Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Chapter 12

"Yes, Tito," Jace confirmed.

Tumango-tango naman ito bago ako muling nilingon ng nakangiti. "Well, it was nice meeting you again, Zarina. Hope that this is not the last time."

I nodded, feeling honoured. "Opo!"

He grinned and patted Jace's shoulder before he finally left us with the pilot gearing himself for the flight.

"Hindi mo naman sinabi sa akin na lilipad pala tayo para mag-ocular," sabi ko habang papalapit na kami sa helicopter.

"Well, I just thought that it'll be more easy for us to find a locale if we will do it through air," he said and gave me the headphones that I need to wear before we fly.

Sinuot ko naman ito at saka nilingon siya na parang tila isang sikat na DJ sa club dahil sa suot na headphones. I just hate how everything he wears looks good on him.

"I also have here my cam. We will take shots of the potential locale of your water park." He showed me his professional camera.

Tumango na lamang ako at nagulat ako nang bigla niya akong alalayan papasok sa loob ng helicopter upang makaayos na ng upo.

I made myself comfortable inside the chopper, and Jace sat beside me. It made me feel suffocated once again, especially that we were inside a small and closed space.

Naramdaman ko naman ang pag-ugong ng helicopter at nakuha no'n ang aking atensyon. The pilot was talking to someone on the radio while we were slowly taking off the pad and Jace, on the other hand, was manipulating his camera.

I just averted my stare outside the window where skyscrapers greeted me as my eyes met them. Mas lalo pang tumaas ang lipad ng chopper bahagya naman akong napakapit sa upuan.

I wasn't scared whenever I ride an airplane to fly and go to other countries, but it was very different from flying in a chopper because of it shakiness.

"Is it your first time riding a chopper?" Jace suddenly asked me that made me look at him.

Ang kuryosong mga mata ay agad na tumama sa akin.

Tipid naman akong tumango at saka muling nag-iwas ng tingin kasabay nang paglayo ng helicopter sa Sarto upang simulan nang libutin ang Metro Manila.

"Are you scared that we might fall?" he followed up.

Napabuntong hininga naman ako. "Lahat naman siguro ay takot mahulog," sagot ko at pinilit ang sarili na ngumiti.

He didn't respond after that. He turned to look outside the window on his side, while I did the same. We were not here to chitchat. We were here for work.

Jace got four of possible locales that he took pictures of where my water park can be built. I just kept on agreeing with him because we both share the same sentiments. Kailangan na lang naming mamili ngayon sa apat na nakita naming lugar. Sa tingin ko'y mas maganda kung kasama ang buong team sa pamimili. I probably might set a meeting in three days.

"Are you already satisfied with what we've collected so far or you want to fly around more?" Jace asked me.

Kung ako siguro ang dating Zarina na baliw na baliw sa kanya, I will ask him to stroll around the Metropolitan area for three times or more. Pero dahil ako ay ang Zarina na nagising na sa katotohanan at natuto ay mas pipiliin kong tapusin na ang pagsasama naming dalawa.

"Let's go back now. I'm tired," I just said as I kept staring outside.

I looked down at the ground where we were thousands of feet away from. Pakiramdam ko'y ganitong kataas o mas mataas pa ang nilipad ko nang sinimulan kong mahalin si Jace, kaya noong bumagsak ako ay halos hindi na ako makakilos ulit. It was like I was almost dead because it felt like my heart wanted to stop beating at that moment.

My heart suddenly got heavier when we were slowly passing by our Alma Mater.

This was the place where everything started. I met him in our school for the first time, and I used to believe that it was love at first sight. He instantly got my attention just walking passed by me with a very intimidating cold look on his face.

He was like the king of winter, and I was just a normal maiden villager in his kingdom who was hoping to be showered with his attention but then, I was fine with tiny snowflakes raining on me, everytime I watch him from afar.

"Do you remember when we were back in senior high?" Jace suddenly asked when I was immersed with the view of our Alma Mater from above.

Parang nilalamutak ang puso ko habang inaalala ang lahat. Iyon ang panahon na natuto akong isugal ang puso ko.

Of course, Jace.

Those times might be painful, but I didn't regret any of it.

"You used to follow me around and keep on saying you like me," he started to reminisce. "I hate girls who do that. I didn't like the idea of being chased by women. I feel like you all aren't respecting yourselves because it seems like you are willing to kneel in front of me just to be noticed."

Mariin kong kinagat ang aking pang-ibabang labi habang nagsimula ang pag-init ng gilid ng aking mga mata.

"But you..." he trailed and sighed before he continued. "You didn't kneel but instead, you continued standing right in front of me to be noticed."

"But even though..." I cut him off. "To you, I was still someone who's invisible. Iyong kahit nakatayo na sa harapan mo ay tila hindi mo pa rin nakikita."

Silence reigned between us, and I was rejoicing when I found Sarto's building approaching our way. Matatapos na rin tayo, Zarina. Kaunting hintay na lang.

"But it's fine! I've already learned my lessons before," sabi ko at nagsumikap na ngumiti. "Narealize kong hindi ko dapat ipinagsisiksikan ang sarili ko sa taong ayaw naman sa akin. There are others who care for me. Sila na lang ang pagtutuunan ko ng pansin. I'm not gonna chase someone again who's avoiding my existence. Ayaw ko ng magmukhang tanga."

Muling nanaig ang katahimikan habang unti-unti nang lumalapag ang chopper kung saan ito namamahinga bago naming ginamit.

When the chopper's finally settled on the pad and the engine died down, Jace spoke up again.

"You've really grown into a mature woman..." he suddenly said that made me turn to him.

Bumilis at lumakas ang pagkabog ng aking puso lalong-lalo na nang lumingon din siya sa akin.

Slowly, the corners of his lips rose up and gave me a genuine smile that I'd never thought he'd be able to give me.

My lips parted watching him smile for me. His smile was solely for me.

"I'm proud of you..." he added before the smile, which was for me, faded.

Eight seconds.

He gave me an eight second smile to make it all somehow fine.