Dealing with Mr. Ice (To Be Published SOON)

Chapter 23

"No... Magaling ako sa direction. Ako na lang ang mag-guide." Pero hindi ako nanalo. Mas malakas ang fighting spirit nya so  I ended up wearing the blindfold.

Mechanics: There will be bottles scattered around the beach na may nakalagay na papel sa loob na may nakasulat na 'It's More Fun During Summer'. We have to find those bottles with that message para manalo. Yung isang bottle naman, prank lang. May laman din sya na paper pero consequences ang mga nakasulat. Example: Dance with the tune of Bubble Butt, Sing the themesong of Barney and Friends in a theatrical way and more!

One member of the team should wear the blindfold and the other one will be guiding his/her team member if she'll go to the right, left or just walk straight until we got to the bottles.

At dahil nga ako ang nakasuot ng blindfold, Ice will be guiding the direction. Pero hindi ako makapagconcentrate ng maayos sa sinasabi nyang daan dahil sa kamay nyang nakahawak sa kamay ko.

"Turn right... And just walk..." Sabi nya na sinunod ko lang.

"Malayo pa ba? Kanina pa tayo naglalakad pero wala pa rin tayong nakukuhang bottle." Reklamo ko.

"Nauunahan kasi tayo ng ibang teams. Turn left." Sinunod ko ulit sya.

Naulit ng ilang beses ang pagpapaliko-liko nya sakin at lumipas na ang 20 minutes pero wala pa rin kaming nakukuhang bottle. Naghinala na ako.

"This is strange. Bakit wala na akong naririnig na boses?" At walang sabi sabing tinanggal ko ang blindfold ko na suot.

Just to be surprised. Wala nang tao sa paligid. Kami lang ni Ice ang nandito. And this place is not the area where the games are being held. Mukhang malayo na kami sa part na yun. Ang magandang dagat lang ang nakikita ko ngayon at matatayog na niyog sa baybayin.

Lumingon ako kay Ice.

"Where are we? What the heck are we doing here?" hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong magalit sa kanya.

"Cause this is the only way for us to talk.", he sat down under the coconut tree.

"We have nothing to talk about. I'm sorry... I need to get back there.", pero agad nya akong napigilan sa kamay.

"We have a lot to talk about. I have a lot to say....", napayuko ako sa kanya.

"Please, Ice... If you're going to break my heart again, wag ka na magsalita please... Hindi pa ako nakakarecover sa mga nangyari." tumayo na ulit sya so he could look straight to my face.

"That's why I brought you here. Cause I wanna talk to you privately. Yung malayo sa mga tao. Yung malayo kay Jake.", napakunot ako sa sinabi nya.

"Anong kinalaman ni Jake?"

Hindi sya sumagot. Nakatitig lang sya sakin.

"Dinadamay mo yung inosenteng tao.", I walked away from him pabalik sa area.

"I'm jealous...", napatigil ako sa sinabi ni Ice at unti-unting humarap.

"What?"

"I'm jealous of him. Dahil nasa kanya ang attention mo. While me, I'm like an invisible guy to you. You treat me as if I dont exist. Did I hurt you that much? Then... I'm sorry...", his voice cracked. "I'm so sorry, Reese. I was such a fool na nagpatalo ako sa takot. Pinagsisihan kong nangyayari to. That i wasnt able to be true to you... I'm sorry..." he walked closer to me and hugged me tightly.

"...I can do anything just to win you back...", halos mapataas ang kilay ko. Win me back? Hindi naman nya ako pag-aari dati. Nagseselos daw sya. I dont know if I have to believe him or what? "Can you give me another chance?"

I pushed him gently. "Chance?"

"A chance to prove everything to you..."

I was silent. He looked damn serious. Ano bang nakain nito at ganito ang mga sinasabi nya?

"Your choice." saka ako tumalikod sa kanya para bumalik na sa camp namin. Hindi ko na hinintay na magsalita sya.

I cant help but smile while walking.

"Thank you." Ice said. Hindi ko namalayan na kasabay ko na pala sya sa paglalakad pabalik.

Naisipan kong dumiretso na lang sa suite ni Jake sa halip na pumunta sa game area. I just cant wait to tell him what happened.

I knocked as soon as I get to his door.

"Hi. How are you?", sabi ko nang makapasok ako sa kwarto ni Jake. Hindi pa rin sya makalakad ng maayos.

"I'm doing better... What are you doing here? Diba dapat kasama ka nila?", pumunta sya sa kitchen at sumunod naman ako.

"Naglaro na ako kanina... Saka hindi ako makapag-enjoy nang maayos habang nandito ka.", I sat at the kitchen stool.

He handed me a bowl of salad and sat down in front of the counter across mine.

I was waiting for his reaction pero tinitigan nya lang ako.

"What? Have I grown two heads?", I asked uneasily.

"I know you. Hindi yan ang dahilan... What happened back there? As in really?", he asked seriously.

Napayuko na lang ako. Wala na yata akong maitatago dito kay Jake.

"Ice and I talked.... He was asking for a chance to prove everything...", pinag-aralan kong mabuti ang mukha ni Jake. Hindi ko mabasa.

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him, it's his choice... Ok lang naman diba?"

Silence...

"UY... Speak up." he just sighed.

"It's your choice also. Pero sana this time, wag ka nang masaktan. Or else, ako ang mananakit sa kanya.."

"I appreciate it, Jake. Pero hindi mo naman ako kailangan ipagtanggol. I can manage."

"I know. But I can’t just let anybody hurt you. You're special... to me."

Saka sya umalis sa harapan ko at naglakad papunta sa living room. Leaving me with a question mark.