"Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and a happier is he who finds that true is his WIFE"
"""""
Nakatayo ang isang binata sa harap ng magarbong pintuan. His tousled hair shines with his piercing silver eyes as he stood tall in his 6'2 height. He looks so dashing with his European features as he wears his usual black trench coat.
He inhaled and exhaled, trying his best to look happy as always, even if he feels the exact opposite every time he enters this room. Kailangan niyang ihanda ang sarili muli sa pagpasok sa pinagbabawal na silid ng kastilyong ito.
Kailangan niyang ngumiti sa abot ng makakaya at ipakita ang pekeng emosyon sa harap ng taong iyon.
Dahan dahan siyang pumasok, walang ingay na ginawa.
Bumungad sa kanya ang ibat ibang sizes ng mga painting at agad siyang nakaramdam ng kirot sa dibdib niya. Napakaganda ng mga ito at ang bawat isa ay mapapansing iba-iba ang way ng brush strokes at shading.
Every time he enters this room he can't help but to wonder, why do these things need to be here? And what makes him madder is that these paintings keep on multiplying!
Sa gitna ng kuwarto ay nakatayo ang isang babae na may alon alon na buhok, nakaharap sa isang canvass at focus na focus sa pagpipintura. As if binubuhos nito ang lahat ng emotion sa pagpipinta niya.
Aakalain mong nasa iba itong mundo pero dahil sa tagal na niya itong kilala ay sanay na siya dito.
Masakit para sa kanya ang manatili sa kuwarto na ito ng matagal ngunit lagi niyang tinitiis ang sakit na nararamdaman para lamang sa babeng ito.
He inhaled once more.
"Bonjour belle!" bati niya na nakangiti.
Sa paglingon nito ay hindi niya mapigilang hindi mapapatulala tulad ng dati.
"Silva!" gulat na tawag sa kanya ng pinakamagandang babae sa buhay niya.
Nakasuot ito ng pink na long sleeve dress na mas nagpalitaw ng ganda nito. Gumuhit ang isang ngiti mula sa mamula-mulang mga labi nito at ang napakagandang mga asul na mga mata nito ay nagningning sa kasiyahan.
Tinaas niya ang dalawang kamay na may dalang paper bag at nilapag sa malapit na sofa.
Nakangiting binitawan nito ang paintbrush at sinugod siya ng yakap tulad ng matagal na nilang nakakagawian.
The moment her body pressed against him; he felt those tingling feeling in his heart. This are one of the moments he always wishes to last for a long time.
He twirled her around as she chuckles. This is also the one of the rare moment where she acts like a child in spite of her looks.
"I missed you!" saad nito at nakangiting niyakap niya ito pabalik "I was just gone for a week" he said and adoringly patted her head.
Nakasimangot na lumayo ang babae "A week without you is too long for me, I guess you didn't miss me at all" nakapout na sabi nito at pinagkrus ang mga kamay.
He chuckled, only if she knows...
Eiffel's PoV
"You know that's not true my lady" panlalambing ni Silva sa akin. I'm not really mad. Nagpapalambing lang talaga ako, hehehe.
"Look, I brought your favorites" sabi niya at nilabas mula sa paper bag ang mga pagkain.
"May French fries?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong ko.
"And sundae." Dagdag niya with his hundred-dollar smile.
Napangiti ulit ako at niyakap siya ng pangalawang beses. This kind of affection is normal to us. Masaya talaga ako tuwing nakikita siya 'cause Silva is like a brother to me.
"That's why I love you best friend!" pagsasalamat ko at inayos ang lamesa malapit sa bintana.
Magiliw na lumapit sa amin ang pinakamamahal kong aso at masayang kinuha ito ni Silva
"Hi there lil' girl! How are you?" tanong niya at tumahol ito, waggling her tail.
"Of course, Puffy also missed you" nakangiting sagot ko patungkol sa aso.
Lumapit siya sa akin at inayos ang mga binili niya "Sus, mahilig ka lang sa libre eh" at natawa ako.
"Well, wala naman nang libre ngayon kaya sinusulit ko na" sakay ko at umupo na kasama siya.
