Author's note :
I just realized that Cor's email address didn't show up on chapter 9 and I'm sad... Q_Q well it's leonis dot cor11 at mark domoco dot net dot lc
FFn prevents me from writing email address
Chapter 15 - Midnight Phone Call
There was a promise, or an offer to be exact, from a marshal of crownsguard stating that he would cook something for a certain crownsguard medic in the citadel kitchen. Not because of a special reason. It was just because she muttered that she wondered how the marshal's cooking tasted like at the first time they accidentally had dinner together. Apparently the man still remembered about that, and because she gave him some handmade chocolates, as gratitude the man offered to cook for her, which absolutely surprised Eira when she heard it from the marshal's lips when they were inside the train on their way home a few days ago.
Since then, she was always smiling before she slept, imagining the sight of Cor Leonis as he cooked for her, the taste of his food, and the smile he would give her when they eat together.
But… It couldn't happen.
Unfortunately just a day after that, Cor suddenly had a mission which required him to leave the Crown City with some other crownsguard. And when the marshal left the city, it would take weeks, or even months until he returned back to Insomnia.
Eira flopped into her bed, staring at the ceiling while wondering what the marshal was doing right now.
Today was the White Day. The day she was supposed to taste his cooking. It had been a week after he left on mission, and she missed him. She missed him so bad it made her staring at Cor's blurry picture she set as her phone wallpaper while drowning in her reverie.
If only she were a field medic, probably she could join him on the mission. Certainly she could heal him faster than anyone else because she was blessed by peculiar magic skills. But, she hadn't passed the qualification yet. Also, fulfilling the standard qualification from her mother before she got permission from her to join the basic training was probably the hardest one.
I hope Cor's okay…
Eira bit her lower lips when her head was creating imaginations she wished never happened to him. She wished he was fine without any little scratch. She wished he was alright. She wished he would return safely. She wished she could see his figure passing by the infirmary as usual. She wished he would return soon…
A heavy sigh escaped her lips. Rubbing her face with the pillow, she rolled her body, facing the window in her room.
The sky was bright tonight. Tree leaves were bathing under the moonlight, as it swayed when the wind blew. Perhaps it was full-moon tonight, but she didn't want to get up from her bed and walk to the window to gaze at the sky right now. She wanted to hug her pillow, wishing that it were the marshal.
Gasp!
What was she thinking of?
Eira curled her body, hiding her face under her pillow. And then her mind was wandering to the memory of the night when she unwittingly clutched Cor's arm and dragged him to avoid the drunk passerby. Now when she was thinking about it, her hands were burning in heat as she recalled the way she held his arm at that time. And then she remembered about things that happened a few minutes before that when she almost fell because the drunk man knocked her from behind. Cor held her body, wrapping an arm around her back with his big fingers gripping on her upper arm.
Oh, she really wanted to scream now.
But, suddenly she heard her phone ringing, startling her, and forcing her to stop being flustered. Eira moved her pillow away and reached her phone. Probably, it was Stella or Raine, finally replying about something they talked about over the chatroom.
[ leoniscor11
Cor Leonis
White Day…]
Eira widened her eyes. She quickly got up and sat straight on her bed. Her mouth was agape, not believing the name that her eyes had just caught.
She unlocked her phone, sliding the display to see the notification and once again in shock because it was indeed an email from the marshal. Astonished, she almost threw her phone.
It was the first time Cor messaged her first. It was the first time!
Her heart started to make ruckus inside her chest, thumping loudly and fast. Her head was dizzy, as she was confused in why the marshal messaged her first. She had read the subject. It was about White Day. It was about today. Okay, so, it was about today.
She shut her eyes, taking a deep breath as an attempt to calm herself—which failed obviously. Biting her lower lips, she moved her trembling finger to touch her phone screen and open the email from him.
