YOUR DEMEANOUR

Chapter 63: Home Sweet Home

After a few tense minutes of driving, Averyn's heart eased slightly as she finally arrived home. Though her apartment was nothing more than a modest rental, it offered her a sense of comfort and familiarity that she cherished deeply.

"Thank you for escorting me back, Captain Isabella," Averyn said gratefully, bowing respectfully to the captain. However, her expression faltered as she noticed the entire elite unit of soldiers standing at attention, their faces adorned with smiles as they saluted her. Feeling a flush of embarrassment, Averyn awkwardly returned the salute, unsure of how to respond to the unexpected display of respect.

'That damn colonel...he's doing this on purpose to embarrass me,' Averyn thought to herself bitterly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as the crowd of soldiers and their vehicles drew the attention of passersby.

"Oh my god, is that the special forces?" one bystander whispered to their companion, their eyes wide with curiosity.

"What's going on? Is there some kind of VIP living here?" another murmured, their gaze lingering on the scene unfolding before them.

A chorus of whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd as Averyn hurriedly made her way into her apartment building, eager to escape the spotlight and the prying eyes of curious onlookers.

As Averyn awkwardly returned the salute of the soldiers, she noticed Captain Isabella smiling warmly at her. With a nod from Isabella, the captain commanded the troop, "At ease! All salute!"

In perfect unison, the soldiers snapped into a salute, their disciplined movements a stark contrast to the bustling street around them.

"Have a nice day, Miss Averyn," Isabella said kindly, her smile putting Averyn slightly more at ease.

Feeling the weight of the attention from the surrounding crowd, Averyn nodded in embarrassment, eager for the spectacle to end.

"Alright, everyone, you may go now. Back to your families," Averyn called out, her cheeks flushing crimson as the soldiers began to disperse.

After one final salute from the departing troops, Averyn hurriedly entered her apartment building, eager to escape the curious gazes of the onlookers and the embarrassment of the unexpected display of military respect.

Entering her apartment, Averyn couldn't shake off the feeling of embarrassment that lingered from the unexpected military display outside.

"Ugh, Calliax," she muttered under her breath, frustration evident in her voice. "Always making a spectacle out of everything."

As she kicked off her shoes and collapsed onto the couch, she continued to grumble to herself. "Could've just sent me back home without all that fuss. Now everyone in the neighborhood probably thinks I'm some kind of VIP or something."

With a sigh, she leaned back against the cushions, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement at the situation. 

As Averyn stepped into her apartment, a sense of relief washed over her. Finally home, she thought to herself. She closed the door behind her and took a moment to simply stand in the middle of her living room, soaking in the familiar surroundings.

"Oh, it's good to be back," she exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face. She kicked off her shoes and padded over to her favourite armchair, running her fingers along its soft fabric.

"You've missed me, haven't you?" she said playfully to the chair, as if it were a beloved pet. She moved on to her coffee table, tracing the edges with her fingertips.

"And you, my faithful coffee table," she continued, chuckling softly. "Always there to hold my books and cups of tea."

She wandered around her apartment, greeting each piece of furniture and decoration with affectionate words. It was a silly habit, perhaps, but it made her feel at home in her own space.

Finally, she settled back onto the couch, feeling content and at peace. "Ah, home sweet home," she murmured, closing her eyes and breathing in deeply. "There's no place like it."

As Averyn entered her bedroom, she couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort wash over her. She walked over to her bed and sat down on the edge, running her hand along the soft blankets.

"Ah, my cosy bed," she said with a smile, leaning back against the pillows. "You always know how to make me feel relaxed."

Next, she moved to her bedside table, where a small lamp sat. She reached out and gently touched the lamp's base.

"And you, my trusty bedside lamp," she said fondly, "always there to light up my nights."

Averyn continued to explore her bedroom, greeting each piece of furniture and decoration with affectionate words. It was a ritual that never failed to make her feel at home.

Under the soothing flow of warm water, Averyn closed her eyes and let out a contented sigh. The tension of the day seemed to melt away with each droplet that cascaded down her skin.

"Ah, this feels heavenly," she murmured to herself, relishing the moment of tranquillity.

As the water enveloped her, she couldn't help but feel grateful for the simple pleasure of a hot shower after a long and eventful day. With a sense of relaxation washing over her, Averyn took her time, enjoying the serenity of the bathroom before finally stepping out and wrapping herself in a fluffy towel.

In the bathroom, Averyn stood in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection with a smile.

"Hey there, mirror," she said cheerfully, "thanks for always showing me my best side, even on my worst days."

She moved to the sink and turned on the tap, splashing some water on her face. As she dried her face with a towel, she glanced at the shower.

"And you, shower," she chuckled, "you make mornings bearable with your warm embrace."

With a sense of gratitude for her familiar surroundings, Averyn finished her nightly routine and headed back to her bedroom, feeling refreshed and ready for a good night's sleep.

Feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, she made her way to her bedroom, ready to slip into bed and drift off into a peaceful slumber.

Finally, she climbed under the covers of her bed, feeling a sense of peace settle over her. "Goodnight, room," she whispered, closing her eyes with a contented sigh. "Thank you for always being here for me."

"Quite the day," Averyn mused, reflecting on the rollercoaster of events that had unfolded.

"That Colonel...always keeping me on my toes with his unpredictable demeanour. Your demeanour," she muttered to herself, recalling the various ways Calliax had interacted with her since his return from the mission.

"He's infuriating," she continued, frustration evident in her tone as she thought about the mixed signals he often sent her way.

With a shake of her head, she pushed aside thoughts of Calliax and focused on getting some much-needed rest after the hectic day.

"But seriously? Does he have to swing from flirting to being ice-cold? Is he running on dual personalities or something? It's like dealing with two people in one body!" Averyn couldn't help but voice her frustration, feeling dissatisfied with Calliax's unpredictable behavior.

"You're really confusing me, Calliax," she mumbled to herself as she settled into bed. Eventually, the exhaustion of the day caught up with her, and she drifted off to sleep, her mind still grappling with the enigma that was Calliax.