End Game

Chapter 11 - Friends

IILAN lang sa lahi ng mga bampira ang hinahayaang tawagin si Claude sa kanyang pangalan. For them, to carelessly call him by his name was a sign of insolence. Pero hindi niya gaanong binigyan ng atensiyon ang bagay na iyon noon.

For Claude, names were just names. They held no important meaning. But when Isabella called him with those lips, he had realized that his name could actually sound so pleasant. This must be Isabella's charm, the reason why she was able to conquer the Andersons without being aware of it.

Hindi niya na kailangang mabasa pa ang nilalaman ng isip ni Isabella o malaman kung ano ang nangyari rito sa loob ng mga taon na hindi niya ito nakita. Her beautiful soul was shining. And it was evident in her eyes.

Hindi siya kinuwestiyon ni Isabella o hinusgahan nang akalain nitong tatalon siya mula sa helipad. Instead, the first thing she did was ask how she could help him. And that was something.

Claude was not really a believer of a lot of things but right now, he was almost tempted to believe in the unknown upon seeing the light in Isabella's eyes.

"And Claude?"

"Hmm?"

"I want you to know that you are the most mesmerizing man I have ever seen in my life," amin nito kasabay nang muling pagpula ng mga pisngi. Still, she went on. "Parati kang pinag-uusapan ng mga kaibigan ko. They adore you a lot. You are a talented race car driver. Lahat ng match mo, naipanalo mo. Four years lang ang tanda mo sa amin pero ang dami mo nang na-achieve. If you will look around, mapapansin mong ang daming tao na nagmamahal at humahanga sa 'yo. And your life is precious. That's why I hope that you will think about that each time you are tempted to do something so dangerous."

Ilang segundong tinitigan ni Claude si Isabella bago siya amused na tumawa. Even laughing seemed to be the most natural thing to do when he was with her. Isabella looked so into this whole thing and it was funny.

"Don't laugh. I'm serious!"

"Oh, I bet you are." Inabot niya ang mga kamay ng dalaga na nanatiling nakahawak sa kanyang mga pisngi at marahang pinisil ang mga iyon. "You know what? I think I like you. Can we be friends?"

Claude almost winced by the words he uttered. He was never the friendly type. If he would let women in his life, that would be only for s*x. Nothing more, nothing less. Matapos niyang makasama ng isang gabi ang mga ito, kinabukasan ay nawawalan na siya ng interes. But something inside him hated the idea that this thing between him and Isabella would be over after tonight. He just knew that he had to see her again.

Ilang segundong natahimik si Isabella. Nanatili lang itong gulat na nakatitig sa kanya. Ganoon ba kahirap para ritong paniwalaan ang mga sinabi niya?

Damn, he could not believe that he would actually get nervous while waiting for a human's reply.

Tumikhim si Claude mayamaya. "Well? Don't you want to be friends with me?"

"Are you kidding me? I was just surprised, that's all! I can't believe that someone with a status like yours would actually want to be my friend." Excited nang inabot ni Isabella ang mga kamay niya. "It would be my honor to be your friend, Claude!"

California, USA

CLAUDE swung his sword towards the head of the Rogue. Kasabay nang pagiging abo nito ay ang pagdagsa ng iba pang mga rebelde sa warehouse. Hangga't maaari ay iniiwasan niyang gamitin ang kanyang kapangyarihan since he would need to teleport in a while. Bihira niyang gamitin ang kakayahang iyon maliban na lang kung may emergency bilang respeto sa mga team member niyang walang ganoong abilidad.

Sa kanilang angkan, sila lang ng Sire ang may kakayahan na mag-teleport.

But Claude had always considered Isabella as an emergency case. Fortunately, his team could understand since they all knew what the female human meant to him.

Mayamaya ay hinihingal na napasulyap siya sa kanyang wristwatch. It was ten minutes before six in the morning. Isabella had a hangover from last night because of her friend's birthday bash, but she still needed to get up early today for work since she would be meeting the film director whom she had always admired. Pagkakataon na ng dalaga para makatrabaho si Arlan sa isang pelikula. She had to make a good impression.

