broken ice

-158-

-irene pov-

sinundo ako ni sunghoon sa bahay at pinagpaalam kay mama, nag bus kami papuntang rink.

"do you love to skate?" inaalalayan ako ni sunghoon para makatayo ako ng maayos sa rink.

"yes," he simply answered.

"why?" i asked him again

"because it become my bestfriend. figure skating become my escape from all the worries when i was young not until my mom want me to become a national figure skater." he comfortably opened up.

"is it hard?" he honestly nodded.

"you know, the feeling of happiness i had when i was skating before faded. i used to have fun while skating but it become my greatest enemy for not being so good making my mom disappointed" i felt sudden sadness on his words.

"it must been tough for you"

"yeah. i felt like that time, i only have myself. i met friends but i felt like i need to please them as well. kaya kung saan sila masaya, doon ako. i am afraid to lose them." i smiled on him genuinely. he is so soft.

"my life has been coated with ice, i have been waiting for the warm love that i can't experience with my parents. the kind of warm love that will melt the coldness of ice."

"it will come"

"it already came... careful" marahan nya ulit hinawakan ang braso ko para mabalanse ang sarili ko.

"irene, do you believe on soulmates?" he suddenly asked.

"oo naman, iba iba naman yon hindi ba? may mga pinagtatagpo na hindi din naman makakasama yung isa't isa ng matagal pero soulmates pa din naman yun hindi ba? kaya feeling ko tunay yun" sagot ko sa kanya. lumabas kami ng rink at naupo kami sa bench dahil nilalamig na din naman ako.

"how about us?" he asked with his serious voice.

"do you think we are soulmates?" i can hear my heart beating so fast. damn it.

"h-huh?"

"we already met long time ago right? and here we are" ngumiti ako sa kanya.

"malay mo"

"i like you, sirene" i think nawala ang lamig na nararamdaman ko ngayon. nag init ang mga pisngi ko sa gulat habang nakatingin ng diretso sa mga mata nya.

"joke time ka sunghoon" i faked a laughed.

"i am serious, i like you" pag uulit nya.

"simula sa umpisa, gusto na kita. 'yung sa tumbler, 'yung deal, ginawa ko 'yon at humingi ng pirmiso sa kuya mo para masigurado ko na masasabi ko 'tong lahat sayo" dugtong nya.

humahanap ako ng pwede kong masabi pero hindi ako magkaintindihan. damn yung puso ko parang tatalon sa sobrang saya.

"i lie to you about i hate you because i was so selfless that time" he explained.

"i am afraid to lose one of the important person in my life, si jake" i frowned.

"what's with jakey again? he likes me?" tumango sya.

"hindi no!" depensa ko sa kanya at mukhang hindi naman sya maniwala. si jake na mismo ang nagsabi sa akin.

"kaya ba sabi mo i am confusing you?" tumawa ako sa nahihiya nyang mukha.

"because i thought you like jake as well, i am so confused on what move should i do"

"but i like you so much.. like i  do love you no explanations why" pagtutuloy nya sa sinasabi nya.

i felt like my heart was jumping because of joy.

he stayed calm but he was smiling while looking straight into my eyes. i suddenly don't know what to do

"su..sunghoon" i bit my lower lip

"so?" he patiently asked

i took the scrunchie on my wrist and reach his hand and wear the scrunchie on his wrist.

"tell them you are taken" i smiled on him widely and i felt how his soul fly, he stopped for a second.

"i like you too, sunghoon" he stayed calm like his usual self. i smiled widely than ever.

i felt like i am finally complete. i felt like i found something that i am finding for a long time.

"i melted" he suddenly whispered

"huh?" he melted?

"it means i love you," he playfully smiled.

"i melted, sirene..."

"i love you too" i whispered and he cupped my face until i felt he kissed me on my forehead. i closed my eyes, that was so warm.

"thank you for breaking the ice inside me, sirene. you are the kind of warmth i will always choose to embrace"