Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Chapter 14

Tumawa naman ang lalaking nakahilig sa kanyang girlfriend. "Gago ka kasi at pinakawalan mo pa," sabi nito. "Now, you look like a puppy missing your owner."

Tipid naman siyang ngumiti. "You know I have to..."

Gusto ko pa sanang malaman ang kabuuan ng istorya pero agad din silang nanahimik at inilihis na sa ibang topic ang kwentuhan.

When I finished my second glass of cocktail, I stood up from my seat that caught Dylan's attention. I didn't want to seat here all night without enjoying the party.

Ngumiti naman ako sa kanya. "Sa dance floor lang ako," pagpapaalam ko.

"Sasamahan na kita. I wanna dance with you," sabi niya at agad na tumayo para samahan ako patungong dance floor.

The music was still in an upbeat tune when we reached the dance floor. It wasn't that crowded because the party's private. Some were getting wild already as they danced to an electronic beat.

Dylan grabbed me on my waist as he started to move his body along with the groove of the music.

Natawa naman ako sa kanyang dance moves kaya naman napatawa rin siya at mas humataw pa ng pagsayaw.

"Dance with me!" he shouted in the middle of the deafning beats.

Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay at sinubukan akong igalaw-galaw upang sumayaw.

I was planning to dance alone earlier, pero ngayong kasama ko siya ay nakaramdam ako ng kaonting hiya para sa sarili.

"Come on, Zarina! Show me your moves," he shouted while laughing.

Napapikit naman ako ng mariin bago magsimula sa pag-indak kasabay ng tugtog. Pumalakpak si Dylan nang magsimula akong sumayaw at panay ang puri niya sa akin.

"Ayoko na! Nahihiya na ako!" malakas na bulong ko sa kanya.

Nakuha ko na rin ang atensyon ng ibang mga taong nasa dance floor dahil sa aking pagsayaw at sa kanyang agaw eksenang reaksyon.

He laughed at me before he nodded. "Let's go back to our table."

Mabilis naman akong umiling. "Punta muna ako sa restroom. Susunod na lang ako sa table."

Kita kong nagdadalawang-isip pa siya kaya naman bahagya ko na siyang tinulak upang paunahin na siya sa table. Mabuti na lang at hinayaan niya na ako.

I excused myself in a sea of people on the dance floor to go to the restroom when I was suddenly pulled by someone that I clashed against his broad chest.

Bago pa ako makaangat ng tingin sa kanya ay hinapit niya na ang aking baiwang at sinubukan akong isayaw nang dahan-dahan kahit na ang kantang tumutugtog ay pangmasayang indayog.

I can smell a mixture of alcohol and mint when we got closer. I didn't know that this kind of scent can be so addicting.

"Looks like you and Dylan are getting closer..."

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata nang bigla siyang nagsalita. Boses pa lang ay nagawa niya nang pagwalain ang iba't ibang klase ng hayop sa aking tiyan.

Only one guy can make me feel like this. No doubt.

"Jace..." I whispered his name without looking at him.

"Uhuh..." he said with his husky voice. "It's me."

I bit my lower lip while thinking of the reason why he was here. Kaysa matuwa na nandito siya ngayon sa harapan ko ay naramdaman ko lang ang pamilyar na sakit. Parang normal na lang sa akin ang sakit dahil sa dalas ko itong maramdaman.

For sure, he was with his twin sister and Isha. Paniguradong sinamahan niya ang dalawang babaeng importante sa buhay niya.

"I need to go to the restroom. Excuse me."

Bago pa ako makakawala ng tuluyan ay muli niya akong hinigit papalapit sa kanya. Ngayon ay mas mahigpit na ang pagkakahapit niya sa aking baiwang.

I never thought that my heart can beat this loud and fast. Sinubukan ko ring masabayan ang aking paghinga ngunit halos kapusin ako dahil sa bilis nang pagtibok ng aking puso. It felt like it was about to explode and pump out of my chest.

"I'm not done yet," he sternly said and firmly held me on my waist before he started to move me again for a slow dance.

Just like magic, everything suddenly slowed down when my eyes met his. Even the upbeat music turned into mellow. I wasn't able to hear the laughter and small talks of other people on the dance floor. Kahit sa gitna ng maraming tao ay parang kaming dalawa lang ang naroroon. Siya lang din ang tanging nakikita ko.

"Do you remember when we danced during your debut?" he suddenly asked in a low voice.

Halos magdugo na ang aking labi sa pagkagat at muling ibinaba ang aking tingin sa kanyang dibdib.

Natatakot akong kilalanin ang mga emosyong ipinapakita niya gamit ang kanyang mga mata. Pakiramdam ko'y mas lalong hindi na ako makakawala kapag napangalanan ko ang mga iyon.

I can still remember every moment spent with him, and during my debut was the moment that I cherished the most. That memory was very vivid to me. I can still feel how he first held me on my waist; how I leaned my head on his chest; and how we danced along to the last song.

How unfortunate that I can still remember everything that I wanted to forget.

"Hindi na..." Kahit na ang totoo'y alalang-alala ko pa.

I will not admit it. I didn't want to look like a fool for someone like him.

I felt his grip got tightened before he let out a deep breath. "I thought you'll forever cherish and remember that night just like what you told me before you turned your back."

Napatigil naman ako at muling nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya. To my surprise, he was already looking at me with a melancholic expression.

He remembered my words!

"Naaalala mo?" hindi makapaniwala kong tanong.

Tipid naman siyang ngumiti bago tumingala at muli akong isinayaw.

"That's the last words you told me before you left," he said before he looked at me again with fire igniting on his eyes in contrast with his cold heart.

Pakiramdam ko ay napakalaki ng aking kasalanan sa kanya dahil sa mga binitawan niyang salita. Did he want me to bother him after I promised and gave him my word that I won't? Ayokong pangunahan ang gusto niyang iparating sa akin dahil ayoko nang muli pang umasa.

"Galit ako sa'yo..." Kahit matigas ang kanyang ekspresyon na ipinapakita ay masuyo niya pa rin itong nasabi sa akin. "Hanggang ngayon ay galit pa rin ako."

I started to feel the heat on the edge of my eyes as I felt them tearing up.

"B-Bakit?" nauutal kong tanong at halos walang boses na lumabas galing sa akin.

Nanatili ang kanyang pagkakatitig sa akin. He never failed to capture my attention but this time, even my soul was all on him. Everything about me was anticipating his answer.

"Jace..."

If my own little imaginative world with Jace was a mirror, it was instantly crashed by reality when I heard a familiar sweet voice called his attention.

Agad kong nilingon si Isha na nasa aming tabi habang nakatingin ng diretso kay Jace na unti-unting bumitaw sa pagkakahawak sa akin.

Our fictional-like scene ended just like that when the real leading lady came in.