Chapter 28

C'est fou!

I still couldn't believe that Cashel dropped by last night. In the middle of the night just to say he's sorry and greeted me a happy birthday. I never thought he will show up. Not at that hour. He came by giving back the LV purse which I hesitated to have back but then he insisted so it's sitting on my bedside table like it used to.

Parang four hours lang ang naging tulog ko. Cashel went earlier by twelve midnight. He didn't stay too long. Siguro mga ten to fifteen minutes lang din ang itinatagal niya saka siya umalis. I'm still wondering what changed his mind to visit and see me. We haven't been talking for a month since last night. It was something I never expected to happen.

Cashel showing at my doorstep in the middle of the night. Sinong hindi magtataka?

We're about to meet later at five in the afternoon. Nine pa lang ng umaga pero kumakabog na ang dibdib ko sa sobrang kaba. Parang wala lang din naman 'yong nangyari kagabi. He showed up to greet me. Handed back the LV purse to me. He apologized then he leaves. Naka-shades pa siya no'n pero nakilala ko siya agad. Victor wouldn't show up like that. Neither Chevalier.

I have been receiving tons of messages since yesterday just to greet me! Iba iba ang timezone kaya may nauuna at for sure, may hahabol pang babati sa akin lalo na sa mga nakatira sa western countries. I was absolutely shocked when there are people tagging me that they are from Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and the U.S. It's still crazy unbelievable how things wrap up for me.

I was in a total backlash a month ago then I feel so loved by so many! Hindi pa rin naman maiiwasan ang mga bashers, nakatatakas na talaga sa kanila ang pagiging negatibo sa buhay. Patuloy lang din ako sa ginagawa ko. Going to school every day then at night ay gagala kaming dalawa ni Victor. It was the same routine I did for the past few weeks hanggang sa nalusaw na ang issue tungkol sa akin at no'ng dalawang Parisian.

Mayamaya lamang ay may kumatok sa pinto. Kakatapos ko lang din maligo kaya no worries sa morning look. I attended the person behind the door and Victor shows up. My face lighten up when I saw him. Agad ko siyang niyakap ng mahigpit.

"Cosette, you're crushing the box,"  Victor said as he tried to save the box from crushing it. I pulled myself away from him. "Bon anniversaire, Cosette!"

"Merci, Vic," I giggled.

"Hopefully wouldn't be your last in Paris," he pointe out.

I held his hand and pull him inside the room. "No, I don't think so. I only have a year contract here in Paris but I can stay here forever and get a green card if you would let me marry you."

He glares at me as his lips puck then shakes his head. "Non. That wouldn't happen. Ever. I won't marry you but I can help you with some locals who wanted to have a wife. I think I'll be great at that. You just need to wait a couple of days until I sort it all out. For now, let's enjoy your day. Are you ready to go to the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower?"

"I guess my day will be more special if we'll go to the tower, right? What do you think?"

He nodded. "I agree. But I have come bearing gifts for you."

Inabot niya sa akin 'yong box. Pinatong ko naman iyon sa lamesa at tinanggal ang pulang ribbon na nakabalot paikot sa box. Nang buksan ko naman iyon ay napangiti na lang ako. It's a strawberry short cake with assorted macaroons around it. There are a few real strawberries on top of it and before I could take a bite of it. Pinalo ni Victor ang kamay ko.

"What was that for? It's my cake, right?" I pouted.

"Oui mais nous allons prendre une photo de la première," he grinned.

I laughed. "Sure, wait let me open my phone's camera."

Binuksan ko ang camera and Victor insisted me to take the photo of him holding the cake and post it on my feed with a caption: Merci, Victor! You're the best French friend I have!

Nang makuha ko siya ay binantayan niya akong i-post 'yon and tagged him on the photo. At dahil mabait naman ako, hindi na ako pumalag. Victor told me that we should leave now dahil hahaba ulit ang pila sa Eiffel tower. Wala naman daw VIP do'n. My mind splits in half when I want to take a bite of the cake when we need to go to the Seventh now. I just took a few macaroons and we left the apartment.

Pagkalabas namin ng building, nagulat ako ng biglang may mga sumalubong sa amin na mga paparazzi. Todo iwas naman kami ni Victor. At ngiti na lang ang iniiwan ko sa kanila. Iyong ibang paparazzi naman ay binabati ako. Thank you at tango na lang din ang binibitawan kong response.

