Winter Heat

Chapter 13 - Cafe Ember

Chapter 13 - Cafe Ember

"Good morning, Winter!"

It didn't surprise me that Precious was there when I got out of the bathroom after my morning routine that morning. I mean, she had been crying in our cabin for countless nights before, what's so shocking about her going there that early, right?

But Heat's question made me halt my steps. "Ready ka na?"

"For what?" I asked as I turned to him.

"Sa pag-alis natin."

"Where to?"

"Cafe Ember!" Precious beamed. "I'm so excited na!"

My eyebrows slightly furrowed as I asked, "akala ko ba bawal ngayon dahil sa theater act?" They furrowed even more when Precious suddenly looked uneasy.

"U-Uh..." She was too obvious.

I mean, I wasn't surprised that she knows about what happened between me and Bell. I heard she and Brian comforted her after I made a scene at the floating pavilion of Lake Mitesco.

"Ah, yeah," tumatangong sabi ko. "Yeah, save her from me."

Mabilis na nanlaki ang mga mata ni Precious dahil sa sinabi ko. "No! Winter, it's not because of Bell!"

Got you. Wala naman akong sinabing pangalan.

I just tapped her on her shoulders as I passed by her. Hindi rin naman ako handang makasalamuha ang kapatid ko sa umagang 'yon kaya hindi na ako umangal pa sa plano nila.

Madali lang kaming nakadaan sa gate ng Camp Mitesco dahil nasa mismong labas na n'on si Brian, hinihintay kami katabi ng sasakyan niya. Pinagbuksan niya si Precious sa shotgun seat, at magkatabi naman kami ni Heat sa likod.

Wala pang 20 minutes ang naging biyahe namin, dumating kami sa isang malawak pero sobrang cozy tignan na coffee shop. Halos lahat ng tables ay occupied nang pumasok kami, pero sinalubong pa rin kami ng may-ari—lalo pa at kasama namin ang nag-iisang anak niya.

"Ma!" sigaw ni Heat saka patakbong lumapit sa babaeng halatang may edad na pero sobrang ganda pa rin. This is not an exaggeration. She's really beautiful. Sana all.

"Hello po, mama ni Heat!" bati rin ni Precious saka yumakap pa kay Mrs. Mendez. "I'm Precious po!"

Brian gave her a hug too. "Nice to see you again, tita."

"You must be Winter?" Nag-buffer pa ang utak ko nang biglang lumingon sa 'kin si Mrs. Mendez at binanggit niya ang pangalan ko.

Bakit niya ako—Ah, siya nga pala ang pumilit sa anak niya na sumali sa Camp Mitesco para magkaroon ng buddy ang isang Winter Elison.

"H-Hi—" I couldn't finish even just a hi when Mrs. Mendez stepped closer and hugged me. It felt so warm and she smelled so great.

And wow. Yakap ng isang ina.

"Ano ba 'yan, bakit alam mo na agad, ma?!" Binitawan lang ako ni Mrs. Mendez nang biglang magreklamo ang anak niya. "Ipapakilala ko nga eh!"

Mrs. Mendez's smile quickly fade away and with a very familiar lack of expression she looked at her son. "Ang ingay mo."

I heard Brian chuckle habang napaawang naman ang bibig ni Precious. "Mama ba siya ni Heat or..." She looked at me.