Note: will add quote soon!

Chikamharida's POV.

The door creaked and then, footsteps followed, slow, purposeful and forcing my body to turn and watch the intruder.

I'd gotten so used to my presence and silence— there wasn't anyone else who had the ability to upturn my solitude until Praise who I also lost and now, Adele who's got some secret rebellion against her mother. A familiar silhouette, brightened by the florescence from the hallway, pushed through the door in a flowing gown— probably worth my annual feeding —and low flat heels, and when she was fully in, she shut the door gently behind her.

The commander turned on the switch, the light from the window apparently unable to properly illuminate Adele's pink room. Her eyes scanned Adele who was beneath the covers and then they spread through the remaining of the room.

"You're here again," the commander said, looking into my eyes in the penetrating way she does. "I'm starting to think you wander every room looking for things to take. Or do you already have a shortcut to everywhere in here that we don't know of?"

"I'm your granddaughter's nanny ma'am, anywhere she is, I am," I said, trying my best to appear nonchalant, like I wasn't really fed up with the woman's drama.

"It's how you pretend to be clueless for me," the commander said, walking to Adele's bed, sitting and tapping her gently on her arm.

"Eleni," she called out in a voice soft enough to wrap a newborn. I watched from my place by the window, seeing no reason to interrupt a mother and her grandchild as Adele turned and opened her eyes to a bright room then realization dawned at her when she met her grandmother's patronizing stare.

From the smile on her grandmother's face, it seemed like I was the only one who heard Adele's low curse.

"Nana,"she said, yawning and recomposing herself. "You're here early."

"No, you woke late Eleni," the commander said. "I dressed up and after waiting for you to show up, which you didn't, I decided to come wait here till you got ready."

"Why don't you go rest in you room Nana, so I'll come meet you when I'm done."

"You and I both know you'll run away Eleni," the commander said with a soft smile. "And I don't trust your ...nanny to bring you to me. I'll wait here till you're done and your nanny wouldn't follow us to the church to attend service."

I caught Adele's gaze on me as she sat up. "Nana, she didn't steal your sand vase."

"You've got no proof on that Eleni."

"And you also don't have proof that she stole it Nana. I only hope that you'll apologize to her when you find out the real thief "

At Adele's words, the commander sent me one of those searing looks in replacement of her probably throttling me before ordering Adele to go get ready so that they could go to church early. It was like I could predict her next move because immediately Adele left, she came to me by the window, stood by my side so it appeared that we were both admiring the green scenery out.

I'd been clutching the window sill hard, but the commander's presence induced an extra strain on my muscles so it was almost like I wanted to break the wall.

I couldn't let her know how deeply her words affected me or how cruelly her hatred seared my skin. I remained silent, staring at the trees out, at the green hills and at the rapidly setting sun.

"I hate that you've bonded with my Eleni but at the same time I can't stop it. Eleni doesn't just defend anyone; she's like her father with that and that's how I know you are special. I still believe you stole my pot but for her sake I'm willing to give you a chance. You're relieved of your duties for the day— my granddaughter is with me, she's safe with me."

For the first time, I looked into her eyes without looking away and in there, I read something— it was as clear a day; it didn't need more illumination. I saw her yearn to protect her granddaughter; and a bit of anguish over things unknown to me.

"Thank you ma'am," I said, bowing lightly before taking my leave. I walked through the hallway of the right wing and at the main entrance, I paused a bit, debating on going to the swimming pool or straight to my room.

I walked to the swimming pool. Underneath my t-shirt and jeans were sport bra and stockings. I could swim in those as I'd been doing for long; they weren't exactly heavy and to me, they were currently more affordable than a pair of bikinis.

Unlike the last time I'd trekked the way, less staffs moved about, albeit silently almost like they'd perfected the art of blending into the shadows. Grey walls led further until I was underneath the glass roof of the pool. Low backed chairs sat on the tiles above the pool and behind the pool was a door.

The water moved gently, making those rippling sounds like there was someone in it. On the chair was a single towel, hanging lifeless and waiting to be used. My sandals slapped against the tiles till I was by one of the seats where I sat, and attempted to get them off.

I stood up and undressed, my back to the pool till a throat clearing made me turn and almost shit in my pants.

After my brain made clear my feelings for him, I was scared to face him but here he was, acting so...

"Care to join me?" He asked, staring at my eyes. Like the first time we'd met, his eyes were unburdened a bit, he had on a sly smile as he patted the water beside him.

Without thinking, I closed my eyes and inhaled, then opened them again to see him carefully watching me as I took slow steps to the pool, to the stair, and down till I was in, my hands clutching the poles of the stair.

He turned to face me, gaze assessing my form as I tried not to wriggle.

