Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Chapter 5

"It's okay, Architect. Ako nga ang dapat manghingi ng paumanhin dahil naabala ka pa namin. Kaysa nagpapahinga ka na ay kailangan mo pang makipagkita sa amin," nag-aalalang sabi ni Daddy.

Umiling naman si Jace para sabihin na okay lang at muling ngumiti. "You may drop the formalities, Sir. Just call me Jace."

If only I can capture this moment of him smiling, then I will. Para tuwing malungkot ako, makita ko lang siyang nakangiti ay ayos na ako.

"Well, then, just call me Tito Rey," sabi naman ni Daddy at saka bahagyang humalakhak. Halatang natutuwa siya sa mga nangyayari.

They both sat down and finally settled down. Dad called for the attention of the assigned waitress and we finally placed our orders. We ordered enough food for us three.

Dad and Jace talked about business and work. Jace told my Dad his experiences and Dad talked about his friends that are on the same field as Jace while I'm just playing with my phone, trying not to be interested with whatever they were talking about.

I shouldn't have came. Dapat ay hinayaan ko na lang si Daddy na makipag-usap mag-isa kay Jace. Nanatili nalang sana ako sa bahay at pinagtuonan ng pansin ang proyektong sisimulan ko.

Napataas naman ang aking kilay nang may biglang magchat sa akin sa messenger.

Troy Austin:
Zarina! Finally!

Austin's one of my suitors when I was still in New York and he is also a very close friend. Naging magkaibigan muna kami for a year bago siya nagdesisyong ligawan ako. Unlike my other suitors, he doesn't give up that easily. Up until now actually. I know he's still hitting on me.

Zarina Cashe:
Austin, it's still 7:30am in the morning there. What are you up to?

Napangiti naman ako nang agad siyang magreply sa aking chat. He always entertains my messages right away.

Troy Austin:
I decided to wake up early thinking that I'll be finally able to talk to you if I did, and look! Here's the product of being an early riser. Gonna make this a new hobby.

Hindi ko mapigilan ang humagikgik dahil kay Austin. If my heart wasn't stole by another man, I think I'm gonna let him have it instead.

"Zarina."

Magtitipa sana ako ng irereply kay Austin nang tawagin ni Daddy ang aking atensyon. Dumaan ang aking tingin kay Jace na seryosong nakatingin sa akin bago ko nalingon si Daddy.

"Yes, Dad?" ngiting-ngiti kong pagbaling sa kaniya.

"You should stop sticking your nose to your phone while we're on this dinner. Nakakahiya kay Jace," marahan na pangaral nito sa akin.

Napanguso naman ako. Kung sinasali lang nila ako sa usapan nila ay hindi ako magsasarili ngunit parang may harang silang dalawa na hindi ko dapat pasukin.

"I'm sorry, Dad," I apologized. "I just got so excited because a friend from New York messaged me. It's been a while since I've talked to them."

Inilapag ko naman ang cellphone ko sa ibabaw ng lamesa at saka kinuha ang baso ng tubig para makainom.

"Sinong kaibigan?" he asked, curiously.

"Austin," tipid kong sabi saka uminom ng tubig.

"Oh! He is your suitor, right? Iyong laging bumibisita sa bahay," sabi ni Daddy nang maalala at muntik na akong masamid sa iniinom kong tubig.

He didn't have to say it in front of Jace!

Bahagya kong sinulyapan ng tingin si Jace at nakitang bahagyang nakataas ang kanyang kilay habang nagtitipa ng kung ano sa kanyang cellphone.