He's Silvariuz de Seville, Silva is also a noble like me. He is the next French Duke of the House of Crowbelle, and aside from that, his family owns a Million Dollar Mining Company making them one of the most richest family in Europe.
"How's Tito Silvior?" tanong ko patungkol sa Papa niya.
"Ok, siya naman" sagot niya in tagalog with his French accent.
Hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapangiti dahil sa accent niya, he doesn't have any Filipino blood in his veins unlike me. Their bloodline is well kept through all the generations. Pero dahil sa yaya niya na Filipina ay natuto siyang magtagalog, though hindi siya ganoon kabihasa.
"'Siya' comes after 'naman' Silva, its ok naman siya" pagcocorrect ko and he just chuckled.
Kumuha siya ng Mcdo burger at kumagat "Kinukulit na niya akong kunin ang titolo niya bilang Duke but I'm not yet ready, "
"Silva, don't be so hardheaded, alam mo namang ikaw lang ang magdadala ng apelyedo niyo, after all you're their only son, the heir of de Sevilles. And I can't barely wait to call you The Diamond Duke" I said trying to convince him.
"But you know na masyadong mabigat na responsibilidad ang pagiging Duke. Just looking at how hectic your schedules are, I know it will be the death of me. Kung pwede lang ay itapon ko nalang yun kay Rauzell"
I took some fries and dipped it to my sundae "Ooh, don't be so negative Silva, I know you'll be great! And your sister is only thirteen!" he just shrugged his shoulders hearing my remarks.
"I heard that you didn't attend the party last night, Countess" pagiiba niya topic at matalim ang matang tiningnan niya ako.
"I was not interested, that annoying Marquis of Valquer was there looking for me, alam mo namang ayokong pumunta sa mga parties pag hindi kita kasama." Pagtatangol ko.
Aside from being my best friend, Silva also serves as my personal bodyguard. He makes sure that my safety comes first especially from the noblemen of the society.
"He never learns. Don't worry I'll send my men and give him a friendly message." His smile vanished as he stated seriously.
I extended my fingers, touching his knotted forehead. I am very aware what kind of 'Message' he will relay to that poor Marquis.
"Do as you please, don't worry there's always a party every now and then. Just make sure you'll come with me and I promise I will attend it"
"But Eiffel, that Party was the yearly gathering of all the Nobilities in the Country. Hindi lang ako nakapunta because of my prior commitments" Silva argued.
I took a sip from my coke.
Ughh... this is so heaven. Because of my position in the society, my diet is strict.
"Wag mo nang isipin yun and nakakapagod din minsan maging apple of the eye" depensa ko at ngumiti sa kanya na walang nagawa kundi mapailing na lamang.
"And by the way, Lord Elric was here earlier" pagbibigay alam ko tungkol sa Head ng Salazaar family.
Kumunot ang noo niya "Really? What was his purpose?"
I took another bite on my burger "he bluntly asked me about Alphonse, but aside from that, he's insisting me to have a partner already to secure my lineage, same old rustic reason" sagot ko and he chuckled.
"Lord Elric knows your situation, I guess he just wants to check if you're being pressured by our society. Pero maiintindihan ka din ng iba pag nalaman nila ang totoo"
I sadly smiled and replied "No, I'll make sure that they'll never know" at tumayo na ako.
Nagtungo ako sa canvass na malapit ko nang matapos.
"New one?" tanong ni Silva at naglakad sa tabi ko, I just nodded.
"You're such a talented painter my beautiful best friend" puri niya sa akin and patted my shoulders.
"And speaking of painting, I lalaunch na ulit ni Mharya ang mga paintings mo sa Philippines." He added.
"That's... Awesome I guess" kibit balikat na sabi ko.
"Natatawa parin ako sa pen name mo, Miss Tower" he joked and I just rolled my eyes.
"Wala na akong choice Silva yun na ang nilagay ni Mharya e, don't make fun of it" nakangusong sita ko.
"Buti naman at nagustuhan nila ang mga works ko, it's such an honor na ang mga Xavier ang nagsponsor sa akin" nakangiting amin ko.
