Winter Heat

Chapter 17 - Winter Frost

Chapter 17 - Winter Frost

"What the fuck, Brian?!"

"I'm sorry, okay! I only found out this morning!"

Brian looked frustrated as well, but it seemed to me that he's already expecting me to barge inside the management office like I always did on my first year at Camp Mitesco. Alam niya rin sa sarili niya na nakakagago ang nangyari.

"There's been a mix up, I'm sorry. Heat volunteered again for you, alright? He's been asking me since three months ago if you have already registered and he signed up right after you called, but there were two other late registrees and—"

He volunteered... Again. For me—was the only thing that registered in my mind. 'Yon lang din naman ang kailangan kong marinig. "Shut up!"

Brian's blabbering mouth was left hanging when he suddenly stopped because of my scream. He blinked, and then sealed his lips. Akala ko mananahimik na talaga siya pero parang may kung anong pumitik sa utak niya at tumingin siya ulit sa 'kin.

"Wait." His eyes narrowed into slits. "So, you want Heat to be your buddy again..."

Napataas ang mga kilay ko bago ulit kumunot. "I did not say that."

Brian's eyes narrowed even more and it felt like he was really judging me, when someone spoke behind me. I almost jumped while turning as I didn't realize that there's someone sitting on the couch, or that there's someone inside the office aside from us two.

"But that's the case on his side," a lady, obviously older than me and maybe even Brian, said. She then locked eyes with me and smiled. "Hi, Winter, I'm Ate Sab!"

Slightly confused, I only turned back to Brian and gave him a questioning look.

"Heat complained first about not being your buddy when he arrived earlier," he explained. "Tumawag siya sa 'kin kanina bago pa siya umalis sa bahay niya at nakiusap na alamin ko agad ang buddy assignments. Muntik na ngang umayaw, pero nandito ka pa rin naman daw."

I couldn't utter a word. Ano pa ba dapat ang sinabi ko? Kinilig na nga 'yong tao.

Brian then motioned to the lady who transferred to one of the chairs in front of his table. "She's Sabrina Mitesco, the next in line to own Camp Mitesco," sabi niya. 'Yon lang at naibalik ko kaagad ang tingin sa babae.

"I'll be here with you this summer!" masayang sabi niya bago biglang hinila ang isang kamay ko. "Precious told me a lot about you and Heat, and I'm so invested in your story!"

I couldn't help but frown over her excitement and, actually, about the whole scene. "H-Huh?" I stepped back and pulled my hand away from her.

Hindi naman nagbago ang ekspresyon niya at tumingin lang kay Brian. "So, sino pala ang buddy ni Heat?"

Hindi ko pa rin kilala si Sabrina at hindi ko alam kung ano-ano ang pinagsasabi sa kaniya ni Precious but she was asking the right question. I looked at Brian as well. He took a deep breath, and the fact that he had to made me scoff.

"Avery?!" I asked, ready to throw hands.

But Brian immediately shook his head. "Avery's still banned from Camp Mitesco."

I heaved a sigh of relief while rolling my eyes. "At least, there is a good news."

"You're welcome!" sabi naman ni Sabrina, who could've been the one to decide about Avery's case. Okay, I like her.