Capturing The Ice Queen's Heart

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

New Coach

Holding our tickets, Triton hung the strap of the camera on his neck and stopped in front of the gate.

Itinagilid niya ang katawan niya para padaanin ako. "Ladies first..."

"Thanks!" sinuklian ko siya ng matipid na ngiti at pumasok na roon.

Besides his friends' capsule was ours. I felt a bit uncomfortable as they were all looking at us. Triton was now walking behind me and he slowed down to type in his phone—replying to Wayne as I could see her texting from here.

Girlfriend? I didn't think so. He wouldn't choose to ride in another capsule and leave her because of me. So, I concluded that they were just friends. But what I had observed was that he was more than just a friend to Wayne...

Binuksan ng operator 'yung pinto ng capsule namin. I pulled the strap of my bag to change its position, but it got tangled in the ribbon. I pulled it again and my straight, light brown hair fell over my waist. Itinagilid ko ang ulo ko at nakitang humiwalay na 'yung ribbon sa strap, ngunit nang dahil sa hangin ay lumipad iyon at nahulog sa pinaka-ilalim.

"Naku, Ma'am! Hindi na 'yan pwedeng makuha. Masyadong malalim!" the operator said.

Tumango ako. "Okay lang po, Kuya. I wouldn't even try to take it back."

I got inside the capsule and took the seat on the left. I ran my fingers through my hair—smoothly penetrating down to the tips. Then, I grabbed a handful on top and parted it on the right, so it could have a volume. And from the outside, I heard that Triton was asking about what happened and I saw him look down. The ribbon was lying beneath the capsule and there was no other way to get it.

Stepping on his right foot, his upper body was already leaning inside the capsule. "Isla, malabo nang maabot 'yon. Bumili na lang tayo mamaya—"

Isang beses niya lang akong nilingon, pero tila umurong ang dila niya dahil nanibago sa nakita. He pressed his lips into a thin line and quietly occupied the seat on the right. Mas nagtagal ang titig niya sa mukha ko sa ikalawang beses na paghagod niya ng tingin—maingat at parang nahihiya na kailangan niya pang ulitin.

"Hayaan mo na 'yung ribbon. Sa reaksyon mo, mukhang mas okay na wala 'yon, eh," ang boses ko ang nagpagising sa kanya.

He swallowed hard, moving his eyes up to look straight into my eyes. "Na-appreciate ko lang kasi 'yung ganda mo. Ngayon ko lang nakitang nakalugay ang buhok mo at bumagay lalo sa 'yo. I hope you won't think of me as a creep..."

Kumalabog 'yung pinto at may kung ano akong naramdaman sa tiyan ko hindi dahil sa nalula ako sa biglaang pag-angat ng capsule. I could take compliments most of the time, but what I felt right now was different; I was shy and tongue-tied. Maybe because he was straightforward and didn't shower me with flowery words—unlike the other men who liked to showcase confetti and rainbows. Triton meant the same thing, but it was somehow new to me.

In the end, I simply said, "Thank you."

Tahimik lang kami sa may kabagalang pag-ikot ng Ferris wheel. Abala si Triton sa camera niya habang ako naman ay nakatunghay lang sa labas. But later on, I tried to take a picture, too. The view from up here was just spectacular that I couldn't just ignore it...