Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Chapter 9

Chapter 9
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The dinner with Jace went well except for the part where mom always blatter about her fantasies to eligible bachelors, especially Dylan, being paired to me. I can't even smile genuinely because of embarrassment. It was a good thing that dad can maneuver the conversation back to Jace's outstanding achievements.

"Thank you for accepting my invitation, Jace. It was a pleasure having you in our home," Dad thanked Jace when we were already done eating.

"Thank you for the dinner, Tito Rey," Jace thanked my dad instead with a smile plastered on his lips.

One day, I'll be able to capture that smile into a photograph.

"The dinner was very delicious," he added some compliments.

Natawa naman si daddy. "Well... Masarap talagang magluto ang asawa ko," pagmamalaki ni daddy kay mommy. "I hope that there'll be a next time."

Jace's smile got wider. "No problem, Tito. I'll accept your invitation whenever I'm free."

"That's great then!" Humalakhak si daddy at hindi maitago ang saya bago lumingon sa akin. "Za, samahan mo na si Jace palabas ng bahay."

Bahagya naman akong natigilan sa bilin ni daddy bago sumulyap kay Jace na nakangisi at saka inilipat ang tingin sa akin.

"Go on now, Za. Baka gabihin si Jace sa daan. It's not that safe anymore to drive at night," sabi ni daddy.

"Uh... Sige po," nag-aalangan kong sabi bago naiilang na nilingon si Jace. "Tara na sa labas."

Hindi ko na siya hinintay pang magsalita at nanguna na ako sa paglabas ng bahay. Dali-dali ang aking lakad patungo sa maliit na gate. Agad ko iyong binuksan at itinabi ang sarili upang makadaan si Jace palabas.

Nakatitig na lamang ako sa aking paa habang hinihintay na dumaan si Jace sa aking harapan at lumabas ngunit mag-iisang minute na akong gaganoon ang ayos pero hindi pa siya lumalabas.

Nag-angat naman ako ng tingin at agad akong sinalubong ng kanyang titig. Ang lamig na hatid ng gabing hangin ay walang-wala sa kanyang nagyeyelong tingin.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit kapag sa iba ay kaya niya namang magpakita ng ibang emosyon ngunit pagdating sa akin ay daig niya pa ang isang taong nyebe.

I can't help but to envy Engineer Horan for she can view Jace in all his different sides. I bet they're very open to each other.

"Are you free tomorrow after lunch?" Jace suddenly asked.

The cold atmosphere suddenly became warm.

Muntik nang malaglag ang aking panga ngunit agad ko naman itong naagapan at tinikom ko ang aking bibig bago nag-isip ng isasagot.

"Uh... Hindi ko sigurado," sagot ko at hilaw na ngumisi. "Depende pa sa makakaharap kong trabaho bukas. Bakit?"

Napalunok naman ako habang hinihintay ang kanyang sagot.

I didn't know if he was gonna ask me out or anything similar to that. Naiinis na ako sa sarili ko dahil hindi ko mapigilan ang umasa. Bawat kaunting tiyansa na nakikita ko para umasa ay agad kong kinakagat.

Ganoon naman talaga siguro. Kapag gustong-gusto natin ang isang bagay ay kakapit tayo sa kahit napakaliit na tiyansang inilatag sa ating harapan kahit na alam nating mapapabitaw rin tayo kalaunan dahil hindi iyon para sa atin. At least, after we let go of that chance, we can say that we're one step closer to what we want to have because we once had a chance to touch it, even if it was not ours to hold.

"Text me before lunch if you can free your schedule after," he said.

"Bakit?" muli kong tanong. "Mayroon ba tayong pupuntahan?"