Chapter Eleven
Gaya ng inaasahan niya ay nagtrending nanaman ang pinost niyang picture nila ni Blake. Perks of being a celebrity.
"Ano yan?"
Napaangat siya ng tingin. Si Blake na may hawak ng dalawang mug ang bumungad sa kanya. "Just scrolling through my instagram account."
Naupo ito sa kanyang tabi habang inilalapag sa coffee table ang dala nito. Nasa veranda sila ng kanyang flat. It's almost six in the morning.
Nakisilip ito phone niya. "One million followers huh?"
Tinignan niya ito. "What?"
"Nothing." Iling nito.
Napasinghap siya ng biglang mapindot ang picture nila habang nasa kotse nito. She felt shy all of a sudden. Agad niyang tinakpan ang screen ng kanyang cellphone.
"Bakit mo tinakpan?"
"Kasi nakakahiya?"
He smirked. "So you're being shy now? That's new." He said amusedly.
Tinampal niya ang didib nito. "Wala na ba akong karapatang mahiya?"
"Well, hindi ka nahiya sa libu-libong taong nakakita at makakakita niyan pero sa akin nahihiya ka?"
"Manahimik ka. Nang-aasar ka lang eh." Mataray niyang saad. "Why are you even up so early?" She asked trying to change the topic.
"Now you're changing the topic?"
"Blake!" Banta niya.
He chuckled lightly. "Fine. I woke up and your not beside me that's why I decided to look for you."
She blushed. Naalala niya kasi ang posisyon nila kanina ng magising siya. Nakaunan siya sa dibdib nito habang nakayakap siya sa bewang nito samantalang si Blake ay mahigpit na nakayakap sa kanya. Their legs tangled under the sheets.
"Nagising kasi ako at hindi na ko makatulog kaya naisipan kong tumambay na lang dito. Eiffel tower is wonderful during dawn." Saad niya habang nakatitig sa tower. Hindi talaga nakakasawa ang tanawing ito. It's one place you'll never get tired of visiting.
Tumango ito.
Her phone dinged kaya nabaling doon ang pansin niya. Someone commented on their photo again.
They look good together! And seems like they're really dating because they're in Paris together!!!
Napangiti siya matapos basahin ang comment na iyon. She continued scrolling through the comments.
Here goes another playtoy for Ianna. And he even followed her in Paris huh.
I bet, they'll break up after a month or so.
They do not look good together! Me and that guy should be together!
"Papansin." Mahina niyang bulong. Sanay na siya sa mga rude comments. Hindi na bago iyan, mas malala pa nga iyong iba. Well, kung bitch ang mga ito mas bitch naman siya...
"Akin na nga yang phone na 'yan." Inagaw nito ang phone mula sa kanya at agad in-exit ang app na iyon.
"Hey, why did you do that?"
"Stop reading those comments. They won't do you any good." He scolded.
She chuckled. "Naaaliw pa nga ako sa mga rude comments eh! Believe me, I've read the worst, katiting pa nga lang iyan eh."
"And you're not even affected?" He raised his eyebrows.
"If I'm happy enough, why would I? Diba? Bahala silang mag-alburuto diyan. They can post rude comments for all they want. Basta ako, masaya. Sila, well bahala na rin sila sa mga buhay nila."
Napangisi ito. "You and your guts." Ginulo nito ang kanyang buhok.
"Ugh! Don't mess with my hair." Saway niya habang tinatampal ang braso nito. Naglanding tuloy ito sa balikat niya, ngayong ay nakaakbay na ito sa kanya.
Inabot niya iyong mug na dala nito kanina. Pero yung pagkakaakbay nito sa kanya, consistent parin. Napaangat tuloy siya ng kilay dito.
He just shrugged and played with her phone. Palibhasa kasi alam nito ang passcode. Pinabayaan na lang niya ito pero mayamaya ay nagring na ang kanyang phone. Tumatawag ang kanyang mommy.
"Answer it." Tamad niyang utos kay Blake tutal hawak naman nito ang phone.
"Yes tita?... yes we're here in her flat... okay po, we'll get ready... yes, see you po."
"What did she said?" Tanong niya matapos nitong ma-end ang tawag.
