Chapter 4

IV. Call

THE FOLLOWING DAYS PASSED by quickly; however, the things that Piers had told me that night still lingered up to this day. It wasn't the first time I had heard those words from someone. I had heard it from my therapist, the people from the rehab, the BSAA even... but I'd always perceived those words as empty promises. But I believed him. Not because he made it sound promising, it's because Piers was the one behind those words.

I have to say, I'd grown to like his company whenever we'd have the chance to talk. We'll mostly talk about anything under the sun while we take turns on cooking, doing the laundry and things similar to those. Mostly it would be me doing household chores because he'd report to work once in a while, work out and pick up groceries along the way. I once volunteered to do the groceries but he insisted that he'll do it.

"Oh, hey, let me help you with that." I offered, standing up from the couch and putting the book I'm reading down. I helped Piers with the bags containing the groceries.

"Thanks," He said, and I nodded, telling him that it was nothing. While I was taking out the foods from the bags, Piers caught my attention once again when he spoke. "Hey, I got you something."

"Really?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, a little surprised that he bought something for me, again. He handed me a white paper bag. I accepted it then inside it was a black floral dress. I looked back at Piers, searching for some kind of explanation.

He shrugged. "I figured that you wouldn't mind what you'd wear for tomorrow."

I nodded slowly, still perplexed. "Okay, um... but where are we going tomorrow?"

"We're gonna go visit my parents tomorrow."

I closed my eyes for a brief moment, remembering that it was already tomorrow. "Oh, yes. Sorry, days passed by quickly that I had completely forgotten about that."

Piers nodded, "If you don't like the dress, you're free to wear anything you like."

I shook my head, "No, this is fine. I'll wear this for tomorrow. You didn't have to buy me a dress, but thank you."

When I returned to my room, I tried on the dress and I can't help but be amazed when it fitted perfectly on me. It complements my features a lot, like it was made for me. I spun in front of the mirror, rehearsing my smile when I see Piers' parents. I didn't expect that he had a good taste in women's fashion. Now that I thought about it, I wonder if Piers had ever been in a relationship? I doubt it, though, at least as of this moment. He's too committed on his work to even dwell on the thought of being in a relationship.

I woke up early the next day to prepare. I never expected that I'd use it for this purpose. I thought to myself as I stared down at the makeup bag Julia had given me for my birthday a few months ago. I was quite thankful that she taught me how to do my makeup. I never did care about how I present myself to people, but I wanted to make an exception, just for today. I was finally going to meet the people who picked me up from the dirt after all.

Just in time I had finished my light makeup, I took the shoe box out of the white paper bag and yes, Piers also bought the shoes for me which was making me feel a little embarrassed because he spent money on me again. I wonder if he'll allow me to look for a job so that I could help him with the expenses in the apartment?

I paired my black floral dress with a sandy beige heels and a black purse, which was another gift from Julia. I got out of the room and my eyes found Piers, his right hand casually in his pocket while his left hand scrolling through his phone as he waited for me. Our eyes met and his lips slightly parted at the sight of me, making me feel a little self-conscious.

"You sure took your time." Piers said, looking away.

"Sorry, did you wait long?" I asked as I take in his appearance. He wore a dark blue v-neck shirt and faded jeans.

"Yeah," He straightened his posture, glancing at his wrist watch. Piers fished out for his car keys, beckoning me to the door. "Let's go."

"Good morning, Piers!" An elderly lady greeted when he locked the apartment. I turned around to see the friendly lady with a smile plastered on her face.

"Good morning, Mrs. Osborne."

"Who is this fine young lady? Are you finally going to introduce your girlfriend to me, son?"

I glanced at Piers, tilting my head to the side, his expression not budging.

"Oh, she's not my girlfriend, Ma'am." Piers denied with a smile of his own. "She's a family friend."

"Hello, Ma'am, I'm Cheryl. It's nice to meet you." I extended my hand for a handshake as I tried to smile but I knew that I looked like I was grimacing. The elderly took notice and she let out a short laugh, taking my hand with both her hands.

"You're very beautiful, Cheryl." Mrs. Osborne emphasized, making me smile a little bit. "You take care of him, okay? He always put others above himself, you know. I worry about him all the time." I just replied a smile as I glance at her warm hands enveloping mine.

When Piers and I got to the parking lot, he turned the alarm of his black car off. I went straight to the passenger's seat the same time he got inside the driver's seat. I struggled to pull the seatbelt down but I was surprised that our noses touched when I whipped my head to his side. He was also surprised and after a few moments he settled my seatbelt and pulled away, clearing his throat as he started the ignition of his car.