[ Sorry for today. I can't return to Insomnia yet. ]
Just two sentences, and Eira was very happy to read it. Cor was apologizing, and the one he asked forgiveness from was currently being surrounded by indescribable bliss. Yes, she was disappointed, a little bit. And she absolutely understood that it wasn't Cor's fault that he needed to go out for his mission. But, he apologized to her, taking the trouble to send a message to her, and now she was blushing because of his simple message.
Eira was very happy. Cor sent her an email, and now she knew that he was still… alive.
Oh, she missed him. She missed him so much.
[ No, you don't need to apologize. (＞﹏＜) ]
Forgetting that it wasn't a chat messenger, she accidentally pressed the send button.
"Ah!"
She quickly typed another email.
[ How are you? I wish for your and everyone's safety. (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ]
Cor sat on his chair, staring at the plate of food he made for him. Today was White Day, the day when he was supposed to cook for a young medic as a present because she gave him chocolate on Valentine's Day. But, instead of cooking in the citadel kitchen for her, he was cooking for his squad now in the outpost far away from the Crown City.
The marshal began to eat in silence, sitting under the canopy tent without joining the chatter with other crownsguard. No one dared to chat with him as they ate, nor dared to sit at the same table as him. Except for a certain medic who unfortunately couldn't join him in the mission as she wasn't a field medic, yet.
Actually he didn't know whether he would be happy or not if Eira really became a field medic. He just… didn't want her to be near to the danger. But, if she were a field medic, there would be a chance she would join him in the mission. And… perhaps he wouldn't need to eat alone like this anymore.
Shaking his head to chase away his thought, Cor cursed himself.
Right, he suddenly remembered that he hadn't apologized for breaking his promise. Well, it could be said as a promise, right? He offered himself to cook for her today, and instead, he cooked for his fellow crownsguard and other medics.
.
.
.
Cor sat inside his tent, holding his phone and staring at it with this serious look on his face. He was troubled, couldn't find any good words to type on the blank white on his front. The text cursor was blinking, as if it was waiting for Cor to type something and somehow seemed like it was impatient to be moved. It stayed at the top left of the white display for five minutes, didn't stop blinking and Cor found it a bit… frustrating to see it. He scratched his head, practically ruffling his hair as he was desperate in looking for suitable words to convey his feelings.
He looked at the top left of his phone, 10:23 pm. It was already late, he wondered if Eira was already going home or still staying at the citadel. He hoped Lizette was there driving her home. If not, Cor worried that something happened to her—remembering how a drunken passerby bumped her and almost made her fall. Perhaps it would really be better if he assigned another crownsguard for her. Wait, but then everyone would know that she was a special someone for him.
[ Happy Glacian Day! (◕‿◕｡) It's snowing outside. How was your day? You're not spending your day training in the citadel, right? ]
And for whatever reason, Cor re-read the emails from her.
[ Okay~! ヽ(o＾▽＾o)ノ I can't wait for the 29th! 2 pm in Central Plaza? ]
He liked seeing those smiling emoticons she sent.
[ South lobby~ It's closer to the cinema. (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ]
How could a woman be so courageous not to be formal as she spoke to a stern marshal like him?
Pressing the back button, he opened the messaging app and stared back at the white blank that troubled him before. But this time he finally typed some words and sent them to Eira.
[ Sorry for today. I can't return to Insomnia yet. ]
Now when he read it again, it was like he wasn't sincere about it.
Another sigh escaped his lips as he rubbed his face. After he sent the message, he just noticed how his heart was beating in harshly. It wasn't the first time he sent her a message, yet he was still nervous about it.
Suddenly the phone in his hand vibrated, telling him that he just got a reply. There was a warmth that swarmed inside his stomach. Probably it was the reply from her. And yes, it was.
[ No, you don't need to apologize. (＞﹏＜) ]
He slightly raised the corner of his lips. But, before he could even react, he got another message from her.
[ How are you? I wish for your and everyone's safety. (´｡• ᵕ •｡`) ]
Oh the Astral.
