Chapter 24

From the usual routine, sinundo ako ni Cashel sa apartment at hinatid niya ako sa school.  As obvious, mayroong nakakita sa kanya kaya hindi pinalagpas ang pagkuha ng picture. And there are some who took a photo with me. It still gets weird kapag may lalapit sa akin na foreigner para lang makapagpa-picture. 

The other time, may mga pinoy tourist ang lumapit sa akin. They took an opportunity to share a moment with me. Sinabi pa nila sa akin na ang ingay-ingay ng pangalan ko internationally and I could pave my way to Hollywood pa nga raw.

Sa tingin ko, iyon ang imposibleng bagay na mangyari. I'm satisfied with what's happening, with all the ghetto and stuff, hindi na ako hihingi pa ng ibang bagay. And I'm contented with what I already have.

Sa panahon ngayon, big deal na ang maraming followers sa social media. I'm not even joking. People would kill for it. Kaya kadalasan ng big accounts ay prone sa hacking kaya ang security ay dapat super tight and steady. Hindi ko siya inaaalala noon dahil wala naman silang mahuhuthot sa accounts ko. But to this moment na maraming nagbago, kailangan ko na rin talagang protektahan ang sarili ko.

When I entered the building, wala pa gaanong students at tahimik pa ang hallways. Tumuloy ako sa faculty area at nilapag ang gamit sa desk ko. I check my lesson plan and my calendar to what I need to do for the rest of the week. Hindi ako nakapasok kahapon kaya kailangan kong habulin ang lessons para sa mga bata.

Habang busy na nakatutok ang atensyon ko sa binabasa ko, kada pasok na mga kasamahan  kong guro ay tinatanong nila kung okay na ako. They were all nice to me at hindi sila nang-iintriga katulad ni Minetta na pakiramdam ko ay bawat kilos ko ay nakalagay na sa kanyang daily journal. Hindi ko alam kung anong nakita nila kay Cashel. Gwapo, matangkad, at yummy lang. Ano pa kaya?

When it's time to meet my morning class, hinanda ko na ang gamit na dadalhin ko sa homeroom ko. Bitbit ang folders at libro, bago pa man ako makalabas ng faculty room ay binungaran na ako ni Minetta.

"Cosette!" she exclaimed as if it's the first time she saw me around. Hinalikan niya ako sa magkabilang pisngi. Naguguluhan ako sa kanya dahil para siyang sabik na sabik na ewan. Nakatago rin ang isang kamay niya sa likod. Pansin kong may hawak hawak siya roon.

"Calm down, Minetta. It's just me, no need to hype it up."

She looked at me weirdly pero agad niya rin iyong binawi at humagikgik. "It's good to see you today. And you look pretty and awesome. I missed you yesterday, Cosette. So glad you're finally here! Are you okay now? Are you feeling fine or should we let you rest for the whole day? What do you think?"

I chuckled and tapped her shoulder. "Thanks for your concern, Minetta. But I'm already feeling great right now. I can't wait to meet my students again. And you really look pretty in your maroon sheath dress. You always look lovely in your dresses."

"Merci, Cosette," she winked. "So... do you need something? I need to get to my class now."

"S'il vous plaît laissez-moi as-tu une seconde," aniya saka niya inilabas ang itinatago sa kanyang likod. And my eyes almost fell out when I saw what she's been hiding there all this time. My eyes can't believe it. "I got a copy of the November issue of TM Magazine! And I didn't expect that you and Cashel will take a kissing shot! This is so great!"

"Can I see it closely?" aniko at inabot niya sa akin ang magazine.

Nanginginig ang kamay ko ng mahawakan ko ang magazine. It felt so unreal. Hindi ako makapaniwala na nasa front cover na ako ng isang french based international magazine. Gusto kong ipamukha sa mga manager na ayaw tumanggap sa akin sa Pinas at sabihing sinong sinayang niyo? And I guess that's beautiful.

But I never thought na itong shot namin ni Cashel ang pipiliin nila na maging front cover. It is the one where he initiated the kiss. Tandang-tanda ko pa kung paano paglaruan ng dila niya ang dila ko. We make it more interacting and natural kaya namin ginawa 'yon. We wouldn't we doing it kung hindi iyon ang gustong makita ng mga tao. Panigurado akong maraming bibili ng copies nila.

This was one of my biggest achievements! And I couldn't be more proud of myself.

