We are at the end of World Trip Series 2. Thank you for joining Cosette and Cashel to their journey! Hope we all grow with them as well!

***

Epilogue

Merde! They are all snooping outside. How can I get away with this?

I'm trapped inside the pizzeria for an hour now. I only want to get some pizza but then these paparazzi couldn't get their ass somewhere else. I tried to post something online just to sway their attention away but it's not working. They know that I'm still inside the premises and won't leave until they get something from me.

And what would it be this time?

I've already had enough of people asking if I have a girlfriend or not. I don't know where that info comes from but maybe Chevalier tried to sabotage me. He always thought it could be a good thing to play around with issues, but he doesn't know the distress it causes.

When I have to make a move so they will stop, a lady with a local walked inside. She doesn't look like a local to me. She overdressed herself to look like a French girl and her white silk dress have dirty spots on it. I didn't waste any more minutes when I stood on my feet and headed to meet this lovely girl.

I held on to her shoulder and she quickly turned to look at me. She stared at me like she hasn't seen a hot guy like me.

"Voulez-vous venir avec moi, s'il vous plaît?" I asked, and I thought she's too astonished of seeing me.

"Si'l vous... that's a please, right?"

"Merci," I quickly responded and then pulled her out of the pizzeria. I noticed how confused she is but this could be the only way for me to get away so they will stop following me.

When we head out of the restaurant, we immediately get all their attention to us. They put their phones out and the paparazzi started taking shots. I glance at the girl next to me and she seems nervous. I hope she's just a tourist and left the country the next day. I don't want to meddle with her again. My life's already been trouble.

I stood with so much confidence. "Tout le monde, rencontrez ma copine."

But then people started chanting, "Baiser! Baiser!"

Merde! I know this isn't the right option but who am I to chicken out? I continued what I'm doing and hopefully, this ends today. And to give what they want, I need to do this. I turned to face this lady and stare right directly at her. As if I'm looking right through her soul.

"Just act," I ordered then I leaned my face to her and give her a kiss. I closed my eyes and then I challenged her by pushing my tongue inside her mouth. To my surprise, she just let me in and we kissed like no one was watching. It doesn't take us long when I pushed myself away from her. She was shocked. Completely lost in it. I lick my lower lip and tasted her cherry lip gloss.

I grabbed her hand and we paved our way out from the crowd. I didn't mind if they keep taking pictures of us. We headed to my car and told my driver just to drive around the area. A few minutes after, we stopped to let her go.

Her face is full of confusion as she steps out of my car. "Merci, mademoiselle."

A lopsided grin grew on my face when I shut the door to her. Then we drove away. But as we head back home, I couldn't forget her face. I can't take the smile out of my face when I remembered how our kiss went.

When I finally came home, my little sister, Adeline jumped on me. She's just excited to tell to me that she'll be having a new English teacher tomorrow. Whoever that person is, I hope she or he is good—and can tamed a wild beast like my sister.

As I go to my room, had a quick shower and then put on my PJs. I began to think about the girl earlier so I had to my check social media to know what's happening.

I scrolled down the feed and found a bunch of shares and posts about me and that girl who tastes like cherry. It spreads like wildfire. I immediately look for more information about her but there's nothing. She was tagged as 'Cashel's new girlfriend' and her name's a mystery to everyone especially in French media. Who knows if she's really a local or not? But she questioned my language and to conclude that, she's possibly not a local. Or if she's living here, she hasn't quite a grasp of the language.

After a few minutes of looking for her information, some users starting to mention me and another username calls @CosettePelleprose. I clicked it and it directed me to her profile. Seemingly, there's nothing in it. Most of her posts are a few months ago and mostly were shared posts. I go to her IG and there's more to it. She has 4k followers which led me to deep dive to know her more.

She's quite pretty in her some posts. Good thing she was the one I pulled for this act.

Browsing online, I found Cosette Pelleporse Calafiore's background information and a few shows listed on her filmography. I was shocked to know that she's actress and maybe that's the reason why she kissed me so damn good. She knows how to do it. Where did she learn it anyway?

But I've got another plan.

Seeing how the public react on my crazy act, I think we both can benefit on it. Seeing her recent post in IG that she's in Paris for a year could be something good. I thought she's just a tourist but I could turn that ton something. Change her life for the better.

