Chapter 16

XVI. Realize

"ALRIGHT, MS. HANSEN, you're free to go." The assistant nurse drawled as she finally secured the bag full of my blood. She turned her back to me, labelling the syringe and segregated it from the other syringes of blood. "Please refrain from engaging in strenuous activities for the time being."

I breathed out a sigh for the fifth time, biting on my lower lips to construct the question I was meaning to ask since I'd received the call that I've been summoned by the labs once again. But it was only February, and my annual blood test usually takes place by the end of May. This is the first time that they had broken their record, which made me suspect that something was up.

"Miss..." I called out, but she was still busy scribbling on some piece of paper regarding information about my blood. I wanted nothing more than for her to turn her back and face me so that I could finally get out of here.

One thing that I'd always despised about this place was the smell of citrus air freshener that fails miserably to muffle the strong scent of chemical and metal. I exhaled a slight groan and leaned on my seat, growing impatient each passing moment. She completely ignored me until she stuffed some double-sided tape on the syringe then put it on the syringe. When she was finished with her task, she turned around to flick her dull eyes on me.

"What is it, Ms. Hansen?" She spoke through her face mask, but I could sense the edge in her voice.

"May I ask why was I called so soon? Um, my blood test is usually held by the end of May—"

I was cut off when she shook her head, "I'm sorry, but I don't have the authorization to give out specific information."

I prevented the incoming urge to wince. Instead, I just thanked the moody nurse who obviously isn't fond of her job and stood up to leave the room. When I cut through the white building, I went straight to the car and put the address of my destination in the GPS. I settled my bag and seatbelt before driving away from the place I hated the most.

I pulled out into a parking space and just found myself getting out of my car and climbing into the BSAA headquarters steps. Passing through the ingress, I reached for the reception desk and there were two women typing hastily on their computer. The woman in front of me lifted her head to look at me, offering a trademark polite smile, her red-stained lips uttered, "Good afternoon, Ma'am. Welcome to the BSAA Headquarters. My name is Margaret. How may I help you?"

"Um..." I wiped my sweaty palms on my flowy skirt, already thinking that this is a bad idea. "I'm actually looking for Piers... Piers Nivans? Do you know where I can find him?"

The tapping on the other keyboard ceased, and the attention of the woman beside Margaret suddenly shifted to me. She raised her perfectly plucked eyebrows at me in question and I could see her scanning me from head to toe, and she didn't seem to care whether I noticed it or not.

"One moment, please. Let me just check if Lt. Nivans is within the premises." Margaret smiled as she typed on her computer, but the other woman's gaze—more like glare is fixated on me. "Can I get a name, please?"

"Cheryl. Cheryl Hansen."

"Do you have an appointment?" The woman asked me, and I looked at the nametag bearing on the left side of her chest said Carrie.

I shook my head, "No." Well, scheiße. That didn't cross my mind.

"A pass, perhaps?" I shook my head again, the glint of hope I have suddenly fading.

"Carrie," Margaret called, her smile still intact but her voice had a hint of warning, "Stop." She mumbled to her coworker, to which the former rolled her eyes on.

"I just want to know why she wants to see Piers." Carrie mumbled back, and she didn't even bother to hide the hostile attitude towards me. She was openly glaring at me and if not for the counter separating us, I could already imagine her pink fingernails gouging my eyes out.

Margaret took a deep breath then turned to look at me, "Ma'am, please proceed—"

"No appointment, no pass means you can't see him."

"Carrie—"

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but that's the protocol. You can't see any of the agents here unless you are given the clearance."

"The Lieutenant has already given her clearance, Carrie," Margaret interjected rather sharply, "Please proceed to the fifth floor, Ma'am, the room by the end of the hall is Lt. Nivans' office." My head was darting left and right with their contradicting statements I was becoming confused on whose instructions I'm supposed to follow.

But that hit the last nerve of Carrie, "With all due respect, Ms. Cheryl, the guy you want to see is my boyfriend."

My mouth gaped open at the statement, looking her with an incredulous look. I don't know what was more shocking: a woman in the front desk—from the hospitality industry openly being rude and delusional to a guest, or her claiming Piers to be her boyfriend, "What?"

"Carrie!" Margaret exclaimed in a controlled voice.

"I know people like you. You're not the first woman to ever walk in without an appointment and requested for Piers. Tell me—"

"What's going on in here?"

I turned around to see a rather familiar group of men on their way inside the building, and after a few moments of racking my brain I finally remembered where I've seen them.

"Carl," I called.

"I'm just asking this nice lady to leave since she doesn't have any business in here."

"Well, that's not what it looked like to me. Margaret?"

Margaret and Carrie tried to explain the petty situation to Carl until it turned into a heated argument. I was left there standing with a glazed over expression. And there I go, ended up causing trouble yet again. I just wanted to bring some lunch to Piers... is that too much to ask?

"Well, clearly, she's harassing a guest yet again. She's obviously willing to lose her job just for this." I heard Andy said, shaking his head in disappointment.

Ben snickered, "This was Carrie's last chance, though. If the Lieutenant hears about this, I bet your ass she'll be fired right on the spot."

