Chapter 4
Personal Number

"I'll be your Architect," I reenacted what Jace told me, trying to mimic his voice last night before I squealed.

Abrielle narrowed her eyes at me as she watched me fall over again for Jace.

"He really did say that?" she couldn't believe what I just told her. "You're not just being delusional?"

"Yes, he did. And I'm not being delusional," I said and crossed my arms. Minsan ay panira talaga siya ng kasiyahan ko.

Ngumiti naman na siya nang malamang hindi lang ako nagiging ilusyunada at gumagawa-gawa ng storya.

"Then, what happened next?" she asked, now curious.

"He told me that he will bring his portfolio at our company to see his works. He wants to prove that he's credible to be the Architect because he has the skills and talent, and not just because he is an acquaintance," kwento ko at kinuha mula sa taas ng drawer ang business card ni Jace. "He also gave me his business card. His phone number and email address are written here. Plus, the telephone number of his firm."

Mula pa kagabi ay tinititigan ko na ang kaniyang numero na nakalista dito. I already saved his number on my phone but I still don't know if I should contact him first.

I badly want to text or call him but I don't want him to think that I'm still obssesed with him. I don't want to make the first move especially, if it's uncertain if he will reply or answer my call. I don't want to look pathetic.

Buong araw ay pinag-iisipan ko kung paano ko siya tatawagan o papadalan ng mensahe sa paraang hindi nakakapanghinala na gusto ko lamang siyang makausap. But since he's going to be my Architect, I think it's only okay to text or call him.

"Why didn't you invite Abrielle to eat dinner with us?" tanong naman ni Daddy nang kumakain na kami ng dinner.

"She'll be having dinner with her boyfriend, Dad. It's their daily routine," I answered.

"Looks like your best friend has a stable relationship already. I'm waiting for yours, darling," makahulugan namang ngumiti si Daddy sa akin.

When we were still in New York, he often asked me about my relationship status and I always disappoint him everytime I say I'm still single.

He wants me to have a serious relationship already. It's impossible because that man I want to be in a relationship with doesn't want me anyway. Mukhang matagal-tagal pa ang hihintayin ni Daddy.

"Hindi pwedeng magka-boyfriend si Zarina ng basta-basta lang at ng walang maibubuga sa buhay," bigla namang pagsingit ni Mommy. "I want her to have a relationship with a refined and honorable bachelor."

"That's for your daughter to decide, hon," sabi ni Daddy kay Mommy.

Mom raised her eyebrows before she grinned. "Dadaan pa rin naman sa atin ang lalaking magiging kasintahan niya, mahal ko. Kaya nasa atin pa rin ang desisyon."

I bit my lower lip but I have no fears. There's no doubt that Jace's a refined and honorable bachelor. He is Jace Lael Sarmiento Sy for God's sake! He is the son of Joshua and Lyrae Sy; grandson of Sean and Cassandra Sarmiento.

Ang pinagmulan niya palang ay katakot-takot na ang maipagmamalaki sa buhay at nakagawa na ng matatanyag ng pangalan sa industriya. Paano pa kaya ang mga sarili niyang nakamit, 'di ba?

"We have business partners who have sons that will be the heir or already handling their company, Zarina," Mom turned to me with a smile. "A CEO or a President of a company isn't a bad choice for a guy to be in a relationship with."

I pursed my lips, trying not to say any word.

"I can get their numbers if you want," suwestyon ni Mommy.

"Hon, huwag mong pangunahan ang anak mo," mariing sabi ni Daddy.

"I'm just suggesting..." nagkibit-balikat si Mommy bago makahulugang ngumiti.

Tahimik kong ipinagpatuloy ang aking pagkain nang muling nagsalita si Mommy.

"So what happened to your reunion?" Mom sarcastically asked. "Did you benefit from it? You just wasted your time instead of focusing on our company."

Huminga naman ako ng malalim bago pinunasan ang aking bibig at nag-angat ng tingin kay Mommy. She raised her eyebrows like she's challenging me. Gusto niyang ipamukha sa aking nagsayang lamang ako ng oras pero nagkakamali siya.

"Actually, I did benefit from it, Mom," I said and smiled.

Mom lost her cool. Her smile vanished as she creased her forehead.

"I already have an Architect for the water park that I'm going to build here in Manila," I proudly said.

"Wow! That's great, darling! I was about to help you but you already got one," masayang sabi sa akin ni Daddy.

"Zarina, papaalalahanan lang kita na hindi ka pwedeng kumuha ng basta-basta lang na Architect. This is a very big project and I don't want any failures from you. Milyon-milyon ang perang mawawala sa atin kapag pumalpak ka," Mom warned me.

"Don't worry, Mom. Hindi siya basta-basta lang. He's very competent," pagmamalaki ko kay Jace.

