Chapter 8

Cashel and I headed to a breakfast place just around the 11th. I know he already mentioned what we'll be doing pero hindi na niya inulit sa akin. We parked just on the side of the road. There are few cars already parked so Cashel lined with them. Natanaw ko rin naman agad 'yong sinasabi niyang pupuntahan namin. I'm not worried about my schedule, I still have an hour and I guess there will be no traffic as we drive to the 15th.

"Who should we be meeting at that place?" I asked him once again.

Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. He told me that this could be a good tactic for public appearance ang mag-holding hands sa harap ng maraming tao. Tumawid kami ng kalsada saka tinungo ang cafe and restaurant place. It is standing on the corner of the Rue Castex and Rue Saint-Antoine. And looking at it from the outside exhibits sophistication and fine cuisines. I also found them on Google and had 4.3 stars rating.

I wonder where Cashel would bring me to a Michelin Star Restaurants? That would be exquisite and luxurious. There are tables sitting outside and a few people who dined in to have a view of the busy street. As we expected we've got a few heads turning in our direction. Hindi lang dahil sa kiss naming dalawa na nag-viral online, lumabas din kami sa news earlier. I haven't watched it kasi sira naman ang TV sa room ko.

We walked inside and I'm fascinated by how simply elegant this place looks like. I've never heard of this place before. More likely, ang alam ko lang sa France ay ang Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, croissants, and baguettes. Those are just a few things and I'm still learning every day.

"There she is," Cash said. Hindi ko kilala 'yong tinutukoy niya kaya sinundan ko ng tingin kung saan siya nakatuon ang atensyon niya. His hand rested on my waist as we headed to the table where we will be meeting someone. Then we met a black woman which made me stop for a moment. Not because she intrigued me but because I know her. "Bonjour, Trudy." (Hello, Trudy.)

Tumayo naman siya at nakipag-beso kay Cashel. And then their attention landed on me. Para akong nanigas sa kinatatayuan ko ngayon. I've known her for a long time rather than Cashel. She's an icon back in the country and meeting her now is a dream country for me. Literally! Dream granted!

"J'aimerais que vous rencontriez ma copine, Cosette Calafiore," he introduces me to her. (I would love you to meet my girlfriend, Cosette Calafiore.)

And she gave me kisses on both cheeks. "Enchantee, Cosette. If you're not who I am--" (Nice to meet you, Cosette.)

But before she could even finish her sentence, I cut her off. I grab her hand to hold it. Gusto ko lang maramdaman na hindi ako nananaginip. "You don't have to introduce yourself to me, I've known you for my whole life. You're Trudy Kamakala, who wouldn't even know you, right?"

She chuckles and playfully pats my shoulder. "You're such a cutie, Cosette. Not everyone though but thanks for that, I really appreciate it."

"Of course, I'm one of your biggest fans," I was so amazed that I forgot that Cashel is there.

"What about me?" he asked creasing his forehead.

"Saka ka na," sagot ko sa kanya. "Hayaan mo muna ako mag-fangirling."

"I may not understand what you're speaking but girl, you must be fun to work it," Trudy believed. "Join me at the table. Order what you want, and I'm sorry that I called for an early meeting with the two of you. I've got a full-packed schedule after this and until late at night. Je suis tellement stressé."

Cashel laughed. "That's fine, Trudy." Saka ako tiningnan ng jowa-jowaan ko.

Tumango rin ako kay Trudy. "Yes, that's fine but I also have a job at school in an hour so I can't be late." I winced. I thought it might offend her but she didn't look at it that way. I guess, she's not that mean at all. Mabuti na lang. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

"Oh,  ma cherie, I wouldn't take a lot of your time. I just need a little of your time as we discussed some of it," she said.

Napakunot ang noo ko. Wala kasi akong ideya sa nangyayari. "Je suis desolee, mais je--I don't have any idea why we're here again? Cashel didn't bother to say it to me." (I'm sorry, but I—)

"I did," aniya. "You're not listening to me."

Trudy chuckles. "You guys are so cute that's why both of you could be the perfect pair for this project."

"And what is it?" I questioned, so much curiosity plastered in my face.

"Well, here it is," aniya at may nilabas siyang folders at binigay niya ang bawat isa sa main ni Cash. "Well, on that documents tells all the details and somehow the agreement later on. As we already know that Cashel is one of the prominent models at this moment, he could be a good image for TK Magazine for the November Issue."

