The Code of Aries ?

(36) Atlas

"He sounds amazing," I said, trying my best not to sound bitter.

"He was. Apart from my mom, I think Aries felt a little sad when he left. But that's how friends are, you know? They come and go. We just have to move on and accept the fact that they have their own lives and dreams to fulfill," Apo stated, and I almost told him that Blaine was definitely more than just a friend to Aries, but I'm not drunk enough to start shit here and put Aries on a hot seat.

"Anyway, I shouldn't be talking about someone who's not even here," Apo said, turning to look at me. "How about you, uhm...Dom. How are your parents? I mean, if it's okay to ask."

"Well, my dad died four years ago from lung cancer, while my mom...she's at the hospital getting treated for her coronary heart disease," I casually explained, and I could tell that Apo instantly regretted asking that question. I guess it's not every day you get to interview someone with such an answer.

I thought he'd apologize like what others usually do when I mention my parents, but Apo didn't say such a cliché line, just like Aries did when I first told him about it.

"How are you holding up then?" Apo surprisingly asked me, and the question didn't sound forced at all. It didn't sound like he asked me that question because he felt guilty for opening it up. He seemed like he was genuinely concerned. I guess despite the things I heard about their father, his sons grew up to be kind. Not to be judgemental or anything, but that's definitely thanks to their mom.

"I want to say that I'm doing great, but we both know that I'd be lying if I did," I honestly told him, and I don't know why I was telling him that, but I did. "My dad was a shitty father, but he was a great husband, so I guess that was okay. The thing about my mom is terrible too, and I sometimes feel lost, but...I don't know. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it gets a little—"

"Tiring?" Apo suddenly finished for me, and the reaction I gave made him chuckle. He then looked back at his family, who were happily eating the cake that Aunty Ana just blew earlier. "It would be silly to tell you that we have the same situation, but I at least know what you feel. Sometimes it just feels like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulder. I know exactly what that feels like, and it's damn exhausting most of the time," Apo explained, his words piercing through the very center of my heart.

I looked at Apo and stared at him with disbelief. He must have felt like this since he's the eldest, and his parents' expectation is a lot higher. This was the same man that Aries had always compared himself to. Conversations like these really put things in different perspectives.

"It's funny too because my parents named me after the god Apollo, but I feel more like an Atlas," he then said, making me laugh as it tickles my English Major humor.

"That's a good one," I said with a dimpled smile before taking a deep breath. "This might not mean anything, but I think you're still doing a great job with the things you've accomplished so far," I told him while showing him my beer bottle.

Apo laughed in response, and then the two of us clunked our bottles together again before having another drink. While the two of us were surprisingly enjoying each other's company, someone suddenly approached us and snatched the bottle from my hand.

It was Aries.

"You should go home. It's getting late, and you still have classes tomorrow," Aries suddenly told me, surprising both Apo and me.

"Aries, you shouldn't be mean to Arthur's friend," Apo said as he draped his arm around Aries's shoulder, but Aries only pushed it away before snatching his bottle as well.

"You should stop drinking too. Athena's already asleep, and your wife said you're going home soon. You still have to drive them, so drink some water instead," Aries stated, making Apo sigh like this was a normal occurrence.