Comrades in Action: River Nuniez Book 8

Chapter Nineteen

"You look awful."

Inikutan niya ng mga mata si Cece. Nakaupo ito sa harap niya habang nakatunghay sa sentido, gilid ng mga labi at mga braso niyang may mga pasa. She admit, she doesn't look her best right now. She's black and blue all over. But it's fine with her. The bruises and the pain are all worth it now that Felix is dead.

"Nandito ka ba para pintasan lang ako?"

Cece grinned. "Hindi naman." She sighed. "Derrick is at work and the kids are with their great grandad. When I heard you were admitted here in the hospital where I'm working, I thought I should stop by."

"In short, you're bored." Mapakla niyang turan.

"You could say that."

"Wait, did you just say you're working here?"

"Yup. As a toxicologist."

"That's sounds..."

"Exciting?"

"Normal." Bagkus ay sagot niya. Sumimangot ito.

"Excuse me, nageenjoy ako sa trabaho ko 'no. You know how I love studying poisons."

"Sure you do."

Iiling-iling na lang na isinandal niya ang likod sa headboard ng kama at saka linagok ang tubig mula sa basong hawak. Kinuha niya ang cellphone at saka inisa isa ang mga messages niya doon.

"So... ano na ang plano mo ngayong tapos na ang huling misyon mo?"

"I don't know..." She shrugged. "Go on a vacation I guess?" Sagot niya nang hindi tumitingin dito.

"Hm... eh sino ang kasama mo?"

"Ako lang. I'm more comfortable travelling alone." Kaswal niyang sagot.

Bigla itong natahimik. Kunot noo niya itong nilingon.

"What's up with your expression?" Iiling iling niyang tanong.

Cece sighed. "You're leaving."

"Yup, so?" She answered, popping the letter 'p'.

Marahas itong napabuntong hininga.

"So? Really, Thalya?" She scoffed. "What about River huh?" She said out of the blue.

Her fingers froze over the screen of her phone.

"What about him?"

Sandali itong hindi nakasagot. Akala nga niya'y wala na itong sasabihin pa kaya naman nagulat siya ng marahas itong napabuntong hininga.

"Anong what about him? Huwag ka ngang umasta na parang walang milagrong nangyayari sa inyong dalawa."

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. She chuckled afterwards.

"We had sex, so what? It was just casual sex, Cece. Don't read too much into it."

Cece gave her an incredulous look. "God, Thalya. You do realize you sounded like a play girl, don't you?"

"Kapag nakipag-engage sa casual sex, play girl na agad?" Natatawang turan niya. "You did the same thing with your husband, Cece. Kaya huwag ako."

Hindi ito nakasagot. It was obvious she hit the nail right on the head with that one.

Biglang umasim ang mukha ni Cece. "So friends with benefits huh?"

"We weren't exactly friends when it all started but now... I guess you could say that."

"Eh paano kung hindi na isang kaibigan ang tingin ni River sa iyo?"

Bigla siyang natigilan. Ilang segundo bago siya nakabawi.