We usually take the metro pero dahil ayaw naming masundan ng mga paparazzi, we took a cab paputang seventh. Natawa na lang kami ni Victor because those paparazzi's are even asking if Cashel and I will be having a date tonight. Victor still doesn't know about it pero deep inside, totoo naman talag. It's not a date-date. Simpleng meeting lang at kailangan ko si Victor para sure na walang mangyayaring masama.

"I have something to say, Vic. And it's not the usual thing you'll hear."

Tinasaan niya ako ng kilay. "Why do I feel like I know what you're going to say? But I have no idea so tell me. That could be interesting than your birthday."

"Grabe ka naman. Anyway, Cashel went by to my apartment at midnight."

His eyes widened. He paused for a second and give himself time to process it.

"That's exactly my expression when I saw him. It's unusual of him to go on like that. I didn't expect him to show up after a month of avoiding me. I don't know what came into his mind but he came back just to give this back and greet me. As he was the very first person to greet me personally in Paris."

I showed him the LV purse. It's not the fake one. It's the original he bought for me. 

Victor grunted. "I thought I was first! But anyway, was there anything he did?"

I shook my head. "Other than those things I've mentioned, he apologizes, and then a few minutes without talking he just left. It's so weird but we're going to see each other later when he dropped a message to me right after he left."

"And that, he can't say it to you personally?"

I shrugged off. "I don't know. I can't guess what's going on in his mind but he messaged me that we should meet later at five in Vedettes de Paris. Do you know where could that be?"

He chuckled. "Oh, grill. I know where that is and most people who went there are in love or going on a breakup right after. But the reconciliation of broken trust and feelings? I don't think so."

"Oh, okay. You don't have to mention those things because that'll never happen—again. Tell me where that place is. I need to know so I can prepare myself."

"It's a boat agency near the Eiffel Tower in the Seine River. He's clearly inviting you to join in a boat tour on your special day. And I've heard people who went there on the day of their birthday got a discount or maybe some stuff you can enjoy for yourself."

"And do you know how much it cost?"

He shrugged then shook his head. "I have no idea. I live in Paris but I've never tried it. Check it online and figure out yourself."

I quickly check it on my phone and search it online. Seventeen euros per head. Looking at it, I mean it wasn't that bad. Knowing Cashel has all the things he needs and got all that he wants, wala na 'to sa kanya. Baka nga may iba pa 'yang ginawa aside from buying the ticket. Ano naman kaya ang pumasok sa isip no'n at niyaya niya ako sa boat tour?

"It's not bad," aniko saka ako lumingon kay Victor. "What isn't good that you won't be there for me."

"You can do it, Cosette. I believe in you. I know you're not the type of girl who will easily fall back into his words. I know you're more than that."

I took a deep breath. "Well, I hope that as well."

It doesn't take us too long when we finally reach the seventh and we were dropped off near the Tower. Agad naman kaming tumungo ni Victor kung saan pipila kami para makaakyat sa second level ng tower. Victor told me that he already booked us online and fortunate for us to get some slots for today's day or we'll spend a long line to the ticketing area. Dumiretsyo na lamang kami kung saan papasok sa loob ng premises kung saan may elevator para dalhin kami sa second level. 

It only took us to get inside the elevator after an hour and a half. Good thing, hindi pa gano'n karami ang mga nakapila at mabilis lang din ang usad ng mga tao. But Victor warned me na bandang hapon ay dadagsa ang mga turista just like what we encountered the other day.

Hindi rin naman mainit ngayong araw. Kahit may mataas ang sikat ng araw ay malamig ang klima kaya makapal na jacket lang ang katapat no'n sa amin. And I'm so happy that I've got to experience thsi one of a kind place on my special day.

Nang makapasok kami sa loob ng elevator na magdadala sa amin paitaas ay nakuha pang mangatog ng binti ko. Napansin naman iyon ni Victor kaya pinakalma niya rin ako. Mga ilang minuto rin ay umaangat na kami at hindi ko magawang lumingon sa labas ng bintana dahil nalulula ako. It is an open sight kaya kitang-kita pa ang buong paligid. Victor also mentioned we can even go to the upper deck which is the top sighting area where we can see the city on the top of the tower.

Magkahalo ang kaba at excitement sa dibdib ko kaya nang makalabas kami ng elevator. Tumungo kami sa railings kung saan makikita ang view ng cities ay lumubod ang puso ko sa sobrang tuwa. We can even see the Seine river up here!

Para akong bata na sabik at tuwang-tuwa na makita ang ganitong nito. Nang lingunin ko naman si Victor ay nakangiti siya sa akin. I poke him on his side and he immediately stopped me from doing that.

