Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Chapter 5

Chapter 5
Choice

I fell asleep waiting for Jace's reply after I texted him about the details of the scheduled dinner with him and Dad tonight.

I reserved a private room at Dad's favorite restaurant in the morning after I went for a morning jog just around the village. And for the rest of the day, I was just inside my walk-in closet, looking for what clothes to wear for the dinner. Ilang oras din ang ginugol ko sa paghahanap ng damit. Madalas ay nakakapili na ako ngunit bigla kong maiisip na parang hindi bagay sa akin ang damit na susuotin. Masiyado akong nagiging conscious kaya hindi ako makapili ng maayos.

And in the end, nauwi din ako sa light pink dress na pinakauna kong napili magmula ng tumambay ako rito sa walk-in closet.

"It's a good thing that he agreed to meet with us, Zarina. Sana lang ay hindi natin nagulo ang schedule niya," sabi ni Daddy habang hinihintay namin sa pagdating si Jace.

"He wouldn't agree if it will affect his schedule, Dad," sabi ko naman dahil kanina pa siya napapaisip na baka naabala namin si Jace.

"I really hope so," Dad said while nodding his head to convince himself. "I know that he's a very busy man."

Napangiti naman ako bago nag-angat ng tingin. Sakto namang bumukas ang pintuan. Bumungad ang private waitress na naka-assign sa dinner namin ngayon bago niluwa nito si Jace.

He's only wearing his white longsleeves and its sleeves were folded in three-fourths. May suot pa siyang dark gray na necktie at ang kaniyang suit ay nakasabit sa kaniyang braso. Kahit mukhang pagod galing sa trabaho ay kakaibang kakisigan pa rin ang kaniyang pinapakita.

He coldly thanked the waitress before lifting his gaze. Nang tumama ang kanyang mga mata sa akin ay agad akong nanlamig dahil sa pagkawala ng emosyon doon.

I don't know why I still shiver with his cold stares when I've been receiving that kind of stare all the time. Siguro'y iba lang talaga ang epekto niya sa'kin.

Bahagya siyang nagtaas ng kilay nang mapansin ang pagtagal ng aking titig sa kanya.

I casually let out a sigh before shifting my gaze to my father. Pakiramdam ko'y pagpapawisan ako kahit sobrang lamig sa loob ng dining room. So much for pretending that you're not into him, Zarina. Galingan mo naman ang pag-acting!

"He's here, Dad" anunsyo ko kay Daddy kahit nakatingin na siya kay Jace at mukhang tuwang-tuwa sa pagdating nito.

Tumayo naman si Daddy sa kanyang kinauupuan at naglahad ng kamay kay Jace. Nilingon ko naman si Jace na bahagyang nagulat sa respetong pinapakita sa kanya ng ama ko.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you again, Architect Sy," Dad warm heartedly greeted him.

Mabilis namang tinanggap ni Jace ang kamay ni Daddy. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan ang pagngiti. I feel like Dad really likes him.

"It's also a pleasure to meet you, Sir Rivadelo," he told my father and he smiled.

My heart skipped a beat at his smile that I don't often see. Kulang nalang ay mahulog ako sa kinauupuan ko dahil sa pagngiti niyang kay mahal at palaging pinagdadamot na ibigay sa iba.

"I'm sorry if I'm late though," he then apologized. "I was at the site in Tagaytay for an on-going project. Dumaan din akong office bago ako pumunta dito dahil may kinuha akong importanteng blueprints," he explained.

Napakagat ako sa aking labi at ibinagsak nalang ang tingin sa malinis na plato.

That's the longest line I've ever heard from him. Kapag ako ang kausap niya o ang ibang kaibigan namin ay napakatipid niyang magsalita. All his words are marked with finality. You can't even reply to it even though you want to prolong your conversation with him.