After hearing those unbelievable words of confession from Gon, my mind---as if shutdown!

A-Ano bang sinasabi niya?! Paano nangyaring---ganoʼn?! Paanong nangyaring m-mahal niya ako at para mahalin ko din siya ay kailangan niya pa akong kidnap-in?!

Dala nang halo-halong nararamdaman, lito, inis, galit at pagkamuhi---nagawa ko siyang itulak nang malakas at napagilid sa kama, dahilan upang makawala ako sa kaniya!

Madali akong tumayo mula sa pagkakahiga sa kama at may takot sa kabuuang hinarap siya. "H-Hindi totoo ang sinasabi mo! At kung totoo man? Hindi ko pa rin hahayaan ang sarili ko na mahalin ka! You fucking kidnapper! Scoundrel! Asshole! Pretender---I hate you, Gon! I fucking hate you! Hindi ko hahayaan ang sarili kong mahalin ka!" buong tapang kong sigaw dito at tinakbo ang pinto bago dali-daling lumabas ng apartment!

"Alli, come back here! Damn---" sigaw pa nito sa akin ngunit hindi ko na siya pinakinggan pa.

Goodness!

Hinanap ko ang daan patungo sa elevator matapos kong takasan si Gon. At hindi naman ako nahirapan hanapin iyon. Dahil pagliko ko ay nakita ko ang elevator. Sakto din naman na kakabukas lang niyon dahil may lumabas na lalaking mukhang Canadian.

"Alloira! Fuck! Come back here! You cannot leave now!" dinig kong sigaw ni Gon na naghahabol sa akin.

Bago pa niya ako maabutan ay nanakbo na agad ako papasok ng elevator at mabilis na pinindot ang button down!

Bago tuluyang sumara ang elevator, kita ko pa ang ginagawang pagtakbo ni Gon palapit dito upang ako ay pigilang umalis. Bakas na bakas din dito ang matinding galit. At kung tama ang aking nababasa sa kanyang binibigkas, nagmumura ito, bagay na nagpakaba lalo sa akin!

"Damn it, Alli! Itʼs winter out---"

Hindi na nito natapos ang sasabihin sapagkat tuluyan nang nagsara ang elevator. Dahil dito, nagawa kong makahinga panandalian. Napahawak pa ako sa aking noo at napasandal sa wall nitong elevator.

"H-Heʼs scary... I-I need to get out of here," I mumbled with quivering lips and almost cracked voice.

The moment the elevator has opened, mabilis pa sa alas-singkong nanakbo akong muli palabas at tinalunton naman ang daan palabas nitong gusali na pawang mga apartment naman.

"D-Damn," I cussed.

The humidity and dank of temperature was felt by my body the moment my foot reached the outside ground.

Napakalamig!

Naramdaman ko ang pangangatog ng aking teeth dahil sa sobrang lamig ng temperature dito. Noon ko lang din napagtanto ang kapaligiran.

The moistened ground caused of the snow being melted, dripped on it. Moreover, the dreary-voice elements of this season, called winter, wherein, people opt to be inside their houses, proclaimed themselves as slaves of the winter, imprisoned 'cause they could done nothing but to embrace the cold weather.

Contradictory to what I am doing. Instead of staying inside the apartment, I chose to leave in there 'cause I donʼt want to be with that kidnapper named Daegon La Galliene!

Moreover, I am not literally imprisoned by winter! I am imprisoned by with Daegon La Galliene and it happened to be that he hid me on the place where there is winter!

Where he knows that I canʼt moved my feet to escaped!

...damn him.

I embraced myself feel warmth, hoping that this way, it can reduced the coldness I am feeling right now but it is not working! Iʼm still feeling the coldness penetrating my wholeness!

Argh, so cold...

G-Goodness! This is Gonʼs fault!

Nevertheless, I still continue walking so Gon could not reached me.

Kalagitnaan ko nang paglalakad habang papalayo na din sa apartment kung saan ako nanggaling, nagawa kong igala ang aking mga mata.

Gusto kong matakot dahil kalagitnaan ng gabi, I am here, escaping from my pretended bodyguard but the real identity is a kidnapper in the midst of the winter night with wearing only my winter pants and winter boots, as well as my jacket that filled with down feathers which happened to have deep pockets, hood and tight cuffs to cut the cold.

In addition, this winter jacket covered my torso, only up to my bum because they need to be protected from cold.

...but I feel no fears at this point.

Even though, I am the only one who has the gut to walk under this awful weather---now---because Gon brought me here in the most unfavorable situation!

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto na ako naglakad dito sa daan kung saan basa ang lupa sanhi ng mga natutunaw na snow. Mas lalo pang lumamig dahil humahangin nang hindi gaanong kalakasan pero kayang panginigin pang lalo ang katawan ko, maging ang aking balat ngunit ang kailangan ko talagang makalayo kay Gon.

