Chapter 3: I Think You Can Be The Perfect Choice

Yeojoon stormed out of the huge room, slamming the golden ornate doors behind him. After he has sent Damon home, the darkened skies mirrored his loathing. Surely, his father was upset — he doesn't give a flying fuck about it. To hell with Olympus! His brows knit into a huge from as he takes long strides towards the elevator; furious and incredibly grumpy to anyone who saw him pass by, startling them even. 

FLASHBACK | Earlier

The spiral staircase leading to the main office rapped with the soft taps of Yeojoon's shoes against the tile. It was neither cold or warm as he walked towards the huge, golden doors, with the image of ornate designs, depicting a hand with a lightning bolt. He breathed in and out, bidding his time before he opened both doors, taking a step in as he let it close by itself behind him.

"Father, you called for me." Yeojoon's voice stayed calm, placing himself about a meter away from where the god of all gods sat. "Again." 

There was a hint of annoyance in his voice, every now and then, madness would spill and he loses control. Perhaps, because he feels like an unwilling patient facing a hardheaded counselor. Not that he would associate such to the older man, his lips twisted into a twinge of amusement at the thought. 

"Do sit, Dionysus." Zeus propped his hands on the table, pointing a spread hand towards one of the velvety, cushioned chairs in front of his table. 

"My name is Yeojoon," His brown eyes turned gold for a moment. 

"In my presence, you are Dionysus. You are my son." His father's voice boomed, like thunder echoing through the halls. "Take a seat." 

The room was adorned in red, white, and gold. The office was nothing less but a throne room missing its servants to call and serve him. The god of the skies and ruler of all, with his ash-grey hair and white chiton — which surprised the younger god because it is rare for him to see his father dressed like that; given that he is in the human realm. Zeus sat in his high chair, with a table upfront filled with paperwork (that were just promps, to be honest). An eagle squawked in its cage, squinting at Yeojoon, as if sensing his emotions. 

"I won't be long, Father. There is no need for me to sit." 

The eagle flapped its wings inside the cage, cocking its head at him. 

"I insist." Zeus puts a fist down on the table. There are no storms in the sky, they pooled in his father's eyes. 

Yeojoon sat down. But first, he sent a message to Damon. Telling him that he'll be here longer than he thought. The minor god sent him a Like in return. Yeojoon figured the guy left immediately. Lucky him. He hissed under his breath. 

The sparks of electricity in the air disappeared into nothingness. Heavy silence filled the room. Yeojoon refuses to say anything. His mind stayed as a blank slate. Zeus, on the other hand, put a hand on his beard and sighed deeply. 

"When will you return to Olympus?"

Again. There was silence. 

Deep inside him, his memories flashed like it was yesterday. A beautiful woman beckoning him closer with flowers in her hair. Sounds of laughter. The rush of the panthers as it pulls a carriage. The woman holding his hand. Playing him a melody. He scowled at the said thoughts. 

Dionysus wants to forget. Yeojoon doesn't want to remember. 

His face turned grim. 

"Never." 

Zeus frowned. This has been going on and on and on. He does not know why his son, Dionysus, would never want to return. He did his best to not entangle himself with his children's path. Just not this one. 

"Why not? If it's your siblings, they have grown up now. If it's Hera, I am sure that she will welcome you back. If it's me, I can provide all you ask —"

"Father, please. I don't want to return. Why do I have to deal with this every month? Are you not tired?" Yeojoon's voice was strained. Frustration laced his words and, anytime, he feels like exploding. "I'm not Dionysus anymore. Remove my place if you want. My name is Kim Yeojoon, and I am not a god."

"If this is about Aria–" 

CRASH.

Dionysus fully took over him. The air grew heavy with the smell of crushed grapes, countering the bland, iron scent of pending lightning. He immediately stood up, making his chair fall on the ground with a loud sound, upon hearing the name. 

"It was nice meeting you father, but I have somewhere important to go." With such words, he left. The sound of his father's fist breaking polished wood rang behind him as he slammed the doors. No less, the skies have brewed a storm by now. 

He doesn't care. 

END OF FLASHBACK

Ding! 

The elevator opened up and he stepped inside. Furious. It's so stupid how his father, who had an army of children, would want someone like him back in Olympus when he never paid attention to him when he was there. Much less, he never expected him to care more for people that is not of his blood. 

