Chapter 6

"Qian"

Is he that upset with me? All I did was ask him. It had been days and even if I want to deny it, the fact that I haven't seen him in days were starting to annoy the hell out of me.

"Qian Harriett"

Is that something to be upset with? Or is this one of his ways for me to open up a conversation with him? Because if it is, he was making it so damn hard.

"Ehem Ms. Ramirez"

"Leonel?"

I turned around and saw him staring at me arms crossed with a raised eyebrow. I felt the heat quickly rising up to my cheeks as I grimaced. I looked around and saw Annika looking at me stifling her laughter.

"May I remind you that we are currently in training"

I stood straight and looked ahead of me before answering him with a stiff yes sir. He cleared his throat before walking away from our post. 

"Still daydreaming?"

Annika was looking at me with her usual playful eyes. I cleared my throat before looking around. That was embarrassing and she knows that.

"Anything bothering you Qian?"

I stared at her and decided to give it a go since she's the type of person who can actually hold a secret and truth be told I ain't going nowhere just thinking about it on my own.

I don't know a tad bit on how to handle guys.

"When a guy suddenly gets mad at you and starts ignoring you what do you do? And what does that even mean? I mean why do they act like that?"

"What did you do to that guy before he got mad?"

"He brought me lunch and asked him why go to such lengths and then he got mad and started ignoring me"

Annika chuckled before shaking her head.

"Ever considered the possibility that he might be interested in you?"

I wide-eyed stared at her as if she had said the most impossible thing that could happen.

"Now that's not entirely impossible now is it? I mean, you're pretty, I sense most of our batchmates staring at you."

I shivered at the thought of someone staring at me.

"Haven't you had any experiences with guys?"

"Well, I did have a couple of boyfriends during high school but we were cities apart so we only knew each other through text messages."

Annika grimaced and acted as if she was puking.

"Men who tolerate long distance relationships and never made an effort to go to a city, not even once just to meet their girlfriends are just trash"

I laughed at her comment. I never really took those relationships seriously though. I always thought that no one would even dare to like me because of how I look. 

"I'm not really the type of person who would fall in love you know. Never even had a first love."

"Wait are you even serious?"

I laughed and nodded at the same time. The environment I grew up in was not exactly one that would teach you what love to the opposite sex looks like.

We are a family because that's what's necessary because that was what we were given in the first place. Although I knew in myself that I love them, it's different when it comes to the opposite gender.

"But you were friends with Pierce were you not? Didn't the two of you have any romantic rendezvous?"

I shuddered at the thought of me and Pierce having something like romantic advances.

"It's not like that, we've been friends since grade school. We grew up side by side and cherish each other like siblings. Plus Pierce is the worst example of a man I had ever known and I don't even want to consider ever having a relationship with him."

Annika looked at me before looking up like she was pondering the thought.

"Really? I think he's pretty cute plus charming the typical prince charming in novels"

I grimaced at the thought of Pierce being a prince charming to someone.

"Maybe you haven't read every novel out there yet, want me to give you a recommendation?"

She laughed at my suggestion before facing straight ahead, I also did the same. It'd be bad if I space out again I can't have every officer in my throat.

"My advice, talk to him first. Guys sometimes are more dramatic than girls."

I closed my eyes and let out a heavy sigh. Talking first to guys is the last thing I want to do.

After the training day, some of the other medics invited us to eat out. I reluctantly obliged, partly because Annika half dragged me, partly because Leonel's coming. Well, not that he'll talk to me, he's too busy laughing with the others not even glancing towards my direction.

We stopped at a restaurant that offers unlimited rice for a fair amount of price. While the others were busy ordering stuff my phone rang.

"Hey, I need to take this"

"Sure, hey Qian what's your order?"

"The same as yours ah but with no chili, I'm allergic to spicy food"

Annika winked at me like she was saying 'Got it', I chuckled and then left the restaurant premises. I answered the phone.

"Took you long enough to answer it"

"Just be thankful I even answered"

His mischievous laugh radiated in my ear, and instantly the corners of my lips curled up.

"Where are you anyway?"

"Oh I'm out with the rest of the medics unit"

There was a long silence, I had to move the phone from my ear to see if we got disconnected.

"Pierce"

"Yeah, still here, so uh is Leonel around?"

"Leonel? Uhh yeah, he's here why did you suddenly ask?"

"Just wondering"

That's odd, Pierce had no motive whatsoever to ask if Leonel was around, they're not even that close.

"Have you finally become gay?"

"Shut up Harriett"

I laughed at his remark, I know for sure that my best friend isn't gay however it will make you think otherwise, especially when you see their intent stares every training day.

"I was just checking up on you in case you'd lock yourself up inside your room again"

"As if hahaha well, I gotta go first we're going to eat now"

"Yeah you go do that and Harriett, take care always, will you? Also, go easy on Leonel?"

"Huh?"

"Just do that. Bye"

And just like that Pierce hung up on me, don't get me wrong I am so not attracted to Pierce. It's just that having someone I recognize around is different. Pierce had known me for years, with every scar and good memory, he was there so it's different now that he's not around. Not that I can say that personally to him. He'll probably get his head big again if he hears me say this.

As I was going back in, I saw Leonel by the entrance fiddling with something in the ground. I cleared my throat to make a subtle noise that had surely got his attention. He then looked at me.

"Oh were you done talking?"

"Uhh yeah, uhm what's up?"

I stared at him and he was just looking sideways, after a little while, he scratched his nape while looking at me.

"Sorry,"

I was surprised by what he said but I didn't have the courage to ask him what the sorry was for. He must've noticed this and continued with what he was saying.

"Uhh you know for the siomai rice, it had chili on it, and well, I didn't know that you were allergic to spicy foods. Don't get me wrong, I was obviously at fault and you just, well, I think you get my point so sorry"

I let out a little chuckle which made him look.

"Wha– why are you laughing?"

"Because I should have been the one to say sorry. It's not like you knew what I was allergic to and I did overreact when I could've just told you"

Leonel stared at me long which I surprisingly didn't find disturbing at all. After a while, he laughed. I kind of admit it was good seeing him laughing now, his serious face is kinda scary and well, it puts me on edge when someone is mad at me.

"You really are different Qian"

"Whatever could you mean, I'm just average you know,"

I told him while chuckling before going back inside but before I could open the door Leonel's hand grabbed the handle and pushed it open.

My gaze quickly flew to him, the before silent heart of mine beating faster again as he smiled at me.

"No, you're something and I would like to learn everything about you"