Kung kayaʼt titiisin ko ang lamig. Ang sobrang lamig na temperatura ng gabing ito dahil panigurado namang makakahanap ako ng taong tutulong sa akin.

...hanggang sa makarating ako sa isang mapunong lugar na halos hindi na makita ang luntian nitong dahon dahil sa snow na nakabalot dito ngunit unti-unting natutuwa kung kaya naman may mga malamig na tubig na pumapatak dito.

"Goodness,I-I canʼt make up to the other grounds na," I said to myself with trembling voice and lips due to humidness of the season.

Sinilip ko ang daang dinaanan ko upang suriin kung nakasunod ba sa akin si Gon and I was relieved dahil mukhang hindi naman niya ako matutunton dito.

Out of idleness to walk again under winter night, I decided to sat on the trunks of the forest that, as well, covered with snow slightly melting to take some rest.

Niyakap kong muli ang aking sarili. Itinungo ko pa ang aking ulo sa aking tuhod, umaasang maiibsan ang panlalamig na aking nararamdaman.

In that position, Iʼve realized how awful my vacation is. Ang inaasahan ko ay magkasama kami ni Sie ngayong vacation pero dahil sa kagagawan ni Gon, hindi nangyari...

I bit my lip the moment I felt my eyes watered. Mas ibinaon ko pa din ang aking mukha sa aking tuhod. "...I miss you, Sie...please, f-find me." I mumbled in the most painful way.

Hindi ko magawang isipin ang dahilan kung paanong naging ganito bigla si Gon. Naging aggressive ito. Hindi ko din maintindihan kung bakit sinabi niyang mahal niya ako!

Paano nangyari iyon? Kailan pa?

Bakit hindi ko naman napansin iyon sa kanya kung totoo nga? O baka talagang tama siya---na manhid ako. Pero kahit ano pang dahilan niya, hindi ko magagawang tanggapin! Ni ang patawarin siya, hindi ko gagawin!

What he has done is beyond limit!

Seriously? Pinaniwala niya akong mabuti siyang tao! Na walang gagawing masama. Kaya nga siya kinuha ng mga magulang ko upang maging personal bodyguard ko!

Wala siyang utang na loob.

I should have known his hidden agenda beforehand so he could take me away from my boyfriend!

My parents trusted him. I trusted him! But he broke it! He ruined it 'til the last filled!

"I-I loathed y-you, asshole...rot in jail." I said under my breath with conviction of anger.

The wind blows. I felt shivers. My lips acquivered. And my body wanted to stumble 'til I get to the place where I could feel warmth.

With trembling knees and weakened 'caused by the cold weather, I tried to stood up so I could make a gait.

Kung magtatagal pa ako dito ay baka mamatay ako sa sobrang lamig.

Ngunit saktong pagtayo ko, nanginig bigla ang aking tuhod dahilan upang bumagsak ako sa mamasa-masang damuhan. "S-Shit," I cussed the moment I felt the cold liquid lingered on my skin from this moistened grass! "...s-so cold,"

Pakiramdam ko ay napaos ako dahil halos hindi ko na magawa pang makapagsalita nang klaro.

At sa mga pagkakataong ito, mas lalomg tumindi ang aking pagkamuhi kay Gon. Ang inis! Ang galit!

Sorry, mom and dad...but I think, hindi ko magagawang hindi magtanim ng galit ngayon sa isang tao.

My hatred is a cold fire now, and it gives no warmth.

My hatred brings wars but with a touch of fear towards Gon and Iʼm not got to stopped myself from hating him 'til the end!

Marahan akong tumayo mula sa pagkakasalampak sa basang-basang damo. At dala nang labis-labis na awa sa aking sarili, dumaloy ang masaganang luha mula sa aking mga mata.

G-Gusto ko nang makita si Sie...gusto ko na siyang makasama at magsumbong sa kanya tungkol sa ginawa ng pinsan niya!

I sobbed as I glanced at the place where I am. "...S-Sie...sunduin mo n-na ako," I whispered on the thin air, hoping that he could hear me.

Hinayaan kong pumatak nang pumatak ang luha mula sa aking mga mata habang inuunti-unti ang paglalakad, yakap-yakap ang sarili.

Hindi pa man ako tuluyang nakakalayo mula sa aking pansamatalang ginawang pahingahan nang madinig ang tinig ng taong labis-labis kong kinasusuklaman!

"Young lady, letʼs go back now."

My tears filled my eyes even more until my vision gets more blurry. And sobbing, I faced him. "...leave me alone," I said with gritted teeth.

Imbes na makinig siya, lumapit ito sa akin kung kayaʼt umatras ako upang hindi nito mahawakan. "Donʼt come near me! I-I hate you!" I yelled and burst into tears.

But then again, he did not listen!

He looked at me seriously. "Iʼm sorry, Alli...come on, we need to go back." he said then made step closer to my distance again.