Ariadne. 

The name carries the knife that brought scars on his heart. He pressed the key to the ground floor, having no choice but to drive home with a car since he's pretty sure Zeus will strike him down for declining his offer. It's been years and yet he has not take the hint.

Wounds heal, scars don't. 

At some point, the elevator door would open. The employees would recognize him and the anger that radiated on his surroundings, they would immediately close the door without ever entering, scared to be the punching bag of the god. He had recognized humans and other creatures alike. It is good that they stray away from being in the same space as him. 

His dragon eyes and tall stature could mistake him for a gangster or a mob boss if not for his formal clothes. There's something about the way he stood that scared the rest who saw him as the elevator dinged, opening and closing, without anyone else entering. 

Until he reached the seventh-to-the-last floor. The elevator flung its doors open and someone with a stack of boxes came in, the said things they carried blocked the view of their face. Yeojoon had to scoot to the side so the person won't bump into them. 

Awkwardness sinked in as his anger faded away. His lids fell heavy for a moment, breathing in and out slowly, as if in a trance. Small, fleeting images of a younger version of him appeared in his head. Moss, the taste of salty breeze, and the humidity fogged his brain. It feels like.. a dream. 

Yeojoon snapped out of his thoughts as the other person accidentally stepped on his foot, dropping his boxes which contained — scrolls ? 

The latter — a guy — gasped upon dropping the said boxes. Groaning, even, as some of the scrolls littered the floor. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't know you're in here, too. 's been a busy day to be called by the lord of the skies 'imself." The guy's voice was deep and apologetic, his head bent down to finish putting back the scrolls inside one of the boxes. Then, he looked up, eyes bulging in horror, to see who's foot he had stepped on. 

It's Dionysus. Son of the Sky god himself.

Yeojoon freezed. Is there something in his face? He surely is not angry anymore. Embarrassed is what comes to his mind at the moment. The guy, who stacked up the boxes and, with a shaky hand, pushed them to the side blinked twice. Did he do something wrong for the latter to be so afraid of him? 

"...Are you alright?" 

"Oh. Yes, Sir. I'm good. I'm sorry for stepping on your foot, Sir." The man replies, his voice is high pitched and unnatural unlike earlier. 

Yeojoon flashes him a warm smile. He might have been angry but it is no reason to be an ass to anyone else. He guesses that his father's blood and reputation instills fear in other people's mind. Well, with how arrogant his siblings can be, sometimes, it's not a surprise. He used to be like that, too.

"Just call me Yeojoon, please. I am just ordinary." 

The man's shoulders relaxed and his eyes, that flickered momentarily, shone brightly in admiration. They smiled in return and said, "I'm sorry for stepping on your foot, ..Yeojoon," the man breathed in, before adding, "I'm Morpheus, by the way!"

"Morpheus. I see. It's nice to meet you." Yeojoon tapped his foot. "I have never seen you before but you seem familiar. Are you my father's assistant?" That's true. The face was something he had met, but not truly because he swore he never met this guy. It gave him a sense of deja vu. 

"Ah.. No. Your father just calls me when he experiences nightmares, Sir–" Morpheus blinked. "I mean, Yeojoon. Sorry." 

Yeojoon laughed at the way the latter panicked. "It's okay. If you know Silenus, he's been with me for hundreds of years and still slips up sometimes."

"Thank you." The latter says whilst smiling sheepishly. "It's rare to see someone with power be so.. normal. I hope I did not upset you."

"What are these boxes for?" Yeojoon pointed the stacked boxes out of curiosity. 

"They're complaints, requests, and suggestions for my job!" Morpheus replies, grinning. A boxy smile. He wore a brown sweater topped with a blue vest. Then, he had matching brown pants and shoes. To Yeojoon, he looked like an art student than a something – than a god? Is he? 

"Your job is...?" He pried. Curiosity kills the cat, but he wants to take advantage of being able to talk to another being other than the people inside his mansion. 

There was no answer.

The elevator opened once more and Morpheus lifted the boxes, there were three of them, out of the door. Before it hides the last of his face, Morpheus looked back. His eyes shined brighter as he poked his head from the side of the boxes, muttering one line that left Yeojoon puzzled.

 "I think you can be the perfect choice."

And then the door closed. What in the heavens?