Russian Roulette (Book 1 of RR Trilogy)

Roulette #36

Chapter 36 

(Hurt)

A week had passed when I came back to my normal life. May sumalubong na small welcome-back party sa akin karating ko ng station. Pinag-effort-an iyon ng tatlong bruhang na-miss ko rin.

In that one week, I was also able to talk to Director Reyes about the effing seminar na pinauso nila. He kept on denying the truth behind my sudden disappearance, saying that he was only notified by the higher-ups and that's all he knows.

"I'm telling the truth, Doc Verdadero. Pinatawag lang ako sa office ng President at sinabing ipapadala ka nga sa isang seminar," that was the only thing he told me when I went to his office to ask him personally.

"So, you mean to say that the President himself picked me to represent IMC?" Taas-kilay na tanong ko.

"Yes," aniya habang nakatuon ang tingin sa laptop na nasa kanyang harapan.

"Well then, bakit po wala kayong mga katanungan sa akin tungkol sa seminar?" Sinubukan ko siyang hulihin. Sa akin na niya itinuon ang atensyon ngayon.

"I know about it already. Syempre hindi ko wari titingnan ang details ng mga seminar na pinupuntahan ng mga subordinates ko?" Kalmadong sagot niya. "Teka nga muna, doc, bakit ba kinukulit mo ako sa bagay na 'yan? Is there a problem?"

Shete, ayan na! Binaliktad na niya ang sitwasyon.

"None, sir. I was just really overwhelmed until now na ako pa talaga ang napiling rep ng hospital," ngumiti ako sa kanya bago nagpaalam.

I stopped interrogating him after that. Medyo malinaw na sa akin kung sino talaga ang may pakana ng seminar na 'yon.

Katatapos ko lang sa mga check-ups at rounds kaya medyo nabakante ako sa office. I reached for my phone and stared at Alek's number, contemplating to myself if I'll confront him about it or not.

Napabuntong-hininga ako nang mai-send ko na ang tanong sa kanya. I asked him if he knows that the people I left thought I was in some seminar outside the country.

Nag-reply siya after twenty minutes I think.

Kupalsandar: 

Wow, this is the first text you sent me and you are already accusing me of a crime I did not commit??

I named him that in my contacts because he's so kupal. Kita naman ngayon sa reply niya.

Ako: 

I'm not accusing you. I was just asking. So, why are u so defensive all of a sudden, huh?

Kupalsandar: 

Psh, defensive your face. And to answer your question, yes, I knew about the seminar facade

I knew it!

Ako: