Ben's POV

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I sighed heavily and annotated the answers to the questions on the Promethean board where Professor Stunt had some slides playing. I huffed and eyed the time on my smartphone, which was displayed on my desk. Ten minutes until class ended, then I could drive to the nearest store and buy some flowers for my blind date, who I was supposed to meet in the dorms in an hour after class ended. Currently, though, I was in my Mythology and Religions class where I was struggling to learn about Greek mythology and its many Gods and Goddesses. I felt like my head would implode with how many names I had to memorize. Ok! Think! The sons of the Titan Cronus were Zeus, Poseidon...and Ra?

No! That was an Egyptian God! I clenched my hand gripping my pencil harder in frustration. Damn it! I was not going to pass this final test if I didn't gather my thoughts and concentrate. I repositioned myself in my seat for the hundredth time and closed my eyes to focus, providing myself a pep talk in my head. Don't think about your date, don't think about your caregiver, and don't think about why Mourner knew about the necklace...

Wait, it was Hades! I scribbled the name down and shot from my seat and walking briskly to the Professor and handed him the answers, grabbing my belongings and running out of the room. The third son of Cronus whom he had swallowed to prevent one of his children to defeat him! Mourner had told me this story a long time ago! Thank goodness I had thought of him at that moment.

I smiled to myself and mentally thanked Mourner as I reached my car and got in, starting the ignition and driving away to the nearest store to purchase some flora to give to my date also considering their meanings. Maybe I would buy some Tulips? Violets? Or would they be too intense? Some Roses? I thought for a moment and shook my head in disagreement. Nah, also commonly used. I racked my brain with more choices, but they all seemed not good enough. I should buy some Camellias or Calla Lilies. They would be more respectful and appropriate, making up my mind as I arrived at the flower shop.

Twenty-five minutes later I exited the shop with a bouquet of both Camellias and Calla Lilies appearing neglected. I only noticed when I was outside the dorm's door. I was too much in a rush to pay any attention to the quality of the flowers. Quickly, I murmured some words to them, and they grew in size, sprouting more buds and their colors enhanced, almost producing their own light.

I smiled. That's better. My blind date will definitely like them. I moved my hand to knock just as my phone began to vibrate in my pocket. My smile disappeared in an instant. I pulled my phone out quickly and frowned at the new message. 

"Change of plans; The date will be held in Melody's. Do you know where that is?"

I stared at the screen in confusion. Why was the date being relocated? I huffed and asked for the directions, exiting the building hurriedly. I hope I wasn't going to make my date think ill of me if I arrived later than she did. I stopped in my tracks at the thought. Why was I so nervous? I shook the idea away and climbed into my car, scouring the buildings for the address that was typed in the message. I expected the place to be some strip club or something, since that was the custom these days, but was quite surprised to find it was a cafe. It was nothing fancy,

I exited my car and entered, surveying the interior looking for my date. The inside had a more modern style than I expected. It had some sleek features, the furniture adorned in a simple color palette, the simplicity of the whole style sitting well in my eyes. That was not important though. I didn't know who my date was.  I checked my phone and read the message that had the directions. It read for me to sit at the table farthest from the entrance on the right. I glanced up, and sure enough, there was a glass table with two gray lounge chairs. On the table, there was an envelope.

Curious, I made my way to it, avoiding bumping into any waitresses, who kept their eyes trained on me as I passed them. I sat and eyed the crowd that had begun staring at me. What was going on? "Uh, hello." I greeted with a small wave, but nobody moved. It was strange, but I decided to turn my attention to the envelope. I opened it carefully and pulled the piece of paper from inside. I unfolded it and read what was written.

"Dear Ben,

You are a dumbass. This was all a prank! I hope you didn't think that anyone would want to go out with you because that would be pathetic! Nobody wants to fuck a bitch like you!

Sincerely,

Matt and the crew"

Finishing, I stared at the letter for a bit, the words written sinking in. I sighed and folded the sheet of paper and covered my face with my hands. I guess Mourner was correct. It was all just a prank.

I sighed once again and sunk in my seat, removing my hands from my face and staring at the glass table intently. I had not expected this. I had sincerely hoped the outcome of this 'date' to end differently, with myself no longer being alone and having a girlfriend. I chuckled with no evident amusement. This had to happen to me. I deserved it. My naivety was repulsive, and my delusions were concerning. Who would ever genuinely fancy me? I was merely an object for sexual fantasies. Not worthy of ever being in a relationship.

I allowed my foul thoughts continue, immersing myself deeply into them that I did not hear someone attempting to gain my attention. It was only when I felt a soft touch on my shoulder that I turned my attention to the one responsible. I was surprised to find myself staring into the grey eyes of a waitress. She was beautiful, and I continued to ogle her until I heard her ask me something. " I'm sorry, What was your question?" I asked.

She smiled, "I said: Is there something you'd like to drink?"

I frowned and looked away, "Oh, no thank you."

She continued to stare at me, but the moment I was going to comment she sat in front of me and smiled, me failing to return it. " I'm sorry for prying, but is there something wrong?" she asked softly, concern forming in her eyes.

I fought my thoughts but eventually, I confessed, " Um, some people I deemed to be friendly did me wrong. They..." I trailed off, glancing at her to see her paying close attention, giving me a nod to continue." They organized a blind date for me, but it proved to be a foul prank, and they found it necessary to scorn me in a letter by referring to me as pathetic and as a bitch."

She raised her brows in shock and extended her hand, wanting me to give her the letter. I paused for a moment and handed it to her, which she took and read slowly, her face devoid of emotion. She returned it to me and stared at me for a moment. I could swear I heard the cogs in her head working as she stared at me.

