Romancing The Ice Prince

Chapter 42.

"I love you as certain dark things are to be loved, in secret, between the shadow and the soul."
                                     — Pablo Neruda

Chapter 42.
Dark

Akala ko uuwi na kami. That the mood has gone south so he'd call it an early night. But he didn't.

Kaya nagtaka ako nang ma-realize kong hindi iyon ang daan pabalik sa pad niya o sa flat ko (well malay ko ba kung nagbago na ang isip niya sa "you'll move in with me").

And the thought of going home to my empty bed in my flat filled me with dread.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at hindi na nagtanong pa. Baka ma-trigger pa niyon ang mood ni Miguel na kakatwang kalmado. Though his jaw was set and his brows were furrowed, I had this feeling na hindi ito galit. I still felt safe sitting beside him.

Napakunot-noo ako nang biglang nagbago ang daan. One moment, we were just driving down the highway, the next ay medyo mapuno ang daan na kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay medyo pataas. Like some roads in Tagaytay.

Maybe I should rethink that "feeling safe" around him?

By the time na hininto ni Miguel ang kotse, i'd already formed different scenarios in my head. Maraming pwedeng mangyari sa lugar na ganito like—

"Get out of the car, sweetheart." My ruminations were interrupted by his voice and I slightly jumped in shock. Nakababa na pala si Miguel at nakabukas na ang passenger door

I bit my lips at lumabas ng kotse. "Where are we—" naputol ang sasabihin ko nang makita ko ang ganda na nakatambad sa harapan ko. I gasped in awe.

The city's night sky! "Oh my god" Nagkikislapan ang mga ilaw mula sa mga buildings, establishments, bahay at streetlights sa ilalim ng itim na langit. It was that breath-takingly beautiful. Ang ganda ng spot na iyon dahil nakuha nito ang magandang anggulo ng siyudad. Ngayon ko lang ito nagawang ma-appreciate. Even my flat didn't have this kind of view.

Kapag tumingala ka pa ay kitang kita mo ang mga bituin sa langit. Hindi kagaya na kapag nasa mismong lugar ka sa loob ng siyudad na hindi kita ang mga bituin dahil sa pollution at liwanang ng mga naglalakihang buildings. At bilang isang architect ay sobrang naa-appreciate ko talaga ang mga ganitong tanawin.

Maganda iyong pagtayuan ng bahay or business like cafe or restaurant. Pero mas gugustuhin kong ganito na lamang ito. Hindi ko alam na may ganito pa palang part ang siyudad.

I was smiling as I flick my gaze away from the view para balingan si Miguel, tatanungin ko sana siya kung paano niya nahanap ang lugar na'yon. Ngunit nakatalikod na pala ito mula sa akin. My smile slowly vanished.

Natagpuan kong nakatingin rin ito sa tanawin, mukhang malalim ang iniisip.

Weirdly enough, the vibe he was releasing was not dangerous nor was it anger, gaya ng inaasahan ko but instead, he just looked resigned.

Pero bakit ganon? My heart started hammering, like it somehow knew what was coming.

Ilang saglit na katahimikan lamang ang pumapaalinlangan sa paligid. A gust of cold wind blasted me and I shivered. Naka-sleeveless pa naman ako. I didn't expect him to bring me to this kind of place. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kami nandoon.

"Miguel?" basag ko sa katahimikan nang hindi pa rin ito nagsasalita.

"Hindi ka ba natatakot?" aniya. Casual lang ang pagkakasabi niya, like he's just asking what's my favorite color. It didn't sound like an accusation.