"Sorry," He mumbled.

Now that I'd seen his hazel eyes up close, I realized how beautiful they are. They were deep, stoic and piercing but there was an underlying gentleness to it.

"You have beautiful eyes." I blurted out, tilting my head to the side. Piers looked back at me with furrowed eyebrows, looking at me as if he was deciphering something out of me. He looked away, shaking his head as he drove out of the apartment complex.

I'd always been used to people's grumpy attitude. Well, given that my father has his own issues, I wouldn't stress about Piers'. So in the remainder of the car ride with him, I just switched on the radio and listened to the songs I'm not even familiar with. Once we had stopped at a red light, Piers spoke.

"Why do you always say things like that?"

I whipped my head at him, surprised. "Things like what?"

Piers looked at me, his expression stoic and hard. I held his gaze for a few seconds before he turned his attention back at the road. "Never mind."

"Is there a problem?"

He looked... irritated and frustrated. What did I do wrong? Okay. Now he's confusing me. I wanted to tell him that he was acting pretty weird but decided against it.

"Nothing." He deadpanned.

"But—"

"It's nothing, okay?" He snapped, surprising me. "Drop it."

He's like... a child having tantrums right now. I huffed, suppressing the little smirk that was starting to form on my lips. A tough soldier throwing tantrums?

"What's funny?" Piers demanded when I couldn't stop the giggles.

"You," I smiled, "You're like a child having tantrums."

His grip on the steering wheel tightened and I knew that he wanted to glare at me but couldn't as he had to focus his attention on the road. I know it's best to just shut up and not to add fuel to the fire but then I couldn't help it.

"It's cute, actually."

"Shut up, Cheryl."

The car ride lasted for more than one and a half hours, and I didn't bother to press the issue, if there ever was. As I've said earlier, I'm used to people's anger issues, and as much as I've wanted to know what was bothering him, even if I don't recall ever doing something that might irritate him, he'll just lash out at me again.

Just as we got out of the car, the door of the house immediately opened and we were greeted by a running girl who wore an excited smile on her face.

"PIERS!" She screamed as she jumped into his arms, laughing. Piers was surprised for a second, but hugged her back nonetheless. "I missed you so much!"

"Phyllis," He settled the girl on her feet and he patted her on the head, to which she grinned in response. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here on a vacation." She said, then her gaze shifted to me. "Who is she, Piers? Please don't tell me she's your girlfriend."

Piers snorted, "No, of course not. She's Cheryl, she's the one I've been telling you about."

Phyllis' lips parted a bit at the mention of my name as she stared intently at me. "Oh! So you're Cheryl. I'm Phyllis Nivans. Aunt Lorrie and Piers has told me all about you."

I nodded, a little unsure. "Uh, yeah."

"It's such a bummer, I thought for a second that my cousin's finally bringing a girl home." She laughed, and I just smiled as Piers scolded her. "Come on, let's go inside. The food should be ready by now."

Phyllis and Piers walked side by side with each other, talking amiably like how siblings do. I just trailed behind them, listening attentively to their conversation.

"Blast it! I really thought that you're finally bringing a girl home, coz!"

"That's not my priority right now."

"You're already twenty-three. When are you going to get a girlfriend?"

Piers didn't answer her question and closed the door behind us just as my eyes wandered on the house, which was as neat and meticulous as his apartment. The house has a sentimental feel to it, like it has been built for generations. I could tell that it was getting renovations every now and then to maintain its stability. Nevertheless, the house was well-maintained; simple yet pleasing to the eyes.

"Aunt Lorrie, they're here!" I heard Phyllis as she disappeared to another room, must be where the kitchen was located.

Piers was just quiet behind me. He didn't say another word to me after our conversation earlier, after I had basically called him a man-child. Is he really that mad at me?

"Piers?" I called out and turned around to meet him.

"What?" He deadpanned. He really is in a foul mood! Isn't he always?

"I'm sorry."

He raised an eyebrow, "For what?"

"Um... for what I've said earlier, for calling you a child having tantrums?"

"It's fine." Piers heaved a sigh. He was about to add something when he was cut off at the sound of Phyllis' laughter echoing from the kitchen, causing Piers to close his eyes and purse his lips in a thin line.

"She's so loud," I commented, "You were saying?"

"Hey guys!" Phyllis called out as she emerged from the kitchen holding a pan. "Come on!"

