End Game

CLAUDE’S smile faltered while watching Isabella walked down the aisle. He had lived for more than a hundred years but he had never seen a woman as temptingly beautiful as her. In her immaculate white wedding dress, she was a picture of a woman every man would desire to be as his bride. She radiated with warmth and life. Nang magtama ang kanilang mga mata, lalo pang kuminang ang mga mata nito kasabay nang pagsilay ng matamis na ngiti sa mga labi. Sandaling nahigit ni Claude ang hininga nang ilang hakbang na lang ang layo sa kanya ni Isabella. He could not wait to grab her hand. She was the most radiant thing that had ever happened to him, she was his first love and his first in everything. She was also the person who gave him his first taste of failure. When Isabella was only a step closer, Claude forced his self to look away and to clench his hands to stop his self from reaching out to her at the last minute. Because her hand… was never his to hold. Nang lumampas na ang bride sa direksiyon niya, saka lang bumalik ang tingin niya rito. Napalunok siya nang makitang kamay na ng ibang lalaki ang nakahawak rito. Magkasama ang mga itong naglakad at humarap sa altar. He met her first. He found her first. He was with her first. And he loved her first. But today proved that those ‘firsts’ never mattered at all. “Isabella, do you take Luke as your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold in sickness and in health till death do you part?” “I do.” Humugot si Claude nang malalim na hininga habang pinakikinggan ang palitan ng mga ikinakasal ng pangako sa isa’t isa. Then and now, his place in the world was right beside Isabella. But it turned out that her place was beside another man. I may not be your groom. But I promise that I will always be by your side, my love. I will always be your best friend. Whenever you need me, I will always come rushing. And that will never change, tahimik ding pangako ni Claude habang nakatitig sa bride. Sandaling naglaho ang kirot na nararamdaman niya nang makita ang kislap sa mga mata ni Isabella. Right. This was a joyous event. She was happy. And it was all that mattered. As he watched them kiss to seal their marriage, he clapped along with the guests and smiled. Best wishes, my love.