Maybe tomorrow I'll see her and propose this thing. A fake relationship could a good show for the public and if she's a good actress, she can carry it all the way to the top.

Cosette, Cosette. How pretty your name is, huh?

***

"Take the blueberry pie to the table," Mom ordered. I wrap my hands with a cloth and put the fresh and newly-baked pie to the table where the other dishes are being served. I headed back to the kitchen and asked if I could help her with anything but she's done cooking and when I was about to leave the kitchen, she called. "What happened to you and Cosette? You never mentioned about her when you came home."

I sighed. "I don't think it is a good idea to talk about her on Christmas eve."

"But it's never good to forget someone who made your life better as well," she said. And she has a point there. "What happened? Is it bad? Did you break her heart?"

"I didn't break her heart," I answered.

"And why she wasn't here? You told me you'll be coming home with her. She's nice, pretty, and the perfect girl for you. I know that because I'm a mother but I wouldn't tell you who to love and don't. Tell me son... are you still in love with Amauree?"

I paused when she asked that. My body suddenly went to freeze. I'm not expecting she'll say that to me. I didn't get to find an answer for her.

"But do you love Cosette?"

"Mom," I smirked. "What's with all these questions?"

"I just wanna know what's going on your mind right now. Where your heart lies. It looks like you're confused and trapped from the past. I know Amauree's really a great friend to you. You grow up with her and then you got into a relationship and eventually almost got married. What's stopping you from loving someone else other than her? Your father and I are far from you usually do courtship. Arthur just asked me and then we became good friends then turned lovers and eventually got married and have a two child. But if you were stuck with your same old love, how could give way to those who wanted to take a part of your love?"

"Mom..."

She then puts her hand on my shoulder. "It isn't always what you think is right, follow your heart. If you think your heart is right, don't waste the opportunity because once it's gone, it can never be back... and if you let that happen to you and Cosette, she'll be gone... forever. Do you want that to happen?"

I'm still speechless. I have no words to say. My mind is in complete darkness.

"But if you already decided what's best for you, I support and be happy for you," mom said. "Please, call your father and Adie so we can start eating celebrate the coming Christmas."

"Okay, mom..." I muttered. I head over to the living room to call for them but then we suddenly got a visitor and it's Amauree who showed up. "This is sudden, why are you here?"

"Can't I be?" she chuckled. I went to her and give her a hug. When she pulled herself away from me. She comes with a little bearing gift, a snow globe that has the Eiffel Tower inside.

"This is pretty," I giggled. "Why don't you join us for tonight? Where's you family? Can we also invite them for dinner?"

"We could but I think they're busy now. We just finished our dinner and I went her to check out on you guys. I'm just stopping by."

"No. Eat with us. Mom cooked for everyone."

Amauree giggled. "Sure. I missed your mom's pie."

"I bet."

When we all head to dining and mom seeing Amauree was a little surprise for her. But then we still continued what we're doing. Before we start eating we took some pictures first and I find it fancy to post it online. There were a few talks and fun jokes hitting on the table until we're finally meeting midnight and Christmas just came to Beaujolais.

Amauree then pulled me out to the backyard. Of course, it is dark but the Christmas lights around the house makes the surroundings even more lively. She's holding an apple juice from her hand while I'm having wine.

I pocketed my hand and looked at her. "So... what's up?"

But Amauree's seemingly looking far away. I waved my hand in front of her face then she got back to her senses. She laughed, shaking her head then take a sip of her drink.

"What are you thinking?" I asked, arching my brow.

"Everything?" she chuckled. "No... seriously. I was thinking how everything went for us—you—me and the people around us. There's just so much I want to understand but I guess it'll be a long journey to take in. It's not easy to know the answers. How to be the perfect person I need to be. It's just... so hard."

"It's Christmas, Amauree. You don't have to deal with all of those things."

"And you aren't?" she creased her forehead, questioning me. "What about Cosette?"

"What about her?"

"You pushed her away again," she said. "And this time it's because of me."

"You're my best friend, I can't forgive myself if anything happens to you."

"But then it's okay for you to hurt her feelings? She's a human being, too. And you may not the only person she has in her life, but you're something special to her and you're ready to throw all that away?"

