I Won't Let You Go

The deal part II

Kian Steve's
Nakarating kami ng Baguio ala una ng umaga.
Bumabiyahe pa kami kasi medyo malayo pa naman ang Hotel namin.
Pero sa sobrang lamig bahing ako ng bahing at nanginginig.
Naka suot naman ako ng jacket pero ang lamig parin.

Lumapit naman sa akin si Claude.
May kinuha siyang thermal blanket sa bag niya at pinasandal niya ako sa balikat niya para kumasiya kami.
"I'm sorry kung nabigla ka. Dapat siguro nung umaga nalang tayo pumunta."

Umiling naman ako.
"Okay lang. Nakaiwas tayo ng traffic at maganda ang tanawin kapag gabi.
I just haven't adjusted to the weather yet."

Napatingin naman si Claude sa harapan.
"Morris are you okay? Can you keep going or maybe you want me to take it from here?"

Napatingin ako kay morris.
Pula ang mata niya at medyo binagalan niya ang takbo ng sasakyan. Masyadong matagal din kasi ang biyahe namin. Siguradong pagod siya.

"I am fine Young Master."
Sagot naman niya.

Claude clicked his tongue at binigay sa akin ang thermal blanket.
"Pull the car over."

Morris looked at him with hesitance.
"Young Master."

Claude stared at him.
"I said pull it over."

Nagfrown pa si Morris bago inihinto ang kotse sa gilid.
Bumaba si Claude sa kotse at binuksan ang pintuan ng driver's area.
Hinila niya palabas si Morris at pilit itinulak papasok sa tabi ko.
"Sleep. The both of you. I'll wake you up when we get there."

Inistart niya ang kotse at nagpatuloy sa biyahe.
I looked at Morris who was slightly pouting and was scrunching his brows as he glance at his master.

Napa buntong hininga naman si Claude at tinignan ng masama si Morris.
"Hey stop looking at me like that Mr. Morrison Evans, quit being stubborn as well."

I chuckled from watching the both of them. They're so cute when arguing.
Morris looked at me and slightly shifted, "please don't believe him. My Young Master is the most stubborn person I've met."

"Morris.. I can hear you if you didn't realized." Inis na sabi ni Claude.

Natawa nalang ako at napailing.
"Actually, You are both quite stubborn in your own ways."
Komento ko nalang at nakangiti sa kanila.

Being with Claude like this.. I keep on realizing he was really such a good person. He cares for people around him. In contrast to the cold and emotionless front he's wearing, his inner self is so beautiful and warm. No wonder this few people around him, Morris, Ace and that Caldrix Vladimir that I haven't met yet, loves him so much.
He's such a beautiful person. Hindi siya mahirap mahalin. In all Actuality, anyone who stays beside him and knew him well won't be able to help it but love him.

Naalimpungatan ako nung may bumubulong sa akin at humahaplos sa mukha ko.
When I opened my eyes, Claude's handsome angelic face greeted me with a smile.
"We're here. Let's go in para makapagpahinga ka ng maayos."

Bumaba na kami at may mga personnel ng hotel na kumuha sa mga gamit namin.
We took a VVIP room.
Its a very wide hotel room with three bedrooms, and a living room. One wide bath room and a separate Comfort room.

Napaupo ako kaagad sa sofa dahil sa pagod.
2 na ng umaga.
"You can sleep or order for something to eat if you want."
Sabi ni Claude bago pumasok sa isang kwarto at inayos ang gamit niya.

Umidlip naman ako at agad na nakatulog ulit.

Napamulat ako at kinusot ang mata ko when I felt my phone vibrate.
Pag upo ko ay napakunot noo ako dahil nasa kwarto ako at nandito nadin ang mga gamit ko.
I checked my phone. It was Tristan.

Napatulala ako. Why does it feel like I haven't been thinking about Tristan like crazy kapag kasama ko si Claude?

*knock 3x*
Nagbukas ang pinto ko.
"Ah you're awake. Why won't you wash up first then let's go eat something outside."
Sabi ni Claude.

Napatango nalang ako at tumayo na.
"You can take your time" pahabol na sabi ni Claude bago sinara ang pinto.

I took a quick shower at nagbihis bago labas ng kwarto.
"Let's go?"

"How about Morris?" Tanung ko.