Arlan was a Vampire like him, too. And he was a friend of his. Anak ito ng isa sa mga miyembro ng Council. Gaya niya, marami na ding trabaho ang pinasok nito sa nakaraang mga dekada. Pero ang pagiging director ang nag-iisang trabaho kung saan nagtagal ang kaibigan dahil kilala niya ito, mabilis itong mainip.

Hindi nila pinapakialaman ang trabaho ng isa't isa. Arlan could cast whoever he wanted to cast in his movies. Sa kabila ng pagiging mailap, marami pa ring mga artista ang gusto itong makatrabaho dahil laging blockbuster ang mga gawa nito.

Not to mention that Arlan worked in Hollywood. And it had always been Isabella's dream to meet him and work with him.

But there was no way that would happen in the near future. Nasa magkaibang bansa ang dalawa. At bihirang tumanggap ng mortal na artista ang kaibigan. No matter how good Isabella was as an actress, if Claude would not pull some strings, the two would never get to meet, kaya humingi na siya ng pabor sa kaibigan.

He even had to endure Arlan's teasing for a couple of hours, dahil hindi siya tinigilan nito nang magkita sila sa wedding anniversary ng mga magulang nito sa Los Angeles.

Unlike the rumors about Arlan, that jerk was not as serious as everybody thought him to be. Mapaglaro ito at mapang-asar.

"This woman you are talking about, is she your rumored Keeper? Everyone's been talking about how the high and mighty Prince went out of his way just to be with a female human," naalala pa ni Claude na sinabi ni Arlan. "You don't normally stay in one country for a long time and yet, I heard that you have been staying in the Philippines for years now. Rumors has it that you are at this human's beck and call. Is that true?"

Matalim na sinulyapan ni Claude ang kaibigan. Pero gaya nang dati, tumawa lang ito.

"Just tell me if you will do it or not."

Biglang sumimangot si Arlan. "As if I'm allowed to say no. It's the first time that the Young Master asked for my help so of course, I would do it. Besides, I still love my life. If the others would hear that I decline the Young Master's request, I bet me and my family would not get out of this place alive," pabirong dagdag nito. "Although I would have to look into this human first to make sure that she would fit the role for the movie that I'm planning to make. Still, you have to tell me the truth, Young Master. Come on. I would even fly to Manila just for this favor. You have to at least, feed my curiosity."

Sinaid ni Claude ang dugo sa kanyang wineglass. This was the reason why the Vampires from different sides of the world looked forward to parties like this. It was because of the unlimited blood supply for the entire night. Kaya saan mang panig ng mundo naroon ang mga bampira, siguradong darating ang mga ito para sa ganoong okasyon.

Napakaraming Red Veil sa iba't ibang panig ng mundo. Iyon ang tawag sa mga mortal na nagtatrabaho para sa mga bampira. Bukod sa mga ospital kung saan may koneksiyon din sila, ang mga Red Veil din ang kinukuhanan nila ng dugo. Some of the Vampires were even feeding straight from the Red Veils' veins tonight.

Pero hinahayaan lang na mangyari ang mga ganito tuwing ang nagse-celebrate ay ang pamilya ni Claude o kaya ay mga miyembro ng Council.

"Well?" pangungulit ni Arlan.

"Isabella is someone very precious to me, Arlan. That is all I can tell you. So, you'd better treat her right if you don't want me to rip your bones to pieces. I trust you. I know you have been casting only Vampires so far. But take her. She would do well, I assure you that. She's a good one. And you know me. I don't just compliment anyone," sa halip ay sinabi ni Claude. "I've watched her movies a couple of times. She is not just my friend. She is also..." Tumikhim siya kasabay nang paglilihis ng tingin. "My favorite actress."

Biglang humagalpak ng tawa si Arlan. "That's because you don't know any other actresses, Young Master! You don't even watch TV!"