Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Chapter 8

Chapter 8
Manipulating

I was in my best behavior while sitting at the shot gun seat of Jace's car on the way to our house. My eyes were only fixed on different establishments that we were passing by, while his eyes were staring straight on the road.

This was the most suffocating situation I've ever been. Breathing normally wasn't possible for me to do. I kept on holding on to my breath, afraid to make any noise between our tranquil atmosphere.

I held on to the strap of the seat belt that he asked me to buckle earlier before he started to put the car in motion.

Lumabi naman ako at hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na mapabuntong hininga sa gitna ng katahimikan. Sumisikip na ang dibdib ko dahil sa hindi normal na paghingi. I needed to take a deep breath.

I saw Jace took a quick a glance at me after I heaved a deep breath.

Napahigpit naman ang kapit ko sa seat belt at saka kinagat ang ibabang labi.

"Is there something wrong?" he suddenly asked me in the middle of silence.

Napalingon naman ako sa kanya at saka umiling. "W-Wala..." Hindi ko na napigilan ang mautal.

Sa totoo nga ay sobrang saya ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. In one of my most private dreams, sitting on the shot gun seat next to Jace who was driving was one of those dreams. Hindi ko lang maipakita kung gaano ako kasaya na kasama siya ngayon. I never thought that this kind of scene was even possible to happen.

"It seemed like you've been holding on to your breath..." he told me his observation.

"Ah... Naisip ko lang na marami pa akong kailangang gawin sa opisina bukas," palusot ko naman.

He slowly nodded and maneuvered the car to our subdivision.

Napakunot naman ang aking noo dahil sa pagtataka. Mukhang alam niya kung saan ako nakatira. Maybe Dad already told him our address and he got the ways memorized.

"Doon lang sa may metal gate." Tinuro ko ang gate sa may bandang dulo bago lumiko.

"I know..." he simply said and halted the car in front of our driveway.

Napatango na lang ako at agad nang tinanggal ang seat belt na pumoprotekta sa akin sa aming biyahe pauwi. Mabilis akong lumabas ng sasakyan at hindi ko naiwasan ang paulit-ulit na huminga ng malalim.

Ang pakiramdam ko habng nasa isang sasakyan kasama si Jace ay parang pinagkaitan ng hangin upang makahinga.

I pressed the doorbell beside the small gate and it was immediately opened after a few seconds. Tinulak ko naman iyon para buksan bago nilingon si Jace.

"Gusto mo bang ipasok sa garahe ang sasakyan mo?" tanong ko sa kanya. "Papabuksan ko ang malaking gate."

Umiling naman si Jace. "My car will be fine here."

I just nodded at his answer and opened the small gate widely for him to come in. "Tara na sa loob."

Nagulat naman ako nang makitang may kinuha siyang cake mula sa backseat. Kinagat ko ang aking ibabang labi upang pigilan ang sarili sa pagngiti dahil nag-abala pa talaga siyang bumili ng cake.

"You think your mom will like blueberry cheesecake?" he asked me when he came closer.

Hindi ko naman na napigilan ang pagngiti bago tumango sa kanya. "Gusto ni mommy 'yan. She likes cheesecakes."

He glanced at the cake and nodded. "Great..." he whispered to himself.

Tinalikuran ko naman na siya dahil abot na sa tainga ang aking pagngiti. Baka akalain niyang nababaliw na ako dahil sa sobrang tuwa.