Winter Heat

Chapter 1 - Winter Heat

Chapter 1 - Winter Heat

With a duffle bag on my left shoulder, and my right hand pulling my luggage, I walked towards the gates of Camp Mitesco—never looking back at my mother who kept on screaming at me through the whole four-hour ride to get there. I haven't even stepped a foot on their grounds yet, but the camp's management had already hit a special nerve.

"Cellphone, ma'am."

My dear mother didn't even care to tell me that I'll be losing contact to the world inside that hell. What if papa calls me?

"Cellphone mo po, ma'am."

Nakipagtitigan lang ako sa babaeng staff na may yakap na kahon na naglalaman ng mga cellphone na nauna niyang kumpiskahin. Ba't bawal ang cellphone? May ginagawa ba silang ilegal sa loob ng Camp Mitesco na bawal kumalat sa social media?

The female staff who seemed like just a few years older than me sighed. She looked annoyed but still forced a smile. "May mga nakapila pa po sa likod mo, ma'am."

I just rolled my eyes and gave her my phone, then pulled my luggage again. I didn't know where to go, I didn't even know why I was there, but everyone was walking towards one direction so I just followed them.

We all ended up in an open field with around a hundred people who all screamed money to me. They looked casual but so elegant at the same time, introducing themselves to one another, taking pictures with their huge cameras, doing all the typical stuff. I sighed, knowing that I have to deal with all of that for the whole summer.

"Good day, campers!"

Napatigil lang ang ingay sa paligid nang may lalaking umakyat sa stage na nandoon at nagsalita gamit ang mic. Ngiting-ngiti siyang kumaway sa 'ming lahat.

"Welcome to Camp Mitesco's first time here in our new venue. For those who doesn't know, Camp Mitesco was located in Bataan since it was founded on 1999. But this year, we're here in Cavite with a bigger field and bigger cabins... still with the same welcoming and relaxing nature around us. Here in Camp Mitesco, the physical activities are not for competition. We want to keep you engaged, but more than that, we want you to be at home and just feel like you are co-living with your family here for two months. And I think we're off to a good start as I see y'all are already getting along well."

Napabuga ako ng hangin.

"That will make the first task easier for you."

What?

"Our staff will be handing out a paper to each of you, containing the name of your camp buddy and questions that you should ask him or her. Your camp buddy will be your best friend during this camp. Do you have any questions?"

I had a lot but everybody yelled, "none." Of course, I didn't raise my hand. Damn, why do we have a task right after we arrive?

Namigay nga ng papel ang mga staff. Nasa likuran ako kaya ako ang huling nabigyan. Nagkakagulo na ang lahat at nakahanap na ng partners nang basahin ko ang pangalan na nakasulat sa papel ko.

Heat Mendez. Sino naman ang siraulong 'to?

Ginamit ng mga magkakapares ang pavilion at ilang mga bench na nakapalibot sa field. Kaniya-kaniya silang puwesto para magtanungan. Nakaalis na ang lahat at naiwan akong mag-isa sa gitna. Puta, asan siya?