It only takes a day at ngayon ay nasa magazine na ako. Siguro kami na lang talaga ni Cashel ang hinihintay nila para simulan na ang printing at distribution. And all of this wouldn't happen if it's not because of Cashel. If he didn't kiss me on that night, I wouldn't be getting all the stuff and recognition. Parang isang suntok sa buwan ang lahat ng nangyari. Pero siguro lahat naman talaga ng pinaghihirapan, namumunga sa tamang panahon and I'm on my riping season.

Hinog na hinog na ako!

"Cosette." Niyugyog ni Minetta ang braso ko. Umangat ang tingin ko sa kanya. "Are you still with me? You looked so shocked and surprised. Can't you still believe that you're on the front page of a famous french magazine?"

Tumango ang ulo. "Yes. I'm still in complete shock. It was just a dream."

"But it's real now so breathe in and slowly let it out," she said, gesturing her hands make me calm down a little bit. Sinunod ko naman ang sinabi niya at hindi pa rin maalis ang tingin ko sa magazine. If my parents would see this magazine, they would totally freak out. Nangibang bansa lang ako, nakuha ko ng humarot. I guess it's not my fault na gumanda ang buhay ko dahil kay Cashel, right?

"I'm fine now. Thanks, Minetta," I smiled, ibabalik ko na sana ang magazine sa kanya pero hindi niya kinuha. She picks a marker out of her pencil case and handed it over to me. Nag-hang pa ang utak ko sa gusto niyang gawin ko. "Do you want me to sign this for you?"

"Of course," nakangiti niyang tugon. "And I also want Cashel to sign it for me. Do you think he'll come with his sister today? I'm sure he's excited that your project with him is already out. I mean, it's one of a kind. You really did a great job there. If I haven't seen this on a newspaper stand while I'm on my way to school earlier, I wouldn't know about it! At least, I'm one of the first few people who got a copy of it before it sells out!"

Napangiwi na lamang ako sa kanya. Kinuha ko ang marker sa kamay niya at pinirmahan ko ang front cover ng magazine. Agad niyang inagaw iyon sa akin at para siyang kiti-kiti kung kiligin. Last week, para na niya akong papatayin dahil sa closeness ko kay Cashel at kung ano-anong impormasyon ang gusto niyang malalaman. Nakakapanibago lang ngayon. Minetta's so friendly kaya hindi ako makapaniwala.

"Thanks for buying a copy, Minetta. I really appreciate it and you don't need to gush on me like we don't see each other every day. Be normal when I'm around. I'm just a person, human like you so nothing really special."

"That wouldn't be a bother, Cosette. But I will try my best," she grinned.

"Sure, you'll do you." Ngisi ko pa. "I gotta get to my class now, they must be waiting for me."

Nilagpasan ko na nga si Minetta pero may hinabol pa itong sinabi sa akin.

"Please tell me if Cashel would be coming here today or tomorrow or even the next days! I need him to sign this magazine!"

I chuckled. "I will try to contact him and I'll inform you first, okay?"

"Meric, Cosette! Vous êtes les meilleurs!"

Itinakip ko ang mga hibla ng buhok ko sa mukha ko habang papalabas ng faculty room. I just can't stand the attention lalo na't working place ko pa talaga ito. Though they are good with it at wala namang masama ro'n kasi they still respect my privacy. May mga pagkakataon lang din talaga na hindi matiis ng karamihan ang lapitan ako at tanungin. If it's not a job related, they can't help to ask about Cashel. At dahil mabait naman akong nilalang, sinasabi ko kung anong gustong marinig nila. But I'm slipping those bits of informations na hindi rapat malaman ng public. Just to help their satisfaction, I'll go for it.

Nakahinga na naman ako ng maluwag ng makapasok ako sa homeroom. AT natahimik ang mga bulinggit nang makita nila ako. I greeted them with a smile at saka ako tumungo sa desk ko. Kahit ganito na lang all throughout the day. I need peace of mine and I guess these kids will help me to carry my head out somewhere else.

That's the goal.

"Good morning, students!" I greeted and smiled. I missed them.

***

I was having lunch on my desk when some of my colleagues went to me and ask me to sign their magazines. Kung hindi ba naman sial nabudol ni Minetta, hindi rin naman sila lalapit sa akin para magpa-sign ng magazine. I felt so awkward pero tinuloy-tuloy ko na lang kaysa naman sabihan pa nila akong maldita at masungit. Hindi rin naman ako gano'ng klaseng tao—except sa mga nang-down sa akin noon. Laging may exceptions dapat. And they don't deserve me.