"May I ask whose Architect is this, Zarina?" tanong naman ni Daddy. "Baka kilala ko siya o natunugan ko na ang pangalan niya."

"Architect Jace Sy, Dad," I smiled at my Dad as I recited Jace's name.

"Woah..." bahagyang napaawang ang bibig ni Daddy. "He's your classmate way back? I can't believe it. He's the Architect under the new building of Sarto and new branch of Belle Danse. Pati na rin ang dalawang matanyag na condominium dito sa Manila ay gawa niya. I also have friends who got him to design their houses and they said that he's very skilled. Halos magdadalawang taon pa lamang siya sa industriya, 'diba?"

I can't believe that my Dad knows so much about him. He must be really making a name now to be this well-known.

"He was supposed to be on my list na ibibigay ko sa'yo para makatulong ka sa paghahanap ng bago mong Architect pero ang sabi sa firm niya ay hindi na siya tatanggap ng proyekto dahil puno na siya. How did you manage to get him?" punong-puno ng kuryosidad ang mata ni Daddy.

"Well, Dad if you can still remember during my 18th birthday, he's my escort and my last dance," sabi ko naman.

Umaliwalas ang mukha ni Daddy at mukhang naliwanagan na siya.

"Oh yes! I remembered! It's really him," tuwang-tuwa na sabi ni Daddy.

"Well, I don't know that Architect, Zarina. Hindi ko natutunugan ang pangalan niya," biglang pagsabat ni Mommy. "I want to see his portfolio and his credentials before I decide if we should really sign him in."

Hindi ko na maiwasan ang pagkulo ng aking dugo. She's my Mom but my temper also has its own limits and she'd already reached its limit.

"This is my project, Mom," I stated incase she forgot.

"Pardon?" nagtaas ng kilay sa akin si Mommy.

"This is my project. I will handle and decide everything on my own," I told her and stood up from my seat. "I will not need your affirmation for this one, Mom. Let me handle this on my own."

"Fine!" Mom exclaimed. "But don't blame me if you fail. If our company fails and lose millions, it will be all because of you."

I smiled confidently. "I will not fail."

Binaba ko ang hawak kong mga kubyertos bago nagpasyang tumayo na mula sa hapagkainan.

"I'm done eating. Excuse me," paalam ko at saka umalis upang tumungo na sa aking kwarto.

Sobrang bigat ng aking paghinga ng makarating ako sa aking silid. It's my first talking back to my Mom like that. Dati ay sumasang-ayon lang ako sa mga sinasabi niya at hindi pinaglalaban ang sarili kong kagustuhan. But everything's different now.

Huminga naman ako ng malalim at kinuha ang cellphone ko na nasa ibabaw ng kama saka humiga dito.

I scrolled my contact list and stopped at the name of Jace. Seeing his number on my phone made my intensified feelings submerged. And with the countless of times I stared at his contact number on my phone, I was able to memorize his number without even trying hard.

This is getting insane! I think I'm going to lose my sanity sooner or later. I don't know if I'm going to push away or going to envelope all these feelings that Jace is making me feel. Even just his number can make me go like... Damn.

Napatigil lamang ako sa pagiging mas baliw ng may mararahang katok akong narinig na nanggagaling sa pintuan ng aking kwarto.

"Zarina." Si daddy 'yon. "Can I come in?"

Napanguso naman ako bago tinungo ang pintuan upang pagbuksan ng pintuan si Daddy.

Nakangiti siya sa akin nang mabuksan ko ang pintuan at pinakita niya sa akin ang cookies n' cream ice cream.

"I saw this at the fridge..." he trailed before smiling wider. "Can you eat ice cream with me, darling?"

Napangiti naman ako sa pag-aaya ni Daddy'ng kumain ng ice cream. He really knows how to make me happy.

Ayoko sanang magkumpara ngunit mas nararamdaman ko ang pagmamahal ng isang magulang kay Daddy. Mom is also caring but only if I do the things she wants me to do. Ang pinagkaiba nila ni Daddy ay kahit anong gawin ko, matagumpay man o palpak, he will still be there for me and cheering me on. Kapag si Mommy ay mas lalo ka pa niyang ibababa dahil sa mga pagkakamali mo. Alam mo na ngang mali ka pagkatapos ay mas lalo niyang ipapamukha sa'yo ang pagkakamali mo.

"I'm sorry for what happened earlier, Zarina," Dad suddenly apologized while we're eating ice cream. "Don't mind your Mom. I'll talk to her and ask her to go easy on you."

"It's okay, Dad," sabi ko naman at ngumiti. "Okay lang na ganon si Mommy. I'm more challenged to prove her wrong."

Dad gave me a proud smile that any daughter would like to see from her father.

"You know what? I'm so proud of you!" He stated. "I can't believe you manage to get Achitect Sy."

