Capturing The Ice Queen's Heart

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Option

Huminto sa harap ko ang itim na Everest. Sinusuri ko iyon nang lumabas si Triton at umikot patungo sa akin. Ngumisi siya at napahawak sa kanyang batok.

"Uh, sa boss ko 'yan. Pinahiram lang sa 'kin..."

Itinabi niya 'yung maleta at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto. He even put his hand above my head to protect it as I hopped into the car.

"Thank you," sabi ko at ikinabit na 'yung seat belt.

Hindi ako makatingin ng diretso sa kanya kaya yumuko na lang ako. Isinara niya 'yung pinto at dinala na 'yung maleta sa likod. Pagbalik niya sa driver's seat, sinulyapan niya ako bago pinaandar ang sasakyan.

"Hindi ka ba nilalamig?" he asked as he smoothly rotated the steering wheel.

I saw how the veins in his arms made their introduction when he tightened his grip. Mukhang napapadalas siya siya sa gym dahil kapansin-pansin ang paglaki ng kanyang pangangatawan. From his arms, my eyes moved to his face. Even his side profile didn't disappoint. Those long eyelashes were noticeable while his gaze was glued on the road. He's got a perfect nose and I only realized it now. He was playing with his lower lip, the reason why his dimples became visible. And his jaw that he slightly clenched was worth the attention.

He turned his head and our eyes locked. It was too late to avoid it, so I answered his question.

"Naiinitan ako kaya hindi na ako nag-jacket..."

The corners of his mouth curved up. "Mas hiyang ka na nga sa Germany, eh. Kumusta ka naman ro'n? Marami ka bang napuntahan na lugar? Ano'ng paborito mong pagkain? 'Tsaka marunong ka na ba mag-German?"

"That's a lot of questions!" Tumawa siya nang nag-reklamo ako. "Hmm, I could say it was an unforgettable vacation. I've been to a lot of places like Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Hamburg, Nuremberg, and Munich; I lived there with my grandmother. Sa pagkain naman, favorite ko ang bratwurst, schnitzel, currywurst, potato salad, and apple strudel. And I became fluent in German after spending months there."

He nodded in amusement and shifted on his seat to talk more. "Kung gano'n, ano ang 'thank you' sa Germany?"

"The most common way to say it is 'danke'. But it depends," I replied.

Tumango siya at ibinaling ang mga mata sa daan. Gano'n din ang ginawa ko, pero hindi ko maiwasang mapasulyap sa kanya. May isang beses pa nga na nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. Dahan-dahan niyang tinapakan ang preno nang umilaw 'yung red light.

This time, he didn't take his eyes off me. The radio was on and 'Fall' started playing at a low volume. He smiled thinly, staring in wonder at me.

"Danke for coming back, Isla..." He uttered softly and sincerely that my heart could melt away from the butterflies in my stomach.

I smiled in return. "It's about time. This is my home, no matter what."

"Hindi lang ako makapaniwala na nandito ka na. Alam mo 'yung pakiramdam na napanatag ako ngayong nakita na ulit kita? Excited, masaya, at kabado kasi baka ilusyon ka lang... And I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss you. So, now I'm thanking you for having the courage to come back..."

I inhaled sharply and punched his arm playfully. "Don't make me cry! Ubos na luha ko, eh."

Humalakhak siya at pabiro akong inabutan ng tissue. He stepped on the gas and glanced at me again, grinning widely from the fact that I was such a crybaby.

Sa ilang beses niya akong nakitang malungkot at umiiyak, pinili kong ipakita na masaya ako dahil iyon ang tunay na nararamdaman ko ngayon. It felt like he was a long-time friend and I was so comfortable around him. No pretensions... No masked emotions... That's just how I was with him.