The Politician 2: River Sanders

Chapter 7

"Where's your witty rebut, little mermaid?" nakangising tanong ni River kay Empress. Naaaliw niyang pinagmasdan ang nahihiyang mukha ni Empress na tila walang maisagot sa kaniya. River finds her cute when shy.

Maya-maya ay lumabi ito at umirap bago inilapit ang upuan sa kaniya. Hindi kumibo si Empress ngunit natigilan siya nang bigla itong humilig sa balikat niya.

"Walang witty rebut. I'm cold," she sighed.

River automatically wrapped his arm around her shoulder to make her comfortable. He's aware that many eyes are looking at them but he doesn't give a damn. He wanted to protect Empress from the guys who kept on staring at her like hawks eyeing their predator. He knew that kind of look. They were seeing Empress Cervantes as a beautiful woman but they were just lusting over a girl.

His free hand reached for her flat abdomen and gently caressed it.

"Hmm... That feels good," pabulong na saad ni Empress na tila nagugustuhan ang paghaplos na kanyang ginagawa. He bets that her eyes were closed when she said that.

Mabuti na lang at nakaharang ang mesa kaya kahit tumingin ulit sa direksyon nila si Niana ay hindi nito makikita ang ginagawa ng kamay niya. It's not like he's doing something that is wrong. He just wants to make sure that Empress won't get cold or else she'll be in pain again.

"Gaano kahaba ang tahi mo?" he asked her curiously while still caressing her tummy.

"Three inches?" she replied in a question tone. "They did an exploratory laparotomy on me to find the source of the severe internal bleeding. Sabi ng mga doktor ay maswerte raw ako dahil kritikal ang lagay ko sa OR no'n ngunit kinaya pa rin ng katawan ko. It even healed fast..." she explained. "...yet left an ugly scar," she added with a crumpled expression.

River did not know what exploratory laparotomy exactly is but he was sure that it was painful.

"I'm glad to know that, Little Mermaid. You're a strong girl," he gave her a pat on her shoulder. "That scar is a battle scar. Don't be ashamed because of that," he soothed her.

Empress just chuckled as she snuggled closer against his shoulder. He found it uncomfortable but he did not say anything to stop her.

"You've told us that you had an accident. What specific accident was that?" he asked again. "If you don't mind me asking," segunda niya.

"I was hit by a pick-up and the driver ran. So, it was a hit and run," sagot nito na ikinagulat niya.

"What?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya na muli nitong ikinatawa na para bang wala lang dito ang nangyari.

"It was an accident. Hindi rin naman kasi ako nag-iingat," ani Empress.

He sighed as he tried to calm his nerves. He did not know that the girl beside him experienced lying down on a hospital bed while fighting for her own life.

"Where's the driver now?" he asked as he traced random shapes on her covered abdomen.

"He's already in jail. Kuya Barri took care of the accident before leaving the country with Ate for their birthday celebration."

Tumingala sa kaniya si Empress kaya nagkasalubong ang kanilang paningin.

"Ikaw, kumusta ka na? How are you coping up with everything?" she asked.

It was the first time that Empress asked him that question. He felt a warm hand touch his heart. Hindi nila napag-uusapan ni Niana ang nangyari sa mommy nila at maging si Yana ay hindi niya rin nakauusap patungkol doon. It just feels good to hear someone asking about how you feel.