Her hand settles on his shoulder. “Cause, Rafa. I know you, and you don’t have to tell me everything. It’s okay to keep your secrets.” She offers a soft smile. “But out of all the guys you’ve dated, not once have you ever cried and told me you loved any of them.”
She’s right.
None of his past relationships came close to this. But herwords only deepen the ache he’s been trying to ignore.
Is the stability he fought for really worth giving up love? And even if he were willing to leave Midtown, quit VitaCorp, risk losing his friends and the rest of his family, would Kane take him back?
When he finally speaks, his answer is shaky. “I don’t know…”
Maria’s hand squeezes once more before slipping away. “It’s okay.” She smiles and nudges him in the ribs. “I get it. You’re not a wild card like me. I didn’t even put in my notice. Just tossed my uniform on my boss’s desk and rode off with Idris on his HOV bike.”
A snort escapes Rafael. If only she knew the truth.
“Just—remember you deserve real happiness, Rafa. Not just something safe.” Her tone shifts. “You get one life. Live it for yourself, okay? Not our parents, or the mega corps, or even me. For you.”
He nods slowly.
She claps her hands together. “Okay! Enough heavy stuff. ’Cause it’s been forever since I’ve had your cooking, so please tell me I can steal a bite before you head to work.”
He blinks at the sudden pivot. “Yeah—yeah, of course.” Rafael crosses over to the kitchen station, grateful for the distraction as Maria hums behind him.
35
Chapter 35 - Rafael
Five days. That’s how long Rafael’s been trying, and failing, not to think about Kane.
Today is no different.
On this Wednesday evening, he sits hunched at his desk terminal, reviewing patient charts between rounds. Out in the hall, food and medication drones whir past while doctors slip between them on route to the next exam room.
The only real change is Lian, stationed at a diagnostic scanner near the opposite wall. She’s usually on a different shift or another floor entirely. Except last week, the higher-ups decided the third shift needed extra nurses.
She’s recounting an argument she had with Divya last week, or at least Rafael thinks that’s what she’s talking about. His attention keeps slipping, same as the HOV train ride over and last night’s V-link session with Maria.
No matter what he does, his mind circles back to Kane.
What is he doing right now? Is he safe? Are they still fighting Natural Order? Does Kane think of him anymore? What would he say if Rafael ventured out to the Outer Districts and showedup?
“Divya swears her cousin’s friend knows someone who can get us—” Lian’s voice drifts in again. She cuts herself off when an alert pings on Rafael’s terminal.
Half a second later, an alarm blares through the speakers in the ceiling.
“Code Blue. Room 450. I repeat—Code Blue. Room 450.”
Rafael’s heart skips a beat. A Code Blue is almost unheard of beyond high-risk wards and end-of-life clinics.
His fingers glide over the interface, pulling up the patient’s chart.
“Mrs. Gambo?” The name slips out, barely audible over the medical staff and drones rushing past outside the door.
“Did you say something, Raffy?” Lian asks.
He swallows and turns to face her. “The Code Blue. It’s Mrs. Gambo. She was just in for a cyberoptic replacement, remember?” The same procedure his father underwent. “What do you think could’ve gone wrong?”
She shrugs. “Who knows? Happened last week with 2310 and two days ago with 1900. Some bad luck, huh?”
The casual tone, how she says no names and only numbers, makes his gut twist.