"Phyllis, there's no need to shout." Another voice scolded and there revealed a woman who looked to be in her mid-forties or so. Her face was radiant as she wore that friendly smile like she always do. I suddenly remembered my mother, though somehow her face was blurry whenever I imagine it, making me only have a faint memory of the details of her face. Piers and I approached his mother, the latter giving her son a hug. I didn't know what to do, though. When they pulled away, she shifted her gaze at me. "Cheryl, dear,"

I gave her an awkward wave, "Um, hello..."

She chuckled, holding my hands. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm okay."

"I hope you didn't have to endure Piers' temper, though." Lorraine said with a light smile, causing Phyllis to snort-laugh.

I glanced at Piers who had his eyebrows furrowed, as always, and then back at Lorraine. "I wouldn't stress about it." And I don't think that's the half of it.

Lorraine smiled, and there I saw the soft features that Piers got from her. After that, she beckoned us to the table, where she and Phyllis had prepared lunch. There were various dishes on the table which I mostly couldn't name, but the most familiar ones were the lasagna and chicken salad. Mr. Nivans wasn't present at the moment because there was an emergency at work, or at least that's what Lorraine had told us. The trio mostly talked to each other, might have been catching up. I could tell that Piers haven't come home in a long time by the way his mother and cousin were talking to him, especially about his personal life. They'd always try to convince him to get a girlfriend already.

"Did you ever get a girlfriend once, Piers?" Phyllis asked, shoving a forkful of chicken in her mouth.

"He did, before he went to the academy. Her name was Rosie, right?" Lorraine said.

"That was a long time ago." Piers shook his head, a subtle smile forming on his lips. I continued to eat my share as if I'm not hearing anything, but I was also listening attentively. I never knew about that. Maybe that was after Camilla and I left the city?

"Really? What was she like?"

Lorraine thought for a second, "At the first few months, she always checked in how Piers was, but she eventually got tired of the distance."

Piers didn't have a reaction whatsoever.

"Oh..." Phyllis said, "does that mean she's your first love, Piers?"

Piers looked at Phyllis' innocent eyes, then at me, then back at his food. I didn't realize that I had stopped eating, also anticipating for his answer.

"No," He finally said, "she's not."

I didn't know why I secretly smiled to myself. Their conversation has jumped from one place to another, keeping him on the hot seat. They'd also try to include me in their conversation, but I could only answer questions directed to me.

After lunch, Lorraine tasked Phyllis to wash the dishes, Piers excused himself as he had an urgent call which left me alone with Lorraine.

"Lunch was delicious, Mrs. Nivans." I started.

"Oh, don't be a stranger, Cheryl. You can call me Lorrie or Lorraine." She smiled, "I just wanted to make today special."

This woman in front of me was my mother's best friend, the other half of her soul lies within this woman. If it weren't for Camilla, I would have been left under the care of the government. I wouldn't mind it, though.

"Why did you take me in?" I asked the question I was meaning to say since I'd heard that she wanted to be my legal guardian. "Knowing that I may pose threat to your family, I'm not an ordinary human..." I looked at her unmoving face, letting her process my words. "you know that." Lorraine just smiled at me, and it gave me the cue to continue to assume and conclude things. "Is it because of my mother? Did you really love her that much?"

"Maybe." Was her only answer, and it frustrated me a bit. "Piers, are you alright?"

I turned around to see Piers staring intently at me then his gaze returned to his mother. "Yeah, I just need to go."

"What?" I said, confused.

"I see." Lorraine wasn't surprised. She might have known that this would happen. She went over to her son and gave him a hug and a peck on the cheek. "I'm just going to put some food in your bag, okay?" Then she walked out to the kitchen, leaving me alone with him.

"Where are you going?" I asked, going over to him.

"Work calls." He said.

"When are you going to be back?"

"I don't know."

I pursed my lips in a thin line. I don't have the right to have any say in this, it's his duty as a soldier after all. But Piers was the only person I could ever be comfortable with in the whole world, I didn't know how to act around other people and I need his reassurance. God, I hated being dependent on him but I didn't know what else to do. I don't even know for how long he will be gone or when he will come home.

Piers might have noticed it and he let out a breath. "You'll get used to it." Then he fished out something from his pocket, then he handed it to me.

"What's this?"

"I'll lend you my other phone," He explained, and then he showed me his phone. "I'll call you from time to time... if you like."

"I think that's a good idea." I smiled, eyeing his phone.

"Good." He also let out a smile of his own, thenhe reluctantly patted my shoulder. "I'll see you soon."