Partners

Selene

“So you’re saying I’m not a good shooter, Boss?” I snapped. She was already underestimating me earlier and now this?

“No. That’s not what I meant, Selene,” she sighed. “I just thought maybe you should start working side-by-side with someone. At least you won’t always be alone on missions. You seem lonely.”

I raised a brow. Is she sarcastically concerned about me? Wow, im very moved from it, tsk.

So she trusts me… but now I’m suddenly.

“lonely”? Is this a joke? I muttered to myself.

“Are you trying to be funny, Boss? Because if you are, it’s not working.” I turned to Francis.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Selene Buenaventura.”

I reached out my hand for a handshake even though we already knew each other. Well im just thinking to formally introduce myself theres nothing wrong about that by the way.

He just stared at me with those deep eyes of his, serious and unreadable. I couldn’t hold his gaze for long. Whenever I do, the past flashes in my head. Was he mad at me? Probably. Anyone would be angry after being left behind.

“We already knew each other. No need to act like strangers unless you suddenly developed amnesia and forgot about me,” he said firmly.

I slowly withdrew my hand and turned back to Boss. Honestly… sometimes I wish I did have amnesia.

If you really look at him now, you’d never think Francis once pretended to be gay for undercover work. That was just a undercover. Now? He’s very obviously… manly.

“So you two already knew each other? That’s great! You won’t have a hard time working together,” Boss said cheerfully, clapping her hands.

Lord… what did I do wrong to deserve this punishment? I thought we would never see each other again so why is he standing in front of me now?

We left Boss’ office and headed to the parking area. I hesitated when we reached his car. Of course i have my own and why did i follow him?

“I have my bike. I’ll just ride that,” I said. Hoping he would agree.

But instead of answering, he opened the front passenger door for me. “You’re riding with me.” he firmly said. As if i do have a choice.

I stared at him. Then at the car. Back at him. I wanted to refuse… but what if he needed to discuss the mission? So I got in.

We drove in silence. Neither of us spoke. The tension was so thick, it was suffocating.

“You left your old workplace?” I finally asked.

If I didn’t say anything, my tongue might rot from awkwardness.

“Yeah,” he said. “After my woman left me… with no explanation. So I followed her. Even to her new workplace.”

I looked down at my hands, fidgeting. “But you knew you didn’t work in the same agency. Why follow her?”

“I knew,” he said quietly. “But did she know how I felt?”

I didn’t answer.

Because I did know.

But does he know his mother hated me?

“What happened in the past stays in the past,”

he added calmly. “Let’s just focus on the mission.”

His words hit me like ice water.

I pressed my lips together.

He was right.

“What… where are we going anyway?” I asked.

“My house,” he said.

I frowned. “Why there? I have a house, FYI.”

“I think it’s better if we stay under one roof.

It’ll be easier to plan the mission.”

“And you’re only telling me this now?”

“Would you have come if I told you earlier?” he shot back.

I fell silent. “…Fair point.”

He glanced at me. “Any more questions?”

“Yeah. You said you followed her… so are you here because of your job? Or because of her?” I asked, biting my lip even though I already dreaded the answer.

“I’m here for the mission,” he said. “Nothing else. I thought she’d be lonely without me, but clearly she’s fine.”

That’s a lie.

How could I ever be fine… when I’ve been blaming myself all these years?

I stared out the window. “Yeah… she’s fine.”

When we arrived at his house, I silently prayed his mother wasn’t there. If she saw me, I was dead.

“You okay?” he asked, probably noticing how tense I looked.

“Yeah. Is your family here?”

“No. I moved out a long time ago.”

I finally breathed out in relief. His house was simple, neat perfect for two people.

“Your house looks nice. Simple. Just right for two people,” I said.

He raised a brow. “Are you mocking my house?”

“Huh? No. I actually find it cute,” I said honestly.