Chapter 7

I haven't quite grasped ahead of everything that's happening lately. I've been in this city for two weeks prior to my arrival and somehow it already turned my world upside down. 

Nabulabog ang mundo ko. Literal. Parang magnitude seven ang dumating at ngayon, I can't pick up the pieces dahil kailangan ko ng pangatawan ito. Kaya ang motto na itinatak ko sa sarili ko ay "fake it until I make it!"

Kakagising ko pa lang, as in pagkamulat pa lamang ng mata ko ay kinuha ko na agad ang phone ko sa bedside table. I instantly checked my post on Instagram. I was tagged by Cashel and I did the same thing too on my account. His post nearly reaches eight hundred thousand likes now while mine was over two hundred thousand.

Halos lumuwa ang mata ko ng makita ko iyon. Last night it only has five thousand likes which normally I got from my four thousand followers but then my account immediately fires up to seventy-five thousand followers and it's only because of Cashel's show. And it only happened overnight!

Nabitawan ko ang phone at lumagapak sa aking dibdib. Wala na ngang maaalog, mukhang napisa pa. I never really had a thought in my head na darating pa ako sa puntong ito. I even got hundreds of DMs which I don't normally get. Back in the Philippines, they would tag me as patapon at walang career na actress. Tinanggap ko iyon kasi alam kong wala akong career na makukuha roon. No one even wanted me to be their leading actress. Parang sukang-suka sila sa akin.

At hindi naman sa pagmamayabang pero parang gano'n na nga. Kung makikita nila kung nasaan ako ngayon, they would be jealous of me. Gumagawa ng ingay ang pangalan ko sa international tabloids and it feels like I'm owning the title of Queen Elizabeth now. Kailangan ko na ng korona. Though alam ko ang risks ng pinasok ko sa sitwasyong ito.

Faking out our relationship might turn sideways. Pwedeng ikapahamak ko or pwedeng hindi lumabas 'yon at i-carry out namin ang so-called-relationship namin hangga't sa mawala na sa limelight ang mga pangalan namin. But I don't think that'll ever fade soon enough.

Cashel's known for his modeling career, he actually appeared on some French shows. Hindi ko pa napapanood but that what was Wikipedia says about him. Good thing for him, his profile is searchable pero sa akin, ang kasunod na headline kaagad ay laos.

Yup. Hindi pa man ako sumisikat, laos na kaagad ako. Ang sarap nilang ipatumba.

When my phone rang, kinuha ko iyon at i-chineck kung sinong tumatawag. It's Victor so I accepted his call. Good thing he called before he could barge into my room.

"Écoutez très attentivement, Cosette," Victor started. (Listen very carefully, Cosette.)

"Oh, okay? I won't get a good morning?"

"No," he directly answered. It was actually mean. "I won't be coming with you today at the Metro. I was called for work early, that's why and one more thing you need to be prepared," a hint of a playful smile possibly plastered on his face.

"What should I be prepared for?"

"You still have someone waiting for you outside and I guess, you don't have to take the Metro anymore. You're now the girlfriend of Cashel. You're his priority now."

I grunted. "I hated it when you say it like that, we're not totally in a relationship. You know that, Victor."

"Sure, but people love romance and drama so why don't we give it to them, right?"

"Whatever, is that all you're going to say?"

"Maybe," he chuckles.

And a second later, someone knocked on the door. And the only person I knew who knows I live here was Victor and my landlady. I took the robe from the hook on the wall and wear it. Wala pa man akong kaayos-ayos sa sarili ko. I didn't even bother to brush my hair and it's all over my face. Isang malaking pagbukas ang ginawa ko sa pinto. I'm not even in the mood if it's Victor playing with me now. Pero para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig ng makita ko siya.

"Bonjour, ma copine," he greeted pero agad kong isinarado ang pinto sa mukha niya. Napatalikod ako sa pinto at tila nabuhayan ang diwa ko. Cash didn't saw me on this moment. Nakakaloka na wala akong kaayos-ayos at ang ganda pa ng bati niya sa akin. Hindi ko na rin namalayan na pinatay na pala ni Victor ang tawag sa phone kaya binitawan ko na 'yon. mas nangingibabaw ang kaba sa dibdib ko ngayon.

