Too good a friend

"...I don't know. It's nothing, really." Linao tried to shrug off her worry. "I don't know why I mentioned it."

"You mentioned it because you came here to talk about it. It's okay if you don't want to tell me right now... take your time. I'm willing to listen whenever you want to tell me."

Gratitude flooded over Linao. "I don't deserve you, Dom. You're too good a friend."

"Well... you'd do the same for me, right?"

"Of course..." Linao replied.

"Then we're even. Besides, I wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't respect your privacy. I know you'd tell me if it concerned me."

"Yeah... well..." Linao's voice held a trace of guilt. "Well, I should get going. Sorry to keep you up so late."

She rose to go and Dom asked, "Are you coming over for dinner tomorrow night?"

"Probably, if it's okay."

"You know it is. I'll tell Manuel in the morning." He took another glance at her face. "Are you sure you're alright, Lin?"

She lifted one leg out the window. "Honestly? No... But talking to you really helped. Thanks, Dom."

"Like I said, Anytime..."

Linao slowly walked back home, her mind on her problems... so much that she didn't even notice the figure following her.

summary written by Cherie