Sideline

                                                        L I A N A

"Ma'am Lia! Are you okay?" I met Kary after I left the room the next day.

"Well!" I giggled and placed my hand on my waist. "Super cool!" I even dance in front of her.

"Where are you at, Kary?"

"Oh, just cleaned the guest room, someone will be using that from now on." she said and I just nodded, wondering.

We have a visitor?

"Oh, by the way, Ma'am, your Mommy and Daddy are downstairs." she said and my eyes widened and got excited.

"Oh my God! Thank you!" I giggled happily and almost ran downstairs.

I was just on the stairs when I heard the voice of my Mom and Dad talking. My grin widened, high as I went down the stairs and was about to go to the kitchen when I caught sight of Phoenix leaning against the jamb approaching the stairs who looked like he had been watching me before.

He was wearing a plain white shirt with his dog tag on his neck, he was also wearing heeled pants and his green eyes looked cold.

I saw him took a glance at my knees and I froze, my poise faded, suddenly I pretended my knee hurt and clung to the wall.

"O-ouch ... I'm not well yet." I said, but enough for him to hear it.

I simply glanced at him just staring and silent.

When I met his eyes, I quickly averted my eyes and sneezed.

"It's bad ... It really hurts." I kept quiet and listened to him.

"Your parent's there, eat." He said timidly, not minding my pretending.

"Yeah, pretty what ..." I pouted. "My knee hurts a bit, I can't walk, can you help me?"

His brow raised at me. "I saw you almost jumped down the stairs."

"Because my knee hurt!" I insisted.

"Stop it, go eat." He said.

I sniffed and folded my arms.

"Mommy o--" I would have complained but I couldn't continue when he frowned and reached for my arm.

I grinned, I walked slowly while holding him and simply smelled him! He smells aftershave and fresh! I even noticed his wet hair.

"Oh, hello, Ma'am Lia, your knee hurts again?" I froze upon hearing Kary’s voice.

Oh ... God! No! No!

My eyes widened as he came in front of us so Phoenix and I stopped.

"Omg, Sir Phoenix, she was alright earlier, and she was even smiling." she said and my eyes widened.

Phoenix cleared his throat; I widened my eyes at Kary but she didn't notice me and still smiled, jeez!

"Oh, that's really how Ma'am is. She doesn't have a boyfriend so she's looking for caresses and care." she said

Suddenly I coughed, I heard Phoenix cleared his throat and I saw him glance at me so I averted my gaze.

"Kary! Mommy is looking for you!" I exclaimed and she panicked.

"Oh, of course!" she quickly ran into the kitchen and when he disappeared, I glanced at Phoenix for a moment with only his lips fixed.

"Isn't she funny? She's a good joker." I laughed awkwardly. "That's what Kary is like, joker."

He sighed, took my arm and softly placed his hand back on my waist and assisted me again.

"I don't know what to do to you, woman." He snorted and I looked at him innocently.

"I'm not doing anything," I said softly and he shook his head for a moment.

My heart almost jumped when I saw Mommy and Daddy eating at the table as we entered.

"Mom! Dad!" I cheered happily.

I saw how their gazes shifted on me, my Mom with a happy smile on her face and my Dad with his confused one.

"What happened?" I saw Daddy frown.

"Lia? What happened, dear?" My Mom shifted her gaze on my knees.

"I'm hurt," I pouted.

Phoenix assisted me and let me sit beside Mom, Mommy held my arm and also helped me sit down.

"Thank you," I said, smiling to Phoenix. He nodded slowly, unresponsive and gently moved my chair to be in order.

"What happened, Lia? Why are you hurt?" Mommy said kindly and stroked my hair.

"I ... lost balance, Mom. My knee hit the tiles and it bled, it's good that Phoenix was there. He helped me." I said and took a glance at him.

"Thank you, son!" My Mom smiled sweetly. "Come here, sit, eat."

"I'm good, Aunt." He smiled a little.

My eyes widen at that.

Aunt?

"Come on, son. Eat with us, Tesmarie will be mad at us if we starve you." Daddy said and I blinked in shock.

"I ate earlier, Uncle. Thanks, anyway." Phoenix answered politely and I gasped.

Uncle? Aunt? What is happening?

"No, we insist. Come on, son. Eat." Mommy said and I saw Phoenix nod and approach us.

I was still confused, when Phoenix sat down next to Dad who was sitting in the capital it was there that Daddy spoke.

"Phoenix is the son of your Godmother Tess and Godfather Arthur." Mommy said and my mouth parted in shock.

"Seriously?" I murmured and glance at Phoenix who was just listening.

"Yes, so, treat him well, Lia. He'll protect you too so, be good, okay? Don't give me a headache." Even Daddy. I was still startled at that.

"Phoenix is a military officer before, you're a Lieutenant, right?" Mommy looked at Phoenix who just nodded sparingly.

"And he's also a doctor!" Mommy said looking happy there. "Isn't it, perfect package? It's a good thing it agreed to watch over you."

I glanced at Phoenix who was quietly grabbing some bread and sipping coffee.

I bit my lip.

"And ... He's a bodyguard? Aunt Tess is wealthy as heck!" I said.

"My parents are, not me." Phoenix said leaning back in his chair and sipping coffee. I saw him staring at me while sipping, I almost choked on what I was eating there.

"Then ... why bodyguard?" I asked.

"Sideline," he said and shrugged.

My parents laughed at him, I saw the corner of Phoenix's lip rise and tried to hide the smile.

"Weh?" I said. "Do you have crush on me?"

Suddenly my family fell silent. Even Phoenix's smirk faded and my father cleared his throat and my Mom sipped on her tea.

My cheeks warmed at what was said and I almost banged my head on the table.

Stupid, Lia! You're so dry, your brain is so dry!

"I ... mean ..." "Be patient, son." My Mom said, chuckling. "No boyfriend since birth because it's like that--"

"Mom!" I hissed.

"Perhaps, you know someone we can pair with my Lia?" My malicious mother said so I turned around and glanced at Phoenix

Embarrassing!