Page 30 of Charmed By Apollo

She offered him a small, grateful smile, her eyes reflecting a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of her grief. “Thank you.”

“Maybe…maybe you should think about going home and?—”

“I’m not giving up,” she said firmly. “I’m going to find a way to bring her back, no matter what.”

His heart grew heavy with concern at her words. “That’s commendable. But remember, this won’t be easy.”

“I don’t care.”

A foreboding settled in the pit of his stomach. He knew they were embarking on a perilous journey, one that would test her strength and resilience to its limits. Yet, he also understood that she needed to go through this process to confront her grief head-on.

This is crazy, but it’s her journey to take.

He couldn’t resist teasing her, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere that hung between them. “You know, I’ve heard of hot-headed shifters before, but I think you take the cake.”

Geri shot him a glare. “Oh, ha ha,” she retorted. “Very funny, Apollo.”

“Come on, Geri,” he persisted, a grin spreading across his face. “You’ve got to admit, you’ve got a bit of a temper.”

She huffed indignantly, crossing her arms over her chest. “I do not have a temper,” she protested, her cheeks flushing with annoyance. “I just…have strong feelings about things.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Strong feelings, huh?” he quipped. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”

Geri rolled her eyes, a begrudging smile tugging at the corners of her lips despite her irritation. “You’re impossible,” she grumbled.

“Hey, someone’s got to keep you on your toes,” he teased. He grinned triumphantly, pleased to have gotten a smile from her. “You know, we should check if those duendes have forgiven us. Shall we see if they’ve finished their lunch?”

“Yes, we should!”

“Hold on tight,” he instructed with a grin as he reached for her hand. “Here we go.”

In the blink of an eye, they materialized beneath the sprawling branches of the balete tree, the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves above. The air was alive with the sounds of nature, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the distant chirping of birds.

He felt a sense of relief wash over him when she didn’t pull her hand away and he glanced at her with a small smile. They spotted Lola Conching seated beneath the ancient branches, surrounded by a makeshift picnic spread. The aroma of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, mingling with the chatter of the duendes as they enjoyed their meal.

“Looks like we’re making progress,” Apollo remarked, his tone light as they continued walking toward the tree.

Geri nodded in agreement, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “Yeah, seems like it,” she replied softly, her gaze fixed on the tree ahead.

Apollo’s heart swelled with a newfound sense of optimism as they drew nearer to their destination. Despite the challenges they faced, he felt that they were on the right path.

“Let’s see what Lola Conching has to say,” Apollo suggested, giving Geri’s hand a reassuring squeeze before they joined the gathering beneath the balete tree.

Lola Conching looked up from her meal. “Ah, you’ve returned,” she welcomed. “Thank you for the lunch. Come, join us.”

They exchanged a glance before accepting the invitation, settling down on the grass beside her and the duendes. Apollo helped himself to some of the food, offering Geri a playful nudge as he passed her a plate.

Geri looked down at her plate, uncertainty flickering in her eyes as she surveyed the array of dishes before her. “I’m not quite sure what I ordered earlier,” she admitted, her brow furrowing slightly.

Lola Conching chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “No need to worry, dear,” she reassured Geri. “Everything here is delicious. You’ll enjoy it, I promise.” She gestured toward the dishes. “We have adobo, a savory stew made with chicken and pork, cooked in vinegar, soy sauce, and spices,” she explained. “And here we have sinigang, a tangy soup made with tamarind broth, vegetables, and pork.”

As Geri took her first bite, Apollo observed her reaction with interest. He noted the way her eyes widened in surprise before a subtle smile spread across her lips. He watched as she savored each mouthful, her expression transforming from skepticism to genuine enjoyment. The way she closed her eyes briefly, allowing the flavors to dance across her palate, spoke volumes. It was clear that despite her initial uncertainty, she was thoroughly enjoying the experience.

He took a bite of the adobo, savoring the familiar flavors that brought back memories of his previous visits to the Philippines. He glanced at Geri, noting her cautious expression as she sampled each dish.

“It’s good, isn’t it?” Apollo commented, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips. “I’ve had Filipino food before, back when I visited Kanlaon.”

Geri looked up, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “Really? What did you try?”

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