Chapter 12

XII. Flirt

I GROANED AS a pounding headache struck me. I sat up with a wince and held my head, taking the time to adjust my eyes to my surroundings. When my vision cleared, my eyes slowly widened when I realized that I was not in my room. This room was all too familiar! This is Piers' room! How in the hell?

The door opened and Piper quickly ran inside and jumped to the bed. He licked my face to greet me, and there was Piers standing by the doorframe, arms crossed while wearing his trademark deadpanned expression.

"Hey, you're awake."

"Piers? What am I doing in your room?"

But instead of answering my question, he just turned his back on me. "You should eat first, it'll help with the hangover."

"Okay..."

I pushed the covers off me and stood up, and then I felt the air on my bare legs. Bare legs?! I looked down and my jaw dropped to the floor once again when I saw that I was only wearing my underwear along with an oversized shirt—Piers' shirt! Why am I wearing his T-shirt when I have my own closet of clothes? My blood rushed up to my cheeks in embarrassment. What the hell did you do this time, Cheryl?

I made his bed and quickly left his room to change my clothes. I'm finished... no, I'm freaking dead! I'm sure I did something really, really stupid last night! The problem is, I don't even recall a single thing after I had gone to the beach and danced with Piers. I know we talked but the words were a mere blur. How am I supposed to face him after all the embarrassment that I don't even remember?

I peeked my head on the doorframe of the kitchen to see Piers preparing some sandwich with Piper sitting down looking up at him. As if sensing my stare, he craned his neck to look at me and I immediately hid against the wall. I heaved a deep sigh and went to the dining area to take a seat.

"Ugh, freaking headache," I grumbled and plopped my elbows on the table and rested my hands on my temples, shutting my eyes, "I am never drinking again."

"Better be."

I jumped at the sound of his voice from behind me. I acted as if I didn't hear him when he slid the plate of sandwich and a cup of coffee in front of me. I opened my eyes to see him staring at me with those piercing eyes as he took a seat across from me.

"How are you feeling?" He asked as he took a bite of his sandwich.

"I feel nauseous... and I don't have the appetite." I looked down at his handiwork, and as much as it looked delicious, I just can't seem to want to eat anything in particular. I just want to lay in bed and sleep all day. I don't understand how some people like to drink alcohol. It tastes awful then you'll feel awful the next day.

"Just a few bites so that you can take some medicine. Then you can sleep all day if you want to."

"Thanks..." I muttered as I took a bite of my sandwich.

"You should know better than to drink and wander around the resort without me." Albeit scolding me, I was a little surprised that he wasn't harsh with me today. I know that he wasn't happy that I got reckless with the alcohol intake and he usually reprimands people and doesn't bother to hide the irritation in his voice, and I'm not an exception. Just today, he was calmer than expected, and I'm starting to feel that something is off.

"I just thought that I needed to feel warm when I go out to the beach."

"And instead ended up drunk." He huffed. "You should have told me you wanted to go out to the beach."

"Well, I know that you really wanted to hang out with your friends and—"

"Do you remember anything last night?" He cut me off with a question I can't answer. It made me stop to think and rack my brain, but it only caused to hurt more. And him staring at me like he was expecting something wasn't even helping at all.

"Well, um..." I cleared my throat and took a sip of my coffee, "you followed me to the beach and then there's this song that reminded me of my childhood, and I asked you to dance with me in the middle of the beach..."

"And?" He pressed, leaning closer as if he was engrossed in the movie he was watching, making me swallow.

"And... why? Did I do something stupid last night?" I asked, and it only made one corner of his lips to lift into a small smirk, but he tried to suppress it. It made my blood rush up to my cheeks as various embarrassing scenarios started to form on my mind. "I did, didn't I?"

"If you deem it to be." He said nonchalantly then proceeded to eat his share as if he didn't have a care in the world. His statement left me even more confused, curious and nervous all at the same time. I don't know if these feelings whirl well together because it only made me feel more nauseous. I really did something stupid, and he wouldn't tell me. I wanted to know but at the same time I don't. It's literally driving me crazy!

After breakfast, I took some medicine to help with my hangover, and then I took a quick shower to ease my aching muscles. There I noticed the band aid on my ankles and I tried to recall if I was the one who applied it there but decided to let the thought slip. After the shower, I took a nap again, this time in my room. I woke up at around afternoon I assume, but I just stayed in bed for a while, staring at the white ceiling whilst caressing Piper's soft fur beside me.

I feel a lot better now unlike earlier, but the anxiety still remained. I didn't even drink that much and my tolerance was at its lowest if I have been really wasted that I can't recall everything, just fragments of the moment in the beach and nothing further than that.

I turned to my side and looked at the sleeping dog beside me, "I shouldn't worry about it, right? I'm sure I didn't make a fool of myself in front of him, right Piper?" Piper's ears perked up a little at the mention of his name but his eyes remained closed. I sighed then hugged him.

My attention on my dog was shifted to my phone when it beeped, announcing a new text message. I moved to get it on the bedside table and saw that Phyllis had texted me.

