Chapter 18: Caught?

Bryan was dressed in his ski gear and with a stern face, he prepared to go to the starting line. However, after taking just one step, Bryan fell due to the weight of the shoes he was wearing. "Pfft," Angeline couldn't hold back her laughter. Bryan looked cynical like a tiger about to pounce on his prey. "Are you sure you can skate, mister?" teased Angeline and started to skate to the starting line. Bryan looked up with ambition. He stood up and put on his skis. He pulled out his stick and began to swing down the snowy path. Bryan began to try to skate with a limp. "It turned out to be very difficult and heavy. I wonder how they can skate so easily as if they're on wheels, ugh," Bryan complained. Angeline was already going around in circles waiting for Bryan to get used to the skis. "Even though Bryan was the anti-game in a place like this," said John, who turned out to be very smart and flexible. It was like he was used to skiing. "Wow, you are great John. Maybe you will be the winner." "Hahaha ... I don't want to play," John said with a big smile. He stretched out his arms to get some air. "What are you talking about?" "I don't want to grant you any wish or mention my wish. What I need right now is freedom. I will rest for ten minutes. Have fun," John called and waved at them. He slipped away from them. Angeline looked at him in confusion. John had already left them. He didn't want to get involved in their business and decided to have some fun on his own. "Hahh... what did he say?" Bryan, who had arrived next to Angeline, spoke in a half-whisper, which surprised Angeline and made her turn annoyed. "Oh my... don't whisper like that! You're giving me the creeps. And don't come too close!" Angeline said, rubbing her hands as if she felt cold and stepped back. Bryan looked at her irritably. "Let's get started. I don't want to linger here," Bryan said enthusiastically. "Okay... who's afraid," Angeline started to prepare and gave the signal. "In three." Angeline looked at Bryan with a mischievous grin on her beautiful face. Bryan looked seriously ahead. "Three!" Angeline started immediately without counting to two. Bryan was surprised and tried to catch up with Angeline, who was already far ahead. "You cheated!" Bryan yelled angrily. They were only half a meter apart. "Stop it!" Angeline teased, swinging even faster. Bryan didn't want to lose. He took a wide swing and began to get the hang of it. Even when a child slipped in front of him, Bryan managed to avoid her smoothly. Angeline kept looking ahead, occasionally glancing behind her to make sure Bryan was far away from her. "Don't keep looking back!" Bryan yelled, noticing Angeline's behavior. "What? I can't hear you!" Angeline yelled back, laughing, and turned to look behind her again. Unaware that someone was sliding towards her. Bryan, noticing this, accelerated his slide. Angeline looked ahead and was startled. She even froze, unsure of what to do. "Whoa!" Angeline yelled, closing her eyes and accidentally dropping her cane. "Hahh... such a hassle," Bryan muttered, weaving back and forth past people who were also sliding past them. Finally, Bryan managed to get close to Angeline when a person who was about to collide with him casually swerved and passed Angeline, who was still sliding fast. Angeline opened her eyes and panicked even more. She spread her arms and swung them, causing her to slide faster. Bryan fell behind again. "Hey, Angeline! Be quiet, don't move too much!" "What am I doing? Waaa..." Angeline screamed even more in fear. Bryan managed to grab Angeline's hand and roll together with her. He shielded Angeline's head by hugging her tightly. "Hahh... haah..." they both came to a stop just short of the finish post. They gasped for breath, still panting heavily. Angeline was too scared to even open her eyes. Bryan opened his eyes and the finish line post was right over their heads. Bryan looked at the finish line, reached out and touched it. "I won," Bryan whispered. "What?" Angeline couldn't hear him. She opened her eyes and lifted her head. Her position, with her on top of Bryan, allowed Angeline to see Bryan's face very clearly. "I said I won. Hahh... So, hosh... you have to grant my request," Bryan said, and Angeline turned her head back and forth, realizing her situation. "How can you still consider this a race?" Angeline complained, feeling that this was unfair. "First of all, can you get off of me? You're really heavy!" Angeline was surprised and immediately sat up, facing Bryan who was still lying down. "Second, my hand successfully touched the target, and..." Angeline looked at Bryan's injured hand. "President... You're injured!" Angeline panicked and took Bryan's hand to have a closer look. "Don't call me President. Call me Bryan," Bryan asked. Angeline, who was tending to Bryan's wound, raised her head and looked at Bryan's face, which was still closed because of his eyes, with a joyful smile. Time seemed to stand still. Angeline was amazed at the relieved and happy smile she had just seen for the first time in a long time. Bryan continued to smile broadly and felt very happy indeed. John glided up to them. He approached Bryan, who was lying comfortably. "President, are you okay? We have to go. Mr. Bernard is waiting," John said, immediately pulling Bryan out of that comfortable atmosphere. Bryan got up quickly and slipped out without saying a word. "Are you okay?" John asked Angeline who was still captivated by Bryan's smile she had just seen. "Oh, uh, yeah. I'm fine." "Okay." John left Angeline and caught up with Bryan, who was already far ahead. After watching Bryan's start until he was out of sight, Angeline realized something. "How do I get off of him?" Angeline shouted, remembering the cane she had dropped. Angeline returned to the hotel to change and have lunch. While she was having lunch at the restaurant, her phone suddenly rang. "Who is this? How did they get my phone number? Only the President and John know it," Angeline muttered and answered it without suspicion.