After a week not talking to her, receiving emails from her made him feel... alive. It was an overflowing happiness that surrounded his entire being. His chest was full of warmth, and he was sure that there were fluttering butterflies in his stomach. Astral, he was already in his forty, and he acted like a teen who was just having a first crush in his life.
Shutting his eyes, Cor took a deep breath. He looked at her message for once again, now giving a wry smile as he realized about the bitter truth he needed to accept.
If only… If only she wasn't too young for him…
He knew he shouldn't fall for her. He knew he shouldn't let his feelings grow. But, instead of putting some distance between them, Cor let himself get closer to her. He was trapped by her charm, and he couldn't escape it.
It felt like she was flying to the sky, hovering between the clouds while bathing under the moonlight. It felt like she was floating on the ocean, enjoying the warm sunshine. It felt like she had wings, flapping gloriously and bringing her to heaven.
Eira was being enveloped by happiness, that was given by simple text from a man named Cor Leonis. She wanted to scream, telling the world about how happy she was right now getting an email from the marshal.
Come on. This was the marshal of crownsguard. This stern marshal who was feared by the entire crownsguard. This marshal the people called the Immortal. And this same marshal had just emailed her, a mere crownsguard medic, to apologize for not being able to cook for her today.
But, on the other hand, she was also sad that she couldn't see him. She missed him. She wanted to see his tall figure in his usual black uniform walking in the hallway. She wanted to hear his voice as she greeted him when they met coincidentally. She wanted to see his smile, as they talked, as he listened to her story, as he told her his story. She wanted to smell his faint musk that mingled with his perfume as they walked side by side or as she entered his car. She… wanted to feel his warmth, just like the time when he held her inside his arm.
She missed him. But, she didn't have a right to miss him. Who was her to him? Just a crownsguard medic who was lucky enough to be a little bit closer with the unapproachable marshal. Still, no matter how close they were right now, they would never be something more than colleagues.
Cor was her first love—probably. And first love would never happen, would never go well. Also, the man was far older than her. Eira was sure that Cor just saw her as a kid, not even a friend, not even a fellow crownsguard—medic. Or worse, perhaps he thought of her like his own sister, or niece, or… daughter.
She wasn't even twenty, yet. She couldn't even drink beer, yet. She couldn't even become his drinking buddy.
Okay, stop, why would she overthink about something like this?
Nothing would happen between Cor and her. Obviously.
Cor was just a kind man. Too kind he offered himself to drive her almost anytime he caught her going to go home by taxi or train. Too kind he invited her to have dinner. Too kind he agreed to go with her to the movie. Too kind… to offer cooking for her…
What was going on between Cor and her?
…
No matter how she thought about it… Cor… would never do something like that with a random woman, right?
…
No. But, no. No. Impossible.
Blink!
Her phone suddenly chimed, telling her that she got a new email.
[ We're fine. Thank you. How about you? Still in the citadel? ]
Eira wanted to scream. Her cheeks were burning, she was sure it was already red. Cor was just asking about her. So, Cor cared about her, right?
[ No. It's my day off. (o´∀`o) ]
It was her day off. She deliberately chose to change her shift so she would have free time today. She knew since a week ago that Cor was out of town due to his mission, but she hoped that he would return before today. Unfortunately, his job wasn't something that had a fixed schedule. So, even though Eira was hoping that Cor would be back this morning, she should accept the fact that he didn't return today.
Pressing the send button, Eira threw her body back to the bed. Staring at the ceiling, biting her lips, Eira hugged her phone as she wished that Cor would return soon.
A sigh escaped her lips. She raised her phone, staring back at Cor's blurry figure on her wallpaper. She was holding a phone right now, if she pressed some buttons, it could connect to Cor's phone, and she would be able to hear his voice.
She wanted to hear his voice. Eira wondered what his voice would be like on the phone, it must be slightly different compared to hear it directly. His voice would be much closer to her ear… oh, no, she wanted to hear his voice.
Eira opened her contact, pressing C from the right side of her phone then staring at the name written on it.
