Chapter 8 - Invitation

"Ah… Umm… M-Maybe you want to try to go to the cinema during winter holiday? I… I've got two free coupons which could be exchanged for tickets for any movies…"

Cor almost forgot how to take a breath when he heard her invitation. He gulped, clearing his throat from anything that choked him right now. A frown marred his forehead, not sure about what he just heard.

"Huh?" It was the only thing that escaped his throat as the response. He turned his head to look at her, frowning to see the young woman who was now looking back at her front. He then looked back at the road, driving the car while his head created dozens of questions about what was happening just now.

Cor was in puzzlement. Eira had just invited him to watch a movie with her. Just the two of them. She said that she got two free coupons. It meant that one was for her, and one was for him, right? Certainly she wouldn't give all of those coupons to Cor, right? What for? He didn't need two coupons. Or it meant that Cor could use those two coupons for two different movies at different times? But Cor wasn't that stupid. He knew that Eira was inviting him to watch movies with her.

"Is it okay?" Cor asked. "I mean, isn't it better if you use the tickets with your friend?"

Right, wasn't it better if she used it to watch movies with her friends instead with an old man like him?

It didn't mean that Cor didn't want to accept her invitation. But, they weren't that close, even though they talked a lot in a certain dinner last month. Cor was twenty-four-years-old older than her. Certainly, it would be uncomfortable for her to watch movies with an old man like him. However, the man couldn't understand why the pleasant warmth gathered in his chest right now. Funny, he just realized that his heart was beating so loud until he felt its throbs through the vein in his neck.

"N-no! It's fine!" she squealed, "I-I mean… You haven't visited cinemas before, right? I'm going to be your guide then. Also… You may say that it's a gratitude for dinner... the other day."

Cor laughed nonchalantly. Her answer that she wanted to guide him was amusing. What a weird reason, he thought.

Cor didn't know what to say. He didn't know whether he should accept the invitation or not.

Winter holiday, huh? Usually he had nothing to do, spending the days alone at his home, watching tv without actually enjoying it, then at the end he would find himself training in the citadel. But, he couldn't refuse her kindness without any reason. Of course he could just state a lie or two, about him being busy in winter holiday or else, but Cor didn't want to lie. Also, imagining Eira would be disappointed after she was kind enough to invite him, Cor wouldn't like to see it.

Moreover, it was also the first time someone invited him to watch a movie like this. When he was her age, he had no close friends and he was too busy in slaining the enemies on the battlefield. And now, his friends were too old for this kind of thing. They prefer to spend their precious time with their families, and absolutely the idea to invite the stern marshal to watch a movie would never have struck their minds. And... his past lovers… dumped him even before they had any appropriate date with him.

Now, a young woman was kind enough to ask him to watch a movie with her. And, deep down in his heart, Cor also wanted to spend more time with her. Even though it felt so wrong for him, remembering the fact that she was the daughter of a royal council member. No, he didn't see her in a romantic way. Of course, no. Cor definitely was sure about that.

Also, Eira often treated his wounds. She was a crownsguard medic. In other words, she was just a workmate, like Gladio or Ignis to him. Sometimes, they also ate dinner with him after work hours, and it wasn't weird at all. Therefore, why would it be weird if it was with her? Also, it could be a good chance to strengthen their relationship as colleagues, right?

"Well… I'm looking forward to your guidance then, Eira." Cor didn't realize that he was lifting both corners of his lips as he glanced at the young woman who widened her eyes after hearing his reply. Looking back to the road, Cor still couldn't understand what had just happened.

He still couldn't believe that he agreed to her invitation. It would be just the two of them.

A date.

No, Cor tried no to think of it as a date. It was just a gratitude from her for the dinner. Also, she would only guide him about how to watch movies in the cinemas. Even though surely he could do it without any guidance. And once again, he didn't see her in a romantic way.

He stole a glance at the young woman on his right, seeing how a wide smile adorned her face. Cor wasn't sure whether thinking that she was cute was an appropriate thing to do. But, he really found her adorable, moreover with the smile that hadn't disappeared from her face, yet.

"Then, what kind of movie do you want to see?" there was an excitement in her tone. Eira looked happy only because he agreed to go with her.

"I'll let you decide," Cor replied.

"Hmm… Okay, I'll check what's showing now," Eira exclaimed, still with a cheerful tone. She opened her bag, taking her phone then began to search about it.

Cor didn't say anything as he silently took a glance at her, admiring the grin on her face when she looked at her phone. He didn't understand how watching a movie with an old man like him made her happy like that.

"You… don't watch movies with your parents?" Cor asked, eyes now staring at the road even though somehow he wanted to see her a bit longer than a glance.

