Capturing The Ice Queen's Heart

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Way Out

Nag-ikot kami para makita nila ang iba pang ipinagmamalaking tourist spots sa English Garden 'gaya ng Japanese Tea House, Kleinhesseloher Lake, at Eisbach wave. They were acting weird—pretending to enjoy the sights even if their reactions were saying otherwise.

Nang napagod, inilatag namin 'yung picnic blanket sa malilim at medyo secluded na bahagi ng park. I tried the blueberry muffin while watching them eat. Halata sa mukha ni Michio na malungkot siya at inabot pa ng ilang minuto bago naubos 'yung maliit na Brötchen. Halos hindi naman nginunguya ni Rayiane ang kanyang hamburger at tuloy-tuloy lang sa pagkagat.

She spoke without looking at me. "If you were going to live here, does it mean that you won't be coming back to the Philippines for a very very long time?"

"Yes, to be eligible for naturalization..." I said as a matter of fact. "I need to stay here for at least five or six years. And it wouldn't be too hard to get dual citizenship since my mom's three-quarters German."

"Does your parents know about this?" tanong ni Michio.

"I mentioned it before and they said that they would support my decision. Whatever it may be..."

Naluluha akong tiningnan ni Rayiane. "But why did you change your mind? Did our country scar you so badly that you couldn't come back?"

"It's not the country, it's the people..." I reminded her.

To me, her question sounded like I was petty and cowardly. But if I were to think about it again, none of the people here looked at me with judgment or aloofness. They knew what happened because my family was involved. At hindi ako sigurado kung may ginawa ba sina Tito Marcus kaya tila walang kamalay-malay ang mga tao rito. But the fact that I could live here in peace—go outside without being concerned or scared—was a huge influence on my decision.

Pumatak ang mga luha ni Rayiane habang tumatango. "I feel sorry for you. If I were in your shoes, I would've given up already. The amount of hate, threats, and attacks... The pain they inflicted on a 17-year-old girl. This hurts me so much and I understand. I know I can't be selfish, right? But what about me? I can't even contact you! You're the only one who can tolerate me. You're the only friend I have..."

I pulled her for a hug. Sumandal naman si Michio sa balikat ko at hindi na rin napigilan ang mga luha. Bumuntonghininga ako at marahang tinapik ang kanilang mga braso. Their words took time to sink in 'cause I felt the same.

"It hurts me, too. I realized that I probably would never see you on the ice again if—" Napa-iling si Michio. "You're one of the few athletes whom I look up to. I respect you so much, Isla. And I love you for being real..."

I may have hurt them, but my life would never be the same again. At iyon ang pinaka-masakit dahil hindi ako pwedeng tumakas. Kailangan ko nang tanggapin at sanayin ang sarili ko kahit pa pakiramdam ko ay may mabigat na bagay akong pasan sa likod ko.

Bahagyang lumayo si Rayiane para kunin ang kanyang cellphone. "We were supposed to show this on your birthday, but I guess we'll do it here. And after this, I swear that we would never talk about it again..."

She handed me the phone and played the four-minute video. It was a video greeting from the figure skaters in Japan and the Philippines and some supporters who were familiar to me. Pati sina Coach Ara at Coach Joaquin ay nagbigay din ng mensahe.

Michio smiled at me. "We just want you to know that we got your back. We support and believe you. The world didn't see you as a sensational figure skater and a wonderful human being, but we did. We just couldn't quite grasp what would figure skating be without you... But if you chose to turn your back, then we can only wish for you to have a clear path ahead. You deserve the freedom, Isla."