The silence was stiffling, none of us knowing what to expect or what to think. As if the sight before him was blinding, he shut his eyes and inhaled deeply. I saw it all, his long, wet lashes touching his cheeks, full lips, defined cheekbones. As if he knew that I was enjoying the view he open his eyes and turned away from me.

"I can't really swim," I said. "And here's too deep."

"I wouldn't let you drown, Harida," he said, his back still to me. Wrong, I was drowning in my feelings for him.

He moved away from me a bit and turned so that I could see his eyes; and his emotions were hard to pinpoint when he said, "My sister used to love the water... She taught me how to swim."

I remained quiet. He was opening up to me for the first time, interrupting him would be wrong in a lot of ways.

He swam closer so that he was before me and he gently held my hand and led me close to him, like I was some ceramic. "She'd hold my hand like this," he said. "Henry, stretch your hands forward like you're digging for gold!— she'd say; and I'd do it and actually see myself floating on water. You're free today, right?"

"Yeah."

"I want to take you out Harida; to make it up to you," he said. "I'm sorry for bursting up yesterday. It's just that talking about my sister is a tough subject and lately I've been feeling like you're trying to take her place in my heart. I lo- I - I'd leave you to go get ready."

Immediately he said that, my hands grew colder hinting that I was suddenly lacking a warmth I didn't know I needed.

"Take your phone with you," he said when I was out so that I nodded and watlzed out of the water leaving him behind and dripping water all the way to my room.

I couldn't tell if I was excited for our date or not.

*****

We'd just done my phone when Henry led us to a store they sold clothes.

"Take anything you like, I'd pay," he said and started waking towards the counter— a bench beside it, waiting and looking at me.

Not knowing what what to do, I picked what I thought were great fits; each time, the attendant said I looked great he'd say he didn't like it; meanwhile any dress I thought was hideous or the attendant thought was ugly, he perceived it beautiful.

When for the tenth time, he shook his head at a red gown that I loved, I said, "Are you purposely only saying yes to the ugly ones?"

"I meant what I said when I advised you to start dressing ugly, Harida. You may not understand the reason now but you will sooner."

I laughed and touched my forehead with my index finger so that the attendant looked at me like I was crazy. Just when I thought we were moving forward and he had to make something out of nothing.

"Mr Danle?" The attendant asked, a wary look focused on in me.

"You can leave us, Jessica," Henry said. "We want to discuss."

"It's not that sir. I just think it's nice to inform you earlier on that miss Kaa—"

"Henry! Why didn't you tell me that you'd be visiting?" A girlish voice said gently, waltzing through the door. She paused once she saw me standing, looking at the wall with a palm to my forehead, a hand on my waist; and Henry about walking towards me like the explainer he was ; and Jessica looking between us, confused, probably thinking I was mad.

Then her eyes widened and her mouth parted.

Henry and I both remained silent.

I was sure that she could tell how angry I was that he took me out on an apology date just to start annoying me again; and in my case, anger was very readily connected to hurt.

"Tell your brother," I told the lady, "-that I'm not putting on those clothes he's buying, so he shouldn't bother. Besides, nice of you teaching him how to swim," I said, ready to leave.

She was the same lady I'd seen him with at MayPsych. Same one I'd gotten strung over. Such a beauty.

"He's not my brother," she said.

"Well, that's not my business anymore," I said.

At her words, I looked at Henry who had a hand to his head as if wanting to wipe all his frustrations away. He was quick to anger but I was faster. Having already seen a stable job which should be paying me a million annually, I didn't need to put up with anyone's bullshit. Just work and save and leave taut atmospheres apparently.

I was outside, leaning against Henry's car, waiting. The sun was temperate, illuminating the whole of Gestro market. Shops were scattered about, each with their own designs that if you were looking for one in particular and you'd never been there you may get lost.

Henry was relieved when he walked out and saw me. Did he think I'll run away? He got in the car and unlocked the passenger door for me to do the same.

Silence ensued, the static type that threatened to strangle those involved.

"I know what you are thinking," he said.

"What am I thinking? I swear I don't know, please enlighten me."

"She's not my sister and she's not my girlfriend. I didn't lie to you."

"Just drive Henry," I said. "I need to be home in time for when Adele arrives."

He nodded and started driving. I noticed how we were following a different route but because I wasn't quite conversant with the way yet, I remained quiet. That was until he pulled up into MayPsych's parking lot.

"What are we doing here?"

"Let's go," he said. "Follow me if you want answers."

We walked side by side to the front of the building and met same clerk who attended to Adele and I. She was surprised to see me and the fact that I even brought company.

"Mr Danle, I see you brought company," she said passing us both visitors badge and not bothering to lead the way so that I had to depend only on Henry and whatever he was about to show me.

Nothing could prepare me for what happened next.