Dealing with Mr. Ice (To Be Published SOON)

Chapter 28

A/N: Jamine!!! You surprised me. Pagbukas ko ng notifs, pangalan mo ang bumungad. haha! thank you very much for voting sa lahat ng chapters ng stories ko. ang sipag! dahil dyan, this chap is dedicated to you.

for love and good vibes, cheers!

-----

Clarisse

Three weeks later...

The moment I entered my suite at Hotel de Paris at Monte Carlo, I immediately removed my shoes off and dove into my bed. I was really tired and the only thing that I wan to do for now is sleep. Ilang linggo na akong walang matinong tulog dahil sa business meetings and conferences na nangyayari araw-araw. Everyday, kaharap ko ang ibat ibang businessman na nanggaling sa ibat ibang bansa. Pero at least may maganda namang nangyari sa business trip na ito. I just bagged another contract and I was able to get the sponsorship of one of the leading construction companies in France. That's a big thing. Kahit paano, nagbunga ang mga paghihirap ko.

And tomorrow will be my last day here in Monte Carlo and still, hindi pa rin ako nakakabili ng pasalubong kina mommy. Though I know they wont need it anymore. Months ago, kakagaling lang nila ditto. Pero syempre, it's the though that counts. Kaya bukas, plano kong maglibot ditto sa Monte Carlo bago bumalik sa Pilipinas. Pero sa ngayon, matutulog muna ako.

The next day, nilibot ko ang kagandahan ng lugar na ito. And I am really impressed. 3 years na ang nakalipas mula nang makarating ako ditto. And the place is now well-developed. Mas gumanda at mas nakaka-attract ng turista. Well, France will always be France.

I bought stuffs for myself, my mom, dad, Tanya, Andrew, Zach and Charlie. Sigurado masusurpresa ang mga iyon kapag bigla na lang akong kumatok sa pintuan nila. Now, I'm enjoying surprises to the point na nahihilig na rin ako sa pagsurpresa sa kanila. Good thing, my dad and mom doesn't have any plans yet of leaving the country again. Magpapahinga daw muna sila so that they can be with me. And Ice... According to my mom, hindi pa rind aw umuuwi ng bansa. Ni hindi ko alam kung may balak pa ba syang bumalik. I don't even know kung anong ginagawa nya sa Canada. Ayoko nang isipin yun. Sumasakit lang ang ulo ko sa kakaisip.

Matapos mamili ng kung ano-ano, bumalik na ako sa suite para ayusin ang mga gamit ko. I have to get ready for my flight tomorrow. It'll be a long ride for a total of 16-19 hours. From FontvieilleHeliportAirport, I'll be taking a plane going to my first stopover, Amsterdam in London. I'll be waiting for 2 hours for my flight going to Manila.

***

Naramdaman kong umangat ang eroplano sa ere. Matapos ang dalawang oras na paghihintay sa Amsterdam, I am now on my flight going back to the Philippines. Naramdaman kong unti-unti nang bumabagsak ang mga mata ko dahil sa antok. Matagal pa naman bago mag-land ang eroplano sa NAIA so I have all the time to sleep.

"We hope you have enjoyed the in-flight entertainment. We are now preparing to land. May I remind you to complete your arrival and immigration documentation by the time we arrive..."

Napadilat ako ng mga mata nang marinig ko ang boses ng flight attendant sa microphone. Inayos ko agad ang upo ko at tumingin sa wrist watch ko. I slept that long? Ngayon lang yata ako nakatulog ng maayos habang nasa eroplano. At ngayon nga ay ilang minuto na lang at maglalanding na ulit kami sa NAIA. I'll be meeting my parents again na for sure nasa airport na at naghihintay sakin.

I grab my bag and started fixing myself. Baka mamaya, sabog sabog pa ang buhok ko at TL pa ako dahil sa pagtulog.

Maya-maya ay narinig ko na naman ang boses ng flight attendant.

"Ladies & Gentlemen, we are now approaching Manila where the local time is 2:00pm... Please ensure all electronic devices including laptop computers and computer games are turned off...."

Napangiti na lang ako. Déjà vu. Parang nangyari na to dati. Pero noong time nay un, nasa eroplano sya, kasakay ko without me knowing. I took a deep breath. Ilang buwan na ang lumipas, sya pa rin ang naiisip ko. Para na akong baliw.

Tumayo na rin ako nang makita kong isa-isa nang bumababa ang mga pasahero sa eroplano. We successfully landed in NAIA.

Pababa na sana ako ng eroplano nang may nagsalita sa likuran ko.

"Welcome back to the Philippines, Clarisse.", said the masculine voice. Hindi sana ako lilingon dahil akala ko guni-guni ko lang ang narinig ko. Pero nakarating sakin ang pamilyar na pabango. Doon ako unti-unting napalingon.

I was stunned.

I was speechless.

I just stared at him.

"Hey... You okay?", tanong nya ulit.

Pero sa halip na sumagot, I threw myself to him.

"Whoa! Easy!", natatawa na lang sya habang yakap nya ako.

"Please don't push me away. Please prove to me that this is not a dream. I just wanna be sure. I don't want you to leave me again...",I was sobbing. Hidni ko alam kung bakit. Was it because of happiness? I don't know.

Then I felt somebody was tapping me on my shoulder. Agad akong napadilat and I saw a teenage American boy sitting beside me.

"I'm sorry to wake you up. But you were sobbing on your sleep.", sabi nya saka inabutan nya ako ng tissue.

And it's true, umiiyak nga ako.

"T-thanks...", I smiled to him and looked down.

It was just a dream. Akala ko totoo na. I just thought.....