Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Prologue

Magsasalita pa sana si Abrielle para pangaralan ako ngunit hindi ko na hinayaan ang sarili kong marinig pa ang mga sasabihin niya para habulin si Jace hanggang hindi pa siya gaanong nakakalayo.

I was panthing from running when I saw him walking along the corridors. His hands are both inside his pocket. Even his back profile screams out handsomeness and authority. Alam mong kapag humarap siya'y maaaring masira ang kinabukasan mo dahil handa mong ialay sa kaniya ang lahat kahit wala ng matira para sa sarili mo.

"Jace Lael Sarmiento Sy!" I shouted his full name that made him stop from walking.

Napangiti ako nang huminto siya sa paglalakad. Agad kong tinakbo ang distansyang nagpapalayo sa aming dalawa. I shouldn't waste this chance that he gave me to approach him. Sobrang bihira lamang ng ganitong pagkakataon na hinding-hindi ko dapat sayangin.

Huminto ako sa pagtakbo nang marating ko na ang kaniyang harapan. I smiled when I saw him in front me. Hindi ako makapaniwalang nandito talaga siya ngayon sa harapan ko.

He borely stared, looking down at me. We have a huge height difference. Lagi tuloy akong nakatingala tuwing nakatingin sa kaniya ng malapitan. Pero okay lang dahil ang lalaking katulad niya ay dapat lang na tinitingala.

I can't help but to admire his Godlike facial features whenever I see him this close to me. His thick eyebrows and pointed nose. His slightly chinky but deep hazel brown eyes. His luscious cherry lips. Hindi siya nakakasawang tignan. Tingin ko'y bawat araw ay gumagwapo siya. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan ang mapangiti habang pinupuri ang kaniyang kagwapuhan.

He deeply exhaled before he looked away from me.

Napanguso naman ako. Ayokong-ayoko talaga tuwing inaalis niya ang tingin niya sa akin at tumingin sa iba o kung saan-saan. Gusto ko kapag kaharap niya ako ay sa akin lamang siya titingin.

I know it's wrong to be possessive, especially if I have no right to be possessive because it's very clear that he's not mine.

"You're wasting my time." I heard him say and was about to go when I held his arm to stop him.

Halos makuryente ang kamay ko nang dumapo ito sa kaniyang braso.

He looked down to see my hand holdind his arm that made me removed my gripped from him and smiled slyly.

"I have something to say." I told him.

He sighed before he crossed his arms to look at me more intently.

"It's my debut next, next week. I need to finalize my invitation that will be giving out next week." panimula ko.

"Ano namang kinalaman ko diyan?" Pabalang niyang tanong sa akin.

"Well, since I want you to be my escort and eighteenth rose, ikaw ang pinalagay ko sa invitation. Though pwede pa siyang mabago dahil hindi pa naman nakakapagproduce, pero please!" Pinagdikit ko ang aking dalawang palad at saka ipinikit ang aking mga mata. "Please pumunta ka sa debut ko. Be my escort and my last rose."

I slightly opened my right eye to look at him who's still looking at me with a bored look. Agad ko ulit ipinikit ang isang mata ko.

"No." he simply said and I felt him started to walk away.

Dinilat kong muli ang mga mata ko para mahabol siya agad na hindi pa nakakalayo.

"Please, Jace! Please, please, please!" I pleaded while keeping up with his big steps.

"I said, no!" Iritadong-iritado siyang bumaling sa akin.

Sa sobrang lapit ko sa kaniya ay natabig niya ako nang humarap siya sa akin na dahilan kung bakit ako nawala sa balanse at natumba sa sahig.