Though nakatanggap ako ng interview from the local news in the Philippines, hindi pa lang ako sumasagot sa kanilang invitation.

When they left me to eat my lunch alone, bigla namang kumaripas ng dating si Minetta sa akin. Pagkakita ko pa lamang sa kanya ay gusto na agad umikot ng mga mata ko. She doesn't really mind if I'm busy, eating, or not. Siguro iniisip niya ay close na close na kaming dalawa.

If she just knew!

But on Minetta's approach, it was different this time. Nagtaka naman ako dahil parang ibang Minetta ang nakikita ko ngayon. Hindi siya sabik. Hawak pa rin naman niya ang magazine but her phone is on her other hand. Magpapa-picture ba ulit siya?

"What is it now, Minetta?"

"Have you seen it?" she sounds so sketchy.

"Seen what?"

"The video?"

"What video?" I questioned.

"I don't think you need to see it."

"Minetta, you came here to tell me about something then you're not."

"Parce que..." she bit her lower lip, hindi na rin niya ako tinitingnan sa mata. 

"What's in the video? Is it a video from a paparazzi? Is it me and Cashel? You can show it to me. I won't mind. And I texted him earlier if he can come by, he will try."

"Sure... but I still don't think you need to see it."

"Just let me see it," pagpupumilit ko na.

Kahit labag sa kanyang feelings na gawin 'yon, sinunod niya rin naman ako. Binuksan niya ang phone niya at plinay ang video. Maingay pa ang bungad no'n kaya nagulat pa ako ng bahagya. She started the video from the start and lowered the volume. Inabot niya sa akin ang phone saka niya pinindot ang screen to play it.

It was so loud kahit binabaan na ang volume nito. Masakit sa mata ang video dahil sa mga papuslit-puslit na ilaw ang bumubungad until I learned what's happening in the video. It is on the night when Chevy and I went to the night club. We were dancing together. I was holding a bottle of beer in my hand. I was so drunk and there were few people around me who were filming the situation. They chanted Chevy and I should kiss and we did. We kissed. And it's more than a minute when Chevy finally blocked the camera with his hand.

Kinuha na ni Minetta ang phone niya bago ko pa mabitawan niyo. Nawalan ako ng gana kumain. Biglang umurong ang sikmura ko. Natulala na lamang ako dahil hindi ko inaasahan na gano'n pala kalala ang nangyari sa aming dalawa ni Chevy.

"When did that happen, Cosette?" tanong ni Minetta. "I didn't know you were friend with Chevalier Fitzgerald too? And you're kissing him... does this mean that you and Cashel are over?"

Ilang minuto akong natulala bago ko siya sagutin.

"I don't know what to say, Minetta. I didn't..." hindi ko naituloy ang sasabihin ko dahil hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. "That can't be me..."

"It is you," she said. "There were a few videos too that they're chanting your name."

"Wait, where did you get this? Why there were few videos?"

She sighed. "It's already been out in social media. They were tagging you. And Cashel. And Chevalier. People are starting to trend #BoycottTMNovemberIssue and it's making the people not to buy the magazine. They are calling you out! A putain. It's a bitch or whore. And then people are starting to wonder if you and Cashel are in a real relationship or you were just using him for the sake of your fame. Please, don't open any of your social media. They are harsh. They are so mean. And I'm afraid that it also reached international news. One time, big time scandal of Cashel Corprew and Cosette Calafiore. I hate it. I was just so happy for you and Cashel. This is your first, big project but it will all be well soon."

I was speechless. I couldn't even speak a word. I was in total disbelief.

"But what are they saying is true, Cosette? Are you really together with Cashel?"

Hindi 'ko siya sinagot. It's not worth it to tell her the truth.

But then my phone receives a call at ito lang ang tawag na ayokong sagutin. Nakisulyap pa si Minetta sa screeng ng phone ko at nang makita niya kung sino ang tumatawag ay iniwan na niya muna ako. She wants me to have my privacy and I'm glad she respects it. 

I was in horror looking at the screen of my phone and he's been calling me, over and over again. Fuck. What have I done?! I just killed my career. Once again. Just great!

Cashel Corprew is calling...

13 missed calls.

***

#FrenchKissInParis24 #FKIP24

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