[Book 2] What If

Chapter 24

"El?"

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Lea went to the door to open it as she seemingly heard Ellie's voice. She tried turning its knob but it is being held at the other side. Ellie had been trying to make the door remain shut from her side.

"Ellie?" She asked the second time around.

"Did I wake you up?"

"No, what are you doing?" Lea felt that her protege had been wanting to speak with her despite of resisting her from opening the door.

The singer did not let go of the knob handle but instead lean on to the door so she can clearly hear what El has to say.

The young woman felt her coach's heavy presence on the other side of the wall. She kept on holding the knob handle as to prevent the singer from opening up the wooden hatchway. El doesn't want Lea to see her face having such heavy thoughts.

"Coach.."

"What's going on? Tell me.." From the tone of her voice, she could feel that something is bothering the young woman's mind. She badly wants to go outside the room and see her loving protege but the latter does not let her.

"I'm scared."

There was silence on both sides of the wall. Lea awaits El's next statement as she doesn't want to assume on what's making her protege feel that way.

"I'm not sure I'm ready for tomorrow.. It's uncharted territory for me.."

The Broadway star could totally understand where Ellie is coming from. After all, she doesn't really want to take part on the role. She has just been compelled to say yes because of peer pressure from her mom and from Bobbi.

"I'm sorry Ellie.."

There was a hint of guilt in Lea's tone as she apologized to the young woman. She felt like it's her own fault pulling her up onto this world of theater that makes El uncomfortable right now.

But Ellie doesn't blame anyone on her situation; not even Ligaya nor Bobbi who had insistently convinced her.
Though she doesn't want to dive in this world of acting, she had resigned herself to do anything to make Lea's star shine brightly than before. She's willing to do anything on her power to make all Filipinos realize what a rare gem Lea is for their country.

And so, despite not having the heart to do it, she relents herself to take on the part Kayla Rivera vacated. Just to make sure that the play Lea would star in, will go on smoothly.

"Can you be my strength coach Lea?"

It was the first time Ellie had asked her coach for anything. Her words struck deep onto Lea's heart.

The singer knows to herself that she hasn't done anything monumental for her protege. She wanted to somehow give back all the immeasurable things and the love that Ellie had been showering her.

She could feel that at that moment, Ellie is in low spirits as she uttered those words.
She wanted to give the young woman a tight hug right now as to let her know that she'll always be there for her. But El kept on holding the knob handle from the outside hindering her to go and see her.

"I'm always gonna be here for you Ellie. Just like how you are to me." Lea tried assuring her protege as she leans more to the door to hear closely what's happening on the other side.

It took a while before Lea could get any response.

"Thank you coach. I'll let you take your rest now. Goodnight. I love you.."

Ellie whispered those last three words as she lets go of the handle to return back to her own room. Upon hearing El's last words, Lea tried forcing the door to open which was already freed from the young woman's grasp.

The Broadway star saw the back of her lover as she walks away from the room, barefooted. She rushed to approach her, hugging Ellie from behind.

"I love you too, Ellie."

Lea could feel the woman's silent sobs as her body unconsciously shakes from her hug. She turns Ellie around to see her innocent young angel looking face and wipes her tears. She gives her a smile telling her protege that everything will be alright, and she'll be her backbone of support in the world they're both going to venture out starting tomorrow.

"I promise, everything will be alright. I'll be there with you. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. That's where we'll learn and grow from. I'll be guiding you all step of the way. Remember, I'm your coach right?"

Ellie nods at the sight of this beautiful world class performing artist who is trying to soothe her doubts.

"Don't think much about anything, we have to get up early tomorrow." Lea gives the young woman another smile as she plants a sweet kiss on her lips.

The Broadway star's gesture made Ellie feel a little bit calm as she thinks of what will happen next on the days ahead. Though it will be hard for her, as long as her coach is there to support her, there's nothing she has to fear.

With that, the two women retired on their own rooms to prepare themselves on what will be a busy day tomorrow.

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6:00 am in the morning, El went to Lea's room as she tries to wake her up. The Broadway star just left her door unlocked for her protege to freely come in as she needs someone to make her awake.

Ellie slightly shook her coach's body wrapped in blanket. "Coach? Coach, good morning!"

Lea slowly removed the blanket covering her face as she tries to blink and see Ellie staring down at her. The morning light has already illuminated from the windows as her protege opened up the curtains.

"What time is it?" Lea gets up in a sitting position as she stroke her disheveled hair.

"It's six in the morning." Ellie smiles. "Breakfast is already served. Come down when you're ready."

The young woman gets up as she prepares to leave the room but Lea stops her briefly.

"Leaving already? Where's my good morning kiss?" the Broadway star teases her as she gives El a mischievous smile.

Ellie went back and sat at the bed facing her coach. She stares at her intently, looking at the singer's fresh looking face. Despite being just woken up from her sleep, Lea still looks beautiful as ever. She does not really need any make up or anything on that sort just for her face to be appreciated. Her glossy smooth skin already gives other celebrities a run for their money. As she unknowingly smiles at the sight of her beautiful mentor figure, the Broadway star grins back at her.

Ellie closed the small gap that distances herself from her coach as she holds the latter's face and plants a sensuous kiss on her lips, in which the latter responds with the same gesture.

They kissed deeper as their tongues touches each other's. It was full of sensation, hot and steamy for such a morning kiss. When they have to catch their breaths, was only then they let go of each other's lips.

"I don't think I still have to eat. I've already got the breakfast that I need." the two women laughed so hard with the joke Lea had said.

Lea stood up as she reaches for Ellie's hands pulling her up from the bed. She hugged her tightly as she tries to immerse herself with Ellie's lavender scent. Her body was soft yet warm. Despite having a fragile and petite body, El proves to be huggable.

They then went downstairs at the same time as their breakfast welcomes them at the dining table.