Winter Heat

Chapter 5 - Heaven's Suggestion Box

I didn't answer. Hindi ako um-oo, hindi rin ako tumanggi. Depende na lang sa mood.

Bumalik kaagad kami sa cabin dahil wala namang scheduled na day activities. Lumabas ulit kami no'ng lunch, then balik ulit sa cabin pagkatapos kumain. Nakahiga lang ako sa upper bunk sa buong maghapon hanggang sa namalayan kong kinakalabit ako ni Heat.

"Naapula na ni papa 'yong sunog sa langit, tara na," sabi niya.

"I don't want to go."

He just looked at me, and he remained doing so for I don't know how long. If he did that to annoy me, it was a success for him. Napabangon ako.

"Fuck you," I murmured as I took out my one peso coin. "Heads, I'm going. Tails, leave me alone."

I know we might've looked like idiots that time with our eyes focused on a one peso coin in the air. I caught it and Heat stood on his bed so he could take a look at it too.

It was fucking heads. Ngising-ngisi tuloy si gago.

Mukhang nagsisimula na ang movie dahil wala na kaming nakasabay na iba pa papunta sa Grand Cabin. Pagpasok namin sa lobby, ang nag-iisang si Precious na lang ang nando'n at naghihintay sa 'min. Kaming tatlo na lang din ang naglalakad sa hallway papuntang common room, hanggang sa may lumabas mula sa office ng management.

Brian caused us all to stop walking. He nodded at Heat, looked at Precious, and then turned to me. "Hey."

Pumasok sina Heat at Precious sa loob ng common room habang wala naman akong choice kung hindi ang magpaiwan sa labas kasama si Brian. Hindi ako nag-effort na itago ang pagkabagot habang parang nag-iisip pa siya ng sasabihin.

"About what happened at the campfire..." he started, looking shy. Nasa'n ang kapal ng mukha niya?

"What about it?" I asked with a straight face which made him sigh.

"I wasn't here during the registration period but I was the one to answer the call from your mother." He looked like he was unsure if he should continue. "And she may have overshared some problems..."

I could only roll my eyes. Mother of the year.

"I'm sorry, Winter," he finally said. "I should've been more considerate as the only person here who has an idea of what you've been through." He looked me in the eye. "I want you to have the break you needed here in Camp Mitesco."

Brian seemed sincere but it didn't help anyone that he glanced at Heat, who was already inside the common room, after the last words he said. Napalingon din tuloy ako sa gago na sakto namang tumingin din sa 'kin. I panicked and felt so awkward so I quickly looked at Brian again.

"Uh..." I didn't know what to say so I pulled his jacket and slid my hand on one of its pockets. As expected, I took out a pack of Oreos. "I'll just take this as your peace offering."

Brian looked a little surprised by what I did but then he just sighed and smiled.

I went inside the common room where Heat and Precious had a seat between them reserved for me. It was at the far back and Precious is small so she was having difficulties seeing the screen.

"Excuse me po, hindi ko po makita. Can you please move? Excuse po," paulit-ulit na sabi niya pero patay malisya lang ang mga nasa unahan namin.

"Tanginang mga ulo 'yan," malakas na sabi ko.

Napalingon sa 'min lahat hanggang sa mga nasa pinaka-unahan at kaniya-kaniya silang pag-iwas para makita namin ang screen. Tinignan ko si Precious. Gano'n dapat.