Hansen! You still alive in there???

I arched an eyebrow at the text. What good timing she have there.

I could ask the same thing to you, Nivans. You haven't contacted me since Piers had come back from work.

Phyllis Nivans:

Well, I know better than to disturb you spend some quality time with my cousin. And I have cram school, you know! I'm pretty jealous of you. L

Before I could type a reply, Phyllis replied again.

Btw, I heard that you came to a party. Tell me about it!

I rolled my eyes, locked my phone then put it back on the nightstand. What was there to tell? I can barely even recall anything. Before I could lay back down again, my phone rang. I groaned as I learned that Phyllis' name appeared on the caller ID, taking her nosiness to the next level. After three rejections, I'd figured that she wouldn't stop at nothing until I give her what she wants.

"I'll block you if you don't stop pestering me." I told her right after I answered her call.

"I'll just get a new number then." She chuckled, earning an eye roll from me again. "You sound like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Did you and Piers get into a fight?"

"No."

"Then why the foul mood?"

"You're annoying."

"Wow, you're becoming as grumpy as Piers. Is that the effect of living with him?"

"Bye."

"Okay, okay, I'll stop." She laughed, "But tell me about the party."

"It's not a party, it's a formal event."

"Isn't it the same?"

"It isn't." I sighed, then massaged the bridge of my nose, "It's the anniversary of the BSAA."

"Oh," She went quiet for a few seconds, might be sinking the information in her head. "I bet that it was boring, huh? For you?"

"Not really..." I trailed off, "The people were really pleasant and sociable and I did enjoy..."

"But?" She pressed, worried.

"I don't know..."

I told her everything that happened which wasn't much. It helped because I can think of the things I left out, and Phyllis can possibly help me remember as well. I started from the moment I entered the resort, the interactions with the people, the dinner, the drinking, going to the beach and the dance. After I had finished telling the story, Phyllis giggled.

"Hmm, seems like the perfect opportunity to do something reckless."

"What do you think I did?"

"I don't know. Tell Piers that you're in love with him or something?"

"What?" I exclaimed, sitting upright. And it caused Piper to wake up as well and look up at me in confusion. "I—Phyllis, you're being ridiculous!"

"It's just an example! Geez, calm down!" She laughed again, "But it's not entirely impossible."

"You're ridiculous." I repeated, my mind becoming a mess that I can't form an accurate description for her being absurd. I thought that she could help me remember but I was so wrong. She just made it a lot worse.

Phyllis was still laughing on the other line, and before she could say something stupid again, I quickly cut the call without warning and carefully listened to the song. Mrs. Osborne is blasting off her speakers again and coincidentally, it is also the same song that Piers and I danced to last night.

"Could this day get any worse?" I groaned then covered my face with my pillow to muffle the sound of the music but to no avail. It kept on mentally torturing me as if the music was rubbing it on my face the things that it witnessed that I couldn't even remember. I waited until the song ended but then it played again, and there I realized that it's on repeat! I groaned once again, I know I look like an idiot suffering with my period cramps. I sat up and turned my attention on my dog, a lightbulb suddenly lit up in my brain.

"Who wants to take a stroll around the dog park?" I wondered aloud, alerting the dog sleeping at the key word. Piper immediately became energetic, wagging his tail accompanied by his cute bark. I sighed inwardly, this is the only way I could get away with the mental torture of the song. I stood up and Piper jumped out of the bed, barking in the background as I searched for his leash. I didn't bother to brush my hair, I just tied it in a summer bun and changed into a more decent attire.

I carried Piper in my arms while we got out of my room, I stopped short like a burglar caught red-handed when I saw Piers sitting on the living room couch typing on his laptop, which I found strange. He usually does his businesses in his room where he can focus and nothing could distract him, like the fact that the apartment next to us was basically trying to wreck her eardrums.

As if sensing my presence, he craned his neck to the side to look at me. "Hey,"

"Hey, Piers," I greeted with an awkward wave of my hand.

He noticed the leash on Piper, and his gaze went back to my face. "You're going to walk Piper?"

I walked to the shoe rack and took out my sandals, "Uh... yeah."

"But you haven't eaten lunch yet."

"It's fine. I'm not hungry yet. Don't worry, I'll only be out for an hour."

"Cheryl, wait—" Before he could protest, I already closed the front door behind me. I heaved out a deep sigh, wincing at my attitude.

I know this isn't a big deal, I'm just overreacting. But I don't trust myself when I get drunk, especially that this is the first time. It's like I had unleashed another side of me I didn't know existed, and I was scared to know how Piers handled it. How am I supposed to not make this a big deal then?

Piper was basically running on the way to the dog park, but I kept our pace steady. Now that I think about it, he was getting bigger and heavier each day, and very energetic as well. When we arrived at the dog park, I released his leash so that he could be with his furry friends. I went to take a seat on the bench but then I noticed a familiar person sitting there as well. He was drinking a box of my favorite chocolate milk drink.

"Vincent," I called out, snapping him out of his trance. He seemed surprised at first but then he was quick to compose himself. I took note of his wrist which was fully healed now.

"Cheryl," He called back with an even tone. I nodded my head as a greeting to which he did the same. He moved to give me space so that I could take a seat beside him.

"I see that your wrist is fully healed now."

He scoffed, "Yeah, no thanks to you."

"What are you doing in here by the way?"

"Duh? I'm walking my dog."

"You don't have a dog."

He looked at me with a creased forehead, "How'd you say so?"

"You're not paying attention to the dogs. You're here to take a breather."

He spread his arms and legs around the bench, drained and frustrated. "Damn, I should know better than lie to a soldier's girl." He whispered to himself.

"What?"

"Nothing. Here," He took out a fresh new box of chocolate milk from his plastic bag and tossed it to me to which I successfully caught.

"Thanks," I said as I impale the straw on the cardboard box, taking a long sip of it.

"Whatever."

Vincent and I just sat there in silence, and I kept my attention on my dog who was playing with a yellow Labrador Retriever puppy. I smiled but then my thoughts automatically drifted back to Piers. And as a result, I couldn't help the deep sigh that escaped my mouth, which was also the same time that Vincent did the same. We stared at each other with the same confused expression.

"How's Roseanne doing?" I suddenly asked.

"Why do you care?" He scoffed.

"Just curious."

Vincent looked at me again, as if he was calculating something out of me. He looked away then sighed again, looking at something far away. "She's busy with law school."

At the subject of Roseanne, Vincent's sour face and tone of voice softened, as if the thought of her was enough to make him sad, angry and frustrated... but sad.

"But?" I pressed on.

"But... she has never been the same after that talk with Piers months ago. She wouldn't tell me what happened but it must have been pretty bad if she left in tears." I was shocked to hear that Piers made Roseanne cry but decided not to interject with his story, "You know, I could have kicked his ass. I wouldn't mind if I ended up with a broken wrist again after he made her cry but I understand him. Even if I do love her, I still wouldn't take her side. It's her fault... she did it to herself. And now she's mourning with her 'the one that got away.'" He said the last phrase with a quote sign using his fingers, chuckling sarcastically.

My mouth went ajar at the sight of Vincent's expression. He was wearing that same smug smirk he wore when I first met him but his eyes said otherwise. They were mourning, too, for his unrequited love for Rosie. I had never questioned Piers' past with Rosie because he said that it was history so there was no point in bringing it up. However, the past has appeared again and most likely wants to try to be his present again. I couldn't help the spark of curiosity, I couldn't help but think... what happened to Piers and Rosie? How come it's Rosie's fault that they drifted apart? Why does it feel like I am a part of this, too?

"What... happened?" I couldn't help but ask after a few moments of the deadpanned silence. Vincent smirked at that then shook his head.

"You can ask your boo instead. Because he's coming in 3... 2... 1..."

"Cheryl," I froze at the cold voice who called my name. Vincent snickered right beside me as I felt the blood drain my face. I looked up to see him glaring at me. Then his glare shifted to Vincent, who only offered his hands up as a sign of surrender, the smirk still intact on his face. Piers, then, grabbed my hand and yanked me up to my feet. Without a word, he walked away, pulling me behind him.

I called out to my dog and thankfully he ran to follow us out of the dog park. Piers was still pulling me, his grip on my hand firm as if he knew I'd break free.

"Piers, wait!" I exclaimed, but it was as if he didn't hear a word I've said. Shit, he's mad! "Piers, you're hurting me." I told him just so he could stop and let go of my hand, and he immediately did so. His grasp loosened until he let it go. Even if his back was facing me, I could still see the way his chest was heaving up and down as if he was restraining himself. "Why are you mad?"

At my question, he turned around with that same glare earlier, "Mad? Hell, I'm furious!" His voice boomed in the pavement, making a few bystanders' eyes shift to us. I'm having a bad case of déjà vu in here. "I thought that you're only gonna walk Piper? Why are you flirting with that guy?!"

My eyes widened along with my jaw falling to the floor, "What the hell are you talking about? I'm not flirting with him!"

"Yeah? Then why did you look like I just caught you in the act earlier, huh?!"

"I was surprised! I thought that you were working, I didn't expect that you'd follow me!"

"After what you said to me last night, after driving me crazy like that..." He ran a palm on his face in frustration. "Damn it, Cheryl! I thought that you love me?"

"HUH?" My eyes widened even more I'm afraid my eyeballs might pop out of its sockets. "P-Piers, how—what are you... w-when did I..."

To make matters even worse, Piers' gaze softened which didn't fail to melt my heart. I couldn't form a coherent thought and my feet felt like it was glued to the ground when he took a step towards me and gently held me by the forearms, keeping me steady. I looked up at him, his hazel eyes begging.

"I don't want you talking to other guys..." He muttered, looking so defeated. It makes me want to follow everything he says just so he wouldn't have to make that face.

"I'm not flirting..." I pouted then looked away, "You should know that by now. I don't even know how to."

"Good." His lips slowly curved into a smallsmile, "Stay with me, Cheryl... no matter what happens."