"Why did you disappear without trace?" Shantel asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
"I knew you cared for me. I'm sorry to have gotten you so worried."
"You wish," Shantel scoffed. "I'm not so jobless to waste my time worrying about you. I was only concerned about your mission."
"Still denying. Anyways. I was in the hospital for those days," Old Carter said, looking all sad and worn out.
"What?! What happened? Were you sick? Are you alright? No wonder I kept having those nightmares." Shantel said all at once, momentarily forgetting what she said barely twenty seconds ago as she held onto Old Carter, gently turning him around to examine his body.
Unknown to her, the old man was struggling to hide the grin from spreading over his face as he continued to look pitiful.
