XVIII - Home Alone

It has been more than 3 months since Nerissa joined TAPOPS. She has marvelously completed many missions, whether with Kaizo or alone. And she is gaining popularity, too. They all looked up to her. But, although the two are busy with their duties, they still try their best to keep exchanging words of affection. Make out if they had a chance.

Recently, Nerissa has given 2 weeks of vacation by Commander Koko Ci and Admiral Tarung as thanks for her hard work. That vacation is starting today. However, she will return to Earth without Kaizo. He will follow her on the third day of her vacation because he has one more mission left. The Kebenaran Spaceship is departing soon enough. And, here, the couple is making out in her room. Good thing the door is locked.

"You better hurry up... finishing up your work after this," Nerissa says while kissing and hanging onto him, "Got it?" She blushes.

Kaizo pins her on the wall and says, "I'll make my best, love." He felt her kissing his neck deliciously, "Besides, I'll catch up with you in a few days. Surely you could wait for me, right?"

She stops kissing his neck and then stares at his crimson red eyes for a moment, making his eyes say what went wrong.

"What?" He questions with a heavy breath.

"Think you could even hold yourself not to kiss me?" She teases him, "Let me inform you something, Captain Kaizo. There's not a single day of you not seduce me."

His eyes widen at her words. Those words feel like it bewitches him. His heart feels like it just skipped a beat and swayed by her. He tries to hold his urge to smile. In the end, he laughs out loud, making her annoyed.

She pinches his nose in annoyance, "D-Don't you laugh at me!"

He rests his head on her shoulder and smiles, "Oh, Nerissa. Did you cast a spell on me or something? You're making me fall for you more."

"I'm being serious here! You did this EVERY TIME! Like, you dragged me out of nowhere, just to kiss me! You teased me on a mission whenever you had a chance!" She complains, "Where was that cold-blooded, deadly serious, and arrogant Legendary Space Rebel, huh?! I don't see him!"

He still chuckles his heart out, then gently puts her down, "That is because I love you, Nerissa." He smirks, "Besides, there's nothing harm for me to show my affection for the woman I love, right?"

"Well, at least do it when the timing is right!" She pinches his cheek, "What if your brother finds out?!"

"Fang?" He asks in confusion, "Oh, right, Fang."

"You haven't told him, right?"

"Not yet."

Kaizo then comes to the realization that his relationship hasn't leaked yet. His own little brother still hasn't known about this. They both worried about what Fang would think if he found out that his brother had a romantic relationship with the Vice-Captain. Thinking about it almost let them feel down.

He questions, "Have you told anyone about us?"

"Yaya, Ying, and Shielda." Nerissa answers.

"When?"

"Remember the day I peeked on you when you were in the gym?" She questions, I got caught red-handed by those three. So I asked them to keep things about us a secret."

He sighs and breathes, "Let's just hope the best of them."

"That's what I thought."

The couple was startled when they heard a knock on Nerissa's door. Kaizo quickly pins her to the wall, and Nerissa shuts his mouth with both of her palms. Then, a feminine voice calls her name from the outside.

"Nerissa? Nerissa!"

"Y-Yes, Yaya?!" She says half-aloud, "What is it?!"

Ying says, "Our ship is going to depart soon! Best you hurry up! The others are waiting for you!"

"You two go ahead. I'll catch up with you all." Nerissa responds.

After Nerissa said that, she heard their walking steps getting far away. Kaizo and Nerissa let out a huge sigh. Not long after that, she laughed nervously, and so did Kaizo. His forehead rests on hers. She senses the tip of his nose touching her skin. They savored every second of it before her departure.

"That's my cue," Nerissa speaks.

"Just," Kaizo cuddles her and speaks, "Take care of yourself when you're on Earth."

Nerissa feels the tenderness in his voice. He adores her. That's it. Who would ever know that the so-called Legendary Space Rebel could be this gentle and loving? She looks deep into his crimson red eyes. Nerissa gently places her fingers on his face.

"I love you, Kaizo." She whispers.

Kaizo feels her breath against his lips. He smirks and moves his head closer to her.

He gently whispers, "I know..."

***

The Kebenaran Spaceship travels the vast galaxy, heading to Earth. Captain Papa Zola sets the fastest route. Unfortunately, Fang didn't join them because he had to stay in Tempur-A for an important matter. The kids have worked so hard for this vacation, and, of course, they deserved it.