"Wow, did you just mean your own magazine?"

Trudy nodded. "Yup, that is, my own magazine. I want you guys to be on the front page. Cashel's a model so he's already been on a few front pages of some magazine. And Cosette, would this be your first time?"

I nodded furiously. "Yes, it would be," sagot ko.

"She's an actress back in the Philippines though," Cashel chided. Nagulat pa ako dahil sinabi niya 'yon. Ayoko pa namang ipaalam dahil baka i-search niya rin ang pangalan ko pero wala na akong magagawa ngayon. 

"Ah oui?" somehow Trudy was surprised. I nodded to confirm it even though I hate it. "If that's the case. This wouldn't be a problem for you. I'm believing in you, Cosette so I think everything will work out just fine. I mean, Cashette might be the new thing now." 

Napahagikgik ako sa sinabi ni Trudy. What the hell sa Cashette?! I glance at him at inikutan ko siya ng mata. Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Trudy na malawak ang ngiti sa labi ko. 

"Yes... it is," I marveled.

"If you will think about this opportunity for both of us, it could be great. You can have those documents first, review them for yourself, and those tied you up with exclusivity and you'll get some perks in addition to signing with us. Hopefully, we could work with you guys and I'm already excited for it," Trudy said.

"Yeah, sure, we'll think about it," Cashel said.

"I agree. And this is a great opportunity for me though. I would love to work with you too," I showed her my gratefulness by reaching out to us and offering us to be the front page of their magazine issue next month. And for me, it is a big deal.

"No, rush. Take your time," Trudy said. "Cashel knows what to do about it so we'll meet again if you guys already come up with a decision."

Hindi rin nagtagal ay nagpaalam nang umalis si Trudy dahil may pupuntahan pa siyang meeting ulit. She's very nice meeting us today, naisingit niya pa iyon. Gano'n na ba kalaki ang image ko ngayon para kunin din nila akong front page ng magazine?

"So what do you think about it, Cosette?" Cash asked rubbing his chin with his finger.

"It is good, very captivating ang proposal niya but why didn't you just tell ha? Parang nagmukha tuloy akong tanga sa harap ni Miss Trudy. Do you really hate me to do that on me?"

He smirked. Lumapag ang kamay niya sa lamesa at kinuha ang tasa ng kape niya. He took a quick sip and shook his head. "No, I don't hate you, Cosette. I actually like you."

Kumurot ako ng piraso sa baguette na kinakain ko at binato sa kanya 'yon.

"Oh! Cosette! You don't do that here! That's kinda offending for them," he told me and I panicked to pick it up from the floor at pinatong sa lamesa para hindi halatang inaksaya ko 'yong pagkain. But then I saw him trying not to laugh. Napatingin naman ako sa tasa ng kape. "Oh no, you can't do that here too, Cosette."

"Really?" I squinted my eyes. Aakma ko pa sanang kukunin ang tasa pero pinalo niya ang kamay ko. "Ouch, Cashel. That hurt!"

"OA a?" ngisi pa niya. "Anyway, let's move on. What do you think about it? Gusto mo ba?"

I thought about it for a few seconds before I gave him a reply. "I love Trudy. She's an icon for me pero parang hindi ko kasi deserve iyong offer niya sa akin. Look, hindi tayo totoong magjowa and she thinks that we are. Parang niloloko lang natin ang mga tao sa ginagaw natin. It's not authentic."

"Isn't that what this is all about?" taas kilay niyang tanong sa akin. "We agreed to this set-up. We'll both benefit from it at the end of the day. And who cares if it's real or not? After all, it's just a show, and who doesn't love it, right?"

"Right..." mahinang sagot ko kasabay ng palihim na buntonghininga. I took a sip on my coffee. Siguro tama na 'to para magising ng tuluyan ang diwa ko. "And how long do you think we can put this on a show? I'm sure, hindi rin magtatagal na malalaman din ng ibang tao na hindi naman talaga tayo in-a-relationship, 'di ba?"

"Well, if they figured it out, we'll find our way. Malulusutan din natin 'yan," sagot into sa akin. Parang balewala lang sa kanya ang magiging backlash nito kapag nagkataon.

