Game of Passion

Chapter 15: Payment

Freira learned of the Aces when she started to read more of the newspapers she bought while she shops for food. Different crimes are linked to them but they were never arrested. It is easy to assume that they hold someone by the authorities, the reason why they were suspected yet never put on trial was that there was no evidence to prove it. Besides, most people of Arcatran support them, especially on this side of the city. No one will give off information to the authorities in an act of betrayal.

She understands that the gang gives off protection and extends help to the needy—something the government of Patria failed to do after they have conquered Kislev. Now that their country is under Patria, some concerns are still not addressed and if they were, actions were slow. Just like the construction of different establishments and the livelihood of every people in Kislev is still not fruitful. They work and their earnings are still little even after all these years since the war. It is unfortunate that even if they did everything to win the war—men fighting hard and women left at home, they still lost and suffered the greatest glaring effect.

It has been days since the Aces went to the pub. She was all but occupied with doing her job and thankfully they haven’t come back to add more to her problems. What she had witnessed on the street was beyond shocking. They fought like other people's lives don't matter to them. Indeed, they have been doing that on the battlefield before but they are not there anymore. They should realize it by now. Though, it seemed to them. violence is the only solution to their problems. It is saddening if that is so.

There is one thing that confuses her though.

Why does it seem like Adam was among them?

She saw someone approach Stanley. A man with an amputated arm. She cannot be certain it was Adam since he is not the only man in Arcatran whose arm was cut off during the war.

She was not expecting anything from him. She was not expecting any letter or visit from him within the month after he left. But any news about him would have sufficed to let her mind at ease.

Was he alright now?

Has he seen his family?

Has he already gone settled with the life outside the hospital?

She shouldn’t care about any of it but the moment she laid eyes on that man in that riot, she felt bothered if ever Adam has really gone to his home when he was released.

Therefore, when she had her day off after a couple of weeks of straight work, she went to the public hospital. It was a visit with a dual purpose. She wished to see Doctor Harrington and Nancy as well. Aside from fishing out information on how Adam is going on now.

She smiled at every nurse she passes and when they recognize her, they smile back. She first went to the third floor so she could see Nancy and she did not search any longer since the woman is by the reception and reading some files.

“Nancy,” she called.

The woman glanced at her then surprise was etched on her face before running towards her and embracing her tightly. “Freira! Oh my! You did not say you would come!”

“Well, it has been long overdue. I should have visited a few days when I left.”

“Indeed, but I understood that you cannot since you are still adjusting,” Nancy said then pulled her to a bench. “Daisy, I’ll be back in a jiff. I’m done with my rounds. I’ll just catch up with Freira here.”

The woman by the counter looked at her and since they knew each other, Daisy being the one who always reprimands her and says that it is unfair that she has all that special treatment, the woman agreed and just let them be.

“How are you? Nancy immediately asked when they took a seat. “I thought you will be fresh and well-rested once you get out of the hospital but you look more tired and wasted than before. What happened?”

“I have a job at night that’s why I haven’t been sleeping right,” she explained.

Nancy frowned at that. “At night?”

“Yes, I work as a barmaid at a pub—”

“Barmaid? Are you serious right now, Freira? Places like that are dangerous.”

“And mayhap that is what I need,” she replied immediately. “The first few days that I work there, I remembered something.” She looked at the woman hopefully, trying to let her understand because she is her friend and she needs support and someone that will say that she is doing the right thing. “It was a home, Nancy, my home. I know it was mine for certain. The feeling it has brought me when I remembered it was just pure bliss and…relief.”

She tightened her hold on the woman but Nancy did not react to it.

“The second time, I remembered picking up flowers by the seaside. They were very vibrant.” Her tears started to well in her eyes, recalling the scene she just remembered that night. “Then I was calling someone…I just didn’t see who.”

“Don’t you think you’re only pressuring yourself?” Nancy asked slowly.

“I have been laid back for so long, waiting for something that never comes. This is what I need, Nancy. Please don’t say that I shouldn’t work there.”

The woman regarded her closely, looking at her swollen eyes, the dark circles under them, and the apparent weight loss that she had. “I don’t know, Freira. It just doesn’t sit well with me that you work among people, mostly men.”

“I have been working on the pub for a long time already and nothing has happened to me at all.”

Nancy exhaled heavily and looked away from her, having enough of the conversation. They stayed silent for a while, the woman trying to digest everything she has heard from her.

When a minute has passed, she had to ask, “Does the hospital have any files from patients who were released?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Adam,” she said and Nancy nodded, understanding immediately what she meant.

“I don’t think we have that. Usually, when patients were out, the hospital cared less since there are more people to tend with especially during the war.”

"So no one really knew what may have happened with them?"

"They usually go back to their families."

"But what if they do not have anyone left?" she asked the dreaded question—the same situation as hers.

"I don't really know, Freira."

Her eyes roamed around, thinking until she realized something. "What about Doctor Harrington? I'm sure he could do something about it." Nancy seemed shocked by the question, that's why she had to ask, "Why?"

"I thought he was going to write to you, to inform you."

"About what?"

"Doctor Harrington was assigned to another place, Freira."

"Assigned?"

"He left the day after you did."

~~~~~~~

Flynn said he would try his best not to be assigned elsewhere. She never really thought he would actually leave without saying anything to her or even just with a letter and mayhap that is what she is problematizing right now. She wasn't expecting he would leave, therefore, she felt neglected. But she shouldn't feel like that since she was the one who had first forgotten about him, being all occupied with her work and all. She shouldn't feel like she was abandoned, nor should she feel mad about it. Flynn has his own life to handle and so was she, she shouldn't tail him at all times. Besides, she was the one who cut the ties so it should be understood that he would go on with his life without her.

"You look like you're going to kill someone," Stanley commented as he sips his drink without avoiding his gaze at her.

She raised her eyes at him. He was sitting on one of the stools. His hair is combed back tonight and he does not have his coat on— must have left it inside their room—the reason why she could see his folded sleeves, exposing his arms with protruding veins and an average amount of hair.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be inside that room along with your group?"

"I like it here better. It's stifling over there."

She pressed her lips. When she thought she would have another peaceful time at work, she was wrong when the Aces came and made everyone in the pub tense. She should feel fear since she has seen them work with violence but she just had enough problems to deal with already.

"The singer is pretty tonight. Why don't you go to her and stop pestering me?" she said, glancing at the singer who is different tonight and among the singers who performed in the pub, she thinks the woman is the prettiest.

"Gladys?" Stanley asked. "She had enough men to deal with later."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Stanley eyes her with a playful smile. "Do you really want to know?"

Her mouth parted but did not answer him anymore, turning her attention to cleaning the glasses.

"You still owe me, Freira," he said after a minute of silence between them.

"I know."

"I assumed the payment could be anything, right?"

She looked at him, straightening her stance. "If I could do it then why not?"

Just so she could be done with him and he won't bother her anymore.

He was staring at her eyes but he went lower to her lips, staying there for a while before he spoke, "I think I know now what I want." He passed his tongue to wet his lips as his eyes went back to hers, clearly expressing his desire. "And I think you know what it is."