Effeminate Within

Chapter Six

Chapter 6

SINCE THAT DAY Greg found what's about the letter, he never stopped teasing me every moment it's just me and him together. I askedhim some question about that like why the letter was in his book. He told me thatthe book I was reading was originally Karen's.

Today was the start of the semestral break and I would be going home tomorrow for a two-week vacation to celebrate Christmas and New Year with mom.

"Come with me after lunch, we are going somewhere." Greg vibered me.

"Where is that 'somewhere'?" I replied but he didn't viber back.

After few hours, Greg knocked on my door, asking me if I was ready. I said yes and then he said. "Let's go, then" and then I was like "Fine." And I followed him to where his car was parked.

Greg drove soberly like we just fought or like I'd done something that made him mad. Greg, acting like that, freaked the shit out of me especially when he was driving. I was pretty sure I behaved well these past days, though. He didn't even tell any word since he started driving and that scared me even more. If there was anything I did that made him upset, he could just talk to me about it instead of acting silly like now.

We went through this series of leafless trees topped with snow. We were in a forest. This place was unknown. This was the first time I'd been here. I didn't even know it existed in the heart of this urbanized place. The series of trees were endless and there was no other car or people walking around. The icy road was foggy, all covered with snow. Luckily, the sun appeared bright this morning so the snow was thin enough to let us pass by.

"Greg, stop the car!" I was really freaking out with the thought that he was going to do something bad on me like murdering me. "Greg!" I shrieked, forgetting what I was hiding. He did not stop the car and he just pushed a smirk. He was just being that way all through the entire ride. What the—

The car finally stopped at the front a frozen lake, the end of the road.

"What are we doing here? Whatever it is that I've done to you, forget it. Let's go back." I was nearly kneeling. Greg got off the car and shut the door like he heard nothing. He took out something from the compartment and he opened the door beside me; he walked at the fully frozen lake then sat down at a nearby rock to wear the ice skates.

He waved his hand, beckoning me and I obediently walked towards him.

"Put this on." He handed me the ice skates.

"I don't skate, Greg." I said. "What is that ignore-me shits? You're weird."

He pushed a lopsided smile as he finished wearing his ice skates and he strolled towards me. He stood up so I could occupy the rock where he was sitting. "Sit." He commanded.

I sat.

Greg put off my sneakers and replaced it with ice skates.

"Thank you." I muttered but he did not respond, instead he offered his hand. "Why are you doing these?"

He was silent. He wasn't talking since this early morning and I wondered why. He did the same thing when he was nervous, but it rarely happened to him since he was always confident. What happened now? What made him nervous?

My mind wandered, looking for an answer, but it couldn't figure out anything.

He grabbed my hand and he pulled me carefully to the frozen lake. It turned into a rink as our skates touched it.

This place was fantastic. Pine trees around the frozen lake and it was very quiet and serene here, no traces of animals or people going in this place.