End Game

Chapter 13 - Daily Dose of Warmth

CLAUDE had to admit, going back to college all over again felt really awful. But at least, the Sire was entertained. And he had to suck it up because it was the best way to become closer to Isabella to the point that they even became classmates. Although he did pull some strings to make that happen. Dahil magkasama sila araw-araw, mas nakilala niya si Isabella, at mas minahal.

She didn’t even need to exert an effort to make people fall in love with her. It came as natural as breathing.

Isabella’s beauty was just the cherry on top. She was cheerful and smart. In fact, sigurado siyang magiging matagumpay na negosyante ang dalaga kung hindi nito itinuloy ang pag-acting na nagkataong numero unong passion nito gaya ng biological mother nito. Mahigit limang taon na din ang lumipas mula nang hayaan ni Claude ang sariling mapalapit sa isang mortal. At hindi siya nagsisisi. It was like the air becomes gentler when he was with her. She was oblivious most of the time, but maybe it was a part of her charm as well.

Ilang sandaling pinagmasdan ni Claude ang dalaga na mahimbing na natutulog habang yakap ang paborito nitong human-sized Teddy Bear. Naaaliw siyang ngumiti. Just seeing her like this was enough to soothe his nerves. Masuyong hinagkan niya ito sa noo bago niya ito marahang tinapik sa balikat.

“Come on, Bella. Wake up. You will be late for your meeting with Director Arlan.”

She stirred. “Three minutes pa,” sagot nito sa inaantok pang boses habang nanatiling nakapikit ang mga mata.

Bumuntong-hininga si Claude. “All right.”

Binalot niya ng kumot ang katawan ni Isabella at maingat itong binuhat saka siya dumeretso sa dining area. Nakapikit pa rin ito nang ibaba niya sa upuan. Inayos niya ang kumot sa mga balikat ng dalaga bago niya ito pansamantalang iniwan para magtimpla ng kape. Nang ilapag niya ang umuusok pang tasa sa harap nito, dumilat na ito saka matamis na ngumiti.

“Good morning!” namamaos pang bati ni Isabella.

“Good morning to you, too, sleepyhead,” he whispered.

He was tired and sleepy but the minute he saw that bright smile of hers, he realized that it was indeed, a good morning. Wala pa siyang ibang pinagsilbihan sa buong buhay niya. Sanay siyang siya ang nag-uutos, ang pinagsisilbihan, at ang nasusunod. But these things… he would only do them for her.

Maraming puwedeng utusan si Claude na gawin ang mga ganitong bagay para kay Isabella. He didn’t need to serve her himself since he was busy enough.

But every time he would think about how she would smile at others appreciatively; he would change his mind. He wanted to be the first to see Isabella’s smile every day. He was greedy that way. And this was where his greediness brought him. Kung malalaman ng mga tauhan niya kung paano siya nag-aral magtimpla ng kape at magluto para sa isang mortal, kung paano siya nagmamadaling tapusin ang bawat assignment niya para sunduin si Isabella tuwing umaga, igalang pa kaya siya ng mga ito?

Oh, never mind. To hell with everyone’s remarks. Claude was happy serving his princess. It was something that he never thought he was capable of doing.

Isa pa, kung magpapakatotoo siya sa sarili, siya ang mas higit na nangangailangang makita si Isabella. He needed her daily dose of warmth. He would not have realized that he was living in the coldness for a long time had he not felt her warmth.

Nang magsimula nang humigop ng kape si Isabella, naupo si Claude sa tabi nito at isinandal ang ulo sa balikat nito. Ipinikit niya ang pagod nang mga mata.

“Claude?” mayamaya ay mahinang tanong ni Isabella.

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For every single thing that you do for me. I could have woken up on my own. I did it for so many years before I met you. But after meeting you, I don’t know what happened to me. May mga oras na parang hindi ko na kilala ang sarili ko. To be honest, nagigising ako tuwing tumutunog ang alarm clock. Pero hindi ako bumabangon. Instead, I’d feel lethargic and would try to go back to sleep again. I don’t know why I only get the courage to get up and face the world once I see your face whenever I would open my eyes. Kumakalma lang ako kapag nakikita na kita.”

