Ever since I was a child, I’ve been surrounded by men in the house.

First, my older brother and his name was Zeus—yeah, derived from the Greek god's name. I don’t know why my parents name us after a god. Anyway, he's a famous athlete and a very annoying brother. Rather than being handsome, girls were drooling over him, and it sucks! Because those girls are stalking me just to give him a gift or they want his number. Ugh! The second brother was Hector. He is a doctor in the hospital and a playboy. He was hooking all the nurses in his department because he believes that marriage is not important. The third brother was Adonis. You know in Greek mythology, Adonis was associated with male beauty but it’s the opposite of my brother. He’s gay and owns a club downtown and a salon. 

I’m Athena, nineteen years old and an incoming freshman in college this Autumn season. My family lives in Chicago. Oh, I forgot to introduce my younger brother, Damon, a very smart and sweet boy. He’s in seventh grade and wants to be a pilot. He has a collection of airplanes. And last, the boss in the house, my father. He's a retired general and he is now a mechanic of his own shop. Unfortunately, my mother died when I was sixteen years old.

I just went home from my best friend’s house, and I hopped from my bike. I smiled at dad, and he is very dirty because he is fixing my brother's car. Which brother? Well, the annoying one.

He looked at me and smiled, “I told you not to stay out late.”

I look at my phone, “It's just 9p.m. I’m not that late.”

He sighed and looked at me seriously, “You promise that you will get home before dark.” 

I look around and it's dark. 

I just pout, “I’m sorry, dad. I just can’t leave that knowing my best friend was going to miss me. You know, she is my only sister, and I will go to college soon in a different country.”

“Athena, promise is a promise. You need to keep that. And you are my only daughter in the house, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

I understand my father. He only worried about me. Ever since I was a child, he has been very protective of me. He set ground rules just for me and sometimes, he dressed me like a boy and my always playmate was my brothers, “I can take care of myself dad. Don’t worry, I will always carry your teachings wherever I go.”

His teachings? Well, I can use it for the bad guys only. I will miss this house, my brothers, this neighbourhood. I will miss them. My new life journey will start in the next few days. I smiled wildly as I thought of exciting moments.

This year will be fun! 

I started packing up my clothes and arranging them in my luggage.

“Oh, my beautiful sister will be all alone. Why don’t you change your mind and be my assistant at my club?” 

I looked at Adonis and gave him a poker face look, “I have dreams and I can see that you will make me a hooker.”

He lightly taps my shoulder, “Hey, where did you learn that?”

I pretended to think and look at him. “Um, from you?” He gasped and I laughed.

“You need this.” He said and he placed three condoms on top of my clothes. 

“What the fuck!?” I make a disgusting face look.

“You may need that, dear.”

“Ew. I never did think or dream of sex.”

“You will soon be, my dear sister. College is fun and wild. You may suddenly feel an arousal of your va—”

“Get out.”

“Listen to my advice. Women can control her sex life and you can feel it too because you’re a woman! I believe you will feel horn—”

“Get. Out.” I firmly said then I picked up the condom and pushed him out of my room and before I closed the door, I tossed the condoms on his face.

I sighed. He knows it. He’s the only one who knows in the family what I feel other than my best friend. They know me. I’m a woman and I’m Asexual. I told myself that when I first attempted to kiss this guy in high school. 

He is attractive and handsome—from the perspective of other girls—and he is famous though. One day, he approached me and he smiled like a charming guy but I just looked at him, confused and he asked me out.

I refused and because of that, I think I stepped on his ego because when he asked me that time, he was confident that I would not turn him down so his expectation hit reality. I’m not attractive to him and I don’t feel anything. So ever since that day, he hasn't stopped pestering me everyday. So, I gave up. I gave him a chance and we dated. Then, Friday night, I was doubting myself for being a woman, so I tried to kiss him, and he was shocked at first then when I didn’t feel anything, I pulled myself from his lips then my eyes widened as he kissed me again. Then, he kisses me deeply and wildly as our tongues collide but… why don’t I feel anything? Like I’m not interested in sex or kissing. That’s how it started. The feeling of lack. Lack of sexual feelings or desires.

“Oh, don’t cry Damon. I promise I will come back home at the end of semester.”

“You promise?” 

I nod at him while smiling, “Yes. Be strong and use what I teach you for those assholes.” My brother Damon is being bullied so I teach him my skills. I glanced at the people, but no three brothers were coming. I let out a deep sigh and my father tapped my shoulder.

“Come here.” He hugged me and kissed my head.

I say  my goodbye to them, wave and I look back, but they are not coming. I sigh as I look forward to entering when suddenly I hear my very annoying brother and I look back. A group of handsome men is approaching me. They were smiling, whistling and they had a banner with my name on it. My best friend is with them, so my heart is full of happiness. I hug them and they suffocate me as if this is the first time that we met.

“This is so embarrassing! You really like attention!”

“Were you brothers so you have to endure that.” Zeus said.

“Our only sister, we will miss you. Don’t forget to visit us.” Adonis said.

“Be brave and we know you will.” Hector said.

“Call me every day. As in, every day.” Charlotte said. 

Charlotte is a very caring person. We are sisters, not even by blood. She knows me well and we understand each other. This is the start of my new life. Without my best friend, my family... I’m really all alone. 

Am I... really doing well?

I just got on the airplane, and I put my luggage in a compartment. Oh god, it doesn’t fit! Shit. I tried to push it all the way in, but it didn’t close. Shit. Why does this happen? I tried to push my luggage with all my strength—

“Let me help you.” A deep and manly voice said, and he pushed my luggage inside then he closed it. I was surprised because it looks easy, yeah, for him. I look at him and his chest is very close to me, so I look up at him and he is smiling at me. I smiled slightly and thanked him.

I sat on my designated chair, and I noticed that he was on the other side across from me and he was looking at me, but I just ignored him and put my earphones into my ear. He is tall, broad shoulders, arms, fair skin, gray eyes and chestnut hair. He also has dimples when he smiles. Oh, and perfect teeth. Hm, a hot guy huh. I erased him in my head and tried to take a nap. It’s a long way to London so I need to take a rest. 

After an hour, I arrived in London and walked my way through the airport and then I felt someone was looking at me, but I just ignored it. I’m used to it, honestly, I’m not bragging but back in high school, the boys liked me but I didn’t like any of them. 

I look around to see my aunt and then a beautiful young lady is waving at me. She has long, black, and straight hair.

I read the banner in her hand saying, "Welcome home, my beautiful niece.”

We hugged each other and this is the first time that I met her in person because I only saw her when we FaceTime. My mother was born here in London, so I chose to study here to get to know her more. 

“Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?”

“Hm… you’re special food. The one you always cook when we FaceTime?” 

Aunt Sandra is the sister of my mother. She is a therapist. We just arrived at her house and her son approached her. 

“Jeremy, this is your cousin, Athena, say hi.” 

“You look different in person.” A six-year-old boy said, and I narrowed my eyes.

“What do you mean?” I asked him.

“Are you gay?” He said then I don’t know what to say because he is curious and what confuses me is why the hell did he know that term?

Aunt Sandra let out an awkward laugh and shoved his son to let me in, “He is a woman. Now, go. Do your homework.” he murmured to his son. She looked at me and said, “I’m sorry for that, Athena. He may have heard those from my sessions.” 

“You also work here?"

“Um, I’d do a video consultation sometimes if my patient is in a long distance.” I just nodded, then I looked around, “Let me help you carry this and follow me.” A big house with a spacious living room. 

I’m staying here for my college life here in London with my mother’s sister and her smart son. Hm, I guess, I have to know my other relatives.