Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Chapter 30

This is the last chapter, but there will still be an epilogue. Tweet your feels under the hashtag #ArcticHeartNinaWP

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Chapter 30
Season

"Pasensya na po sa abala, Tito, Tita..." nahihiya kong paghingi ng paumanhin sa mga magulang ni Jace.

Tita Lyrae laughed and immediately went to my side. Marahan niyang hinawakan ang aking braso. Kita ko sa kanyang hitsura na tuwang-tuwa siya kung ano mang nangyayari ngayon.

"It's beyond okay, Zarina!" Tita Lyrae enthusiastically said. "I'm sure it wouldn't be long 'til you finally move over here with us."

My eyes slightly widened with her unexpected response.

Jace invited me to just spend a night here in their house. Kahit na nahihiya ako na pumarito lalo na dahil paniguradong alam na nila ang tungkol sa aking ina ay pinilit pa rin ako ni Jace. I didn't argue with him anymore because I think coming home tonight would just lead to more complications. Hindi ko rin kasi alam ang gagawin ko kung sakaling umuwi ako at maabutan ko si mommy. Paniguradong magkakasagutan na naman kaming dalawa.

I just texted my father that I'd be staying at the house of Sys. Nagreply naman siya agad na naiintindihan niya ang aking desisyon na rito muna manatili ngayong gabi.

"Mom!"

Nilingon ko si Jace na nangingiti naman kahit na medyo naiirita.

Tito Josh laughed. "You're wrong, my beautiful wife..." he directed his stare at Tita Lyrae. "Zarina will not move here. For sure, our son had already planned a house for them to live after their wedding."

Pakiramdam ko ay sobrang pula na ng aking pisngi dahil ramdam na ramdam ko ang pag-init nito. Sinulyapan ko naman si Jace na napatingin na rin sa akin. Agad ko rin siyang iniwasan ng tingin dahil sa sobrang hiya.

I can't believe that his parents can just casually talk about their son's marriage. Para bang wala lang sa kanila ang ideyang magpakasal ang kanilang anak.

"Dad, stop it..." sabi naman ni Jace kay Tito Josh. "Nahihiya po si Zarina."

Tito Josh turned to me because of that. He chuckled seeing my expression. I probably looked like a flushed tomato right now.

"It's okay, Za..." he said and laughed again. "The moment my son brought you here, I saw the way he looked at you, and I realized that he won't approve it if you're not the once he's going to wait for at the altar."

I bit my lower lip. I didn't even know what to say. Parang isang maling ideya ang desisyon na rito sa kanila magpalipas ng gabi. Kung alam ko lang na magiging ganito ang usapan ay hindi na sana ako pumayag pa.

"You're being so unfair, dad..." pagsingit naman ni Liana na kanina pa nakaupo sa couch at nakikinig sa amin. "Si Jace ay hinahayaan mo nang magpakasal, samantalang ako'y kahit boyfriend ay ayaw mong mapaunlakan."

"Shut up, Liana. There's no man worthy of you yet," mariing sabi ni Tito Josh. "You should look for man like your twin."

"Like I can take being with someone like Jace who doesn't even talk. Baka magtitigan lang kami habang buhay." Humalukipkip siya at saka umirap.

Hindi ko na mapigilan ang matawa habang inaalala ang narinig ko noon sa bar. I thought she had a relationship before with a friend of Dylan? I wondered if it was a secret relationship. Ayaw ko naman siyang tanungin dahil hindi naman kami ganoon kalapit na dalawa.

"If you don't want someone like your twin, then find someone like me!" Tito Josh confidently said.

"Oh, please, dad. You're too corny and cringey. Maiinis lang ako," sabi ni Liana at saka tumayo na. "I'm going to my room now. Ayaw ko nang makipagbiruan pa. Good night!"