"Why?" The unfamiliar guy interjected, looking over to me with those curious, innocent eyes. "What does the Lieutenant got to do with this?"

"Oh yeah, you're still a trainee. Figures." Ben chuckled then their attentions flicked to me. I shifted my weight on my other foot, feeling awkward at the sudden attention.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Hansen," Ben greeted with a polite smile, "Here for the Lieutenant, we assume?"

I nodded, then darted my gaze at the youngest cadet, who only flinched and blushed in reaction.

"I'm sorry about our receptionist. I promise you this doesn't represent the BSAA's standing. We'll make sure nothing like this happens again." Andy sighed.

"It's alright. It's understandable, I guess." I shrugged nonchalantly as I crossed my arms across my chest.

"Macauley," Carl called.

"Sir?" The young man reacted rather swiftly.

"Escort Ms. Hansen to Lt. Nivans' office, will you?"

The cadet stiffened at the mention of Piers, and I saw evident panic in his eyes. I decided to pipe in, "You really don't have to—"

"Yes, Sir." Then he turned his eyes to me, "Please follow me, Ma'am."

Macauley then took the lead, turning on heels and going straight for the elevators. As we waited for the metal box to go to its destination, I took a great look at the young cadet from my peripheral vision, who was biting on his lower lip while his gaze lingered on the lit numbers, obviously nervous about something.

I couldn't help but ask, "Are you okay?"

He jumped a little at my question, "Huh? Yes, of course!" His pitch was higher than usual. Really nervous, alright.

"You know, you don't have to escort me, Lt. Macauley."

"I got a direct order from my superiors, Ma'am, so I'd have to oblige. And you can call me Finn. I'm still a trainee, not a lieutenant... yet so uh... yeah."

I nodded, "I'm Cheryl," I took my hand out for a handshake to which Finn immediately grabbed and shook it firmly.

"Nice to meet you—"

The elevator dinged followed by the doors opening. Both of our eyes widened as it revealed the reason I was here in the first place. Piers' mouth gaped open in surprise before his eyes flicked on our hands which were still in the process of a handshake. His brows furrowed, then his deadpanned gaze shifted back to Finn, which made him snap back to reality and drop my hand like he had touched fire. He straightened his posture and offered his commanding officer a salute.

"Carry on." Piers drawled, hazel eyes narrowing at the cadet, who was subtly shaking like a leaf.

"Piers," I called out, cutting the thick tension between them, and his expression softened at the sight of me. Finn and I exited the elevators because a group of agents were about to use it, passing by and giving Piers a greeting. He must have been really well-respected here.

"I was just about to fetch you and take you out for lunch."

"Ah, there's no need to go out. I cooked some pasta and thought that I'd bring some for you. Did I arrive at the right time?"

Piers smiled, "Of course." Then he flicked a gaze back at Finn, his smile turning into a mild snide, and it also made my eyes follow back to his tensed stature, "What are you doing here, rookie? Aren't you supposed to be training at the shooting range by now?"

"Uh... yes, Sir. I just got orders to escort Ms. Hansen to your office."

"Alright. You did your job. You may go now."

"Yes, Sir."

Finn was about to excuse himself when Piers stopped him, "Oh, and one more thing," He trailed off in a sharp voice, "I'm going to run a set of military training drills later, so be sure to be prepared."

Finn tensed up even more, "Y-yes, Sir."

"Thanks, Finn." I smiled at him, and Finn glanced at Piers before nodding back at me, forcing a smile.

"You're welcome, Ma'am."

We watched as Finn disappeared in the elevators before Piers led the way to his office, "Hey Piers, aren't you being too hard on the guy?"

He snorted, "Of course not."

"Yes, you are. The guy was practically shaking like a leaf because of your death glare."

He slid a hand on the small of my back, "Well, in my defense, the only way to toughen the rookies up is by a little towel-snapping."

I rolled my eyes, then swatted his hand on my waist, "Oh, right."

Piers held the door open for me and led me inside. His office was neither small nor big, it was spacious enough for one person to occupy. Several documents were piled up on his desk along with a closed laptop in the center. Piers caught my attention when he spoke behind me.

"Here, take a seat." He gestured towards the couch, and I went over to set up our lunch. I stared at him hard, noticing the evident stress and bags under his eyes.

"You look tired. Long day?" I commented as I gave him the lunch box.

Piers gratefully took the container from me and proceeded to eat his share, "Yeah, but nothing I can't handle I assure you. And besides, you're just the one that I've needed to see so that I can work very efficiently." He gave me a cheeky smile, to which I rolled my eyes on but smiled right after.

I took a bite of my food, "Flirt."

Piers just chuckled in amusement, "So what about you? How'd your day go?"

It made me stop to think of the strange encounter back at the labs, and there I voiced out my thoughts.

"I got summoned again," I started, then lifted the sleeve of my shirt to show the bandage on my arm, "I felt something off, because the labs usually remind me a few days before my annual blood test and they inform my legal guardian about the procedures. But then suddenly, they called me and asked me to come to them on the double. It just didn't feel right."

