Capturing The Ice Queen's Heart

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Friend Request

"You're smiling! Crush mo si Triton?! Lagot ka kay Tito Azure!" natatawa kong hinawi 'yung hintuturo ni Rayiane na nakaduro sa mukha ko.

I looked out the window. "What do you mean? It's not like I'm gonna introduce a husband to my dad!"

"Then bakit ang lapad-lapad ng smile mo?" She cupped my face 'cause she wanted my attention. "Tell me nga, crush mo ba si, Tri? Transfer to DLSU immediately!"

I clicked my tongue. "Just because I was smiling doesn't mean that I have a crush on him. Girl, we just met!"

"So? My boyfriend and I just met when I fell in love with him!" she answered dreamily.

"That wasn't love, then. Wake up! You must probably be dreaming until now," I fired savagely.

Sumimangot siya. "Why are you attacking my love life? Isla, you don't wait for 10 years to fall in love! You can feel it anytime—even at the worst moment of your life."

"Why are we talking about love anyway? I'm just 17!" sagot ko at pinaglaruan 'yung mga talulot ng bulaklak.

"Age doesn't matter. As simple as that," kumuha siya ng isang bouquet at gumaya sa akin.

Except that she's two years older than me, Rayiane and I have so much in common in terms of our lifestyle, hobbies, taste in music, fashion sense, and attitude that's why we instantly clicked. But she has immersed herself in the world of fairytales where it was always a happy ending, hence her fanatical perception of love.

Of course, I have so much respect for her. But it just didn't sit right with me to discuss forever or love at first sight when we were considered barely legal. I knew my mother fell in love with my father at such a young age, and they had me in their 20s, but I was too young to think about love. It was a powerful word and shouldn't be taken lightly.

"I'm not sure if I can visit you sa Tagaytay before Christmas. Let's see about that... We'll keep in touch, okay? Love you!" bumeso sa akin si Rayiane at bumaba pagkaparada ng sasakyan sa tapat ng kanilang bahay.

"Yup! Love you, too!" I waved my hand and accepted her flying kiss before she entered the gate.

Sumenyas ako kay Kuya Jolas at 'agad niyang pinatakbo ang SUV. Itinukod ko ng mariin 'yung kanang paa ko at napangiwi nang maramdaman ang pagkirot niyon. My parents will surely give me an earful...

Nang lumabas kami sa main gate ng Dasmariñas Village, nag-text ako kay Lola Anastasia upang ipaalam na malapit na kami sa kanila.

The triplets; Ava, Amelia, and Anton ran through the door as soon as they saw me crossing the threshold. I chuckled and let my 11-year-old cousins hug me.

"Ate Isla! Ate Isla!" they all chanted my name.

Punong-puno ng galak ko silang niyakap. "Hello! I've missed y'all so much!"

"How 'bout me, dear?"

My lips parted as my eyes spotted Aunt Avery, my father's older sister. Wearing an elegant dress, she walked down the stairs with a smile on her face. Aging was inevitable, but she aged like a fine wine. Halos lahat naman ng mga babae sa pamilya ko, eh. I didn't know how they did that, but they all looked so young and beautiful as if they came from a family of vampires.

"Tita! Oh, my gosh!" I ran to her and my cousins followed me as well.

She laughed and gave me a tight hug. "Oh, I missed you so much! Wala man kami para panoorin 'yung competition, but I kept my promise that we'll be home for Christmas."