LIAM'S POV
"Hindi na ba masama ang pakiramdam mo ngayon, iha?"
"Hindi na po. Salamat nga pala sa pag-alaga niyo sa'kin rito..."
My ears pricked up when I heard those voices from outside of my room. I know it was dad and Suzy talking right now.
Simula kahapon ng pagtulungan nila akong dalawa ni mom sa room nito, hindi ko na uli ito nakausap pa. Dahil sa mga inaayos ko na problema sa tinatayong bagong branch ng hotel namin dito, I have to be either in hotel or in my room most of the time.
"It was fine, iha. Liam brought you here so it was just right na alagaan ka namin rito."
I groaned when I heard dad replied that. Oh yes. Talagang ako nga ang nagdala niya rito kaya naman palagi nalang akong nalilintikan ni mom.
"By the way, hindi mo ba gustong lumabas ngayon? You were unable to enjoy the beach the other day dahil nagkasakit ka. And now that you're fine, ba't hindi ka kaya lumabas at magsaya naman?"
"Oh no. Kahapon pa po 'tong snow kaya ang ginaw po ngayon kapag lalabas pa'ko. And where would I even go now sa ganitong malamig ang panahon?"
"Well, you can just go walked around here. Enjoy the snow dahil wala ito sa pinas. At baka pagsisihan mo pa ang pagkakataong 'to pag-uwi mo. Or else, pwede ka ring mag ice skates dito. There are lots of ice skating spots here. Just make sure to wear the warmest clothes when you do that para hindi ka uli magkasakit."
My brow shot up when I heard that, lalo na nang marinig ko ng tumawa ito ngayon sa sinabing 'yon ni dad.
Excitement was visible in her laugh.
Ohh.. Snow and ice skating?
Bakit nga ba hindi niya gawin 'yon? I'm certain it would be funny to see her kept falling in her first attempts to find her balance on her skates.
Oh no. Mukhang kailangan ka niya kapag ganun man, Liam. Kailangan niya ng aalalay at yayakapin niya kapag matutumba na ito.
And I would be more than willing to lend myself for her. Tingnan lang natin kung hindi pa niya hahanap-hanapin ang katawan ko 'pag uwi namin sa Pinas.
With her kept responding in my every kisses, I'm certain it won't be long at papayag na rin agad ito sa gusto ko.
Well, 'yan naman talaga ang plano sa simula pa man. Make her mine and accept my offer to be my woman.
Just the thought of the possibilities that she was close to finally giving into my charm, I couldn't help but feel excited with it while grinning to myself.
Good thing I was almost done with my job here kaya pwedeng-pwede ko na itong ipasyal mamaya before we'd even fly back to the Philippines tomorrow.
Glancing down at my wristwatch, I nodded my head in satisfaction when it was just the two in the afternoon.
Okay. I still have enough time para tapusin ang trabaho ko.
Still grinning in excitement, ipinagpatuloy ko na agad ang ginagawa.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
SUZY'S POV
I groaned in annoyance when someone kept knocking on my door, disturbing me from my sleep. I'm sure hindi ito si Mrs. Montero dahil hindi naman ito ganito kumatok na parang nagmamadali.
Blowing out a breath, bumangon na'ko agad and then strode towards the door while stomping my feet.
Unlocking the doorknob, binuksan ko na agad ang pintuan.
"Anong kaila----"Before I couldnm even complete my question, Liam suddenly clamped my mouth saka itinulak na'ko papasok uli sa silid ko before he locked the door behind him.
Alarmed with what he was doing here, sisigawan ko na sana ito but he was quick enough to tightly clamp my mouth.
"Sshhhhh… Baka marinig tayo ni mom ngayon…"
Inis na itinulak ko na agad ito when he warned me that.
"Anong ginagawa mo rito?? Ba't basta-basta ka nalang pumapasok rito sa silid ko? Ano na namang gagawin mo sa'kin??"
I glared at him when he just chuckled at it.
"Gagawin? Ano ba 'yang iniisip mo, Suzy?"
"Malay natin, baka ano namang kalokohan ang gagawin mo sa'kin ngayon."
"Like gripping your butt with my bare hand?"
My glare narrowed in a pinprick when he teased that again with a stupid grin in his darn face.
This shit!
"Alam mo, Liam.. Kung nandito ka lang para asarin ako, pwede ba umalis ka nalang? Nagpapahinga ako rito pero nambubulabog ka naman!"
"Well, though I'd love to tease you with how fluffy your butt is, hindi ako naparito para dun. Nandito ako ngayon dahil may alok ako sa'yo."
