IN LOVE WITH A SOLDIER, VOLUME 2 - Season 10 Episode 97

The door of the living room opened suddenly.

A tall young man, about six feet, wearing a bright red t-shirt and black chinos walked in with quick strides. The sporting trendy dark glasses he was wearing matched his golden hair perfectly, with which he looked stunning at everyone’s sight.

When he found no one in the living room, he stealthily moved around.

Trying much as he could to remain unnoticed, he stole furtive glaces at every corner until he finally saw two men playing chess in the corridor.

Intending to give them a big surprise, Austin sneaked in without greeting, as he tried to find a spot to hide himself.

But before right in the middle of his mischief, Lawrence caught him.

Feeling a little embarrassed, Austin immediately played up to Lawrence.

In a feigned tone, he flattered, “Wow, look what a fine-looking man you have grown into! If I had your looks, I’d probably die of self-love like Narcissus.” Austin’s exaggerated facial manner outwitted Lawrence.

“You brat, you’re ever so glib!” Lawrence helplessly shook his head and gave him a big hug.

“Lawrence, who are you talking to?” Cherry asked. She was busy cooking in the kitchen and was surprised to hear Lawrence talking to someone. Just when she walked out of the kitchen and wanted to check who it was, she was pleasantly surprised to see her nephew, Austin.

“Oh, my aunt, my beautiful aunt! Come on, let me hug you!” Austin greeted and stepped forward to hug his aunt.

“Oh, my! Austin, you finally come back! I missed you so much!” Cherry excitedly said. Then she took a closer look at him and realized he had grown taller than when she last saw him.

“It boils down to genes Auntie. That’s entirely something that I have no control over and sometimes I wish I could,” Austin pretended to be rueful. But in the real sense, he tended to self-obsession.
Knowing her nephew so well, Cherry lightly pinched his nose and feigning a worried look said, “That’s a fib. Watch that you don’t end up with a long nose like Pinocchio!”

To which Austin heartily laughing, answered, “It seems I haven’t perfected my art yet. How could you sniff out the fib so fast?” Then looking around the living room, he asked, “Uhm, where is Violet? And my brother-in-law, the greatest doctor?”

“They will be here soon,” Cherry answered with a smile.

Unhappy to realize that Violet was not around to greet him on arrival, Austin pouted his lips complained, “I thought that she would be the first person I see when I come back. I didn’t expect that she hadn’t come even after I informed her.”

“What mischief are you up to?” Lawrence asked when he saw Austin muttering something.

“What mischief are you up to?” Lawrence asked when he saw Austin muttering something.

“Oh, nothing,” Austin immediately replied. “Let me go and greet the two gentlemen in the corridor,” he excused himself.

Then feigning fear, he clasped his hands as if to say a prayer.

“Go ahead,” Cherry said, giving him a big smile.

Engrossed in their game of chess, Jackson and Derek didn’t notice Austin walk up them. When he got to them, he stood beside them for a moment thinking they’d notice him, but still they didn’t.

“Good morning uncles!” Austin respectfully greeted. Surprised, Jackson and Derek lifted their heads simultaneously to see who was calling.

“Oh, good morning young man!” replied Derek happy to see his nephew back, although he frowned on the young man’s flashy clothes.

“Yes, I am back!” replied Austin with a broad smile, his white teeth making him complementing his handsome looks.

“Since I came into the house, I’ve observed you immersed in the game for quite some time. I didn’t you were so avid for chess. But I guess it must be a great idea for fun, huh?”

“Oh yeah! It’s a good pass time for us, seeing we have little else to do at our age,” said Jackson. “Anyway, come have a seat,” he offered, pointing to an empty chair to his right.

“Thank you, uncle!” replied Austin politely, joining his uncles.

Sitting beside Jackson, Austin was well-behaved. He took the initiative to ask Jackson, “Uncle, I’ve seen aunt Cherry is in high spirits, just like her usual self. I hope you’re also fine, aren’t you?”

“Don’t you know that in this family, your aunt is a queen? Well, like all queens, she could be smiling, while her subjects languish in misery,” Jackson jokingly answered. He then studied Austin for a moment before adding, “Anyway, recently she has been a fair queen and we’re all happy.” All three of them broke into a hearty laughter.

“Oh, that’s interesting!” Austin put in softly. “So is my mother, who mostly prefers to rule her kingdom with an iron fist. But when she’s in her good moods, she too can be fair,” he added mischievously.

Austin then looked at Derek and cautiously asked, “Uncle, why is Auntie Amy not here today?”

“She’s been invited to the Communication University for one of their music classes,” Derek replied.

“Oh,” Austin said. “I should ask her to teach me how to play the piano one day. I see, Lawrence has really perfected his skills form her lessons. I’d want to be even better than that.”

“Oh! That’s a good dream,” Derek began. “But would you be willing to put in what it takes? At least, you should be prepared to stay with us for at least half a year. It takes a lot of practice, day in, day out. And your aunt, in particular, is a teacher who demands the very best from her students,” he warned. He knew Austin wasn’t the kind of person who’d give up on fun easily. Not for something that requires time and discipline like learning the piano.

“Oh, that’s interesting!” Austin put in softly. “So is my mother, who mostly prefers to rule her kingdom with an iron fist. But when she’s in her good moods, she too can be fair,” he added mischievously.

Austin then looked at Derek and cautiously asked, “Uncle, why is Auntie Amy not here today?”

“She’s been invited to the Communication University for one of their music classes,” Derek replied. “Oh,” Austin said. “I should ask her to teach me how to play the piano one day. I see, Lawrence has really perfected his skills form her lessons. I’d want to be even better than that.”

“Oh! That’s a good dream,” Derek began. “But would you be willing to put in what it takes? At least, you should be prepared to stay with us for at least half a year. It takes a lot of practice, day in, day out.

And your aunt, in particular, is a teacher who demands the very best from her students,” he warned. He knew Austin wasn’t the kind of person who’d give up on fun easily. Not for something that requires time and discipline like learning the piano.

“Oh no!” Austin protested, shaking his head. “Well, forget about it. With my clumsy fingers that can’t even hold a pen neatly, I think playing the piano is just way far from my reach. And it’s worse, if learning the skill will eat into my time for fun.”

While he was still talking, they heard the sound of a car parking in the courtyard. Intuitively, he knew it was Violet and Greg.

“Well, Uncle Jackson, Uncle Derek, I am leaving now. I have to surprise that beautiful doll.” he excused himself and hastily walked away.

Before Jackson and Derek could react, Austin had already disappeared.

“It’s clear, he is growing into a witty, confident boy with lots of potential,” Jackson said with an impressed smile. .
“By the fact that he didn’t receive the traditional education, he has turned out into a very open-minded person, which I think is a good thing. Perhaps we as a family should try and get used to his personality,” Derek put in, looking contemplative.

“Anyway, he is just a kid, he still has a lot to learn. But on a fair score, I’d say he’s doing really fine!” Jackson said. Indeed he liked his quick-witted nephew.