Comrades in Action: River Nuniez Book 8

Chapter Twenty three

Napalingon si Thalya sa pinto ng bumukas iyon at malakas na bumalya sa pader. Tumutok ang mga mata niya kay River na pulang pula ang mukha. Sumeryoso ang anyo nito nang makita siyang nakaupo sa kama. He walked towards her with angry strides. Ilang hakbang mula sa kanya ay bigla itong tumigil. He closed his eyes and took a deep calming breath. Nang magmulat ay wala na ang galit sa mukha nito.

"Let's talk." He said in a calm tone.

Ipinatong niya ang wine glass sa mesa bago ito hinarap. "I'm listening."

Tumango ito bago nagumpisang magpaliwanag.

"Nakilala ko si Jasmine noong dinala ko si Cece sa Greece. She helped Cece during her pregnancy. We were not exactly close friends. Hindi ko din siya naging girlfriend."

"Naging fuck buddy mo lang ganoon?"

River gulped at her icy tone. She sounded like a damn lawyer with that business-like tone and expression she's wearing. If he isn't careful, he might be sent to hell before the day ends. God help him.

"It was just one time."

She was silent after that answer. And the tension is killing him. He wanted to crack her brain open just to know what she's thinking right now.

She sighed. What was that sigh for?

"You obviously did not end things after that 'one time'. Kasi kung ginawa mo, hindi ka niya hahalikan ng ganon."

River bit his lip. He have never had this kind of argument with a woman before. He doesn't know how scary to have this kind of argument until this moment. This is more nerve wracking than when he was decoding a bomb in Afganistan five years ago.

"I told her the rules."

"Same rules you told me?" She fired back.

"Yes..."

"Well it seemed like she didn't get the rules. It's either that or you insinuated that you are down for another tumble in bed when you two meet each other again."

Why the hell does she always have something to hurl at him with every answer he gives her? Gusto na lang niyang hindi sumagot. Pero kapag hindi naman, pakiramdam niya'y siya ang mali. Dammit! Fighting a thousand war is better than standing here in front of her, proving his innocence.

"I don't have sex with a woman twice, Thalya. Sa iyo lang. It was just one time, believe me."

She started pacing back and forth. Siya naman ay nanatili lamang na nakatayo doon. He couldn't move. She's like a ticking bomb. Pakiramdam niya'y isang maling galaw lang niya'y sasabog ito.

"Anong naramdaman mo ng hinalikan ka niya?"

What the hell was that question? It sounded so tricky. Pakiramdam niya'y dapat tama ang mai-sagot niya sa tanong na iyon kung hindi...

She stopped in front of him. Her face was murderous all of a sudden.

"Did you just hesitate in answering that question, River?"

He blinked. He was suddenly scared to death. "No, maam." He croaked.

"So what did you feel? No attraction? No pleasure?"

"Nothing." Mabilis niyang sagot. "You saw me pushed her 'immediately'. Idiniin niya ang huling salita.

Matagal siya nitong pinakatitigan. Iyong tipong nang-aarok. He didn't dare look away. Looking away is synonymous with guilt.

"Okay."

Nagulat siya ng tumalikod ito. Wait, is that it? Iyon na lang iyon? What did she mean by okay? Was it a good okay? Or a bad okay?