Eira raised her head to look at him then shook her head before replying, "No. Dad can't stay still for two hours sitting in the theater and he'll end up sleeping. Mom loves reading rather than watching, and keeps saying that it's better to wait the blu-ray version and watch it at home than spending her energy to go to the cinema."

"Hmm," Cor gave a slight pause, then asked, "How about with your friends?"

Cor was curious. He wanted to know more about her.

"Raine and Stella have boyfriends. Of course they prefer to watch movies with them than with me."

Boyfriend, huh? It really piqued his curiosity. He wondered if she had no boyfriend, yet, of course he didn't dare to ask. But, it was strange. She was pretty, and her voice was damn so soft and soothing. And her eyes, it was so alluring that he wanted to admire them for a long time. It was pleasant to talk with her, and she could bring a smile on his lips. If only he was born much later, not too far from her birth year, perhaps...

Cor gulped, slightly strengthening his grip on the steer wheel because he was thinking about such a thing. It wasn't the first time he thought about it —the age gap. Cor, get a grip!

"Hmm," Cor didn't dare to give any comments. It was too private and even though the urge to know about it was too strong, he shouldn't prey into it. It was impolite.

The man was wondering whether she really didn't have a boyfriend or not, or whether she had someone she liked. But, what did he want from that information? If she had no lover, did it mean that he would be happy and think that he had a chance? Okay, Cor, what chance?

"They refused to watch the same movies twice, so I often watch movies alone," Eira added.

Cor blinked when she continued her sentence which then probably answered the questions in his head. She often watched movies alone, therefore, probably she really had no boyfriend.

"Ah! I think it's interesting," Eira stopped scrolling through her phone then turned her head to look at Cor.

The man glanced at her, waiting for the young woman to tell him about what she had just found.

"Do you like action? It's about a soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, and the day restarting every time he dies," she explained, reading the synopsis written on her phone.

"Time loop, hmm? That's interesting," Cor said.

"Okay, so it's decided then! I'm excited," she smiled, and whenever she lifted the corner of her lips, Cor adored it.

Cor couldn't say that he was also excited. Thus, the man didn't say anything instead and stared at the road while smiling in silence. He wondered if she would see him smiling right now.

"Which day would you prefer to?" Eira asked.

Cor didn't reply right away, remembering his schedule and making sure that there wasn't any event that needed his attendance before saying, "I'm free any day on winter holiday."

"Okay." Eira looked back at her phone then only after a second she returned her gaze at him. "Ah… Um…"

"What's wrong?" Cor asked, sensing the way she was being jittery about something.

"Um… It's okay if I ask for your email address, then?"

Cor was startled. Glancing at the young woman whose face reddened after asking that question, Cor sensed how his heart stepped up its pace.

Well, it wasn't weird for her to ask his contact. They would have a date… no, an appointment… to watch movies together. Surely, it was necessary for exchanging contact information.

"Sure," he nodded.

Cor stopped the car right after they arrived in front of her home. Taking the phone in his pocket, Cor then sending his email address to her phone. He saw how her face was still being painted by red hue as he put his phone closer to hers. The man cursed himself dozens times today because he couldn't stop his mind to think about how beautiful this particular medic was.

"Then, I'll tell you the details later by mail," Eira kept her phone inside her bag. "Oh, right. You want to see my dad, right? I'll open the gate so you can park your car inside, then."

"Ah… about that…" Cor quickly said before she unfastened her seat-belt. "I'll talk with him tomorrow. It's not an urgent matter after all."

Eira gave a pause, then smiled. "Okay. Thank you for driving me home, Sir."

"No problem."

They stared at each other for a while before Eira finally nodded and left his car. He watched her as she walked to her gate then seeing how she halted for a moment to give him one last smile before entering the gate. He quietly stared at her until she disappeared into her house then exhaling a long sigh while throwing his head to the backrest. Shutting his eyes, Cor rubbed his face, hoping by doing so he could cleanse his mind from impure thoughts.

At first, he wanted to visit William and scold him about his neglectance of Eira's safety and told him about how dangerous it was if he didn't assign any crownsguard to escort her. But, after that invitation, Cor couldn't bring himself to face her father. He didn't want William to notice that perhaps Cor had a feeling toward his daughter.

Taking a deep breath, Cor opened his eyes and began to drive away from her home. As he returned home, the marshal didn't stop telling his mind that it wasn't a romantic feeling.

Even though he knew that he was just being a denial.

Author's note : Ufufu~ Can anyone guess what film? :3 Thank you for reading this fanfic! Hope you enjoyed this chapter :3