"Get ready, kids!" Papa Zola exclaims to inform us, "We're almost there!"

The kids are thrilled, "Yeay!"

"We finally made it!" Boboiboy comments.

Nerissa then speaks, "About damn time."

The hyperspace launch ends in the solar system's third inner planet, Earth. Nerissa couldn't believe she finally got home. She wishes to return to her homeland, maybe several days later. Everyone is thrilled and excited to face their loved ones.

Suddenly, the ship's monitor screen shows Admiral Tarung and Commander Koko Ci.

"Captain!" Tarung calls, "Have you arrived?"

Then, Papa Zola responds, "Yes, we have, Admiral!"

The kids and Nerissa salute the monitor in honor. Wanted to thank their two seniors.

"Uh... Thank you for granting us this vacation, Admiral, Commander!" Boboiboy thanked them.

"You are welcome. You all do deserve it. Have a good rest." Commader responds, "And, Vice-Captain Nerissa?"

Nerissa salutes, "Yes, Commander?"

"You have successfully completed most of the difficult and dangerous missions in TAPOPS. With this, we can conclude that you are equal to Captain Kaizo. We would like to thank you for your service!" Commander says.

"Take your time to rest, Vice-Captain Nerissa." Admiral Tarung advises.

Nerissa thanks them with respect, "Thank you, Commander, Admiral. And you are welcome."

"Prepare to land!" Papa Zola exclaims in excitement.

The spaceship penetrates the thermosphere, the mesosphere, the stratosphere, and the troposphere. It's already dusk there. The vehicle safely lands on the ground, and the engines are slowing down and stopping entirely. The boarding ramp opens up. Boboiboy and his gang rush to their parents.

"Grandpa!" Boboiboy calls his grandfather and hugs him.

"Boboiboy!"

"Appa!" Gopal calls his father.

Yaya calls, "Mom!"

Ying calls her mother, "Mama!"

"Yaya!" Mrs. Wawa hugs her daughter.

"Ying!" Aunty Yang calls her daughter's name and hugs her.

Mr. Kumar opens his arms to greet his son, "Oh, Gopal! My son! I missed you so mu-"

But, unexpectedly, Gopal rushes past his father, leaving him slightly heartbroken and shocked. Why was Gopal ignoring his dad?

"I miss Amak's spicy goat curry!" Gopal rushes to his home.

"Hey, you brat! Stop right there!" Mr. Kumar begins to chase his son, "GET BACK HERE!"

Papa Zola jumps in the sky and lands with a big smile, "Oh, darling!"

Nobody.

He was shocked, "Where... where are my wife and the little girl of justice?!"

Tok Aba responds, "Your darling wife is at home. Here," He hands him a paper of lists, "Your wife told you to get all these. Apples, turmeric powder, and a bag of rice."

Papa Zola simply shrugs the paper and complains, "Hmph! She's not even here to welcome me! Now, she dares to ask Justice to get the groceries?! IN YOUR DREAMS!!"

Tok Aba talks to his phone, "Yes, he's here. He just said, "In your dreams!"."

"Oh, did he?"

Papa Zola could hear the pissed tone in his wife's voice. He feels dread for his wife. Scared of being yelled at when Papa returns home, the big man decides to accept her requests. He quickly rushes to the grocery store.

"Apples! Tumeric powder! Bag of rice! Apples! Tumeric powder! Bag of rice!" He runs in fear.

Nerissa walked down the boarding ramp and saw everyone embracing their loved ones. As she expected, nobody was there to welcome her. Disappointing, indeed. And, it makes her feel a little bit sad, watching her younger friends with their own relatives. She inhales the fresh dusk air and exhales as she accepts the harsh fact.

Boboiboy is concerned about her and says, "Nerissa?"

Nerissa glances at the sound source, "Hm? What?"

"You don't have any relatives here?" He asks.

"I came here alone when I left the other dimension. So, that explains it." Nerissa answers, "I'll just go back home."

"Ah, I see..." He nods, "Alright, then. Be careful on your way back home, Nerissa."

"Bye-bye, Nerissa!" The crews wave their hands at her.

"Bye, guys."

The kids watch her back as she struts to her home. No one welcomed her. Fortunately, they understood the feelings she was having right now.

"Poor her. She must be so sad right now." Yaya says.

"You're right. I bet Nerissa would be delighted if only Captain Kaizo was with her." Ying comments.

