A Remaining Podeshire 1

Chapter 4 (Part 4)

"So, how's the outdoors?" Sophia asked, glancing at Oliver while gently elbowing him.

"I'll be honest, I don't like it," Oliver looped his arms around himself for comfort.

     Oliver's footsteps began to slow down as they progressed near the sidewalk. Sophia's swift steps slowly outpaced Oliver. Oliver then froze as he gasped.

Sophia heard Oliver's gasp, causing her to stop and look back at him. "What's wrong?" she asked, worried about Oliver's sudden stop.

Oliver caught up with Sophia and stood next to her. He quickly faced her and glanced at the opposite sidewalk. "Look there, look there!" he whispered loudly.

"Where?" Sophia wondered as her eyes wandered.

"On where my eye is pointing at!" he mumbled as he inclined his face near Sophia.

     Sophia trailed over Oliver's sight. She then saw a tall man ominously staring at them from the opposite sidewalk. Seeing the man shrouded in a black coat that matched his dark hair and blue eyes brought a rippling shock throughout her body. It made her eyes wide as she gasped.

"Oh, my... is this... is this why you hate going outside...?" Sophia questioned as she looked back at her fiancé.

"Yeah..." Oliver whispered into her ear. "Also, I think... that is the same man that was glaring at me and my friend a few nights ago."

"...So, a stalker?" Sophia squinted and looked at Oliver.

"What if worst...?" Oliver murmured anxiously, trying to lower his rising voice. "What if he is one of the assassins that murdered my family when I was a child...!?"

"Okay, okay, hush now. We won't be sure about that, so let's not assume," she whispered back. "Also, you told me that you never made any public appearance for years since you were a child, so how would that man know you're Oliver Podeshire?"

"...Good point," Oliver's breath quivered.

     Oliver took another quick and unnoticeable glimpse of the man on the opposite sidewalk. Slowly, the man's stare becomes a scowling glare. Seeing the furious look from the unknown person hastens Oliver's heart as he clenches his teeth.

"Yeah, I'll be doomed if I stay here any longer. Goodbye!" Oliver mumbled before swiftly walking back home.

"Wait! Hold up!" Sophia grabbed Oliver's forearm, causing him to halt. "I'll handle this. Now! Watch... and learn from a woman."

"W-w-wait! Sophia! Stop!" Oliver seized Sophia's shoulder, but his hand slipped as she strutted towards the unknown man.

"Don't worry!" she looked back at him, smirking with her eyes half-closed.

"It's dangerous! Sophia...!" Oliver murmured nervously. "Ugh..."

     Sophia marches to the street. She then calmly crosses the empty road and steps onto the sidewalk with the unfamiliar, masked man. Slowly, as her brows furrow, her teeth grind into one another.

"Hey!!" Sophia called as she approached the man.

The man quickly looked at her with wide eyes.

Oliver trailed over Sophia's steps and followed her. "Sophia! Come on, it's okay!" he said as he held onto her hand.

"...Are you stalking this boy!?" Sophia interrogated the unfamiliar man.

"...Uhmm... excuse me...?" the man asked with a shaky voice. "Ma'am... I am only taking a walk here. Then, I thought of standing here to take some air," the man explained as his body trembled.

"Making excuses?" Sophia placed her fists on her hips as she glared at the man.

"N-no, I'm not! Truly, I'm telling the truth!" the man walked back as his palms shivered.

"Stop lying! Oliver and I saw you glaring at him a while ago!" Sophia crossed her arms as her lips pressed back to her cheek.

"...Oliver?" the man tilted his head as he glanced at Oliver.

"Oh... uhm..." Sophia gasped, and her eyes widened as she looked back at Oliver. She let out a shivering breath as guilt wrapped around her.

"Well, I have to admit, I did stare at this young lad a while ago... but I wasn't glaring at him. I was squinting my eyes because I have bad eyesight," the man said as his palms pointed at Oliver.

"...And... why are you staring at him!?" Sophia continued questioning the man as she glared at him.

"I was looking at him because I was making sure I was not seeing a ghost," the man replied.

"What do you mean?" Sophia asked.

"Well- uh... he looks familiar," the man stated. "...He looks like... Albert Podeshire."

Oliver and Sophia's eyes widened as they glanced at each other.

"...And what's your intention?" Sophia inquired, leaning her ear towards the man.

"None!" the man shook his head.

"Are you sure about that?" Sophia whispered as she stepped closer to the man, scanning her eyes across his black coat.

"Yes, yes! I'm honest!" the man stepped back from Sophia.

Oliver stepped forward and stood between Sophia and the man. "Okay, okay! Lady and gentleman... calm down, please." Oliver looked at the man and spoke with him as he glanced down. "I am so sorry about her. She was only protecting me because I was scared... I... I was scared because... you were glaring at us a while ago, sir, and that made me panic because I... I had this 'thing' when I was a child... so... I hope you understand, and I genuinely apologise once again."

"...I understood, of course!" the man responded with a smile. "...But, don't mind me asking... are you Oliver Podeshire?"

Oliver glanced at Sophia. Then, he looked back at the man and asked, "What makes you think that, though?"

"Hmm... I've seen a painting of Albert Podeshire, and you look like him... your hair... eyes... and skin colour are the same as Albert's. Also, your name is Oliver... and Albert had a son whose name is the same as you," the man explained in a slow, steady voice.

"Perhaps it's a mere coincidence?" Oliver thought, trying to conceal the truth.

"I believe not to," the man lightly shook his head as he responded.

Oliver sighed. "...Here's the truth, but please keep it a secret," Oliver confessed as he shut his eyes. "I'm Oliver Podeshire..."

Sophia gasped as she looked at Oliver with wide eyes.

"...I'm Cal," the man, Cal, introduced himself and shook Oliver's hand.

"Oh! Uh! Then, it's nice to meet you, sir!" Oliver responded.

"Pleasure to meet you, too, Oliver!" Cal grinned. "Oh, and uh! By the way, I'm a fan of the Podeshire family," Cal winked.

"Eh-heh, thank you..." Oliver replied bashfully, looking down at his shoes as he pushed his hair on the back of his ear.

"Now, anyways, I must go to the market and buy some vegetables before my wife hits me with her trusty rolling pin!" Cal giggled. "Oliver! It's nice to meet you again." He nodded before turning around and walking down the sidewalk in the other direction.

"Alright, take care," Oliver smiled timidly.

"...Dear goodness, I feel bad..." Sophia murmured. "...Good sir! I apologise for my actions from earlier!" Sophia raised her voice and apologised.

Cal looked back and waved his arm. "It's fine!"