Phoenix

Chapter Eleven - Suspicion

Phoebe's Narrative

White amber was the color of my choice tonight from the sleeping pile of garments inside my stroller bag and roll-neck sweater of cotton that hugged me down the hips. It did and I was grateful since I bought it only last weekend and it kept away the freezing temperature of the hotel room. The window curtain gave a typical silhouette of the night lights until a tall-figure, as I hugged a pillow, cast a shadow creeping up its drapes and the voice said.

"Like I said before, are you fine sharing the room with me?" The smell of wet soap sprung to the air.

"Like I said before, I am alright." I told him clearly. I honestly do not want to share the room with Trixie and we have shared lone assignments rarely not because we don't work out well together but there's just something about the air that when we talk, there's just too much "girl power". But we know the rest sees it similar to not liking each other at all. We talk a lot though which even made it no less irritating.

"I don't understand," he lied. DK never says he doesn't understand. I bet he's in need of sleep right now. "Why you and Trixie are . . . intolerable." It was an ended conversation.

DK walked about the hotel room as if measuring everything. It was the first time he spoke since we've joined the room together. Having this personal chance of silence with him meant a lot for me to ask things about him yet the silence prevailed. Obviously, the bed was mine so I sat against the wall trying to look over his actions. He automatically chose the long couch for himself. I decided to look at him from the bed and met his mindful eyes. His nose scar distracted me again though I always thought it offends him to always do so. So, I ended up staring at his lips which he never parted and then I looked back to my phone keys which my fingers kept on nibbling. DK remained somehow cautious as he took a shirt by the sleeves and put it on. I could still smell aloe from his damp towels that distracted my periphery. I spoke at once yet heavily so he might not suspect my sudden bashfulness and caught a glimpse of his naked torso before eventually tucking his shirt in.

"We're okay. Trixie and I. Women simply need space all the time." I told him ending the conversation eventually nodding for no reason. I think I am blushing. I've never shared a personal time with anyone like him before.

"Yeah. I understand." His inner gentleman said attentively while drying his hair. "Kilo has decrypted primary parts of the encoded list."

"That's good news. Are we going back to Scorpion's? Kilo must find authenticity in the list."

"Yeah, he had. There's least to worry about it. The lady was right."

I stared back at DK finding him looking straight at me seriously. I found it odd and I blushed even more though I denied any reason to. "But is there anything wrong?" I told him frankly.

His gaze became deeper in focus. "Not really. I am happy that you've done really well since that attack in the hunters' warehouse."

"You are . . . happy. Alright." I told him being skeptic. At least, I am sticking to my objective of making my brother happier.

DK shook down his head. "Yeah, I am saying the truth."

"I know." I told him reassuringly. DK could act really childish sometimes. "We are more grateful." His eyes understood what it meant. Trixie wouldn't say it if she was me because she would think it would hurt his feelings to have himself to a near death in the hands of the hunters but not to me. I stopped for a moment to analyze his would-be reaction reminding him of the happening but he had recalled something else. He looked at me and the dampness of his hair reminded me of that night that he went to my apartment as a last sanctuary. That night when his body was severely injured and his presence being tracked by the vicious hunters, he had made it to my apartment and I felt awe for him. DK seemed to be using his senses letting me know it was that night he also remembered. Or is it mine? Oh, yes it is.