Winter Heat

Chapter 27 - Frozen and Heated

Chapter 27 - Frozen and Heated

It was the beginning of that thing I hate the most in Camp Mitesco, the hell week—general cleaning week, I mean. Unlike the first year, I wasn't surprised that we've already been through almost one month inside the camp. Parang mas nagulat pa nga ako na isang buwan pa lang pala ang lumipas. Sobrang daming nangyari.

One month pa lang pala akong nakakabalik dito, may boyfriend na 'ko.

Not like the previous year too, cleaning tasks were strictly assigned by buddies this time. Bukod sa mas maraming campers kumpara noong nakaraang taon, dahil nga mas maraming tao, mas maraming lilinisin at aayusin. Idagdag pa na nagkaroon ng biglaang event noong nakaraang linggo at hindi pa tuluyang nababaklas 'yong mga booth.

"Ate Flame, kaya mo po ba?"

Both Frost and I stopped walking when we heard someone mentioning Flame's name. We looked at the direction where that voice came from and saw my roommate struggling to lift a stack of wood panels that they took off from one of the booths.

"Give me that," sabi ko kay Frost saka isinenyas ang sako ng basura na bitbit niya. Magaan lang naman 'yong sako na bitbit ko kaya okay lang na ako na rin ang magtapon n'ong sa kaniya.

He just looked at me. He knew what I meant, that I'd take what's in his hands so he'd be free to help Flame. In layman's terms, pinapagalaw ko siya. Bagal eh.

"Nasa'n po ba ang buddy mo, Ate Flame? Patulong ka po—"

"Give that to me," mas madiin kong sabi saka ako na mismo ang umagaw sa sako mula sa mga kamay ni Frost. Pinandilatan ko rin siya ng mga mata. Ayaw pang tulungan si Flame, madadamay nanaman si Heat!

"You're that jealous type?" he asked me in a judging tone.

Napabuga ako ng hangin. "I am secured, Frost," sabi ko. "How 'bout you?"

I clearly saw his jaw clenched as his eyes darted me a sharp glare. Umirap pa ang siraulo bago ako nilagpasan para lumapit kay Flame. Imbes na umalis na ro'n at itapon ang mga sakong hawak ko, pinanood ko siya at inabangan ang susunod na mangyayari.

"I'll take that—"

"A-Akin na po pala, Ate Flame!" The girl who was looking for Heat earlier suddenly took half of the wood panels from Flame and helped her herself. I would've judged her for looking for Heat first when she could've helped naman pala no'ng una pa lang, but I was only paying attention to Frost who just stood a few steps away from them and didn't say another word.

Dahil nga kakaunti na lang ang wood panels na natira sa kaniya, nabuhat na rin 'yon ni Flame. Sumama siya kaagad do'n sa babaeng parang nagmamadaling umalis dahil natakot sa paglapit ni Frost.

What the hell was that?

Naawa ako kay Frost bigla.

At nakaramdam ng galit. He's just trying to help, why would that girl judge her so quick?! I mean, I know his reputation but... yeah, his reputation...

Huminga ako nang malalim saka lumapit kay Frost. Gumalaw lang siya nang mamalayang nakatayo ako sa tabi niya at inaabot ulit sa kaniya 'yong sakong bitbit niya noong una.

"Mabigat pala," sabi ko. "Help me."

Frost just stared at me for a moment and I couldn't read his eyes. Wala akong mabasa pero, ewan ko ba, sigurado akong nasaktan—o na-offend—siya dahil sa paraan ng pag-iwas sa kaniya noong babae. Tapos 'yong babaeng gusto niya, wala ring ginawa at tumalikod lang.