I was about to step back again but he swiftly grabbed on my waist closer go his body. "Donʼt be too obstinate, young lady. Itʼs winter and the the cold temperature here isnʼt good to enjoy...you might get sick." he said, concerned.

I was about to distanced myself away from him but...

...he put the black winter coat on me. Bagay na noon ko lang napansing dala-dala niya.

He sighed. "...sorry." he apologized. "But I wonʼt let you and Siegfried to ended up together, Alli." he remarked and took something from his behind, a pair of gloves, and wear it on my hands.

I was unable to made an action...wala akong nagawa o magawa upang awatin at pigilan man lamangbsi Gon sa ginagawa niyang pagsusuot sa akin ng kasuotang naaayon sa season na ito.

...aside from staring at him with furrowed brows.

Nang matapos niyang isuot sa akin ang gloves, tumitig ito sa akin nang malalim.

And I saw something in his eyes. But I chose to shoved the thought away dahil ayokong makaramdam ni katiting na pakiramdam sa kanya dahil ang nais kong panaigin---galit dito at inis!

I was about to utter a word but his words cut me, causing me to feel the rumblings of mixed-up emotion. As if they were miscible---capable of being mixed!

"Minsan lang akong magkagusto. At gusto ko, gusto mo rin ako." he confessed with a hints of authority his cold and intimidating voice.

Natahimik na naman ako matapos niyang sabihin iyon. Hindi ko na maintindihan ang sitwasiyong ito, sa totoo lang. Mula sa nararamdaman hanggang sa nangyari!

Lumayo ako dito at nangingitngit sa galit na tiningnan. "Fool you, Gon...dahil hindi kita magugustuhan o mamahalin. Maliban kay Siegfried!"

I saw how pains past his cold eyes. "Stop, Alli...y-youʼre hurting me," he said.

I let out an amused sigh. "Sana nga! Sana nga nasasaktan ka, Gon! Dahil kapag hindi mo pa ako ibinalik sa totoong mahal ko at piniling makasama ako---ako na hindi ka gusto at walang planong gustuhin ka--- sisiguraduhin kong mas masasaktan!" I madly exclaimed.

Dahil doon, muling pumatak ang aking mga luha. Gusto kong ma-guilty ngunit nananaig talaga ang kagustuhan kong magalit dito dahil sa ginawa niya!

Crying, "Y-You ruined my relationship with S-Sie! Ang sama mo! Ang sama-sama mo, Gon!" I yelled again.

Nanatili siyang tahimik na nakatingin sa akin, nakikinig. At nasisiguro kong bumaon ang mga masasakit na salitang sinambit ko sa kalooban niya.

I smirked. "Ano? Masakit ba, ha? Masakit ba, Gon?! Masakit na masakit bang isampal ko sa pagmumukha mo na ayoko saʼyo at hindi kita gusto, huh?!" I mocked with ranging wrath and the tone of my voice speaks for it.

I saw how his eyes watered at the corner. And he did not bother to hide it. Instead, he moved closer to my personal distance and smiled bitterly.

He then took something from his pocket again. A handkerchief.

Ganoʼn na lamang ang gulat ko nang ilapit niya iyon sa aking mukha at punasan ang aking ilong...

He sighed. "...your nose is bleeding, young lady. Probably, because of the weather in here," he said, totally ignoring my hurtful words that pierce his heart.

I was dumbfounded.

...hindi ko man lamang naramdaman na dumudugo na pala ang aking ilong.

Matapos nitong punasan ang aking ilong, nagbaba siya nang tingin at muling bumuntong-hininga.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin. Ngunit, sinigurado kong nasa mga susunod niyang sasabihin ang aking tenga.

"I will not accept the fact that you donʼt love nor like me..." he began. "...but let me tell one goddamn remark."

Dahil doon, ibinalik ko ang tingin ko sa kanya at napalunok.

He stared at me deeply and sincerely. At dahil sa sinabi nito, tuluyang naghalo-halo amg aking nararamdaman...

"...mahal kita. At dahil mahal kita, asahan mong hindi kita susukuan hanggaʼt hindi ko nasisiguro na..." he said then leaned closer to my ear.

I gulped.

"...ako na ang mahal mo." he continued.

Napakurap-kurap naman ako dala nang hindi maipaliwanag na nararamdaman buhat nang sabihin niya iyon.

Akala ko ay iyon na ang makamandag na salitang bibitawan niya, hindi pala. Dahil mas malala pala ang sinabi niyang,

"Perhaps, you put on weight recently 'cause you sure seem to be taking a lot more space in my mind those fucking days. So damn expect that I will not stop 'til you knew I m should be your boyfriend. Your love. Youʼre everything." seryosong-seryoso aniya at hinaplos ang aking pisngi.

Napagilid naman ang mukha ko.

"In the midst of this winter, you are bound to fall for and love me...marked by Daegon Trevor La Galliene."

--