Capturing The Ice Queen's Heart

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Change

Triton served me a glass of juice before he turned the TV on. Inalis niya ang mga gamit niya sa center table maging ang malaking paper bag na nanggaling sa babae kanina.

"Galing nga pala 'to sa mama ni Patrice. Kakauwi lang galing Dubai..." sabi niya nang nagtagal ang tingin ko roon.

Hinugot niya 'yung Toblerone at itinapat sa akin. He smiled a little, waiting for me to grab it. Well, I could eat that. Kinuha ko iyon at nagpasalamat.

"Palagi bang pumupunta dito si Patrice?" itinanong ko habang binubuksan niya 'yung electric fan.

"Hindi naman palagi. Kapag may binibigay lang na pagkain sa birthday o pasalubong 'tulad kanina," he explained.

Ngumuso ako at hindi na nagtanong. Nang masigurong maayos akong naha-hanginan, umupo siya sa tabi ko at binabaan ang volume ng TV.

"My turn to ask you..." Smirking, he looked at me. "Why did you come here for a car wash? May malapit naman sa condo n'yo, ah?"

Kinunot ko ang noo sa kanya. "Because I'm more comfortable with you. 'Tsaka ayaw mo ba na madadagdagan ang customer n'yo?"

"So, you already saw it. Nagulat nga rin ako, eh. Syempre nakakatuwa na dinudumog ang car wash namin ngayon. But I don't want to be famous for my looks. Nakaka-ilang at hindi ako makapagtrabaho ng maayos dahil kabi-kabila ang mga camera na nakatutok sa 'kin. But despite the situation I'm currently in, I have to be nice and polite because they're our customers," he slouched against the chair and exhaled sharply.

"I'm sorry to hear that... It must've been hard for you. Nakaka-overwhelmed nga naman 'yon at pati trabaho mo apektado."

He nodded and licked his lips. "I hope this question won't make you uncomfortable, but I want to know how did you manage to handle your fame? Kasi ako, kilala na kita noon pa kahit hindi mo pa ako nakikita..."

"No, it's fine. I told you it's all in the past now..." Bahagya akong humarap sa kanya at sumandal sa upuan. "Hmm, bata pa lang kasi ako no'ng na-expose sa gan'yan. You know my Mama and Dad... 'Tapos may TV commercials din ako noon hanggang sa nag-decide ako na i-pursue ang figure skating. By being known as the daughter of Maxine and Azure Lorenzo, my life changed as an athlete when I won multiple championships in both local and international competitions. At kapag nasa public places ako, I would try my best to entertain my fans kahit na pagod sa training or I'm having a bad day. I never faked a smile before because I was so grateful for all their support. But whatever I wasn't feeling it, I just wouldn't look them in the eyes as I felt bad for not returning their smiles."

Tumango si Triton. "Naaalala ko tuloy no'ng SEA games. Rayiane and I were waiting for you and you weren't in your best mood. Kaya sa Starbucks tiklop na tiklop ka habang hinihintay ng fans mo na mapansin mo sila... But mine wouldn't last long. Lilipas din 'yan at titigil ang mga tao. They would stop and I could focus on my work eventually..."

I wasn't sure if he was really talking about himself, but it seemed to me that there was a hidden meaning behind his words. Naniniwala pa rin kaya siya na babalik ako sa figure skating?

Pinaglaruan ko 'yung Toblerone at napabaling sa TV. Umalingasaw sa buong bahay ang niluluto ni Coach Joaquin at sakto pa ang pagtunog ng aking sikmura. Embarrassed, I held my tummy and laughed with Triton.

"Tamang-tama ang pagpunta mo dahil nagluluto si Papa ng kaldereta. He thought you would never come by, but here you are now..."

Bumulomg ako sa kanya. "But I still find it awkward after not seeing him for a while..."