Why does he need to show up this early in the morning? Bakit kung kailangan hindi pa ako pretty?!

Agad akong tumungo sa lababo para magmumog. Matapos ay kinuha ko ang hair brush sa study table at tumapat ako sa salamin para ayusin ang sarili ko. Mas ibinalot ko ang sarili ko sa robe na suot ko. I was only wearing a thin silk nightgown. Cashel seeing me on it humiliates me. Only my girlfriends back home only see me on it kapag may overnight kaming magkakaibigan.

Nang masigurado kong maayos na ako at wala akong na siyang maaamoy sa akin, bumalik ako sa pintuan para pagbuksan siya ng pinto. I wonder if he's still standing behind the door or not.

This time dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto at sinilip ko siya roon. He then tilted his head and smiled at me. Tuluyan kong binuksan ang pinto habang ang isang kamay ko ay nakapalibot sa suot kong robe. I don't want him to see me again like this.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" Taas kilay kong usal. 

"Is that how you greet your boyfriend, mon amour?" A lopsided grin formed on his lips. Pa-cute. Pa-gwapo. Akala hindi ako mafa-fall. Sira ulo.

"Yes," masungit kong sagot. "Ang aga-aga mong mambulabog. Iniinis mo na agad ako."

"Well, it's my first time to be here though." And he peeks his head inside and roams his eyes around. "It looks cozy here," he commented nodding his head. "Are you comfortable around here?"

Tumango ako. Determinado. Palong-palo. "Siyempre! Bakit naman hindi? Ano sa tingin mo sa akin ngayon?"

Tinitigan niya ako ng malalim. It looks like he's already examining from out to the deep inside of my soul. O baka naman hinubaran na niya ako sa mga tingin niya sa akin? 

"Well, I just wonder," he muttered and then he walked inside the room. Pinapasok ko na ba siya? Sinabi ko na ba siyang tumuloy? Desisyon ka boy? Tiningnan ko rin naman ang suot niyang damit. 

He looks so casual today. He's wearing white pants, a plain black tee inside of his brown corduroy coat, and then a pair of brown leather oxford shoes. He smells nice too. Amoy bubble gum. Sarap nguyain. 

"You wonder what?" I countered.

"Now that we're in a relationship--"

"Fake relationship," pagtatama ko sa kanya.

He chuckled. "Whatever you call it was. We had a deal with it anyway. But if you want to live with me, it's fine. I still have a room in my apartment and you can share it there with us. You don't have to pay. I don't actually pay for my apartment. It was sponsored. What do you think so?"

Even though his proposal is quite good. Hindi ako pumayag. Hindi ako uto-uto. I won't fall for it. "Merci, mais non, Cashel." (Thank you, but no, Cashel.)

"Pourquoi?" Cashel asked, creasing his forehead. Kanina ko pa siya gustong itulak palabas ng kwarto ko dahil naka-robe lang ako. Nakakahiya rin dahil ganito niya ako nadatnan. "Why won't you stay with me?" (Why?)

"Je ne veux juste pas," tugon ko sabay ng iling ng ulo. Humalukipkip ako para makita niyang hindi ako open sa suhestyon niya. "I'm fine staying in my cozy room. Baka may iba ka lang pakay kaya gusto mo akong tumira kasama mo." (I just don't want it.)

He arched his brow. "What do you mean?"

I sighed rolling my eyes. "Naku! 'Wag ka nang mag-maang-maangan. Alam ko na kaagad kung anong intensyon mo. So, no thanks, let me live quietly and peacefully in my room. This isn't your place to invade me. At bakit nandito ka nga nandito sa apartment ko? And how did you find out that I'm living on the service floor?"

"Of course, I had my ways and how I know it would be a secret," he clicked his tongue then winked at me. "And yes, I would bother you at all times just to have you closer with me. Sulitin na natin," ngisi pa nito.

