Arctic Heart (Ice Queen Series)

Dagat

Lada

Dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa dagat kung saan nakakaramdam ako ng kapayapaan. Napakasarap sa pandinig ng mahihinang hampas ng alon sa dalampasigan, para nitong dinuduyan ang aking kamalayan.

I sat there wondering how my life has become so complicated in a span of 6 months. I was just a girl without friends, then Axel became my best gay friend. I was happy with those facts, I never needed for my life to be this complicated.

Why?

Why do I have to be in the middle of this paradise yet be in a labyrinth of confusion?

Why?

So many unanswered questions.

"it's dangerous for a lady to be out by herself in the dark. But I guess I don't have to worry about you being manhandled by brutes that'll come your way."

"I told you I am a krav maga expert, not to mention mixed martial arts and Jiu-jit-su. I can take care of myself."

I am safe from brutes, but not from you or Axel.

That familiar baritone voice that is starting to melt the ice of my heart pulled me back to reality.

"What are you doing here, Achilles?"

Melancholy enveloped my voice when I said that, I didn't look at him. I continued to stare at the ocean na bahagya lamang naliliwanagan ng buwan.

"I came here to collect my wife."

"I am not your wife, Achilles."

"Really? you haven't checked your phone have you?"

Nakalimutan niya, may signal nga pala dito sa Paradiso, hindi katulad sa isla nila nonna. She took her phone from the secret pocket of her dress only to find out it's not there anymore.

It must have fallen off when she was in the fight. Sigh.

What do I need it for anyway? Wala naman kokontak sakin maliban kay Axel pero andito naman siya.

Iniabot ni Achi sakin ang telepono ko. He's now standing so close and so tall until he sat down on the sand beside me.

I grabbed it and checked my phone only to be surprised by the number of messages and calls listed there.

"Fuck me!" I exclaimed in disbelief. I have 50 missed calls from my mom and a few hundred more from unknown numbers. Not to mention 20 from our maids.

"I'd love to, mon ange. But check your phone first." Nakangisi si Achilles. Tila ay tuwang tuwa sa pagkagulay na nakaguhit sa mukha ni Lada.

"What is happening?!" I looked  at Achilles in confusion. Anong nangyayari? I told my mom I am here, there was no reason for her to call me that many times.

"Check your social media accounts. And, oh. Youtube." He leaned back, itinukod niya ang kanyang mga braso sa buhangin at idinirecho ang kanyang mga binti.

Oh holy Zeus! He looked so damn gorgeous in his open black muslin polo and khaki pants na nakatupi sa laylayan.

Immediately, I opened Facebook and Instagram. My inbox is full with messages from people I don't know. My notification is flooded with tags of wedding pictures from the earlier ceremony, holy mother mary of Aphrodite!

And let's not forget Youtube. A video of me in the middle of the brawl had spread all over the internet.

Nasapo ko ang ulo ko. Parang bigla akong nagka migraine sa mga nangyayari. I tried searching the original post of the video and the pictures, the wedding images are from Saddie's account, while the video is from Sora.

"Your cheap whores, Achilles. They are ruining my life, I am going to kill them both." I said through gritted teeth and controlled anger.

"Is that so bad to be married to me, Amore?" His eyes are sad, the gleam of mischief that's usually there are absent.

"This is a pretend marriage, Achilles. To shut your harlots up, but this has gotten out of hand. Our families are known in the business world, no wonder my mom is calling me. I don't understand why i have to be dragged in this rubbish just to save you from what? Tramps? The fuck, Moratti!" I mumbled in displeasure.

As if on cue, my phone rang. It was my mom. I sighed and answered the phone.

"Mamushka." Yun lamang ang mga salitang namutawi sa making mga labi.

"Iha, kumusta ka? Puno ng pag aalala ang bosses ng mama ko."

"I'm okay mama." I am close to tears, I've been living without her for so long that I forgot how to have someone to care for you.

"Wala ka bang mga sugat? Sino ang nag asikaso sayo?"

"Nonna took care of me, Mamushka."

"Good, anak. I just want to check on you. And, oh congratulations baby. Sorry i wasn't there." Naputol na ang linya bago pa ako nakasagot at itama ang mag nadinig at nabasa nya mula sa internet.

I tried calling her several times pero hindi na ako makasagap ng magandang reception. You and your sluts Achilles! Dammit! Anong klase ba itong buhay na dinanas niya.

"Now my mom thinks I'm really married, Achilles!" Malapit na talagang mawala ang poise ko. I have mastered the art of controlling my feelings but this man is incorrigible. Nakuha pa niyang tumawa. Fuck!

"Not to mention the whole world, Lada." He laughed. Humiga ito sa buhanginan, nakaunan sa ulo into and dalwang kamay niya. I watch him as he close his eyes, nakatayo ako sa may ulunan niya, he doesn't look so bad, in fact a lot of girls will be elated with the thought of being married to him. Mukha siyang maamong tupa ngayong nakapikit ang kanyang mga mata. I studied his face closely ngunit nagulat ako ng bigla itong magsalita.

"Alam kong guapo ako Lada, pero baka matunaw ako sa kakatitig mo sakin." He has this devilish grin on his face na ang sarap sapukin.

"Right." I said bago sipain ang mga buhangin para tumama ito sa mukha niya. Tumakbo along palayo ng lugar na iyon at bumalik na sa party.

Petty I know, but it's better than marring his face. Nakakagigil sa inis!

I bumped into Axel sa pagmamadali ko.

'Whoa! Is somebody chasing you, Cara Mia? Somebody wants to hurt you?" Bakas na bakas sa guapong mukha into ang pag aalala.

"No, Caro. It's just.. Nothing. Can we go to our room now?"

"Sure, Cara Mia. Lets just say goodbye to Noona and Nonno."

Axel has his arms on my shoulders when we went back to the party. It's still in full swing and everybody is having a great time.

"Axel, apo. Where's Achilles?"

"I don't know, nonna. Lada is tired, we are going to retire to our room now."

"Not so fast. My wife needs to sleep in the same room as I am." Madilim ang mukha ni Achilles. His voice dropped gravel low. Oh boy.

"I need to be in the same room as my girlfriend, Achilles." Axel's voice was a whisper, dangerous.

"Fuck it, let's all sleep in one room then." Lada said and then walked towards the hotel.

Tinanaw ni nonna at nonno ang tatlo na naglalakad papunta sa kwarto nila. Mababakas ang ngiti sa mukha ng dalawang matanda.

"Interesting, isn't it?" Sabi ni nonno.

"Extremely, supremo." Ganting ngiti naman ni nonna.

Oh, hell and damnation. Yun naman ang nasa isip ni Lada.