97 Chapter 6 (1/2)
”. . .”
”. . .”
Daniel closed his eyes tight. Oh, my G.o.d . . . this woman . . .
For a moment, he didn't know what to say nor what reaction to show. First, and for most, he was shocked. Shocked that the Evangeline Heart responded to heartbreak like everyone he knew. Climb atop a mountain to escape reality in the pretense of going soul searching. Then take selfies at the peak to post in social media to let the other person know how happy she was and how she was doing without him, etc., etc. . . .
Calming himself, he took in another mouthful of air, filling his lungs and brain with the needed oxygen to reason with her.
”Evangeline . . . ,” he started, looking seriously at her, who was so nonchalant about it like she was going to climb a pile of one-meter snow.
”Do you even know what you're talking about? Do you even know what it means to climb Evermountain in a freak'n winter no less?!”
Rolling her eyes, Evangeline snorted. ”Oh, please. You don't have to make it sound so hard.”
It was not only his limbs trembled, all Daniel's innards shook, restraining himself from slapping her. Maybe that would jolt her brain, and she could think logically again.
He sighed before he took another deep breath. He felt that no amount of oxygen could make his nerves calm down whenever he was talking to her.
”Evangeline . . . Evermountain's peak reaches a staggering nine thousand meters above sea level, with only seventy successful climbers ever reached its peak to date. Do you know how minuscule that number is compared to thousands who attempted to reach its peak? Don't you know how many bodies loitered around that G.o.dforsaken land? Its fatality rate is the highest among the mountains in the world. Don't you know what that means? It means from every successful climb, there's more than one death every hour. Justifying its name as Reaper mountain. Not to mention the thin air and hard winds and snowstorms and the temperature dropping to more than negative fifty degrees in Celsius, the most dangerous of all are the steep, slippery climb and the sharp rocks which all requires various degrees of experiences, athletic ability in navigating, and technical knowledge to maintain safety at all times which apparently you lack in all aspect.”
After speaking, Daniel took another intake of air while panting a little. He could only hope with that lengthy explanation and threat, Evangeline would feel scared, eradicating her foolish, very idiotic suicidal attempt of climbing Evermountain or any mountain for that matter.
But his face dropped faster than the falling avalanche when Evangeline only smirked, rolling her eyes at him.
”Oh please, people climbed it all the time.”
Daniel's patience snapped, and he let out a hissing tone. ”Those are professional climbers! And usually, they are in a group led by a very well experienced alpinist!”
Evangeline scoffed. ”Big deal. If they can do it, so can I.”
”. . .”
Daniel's eyes closed tight. His mind was in a jumbled mess of words and curses. He didn't know how to continue explaining –– making her understand, making her see reason.
When he opened his eyes and saw her still harboring that nonchalant, haughty face, he found himself so tired. Not even an all-day basketball match could make him feel this worn out.
”Evangeline . . . ,” he said, voice weak, too exhausted to argue with her. ”Those are professional climbers. They had been climbing before you were even born.”
Evangeline rolled her eyes. ”Oh, don't be so overly dramatic, Daniel. I'm going soul searching. It's spiritual fulfillment. It's not like I'm going there on a suicide mission.”
Daniel snorted. ”I'm afraid by the end of the day, it's not only you who would search for your soul when the blizzard is done with you.”
”What did you say?”
Evangeline scowled at Daniel while the latter held his own. Their staring contest stretched to minutes, remaining at a deadlock, dominating each other with their killer gazes.
”Uhmm . . . Excuse me . . .”
Both of them glanced at the female by Daniel's side, who had been silent, munching her potato chips. Her big watery eyes locked at one particular spot, eyelids blinking up and down while a finger pressed against her lips.
”Will you eat that?” Lilybella said, looking all hopeful at Evangeline.
”. . .”
”. . .”
Daniel sighed, completely and utterly defeated. He slumped on his seat while Evangeline glared at Lilybella. She raised her fork and pierced it through the unmoving defenseless strawberry pudding before she gobbled it down her throat. Her eyes were maintaining hostility towards Lilybella, who was eyeing her desserts.
”I ordered this. Order your own, servant.” Evangeline shot another glare at Lilybella while munching her food, hurry in her movement.
As the women competed with each other who would take home the t.i.tle of the most deserts eaten, Daniel kept ma.s.saging his temple and the protruding veins on his forehead. He was beginning to feel scared of a.s.sociating himself with the two. Not a day and he already developed all kinds of diseases ranging from heartburn, heart attack, hypertension, headache, migraine to hair loss.
By the time he repaired his damaged nerves, Evangeline was already asking for the bill, and to his astonishment, all the food was near empty while the plates were spotless. He didn't even remember eating anything.
Wait! That was not the point! How many minutes pa.s.sed that he was contemplating while the two women ate nonstop, and by magic, all those foods were gone!
Shaking his head, it was best not to think about it. It would only add up to his already exploding brain.
And when the waiter approached and handed the bill to Evangeline, he fished his card from his wallet to pay for the meal.
Evangeline smiled at him, one with sarcasm paired by the raising of her perfect brow. ”Allow me.”
Sighing, Daniel rolled his shoulders. Too exhausted to argue with her on little things. However, his forehead creased when his gaze landed on the card Evangeline handed towards the waiter.
”Is that . . . my card?” The card he gave her when they were still an item.
The arrogance on Evangeline's face didn't lessen as she sneered. ”Don't be so petty. You already gave me this card.”
”. . .”
Daniel smacked his lips tight. His veins were pounding against the skin of his forehead again. Yes, and you should have returned it to me the moment we broke up because that's what a decent human being should do. And what's with this allow me, c.r.a.p?! You might as well let me pay!
There was so much he wanted to say. So much . . . but he didn't want to argue with her least he wanted to suffer all sorts of diseases and die at a young age.
He dejectedly raised his hands in surrender, shaking his head. ”You know what . . . keep it. I don't want it back. You can have it.”
And of course, Evangeline was always against him for some reason.
”Don't worry. Once I go back to Burberry, I'll give you back your card. It has a limit. Really, who does that? You put half a million limit each month. Are you always this cheap towards your girlfriends?”
”. . .”
Daniel wanted to cry out of frustration. Nevertheless, he kept her feelings to himself. Don't get mad. Don't get mad. It's bad for the health. He took another intake of oxygen to cleanse away the negativity inside his system.
”Listen, you can keep it. And if you want, I will remove the limit. Just tell me one thing . . . ,” he said, capturing her eyes, ”why aren't you using your card? And I'm not being petty. I'm just asking.”
Evangeline casually placed the card inside her wallet and answered in a carefree tone. ”I don't want my cousins to find me. I want to be alone at the moment. Honestly, if I hadn't seen you, I would already be at the peak of Evermountain, camping and drinking hot chocolate with marshmallows.”
”. . .”
Daniel scrubbed his palms against his face. Oh, thank G.o.d you haven't discarded this sorry of an excuse human being! But please, make her realized climbing a nine-thousand-meter mountain doesn't happen overnight.
Oblivious to Daniel's agony, Evangeline continued to blubber on, ”But since it's already happened, I guess I have to climb it tomorrow. I might as well add another can of food for my pets.”