Chapter 16: Chapter 16

"What are you doing here, Lieutenant?" I asked him. He was wearing his military uniform and holding a stem of white rose. I am pretending that I don't see that beautiful flower.

"Visiting you. You just let me court you yesterday and now I think you forget it already," he said with a playful smile.

I rolled my eyes. "What do you want? Remember, you are still courting Sonia. You can only court me when we are alone or in an isolated place."

He nodded then handed me the flower. I raised a brow, how could he?

"That's why I am asking you if can give it to Sonia for me instead. She went out of town, and I am afraid that I can still have a chance to say goodbye to her. Can you do it?" Now, he is smirking.

I raised a brow. "Are you trying to make me jealous?"

"Why? Are you jealous already?" His smile annoys me.

I looked at the white rose and got it into his hands. "You are assuming too much. I am giving it to her, you don't have to worry. Where are you going, by the way?"

He fixed his uniform. "The City Council invited us for a lunch. All the soldiers in our province who undergo the training like me will receive an appreciation award. I wish I can bring you with me."

I gasped. "You know, you can't. You can bring Sonia if you want."

He shook his head. "But she was not you."

I was speechless for a minute. We both let the silence reign before he finally spoke.

"I need to go." He looked at the flower I was holding. "That is really for you," he said before he finally left.

I can't help but smile. I smelled the scent of the flower and I felt my heart skipped a beat. Then suddenly the voice of Grandma Sonia echoed to my ears.

'Don't fall in love with him.'

I sighed then picked the flower's petals and put them in the diary. I sighed once again, so far, I am making no progress. This frustrates me. Henry didn't like Sonia; I can't even have access or any information about the Dizons. And the worst is, I think Henry is really into me. This suck!

"You've pouting for an hour. If you don't stop your mouth will be as long as an elephant's nose." Cristel laughed.

"Don't laugh at me. I am stress." I sighed again.

She just smiled; she looks happy today. I wonder why. I came closer to her.

"You seem so happy. Why is that?" I tickled her once.

"Stop, you are just lonely," she answered.

I smirked. "Really? You are too happy for me. Your smile is different. You are not supposed to be happy because Alfredo didn't come over because of that lunch. Did he promise something to you?"

Her face turned red. "Uhm, yeah. He wants us to have a date later after their lunch." She bit her lips.

"Oh my! That's why you are blushing the whole day." I playfully smacked her arm.

"It is just a friendly date. It is not special, but it is for me. It was a dream come true; a childhood wishes that is now finally fulfilled. I am very happy, Aliyah. I can't just explain the overflowing emotion right now in my chest. I can only show it to my smiles." He blushed even more.

I can't be fully happy for her because I knew that they will not last any longer. My grandma will capture my grandpa's heart and I don't know what will happen to Cristel. I want to protect her, but how?

I just want to stay in the house that night but Cristel can't have her night alone, her parents are very strict. They won't let her leave alone with Alfredo. Although, they knew the young soldier, well, he is still a man. I am the third wheel, for now, it's alright, I am very used to it.

"We can just let you be lonely, Aliyah," Alfredo said then Henry came out from the dark. I hide my smile.

He went near me and he was holding again a stem of white rose. I know that it is for me. Am I assuming too much?

"Hi," he greeted me.

Alfredo and Cristel leave us already and went to the nearest bench. Henry and I standing in the dark part of the park where no post lights are standing. He cleared his throat when I made no response.

"For you again." He gave me the rose. I gladly accepted it.

"We can't date," I just said while looking at the flower.

He came closer to me, closer that I can already smell his minty breath. "We can, my Aliyah."

I shook my head. "Don't call me like that. I-I don't want it." I lowered my eyes.

He chuckled softly. "Alright, I was just trying to call you mine then I remembered I am still courting you."

I bit my lower lip. "You belong to Sonia, not me."

I heard him sigh. I saw how he nodded his head before holding my wrist and pull me into the middle of the dark. I thought it was just trees and it freaked me out on that thoughts, but I saw a lamp and a picnic blanket on the ground under the night sky. The moon and stars are giving us extra lights.

"Wow," I said in amusement.

"Do you like it?" he asked me.

I nodded. He let me go near it, I was speechless in some seconds. Even in my time, no one gave me an effort like this. This is heart-warming.

"I thought you wouldn't like it. I am thinking of ways on how I can date you, privately, without anyone seeing. I want to take you to a fancy restaurant, but we can't. And that is why we are here right now." He kissed the back of my hand.

I was shocked at what he did. I immediately pulled my hand back. It not just right.

"I'm sorry," he said.

I stared at him for some minute. His eyes are twinkling because of the starlight. His perfectly shaped nose down to his soft lips. I blushed.

I looked at the moon, I suddenly remember my family. Do they miss me? Are they looking for me already? Of course.

"The moon is very mysterious," Henry said.

I agreed. "But it is very beautiful."

"Just like you. Mysterious yet so beautiful. I wish I can have you," he said.

My breathing became irregular. "You can have me for now, just this night."

If I said those words in my time, they will probably mean differently. But as for Henry, my gentleman, it is a very sweet word.

"Just by holding you like this, I feel contented. Just you and the moon together with the stars, you are my peace. I know that I am very fast, but when it comes to you, I can't wait any longer. I am always afraid you will slip away, and when I blinked without holding you, I will lose you." He pulled me closer to him.

We are now sitting on the picnic blanket; his left arm was on my waist while his right hand is holding my hand. We are very close. His warmth is protecting me from the cold breeze of night.

"When you get older, you will understand me better. The time will come that I will need to go and left you. You will ask why on the first day but as time goes by, you will fully understand why I am doing these all. In the short period that I am with you, you became very important to me. The only way I can show how much I treasure you is to save you from the heartaches and grief you will encounter. I treasure you, Lieutenant Henry. Believe me," I said while looking into his eyes.