Chapter 130 - 38 (1/2)

After setting his tent and finish a light meal, Álvaro went out, and the first thing he saw was the twinkling stars bursting in the dark sky. It felt like he was on a different planet.

This was one of the things he liked about adventuring to the natural geo. The silence of the place and the cracking of snow was the only noise. The darkness healed his soul from the never-ending lights of the city. And of course, the view.

Walking around, he wanted to savor the fresh icy smell and getting acquainted with what challenges he would be facing tomorrow. The whole adventure was a total of sixty-seven days, twenty days actual climbing, and the rest was getting acclimated with the environment, resting and passing out bad weather.

Besides constantly on alert for an avalanche, crossing large crevasses on a ladder, climbing a one-hundred-meter high steep slope with only a rope, traversing the peak with lack of oxygen while fighting the effects of high altitude, he also had to take care of a spoiled inexperience girl.

Fun!

Shaking his head, he huffed a dry laugh while he walked towards Maxine's tent.

”Maxine, its Alvaro,” he called. Not a second long, a zipper resounded, and Maxine's pretty face peek at the gap of the tent.

The moment she laid eyes on him, she beamed and opened her tent.

”Alvaro, I'm so happy you came to visit. I thought . . . You're still angry at me.”

Alvaro ignored her . . . Rather, he was stunned to see the woman brought the comfort of her house in here. From heated tents, folding bed, stove, and a f.u.c.k.i.n.g dining table and chairs. No wonder she brought along four Frost helpers.

”You're just in time, I've cooked your favorite food. I was planning to send you later as a peace offering but since you're already here . . .”

Maxine pulled Alvaro's arm, and he let her drag him towards the dining table, which was filled with luxurious imported foods. She even brought wine. ”Come and join me for dinner.”

”. . .” Alvaro closed his eyes. His head was thumping, and he was not even climbing yet.

No longer smiling, he said with a serious face, ”Maxine, didn't you heard what Aaron said? Consuming too much food at once would send blood rushing to your stomach, making your body focus in digestion rather than in breathing . . .” He stopped when he noticed the woman still had that innocent face enough to make him imagine a flower sprouting on top of her head.

”But . . . I'm hungry,” she said, completely disregarding the consequences.

”Anyway, don't eat too much. Only eat a small amount. Preferably chocolates and other sugary foods.” He then packed the foods inside a tapper ware just in case she didn't heed his command. After which, he asked, ”Let me see your things.”

That was the reason why he was here, after all –– making sure that she had the tools and gears necessary to survive.

Maxine didn't argue when Alvaro asked her foods. In fact, she was happy thinking Alvaro was taking her food to eat later. She led him towards her massive backpack, and Alvaro didn't waste any time in inspecting its content.

There was high grade down jackets, gloves, boots, glaciers glasses, sleeping bag, oxygen bottles, pix ax, climbing harnesses, crampons, caribearers, ropes and other gears for climbing.

Good. At least she had the basic common sense to bring the necessary gears and equipment. Not just imported goods and luxury tents.

Standing up, Alvaro's job was over, and he said his goodbye. ”Make sure not to let anyone inside your tent and scream if something came up.”

He then turned but was stopped by her.

”It's quite lonely here . . .” Maxine clasped her hands near her heart as she lowered her head while she tagged his jacket. ”Why don't you . . . sleep here tonight.”

”. . .”

Alvaro's pupils constricted. Looked like she wanted him to f.u.c.k her so badly that she always hinted it this past few days.

Sighing, he pulled his jacket from her hold. He didn't want to treat her in kindness anymore, nor he had any intention to be nice to her.

”See you tomorrow,” was all he said before he got out of her tent.

He would instruct someone to watch her tent later. It was a good thing she built her shelter close to his.

Alvaro stopped on his tracks when he saw a familiar silhouette in one of the bone fires. Making his way there, he sat on an empty log and smiled.

”Can't sleep?” he asked.

Rozarria didn't answer. Her body curled neared the warmth of the fire, arms hugging herself. ”How about you? Putting your fiancée to sleep?”

Alvaro's grin stretched his lips. ”Jealous?”

Rozarria faced him with her famous stony face. ”Why is it that men always assumed women are jealous every time they mentioned another girl's name?”

”You're not?” Alvaro countered. He was delighted to see her ice-cold face cracked even if it was just a little.

”I��m not. I'm only hinting that you should conduct yourself as a man who already has a fiancée.”

Prompting his palm on his chin, Alvaro hummed in response. The smile on his face didn't lessen. ”Maxine is not my fiancée. Not officially, at least. You know how it is. Our families are close, and everyone is expecting me to marry her.”

Rozarria's head snapped forward. ”I'm not interested.”

”Really?” he teased.

Finally, those frozen brows of her moved and twitched.

”Really,” Rozarria answered with finality.

”So does that mean . . .” Alvaro wet his lips, voice turning deeper as he leaned in closer to her. ”. . . I'm banned from meeting you at night?”