Torn in Two (Elite Girls 2)

Chapter 1 - Paris

It's a little bit crowded but it's fine. I am nothing but astonished with the French culture.

I roamed quietly on the ground floor, taking pictures of some of the Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities. Of course, pini-picture-an ko ang mga favorites ko.

I was happy to see the armless Aphrodite. I've always wanted to look at this Greek sculpture up close. Then I went to the Denon Wing and asked a gentleman to take a picture of me with the famous, Mona Lisa.

Napapangiti ako habang naglalakad. Ini-imagine ko kasi ang sarili ko na isang princess habang tumitingin sa paligid.

"Oh," I stopped to stare at one of the huge paintings in the hallway. It caught my eye because it was something else.

"Aimes-tu la tableau?"

Napatingin ako sa gilid ko nang bigla na lang may magsalita doon. I didn't even notice him earlier but he's there, standing just a few feet away from me. He had his hands behind him while his dark brown eyes were glued to where I was looking earlier.

Tiningnan ko ang paligid. Wala namang ibang malapit sa kanya kung 'di ako lang. There are a lot of people here but we're the only ones standing in front of this painting.

He's talking to me.

I took the liberty to look at the side of his face. Matangos ang ilong, may kaunting balbas... Moreno. He's handsome.

Bigla siyang tumingin sa akin kaya nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"I'm sorry but I don't speak French," I said.

"Sh*t!" I heard him whisper. "I thought you're from here, my bad," natatawang sambit niya.

"No worries," I politely answered. "I'm curious, what was it you were saying? Aimes tu?"

Nahihiya siyang nagkamot ng ulo. "Aimes-tu la tableau? It means, do you like the painting?"

"Ahh." I examined the painting again before speaking. "I don't know. I don't understand any of it."

If I'm not mistaken, numerous people were standing on a piece of wood, in the middle of the ocean.

"Bakit sila nakatayo sa kahoy?"

He laughed. "It used to be ship." WHAT?

"Huh? It's only a raft, as you can see," naiintrigang sabi ko.

"There's a story behind it."

I glanced at him and he looked back. "Can you tell me?"

Lumapit na siya at tumabi sa akin. "I don't know everything about it but I've read that centuries before, the naval vessel was set sail by an inexperienced captain. It got stuck somewhere---I forgot the exact place---but to make the story short, they needed to evacuate all passengers. The problem is, the ship only has less than ten small lifeboats that can hold at least, around half of the total number of passengers."

My mouth partially opened in shock. "So most of them died?"

"Yeah. Some stayed on the raft for weeks, resulting in them killing and eating each other—"

"Eating each other? Grabe naman 'yon!"

His eyes widened. "Wait, pinoy ka?"

"Ikaw din?" amazed na tanong ko. He looks kind of Mexican or Latino to me.

He chuckled. "Yeah. Nagulat ako bigla kang nag-tagalog."

I laughed. "What a small world."

Ngumiti lang siya habang nakatitig sa akin kaya namula ang mga pisngi. I'm not really used to guys staring at me like that.

Ibinalik ko ang mga mata ko sa painting. He did the same. "It's horrible."

"Oo nga, ang brutal." Bigla akong nalungkot habang pinagmamasdan 'yon. "What a tragic story."

"Indeed, it is."

Who would have guessed that a painting this beautiful had such a terrible backstory?

"Do you like tragic stories?" He asked a few moments later.

"No. I'm not a fan of it."

"I am."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Why?"

"It's close to reality. Happy endings are only for lucky people."

I frowned but didn't argue. Magkaiba kami ng pananaw sa buhay. I, on the other hand, hate sad endings. Mas gusto ko masaya.

Tiningnan ko na lang ulit ang painting at pinicture-an ko pa 'yon. I think I'll remember this one more than the others. Nalaman ko kasi ang story nito.

Ang tagal kong tinitigan pa uli 'yon hanggang sa naalala kong may katabi nga pala ako. I glanced at the guy beside me but surprisingly, he's already looking back at me.

"You seem familiar," He mumbled. I hope he doesn't recognize that I'm one of the Elites. I don't want anyone to know that I'm here. Ayoko muna. Gusto ko magpo-post na lang ako kapag nakauwi na 'ko.

"I'm an influencer," I lied.

"Ah. Internet celebrity. I must have seen your picture online." He smiled. "By the way, I'm Da---vid. David." He handed out his hand. "And you are?"

He can't know who I am. The reason why I'm here is because I want to live a normal life, even just for a short time. I miss going to public places without anyone asking for pictures.

Baka magbago ang pakitungo niya sa'kin kapag nalaman niyang may mga katulong akong kasama ngayon at isa ako sa mga kilalang tao sa Pilipinas.

Besides, I do not know him. He might be friendly, but he's still a stranger.

"Call me, Irene. It's nice meeting you." 

White lies won't hurt, right?

*End of Chapter 1*

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Sino kaya si David bwahahahha

This chap is dedicated to @Heylab kasi siya yung nakahuli ng magiging title ng new book from the game that I posted on my facebook acc hehe