Embracing The Cold Winds (ETR SERIES #1)

VII

"LEUNI, your phone is ringing."

We are here at Manila Ocean Park and we cut a class. Who would have thought that a Harris Hendrickson could cut class?

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at nang binasa ko ang caller ay si Emily iyon.

Naagaw namin ang atensyon dahil naka-uniform pa kami ng UP uniform pero mostly ay pinagtitinginan ng mga babae o bakla si Harrispanget.

Huminto muna kami sa isang tabi para makausap ko si Emily. Nilagay ko ang phone sa tenga ko habang nakasandal si Harris sa pader ng kinatatayuan namin.

"Zel! When are you coming back to Canada?" bungad agad nito sa'kin. Batid kong nakanguso o nakasimangot ito nang tinanong niya iyon.

"Maybe after one to three years. I need yo finish my k-12 here! Kung hindi edi uulit ako. Mas mahirap." sagot ko sakanya. Nag reklamo naman ito.

"Aw, that's too long! We already miss you! But mostly, Silver missed you so much than us." binulong niya lang ang huling sinabi niya. Natawa naman ako nang marinig si Silver mula sa background. "I heard that!"

"Don't worry, Emy. I'll be back there soon." paninigurado ko.

"Bring presents for us!" sigaw ni Josh sa background. Natawa nalang ako saka in-end ang call.

"Who's that?" paglingon ko kay Harris ay kunot noo siyang nakatingin sa'kin.

"Kaibigan ko lang sa Canada." sagot ko.

"Tss."

We walk through the MOP aquarium and I'm still amazed by the fish even though I've been here several times. Harris, on the other hand, just stared blankly at me while I pointed out the fish to him. I suddenly felt hungry and I wanted to eat the fish in the aquarium.

"Harris." I called him while touching his back. He's so tall that I couldn't reach his shoulder. He turned to me and raised an eyebrow at me. "I'm hungry." I said with a snort. Hindi naman sa makapal ang mukha pero kasi siya ang nag-aya hindi ko nadala yung wallet ko. Ugh.

"Tss. Let's go." he pulled my hand which made my heart skip a beat. Wait, what? Erase, erase, erase. Which made me raise my eyebrows, but in the end I held back.

Nakarating kami sa isang food shop at bumili siya ng dalawang siomai. Lihim akong napangiti.

Boyfriend material yarn? Ay wait, ano?

Nagiging weird na 'ko, lately.

"Mag fish spa tayo pagkatapos nating kumain!" excited kong ani.

"Tss. Fine." sagot niya and I smiled widely.

Like I said, we went to the fish spa after eating siomai. I laughed because I was tickled. When I looked at Harris, my eyes narrowed and my jaw dropped because there were so many fish at his feet but he wasn't even tickling.

Imortal lang.

After we did the fish spa, we went to the penguin feeding. I was very happy while feeding the penguins. They are so cute!

Harris stayed outside just staring at me. From my peripheral vision, I saw that he took out his cell phone and was about to take a picture of me. I turned around with a big smile.

I was surprised when the penguin suddenly jumped and ate the fish I was holding. I saw Harris laugh which made my world stop. I stared at him while my heart was pounding.

Wait, he laughed??

———

"HARRIS! Take a picture of me! Dali."