End Game

Chapter 5 - Stay Awake

HINDI na nakapagsalita pa si Isabella hanggang sa umalingawngaw ang magkakasunod na putok ng baril na pumutol sa katahimikan sa loob ng kuwarto. Hindi nagtagal, walang buhay na bumagsak sa sahig ang katawan ni Marcus. Claude put his gun back on the holster that was strapped on his shoulder before he walked towards her as if nothing happened. Sa isang kisapmata ay nagawa nitong alisin ang mga tali sa buong katawan niya. Hinubad nito ang suot na black leather jacket at ipinaibabaw sa katawan niya kaya hindi sinasadyang nakita niya ang dalawa pang baril na naka-strap sa baywang nito.

Buong ingat na pinahid ni Claude ang namuong pawis sa mukha ni Isabella bago siya nito marahang ikinulong sa mga bisig nito. Who would have thought that he was the same man who shot Marcus with no hesitation when he was holding her like this? Like she was something so delicate and so fragile?

“Don’t think too much about what that bastard told you. You are going to be fine. You are still going to live a long, happy life. Sinisiguro ko sa ‘yo na makikita at makakalaro mo pa ang mga magigiging apo mo. I will do everything in my power to save you, Isabella, no matter what. You believe me, right?”

Tumango si Isabella. Her head was filled with hundreds of questions, but all those disappeared the second she had felt his warm embrace. Gumanti siya nang mahigpit na yakap at bago niya pa man mamalayan, bumagsak na ang kanyang mga luha. She was shaking and sobbing hysterically. Now that he was here, everything that happened hours ago were coming back to her at the same time.

Dinampian ng binata ng halik ang kanyang ulo. “Hush, it’s all over now. You are safe now, Isabella. I’m sorry I failed to come sooner. I tried but the barrier which the Mage set up around this place was pretty hard to crack. Moran also had a lot of nasty agents outside. Kinailangan ko na muna silang harapin.”

“So, you really are a Vampire like he said?” Isabella saw it with her own two eyes. Pero gusto niya pa ring kumpirmahin ang katotohanan mula mismo sa mga labi ni Claude.

“Are you scared of me now?” sa halip ay tanong ng binata. And that was more than a confirmation.

“No.” Naipilig ni Isabella ang ulo. “Never.”

And that was the truth. Totoong nalilito siya at nabibigla pa rin sa mga natuklasan pero sa palagay niya, kahit kailan ay hindi niya magagawang matakot kay Claude. Ngayon ay alam niya nang maraming mga bagay ang itinago sa kanya ng kanyang best friend pero sigurado siyang may dahilan kung bakit nito iyon ginawa. Besides, Isabella would like to believe that he was still the same Claude that she knew. The Claude who would always come for her whenever she needed him to.

Sinalubong ni Claude ang kanyang mga mata saka masuyong ngumiti. Bumalik na sa normal ang kulay ng mga mata nito.

“Thank you, Bella. I’m glad to know that,” he whispered before he gently lifted her. He carried her so effortlessly in his arms as if she weighed nothing and began taking her out of the mansion.

Sa hallway ay nasaksihan ni Isabella kung paano unti-unting naging abo ang mga bampira. Napakarami ng mga ito. And yet, Claude was able to fight all of them unscathed and on his own.

Mayamaya ay humugot ang binata ng marahas na hininga. “I could tell what’s going on in that pretty head of yours. Your eyes say it all. Pero hindi ka dapat mag-isip nang gano’n, Bella. Those men don’t deserve your pity. You should know that if this could be resolved without violence, I wouldn’t have had to spill blood. I’m aware that I have a lot to explain to you but those men are Rogues. Unlike my Clan, they kill. In fact, they have broken our code and killed countless of innocent humans and Vampires in order to become more powerful. If I didn’t get rid of them tonight, tutulungan sila ng mga rebelde ding Mage para makatakas. And soon, they would go back to their killing spree. The ugly cycle would continue unless they die. Death was the only way we could stop them.”

