Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Chapter 12

Dreaming is like a trigger for a heart to be wounded and, probably, dysfunctional if we failed to reach our dreams.

But that's just for me...

Napukaw ng atensyon ko ang matayog na building ng Sarto na tinatahak ngayon ng sasakyan. Napakunot naman ang aking noo nang lumiko ito patungo sa driveway at agad na huminto sa tapat ng nakaabang na valet.

"Bakit tayo nasa Sarto?" tanong ko sa kanya nang pinatay niya ang makina ng sasakyan.

Nilingon niya naman ako. "You'll see," simpleng sabi niya bago lumabas ng sasakyan.

Wala naman akong nagawa kundi ang sumunod sa kanya palabas. Kausap niya ang valet at binigay ang susi ng kanyang sasakyan.

Nakatayo lamang ako sa gilid nilang dalawa at nang matapos silang mag-usap ay muli akong nilingon ni Jace.

"Let's go inside," he said before he started walking.

I followed him inside the classy and extravagant lobby of Sarto. No doubt that his family's company was screaming success from the way their empire physically looks.

The employees were greeting him as we passed by them and they will smiled at me to acknowledge my presence because I'm with Jace.

It was surprising how he was still known by Sarto's employees even though he didn't work at their company. Siguro'y ganoon na katanyag at katunog ang pamilya nila. Walang hindi makakakilala sa kanila.

Tahimik kaming sumakay sa elevator at pinindot niya ang pinakamataas na button nito. We were heading to the rooftop.

Napabuntong hininga naman ako habang hinihintay ang pag-akyat ng elevator sa tamang palapag. Nilingon niya ako at pasimple akong tumingin sa maliit na screen upang panoorin ang pagpapalit-palit ng mga numero habang kami'y pataas nang pataas.

Nang bumukas naman ang elevator ay dire-diretso siyang naglakad palabas nang hindi pa rin umiimik.

"Jace, ano bang ginagawa―"

I stopped from asking when I saw a helicopter waiting for us at the top.

A man dressed as a pilot was waiting for us while talking to the famous business tycoon, Vini Sarmiento.

Jace went to them, and they immediately sensed his presence. Kahit kausap ang kanyang tiyuhin ay hindi niya pa rin nagagawang ngumiti at magpakita ng ibang emosyon. I suddenly wondered if he was also like this to his parents.

Vini Sarmiento averted his gaze to me and he smiled before looking back at Jace again.

May sinabi si Vini Sarmiento at agad na umigting ang panga ni Jace bago ito umiling. Nagulat naman ako nang bigla siyang naglakad papalapit sa akin.

"Zarina Rivadelo, right?" he said and lent out his hand. "It's nice to meet you."

"It's a pleasure meeting you po, Mr. Sarmiento," sabi ko naman at ngumiti saka nakipagkamay sa kanya.

Bahagya naman siyang humalakhak bago umiling. "Drop the formalities, Zarina. Just call me Tito Vini since I think you're close with my nephew."

Nahihiya naman akong tumingin sa kanya. "Hindi naman po kami close," sabi ko.

Muli naman siyang humalakhak bago binitawan ang aking kamay. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nakakatawa sa sinasabi ko at tawa siya ng tawa.

"Tito..." Jace suddenly stole my attention.

Agad naman siyang nilingon ng kanyang Tito. "Hmm?"

"We need to fly now," he stated.

Vini Sarmiento cleared his throat before he became serious. "Okay..." he said. "It'll just be around Metro Manila, right?"