Comrades in Action: River Nuniez Book 8

Chapter Seventeen

"What was that about?"

Hinarap ni Thalya si River. Isinara nito ang pintuan ng kwarto. Mataman siya nitong tinitigan. He looked like he could barely control his anger while facing her.

"It was a sound suggestion." May bahagyang kabang wika niya dahil sa anyo nito ngayon.

"Sound? You call endangering your life a sound suggestion?" He seethed.

She scoffed. "Come on, River. Hindi naman bago ang ganoong suhestiyon sa mga misyon. Cece had done it before. What. You think I can't do it?"

Matiim siya nitong tinitigan. "That is not my point, Thalya." Puno ng pagtitimpi nitong sagot.

"Eh ano? We can't drag this mission for so long. Kailangan na nating gumawa ng aksyon at ito ang magandang paraan para matapos na ang problemang ito."

Nagpakawala ito ng isang marahas na buntong hininga. Frustration etched on his face. "Hindi mo man lang ba naisip ang pwedeng mangyari sa iyo?" He snapped all of a sudden.

Nagsalubong ang dalawang kilay niya sa sinabi nito. Why is he acting like this? Hindi niya ito maintindihan!

"Our job is dangerous in nature, River. Ilang misyon na ang lumipas sa buhay ko and everytime, my life is always at stake. Pero umurong ba ako? Hindi. This is not child's play. I know that. Pero kung magsalita ka, parang laro lang sa akin ang lahat ng ito ah. What's wrong with you? What's clouding your decision?"

Hindi ito nagsalita. Nanatili lamang itong matiim na nakatitig sa kanya. He looked like there is something he wanted to say but couldn't. Hindi niya na kayang salubungin pa ang mga titig nito kaya siya na ang nag-iwas.

"I'll talk to Magnus. Ngayon kung hindi ka sang-ayon, wala na akong magagawa."

Nanatili itong walang imik. Naglakad siya papunta sa pinto. Akma niya iyong bubuksan ng magsalita ito.

"How can you be so frustrating?" He said in a resigned tone.

Muli niya itong hinarap.

"What?" Pakiramdam niya, siya ang mas lalong nafu-frustrate sa kanilang dalawa.

"I asked you to wait for my plan, didn't I? That man is dangerous. Kung hindi siya basta basta, dapat ay noon pa lamang siya nahuli when the agency put a fucking APB on him. And now you're deciding on your damn own and that what angers me so!" He fumed.

"Don't you trust me, River?"

"I should be the one asking you that, Thalya! Don't you trust me? I told you I would protect you and I fucking mean it! Akala ko ba magkasama tayo sa misyong ito? Why do you go on deciding how this should go?"

Nakagat niya ang ibabang labi. "Hindi naman sa ganoon..."

"Kung ganoon, ano? You think you're the only one who have a say on this matter?"

Hindi siya nakahuma. Mariin siyang napapikit. Sumasakit na ang ulo niya sa kakaisip!

"That wasn't what I intended... I just... I just wanted this to end, River... I can't rest knowing that he's out there, waiting to get to me."

Nagyuko siya ng ulo upang itago dito ang emosyon. She have never been emotional while on mission. But this one... this particular mission just hits different. Felix hunted her dreams for years. His leering smile never left her mind. It's tattooed on her mind. It was so much that she had grown weary of him. Nitong mga nakaraang taon na lamang niya naiwala ang isiping iyon pero ngayong malinaw na sa kanila kung sino ang suspect, tila bumabalik na naman ang bangungot niya.

She didn't realize she was shaking until River took her hand in his. Isang buntong hininga ang kumawala dito. Naramdaman niya ang mga braso nitong pumalibot sa katawan niya. He gathered her in his arms. His scent instantly engulfed her in a soothing embrace. Ever so gently, he palmed the back of her head. His fingers going through her hair, gently stroking her scalp for comfort. Ang isang palad nito'y marahang naglalandas pataas baba sa likuran niya. Kahit papaano ay unti unti siyang kumalma.