Kinuha ko 'yong unan na malapit sa akin at binato sa mukha niya. Tumama naman iyon sa mukha niya. And he looked at me surprise with his mouth open.

"Do you want to get physical, Cosette? You know, it's still early so we can do it..." he moves his head up and down and a grin shows maliciously on his lips. I grunted and stomped my feet on the floor. Lumapit ako sa kanya at itinulak ko siya papalabas ng kwarto ko. Mabuti na lang ay sumunod siya at nakatapak na sa kabilang banda ng pinto. "What are you doing?"

"You're invading my privacy. Maliligo ako at mape-prepare to go to school and you're not welcome to watch me do those things. Do you understand?"

He gave a slight nod. "Sure." At saka ko sinara sa pagmumukha niya ang pintuan. "Fine, Coco. I'll wait for you out here until you came out."

I exhaled sharply when he mentioned that. Gusto kong alisin sa isip ko na nandito siya ngayon. Nanggugulo lang ito sa akin ngayon e. He knows that I have things to do pero nakukuha niya pa akong idamay sa mga kalokohan niya. I agreed to be his girlfriend in front of the public eye but this kind of attempt to come at me, he's just trying to annoy me. 

At hindi ko alam kung bakit ako pa ang napili niyang gawing fake girlfriend.

Dahil may taong naghihintay sa akin, I quickly took a shower kahit na hindi na nasunod ang usual routine ko. Ayoko kasing may naghihintay sa akin. It stresses me out. I picked my white flared pants with a white undershirt over the red sweater. This is my simplest outfit for the week because I won't be able to choose wisely to be decisive on my outwear. Muli naman akong humarap sa salamin. I dried my hair with a blower and brushed it nicely. I put on a matte red lipstick which is enough to blend with my outfit. I just put on light touches on my face when I heard him knocking on the door.

"Are you done?"

"No, hindi pa," sagot ko sa kanya. 

"Sure, I'll be waiting," aniya at mukhang desidido talaga siyang maghintay pa ng ilang oras. Dahil ayoko namang pahirapan siya, pinagbuksan ko siya ng pinto at nakatungo ang ulo niya ng makaharap ko. Dahan dahan niya rin namang iniangat ang tingin sa akin. In a second, namuo kaagad ang mga ngiti sa labi niya. It looks like magic and it keeps showing when he saw me. "Well... I didn't expect you'll open it for me."

"Nye, nye," I mumbled making faces at him. Hinigit ko rin naman siya pumasok sa loob at pinaupo ko siya sa upuan. "Matatapos na rin naman ako. Just wait for me,"

"Whenever you're ready, Cosette," he said and he leaned back saka niya tinukod ang kamay niya sa kanyang tabi while watching me. I'm conscious about it pero ano pang magagawa ko? Dinalian ko na lang ang pag-aayos ko. Hinanap ko rin ang flat shoes ko pero wala ito sa rack kung saan nakalagay ang mga sapatos ko. "What are you looking for?"

"My flat shoes," I responded while looking at it in every corner of my little room.

"What does it look like?"

"It is reddish, maroonish, something like that," sagot ko sa kanya.

Tinulungan din naman niya akong maghanap and a minute later, tumayo siya mula sa pagkakasalampak sa sahig at hawak na niya ang sapatos na hinahanap ko. Kukunin ko na sana iyon mula sa kanya pero siya pa ang inutusan akong paupuin ako. So I do what I was told. Umupo ako at ilang saglit lang ay lumuhod siya para kunin ang paa ko at ilagay ang sapatos. And before he could even do that. Inunahan ko na siyang kunin sa kamay niya ang sapatos ko at ako na mismo ang nagsuot no'n. He looked at me wondering and he mysteriously looked confused.

"No, thanks, Cashel, I can do it by myself," I bitterly stated.

"Oh, well, I tried," he sighed and stood up from kneeling on the floor.

