Versailles Series Book 5: The Barista

CHAPTER 23

~ calhoun ~

Tabi was up and better after a few days of rest. I almost cancelled the favour I asked her to help me rehearse my script. I asked that because I thought she wasn't as busy. When I brought it up, she said it was fine and she'll do everything for me especially since I took care of her when she was sick.

I smiled at the memory of her blushing when she talked about how I took care of her. I would give anything to know the thoughts running in her head that are causing her to blush like that.

I wasn't lying when I said I wished we had done it before. It was the kind of comfort even the most expensive mattress can't give. Her body pressed against mine on the bed will be in my core memory now and I want it more than ever. Her soft curls tickled my face as I buried it to inhale her scent.

I ordered lunch for both of us. I wouldn't risk cooking for her again now that her tastebuds are doing better. She is about to come here and I just printed out the script that she'll be reading with me. She was right when she said I didn't need to do it with her especially since Asia is in the club too. Asia, my wing-woman told her that she wanted to relax and would rather not see my face because it reminded her of work. A bullshit excuse but it worked.

"Cal?"

I smiled immediately at the sound of her voice. Since we slept beside each other, everything with her is heightened. My once-innocent touches sent shivers throughout me. Her scent which I didn't notice before intoxicates me and I just want to drag her back to her bed and smell her scent all day.

"Kitchen!" Sabi ko rito.

She peeked her head and walked towards me. She's wearing a simple shirt and jeans but she caught my breath anyway just like the past days I've been with her.

"Wow. What are these?"

I opened the containers from Greenhouse. I picked up a chicken alfredo, cheesy garlic bread, grilled salmon, braised lamb shank, and tiramisu for dessert. All her favourites. I prepped myself for all the dairy I'm going to eat today.

"Kapag ako tumaba lalo, Calhoun." She mumbled as she sat on the bar where a plate was waiting for her. I served her food which earned me a weird look from her. "Bait mo ngayon ah."

"Lagi naman." The desire to spoil her is stronger now than before. I wanted to give her everything.

She was looking at me as if waiting to see if I'd puff out and return to a different version of me.

"Like what you see?" I smirked at her.

She blushed before stuffing her mouth with pasta.

"Easy there." I placed a glass of water in front of her just in case. I should feel bad but I feel victorious for making her blush. I suddenly liked teasing her like this.

Tumikhim ito pagkatapos lumunok. "Tungkol saan ba iyung movie niyo ni Asia? Hindi ko sasabihin sa iba ang plot. Dali!"

"So it's about a man and a woman who have been long-time friends. Not best friends but close enough to be friends for a decade or so." I watched her expression if it changed. "Both of them just got out of a traumatic relationship so they comfort each other. They go on a vacation together and they eventually realize their feelings for each other. Both of them hesitate but they cross the line eventually and they live happily ever after." I noticed her pause but continued munching on the bread. It was a completely different movie. I just made this one up but she wouldn't know. I just added the friends part in the plot to make it more relatable to us. I changed the script a while ago to make it more believable.

"Hmmm..."

"What do you think?"

She shrugged. "Anong ire-rehearse natin na part doon?"

"The confrontation scene. The one where they confess their feelings finally."

She slowly raised her eyes to me. "M-may script naman 'di ba?"

I chuckled. "Of course. Ayaw naman kitang pag-isipin pa. Unless gusto mo ikaw mismo gumawa ng linya ng role ng babae?" I leaned in closer to her. "Have you ever confessed to a friend, Tabi? Something I don't know about?"

She blushed again and pushed my face away. "Ilayo mo nga iyung mukha mo! Kumakain ako eh."

My kitchen echoed with my laughter. Hopefully, I'm getting under her skin. "So?" I probed.

"W-wala. Saka buti nga may script. Hindi na nga ako marunong umarte, mag-iisip pa ako ng linya ko."

I shrugged. "You can also do that. Think as if you're confessing to me. And me to you."

"Ah...haha. Ayaw ko nga. May script naman sabi mo eh."

We finished eating before we went to my living room. I let her read through the script before we started. I steal glances at her from where I'm sitting. Her brows were all scrunched up while her head was bobbing up and down.

"Ready?"

"Huwag mo ako ija-judge ah. Hindi pang-FAMAS ang acting ko."

"Oo. Sige na..."

"Gago ka kapag ako tinawanan mo ah."

I chuckled at her nervousness. "Chill, woman. Just read it how you want it. I am the one who needs to act my lines out. You have to do the judging."

"Okay...sige." She did a couple more breathing exercises before turning to me.

Tumikhim ako bago sinimulan basahin ang linya ko. "Blair, we need to talk. Something is changing between us and you know it!"

"Tristan...I can't deal with this right now." She read.

"I like you." I scoffed. "I never liked anyone this much!"

"Gusto mo lang naman ako kasi ako ang nakikita at nakakasama mo palagi. Kapag bumalik na tayo sa Pilipinas, mawawala rin ang nararamdaman mo. Naguguluhan ka lang, Tristan."

"Don't tell me what to feel, Blair. Why don't we take a chance on this? On us?"

"And risk our friendship, Tristan? I can't. I can't lose this. I don't want to lose you as a friend!"

"You think you're not losing me like this?"

"Just...stop. I don't need this complication in my life, Tristan. I already have enough. Please."

"I knew there was always something in you the moment I looked into your eyes. I knew that you were more than a friend to me. What do you want me to do? I'll do anything. Just give me a chance. Give us a chance."

"Bakit ngayon lang? Bakit ngayon mo lang ako nagustuhan? Bakit dati hindi?"

"Because you had a boyfriend, damn it! You fucking had a boyfriend whom you love so much and tell me about a lot. What do you want me to do? Break you two off? I respect your relationship over my feelings. Maybe I did it because back then, I was already developing feelings for you. Maybe I do love you way back then. I love you. I love you, Tabi."

Tumikhim ito at hinampas ako ng makapal na script na hawak nito. "Blair iyung pangalan ko, gagi. Akala ko ba best actor ka."

"Nagkamali lang ng pangalan eh." Or maybe not. It came out naturally.

She rolled her eyes. "Ulitin natin!"

I chuckled when I remembered how scared she was a while ago. Mukhang mas invested na ito kaysa sa akin ngayon.