My brow shot up when he's at it again. Giving me his stupid offers.
"Anong alok na naman 'yan? To be your lover again? Oh no. Lumayas ka nalang rito kung 'yan ang ibig mong---"
"No. Iba ang alok ko sa'yo."
"Ah iba?" I answered while mockingly nodded at him.
"At ano naman kaya 'yon, Liam? Baka kung anong kalandian na naman 'yan ng katawan mo?"
Mas lalo pang tumalim ang tingin ko rito when the bastard grinned at that with his eyes glinting in mischief right now.
"Well, mas gusto ko sana 'yon but no. I'm here to tell you na magsuot ka na ng makapal na damit ngayon because we're going out tonight."
"What?" Gulat na tanong ko rito, can't believe he'd really invite me at this hour.
"Yes. We're going out." He confirmed with a nod.
"At this hour at malapit ng gumabi? At ano namang gagawin natin sa labas ngayon? To freeze in death while we walked under the snow?"
"No. We'll go ice skating tonight. Maraming tao ang lalabas ngayon and it would be sad if you won't even get to experience that while you're here."
"Nababaliw ka na ba?"
"No. I'm certainly not." Agad namang tanggi nito with a shook of his head.
"I'm serious right now. Tapos na 'ko sa trabaho ko rito at uuwi na tayo sa Pinas bukas. So what do you think? Sasama ka ba sa'kin o hindi?"
For a while, I just stared at him closely while giving it a deep thought. Studying his face if he was indeed serious right now. At nang parang seryoso naman ito, napapabuntong-hininga na lamang ako.
Well, wala namang masama kung sasama ako rito so why not?
"Fine. I'll go with you."
His face beamed the instant I uttered that.
"Hintayin mo nalang ako sa labas. Magbibihis lang ako sandali."
"Oh great. Okay. I'll just wait for you in the car then."
Tumango na lamang ako rito and waited for him to leave. And when he did, isinara ko na agad ang pintuan and then headed straight to the wardrobe.
Good thing Mrs. Montero was kind enough to intact the wardrobe here with different kinds of clothes. From warm clothes down to undergarments.
Ayoko sanang sumama rito but given that this is just my one time opportunity to enjoy Canada at night, well why not just come with him then?
With excitement, I picked up the thick white jacket with wool around its hoodie then paired it with dark jeans and a thick coat in coffee brown color.
Isinuot ko na agad 'yon and then took out some pink knitted gloves and a shawl from the drawer at the bedside table. And before I rush out of that room, I picked up a brown high knee boots to complete my outfit for tonight's gala.
When I felt warm enough to go, umalis na'ko agad sa silid na 'yon and then ran down to the stairs at diretso sa labas.
Pagkalabas ko palang ng bahay, may maitim na sasakyan na ngang naghihintay sa labas while he was sitting at the driver's seat. Gumagabi na ngayon at may konting snow pa rin na bumabagsak.
Pagkakita nito sa'kin, bumaba na agad ito ng sasakyan and then greeted me with a wide grin.
He was in his black coat right now with a gray shawl around his neck. Looking so great himself but still a playboy that I should be cautious with. Lalo na't ikakasal na ito.
"Oh.. Mukhang handang-handa ka na nga. I wonder kung handa ka na ring magsaya ngayon?"
"Well, kung hindi mo pa alam, I was born more than ready kaya umalis na tayo." Tugon ko na rito habang palapit na rito.
"Ohh.. You're not that excited now, are you?"
I just shrugged at him when he teased that saka pumasok na'ko sa kabilang pintuan sa harapan when he opened the car door for me.
Sumakay na rin agad ito and then drove his car toward the busy street of Canada.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
"Where were we?" kunot-noong tanong ko na rito when he pulled over to the side kung saan may mga sasakyan naring nakaparada doon.
Sa dami ng ilaw na nakasabit sa mga nakakalbong puno rito, it was expected na marami ngang pupunta rito ngayon. Lots of snow were piled to the side and only the skating trail was free of snows right now as there were already a few couples gliding through it.
"Gage park skating trail.. Maraming dumadayo rito every night for skating so come out now. Let's get our own skates as well."
Still eyeing the place around with curious eyes, lumabas na'ko agad ng sasakyan. Isinara na niya agad ang pintuan pagkalabas ko.
"Let's go." Aya na nito sabay hila sa kamay ko.
I just let him dragged me to the nearby stall as I kept looking at the few people na nagkakatuwaan na ngayon.. And just seeing them now, excitement bloomed inside me.