I grabbed my handbag and Cashel took the purse sitting on the bedside table. Inagaw ko naman sa kanya 'yon at ipinasok sa loob ng drawer. His brows pulled together and vertical lines creases show on it.

"That's a fake LV, Cosette."

"Oo parang tayo fake," balik ko sa kanya.

"Interesting," ngisi pa into sabay tawa ng mahina.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo! Interesting mo mukha mo! Allons-y, alis na tayo! And this would be the last time you'll step into my room," babala ko pa sa kanya pero mukhang hindi naman niya ako siniseryoso.

I pushed him out of my room and locked it when we're on the outside. Sabay naman kaming bumaba ng hagdanan and he's already complaining and arguing with me dahil walang elevator ang building na tinutuluyan ko. Hindi na lang ako sumagot dahil baka kung saan pa mapunta ang usapan naming dalawa. As we reach the ground floor, nakasalubong namin ang landlady ng building at binati niya ako.

"Salut, Cosette," bati into sa akin.

"Salut, Madame," I showed a thin smile.

"I saw you on the news earlier," she implied, nodding her head as if what she watched was true. "I know it was you... you don't look like French so I've got to guess it quick."

How should I make myself feel about that? She simply threw it at me like nothing. 

"And there he is... you're boyfriend," she pointed to someone behind me and there's Cashel following me down the stairs.

Cashel gives the lady a pleasant smile and a nod. "Oui, madame, c'est ma copine." (Yes, ma'am. It's my girlfriend.)

"Oh, adorable!" she squeals, and then she comes to us and holds our faces. She left us alone as she headed back to her room.

Pansin ko naman na hunahahikhik si Cashel sa tabi ko. Agad ko rin namang siyang siniko sa sikmura at napayuko na lang siya dahil napalakas ata ang pagkakagawa ko sa kanya no'n. Lumabas na rin ako ng building at mabilis niya rin akong sinundan. Hinawakan niya ako sa braso para hindi ako pumunta sa ibang direksyon at sa sasakyan niya ako mapunta. Dahil wala akong kawala at kanina pa niya ako hinihintay, pumayag na ako. Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto sa harap sa tabi ng driver seat. And when I'm settled inside, saka siya pumasok sa tabi niya.

"You know where I'll be going. So drive me to the school," I demanded.

"Yup," aniya nang mayapos niyang mailagay ang seat belt niya. He also checked mind and before he could do it for me, kanina ko pa ginawa.

"What about Adie? Sinong nag-aasikaso sa kapatid mo?"

"We have a house helper there," Cashel said. "Because I couldn't take care of Adie alone, it is better to have someone look for her when I'm away. She's in good hands, don't worry about her. And she's on an afternoon class so she might still be asleep right now."

"Good to know that," tango ko pa. "So, dalhin mo na ako sa school. Kahit maaga pa, dalhin mo na ako ro'n."

"Not so fast lady," aniya at saka ini-start ang kanyang sasakyan. "You said, maaga pa. On va rencontrer un sponsor." (We're going to meet a sponsor.)

"Huh? What did you say?"

"Nevermind, you'll see it later," ngisi pa niya.

Nang paandarin niya ang sasakyan ay wala akong ideya kung saan niya ako dadalhin. So he drives from 16th to 11th just to get to me. Kung ano man ang binabalak ng lalaking ito, sana lang hindi ko iyon ikapahamak. Ayokong sirain ang pangalan ko ngayon. I've been meaning to justify my image as an educator and not a model's girlfriend. Pero pinasok ko na lang din naman ang sitwasyon na 'to, I just need to ride with him.

And with the landlady said earlier, mukhang lumabas na rin ang video galing kay Toro. And with that, Cashel and I are confirming our relationship with the public. Even though it's fake, it helps to build our image. At hanggang saan aabot ang kalokohan naming dalawa?

Surely, it won't be anything else as a fake relationship. Hanggang doon lang 'yon. And if it grows,  can I still fake it?

***

Thank you for reading! let me know your thoughts please! Nagtatampo na si Cosette at Cashel haha! 

#FrenchKissInParis7 #FKIP7

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