"He went out this morning. Sabi niya mamayang gabi siya makakabalik kaya nagpaka nanay nanaman. Niloadan niya ng pang one month ang phone ko at binuksan ang gps nito tapos bawat oras iupdate ko daw siya kung nasaan tayo." Sabi ni Claude with his bored look.

Napatawa ako. I can almost imagine Morris nagging with his blank face.

Lumabas kami at kumain sa sikat na kainan dito sa Baguio. After naming kumain ay nag ikot ikot kami. picture pa kami ng picture. Ang kulit lang ni Claude. Kung saan saan napupukaw ang attention niya at takbo ng takbo.
Tawa nalang ako ng tawa habang hinahabol siya baka magkawalaan pa kami dito.

Hapon na nung naisipan naming pumunta sa park.
Bumili kami ng ice cream at umupo doon habang nakatingin sa lake.
Surprisingly kaunti lang ang tao ngayon dito.

Sumakay kami sa bangka at nag bike.
Habang naglalakad kami ay biglang umulan.
Naisipan naming tumakbo nalang pero napahinto ako.

"Ouch." I exclaimed.
Nagka sprain ang ankle ko busit. Sa dinami dami ng pagkakataon ngayon pa. Ang lakas pa naman ng ulan.
Tumakbo pabalik sa akin si Claude.
He looked at my ankle with his very worried expression.

"Hindi magandang mabasa tayo ng ulan ngayong malamig ang panahon. I'll carry you in my back. I already informed Morris so he'll be here any minute."
Sabi ni Claude.

Hindi pa ako nagsasalita ay hinila na niya ang kamay ko at isinampay sa balikat niya.
"Wait! I'm heavy!"

Hindi niya ako pinansin at itinayo niya ako habang nakahawak sa hita ko. "Hold on to me tight."

Bigla siyang tumakbo kaya napayakap ako sa leeg niya para hindi ako mahulog. How can he run like this while carrying me? Ilang inches lang ang tangkad niya sa akin at magkaparehas kami ng body build.

Napasandal nalang ako sa kanya. Napamulat ako at tinignan siya side view.
He's still handsome. Lalo lang siyang naging gwapo ngayong basang basa siya.
He was breathing heavily. He's exhausted huh.
I closed my eyes at pinakiramdaman siya. I don't know if he can feel it..
But I can feel it very clearly..
Our uniting.. Heartbeats.

"AACCHHOO!" Bahing ko at napakapit ng mahigpit sa kumot ko.
Fuck. Naligo agad ako pagdating ko at ginamot ni Morris ang sprain ko. And now, I'm having a flu.

Pumasok si Claude sa kwarto ko na may hawak na batya at towel.
He silently closed the door at inilapag iyon sa mesa sa tabi ko.
"Bakit gising ka pa?"
Sabi niya at umupo sa tabi ko.

"I'm cold." Sagot ko naman.

"Wait here okay?" Sabi niya.

Lumabas siya saglit at pagbalik niya ay may hawak na kumot.
Ipinatong niya iyon sa dati kong kumot.
Pinatay niya rin yung aircon ng kwarto.

Dahan dahan niya akong pinunasan at pinalitan ang damit ko at sinuutan ng bago saka pinahiga ulit.
Piniga niya ang towel saka pinatong sa noo ko.
I glanced at him. He looks pale.
Hahawakan ko sana ang noo niya pero sinalo niya ang kamay ko at hinawakan.
"I'm fine. Just sleep already okay?"

I nodded and closed my eyes. I felt like I was falling asleep when I heard him speak.
"Kian?"

Hindi ako sumagot at nanatiling nakapikit. I was too weak to open them anyway.
He held my hand and enveloped it with his.
"I love you.. Always remember that okay? I know you cannot hear me anymore pero.. I'm still saying it.. Baka kasi kapag hindi ko masabi ay sasabog na ang dibdib ko. I can't dare say it when you're awake. I don't want you to feel obligated and give me attention just because of pity. Alam ko naman kung gaano mo kamahal si Tristan. Me being compared to that 4 years of love was nothing. I won't ask for anything.. But your happiness. I doesn't matter if it will be with me or not. As long as you will be happy.. I won't ask for anything."

I wanted to answer him back but I held it in. I didn't even know what to say. I can't find the words to respond.
So I just tried my best to sleep.

"I love you" and that heartwarming mind wrecking words were the last thing I heard before I fell asleep.