CHAPTER 36 – STUBBORN
1206 Words
Reina observed the bracelet Ral handed her. She read and re-read the carved name with half heart. Natalie. It was really her bracelet. She clenched it and grinned her teeth. Once again, the anger and sorrow he felt rose higher. But then she stopped. The bracelet was big to fit Natalie’s wrist.
“Huh?” Reina studied the bracelet more. It was the size of Ryther’s hand, making her brows frown.
“Hey,” Reina felt her chest skip a beat when someone tapped her shoulder. Turning around, she scowls. “What’s with the face?” Ryther asked with one brow raised. “Huh?”
Reina wasted no time and quickly took Ryther’s wrist and put the bracelet on. “It fits.” She whispered, and Ryther pulled his hand.
“What are you doing?”
“Aren’t you curious? It’s Natalie’s bracelet, but the size was your wrist’s size. It’s too big for her.” Reina asked with her finger holding her chin in confusion. Ryther’s brows narrowed.
“Isn’t this a couple bracelet? Look, there is a half heart here.” Ryther showed Reina the half heart with Natalie’s name. “Probably Natalie’s bracelet has Carter’s name carved on it.” He concluded, but they both stopped when Reina’s phone rang. Seeing the caller’s ID, they exchanged glances.
“It’s Charlotte,” Reina whispered and answered the call. “Lotte?”
“Silver Rose!” Reina quickly pulled her head away from the phone but brought it back. “Hey, you there?” Reina rolled her eyes. Charlotte’s squeaky voice and tone never changed.
“Yeah, what’s up?”
Ryther impatiently looked at Reina, so she turned on the loudspeaker, and Ryther leaned closer for him to hear the conversation.
“Is Thorn with you?” Charlotte asked.
“Present,” Ryther said playfully. “How ya goin?” Charlotte did not respond for a moment, and the two heard Charlotte’s finger tap something on the other line.
“Lucas and I were gravely injured from our recent mission.” She started, and the two gasped. “I know you’re busy, but… Can you please do us a favor? Please take our remaining mission for this month.” She pleaded in a slow-paced tone, and the two exchanged glances.
“Where are you now?”
“In Las Vegas. We will fly back to Australia this evening. We talked to Mr. A regarding this matter, but he told us to ask the two of you so-“
“What kind of mission?” Reina asked abruptly, and Ryther threw her a glare which she did not mind at all.
“You’re taking it?!” Charlotte exclaimed, suddenly perking up.
“No”
“Yes.”
Ryther and Reina answered in chorus and glared at each other.
“Give us a second. We’ll call back,” Ryther said and took the phone from Reina’s hand, then hung the call.
“What the- Thorn!”
“What kind of brain do you have?!” Ryther exclaimed angrily. “We sill have to find Carter and-“
“You heard Lotte. They’re gravely injured, and they need our help. Thorn, they were our team before, and you know that Lucan never asks for help unless it is important.” Reina retorted without a pause. Ryther washed his face with his palms in distress from her earbashing.
“Look, don’t take things more than you can grasp. We have Natalie’s case and endless patients to tend here, and you can still afford to take other pair’s mission? For goodness sake!” Ryther ruffled his hair roughly.
“Claude.” Ryther stopped with Reina’s sudden address. She never calls him by his second name unless she is dead serious. “They helped us before, can’t you remember that? It’s time for us to give the favor back.” Reina’s voice was cold and authoritative. “Give the phone to me.”
Ryther glared at her, but she was not fazed at all. Ryther felt as if he wanted to burst but still managed to stop himself. “Bugger!”
“Words?!”
“Shut it.”
“Tsk.” Reina rolled her eyes, snatched the phone from his hand, and quickly called Charlotte back.
“Is Figjam Thorn angry?” Charlotte snorted.
“Shut it, ocker.” Ryther insulted back and was about to speak more when Reina shouldered his stomach, making him groan involuntarily.
“What was that?”
“Nothin. Just a little shoulder meeting his stomach.” Reina uttered and chuckled.
“Bloody hell, mate! You’re a cracker!”
“Not at all.”
Ryther silently seethed as he listened to the two’s conversation, which he totally opposed. Charlotte’s fair dinkum Aussie.
“We’ll take the mission, Lotte.” Reina said after regaining her composure.
“Ya sure?!” Charlotte exclaimed, full of energy and feeling like she wanted to jump and roll around if not for her injuries. Reina chuckled, fully aware of her expression. “Wait, I’m not gonna ask. I don’t want you to take it back. Lucas will send all information to you later.”
“Where is the location?” Ryther asked firmly.
“No wuckers. It’s not beyond the black stump.”
“Oi, where’s sandgroper?” Ryther asked sheepishly.
“Dag, whatcha head when we meet again? I’ll give you a superman punch!” Lucas shouted playfully.
“Not bad, mate.”
“Ah! Our break’s over. Have a good one!” Reina uttered with a huge smile plastered on her face.
“Hooroo! Take it easy!” Charlotte and Lucas replied in unison, then the call ended.
“Stubborn.” Ryther retorted as soon as the call ended.
“Shut it.” Reina hid her phone inside her pocket, gulped her ice coffee for the last time, and started to walk away. “I’ll check the patients now. Let’s meet at Mr. A’s office after our shift.” She uttered and opened the door but stopped.
“Dr. Rein.” Vander called out in surprise. Suddenly, Reina remembered what happened in the breakroom with him, and her eyes darkened. Vander’s eyes transferred from Reina to Ryther, standing behind Reina. “I- I did not know you’re here.” He stuttered.
“Yeah. It’ alright. My break is over anyways. You can take the room.” Reina said in a monotonous tone and walked away, but Vander grabbed her hand.
“Dr. Rein, please, don’t be like this.” Vander pleaded and tightened his grip on Reina’s hand, which Ryther quickly snatched away. Reina rolled her eyes and sighed. Here they go again.
“Dr. Ryther, I don’t think this matter includes you,” Vander said firmly.
“What matter, Dr. Vander? I thought your principle is not to mix personal matters with our job? What are you doin’ now, eh?”
“I think you misunderstand something here. How can we focus on our job if our colleague has-“
“Shut it.”
Ryther and Vander stopped with Reina’s pissed voice. “None of you is to talk to me unless you reconcile with each other.”
~ Don’t hold things more than you can grasp. ~
- Writer
