. Perhaps, it's a little bit of everything. A beautiful scenery where the hymns of nature murmur as the arms of our loved one surrounds us, basking at the moment and recognizing the world's treasure.

Seagulls were arcing and wheeling in the dawn sky, screeching sometimes and even landing next to me, curious of the wings on my back. Far out the sea was the thin, silver line of the horizon where the sun begins to rise from its slumber, glittering the waters as it welcomes a new day. I rest over one of the largest rocks in the cove, the slapping waves beneath me barely awake, slow and effortlessly as they reach the shores, whisking the stones before receding.

The sea hiss as it washes over the shore, scattering the sands and pebbles in their way, pulling some with them as they return to the tides. The cycle repeats, forming a beautiful melody beyond soothing to the heart. Poseidon made the ocean its own ruler, conjuring dozens of symphonies, regardless of whether the song was finished. The wind serves by its side, and together, they harmonize.

I recalled Alex taking me to the beach during summer break. Our parents agreed only because they thought we were heading out to the library to prepare for the upcoming semester. Technically, we didn't lie because we were indeed going to the library, but we weren't entering the building. Instead, we're going to the beach behind the library.

It's summer break which only makes sense for the place to be crowded, but Alex reeled me over towards the west side of the beach, walking further from the crowd until we're on our own, and only nature surrounding us. I've read stories of couples fleeing to quieter beach spots to perform some specific, quote-unquote, activities. One of which they'll die of embarrassment shall anyone catch them.

We did none of those because this adventure was before he and I became a couple. I mean, even if we were a couple, we wouldn't have done those. Or would we?

No, we won't. Not in public, at least.

We played a lot that day. There was volleyball—to which I suck—frisbee, shell hunting, surfing, and of course, eating, lots of eating. I'm surprised he and I stayed skinny from all the junk we've consumed throughout our time.

"I thought I'd find you here," my attention returns as I turn to my side where Perseus is standing by the shores, the waves inches away from reaching his feet. He waves, and I return the gesture before climbing down the rock and making my way toward him.

"Have you been spying on me?" I gave him a smirk as I made it to shore, standing next to him, the metallic sand firm under us.

"Maybe a little," he admits, gazing off into the magnificent view ahead of us. "I have always been curious about where you'd go when there's no class. I'd see you journeying to the Gold Vine forest, the castle garden, outside the city, and here, the beach."

"What can I say? I'm not one to stay put," I laugh, hoping he would too. He didn't. "Anyways, why are you here?"

"I just wanted to see you, that's all," he confesses, giving me one of his soft smiles that I'm starting to really like. "And to invite you to the palace tomorrow night."

"What's happening in the palace?"

"King Polydectes has organized a celebration for he's to reveal an important announcement to the kingdom," he shares as we begin strolling. I stood a little further as my wings kept nudging his side. "No one knows what he's up to, not even my mother, and she's always by the side of that snake."

"I'm going to assume you don't like His Majesty?" I face him.

"I don't like that he's always with my mother, bringing her to every possible event and duty, and I'm only able to see her when the entire city is asleep," he sounds annoyed yet depressed. It's unlike him.

I have never seen his mother before. Everything I know about her originates from the stories Nike had disclosed previously. She's the daughter of a king who banished her because of the prophecy that her child would annihilate him. Perseus.

I glance over to view his beauty which now outshines the ocean. The way his light hair gleams with the sun and his eyes crinkle when he smiles, portraying the definition of innocence and carefree. It's hard to imagine he'd be the soul to end the life of a king.

Then again, Hera's beauty makes her seem harmless until someone pesters her, and her powers get the best of her, destroying everything and everyone in her presence, including her own husband, Zeus.

Sometimes I thank my lucky stars I'm ugly. Well, Jon was Zelus? He has long, platinum hair that flows down to his back. He's tall—though not as tall as Perseus— with a muscular figure and owns a pair of wings attached to his spin. He's a daimon, but he looks like an angel.

"Does your mother loathe him as much as you do?" I ask.

"She said she doesn't. And she forbade me to protect her since then," he pulls on his tunic as the wind picks up, and his hair distracts his visions. "She said she's more than capable of taking care of herself."

"Actually, why do you hate the king? Is it only because he's always with your mother?" We paused when we noticed a cast of yellow-red crabs fleeing from us. They are small, almost thumb-nail sized, and they scatter quickly into the damp sand, leaving a grin on my face when the thought of me chasing after them appears.

"He is a rat, looking at my mother as if she's a prize than a person," he chased the grin off my face. "I'd like to cut off his arm whenever he puts them on her."

Well, the beautiful scenery quickly manifested an awkward, raging aura that wasn't okay. Thankfully, he realizes it, too, as he returns to the soft, innocent Perseus.

"Will you join me?" He asks.

"I'm very sure only the king's chosen people are invited, and truth be told, I haven't even met the king," I admit. "I doubt he'll appreciate having strangers at his party."

"You're my companion, which makes you a stranger no longer," and suddenly, my cheeks burn, and I don't know why. "Come with me. I have never invited anyone to join me on occasions such as this. And I want you to be the first."

