Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Chapter 14

Well, I guess I should be patient and let everything flow naturally. I shouldn't force myself to feel something when all my emotions were still controlled by a certain person.

Let's take it slow, Zarina. Step by step. Little by little.

Hinigpitan ko naman ang aking pagkakakapit sa kanyang kamay na dahilan kung bakit siya bahagyang napahinto at lumingon sa akin na may pagtataka at pagkabigla sa kanyang ekspresyon.

I just smiled at him that caused him to smile back at me. Hindi siya madamot sa pagbibigay ng ngiti, pero mas nangingibabaw pa rin ang walong segundong ngiti na iginawad sa akin ni Jace kahit sa kabila ng sakit.

Damn, Zarina! Will you please stop comparing and focus on moving forward?

I needed to move on. I wanted to get over this feeling as soon as I can. Kung matagalan man ay ayos lang sa akin basta makalaya lang ako sa pagmamahal na kumukulong sa akin para sa kanya.

Ayoko ring saktan si Dylan kung nagkataon man na tuluyan siyang mahulog sa akin at hindi ko siya makayang saluhin dahil ako mismo ay nahuhulog sa iba at naghihintay na masalo.

Guilt immediately tried to awaken my conscience.

Am I ready for the possibility of hurting someone if ever I fail to move on and leave him hanging?

Lumuwag ang aking pagkakakapit sa kanya dahil sa mga naisip ngunit siya naman ang nagpahigpit sa pagkakapit naming sa isa't isa.

Ang sama-sama mo, Zarina...

Wala na akong nagawa kundi ang magpatianod sa kanya patungo sa kanyang mga kaibigan. I was actually surprised as well to see some friends and familiar faces as we walked inside the club.

"Jared, happy birthday, bro!" Dylan greeted the host of a party with a fist bomb.

"Thank you, Dylan," he thanked Dylan before his stare drifted to mine and gave Dylan a meaningful smile. "You're with someone, huh?"

Dylan chuckled and pulled me closer beside him by wrapping his arm around my waist.

"This is Zarina Rivadelo," he introduced me to Jared and also to his other friends around the circle.

I smiled at his friends and directed my stare at Jared. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you for the greeting," he thanked me. "Enjoy the party. Dylan, get her something to drink or eat some snacks. Do as you please."

Tumango naman si Dylan at nagpasalamat bago nagpaalam sa mga kaibigan na mauupo muna kami sa table.

"What do you want to drink?" he asked me when a waiter stopped at our table.

"I'm fine with cocktails, pineapple mix," I answered.

He nodded and reiterated what I wanted to the waiter and ordered for himself as well. Some of his friends went to chill on our table. Two of them had their girlfrends tagged along with them.

They were busy talking about trivial things, and I kept myself busy while slowly drinking the cocktail I ordered. Dylan never failed to keep me company by talking to me from time to time.

"I actually saw Liana earlier..." The one wearing white plain shirt shared as he was almost drunk. "Still stunningly beautiful as ever."

Panandalian namang napakunot ang aking noo nang marinig ang pangalan ng kakambal ni Jace. Was he actually pertaining to Liana Sy?

"Liana Sy?" Dylan probed.

Tumango naman ang lalaki at nakuha nila ang aking atensyon.

Liana's here? Dito ba ang lakad nila ni Isha ngayon?