Arctic Heart [#Wattys2018 Winner]

Chapter 27

"Falling in love with you makes me do these things that I didn't even imagine I'd do," he said. "I just want to make you feel special and happy... I want to tell you how much I love you not just through words, but also in action. Is it too much, girlfriend?"

Kinagat ko naman ang aking ibabang labi at saka humarap sa kanya. Ang kanyang braso ay nanatiling nakapalupot sa aking baiwang. Nakakulong pa rin ako sa kanyang bisig.

"I love it, Jace..." I told him. "Even just your presence beside me is already fine with me. Paano pa kaya itong surpresang ginawa mo, 'di ba?"

He smiled and rested his forehead on mine. "I'm glad you love it..." he whispered.

Napangiti naman ako at niyakap siya pabalik.

Mahal na mahal kita, Jace. I'm sure that it's only you whom I'm gonna love in this lifetime and even in another. Kahit hindi tayo pagtagpuin sa susunod ay hahanapin kita para aking mahalin. My love is only for you. It is made to be yours.

"How did you prepare all of this?" I asked him while we were already eating our dinner.

Of course, I know that it was planned beforehand. I just don't know when he prepared for it.

"I called the hotel yesterday to book a room," he answered. "Bago rin ako matulog kanina ay bumaba ako para sabihin ang plano ko. I helped them decorating the room. I'm actually glad that they cooperated even if it means removing a lot of things from their suite."

Kahit hindi niya sabihin ay alam kong gumastos siya ng malaking halaga para lang masunod ang gusto niyang mangyari ngayong gabi.

"Have you talked to your mother?" he suddenly asked.

I wiped my lips with a table napkin before looking at him. I shook my head as an answer.

"Hindi pa..." sabi ko.

"You should," he told me. "She's still your mom no matter what."

I pursed my lips, trying to hold myself back from saying things that I shouldn't tell him.

If he only knew how my mother underestimated and insulted him. Will he still be able to say those things?

"I will..." sabi ko na lang. "Pagkauwi natin ay kakausapin ko na siya."

"Good." Jace smiled at me before he continued eating his steak.

Ngumiti na lamang ako at nagpatuloy na lang din sa pagkain kahit na muling lumilipad ang aking isipan patungkol sa aking ina at sa mga Ortiguera. I will start fixing things once I'm already home.

"Anyway..." muli siyang nagsalita kaya naman nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. "Talavera Corporation will be throwing a party this coming Sunday. Your family's invited in the event."

My forehead slightly creased. "That's your mom's company, right?" I asked him.

"Yup," he answered. "It's the company my mother inherited from my grandmother."

"I thought it's already merged with Sarto?" sunod kong tanong dahil madalas kong nababasa ang kompanya ng kanilang pamilya sa mga business magazine.

Their family's that popular when it comes to the business industry. Sarmiento, Sy, Talavera... Magkakaibang apilyido man ito pero umiikot lang ito sa iisang pamilya. That is Jace's family. His mother's Talavera-Sarmiento. He is Sarmiento-Sy. Kahit hindi ganoon katanyag ay mayroon ding sariling business ang pamilya ng kanyang ama.

To be honest, they are very powerful that it's actually intimidating. Our family's not in their level. Not even close. Hindi kami maaaring makipagsabayan sa kanila. They are on the top of the business chain.