"I can see that you're really happy, Cosette," he said.

I nodded furiously. "Yes, I am. This is amazing. If the tickets are only cheaper that it is, I would definitely go up here every day. May opening din kaya ng trabaho ang mga restaurant dito? Maybe I can work here as well. Part time, part time muna."

"Whatever you said, I'm happy that you're smiling. It is really your birthday. Happy birthday, Cosette," he greeted. I was about to give him a kiss on his cheek pero pinigilan niya ako at niyakap ko na lang siya. "Just don't forget you need to pay me fifteen euros after this."

I laughed at his remark. I pulled myself away from him then I patted his shoulder. 

All throughout the day, Victor and I spend our time taking pictures and sightseeing in the city. Aside sa mga city na hindi ko pa napupuntahan, excited na akong mapuntahan ang mga iyon at ma-experience sa personal. At sa pag-iikot namin ni Victor, hindi rin ako nakatakas sa mga nakakilala sa akin. They ask for pictures and I granted some. May ilang bumati rin sa akin. Hindi ko rin naman ine-expect na ay lalapit sa akin ngayon. I tried to wear something different but some people have sharp visions and I couldn't get away with it. May ilan pa kaming tinatakasan kasi hindi na namin na-e-enjoy ang pag-iikot and Victor felt being left out kaya ako na ang nag a-adjust. He treated me kaya dapat lang nasa kanya ang buo kong atensyon.

Before we head to the third floor which is the top sighting area ay kumain muna kaming lunch sa restaurant sa second level. Nagtagal din kaming dalawa sa loob at sinulit talaga namin ang ginastos namin kaya ng pumasok muli kami sa elevator na magdadala sa amin sa pinakataas, hinanda ko na ang sarili kong huwag malula.

The tower is in 324 meters high kaya sinong hindi malulula? Tinatawanan lang ako ni Victor.

When we got to the top floor, napatitig na lang ako sa kawalan habang tinatanaw ang buong west side ng Paris. Napansin din pala ni Victor 'yon kaya kinalabit niya ako.

"What are you thinking?"

Nilingon ko siya at pakiramdam ko na kailangan kong ilabas kung anong bumabagabag sa isipan ko ngayon. 

"I just had a thought in mind... what would happen if I left Paris after my teaching contract ends? Would my life still be the same in the Philippines? I'm sure that I will when I leave Paris. It changed me. It changes everything for me. This country did make me a good person. Though there are times that I feel like I don't deserved it here but now that it's happening, I don't wanna left the country anymore. Sure, I'll be getting attention from the Philippines' media but my life here can't be compared. It is something that I'll treasure forever."

"You don't have to think about that now, Cosette. You still have a lot of time to get a french national and marry him," he chuckled. "But on a serious note, I will miss you when you leave. I don't know if I can visit you in the Philippines but please, visit France more often. I know it's expensive but it's cheaper for you now. You have sponsors. You can even but a mansion after six months."

I laughed. "You never failed to make me laugh. I will miss you too but just like what you said, I don't have to think about it at this moment. I'll just enjoy this moment. This experience while it lasts."

"Sure, but I'm also serious to find a French man. You can stay in Paris for as long as you want."

"And why don't you want to marry me?"

Victor hugged me. "Because you're not my type... and I'm not looking for a relationship. I pity you now. I hope you can still find one but don't worry, you have a good friend here so you'll be successful one day."

I laughed once again. Victor is killing me with his remarks. Nang humilaway din siya sa pagkakayakap sa akin ay nakatanggap ako ng message.

"Who's that?"

"You know who."

"Oooh! Mister Corprew," he swooned. "Are you ready to see him?"

I swallowed hard. "I hope so... I'll try not to be so awkward and weird."

"Yeah, don't worry. Just call me when you need a backup, I'll be there as soon as I can," Victor assured.

"Merci! Tu es un très bon ami!"

"Je sais!"

We continued watching the view. I noticed a sudden change in the atmosphere. The clouds turning grey and it became too windy. Hindi rin nagtagal ay bumaba na kami ni Victor sa top floor dahil natatakot kami sa lakas ng hangin. We spend our time on the first floor kung saan inikot namin ang ilang exclusive stuff and displays sa tower.

As much as I enjoyed my time with Victor, I hope it'll be the same with Cashel. I only hope for the best and not for the worst. Hopefully, Cashel and I work it out again—not with relationship thingy but becoming friends. 

A lady like me can only hope until it happens. So I'll just see what will happen. 

***

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