Finally, she rose from her seat and went into the kitchen, returning a moment later with two mugs of hot chocolate. I opened my mouth to protest, but she lifted her hand to silence me. "Don't worry, it's on the house," she assured me, taking a long sip of the scalding liquid.

I could only shrug and gulp the chocolate down, sighing in content when I was finished, placing the mug on a coaster. That was delicious. I heard her laugh and point at my face, "You have a little bit right here."

I moved my napkin and wiped the remnants of the hot chocolate from my face. "Is that better?" I asked, and she nodded cheerfully, taking another sip from her mug.

"So, do you feel better?" She asked, and I reflected for a bit. Surprisingly, I did feel better. Much better, so I nodded, and she hummed in approval. "That's great, remember: those people are just jealous of you. They are probably doing this to make you feel bad about yourself, so you can't compete with them. Don't fall into their trap! You seem like a kind man, and you are super handsome, if you haven't noticed." She waved her hand at the crowd that was still staring at me. I immediately felt my face grow warm. Oh. So that was why they were staring.

"Wait...did you seriously not know?" she asked incredulously, I looked away and shook my head. "Well, shit. I thought you would be used to this kind of attention, but you seem uncomfortable right now. Sorry, I should not have pointed it out."

I shrugged and stared at my empty mug. "It's ok. I should've grown used to it now. You don't have to apologize for my ignorance. I guess I will forever be a sex object in the eyes of everyone."

The girl only stared at me in pity. I instantly regretted saying anything at all and felt the need to go elsewhere, so I thanked her for the beverage and quickly made my way to the exit, disregarding the lustful gazes sent my way. I began to scold myself for opening up to a human when I felt someone clutch my arm in a firm grip. I turned my head to shout at the foolish human who dared touch me, and I was met with the girl's beautiful eyes, panic settling within them. "Wait! I am so sorry; I didn't mean to make you angry! Please, let's calm down and go someplace else." She tried, but I began to understand why she would suggest going to another place. I jerked my arm from her grasp and glared at her furiously. She was seeking to have sex with me! She was just the same as everybody else, but I should've known. She was human, after all.

I began to turn away, but she passed in front of me, seizing my arm and exiting the cafe. I meant to protest, but she threw me a look that silenced me. I allowed her to guide me to a small lot where she finally let go of my arm and gazed into my eyes, probing them with her ghostly pale ones. "There, we have left their gazes. Now we can talk." She crossed her arms, waiting for me to begin.

I scoffed and turned to leave, but she stopped me in my tracks with her next words: "Look, I'm not going to harm you. I'm not a piece of shit like the people that gave you that letter. I know how it feels only to be viewed as a sex object. I'm a woman, and unfortunately, we live in a world where men feel that they can fondle and grope women whenever they feel like it and then discard us like candy wrappers. They don't care if the girl is waiting for the special guy to share her love with! They don't care if she is still in 8th grade! Men don't even care if the girl is their daughter! I know that...because it happened to me..."

I turned to see tears forming in her eyes. I opened my mouth, but she stopped me before I could even utter a word, "No...I'm not finished. I don't know what has happened in your life, but I want you to know that you don't have to be alone. When...that, happened, I grew up hating every male in the world. Even if they were just kids, I would curse them in my head or even out loud for being a male. I never trusted anyone again, because I thought that if I did, they would take advantage of me. Just like the poor excuse of a father that I had, had done."

"I felt repulsed by the very thought of ever thinking of or touching another male, and I had to be homeschooled by my mother for my whole teenage years, up until college. I was broken and had so much hatred and was so paranoid that I carried pepper spray and a taser everywhere I went. I almost used the spray on another college student that only wanted to borrow a pen from me! Eventually, I just gave up on my paranoia and hatred. I was too emotionally exhausted and decided that I would take my mother's and friends' advice that not all men were like my disgusting father and chose to join a club in college. And guess what happened? I saw that not everybody was like my disturbing father. Some men were very kind and liked me for my personality, wanting to get to know me before even thinking about my sex on the first date!" She concluded, panting from all the work she had put into what she said.

I waited for her to continue, but she only stared at me expectantly. I gave her a small smile. "So what you are attempting to explain to me is that not everybody is the same? That I should not endure this journey alone, therefore, seeking aid from others?"

She seemed to think on it and sighed with a pleased grin plastered on her face. "Yes. In short, yes. That's exactly what I meant."

I chuckled, "And by others, I hope you referred to yourself. It would be a pain in the ass to seek for someone as relatable as you." I offered my arm to her, and she took it gladly, hooking her arm around mine.

"Yes. I was referring to myself." she laughed, walking beside me as we walked away back to the cafe. "Hey, by the way; what is your name?" she queried suddenly.

I looked at her expecting eyes and smiled softly, " My name is Beneharo Pascual, but you may refer to me as Ben. What is yours?"

She grinned and leaned her head against my shoulder. "My name is Lua, but you may refer to me as Lu." She replied happily, closing her eyes and walking with me in silence and I was grateful for it. I didn't want to think about it, but I immediately thought about my caregiver and shuddered at the thought. Lua looked up at me in question as to why I had shuddered, but I merely stated that it was cold out. She accepted the answer, and we continued walking to our destination, my mind jumbling and shredding any rational thoughts out of existence. I'm sure it was just a coincidence that she was named like that, so I scolded myself mentally and started a conversation with Lua to pass the time and get to know her better.

The thoughts remained, but I disregarded them in annoyance. She doesn't know anything about my past, so drop it. How could she know? She is a human. She has no way of knowing how her name affects me. How her name translated from Portuguese to English means:

Moon.