"Well, Mharya's parents loves your works, do you think they'll also sponsor my works?"
"Silva, mine are paintings, ang sayo ay thousand- and million-dollar worth na mga alahas, good luck for the security teams, sa dami ng tiwali sa Pinas, ewan ko lang kung ligtas ang mga works mo" I retorted and he just laughed.
Silva is a famous Jewelry Designer, and it makes sense because of their family business.
He took a seat on the sofa "Father looks forward for your next visit in our manor, Rauzell also misses you. You know you're a family to them"
I took my paint brush "I know that Silva, I'll talk to my secretary" sagot ko "I wonder kung kelan babalik si Mharya dito. Do you know Silva?" I asked him but he shook his head.
"We are aware that she's very busy with their Galleries and Museums, but I know gustong gusto narin niyang makabalik dito to have dinner with us"
Silva, me and Mharya are best of friends, we became close in the night of my party when I was fourteen. We instantly clicked siguro dahil pareparehas kaming nahumaling sa arts, Mharya is the daughter of the famous Xavier family, their family is known world-wide because of their famous art galleries and museums.
Mharya is currently in the Philippines right now. Kakabigay lang sa kanya ng mga magulang niya ang control over one of their biggest Gallery kaya pinagbubutihan niya talaga para maimpress niya ang mga ito.
"I have another good news for you" sabi ni Silva.
"Another one? You really are my lucky charm Silva" I adoringly said.
"Your book won as one of the best novels this year!" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at di makapaniwalang lumingon sa kanya
"You're kidding right?"
But Silva just smiled and opened his arms. Agad ko siyang niyakap habang sabay kaming tumatawa.
"Oh my gosh! I didn't expect it!"
"Félicitations Eiffel, you really deserve this" he congratulated me.
"They also plan to have a Fans Day where the readers can meet you in person next year" dagdag niya. I broke from our hug after hearing what he said.
"But I can't" diskumpiyado kong saad.
"Eiffel you're already an incognito painter, you shouldn't hide your identity in your novel too. I mean, your fans are dying to meet you. Don't tell me you want them to be disappointed?"
"Of course not!"
"Then you should think about it." Kumbinsi niya at hinawakan ako sa magkabilang balikat.
"Eiffel, you're a brilliant woman and your past will never define who you are" he stated with a sincere smile and kissed my forehead.
I smiled sadly "Thank you Silva"
"""
After Silva left, I went back in my room at umupo ako sa bintana , nakaangat ang dalawa kong paa sa ere pero kahit kelan ay hindi naman ako nalula o natakot. Siguro ay dahil nakasanayan ko nang tumambay dito simula noong dumating ako sa palasyong ito siyam na taon na ang nakakaraan.
Dito ako tumatambay pag gusto kong magisip at mapagisa.
I always feel at peace kapag nakikita ko ang asul na kalangitan. That broad and endless blue sky warms my heart.
Napatingin ako sa librong nakalapag sa lamesa sa tabi ko.
It was my novel titled Marry me Frère
Which means Marry Me brother.
Funny isn't it?
I made a story about me being with the man who hurt me the most. Those months, weeks, days, hours and seconds we spent together was all inside this book.
And I never expected that people would love my work.
I guess they really like me being in pain the most. But I can't blame them at all for thinking this is just all a work of fiction.
My readers are requesting for the second book. But sadly, I can never give it to them.
Cause it already ended.
Exactly as he did to me.
Napahawak ako sa kwintas ko. This the only thing that keeps on reminding me of that wonderful dream that ended turning into a devastating nightmare.
Wala sa sariling napabuntong hininga ako.
It's almost been nine years already...
A lot have change. From a child, I turned into a very glamorous woman who have everything she wants.
Fame, attention, beauty, power and wealth.
Though I never thought that I will be like this. A woman as cold as ice...
Muli ay napatingin ako sa asul na kalangitan with a sad smile on my face, remembering how that man used to smile at me.
"""""""
Character Song for Silva;
Treat you better by Shawn Mendez