French Kiss in Paris

Chapter 20

"Tu viendras à l'appartement avec moi, s'il te plait?" she pleaded.

I pouted and brushed my finger on his hair. "I'm afraid I can't tonight, Adie. Your Kuya and I will be going to a photoshoot tonight. Siguro by tomorrow after our class? I'm just sorry that I won't be joining you tonight pero sure naman siguro bukas. What do you think?"

She let her arms go from embracing me. That's a sign of disappointment and sadness at hindi ko alam kung paano ko babawiin iyon.

Umupo naman ako para magkausap kami ng hindi niya kinakailangang tumingla. Mabuti na lamang ngayon ay nag-flats ako dahil nakakangalay ding tumayo ng almost half and an hour during discussion.

"What do you think, uwian ka ng Kuya mo ng isang tub ng ice cream?"

Nagliwanag agad ang mukha niya ng sabihin ko iyon. Mukhang alam ko na kung anong pang-budol kay Adie. Her smile grew so big at hindi rin naman masamang pagbigyan si Adie for some time.

"J'adore ça! Dis-lui que je voudrais une glace aux fraises!"

"Oooh! Fraises," I swooned. "Of course, I would tell him that. You should go now, your driver must be waiting for you outside."

She nodded so energetic at dali-dali rin siyang lumabas ng room. Napahugot ako ng malalim na hininga at hindi ako sure kung papayag ba si Cashel do'n pero pipilitin ko siya. Hindi rin naman 'yon nakakatiis kapag ako na ang nag-request.

And what I'm not expecting at, Minetta's standing on the door side, crossing her arms while raising her brow. I flaunted her with a smile at saka ko siya tinalikuran para kunin ang gamit ko sa table ko. But then when I turned my back to face the doorway, she's already blocking the way out.

"What are you doing, Minetta?" tamad kong tanong sa kanya. I have no interest in repeating the same conversation we have.

"I heard you talking to Cashel's little sister," she pointed out.

"It's as if I'm going to tell you what's more of it," ngisi ko pa.

"Then try me, I won't spill it out. I can keep my mouth shut. You can trust me, Cosette. So... you guys are going to have a photoshoot? What kind? Nude?"

I almost gagged when she listed. Napailing na lamang ako at pasimpleng lumagpas sa kanya.

"Maybe, next time, Minetta," I said and hurriedly walked out of the room.

Nag-sign out lamang ako sandali at tuluyan na akong lumabas ng bahay. Medyo kabado pa rin ako na baka maulit iyong nangyari no'ng nakaraan pero matapos namang ma-call out ang paparazzi na 'yon, I think he was fired. Magpapatuloy pa rin naman kami sa charges and it's an ongoing process. Binabalitaan na lamang nila ako.

Ilang saglit lang ay tumawag si Cashel para sabihin on the way na siya. Agad din naman niya iyong binaba. HIndi rin naman nagtagal ng ipinarada niya ang sasakyan sa tapat ko. He opens the car door from the inside and push it from me to hop inside. Pumasok naman ako sa sasakyan.

"Salut, Cash," bati ko sa kanya.

He timidly glances at me. "Salut."

"Oh, okay..."

"How's Adie?" he asked then started driving again. We're finally heading to where will be the studio is happening.

Hindi ko naman nakalimutan ang sinabi ko kay Adie. And she would probably hates me kapag kinalimutan ko 'yon.

"She's doing great. She's perfectly active in my class. And she wanted to go to your apartment later but because we have an appointment tonight, I can't go with her so I just told her you will be taking some glace à la fraise."