"Magbreakfast daw tayo ngayon kasama sila."
"Saan daw?"
"Sa hotel na tinutuluyan nila." Sagot nito.
Tumango siya pero tinatamad pa siyang tumayo. She is enjoying the view... and Blake's warm body of course.
"C'mon let's get ready." Aya nito.
Humilig siya sa dibdib nito. "Five minutes..." She mumbled through his chest.
Hindi na ito sumagot. Marahan nitong hinahaplos ang kanyang buhok. Bigla tuloy uli siyang inantok.
"Ianna..." Saad nito matapos ang ilang sandali.
"Five more minutes..." She mumbled eyes closed.
"Halika na. Binilin ng mommy mo na wag tayong malilate."
She groaned. "I'm sleepy."
"You can sleep again later."
"I wish I can but I have work to do." Nagsumiksik siya sa dibdib nito.
"And that is?"
"A runway show and an interview for a magazine..." Napaisip siya kung meron pa bang ibang naka-schedule na trabaho para sa kanya.
"Can I come? I can drive you to those place." He offered.
"Sure. Why not? That is if you're not that busy." Kunwari ay pakipot pa siya pero ang totoo ay oo agad siya! Kelan pa kasi siya natutong magpakipot?
Ngayon lang at kay Blake lang.
"It's my vacation so I don't really have anything to do other than accompany you to your work." Sagot naman nito kaya heto siya, ngising tagumpay sa kanyang isip.
"We are announcing you engagement in the Philippines."
Napaangat siya ng tingin sa kanyang mga magulang. Nasa hotel restaurant sila at kasalukuyang nagbibreakfast ng matiwasay nang biglang maisipang magsalita ng kanyang butihing ina.
"That soon?" She asked cautiously.
"You're all over the internet, the news that you're in Paris together is a hot topic in our country. So I think that it's the best way to announce about your engagement." Her mom explained.
Tumango-tango siya. Guess, this is real this time. Wala ng sabit sa plano ng kanilang mga magulang. Well, she don't really mind. Anything will do basta si Blake ang mapapangasawa niya at hindi kung sino lang.
"Okay." She shrugged. Not that she has a choice, right? At isa pa, pabor naman sa kanya ang mga mangyayari.
"Okay. I will call your friend, Erin Montejo of Montejo Network immediately." Saad ng mommy ni Blake.
Tumango-tango siya. Maghanda na siya sa parating na sermon ni Erin kapag nalaman nito ang balita.
Napatingin siya sa katabi. Tahimik lang itong kumakain at para bang walang pakialam sa nangyayari. Blake's always been like that since the very beginning. He doesn't show any interest when it comes to this so called wedding. At isa pa, kasalukuyan pa itong nagmomove on sa nasawi nitong pag-ibig kay Trish. She suddenly taste bitterness with those words.
Later that day, sumama nga si Blake sa lahat ng trabaho niya. Una nilang pinuntahan ay ang fetured interview niya sa Vogue Paris pagkatapos ay sunod nilang pinuntahan ang fashion show ng Chanel kung saan isa siya sa mga runway models.
"Ianna, rumors are all over the internet that you're going steady with your boyfriend. Is it true?" Saad ng isang foreign reporter habang nakatutok ang mic sa kanya.
Katatapos lang ng fasion show at gaya ng dati madami ang tao at punong-puno ang venue. Pagkatapos niyang magbihis ay lumabas na siya ng backstage para puntahan sana si Blake dahil baka naiinip na ito. She know this is not his thing so he might get bored easily. Kaso ay sandamakmak na reporters naman ang sumalubong sa kanya.
"Yes." She answered shortly.
"Did you make him follow you here in Paris?" Tanong naman ng isa.
"No. I did not deliberately forced him to follow me here. In fact, he surprised me because he showed up all so sudden. He didn't even inform me." She defended.
"How did you meet?"
"My parents are good friends and business partners, we ocationally meet during business related parties. Until we decided to date and end up being a couple." She lied. Siyempre hindi naman pwedeng sabihin ang totoo. Her parents will go ballistic.
