Dealing with Mr. Ice (To Be Published SOON)

Chapter 19

Jake was so understanding and very considerate to let me go back home. Si Ice naman, hindi ko na nakita o kinausap mula noon. Hindi ako galit sa kanya. Hindi ko lang alam kung paano ko sya haharapin matapos ang mga kahihiyang sinabi ko sa kanya that night. Kaya as much as possible, ayoko muna syang kausapin. Saka na kapag buo na ulit ako.

Natigil ako sa pag-iisip nang maramdaman ang palad ni Jake sa pisngi ko. He was wiping my tears away na hindi ko man lang namalayan na tumulo na naman pala.

"You love him that much, do you?" Napayuko na lang ako sa tanong ni Jake. "You dont have to answer it. Cause your action speaks louder than your words."

"Kasalanan ko naman kasi. Hindi ko naman kasi dapat sinabi sa kanya ang mga yun. Hindi sana ako nasasaktan ngayon." I said while sobbing.

"Dont blame yourself. Ganito na lang... Let's have a deal..." Napatingin ako sa kanya. Pinahid ko ang luha ko.

"What kind of deal?"

"Let's make a show...", napakunot ako ng noo

"A show?"

"Exactly. Magiging artista tayo. Alam mo kasi, I got a feeling that he likes you also. So I'm helping him to admit his real feelings towards you." dahil sa narinig ko, inisang lagok ko lang ang bacardi na nasa wine glass ko. Napapikit ako ng mariin ng maramdaman ang init noon sa lalamunan.

"Hey! Chill! Hindi juice ang iniinom mo.", binawi ni Jake ang hawak kong baso.

"But I dont like the idea..."

"Why? That would be really fun!"

"Cause first of all, I dont feel like using people for my own happiness especially you. And second, that'll be totally useless.. He made it clear to me na kapatid lang ang tingin nya sakin and I dont think that can be changed. You see, you'll just waste your time with that nonsense plans...", I said bluntly.

"You're not going to use me. I am offering help."

"Basta ayoko talaga..." Jake just shrugged.

"Ok. Pero my offer is always open. Just give me a signal if you wanna start the show."

Napailing na lang ako. Jake is so impossible. How could be a person be so kind and offered to use himself just to help his friend? Parang hindi kapani-paniwala... But God knows how thankful I am having him with me right now. The effort is priceless.

"Ay kalabaw!", napalundag ako nang marinig ang malakas na kalabog sa pintuan kung saan ang daanan ng roof deck. Saka lang nag-sink in sakin ang nangyari. "Oh, shoot!"

Wala sa loob akong napatakbo papunta sa pinto.

"Clarisse! Hey, wait! Anong nangyayari?"

"We're trapped! Ni-lock na nang guard ang pinto! What time is it?", i asked histerically.

"12:30."

"Shucks! I forgot! Ganitong oras sinasarado ng mga gwardya ang entrance sa roof deck! Paano tayo makakababa nito?" problemado na ako. Ayokong mamatay sa lamig dito sa itaas ng building.

"Let's call the security..."

"I dont have my phone with me. Ikaw na lang..."

"I dont have the number."

"ARGH!"

We ended up sitting our asses off to the ground with Jake holding the bottle of Bacardi.

"Isnt this fun?", I said sarcastically as I looked up the sky. "I am miserable and we're trapped in here."

"I'm sorry... This is my fault. Hindi dapat kita niyaya dito."

"Let's just stop blaming ourselves..."

I said while leaning my head on his shoulder. Maya-maya ay gumalaw sya at hinubad ang jacket na suot saka ibinalabal sakin.

"Go and sleep... Let's wait until the guards open the door."

Siguro nga sobrang napagod ako dahil agad akong nakatulog sa balikat ni Jake. He even hugged me so I dont feel cold.

Around 5:30am na nang magbukas ang pintuan pabalik sa loob. Nagulat pa ang guard nang makita kami sa roof deck at agad na humingi ng dispensa. Wala naman sakin yun dahil kasalanan naman talaga namin ang nangyari.

I tried to stood up but my head was spinning. As in super sakit na parang mabibiyak na. Saka lang ako napatingin sa bote ng alak. Wala nang laman. Grabe! Kaya naman pala. Naubos pala namin ang matapang na alak na iyon.

Pero hindi ako hinayaang matumba ni Jake. He guided me gently as we walked back inside the building.

Dahil wala pa naman empleyado nang mga oras na iyon, agad kaming nakasakay sa elevator papunta sa floor ng opisina ko.

The elevator opened showing the last guy I wanna see on earth right now. Standing at our entrance was Ice. Hindi nakaligtas sakin ang pagtatagis ng bagang nya nang makita kami ni Jake.

Sa halip na bitiwan ako ni Jake, lalo nya pang hinigpitan ang pagkaakbay nya sakin. Wala sa oras akong napaangat ng tingin sa kanya and gave him a smile.

He knows the meaning of it.

A go signal.

As we walked pass Ice, I can still feel his stares at my back. I wanna hug him but then I thought, I have to move on... Ayoko nang masaktan lalo. Pulbos na ang puso ko dahil ilang beses na nyang dinurog.