Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Chapter 3

Nag-angat naman ng tingin si Ericson sa amin at bahagyang nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata nang makita ako. Si Jace naman ay walang pakealam sa nangyayari sa paligid niya at patuloy pa rin sa pag-inom ng wine.

"Oh! Nakabalik ka na pala ng Pilipinas." sabi ni Ericson at lumapit sa akin upang salubungin ako ng mabilis na pagyakap.

"Nagulat din ako nang bigla ko siyang nakita, babe." sabi naman ni Dana at agad na lumingkis kay Ericson.

Natawa naman si Ericson bago nilingon ang mga kasama pang dalawa sa table, kasama na roon si Jace.

"Guys, look who's back!" he announced.

Si Bench na kanina pa nakatingin ay tumayo na upang yakapin din ako. Medyo nailang naman ako sa pagyakap niya sa'kin dahil niligawan niya ako dati at walang pag-aalinlangan ko siyang tinanggihan. And he didn't just court me once but thrice. Sa tatlong beses na sumubok siya ay 'di ko siya binigyan ng pag-asang magtagumpay.

"You look more beautiful," he complimented me and kissed my hand.

Nahihiya naman akong tumawa saka pasimpleng binawi ang kamay ko. "Thank you."

His lips twitched and he didn't stop staring at me.

"Jace! Your sweetheart is back," bigla namang pabirong sabi ni Ericson at hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ni Jace.

Jace raised his gaze at me with no amusement. He looks so bored as he fixed his stare.

"I can still remember how crazy you were when it comes Jace," natatawa niyang sabi. "You dumped every boy who likes you, including Bench because you're so in love with Jace."

Nilipat ko naman ang tingin ko kay Ericson at bahagyang tumawa.

"That's all in the past, Ericson. I'm not his sweetheart," I defended myself. "And that's just a puppy love."

I tried to act like I'm over Jace when the truth is I'm not. I'm sure that this isn't just a puppy love. It's something stronger but I won't admit that in front of him.

"Puppy love, huh?" Jace grinned as he spoke.

Mas lalong bumilis ang pagtibok ng puso at parang hindi na ako makahinga ng maayos nang marinig ko ang boses niya.

"Zarina's right. Masiyado pa tayong mga bata non," sabi naman ni Bench at inakbayan ako. "Except for you two, of course," sabay ngiti ni Bench kina Dana at Ericson.

I saw Jace's jaw clenched and drank the rest of the wine inside his glass.

"Anyway, Zarina, what are you planning to do now that you're back?" tanong naman ni Dana at hinatak ako paupo kaya nakakawala ako sa pagkaka-akbay ni Bench.

Umupo naman sa tabi ko si Bench. Si Ericson naman ay sa tabi ni Dana umupo habang si Jace ay nanatili sa kaniyang pwesto.

"I'm going to handle our company. My parent's also passing the new project to me. That's going to be my first challenge," I answered her question.

"What project is that?" tanong naman ni Ericson. "If you want, I can invest. I'm into investing nowadays. I love playing with numbers."

Napangiti naman ako kay Ericson. "It's actually a water park that will be built here in Metro Manila," sagot ko. "I'll be looking forward to your investment, Ericson."

Kinindatan lamang ako ni Ericson at natawa naman ako nang kinurot siya ni Dana sa tagiliran.

"Why did you choose Manila as your locale for the water park?" biglang tanong ni Bench sa akin.

"Kung sa provinces lang din kasi magpapatayo ng water park, it will have a lot of competition dahil sa mga resorts and other water parks na mayroon. Unlike here in Manila, it won't have that much competition. Plus, it isn't just a normal water park. I have a lot of innovative ideas to make it unique and different from the other water parks that we have here in our country," sabi ko naman.

Tumango-tango naman si Ericson. "Your idea sounds interesting."

"I never knew that Zarina can be this mature and intellectual. No offense, Zarina," sabi naman ni Dana. "Pano ba naman kasi dati ay halos bumuwal ang grades mo."

"Well, she's very different now, Dana," pagtanggol naman ss akin ni Bench. "She graduated Bachelor in Science, Major in Business Management in Brooklyn College with Latin Honors."

Gulat naman akong napalingon kay Bench. "How did you know?"

"Don't creep out but I stalk your social media accounts sometimes," walang pag-aalinlangan niyang sabi.

"Looks like someone's not yet over Zarina," tawa naman ni Ericson.

Natawa rin si Dana sa banat ni Ericson habang ako'y mas lalong nailang sa presensya ni Bench sa tabi ko nang dahil sa pang-iinis.

"Oh my gosh! Is that Zarina?!"

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa babaeng nagmamadali patungo sa aming table. Nang makarating naman siya ay agad niya akong niyakap.

It's Liana, Jace's twin sister.

She looks more elegant and more lady-like. They often tell her that she looks like an angel and wearing that white dress, I can tell she really does.

"It's been what?! Almost seven years! I can't believe you're finally back," hindi makapaniwalang sabi niya.

Nilingon niya naman si Jace at sinimangutan niya ang kaniyang kambal.

"Jace, you didn't even call me to meet Zarina again. Nandito na pala siya," nagtatampong sabi nito sa kapatid.

"I didn't know it was necessary..." nagkibit-balikat naman si Jace.

Liana just glared at Jace before she turned to look af me.

"So, ano ng nangyayari sa buhay mo? Are you finally back for good or vacation lang?" tanong ni Liana at mukhang interesadong-interesado sa buhay ko.

"We're talking about handling her family's business, Liana. She'll stay here for good," si Ericson na ang sumagot ng tanong.

Liana just smiled at him before she averted her eyes on me again.

"What business?" she asked.

"It's a water park that will be established around Metro Manila. I'm still looking for a locale," sabi ko naman. "Also, I want to look for a new team that will help me. I want new a new Architect and an Engineer to help. I don't want to rely that much on what my parents have started."

Bahagya namang nanglaki ang mga mata ni Liana. "Jace can be your Architect!" she suddenly exclaimed. "He's a great Architect! In just a year after he passed the board but, he already has a lot of achievements."

Abrielle already told me before that Jace's pursuing Architecture instead of Business Management in order to handle his family's business. But despite of that, I still hope that he'll handle their business. I want to be in the same field as him.

"He didn't manage your business?" kunwari ay gulat kong tanong.

"Jace doesn't want to. He likes drawing and such. Akala namin noong una ay gusto niya dahil tumutulong pa siya kay Daddy pero hindi pala. Kahit pinilit siya ng Daddy namin, wala pa ring nangyari. He really wants to be an Architect," kwento ni Liana. "That's why you can hire him to work on your project. He won't fail you."

"Liana, you know my hands are full," tipid na sabi ni Jace.

Ayaw niya. Tumatanggi siya. Maybe he doesn't want to be involved with me even if it's for business.

"Damn! Such a superstar Architect, Jace." biro ni Ericson.

"I can be your Engineer, Zarina," Bench suddenly said, and we all turned to look at him. "I also have colleagues who are Architects. I can find you one."

"No need."

Kumabog ng todo ang puso ko nang muling nagsalita si Jace. Seryosong-seryoso ang kaniyang mga mata nang itinama niya ito sa akin.

"I'll be your Architect," he stated, full of conviction.

Well, damn...

You can also be my husband and I wouldn't mind, Jace.