"I don't know, Amauree... we haven't been talking."

"Because you chose not to," Amauree. "The problem is... I know you care for me but you also have to mind that on the other hand, there's someone else's hurting. And that's Cosette. How many times I'm going to tell this Cash, what we have before is a lesson we can carry to our future and it's one of the best thing we can improve to ourselves. Our relationship before was an eye opener and it made me realize a lot of things. Yes, at some point, I still want to be with you but on the other hand, I won't grow if it's you. We grow up but we totally have a lot of differences now. Do you understand me, Cash? Are you still trapped by what we have before?"

"No..." I shook my head. "Of course not."

"And then why are you pushing people who wants to be part of your life? Don't they deserve it too?"

"Maybe..."

"Or maybe this is what you need to learn, Cash. This would be the lesson for you. Take all these situations upon your shoulder and carried them until you realized you know better. You might know what you want to do now but there's more to it... and New Year is coming. Why don't we changed for the better?"

"Change for what?"

"To be a better person, Cash."

"I don't know what you mean..."

She smirked and tapped shoulder. "I guess you'll see..."

I think Cosette will be fine without me in her life. I think that's just how our lives will go. If it's for the better then I guess, it is better to be with no one else.

"Shall we get inside now? It's freezing out here," I said. We both head back inside and meet everyone again. It is what it is now.

***

As I'm walking down to Pont Alexandre III, the cold bothered me so crazy. It is one of the beautiful bridges in Paris. It was built in late 19th century with all these luxurious Beaux arts style. But it is winter and everything is white but then there's one person who stood out in the middle of the bridge.

She's wearing a red thick jacket, black bonnet, and winter boots. And as I finally got closer to her, she didn't expect to see me.

"Cash?!" she exclaimed upon seeing me. Her eyed widened with so much surprised. "Bakit nandito ka? Si Amauree ka ba? Why are you showing up to me so casual na parang ikaw ang kikitain ko rito? Teka... don't tell me na nagsabwatan na naman kayong dalawa ni Amauree? Ang gulo niyong dalawa. Mabuti ngang magsama kayong dalawa."

I smirked when she consorted to those things. But then I took a deep breath realizing that Amauree did this thing again.

"Yes... Amauree made us see each other again."

"She always does that."

"Yup," I agreed. "I guess that's just her thing..."

She nodded but she didn't look at me. She go ahead and lean to the bridge and rest her elbow on the railings. She's looking how calm and freezing the river is. I did the same thing and leaned to the bridge. I stood almost a few inches away from her.

"Ça va?"

"Je vais bien, et toi?"

I smiled. "Bon."

"So... what's this crazy thing Amauree wants us to do? For sure, masaya na naman kayong dalawa 'di ba? And I'm happy for both of you. I just don't know why you were so mad at me when I had no fault there. Do you want to explain?"

"Uh, yes. About that..." I took a deep breath and let it out. "First of all, I want to apologize for all the things I've done. I didn't mean to hurt you. To push you away like that. I know you don't deserve that kind of treatment so I'm deeply sorry for the way I acted and treated you. I shouldn't do that. It's just that..."

"You cared for Amauree..." she continued my sentence. "Don't worry, naiintindihan ko naman kung bakit. Hindi mo na naman kailangan pang ipaliwanag sa akin kung anong meron kayo ni Amauree. Akala ko nag siya ang makikipagkita sa akin para ipaliwanag but then you're here at siguro mas better na rin 'yon at makapagpaliwanagan tayong dalawa."

"FYI, Amauree and I weren't a couple. Where did you get that information?"

"Oh, I just saw your Christmas photos. You guys are happy... ready na to have your own family with her?"

I laughed when she said that. I shook my head. "No. Listen, Amauree and I are just friends. I reacted that way because she's pregnant and to be clear, I'm not the father. Someone from Beaujolais though I've never met him and she doesn't want to say a word about him. She's prone of sickness that's why I cared so much for her. She doesn't want to tell anyone about it but I'm telling it to you now, she's pregnant and we're not together."

"So... what about your outburst? Bakit ako ang sinisisi mo no'n?"

"I don't know what I'm thinking that time. I just want Amauree to be safe, that's all."

"So, instead of calming yourself down and impose that she'll be in good health, pinaduruan mo pa rin ako."

"I'm sorry... that was... Ugh," I grunted.

She sighed. "Cashel Jowsey Corprew. Kailan ka nga ba matututo? Kailan mo kayang malalaman na hindi lahat ng bagay ay nasa mundo mo lang? I know we're totally a different person but I notice how you acted and reacted to things... nakakabahala lang."

"It'll be my lesson, I promise."

"Sana nga hindi mo kainin 'yang sinasabi mo."

"I hope so too..."

"So anong plano mo ngayon? After the holidays? Babalik ba sa lahat ang kung anong mga ginagawa mo?"

I nodded. "Probably, yeah. I already have a lot of schedules in January so it'll be a busy new year for me."

"Good for you..."

"And what about you Cosette? What will you do after the holidays?"

"I guess, go back to school and teach my students? Iyon naman talaga ang ipinunta ko rito sa Paris. It's not to be famous or to have a relationship—siguro bonus na lang kung meron man but that also didn't end so well. I'll just continue what I'm doing. Teach my students and if I have time, I'll entertain these sponsors so I'll get an extra income. I only have a year in Paris and I won't be here for too long."

"I know... and I hope I can still change whatever happened between us right?"

She shrugged off. "Maybe... maybe not."

"So what will happen now, Cosette?"

She chuckled. "This isn't the end for me, Cash. What we have could be the end of our relationship but nothing can't stop me to move forward. Mahaba at marami pang mangyayari sa buhay, I won't settle for less."

I smiled but I felt a slash of guilt to those words. "Good for you. You deserve to be happy."

"It is funny how Paris called the city of love and people believed that it is with someone you will know you are in love. They could be right pero may isa ring punto na tama. Self-love ang isang magandang bagay na dapat pagtuunan ng isang tao. Love ourselves first before we love someone else. We could be in Paris but you can always love yourself kahit nasaang mundo ka pa. You don't need to be in the city of love... but good thing if someone can make you feel love but then everything will be worth it. Hindi naman natin kailangan maghabol ng panahon. Love always comes at the right time... not with a kiss from a French man."

My lips grew a small smile when she mentioned about it. It is the first time we met and it's how it all started. That kiss turned our world upside down and that also made us separate on our own ways.

"I guess that's also a lesson for you. Never kiss a French man you don't know."

She laughed. "Sinabi mo pa. Tatandaan ko talaga 'yan."

"Good..."

"So... if Amauree doesn't want anything to do with the father of her unborn child. What would she gonna do?"

I shrugged off. "I don't know... I don't have any idea what she's going to do next but if the child is born and it needs a father figure in his life, I would definitely step up. I guess, that's the only way I can help Amauree..."

"Right... like a husband," she muttered and smiled. "Do you have anything more to say, Cash? I have to meet Victor later. He's at his work but we're going out somewhere. I can't make him wait for me."

"Sure. I also won't keep you up... but I have a question?"

"Oui?" she raised her brow.

"Can we remain friends?" there was hope in my tone and hopefully she recognizes it. I let my hand out and pointed out my little finger.

She smiled and nodded. She hooked her pinky finger on mind and it made a little knot. A promise.

"See you soon, Cosette. Hope you have a happy life in Paris..."

"Merci. And I wish you all the best," she smiled. "Au revoir, Cash..."

I waved my hand. "Au revoir, Cosette."

When she finally turned her back to me and walked away, my shoulder dropped as if I'm letting a wonderful time to be with her. But then this crazy world won't let me be with her.

Cosette's an amazing girl. She's young and spontaneous. She could be every man could ever dreamed for. And she's something I would never get to be with. She deserves more. She deserves a life without me.

'Cause honestly, I love her but because of some situation, the best thing to do is to let go the greatest thing that ever happened to me. Cosette changed me and so she left a mark with me. But for now, I'll remember all of it.

I'll remember those things that before we let go of each other. It started with an unexpected french kiss in Paris.

END

end of world trip series 2

***

Bonjour! Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the story of Cosette and Cashel. I hope you'll support me with Seilaverne and "WT BOY3" story!

SEE YOU IN NIGHT LIFE IN TOKYO!

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