Orphic Love

Chapter 25

Chapter 25
Indifferent

I still had the time to check the store and answer some calls regarding the photoshoot tomorrow bago dumating si Ralph.

"Okay, thank you." I said before ending the call and walked towards the entrance.

Sa labas, agad akong nahanap ng mga mata ni Ralph pagkalabas niya ng kaniyang sasakyan. He was still on his office attire, dark grey suit and white button-down shirt underneath. His black tie was pulled down a bit, and the first two button of his shirt was left undone.

Huminto ako nang ilang hakbang na lamang ang layo sa entrance. Dire-diretso namang pumasok si Ralph. Another boyish smile painted his lips as he went closer to me.

"Sorry if I took long, medyo ma-traffic kasi," he said.

Ngumiti ako. "Hindi, ayos lang. May mga chineck din naman ako sa itaas,"

Tumango siya. "Shall we go, then?"

I nodded in agreement.

On his way, we already agreed to eat dinner together at a restaurant just a few blocks away from my store. Dahil pareho kaming may sasakyan, magkahiwalay kami nang papunta doon. I was leading the way, samantalang mabagal lang ang takbo niya sa likuran ng aking sasakyan.

"So, you have a photoshoot tomorrow?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'll be wearing sportswear so, I can't eat too much tonight,"

Tumango siya at sandaling bumagsak ang mga mata sa salad na in-order ko. Honestly, I don't plan on eating tonight dahil nga sa may photoshoot bukas ng umaga. Pero ang awkward para sa 'min dalawa kung siya lang ang kakain ngayon. Good thing my stomach does not bloat when I eat light food.

Ralph was nice to be with. He's very kind, well-spoken and knows how to keep the conversation going so there wasn't any awkward silence between us. We talked about his work at his uncle's company, and also my growing business and modeling career. Tuwing napupunta about sa issues at rumors tungkol sa akin ang usapan, he would smoothly change our topic or try to make our conversation lighter by joking that would make both of us laugh. Through out the whole dinner with him, he always makes sure I was comfortable.

Nang matapos kumain, nagpasiya na kaming umalis lalo na't may iilang paparazzi na na umaaligid sa restaurant kung nasaan kami.

Ralph felt bad because of it. I laughed a bit and assured him that it's fine. Wala naman talaga siyang kasalanan. Sadyang uhaw lang talaga ang mga sumusunod sa akin na makahanap nang maaaring gamitin upang masira ang pangalan ko sa publiko.

"Pasensiya na, dapat pala ay sa mas pribadong lugar ang pinili ko. If I only know that they're still following you at this hour," nguling paghingi ng tawad ni Ralph nang marating na namin ang parking lot.

Nasa loob na ako ng aking sasakyan, samantalang nakatayo naman si Ralph sa tabi nito. He was really bothered about the paparazzis kaya agad na niya akong pinapasok sa loob ng sasakyan.

I laughed a bit and shook my head. "Ayos lang, Ralph. Don't be too bothered about them. It doesn't matter to me, really,"

"But they might use our pictures to make rumors," concern was evident in his voice.

"What kind of rumors?"

"Huh?"

He stared at me for a few seconds looking all confused. Kumurap-kurap siya saka unti-unting nag-iwas ng tingin.

"That we're... dating," mahina niyang sinabi.

"So? We are dating,"

His eyes drifted back to my face. I raised a brow. Ngunit ramdam ko ang pag angat ng sulok ng aking labi. When he saw the smile on my lips, he smiled too and shook his head.