I feel exactly the same, Bella. That’s because you and I are a fated pair, that’s because you are my Keeper, naisaloob ni Claude. Our bond is stronger and deeper than you think of.

“My parents are right, you know. Masyado mo na akong na-spoil. But after seeing you today, after seeing how worn-out you are, pakiramdam ko, kinalampag ako.”

Narinig niya ang pagbuntong-hininga ng dalaga.

“I will try to change from now on, Claude. So, watch me become the better version of myself from now on, okay? Hindi mo na kailangang gawin pa uli ang mga ganitong bagay para sa akin. I will try not to lean on you too much. I don’t want to end up in a mess once you’ve found a girlfriend already. Thank you so much for always being there for me and I’m sorry for always being a bother to you.”

Dumilat si Claude at humarap kay Isabella. Nakita niya ang pagdaan ng pag-aalinlangan sa mga mata nito. Masuyong ikiniskis niya ang noo sa noo nito.

“Just so you know, even if we are close, I still wouldn’t forgive you for saying those things about my best friend. She’s never been a bother to me. You have no idea how much I look forward to waking her up every morning, how much I look forward to seeing her smile to me.” You have no idea how much you matter to me. “So, if you know my best friend, please tell her that it’s okay if she leans on me a little more. I don’t mind spoiling her since she’s important to me. Pakisabi na kung magbabago siya para sa akin, mabuti pang ‘wag niya nang gawin. Pero kung sasabihin niyang magbabago siya para sa sarili niya, then I would support her.” Marahang pinisil niya ang mga pisngi ng dalaga. “And no, I’m not tired. I will never be too tired when it comes to her.”

Namasa ang mga mata ni Isabella. “I love you,” sa halip ay sinabi nito.

Sandaling natigilan si Claude. He knew she meant it. Isabella truly loved him, too. Nararamdaman niya iyon. Although that love was never in a romantic way. Mahal siya ng dalaga bilang kaibigan. Ito ang kauna-unahang babae na dumating sa buhay niya na hindi naghangad ng kahit na ano mula sa kanya, except for one thing: his friendship.

Isabella was that unique. He would have been willing to give her more. Heck, he could have given her the world. But she didn’t need it. And it seemed like even in the future, she would never need it.

“Yeah, I know.” Claude gently cupped Isabella’s soft cheeks. “And I love you, too,” dagdag niya bago naglihis ng tingin. Tumikhim siya. “Now, start eating, sleepyhead. It’s past six. You will be meeting Director Arlan at nine in Manila Hotel this morning. You can’t be late. I heard that he’s strict when it comes to time.”

“Oh, right. I almost forgot about that. It still feels surreal to me. Hindi ko akalain na kusa niya akong hahanapin. Na sa dinami-rami ng magagaling na artista dito sa ‘Pinas, ako ang gusto niyang ma-meet.” Kuminang ang mga mata ng dalaga. “Whether I’d end up working with Director Arlan or not, okay lang. At least I would get to meet him in person. But do you think I’ll be okay? There are so many actresses that are more talented and more beautiful. Paano kung ma-disappoint siya kapag nakita ako?”

“Sshh. There is nothing wrong with you. You are perfect in my eyes just the way you are so stop demeaning yourself. You will be just fine. Hindi siya madi-disappoint. Basta sabihin mo sa ‘kin agad kapag may hindi siya magandang sinabi o ginawa sa ‘yo.”

“And what will you do?”

“I will kick his ass.”

Bumungisngis ang dalaga. The Anderson couple raised Isabella as a confident woman. Pero may mga sandali pa rin na nawawala ang kompiyansa nito gaya na lang nang araw na iyon na sa palagay niya ay nag-ugat sa hindi nito maalalang nakaraan.

“Oh, Claude. What would I do without you?”