Nakita niya si Blake mula sa likod ng mga reporters. Sa tangkad ba naman nito. She smiled at him and he slightly nodded. Napalingon tuloy ang mga reporters na nakapalibot sa kanya. They make a way for him. Siyempre mas benta kapag kasama niya si Blake sa interview.
Halos ayaw pang lumapit ni Blake pero wala na siyang nagawa dahil siksikan na at naitulak na ito palapit sa kanya. He automatically snaked his right arm around her waist while his other hand is on his pocket. He is wearing a business suit and damn! He looks ravishing!
At gaya ng inaasahan, mas dumami ang nakatutok na camera sa kanila. Flash were everywhere. Halos masilaw na siya pero good thing ay sanay na siya.
"Can we get out of here?" He whispered in her ear.
"Blake!" One of the reporters called his name. "Why did you follow Ianna all the way here in Paris?"
"I want to surprise her because she'll be here for nearly a month and that's quite long. So I fixed my schedule did some changes and followed her here. Some sort of alone time for us." He answered.
Hindi niya maiwasang mapatingin dito at mapangiti habang pinapanood itong magsalita. He speak so sexy.
"So are you really going steady now?"
Gusto na niyang irapan iyong reporter. Paulit-ulit naman kasi.
"Yeah." He answered shortly.
"Are you planning to take it to the next level?"
She stiffened. Soon ay iaannounce na ang tungkol sa engagement nila pero hindi niya parin maiwasang mag-alala. One thing she can not explain. Maybe this is not a normal wedding at all.
She felt him gaze at her before he look at the reporter. "I don't see anything but to come with that point, one of this days." Makahulugan nitong saad.
"How soon is that?"
Aba at abusado ang reporter na ito!
"Let's see. We'll cross the bridge when we get there." He answered curtly.
"If you'll excuse us. I have some important people to greet." Hindi na niya hinintay ang sagot ng mga reporter, agad na niyang hinigit palayo si Blake.
"Huh! Bwisit na mga yan, sinalang pa tayo sa hotseat!" She sighed when they're out of those nosy reporters view.
"You seem relax and comfortable talking to them though."
"Masasanay ka na lang talaga. Sa tagal ba naman ng pagiging model ko. But they can really be annoying sometimes kaya marami sa kanila natatarayan ko." Irap niya.
Nagpaalam lang siya sa mga big boss at umalis na rin sila sa venue ng fashion show.
"Finally, it's been a very long day." Buntong hininga niya ng makasakay sa kotse ni Blake.
"We can have a dinner at a nearby restaurant. Tutal gabi naman na."
Tinignan niya ito, nakatingin rin ito sa kanya at hindi pa sinisimulan ang pagdadrive.
"Nah. Let's just go home. How about a dinner in my flat? I'll cook." She suggested.
"You cook huh?" He asked amusedly.
"Yeah pero pasta lang." She shyly admitted. Oo nahihiya siya, baka kasi si Trish ay maalam talagang magluto. She looks like an ideal wife. Parang forte talaga nito ang pagiging isang housewife.
And I'm far away from being her. I will never be like Trish. We're far from each other.
She mentally sighed for that thought. Parang gusto niyang malungkot bigla pero pinilit niya paring ngumiti.
"Allright then." Pinaandar na nito ang sasakyan and drive home.
"What are you making?" Nakapangulambabang tanong ni Blake habang pinapanood siyang naghihiwa ng mushroom.
Nakaupo ito sa bar counter at pinapanood lang siya.
"Carbonara." Sagot niya habang chinicheck kung ayos na ang pagkakaboil ng pasta.
She fixed her hair into a bun, nakapangbahay na lang siya kaya kumportable na siyang gumalaw-galaw sa kusina.
Tahimik lang ito hanggang sa matapos na niya ang kanyang linuluto.
"Let's eat!" She said cheerfully when she's finally done. "Tara sa veranda. Mas maganda doon."
Ito na ang nagbuhat ng niluto niya habang siya ay dala-dala ang kanilang juice at baso pati na rin ang tinidor. He settled the food in the coffee table.
"Ay wait kukuha ako ng isa pang baso tsaka plate." Tatayo na sana siya pero pinigilan siya nito.