Cor Leonis
She pressed his name, looking at his number and the email address written under it. There was a green button on the right of his number. And if she touched it, she would be able to hear his voice—if Cor picked it up.
But Eira didn't have the courage to do so. Also, it would be weird for a mere crownsguard medic like her to call the marshal. She didn't have business with him, and it was already late. It was the time for him to rest, and Eira with no important business calling the marshal, it would bother him.
"Ouch!"
But when she wanted to press the back button, her phone fell on her face. It hurt. But there was something far more important than the pain.
"Oh no, no, no."
Eira quickly sat and reached her phone, wishing that her nose didn't touch anything and…
Beep…!
"No!" she gasped. Her nose just dialed Cor's number, and now she was pressing the cancel button dozens times.
Her heart was beating her chest roughly, knocking her from the inside it felt like it wanted to break free from her body. Her face turned hot, burnt by the embarrassment she just did. Oh the Astral, she could hear her phone beeping once, which meant that Cor's phone had already rang.
Eira threw her phone away after she cancelled the call. Staring at her phone in disbelief, she hid her face under her hands. She wanted to hide, disappear into the darkest and deepest dungeon in Eos. Perhaps, going all the way down in Taelpar Crag canyon and hiding there forever.
She didn't know what kind of face she should make if she met Cor in the citadel. Embarrassed, she didn't even know what she should tell him if Cor replied to her email.
Ring…!
She jolted. Her phone was ringing. It was a phone call. Moving away her hands from her face, she reached her phone.
Her heart probably almost stopped.
The caller was Cor Leonis.
The phone rang for a few seconds. She was reluctant to pick it, but her hand decided otherwise. She had just accepted the call.
Moreover, she actually really wanted to hear his voice.
"H-Hello," her voice was shaking. She really wanted to faint. Her head was dizzy and the world was already spinning. She was extremely happy, but on the other hand, she was too nervous.
"Eira? Did you call?"
Oh the Astral. Cor voice was beautiful, so beautiful.
Her heart was beating loudly, too loud it felt like her whole body was trembling following its rhythm.
[ No. It's my day off. (o´∀`o) ]
A chuckle left his throat as he caught the emoticon she used. Now he was wondering how to use it. The marshal frowned, looking at the keyboard and trying to figure out where to find it. He rubbed his chin, and failed to understand simple things such as using emoticons. Well, he never used that thing, and his colleague never used it. Also, would it be weird if the stern marshal like him used that cute thing on his email?
But, for unknown reasons, he wanted to use one, or at least, know how to use one.
Cor was just curious what kind of emoticons are there, wanting to find the one that was most used by Eira.
Eira…
Right, first thing first, it was better if he replied to her email.
Ring!
But suddenly his phone was ringing, and even though it was only a glimpse, Cor caught Eira's name on it before it disappeared and returned back to his lock screen.
He furrowed his eyebrows, wondering if he read the name wrong. Sliding down his finger to see the notification display, he gulped when he found the name written on it.
Eira Heallint
"Huh?" the warmth seeped into his chest when he saw her name. He blinked for many times, making sure that it wasn't just in his head.
Eira called him. But it rang only for a second and it seemed that she quickly cancelled it. What? Did she press the wrong button?
But, what if there was actually something that she needed to tell him? What if something happened to her and she was trying to ask him for help. No, Cor thought that it couldn't be possible. Also, she stated that it was her day off. But then he grew worried, thinking that probably Eira wasn't at home and something happened to her.
Cor was being restless. He stared at his phone for a few seconds before finally deciding to call her back.
He was too curious about what made her call him. And even if indeed she accidentally called him by a mistake, he wouldn't regret calling her, as he actually wanted to call her and listen to her voice.
He missed her. And even though he tried hard to suppress his feelings, he couldn't lie to himself.
"H-Hello?"
But when he heard her voice, he asked himself why he called her. He just thought that he wouldn't regret calling her, but now he cursed himself for being weak. He shouldn't let this feeling grow. He should stop trying to get closer to her. What have I done?