I couldn't afford to play ice skating back in the Philippines dahil wala naman akong oras doon but this time, I'll make sure that I'd get the best experience of it.
Liam quickly rented two pairs of skates saka umupo na agad kami sa isang bench malapit sa stall na 'yon.
"Do you know how to use this?"
"Susubukan ko." Tanging sagot ko rito saka isinuot na ang puting skates na 'yon habang itim naman 'yong sa kanya.
"Well, kung hindi ka naman marunong nito, don't even hesitate to hold on me, okay? You know I can always be your assistant right now if you want."
Napaarko agad ang kilay ko nang sabihin niya 'yon habang ngiting-ngiti sa'kin.
And just looking at his face now, mukhang may binabalak ang gagong 'to. Hindi naman kasi ito basta-basta nalang na mag-aaya rito kung wala at parang may ideya na rin ako kung ano 'yon.
"Yeah, sure. Kakapit ako sa'yo kapag kailangan." Tugon ko nalang rito which caused his smile broadened at that, quite satisfied to hear that from me.
Itinali ko na ng mahigpit ang bawat sintas ko while he did the same to his.
"Are you ready now?"
"Yes. Handa ka na rin ba?"
A wide grin instantly appeared on his face when I asked him that.
"Yes. I was born more than ready as well gaya mo." He reassured sabay lahad ng kamay nitong balot ng abuhing gloves ngayon.
I just smirked at him before I tightly held his hand na siyang ikinangiti pa nito lalo.
"Okay. Humawak ka lang ng mahigpit sa kamay ko. Tumayo na tayo."
Tumayo na 'ko agad ng sinabi na niya 'yon.
"Good. Now, let's go." When he announced that, I slowly pumped my right foot forward and then the other and by that, I began gliding through the ice skating trail now with slow speed habang mahigpit ko paring hawak-hawak ang kamay nito.
This is my first time ice skating pero parang roller skating lang naman pala ito kaya hindi problema sa'kin ang pagbalanse ngayon.
"Does it feel good?"
I quickly nodded my head sabay lingon sa gawi nito habang nakangiti.
He was smiling as well as he slowly moved his own skates.
"Hindi ka man lang ba nahihirapan ngayon? Or hindi mo man lang ba kailangang magpaturo sa'kin? You know I will gladly teach you kung tatanungin mo lang ako. Pwede ka ring kumapit sa'kin ngayon. My body is all yours to hold on for support.." he dramatically uttered while playfully waggling his brows at me.
And I can sense arrogance in his voice right now. Kaya mukhang tama nga ang hinala ko rito.
He just brought me here dahil akala nito magiging katawa-tawa ako rito dahil hindi ko alam paano gawin ito and then I'd stupidly ask him to help me. Which is-----no.
That would never gonna happen.
"No, Liam. Thank you but I can manage."
"You sure about that? Baka mapano ka pa niyan? Ayoko pa namang mapagalitan ako ni mom dahil may nangyari na naman sa'yo."
"Positive. I'll be fine." I reassured him before I pushed myself forward habang magkahawak parin kaming dalawa.
"Liam, pwede bang bilisan pa natin ngayon? I think it'd feel great kapag bibilisan pa natin 'to."
"D-Do you think so?"
Mas lalo pa'kong napapangiti ngayon when he began to stutter that, giving away his facade.
"Yes. Walang duda. Okay. I'll start to speed up now kaya kapit kalang dahil hihilahin kita." Saad ko na rito saka biglaan ko ng hinila ang kamay nito palapit sa'kin na siyang ikinalaki agad ng konti ng mga mata nito.
Owww… Mukhang may kinatatakutan ang gago.. I wonder what he was scared of.
I heard him slightly cleared his throat behind me which caused my smirk to crack into a wide smile.
"H-Hindi ko alam na marunong ka pala nito?"
"Well, this is just actually my first time doing this pero naglalaro ako dati ng roller skating kasama ang mga kaklase ko noong highschool kaya hindi issue sa'kin ang pagbalanse nito." nakangiting sagot ko na rito while tightly holding his hand with me.
"Oh. I can see that."
"Yes. So now? Are you ready to glide with me in a speedy pace?"
I almost laughed at his face when I accidentally caught him swallowing hard now with his adam's apple bobbing.
Oh no. Mukhang nagsisinungaling lang talaga ang gagong 'to na alam niya kung pa'no gawin ito ng mabilisan na siyang pinakagusto kong gawin ngayon.
"You know what, mukhang mas maganda siguro kung sa susunod nalang natin 'to itutuloy, Suzy----"
"No. Nandito na tayo kaya tapusin natin 'to, Liam. So let's go now!"