"And why is that?"

"I don't know, actually," he glances away. "I just have a feeling you're different. In a good way, and I want to get to know you more, Zelus."

"A lot more different than you can imagine, buddy," is what I really wanted to say.

"Alright, I'd be honored," I said instead.

...

My hands react subconsciously when he tosses a single mango my way. I take in its yellow-green, freckled skin as the sweet, acidic scent pleases my nostrils. The fruit is still young, but that's exactly how I like it. I recalled when mom would go grocery shopping and buy a basket of mangoes for breakfast. I'd always ask her for the green ones because they're still slightly sour and not too sweet, just how I prefer them.

"You think we have enough?" I gaze up to the tree where Perseus is, stabilizing himself on a firm branch like a sloth as he reaches for the fruits hovering above him. "Or do we need more?"

Time is hard to identify in this century; therefore, the sun's position is the only way to know it. And currently, it's probably an hour before noon as the sun ascends to the center of the sky, the heat glaring more than it was calming during dawn. We wanted to return home after our little, unexpected morning stroll by the shores, but instead, we chose to wait a little longer, perhaps grab a bite too.

Why? Heck, if I know.

We ventured into the forest on the opposite side of the beach and hunted for fruits. Perseus did all the climbing as he knew I couldn't fly yet, or climb anything without slipping and falling on my back. We've only got some bananas, coconut, and of course, mangoes.

I believe that's more than enough for lunch. And also, I'm getting sick of fruits for being in pretty much every meal. Sure, they gave me a body I could only dream of having in the present, but it would be nice to have some greasy food every now and then. Now, I'd kill to have some chicken tenders from McDonald's.

"Yeah, it's enough."

He makes his way down and approaches me with six more pieces of mangoes in his sachet. He's sweating, and his arms have small bite marks from the ants that dominate the tree. He's panting hard as I stand face-to-face with him. Guilt overwhelms me to the point I can't look him in the eyes, though I notice he's smiling like a teenager who successfully asked his crush out on a date.

We headed back to the beach and noticed the sun had graciously hidden behind the clouds, halting its glaring heat and the cooling breeze running over us, feeling an instant relief as we rested upon the white, powdered sugar sand just a few steps from the shore.

Perseus had begun digging in as he picked up a single mango and peeled the skin off before taking a bite from its flesh. I kept my visions on the sky-reflecting waters where in the far distance were dolphins jumping and vanishing from the surface. Their voice calls are mesmerizing, as if they're trying to tell me something.

"Aren't you hungry?" He asks. I crane my neck to see he's already eaten six mangoes and three fingers of bananas. I didn't know he was that hungry. While there was plenty of food left, I had no appetite for any of them.

"You carry on—" I stopped when the word, fishermen, came to mind once again. I was reminded that I was on the beach and that we could have some seafood for lunch instead. Now that's something I could go for, perhaps not fish. Maybe crabs, scallops, or a lobster, or even better, shrimps. My mouth waters at the image of mom's famous sweet and sour prawn dish she'd make for us for every thanksgiving dinner. I was always the one to lick the plate clean at the end.

"Are you okay?" He looks concerned.

"Say, are you up for some seafood?" Now I sound excited.

His eyes dart to the ocean and back to mine like a cartoon character.

"But we don't have the equipment for fishing," he reminds.

"I'll just use my hands," I wriggle my fingers in the air.

"You can do that? Aren't they slippery? And fast?"

"I have my ways," I'm lying, but at the same time, maybe not.

On the same day when Alex and I lied to our parents, saying we were going to the library, but instead, we left for the beach, we went scuba diving, and it was then he taught me a few ways to catch some crustations without being pinched or stung by them. Though catching fish is a little tricky, as Alex and Perseus mentioned, fishes are slippery.

"What would you like? Crabs? Lobster? Clams?" I provide suggestions.

"I haven't had any of those which you mention," now that shocks me, and it's not because the people in this century do not eat them. Many stall owners sold various seafood in the marketplace, but he hasn't tried any of them?

"Oh," was all I could blurt out. "It's okay. Wait here; I'll be back."

"Wait," he grabs my wrist as I am about to stand. My eyes stayed on his grasp for a while before looking at him. "It may be dangerous to hunt recklessly. Not to mention other threats lurking under the surface."

"I'll be swimming around the corals. I'll be fine," I tap his hand on my wrist, reassuring him.

"I do not mean the fishes, Zelus," his voice firm and clear. "I meant the deities of the sea. Or the sirens that could easily manipulate you and drown you."

Now that's something I didn't think about as I'm not used to being restricted into swimming in the ocean because of sirens or other mythical beings. However, in this reality, they're all real.

"I'll be careful, remember, I've got powers too," those words slipped past my lips, but they were not reassuring in the least, especially to me, knowing I have not mastered any of them yet.

He was prepared to object, but he spoke nothing as he slowly took his hand back, eying me. I can see nothing but anxiety in his eyes.

"Stay safe," he says. "I'll keep a lookout. If anything strange happens, I'm coming in."