Chapter 22: The Myth

Anastasia Honchar's POV

I have been waiting, trying to make sure that we don't end up in his house or mine in the earliest hour of the evening. After lunch, I asked him to bring me around Athens, places that he would think might be scenic but less tourism.

So, we went to the National Museum of Greece. It was nice and all because I loved Greek Mythology and all that shit that was going with them. so, we went to look at the sculptures that were famous for being around the Golden Age of Ancient Greece.

I was in awe as Marco told me about the myths that I already know but I loved it when another person shared the same interest with me. It makes me as if I was a normal girl, not a geeky one like they used to label me at school.

"So here we have the statue of Venus and her son, Cupid. It was their Roman version of the Greek Aphrodite and Eros. Such a wonderful love. The love of mother and son," Marco commented as he was staring at the statue. There was a longing in his eyes. lover? But he said about the love of mother and son. So—

"What do you like the most in Greek Myths, my love?" He asked me as he turned to look at me. That sadness was gone from his face as he was smiling at me, actually beaming happily as I was wrapping my arms around his. We might be married but the authority still has to claim that we did not marry just to get some credentials in Greece. As if we wanted it.

"Well, give me a sec. I have so much to choose from," I said as I was laughing, trying to remember which one that I liked the most. But that did not stop Marco from telling him.

"My favorite one would be the love of Eros and Psyche," he said. I arched my eyebrow at him as if trying to think why that would be his favorite. He has it all, the looks, the wealth by the looks of how he was a successful man and has everything in sight and he could have any woman in the world. But he chose to marry me.

Oh.

Oh!

I did not realize it before. I was so consumed with my desire and feelings to think about anything else. He has everything but he has something that he was lacking.

Love. And I just see it now.

"Do you know how the story of Eros and Psyche? I mean, you might hear it as Cupid and Psyche. It's just the same thing but with a different name," he said as he was looking at me. He was expecting me to know but I wanted to see if he will tell me why he loved that story so much. I shook my head. He sighed.

"well, you see, Psyche was married to a rumored bad monster, which was her husband. And the first night that they were together, not sexually, she cannot touch or see him. It was frustrating but it was a deal that Eros has to do with his mother,"

"yes, that one. So, when psyche realized that she loved Eros, it was too late because the deal has been broken. And she had to prove herself that she was worthy to be by his side after that," Marco said as he was leading me to another statue that was in sight. I wanted to know more.

"then, what happened?" I asked him. He smiled.

"they made it together but Psyche was skeptical of Eros' love. Why wouldn't she? He was the God of Love. He could make anyone fall on their feet with his arrow. Look what happened to Apollo and his love, Daphne," he said as he went to show me the statue of Apollo that was chasing a woman, no, a nymph.

I looked at it. I can see the desperation of Apollo to gain Daphne's love but it was all in vain. I wondered why Marco showed me all this love story that was unrequited love.

"are you trying to imply that you have an unrequited love but you then decided to marry me, you regret the decision?" I asked him even though the very question of my demand was much worse than I could remember. It was the least that I can get out of my mind right now. He sighed before he looked at the statue but he did not answer my question.

well, one of these moments I will get it out of him.

"shall we continue to venture more into the museum?" He asked me. I nodded as I was not in the mood to talk to him anyway. I just let him guide me through the museum and we were going through the ages of Greece. It was fascinating as I looked around it. Then a question popped in my head.

"How is it like to live in Rome? surely, you experience history every day with Colosseum in the area and Aqueduct in the city," I asked him as he was leading me into more of the Roman version of the Mythology. He pondered on my question for a bit.

"Hmm, hard to say. I was not that obvious when I was around that monuments. It was just as if that things have been something that I saw every day that it had been embedded in my mind, it was only something that I can see every day," he said as he was leading us to the front door. The museum was packed with people now. It's time to take our leave, to dinner I hoped.

"So, you just don't visit them anymore?"

"I visited it once with my family but I think that's the only day I ever fascinated by it. As I grew up, it was just a piece of chunks that laying around the city," he said before he held the door for me. I thanked him before we went out to his car as I asked him to bring us to Athens. surely, it was nice for our wedding day fiesta.

"Dinner?" He asked me as he held the door for my side. I smiled at him.

"you know it," I said. He smiled before I got in and he slammed the door. He went to his side and got in before he started the ignition.

"Any idea what do you want to eat?"

"I have chosen for lunch. Now it's your turn," I said as I looked at him. He put the gear on before headed to the destination that he knew by now.

"you know I would choose Italian food," he said as he was smirking before weaving through the traffic.

"Excellent," I said as the museum vanished in the rearview mirror.

After we have parked and got seated inside the Italian restaurant, Marco was charming the owner as they were from the same country. I never have seen him this animated to talk to. He was talking in Italian, of course, but I understand every single word. It was a small establishment and they knew him by his real name. He must be closed to them.

"I forgot to introduce my wife. Anna, this is Lola and Nono," he said as he said to the old couple that was smiling at me.

"oh, she's such a cutie. I don't know you were married," Lola said as she took my hand into hers. It was warm and motherly, nothing that I ever experienced in my life.

"well, what can I say? I don't want other men to look at her with lust, so I married her," Marco said confidently as he was wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I don't want to get intimidated by the intimate gesture but I could not help myself.

"well, let's get you to settle then. The usual?" Nono asked Marco. He laughed.

"you know it," he said. The couple went to prepare and entertained other patrons as we went to take out seats. I wanted to ask but he just read my mind.

"they were my maternal grandparents," he said as he took a sip of the wine that they have put out for us.

"your mother's side?" I asked him. He nodded.

"it has been years since we came to visit so I might as well bring you to meet them even though I don't have to," he said as he was looking at me intensely. I cleared my throat when the food arrived and we ate in silence.

it must be around 9 PM now but my eyes were so heavy that I wanted to sleep. I wanted to get through the night but knowing Marco, he might want that from me tonight.

"We better get going. Nono! Lola! We're leaving," he shouted in Italian as the old couple came and greeted us goodbye. We kissed cheeks before I went to Marco's side and we were led to his car. He opened the door and I got in. He went to the driver's seat and drove off. I wonder where we're going.

"We sleep at my house tonight if you don't mind? I have an apartment near the city," he said. Well, of course, you did. You're a fucking successful man and you wanted to show your wealth to me.

despite all that, my heart still beating fast as we were heading to the house and I think Marco can hear it.