Boboiboy and Ochobot overheard their conversation.

"Captain Kaizo?" Ochobot asks.

Boboiboy also asks the same thing, "What are you two talking about?"

Yaya and Ying flinched and quickly responded, "Uh... Nothing important."

On her way home, Nerissa saw a giant billboard. She halts her movements to take a look at it. It shows some kind of a group band wanted to perform. What's exciting about it is that the group band is one of her favorites, The Blitz.

"They have a tour?!" She gasps, "To celebrate their new hot singles, Dance in the Dark." Nerissa reads it out loud.

"Performing tomorrow?! Grandia, take a quick shot! Now!"

"Done, my lady."

Grandia, as her earring, takes a quick snapshot at the billboard. That way, she could remind herself of the performance tomorrow. She's being all excited and fangirling. Feeling like a total school girl.

***

Nerissa opened the door of her house, and it was totally dark. She's home. The girl could sniff the sharp scent of a 3-month inhabited house.

She sighed heavily, "Home sweet home, I guess."

The lonely girl puts off her heeled boots on the shoe rack beside the door. The house is now controlled by Grandia and Nerissa once again.

"Lights on, Grandia." She commands.

When all the lights turned on, Nerissa couldn't believe her eyes what she had just seen.

"W-Wha?! WHAT IS THIS?!" Nerissa stutters.

Her house is so shiny. It sparkles. That's uncommon, right? She lived alone and was not available for 3 months because Captain Kaizo had taken her to the outer galaxy. Is there something odd?

"What happened here?! I left Earth for 3 months! This house should be dirty as HELL!" Nerissa shrilled.

Suddenly, Nerissa thought about the worst thing she could ever think. The thought of it makes her shiver.

"D-Don't tell me... TRESPASSER?! I've never had any housebreakers before!" She worries.

Grandia then comments, "I'm afraid that is not it, my lady."

"Then what is it?!" Nerissa shrieks.

"According to the house's hidden surveillance, there were no burglars. But it was His Royal Highness, Prince Neil." Grandia informs.

She walks around the house, still disbelieving, "What was that now? Neil came here?!"

"Yes, my lady. He has come here more often since you were in the galaxy. Along with Lady Freya, Renn, Silas, Braylon, and an unknown girl." Grandia informs.

She ruffles her hair in stress, "Ugh... Does he have to do that?"

Nerissa decided to start a house inspection. First, she checks her own room. Her clothes are all clean and flower-scented. Her bed is still where it is, and her makeup and skincare essentials are untouched. Her bathroom is all squeaky clean. The guest suite is also clean. She had a feeling someone slept there.

Next, she checks the kitchen. The electric stove is clean and the oven. To her surprise, the fridge is filled with new beverages and fresh ingredients. She also couldn't believe they even restocked the whole pantry. Usually, Nerissa keeps things in her house organized, but she appreciates their effort to keep things as organized as she did. The dining table is already set with dark amenities.

She sits on her comfortable sofa with hands and legs crossed. She notices a chess game on the coffee table. She never even had chess. The living room is shining, shimmering, and splendid. It hurts her eyes.

"What do you think, my lady?" Grandia asks for her opinion.

She rubs her nose bridge and answers, "At least they restocked the pantry. That's all I care about."

In 10 minutes, Nerissa takes a quick shower. Then she makes a bowl of simple fried rice with a spicy omelet. Nerissa eats it on the long dining table. Whenever she eats something on that table, she feels alone. Like, she's having dinner with nobody, probably some ghosts. The house is so silent. She could only hear the clock ticking. She wished to imagine having dinner with Kaizo, just the two. Or maybe a dinner party with Boboiboy and his gang. It would be lively.

"What am I doing here? I'll just eat it while watching some shows."

***

She turns off the television and then rests on the sofa. She just finished watching The Walking Dead, Season 5, Episode 8.

"Man... That episode was so unexpected. I kinda shipped Daryl and Beth. But, damn, poor Maggie."

"My lady, it is now 10 at night. I just want you to take a rest." Grandia advises her.

Nerissa speaks, "Well, shit. Time flies so fast."

She rests on her bed, only wearing a white shirt and black underwear. The room feels empty with her all alone.

"I wonder how Kaizo is doing. I hope he's alright."

She is concerned about her lover. The house lights dim, and Nerissa closes her eyes to end the day.