And then before he could even ran away from me now, I quickly pumped up my right leg again and then the other dahilan para bumilis bigla ang takbo namin.
"Wooah!" Masayang sigaw ko na as I glided through the ice trail na mas mabilis pa kaysa kanina.
Liking so much the feeling it brought me as thin cold air blowing against my face as we glided around the park.
"Wooah! Ang ganda 'di ba, Liam? Sulit na sulit ang gabi natin nito!"
When I asked that at wala man lang akong narinig na sagot mula rito, kunot-noong nilingon ko na agad ito and I almost laughed at him when he was just silently gliding with me with his stiffed body and with wide eyes.
"May problema ba, Liam?" I asked in curiosity kahit kita naman na ang takot sa buong mukha nito lalo na't nasa papaliko na kami.
He quickly nodded his head and tried to give me a reassuring smile but it just came out like a grimace now habang ang higpit naman ng kapit nito sa kamay ko.
"I-I'm fine. B-But can we go slower this time?"
"Why? Ang saya kaya kapag mabilis! Gusto mo pa bang bilisan natin ngayon so you'll know what I mean?" inosenteng tanong ko rito while trying to hide my grin to come out.
"S-Suzy.. I think---"
"Don't worry, Liam. I've got you! Kapit ka lang sa kamay ko." Nakangising putol ko na rito and then with that, hinigpitan ko na ang hawak ko sa kamay nito before I pushed myself forward and speed up more.
I have a better plan in stored for him. He dared to touch my butt the other day kaya tama lang na makaganti man lang ako rito kahit papaano.
With that mischievous thoughts I have in mind, mas binilisan ko pa lalo ang takbo namin.
"Woah, woah! Suzy?? Anong ginagawa mo??"
When he finally shouted that complain, hindi ko na napigilang tumawa ngayon especially when I 've got a chance to see the horror look in his face right now.
This time, dalawang kamay na nito ang mahigpit na nakahawak sa kamay ko. As if his life defended on me now while alarm was all over his face.
"Of course. Skating, Liam." I stated with a shrug without glancing at him, enjoying his funny reaction.
"Inaya mo 'ko ritong mag-ice skating ngayon so I believed your skating skill is much more better than the first timer like me."
"Well, this is just actually my second time doing ice skating at noong highschool ko palang huling ginawa ito!"
"Oh?Akala ko ba you were born more than ready, Liam? Kaya tiyak kong sisiw lang ang lahat ng ito para sa'yo at hindi ko na kailangang mag-aalala sa'yo dahil may experience kana pala rito."
When I sarcastically answered that, his eyes slowly widened at me.
"W-What do you mean??"
"Wala.. Ang ibig ko lang namang sabihin ay pwede ko ng gawin ang gusto ko dahil kaya mo na ang sarili mo."
"WHAT???!"
When he exclaimed that, I just smirked at him saka nang may mamataan na naman akong papaliko pakaliwa sa unahan, I quickly pumped my left foot and then the other.
"Suzy!!Anong gagawin---" Hindi na nito natapos ang reklamo nito nang bigla ko ng binitawan ang kamay nito sa papalikong bahagi.
Dahilan para manglaki pa lalo ang mga mata nito sa gulat.
"SUUUZZZZZZYYYYYYY!!!!!!!"
When he began to shout my name at the top of his lungs and with his wide horrified eyes, hindi ko na napigilang mapahalakhak ng tawa rito as I slowed down my pace para lang makita ang reaksyon nito.
Dire-diretso lang ang mabilis na takbo nito while he tried to control his speed and shrieking like a woman, making everyone present in that park throw him a funny look.
"SUZY! I SWEAR YOU'LL GONNA REGRET THIS----"
Hindi na nito natapos ang iba pa sanang sasabihin nito nang dumiretso na ito sa labas ng ice trail at papunta sa maraming snow sa may gilid.
"HOWLY SHIT!!!!!" he cursed out bago paman ito natumba papunta sa---
My laugh died down in an instant nang biglaan nalang itong mawala pagkatumba nito sa maraming snow.
Anong---
"HE DROPPED INTO THE POND!!"
When someone shouted that from my right, I made a sudden halt of my own skates as my eyes widened in horror.
A-A POND???
Nang makita kung hindi pa rin ito gumuguho mula sa sinasabi nilang pond na 'yon, I quickly glided through that way in a haste while the other shocked people running to that way as well.
OH MY GOD! I'd really be in deep shit with his parents kapag may nangyari rito!!!
Just thinking the possibilities na sa malalim na tubig ito natumba, fear instantly filled me.