Ayokong ma-bash, ayoko ng haters, ayokong mag-iba ang tingin ng mga tao sa akin. Iyon ang iniwanan ko sa Pinas dahil napaka walang kwenta ng career ko roon. Para lang akong anino ng isang big star. Minsan ay hanggang extra na lang ang role ko. Kadalasan nacu-cut pa for final editing. Minsan na akong na-bash, nagkaroon ng haters, and leaving it back home means having a new life with a career. Kung iyon ang punto ko sa paglipad sa Paris, acting and faking it would be the lucky charm of my career or it will just pull me down to my darkest. 

Imagining it now made me feel a little worse inside.

"Hey," Cashel reached out putting his hand above mine. "Are you worried about what could happen? Trust me, there's nothing to be scared of or anything. You've got me and I've put you on this position so lay it down on me. Akong shield mo."

I chuckled. "That's... That's great, Cash. Thanks..."

Binawi na naman ang kamay niya at sumandal sa kinauupuan niya saka humalukipkip. "And in any other way, you're Paris' Sweetheart now."

I scrunched my face when he said that title to me. "Is that what they're calling me now? Baka mas lalo naman akong ma-bash dahil hindi ako Parisian and I barely live in the country. Mag 3 weeks pa lang ako rito and people might be eyeing on me now."

"Well, eventually they will see you," ngisi pa nito. "Are you done with your food? I'll drive you to your school now."

Tumango na naman ako. "Sure," and then I keep my baguette with me.

"Are you going to take that with you?" tanong niya ng makatayo kaming dalawa. Muli akong tumango upang sumang-ayon sa tanong niya. "Sure... do you also want to take my baguette?"

Naningkit ang mata ko sa sinabi niya at tinawanan niya lang ako. He's always keeping me out of the dark. Hindi na lang ipaliwanag sa akin 'yong ibigsabihin niya. Gusto pa akong gawing katatawanan. Kurutin ko singit nito e. Ang hilig akong lokohin. Sana lang hindi ako maloloko sa tingin sa kanya at the end of the day. 

They say French men are fine delicacies. I believed that too. Marami akong nakikita sa paligid ko at Cashel might be something too strong to compete with them. Ewan ko, may karisma siyang tinataglay na siya lang ang may dala-dala so I think a person like love by many. And by many I mean million.

Bumalik naman kami sa sasakyan. Pansin ko pa rin ang ngiti niya dahil sa baguette na dala-dala ko. Kung iyong driver niya nga na nagdadala sa akin no'n ay dinadala ko pa hanggang school, hindi na ako nahiya sa sarili ko and who cares? Dito ako nabubusog e.

It took us half an hour to reach my school. He dropped me off and then he told me to think about Trudy's proposal so we can send the documents back as soon as possible. I watched him drove away. Hindi ko alam kung anong pagkakaabalahan no'n for the rest of his day. Wala namang siya work but an influencer. Well, that's his job kasi kumikita rin siya doon through sponsors and other things. He doesn't even need to work his ass off all day. Pindot-pindot na lang siya sa kanyang phone and that's enough.

And that could also be me back home pero dahil walang kwenta ang career ko sa Pilipinas, I baecame an educator at nagkaroon ng silbi ang degree ko. But what he does is actually inspiring. Trudy's offer is quite good, utong-uto na naman ako. Nasabi na rin naman ang pros and cons so I don't think it will hurt my image. Hindi naman ako kilala ng karamihan as a Filipina Actress. Mas kilala ako ngayon bilang girlfriend ni Cashel.

Ano kayang nangyayari sa akin ngayon if that kiss didn't even happen? Would my life in Paris be so chic or just like this, my two worlds collided.

I washed the thought away at saka ako pumasok sa loob ng building. Dumiretsyo ako sa faculty room kung saan kinita ko ang mga colleagues ko. They don't treat me as a newcomer, they actually made me feel so welcome kaya hindi ako nabigatan sa trabaho ko. And next week, there will be a holiday coming next month kaya magkakaroon ako ng freetime para sa sarili ko.

But for now, I'm gonna meet mes élèves et ils feront l'apprentissage de l'anglais à partir de moi. (I'm gonna meet my students and teach them how to learn English from me.)

***

Hi guys! Thank you for reading! I'm not sure if book 2 will have 30 or 35 chapters. Ano sa tingin niyo? Haha

#FrenchKissInParis8 #FKIP8

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