Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Chapter 1

Chapter 1
Promise

I crossed my arms and leaned on the glass wall behind me as I waited for my luggages to arrive. I'm so tired from a long flight from New York. I want to rest as soon as I got off from the plane but I forgot this scene that awaited my arrival.

I just got my phone and connected to the free wifi here at the terminal. I checked my Instagram and saw that I was bombarded with new notifications because of my latest post.

It's a candid picture of me at the airport back in New York, staring at the landed airplanes while waiting for my flight. I put a caption saying, 'I will miss you, New York.'

My friends in New York commented and wished me a safe flight. They also commented that they will miss me and they'll try to have a vacation here in the Philippines. I can't help but to smile. I've made a lot of friends and memories in New York. It's hard to leave but I needed to go back. I want to go back. It's time go back.

After a few more minutes of waiting, I sighed in relief when I finally saw my two luggages. Halos mapasigaw na ako sa tuwa dahil makakauwi na ako at makakapagpahinga.

I happily thanked all the staffs that are greeting me. I really like Sarto Airlines' staff's service. They're all warm and friendly. Looks like Sarto has trained them well.

Our family's driver, Manong Leonardo, picked me up from the terminal. I slept on my way home because of tiredness from the long flight.

"Maligayang pagbalik, Zarina." Masayang salubong sa akin ng mayardoma ng aming bahay.

Lumapit naman ako at niyakap siya. "Salamat po."

"Gutom ka ba? Kumain ka kaya muna bago magpahinga. Pero kung gusto mo agad magpahinga ay maayos at malinis ang kwarto mo. Kung pano mo iniwan ay ganoon mo rin babalikan." Sabi niya naman sakin.

"Hmm... magpapahinga nalang po siguro ako. Kumain naman po ako sa eroplano at hindi pa po ako masiyadong ginugutom." Sabi ko.

Tumango naman siya at ngumiti sa akin. "Sige at magpahinga ka na kung iyan ang nais mo."

Agad naman akong umakyat sa kwarto ko pagkatapos nang pakikipagkamustahan ko kay Manang.

Nilibot ko ang tingin ko sa aking tahimik na kwarto. The style of my room does not suit my taste anymore. I've grown and I have a different taste now. Maybe I should redecorate my room tomorrow since I still have a day left before Mom and Dad will go back from New York.

Pagkabalik nila ay magsisimula na ang training ko sa paghahawak ng aming kompanya. Mawawalan na ako ng oras sa mga bagay na gusto kong gawin.

Nagtuloy-tuloy ang tulog ko nang makatulog ako. Nagising na lamang ako ng katukin ako ni Manang para kumain na ng tanghalian. Sampung oras ata ang naitulog ko sa sobrang pagod sa mahabang biyahe. Just enough sleep to gain full energy the next day.

"Bukas pa uuwi ang Mama at Papa mo, 'diba?" Tanong sa akin ni Manang habang kumakain ng lunch.

I already took a bath before going down to eat lunch. Pupunta ako ngayon sa mall para tumingin ng mga pwede kong ilagay sa kwarto ko at kung ano ang dapat na mga ipabago.

"Bukas pa nga po ng gabi." Sabi ko naman.

Tumango naman si Manang at nakita kong pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang aking suot.

"May lakad ka ba ngayon?" She suddenly asked me.

I nodded and smiled while reminding myself of what I'm wearing.

I wore an off-shoulder hanging white top and a high waist black shorts. I also wore my favorite Michael Kors' leather sneaker that I bought last Christmas sale. Instead of 175 dollars, I bought it for only 120 dollars. That's why I bought another pair with a different design.