Winter Heat

Chapter 12 - Number One Dream

STREAM HEAR ME OUT

Chapter 12 - Number One Dream

We were so awkward the next morning. Or was it just me? I don't know. It's not like I want to talk to Heat, but I was wondering if he would talk to me.

We went through our morning routine without uttering a single word. There was one time that I caught him looking at me but he quickly looked away, and that was it. I was already tying my shoelaces, ready to go out when someone knocked on our door. I just looked up. Heat went to open it.

"Hey, si Win—" Brian must've sensed the air right away, he stopped what he was saying. Ilang ulit na nagpabalik-balik ang tingin niya kay Heat na nakatayo sa harapan niya, at ako na nasa isa sa mga upuan sa table.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Natapos na rin naman ako sa pagtatali ng sintas ko kaya tumayo na ako at lumapit sa kaniya. "Ano?"

He looked like he suddenly remembered why he came to our cabin, then he looked a bit... worried? "Winter, teams for the activity at 3 PM will be composed of three persons," he said.

"Tapos?"

"Dalawang mag-buddy, at isang member ng theater club," Brian explained while giving me a meaningful look. It didn't take me long to understand what he was implying. "I'm sorry, I wasn't there when they listed—"

Nakatitig lang ako kay Brian nang maputol ulit ang sinasabi niya. Dahil may dumating.

"G-Good morning, Ate Winter," Bell greeted me with a soft smile. It was obvious that she's being careful and trying to read my mood. Well, it's also possible that she's just scared because I made her cry the night before. "M-Magka-group tayo today, I saw the list on the announcement board."

Bumuka ang mga palad ko. Hindi ko pa 'yon naisasara nang biglang may umakbay sa 'kin.

"Uy, magka-group tayo?!" excited na sabi ni Heat kay Bell habang nakapulupot ang isang braso sa bakikat ko. Ganoon siya kalapit nang lumingon siya sa 'kin. Dumikit pa sa noo ko ang dulo ng baseball cap na suot niya. "Galingan natin, ah!"

Ni hindi ko siya nagawang itulak.

"Parang detective game 'yong activity, crime solving!" sabi naman ni Bell, mukhang excited na rin. Nagliwanag ang mukha niya nang makitang normal lang si Heat sa 'kin. "Magaling talaga ro'n si Ate Winter! Siya ang bahala sa 'tin!"

I'm not sure, back then, why my feet moved on their own when I heard the last thing my 13 year old stepsister said. My eyes were looking straight to the front as I passed by her.

"Winter," namalayan kong tawag sa 'kin ni Brian pero hindi niya rin ako hinila para pigilan.

"Sa'n ka pupunta?!" tanong naman ni Heat.

Dire-diretso pa rin ako at hindi ako lumingon pero sumagot ako ng, "breakfast."

Even at the canteen, Bell was sitting with us. Umakto pa akong napipilitan lang sa friendship with Precious noon, habang parang close na close na sila kaagad. Sabagay. Pareho silang mabait at masayahin. Mukhang pareho ring lumaki sa isang supportive environment.

Until lunch, the two of them were bonding over their childhood stories, while Brian was side-eyeing me the whole time. Heat, on the other hand, was surprisingly quiet. Nagsalita lang siya ulit noong magsimula ang laro. Siya ang nangunguna sa pagbukas ng envelope na naglalaman ng mga clues para sa krimeng iniimbestigahan namin.