A Spy's Home---Book 2: Wounds, Both Old and New

Chapter 28

Zylina's Point of View

I jumped when I felt my phone buzzing in my pocket; I didn't realize how much staring out windows had an effect on me. I managed to catch the first bus just in time about an hour ago.

I fished my still-buzzing phone out of my pocket, and hit the accept button without looking at the caller's I.D; for I already knew who it was. I pressed the device against my ear, and continued to peer out the window. "Hello?" I said, running my fingers through my hair.

"You left without saying goodbye." I heard the saddened voice on the other end of the line. I silently inhaled sharply, but I didn't say anything; I couldn't find my words. "Listen, Zylina, I'm not mad at you or disappointed, but I wish you could have stayed." Carlos said, his voice breaking.

I rubbed my eyes, which were wet with tears, and responded, "Well....we don't always get what we wish for." That was stupid! Why would I say something like that? I'm dumb and a jerk.

To my surprise I heard Carlos chuckle on the other line, and I secretly sighed with relief that he wasn't offended. "I guess not, but there's one wish I do hope comes true." Carlos exclaimed.

I sat up a little, continued to gaze out the window, and asked, "What would that be?" There was a pause that lasted several heart-beats, before I heard Carlos's comforting voice again, "That....you'll see me when all of this over."

For the second time, I inhaled sharply and tears welled up my eyes once again, but I didn't allow them to come out just yet. I covered my mouth with the palm of my hand as I tried to think of something to say.

I heard Carlos sniff, and hold back tears of his own. "I promise." I whispered into the phone. "What?" Carlos asked; at first I thought it was a joke but I noticed the tinge of confusion like he was in his own thoughts when I said what I said.

Taking a deep breath, I repeated myself, "After this is over, Carlos, after the Academy is gone, and it's safe, I promise that I will see you, but until then don't call me unless it's an emergency."

"Okay, I can wait until it's safe because you're worth waiting an entire toda la vida for." Carlos exclaimed. I nearly broke down; those words were Spanish for "lifetime." "That's not-" I tried to deny what he said, but I couldn't fully get the words out.

"Zylina, I know what you have to do, so you beat those suckers and then we'll have a fecha; a date." Carlos said, and I could just imagine that smile he was giving off. I laughed to myself a little, and I responded, "Alright, I'm not going to even try to tell you to throw away my number, because I know you won't."

"Yeah, well, see you later....Chica." Carlos stated. There was that word again. I didn't even decide to retaliate against it, but use some of my own Spanish words, "Hasta Luego, Carlos." See you later.

I knew Carlos was smiling when I said those words, and I smiled along with him, and then I heard the click telling me my call had ended and I placed my phone in my pocket before laying back in the seat letting a single tear of joy travel down my pale skin.

It was time to go back to Rory, my spiritual brother, my friend. I knew I was still going to have nightmares about the shootout, but this time I would face them instead trying to run from them.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carlos's Point of View

I flipped the phone shut, still a little upset that I wasn't able to spend some more time with her, but happy that she was finally moving on. I went back to my room, and saw something on my desk next to the clock. "What the..." I mumbled as I walked over to it.

There was a folded cloth with a note on top. "Carlos, this bandana is for you. Take care of it and remember me." it said.

I unfolded and examined the black bandana and the third smile that day crept on to my face. I tied it around my wrist, and mumbled, "I'll never forget you, Zylina." 

TBC...