Coldest War (War Series #2)

Chapter 35

#war2wp

Chapter 35

Boyfriend

"When you come home, I'll always drive for you," ani Hiel sa kabilang linya ng video call.

Nakahiga ako sa kama at nakatapat sa mukha ko ang screen ng phone na tanging nagbibigay ng liwanag sa tahimik kong kuwarto sa isang hotel sa Paris. Napangiti ako habang pinagmamasdan siya sa kabilang linya ng tawag.

His hair is disheveled. Ang magaang na liwanag na siguro ay nagmumula sa bintana ng kuwarto niya ay nagbibigay ng magandang anino sa mukha niya. His eyes look soulful as he stares at me and my heart keeps fluttering because of it.

"Really?" I ask with a grin.

Hiel smiles and he nods. Nakahiga rin siya sa kama niya. Umaga sa Pilipinas. It's six in the morning back there and it's almost midnight in Paris.

It's the season for fashion week. Pagod ako sa dami ng mga pinupuntahang shows at sa makailang beses nang lumakad sa runway. I will model for three luxury brands. Galing na kaming New York noong nakaraan, pagkatapos ay London at Milan. Ngayon naman ay nasa Paris kami.

Makailang beses kaming sumakay ng jet para sa mga 'yon at kahit na ilang beses ko namang nagawa 'yon sa nakalipas na mga taong naging modelo ako, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang makaramdam ng pagod. My first season for fashion weeks keyed my success in the modelling industry. Pagkatapos ng unang season ay saka unti-unting nakilala ang pangalan ko.

But I love what I'm doing. . . so although I am finding it hard, I still feel a great feeling of fulfilment.

"You have a show tomorrow," he says.

Tumango ako. "It's my last two days in Paris." Pinagmasdan ko siya at napangiti dahil ang guwapo niya pa rin kahit na nakahiga pa sa kama at hindi pa bumabangon. "You have class today?" I ask.

"Wala." He smiles at me. "We're already preparing for graduation."

Agad akong nakaramdam ng lungkot. "I'm sorry I can't come home," I tell him.

My schedule is packed until July this year. I can come home on August but only for a few days—three weeks at most—then I have to come back to the states for the start of the new fashion season. Ni hindi ko magagawang umuwi sa birthday niya.

"It's fine, Rinnah," aniya. He smiles at me reassuringly. "I'll make sure to send you pictures. I'll try to document it for you too."

Ngumuso ako at hindi pa rin naalis ang lungkot. Ni wala ako ro'n no'ng pasko, bagong taon, at nang mag-araw ng mga puso. All I could do was get a gift delivered to him. He sent me gifts too and he always sends me flowers. Pero hanggang gano'n na lang 'yon dahil pareho kaming abala sa kani-kaniyang buhay. 

It's hard to adjust my time for us too. Palipat-lipat kasi ako ng bansa kaya nahihirapan akong humanap ng tamang oras para makausap siya. But Hiel makes sure to always communicate with me. Siya na ang naghahanap ng oras na puwede kaming mag-usap. At sa tuwing parehas naman kaming abala, sapat ang nagiging komunikasyon naming dalawa. 

It's just that, I can't help but miss him. I want to see him, talk to him, and hold his hand in person.

"Rinnah," Hiel calls my name. "I would love to spend my every day with you too. . . but I wouldn't want you to ditch opportunities just for me."