"No need. Let's just share."
"Owkay." She take a sit beside him.
Mabuti na lang at maganda ang weather ngayon sa Paris. Hindi masyadong malamig at hindi masyadong mainit. Patapos na ang Spring season at papasok na ang Summer dahil isang linggo na lang ay June na.
"So, how was it?" Kinakabahang tanong niya matapos ngumuya ni Blake.
Umacting pa itong nag-iisip.
"Blake!" Nang-aasar nanaman ito.
He chuckled. "It's delicious. You cook well with pasta." Kumento nito pagkatapos ay sinubuan siya kaya hindi siya agad nakapagsalita.
They were eating and chatting for quite some time when her phone rang. It's a call from Erin. She put it on speaker phone.
"Hoy babaita! Alam mo ba kung anong oras na dito sa Pilipinas?" Bungad nito.
She did some calculations in her mind. "Madaling araw na. About 4 am because it's 9 in the evening here. Teka nga bakit mo ba ako pinagkakalkula ng oras?"
Naglahad ng tinidor na may pasta si Blake kaya sinubo na muna niya iyon.
"Yes it's freaking 4 am and your mom personally called me about this certain announcement that you are engaged! And with Blake Arcega! My goodness Ianna! Akala ko ba tapos na iyan bakit ganito nanaman?" Mahabang litanya nito.
She can't blame her though. Alam nito kung gaano kasama si Blake sa kanya noong nasa Pilipinas sila.
"Erin it's a mutual decision."
"Don't give me that shit Ianna. Alam nating may girlfriend yang si Blake. You'll get married and then what? He'll come running back to his girlfriend all the time."
Napasulyap
siya sa katabi. Tila wala itong naririnig o pake sa usapan nila. "I'm not stupid Erin. Siyempre hindi ako papayag sa kasal kung may girlfriend pa siya. I don't want to look stupid, right? I'm way better than that."
"Then? What happened?"
"They broke up before he went here. And this time it's for real." She said softly. There's this guilt that she's feeling again.
"All right then. Siguraduhin mo lang Ianna." She said full of concern. "So by the way, about the announcement. Your mom want it announced first thing this day. So I need your statement, a text message will do."
"Sige magpapadala ako ng text message sa'yo after we talk."
"Oh and can I have a picture of your hand with your engagement ring on it?"
Natigilan siya. "There's no engagement ring Erin." She almost whispered but just enough for Erin and Blake to hear it.
"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry Ianna. This is not a normal set up pala. Sige, leave it to me. Ako na ang bahala. Don't stress yourself with that okay?"
"Yeah. No worries Erin. Ano ka ba."
"Okay, I'll go ahead. Sisimulan ko na ang editing sa news clip niyo. Send me the message immediately. Take care, okay?"
"I will, you too and say hi to the girls for me. Oh and by the way, Blake is right here beside me and guess what! You're on speaker phone!" She announced cheerfully. Trying to mask her sadness.
"What the hell Ianna! Tell me your kidding?"
"Well sad to say, I'm not." She chuckled. "Sige na, ibaba ko na to. Inaantok na rin ako. It's been a busy day and it's getting late here. Bye." She ended the call.
Now what Ianna? She said to herself.
"I'll go to bed. Inaantok na rin ako tsaka gagawa pa ako ng statement message para kay Erin." Baling niya kay Blake.
"But you've barely eaten."
She smiled tiredly. Honestly, she'd lost her appetite because of that so called engagement ring. Nakakadisappoint lang but then reality hits damn hard... this isn't real, like they really love each other this is just an arranged marriage.
"It's fine, I'm already full." Dinampot niya iyong baso at uminom ng kaunti. "If you're done just put the dishes in the sink. Ako na ang bahala bukas." Tumayo na siya at pilit na nginitian si Blake.
"Good night." With that she turned her back at him and walked away.
Stop hoping Ianna. At wag mong binibig deal yang singsing na yan. Get over it!
She scolded herself but truth be told... there's a tiny voice in her mind saying that...
Umasa ako eh, kasi sabi niya susubukan niya. Kaso masyado nanaman ata akong nag-expect ng malaki. Lagi na lang...