"Hmm... Actually, he didn't accept it at the beginning because he said his hands are full but he suddenly changed his mind," kwento ko naman.

Tumango-tango naman si Daddy. "It's understandable that he's having hesitations to accept the project. But I guess he will also benefit from it."

Hindi ko alam pero parang hindi ko nagustuhan ang sinabi ni Daddy. Mas gusto kong isiping gusto akong makasama ni Jace kaya niya tinanggap ang trabaho kaysa sa dahilan na magbebenefit lang siya kaya siya pumayag.

"Anyway, you should call and invite him for a lunch or dinner. Just ask him what time he'll be available tomorrow. I would like to talk to him. And of course, you're going to be with us," sabi ni Daddy bago tumayo at inayos ang kaniyag nagusot na tee shirt.

Awtomatikong kumalabog ang puso ko sa pag-iisip na tatawagan ko si Jace. I finally have the reason to call him!

"Have a good night, darling," malambing na sabi ni Daddy bago ako hinalikan sa aking noo.

Nang makalabas na si Daddy sa akinv kwarto ay muli kong inilabas ang aking cellphone at walang pakundangang tinawagan ang numero.

Kagat-kagat ko ang aking pang-ibabang labi habang pinapakinggan ang pagtunog ng tawag. Sa pangatlong ring ay nasagot na ito.

"Hello! Good evening! This is Mabel Diaz, Architect Sy's secretary. How may I help you?"

Bumagsak ang puso ko nang ibang tao ang sumagot sa aking tawag at lalo na't babae pa. I know that she is his secretary pero hindi ko maiwasan ang kakarampot na pagseselos.

"Uhm... Good evening. I was just wondering if I can speak to Architect Sy?" Dala-dala ang natitirang pag-asa sa puso kong makausap siya ngayong gabi ay nagtanong ako.

"Oh. I'm sorry, Ma'am, but Architect Sy is already at home. I'm just here to schedule you an appointment with him if you want. Don't you have his personal number, Ma'am?" she said, very politely.

"Uh... It's fine. I'll just call tomorrow morning," sabi ko nalang.

"Can I get your name, Ma'am?" she asked.

"Sure. I'm Zarina Rivadelo," pakilala ko naman sa sarili ko.

"Noted, Ma'am. I'll wait for your call tomorrow," she said.

"Okay. Thank you and good night," paalam ko sa kaniyang sekretarya bago ko pinatay ang tawag at itinabi ang aking cellphone saka muling humiga sa kama.

I thought I already have his personal number but it's only just his business number. Mas malala pa dahil ang secretary niya lang ang may hawak no'n.

Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at patulog na ako ng biglang tumunog ang aking cellphone.

Tamad ko naman itong kinuha at bumungad sa akin ang isang unkown number. Nagdadalawang-isip pa ako kung sasagutin ko ang tawag ngunit matapos ang pang-anim na pagriring nito ay sinagot ko na rin.

"Hello? Sino 'to?" marahan kong pagsagot habang pinapaikot-ikot ang dulo ng buhok ko gamit ang aking daliri.

"This is Jace," he answered and I immediately rose up from lying down.

Sa sobrang bilis ng pagtibok ng puso ko ay dinaig pa nito ang kabayong nakikipagkarera. Pakiramdam ko'y aatakihin ako dahil hindi masabayan ng paghinga ko ang pagtibok ng puso ko dahil sa sobrang bilis.

Is this really happening? Is he really calling me?

Halos magpagulong-gulong na ako sa kama dahil sa biglaan niyang pagtawag.

"Zarina, still there?" Ang malamig nyang boses ay bumalot sa aking tenga.

"Yeah... Uhm yes," sabi ko naman.

"Why do you want to speak with me? My secretary texted me," he asked.

"Uh... Dad's wondering if you're available for a lunch or dinner tomorrow. He wants to talk to you and thank you, I guess. Maybe because for accepting the project," sabi ko naman.

"Dinner at 8PM. Just text me the other details," pormal niyang sabi.

"Hmm... okay," sabi ko at ramdam kong gusto niya nang tapusin ang pag-uusap namin.

Hinintay ko siyang ibaba ang tawag ngunit tumagal pa ito ng limang segundo bago siya muling nagsalita.

"You can save my number. It will be easier to communicate this way," he suddenly said.

Napalunok naman ako at halos mapunit na ang aking labi nang sumilay na ang aking ngiti.

Damn, Jace. Only you can make me feel this way.

"Okay. I will," sabi ko nalang at pakunwaring walang halaga sa akin ang magkaroon ng kaniyang personal na numero.

"Okay. Night," tipid at malamig niyang sabi.

Hindi pa ako nakakasagot ay agad na niyang pinatay ang tawag.

Well, I don't care anymore. Ayos na sa akin ang nakausap ko siya ngayong gabi. I can sleep now with a smile on my face.