Trying to maintain his composure, he asked, "Eira? Did you call?"
He caught a glimpse of pause from her before she replied with a voice that gradually became like a whisper, "Um… Yes… I… My nose..."
Cor frowned, "Nose?"
"Ah…!" she gasped, "No. Yes. No, I mean… I… My phone fell to my face, and I accidentally called you. … I'm sorry."
Cor chuckled. It was really fun to listen to her. He wondered what kind of face she made as she stuttered when she explained it.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to call you… Did I disturb you?" she asked.
Cor rubbed his face, sensing the pleasant warmth in his chest as he heard her voice. After days of an exhausting mission, he never expected that just by hearing her mellifluous voice would instantly lift his weariness.
"No," he smiled, even though Eira wouldn't see his smile.
They went silent. Cor didn't know what to say, but he didn't want the conversation to be ended like that.
"Um…"
Cor blinked as he heard her voice. It seemed that she also didn't know what to say, just like him. He cleared his throat, "Yes?"
"I… I wonder if… you're wounded. I'm a bit… worried. You know... as a crownsguard medic, I'm concerned about it…"
The marshal widened his eyes. Giving off a silent chuckle, Cor couldn't help but to smile.
"I'm fine," he replied.
"Oh.. That—That's good. Happy to hear that."
He loved the way she stuttered as she replied. Perhaps, he wasn't the only one who was nervous right now.
Another silence shrouded them. Cor scratched his head, trying hard to find another thing to say. He really didn't want this phone call to be over soon.
He then remembered about his promise that couldn't be fulfilled.
"Hei," he cleared his throat again.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry for today."
"Ah… No! No, no problem. It's not your fault."
He cleared his throat again, probably the nervousness choked him and made him unable to talk well. "Another day, then?"
"Y-Yes! Sure!"
Cor lifted the corner of his lips.
"Did you cook today?" Eira asked.
"Yes."
"I envy your squad. If only I were a crownsguard, maybe I could taste your cooking now."
Cor chuckled, "No. I don't recommend it. Being a crownsguard I mean."
Eira gave off a soft chuckle, "But I'm applying to be a field crownsguard medic next year."
Cor gave a little pause before replying, "Good luck."
"Thank you."
Both of them stopped talking, letting an awkward silence to shroud them. Cor didn't know what to say anymore. His heart was throbbing so loud and his mind didn't work like he wanted it to. He was too nervous, and it was just because talking to a certain young medic… he fell in love with.
"Um…"
Cor stopped drowning in his thought as he heard her voice again.
"Once again, I'm sorry for calling you by mistake," she continued.
"No. It's okay. Don't mind it."
"Well," she gave a slight pause, "It's almost eleven. And I'm sure you still have a mission tomorrow."
The smile disappeared from Cor's face. Guess, this short conversation would be over soon. But he didn't have the right to prolong it and he didn't have anything to talk about.
"Yeah," he replied, trying to hide his disappointment from his tone.
"You should sleep. Get enough rest."
"You too."
"Um… Good night, then. And… good luck for your mission. I wish for your safety."
He tried not to sigh, "Thanks."
"Then… See you later."
"Yes. Good night."
Cor stared at his phone after the call ended. He took a deep breath and sighed. Rubbing his temple, Cor shut his eyes.
He loved her… and every day that passed, the feeling grew and grew.
It suffocated him as he kept thinking that he wasn't allowed to love her.
If only he was younger...
Eira threw her body on her bed, squealing in a muffled voice while curling her body. She hugged her pillow then glanced at her phone.
She just had a phone call with the marshal of crownsguard. It was just a short conversation but it was enough to make her hover in happiness.
Oh, she loved him. She loved him so much.
But she knew that the man would never feel the same to her. She was too young and Cor would never see her in a romantic way.
If only I were born earlier...
Author's note:
Thank you for reading! I'll be very happy to read some comments
Tell me your thoughts~!
(I love interaction with readers)