Over Each Ruins (Virago Series #2)

his affection bleeds

Sumali na rin ang amahin ni Novan na ni minsan ay hindi ko nakilala kaya malamang ay talagang naalarma na rin sila sa sitwasyon.

Maybe this is why I feel uneasy, too.

"Do we have any greater leads, Ma? How about Solace's patient?" Tanong ulit ni Novan habang tinitignan ang mga papeles na nilahad ng ina sa envelope.

Umiling si Tita Selene, "It happened back in Austria, so I wasn't able to investigate furthermore about that. However, I left Dr. Vania to manage there. She said there is a rotation nurse who decided to speak of the truth. After the party, I'll go back there to check it."

Nakagat ko ang loob ng labi sa narinig. Ang katotohanang baka maaari akong mapawalang-sala sa pagkamatay ng pasyente ko ay nakakaengganyo.

"But what bothers me is I wasn't able to confirm who are the outsiders who tried to kill you back in Glee Sands, Novan. Especially the people who shot Solace," Sumeryoso ang tinig ni Tita, "Perhaps, you gained enemies there?"

Lumipat ang tingin ko kay Novan na agad dumepina ang panga sa igting. Seryoso niyang tinignan ang ina bago kinuha ang kape niya't sumimsim do'n.

"The people who shot Solace. Don't they have any fingerprints here?" He asked.

Napakurap ako sa gulat at pagtataka. Kanina'y binabasa niya lang ang papeles at ngayon ay alam niyang wala ro'n ang mga bumaril sa'kin.

Pansin kong sumeryoso rin ang tingin ni Nigel dahil sa tanong, pero tila walang alam si Tita sa ibig sabihin ni Novan kaya umiling lang siya.

"They were discreet. I don't know if it's possible for them to erase fingerprints but they have none when we retrieved them. Due to the fact na nilalamog na rin ang bangkay ay hindi na namin sila nakilala. We were unable to profile them," Sinamaan niya ng tingin si Novan pagkatapos magpaliwanag, "If only you lent us the bodies sooner."

"I'm not exporting dead bodies out of my own island, Ma." Novan answered, bored na bored ang ekspresyon niya. He said it so casually!

"Whatever," Tita rolled her eyes, "And by the way, I told your cousin about your discharge. Nigel will pick them up later," Nakangiting bumaling si Tita sa'kin, "Ija, is it okay for his cousins to visit him and stay here?"

I simply discarded the matter of their conversation when Tita Selene's attention went on me.

"By cousins, sina Dahlia po ba?" Tanong ko na siyang ikinagulat ni Tita Selene.

"You knew them?"

Magiliw akong tumango, "I met them back in Glee Sands, when they visited Novan as well. And it's okay, kung gusto nilang bumisita rito, Tita. Marami akong pagkain at kwarto."

"It's not always okay, Ma. This is Solace's house. You're getting comfortable letting her do your errands." Agad na sabat ni Novan.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin, "It's not like that, Nov. Dahlia's my friend, too."

"It's not okay to let them stay here." Kunot-noo niyang sagot.

"Oh. stop fighting," She chuckled, "If it's okay for Solace that your cousins will visit here, then I'm assured that everything is in good hands. You both knew Dalia so it's good. And you two, stop worrying about IMI. Especially you, ija," She eyed me and Novan warily, "Just focus on keeping each other here."

I smiled and nodded even when my insides clamored with the fact na parang double meaning 'yung sinabi niya. O baka nagiging malisyosa lang ako, which is not good.

Tita Selene bid goodbye then. She has a lot of work to tend to, she said. Hinatid naman siya namin sa labas habang si Nigel naman ay nagpasyang ihahatid niya muna ang ina sa institusyon.