"Because it was an emergency," Piers said, then he sighed, "Sorry if I neglected to tell you about this. There's been an array of BOWs appearing in different parts of the world, reports stated that they all possess symptoms that are not present in any of the briefs. It can pose threat to global security; like the new type of virus that we've dealt back in Singapore." Piers smiled at my bewildered expression, "Cheryl, the WHO are grasping every option to test every antibodies we got for vaccines... which is still very limited." He explained.

My lips gaped open for a moment before I decided to reply, "I see."

He set his half-empty container aside to grab ahold of my hand, "Don't worry."

I smiled, "I'm not. I know that as long as you're here, the world will be kept safe."

"Damn right." Then suddenly, his gaze went down on my lips, "You have some sauce on your lips." I blinked in embarrassment then searched for some tissues but to no avail. I was about to wipe it off with the back of my hand when Piers stopped me, "Let me take care of it."

I was about to ask how he was going to do that when he suddenly leaned forward and brushed his tongue on my upper lip, rendering me lost in a daze. I stared into his hazel eyes like the dumbfounded wreck I was, and there I suddenly lost the appetite for the pasta and now crave for his lips on mine. Piers might have been thinking the same as well for he leaned again and in a flash, our lips were interlocked once again.

We were kissing passionately when we both heard a knock on the door. I quickly pushed Piers before the door cracked open and it revealed Ben holding a folder of paperwork. The intruder's eyes went from me then to Piers, forehead creasing slowly, voicing his thoughts.

"Did I... interrupt something?"

"No." Piers and I said almost too quickly, trying hard not to make it show that we were still catching our breaths.

"What do you want?" Piers asked in an irritated manner, and I bit my lower lip to suppress the smile of amusement at his frustration. At the same time, I faced away from Ben because I don't want my face to give away what we did just a few seconds ago.

"I just dropped by to give these papers to you, and we also have a meeting with the higher-ups at the conference room in fifteen minutes."

"Yeah, okay, I'll be there."

"Okay, I'm leaving." Ben said with an amused tone of voice, and then turned on his heels to leave. I thought that was the end of it, but he turned around as if he had forgotten something, "Oh, and your lipstick is smudged by the way, Ms. Hansen."

"Huh?" I shot my head up in panic.

"And I never thought that you wear lipsticks, too, Sir." Ben teased with an amused smirk. I looked back at Piers and there I saw a hint of rosy lipstick stain on his lower lip, making my cheeks flare up in sheer embarrassment.

Piers mocked a laugh, "So? Now scoot, Airhart!"

Ben laughed before closing the door right behind him. And as soon as we were left alone once again, Piers and I looked at each other before we broke into a fit of laughter.

By December 2012, Piers took me out to a place he'd figured that I wanted to see. He drove for about an hour, chatting amiably about anything under the sun. I kept on asking him where we're going but he would only smile and tell me, 'Just wait and see.' But I didn't expect that we'd pull out of the beach resort which was where the BSAA event was held over a year ago. I flicked a gaze at Piers, who was killing the engine of his car and met my confused gaze.

"What are we doing here?" I asked.

"We're gonna watch the sunset."

"Okay... but why here?"

The corner of his lips lifted, "Come on. Let's get out."

Even though I was still confused as hell, I just obeyed and followed him out of the car. He marched toward the deserted beach and stopped by a huge rock which can be used as a makeshift chair, and it also had a good view of the setting sun and the sun-kissed calm waves of the ocean.

But then I stopped short when I recognized this set-up, this was the same place where we've danced to my childhood song and said things only he can recollect. My heart thumped faster, anticipating for what's to come next.

"This is the place where we..." I breathed.

"I thought that you'd already forgotten, since you were drunk that night."

I pouted then rolled my eyes, "Oh, don't remind me."

I took a seat at the rock and just stared at the setting sun, which was a beautiful and relaxing sight. We took in the comforting silence and just enjoyed a moment of peace, leaning against Piers' shoulder and when he held me I knew right then that I was in the safest place in the world.

"This place is very special to me," Piers suddenly said and I only hummed in response, encouraging him to continue, "Because I've realized something that night."

"What is it?" I couldn't help but mutter, breathing softly.

"When I danced with her, I realized that my heart would belong to her forever."

My heart stopped at the statement, and I lifted my head to look intently at Piers, my lips lifting into a smile at the heartfelt words, "Me, too."

Piers smiled back, and then he held the locket hanging from my neck closer to my heart, "Every time I'm away and you miss me, I want you to remember that I'll always be with you. I want you to remember how much I love you."

I don't know why but tears started to brim my eyes. I should be happy, right? But somehow all I could feel was fear. Fear of the thought that he will go somewhere very far away again, somewhere I wouldn't be able to reach, a place that could change the course of our lives forever. I will never get used to this... If only everybody knows you like I do, Piers, then youʼd be safe all the time... just like how I feel safe in your arms.

“Cheryl,” Piers smiled, as if sensing my devastated thoughts, “I'm leaving for Edonia tomorrow.”

I nodded in understanding, "Okay..." I kissed him one last time. It tasted so bittersweet. He will leave again. But wherever he might be, he will always have my heart with him.