Isabella swallowed hard. “Gaano na katagal na nangyayari ‘to? Bakit hindi mo kaagad ipinaalam sa ‘kin ang tungkol kay Marcus? Ang tungkol sa ‘yo?”

He flinched. “As much as possible, I wanted you to stay living in your own little happy world, Isabella. Hindi ko gustong makita mo ang madilim na bahagi ng mundong ginagalawan natin. But those assholes made you see it. And for that, I’m so sorry,” puno ng pagsisising dagdag nito.

“You are making me feel like some spoiled brat princess who has no idea of what’s going on around her.”

“At ano’ng masama doon? Kung maibabalik ko lang ang oras, I’m sorry pero gano’n pa rin ang gagawin ko. Ang team ko ang nagha-handle ng mga kaso na related sa mga bampira. And I would have wanted you to stay unaware about all these horrible things. We would have quietly taken care of everything in the background. Besides, I don’t mind spoiling you either. After all, you are a princess, Isabella, to me, to your parents, and to all the people who cares about you.”

Isabella must admit, the way Claude uttered those things so naturally and so softly appeased her broken heart. Ipinikit niya ang mga mata at nahilig sa malapad na dibdib ng binata. Unfair na napakarami ng mga inilihim ni Claude sa kanya samantalang walang bahagi tungkol sa buhay niya ang hindi nito alam. But then again, she had a lot of time to find out the truth. Right now, she only wanted to relish the feeling of assurance and security that his strong arms had brought to her.

Dinig na dinig ni Isabella ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ni Claude. It was strange. Her whole world was completely blown apart tonight. Pero kumalma siya sa sandaling narinig niya ang t***k ng puso nito. It was as if his heartbeat was telling her that soon, everything was going to be all right.

“Claude?” she asked in a soft voice. Nagsisimula nang bumigat ang ulo niya.

“Yes?”

“Thank you for always finding me. To be honest, hindi ko alam kung ano’ng nakita mo sa ‘kin para maging ganito ka kabuti sa isang gaya ko. I mean I’m not even that special.”

Kumunot ang noo nito. “I’m a very busy man. Do you think I would waste my time and risk my life for someone who is not special? Just who do you think am I, Isabella?”

Napangiti siya, ang kauna-unahan niyang sincere na ngiti sa gabing iyon. Looking back, Claude had always been her Superman. Ilang beses na nitong napatunayan ang bagay na iyon sa paglipas ng panahon. She looked at him and was about to reach for his cheek but she no longer had the power to raise her hand. It was like her body was not hers anymore. She felt hot and cold at the same time.

At patuloy sa pagsikip ang kanyang dibdib. It was getting harder and harder to breathe. It must be the poison acting out.

“Claude?” halos pabulong nang tanong niya. “I’m… feeling really sleepy right now.”

“No! You must stay awake, Isabella,” tensiyonado nang sagot nito. “Stay awake for me, please! Konting tiis na lang. The Mages from my Clan will be here very soon. I contacted them on the way here. You just have to hold on until they arrive.”

She wanted to fight it. She wanted so badly to stay awake for him after hearing how desperate and scared he sounded. She had never seen him acted this way. Pero hindi niya na makontrol ang sariling katawan. “I… I don’t think I can wait for them anymore, Claude.”

“Damn it, Isabella!”

Huminto sa paglalakad si Claude at tumitig sa kanya. Nang magtama ang mga mata nila, kitang-kita niya ang pagdaan ng takot at kirot sa magagandang mga mata nito.

His eyes began to water. “I’m sorry, Isabella.”

She should be the one to apologize. Claude fought for her. Ginawa ng best friend niya ang lahat ng makakaya nito para sa kanya. Pero kahit ang ibuka ang bibig para sabihin iyon ay hindi niya na magawa pa. She felt like every part of her body had become numb.

I’m so sorry, too, Claude.

But just when Isabella was about to close her eyes, she was able to feel something again. It was very sharp. It sank in her neck and pierced her skin. The physical pain she had experienced from Marcus’ bite a while ago was nothing compared to this. And when it finally stopped, she felt something hot and thick dripping inside her mouth…