Chapter 11
I pulled the blanket up to my shoulder and covered my body. I have no idea how low is the temperature now. It is cold and every part of my body is shivering. I'm freezing but I need to sleep more. I keep my eyes closed and let my mind washed every thought away.
But then I was struck when someone planted a soft kiss on my cheek and heard his little mumbling, "Bonjour, mon amour."
It was his deep baritone voice that startled my whole body. It shakes my system. I squinted my eyes from the light but I finally had it wide open when I'm so sure that it was Cashel who whispered right into my ear. Agad akong lumipat ng posisyon ng pagkakahiga ko at hinarap ko si Cashel na nakadungaw sa akin. Napabalikwas ako at napalayo ng bahagya sa kanya. I even held the blanket tightly covering my chest. Parang ilang kilometer ang itinakbo ko sa sobrang bilis ng dagundung ng dibdib ko.
"C'est bizarre," he commented, crunching his nose. Mas inilalapit niya ang sarili niya sa akin. Nagsisimula na niya akong gapangin sa kama.
Mabilis akong napatingin sa ilalim ng blanket and there was a little relieved when I'm still wearing my clothes. Literally, biglang gumaan ang pakiramdam. I'm aware of what happened last night pero mabuti na 'yong naniniguradong hindi talaga umabot sa level ng bubuka ang bulaklak, chuchugug ang patola.
"Why am I still here?" I asked him, even I, questioning my presence in his room.
"We kissed, remember?" ngisi pa nito. "Though it didn't last long, but it was quite good than the first time we did, am I right?"
Kinuha ko ang unan sa gilid ko at nginodngud ko sa mukha niya. Nanggigil ako bigla, hindi ko alam kung bakit. Nang alisin ko ang unan sa mukha niya, tinawanan niya lang ako.
"You're blushing, Setty," he giggled.
Nanliit ang mata ko sa pangalang binanggit niya sa akin. "What did you call me?"
"Setty," he repeated. "I think that would be nice to call you like that, right? Did anyone else has called you like that before or not? Or am I the first time? I wanna make it more special by calling you like I own you by creating a nickname for you. You already called me Cash so I guess, I'll call you Setty from now on."
I rolled my eyes, shaking my head. Hindi ko bet. "I don't like to be called Setty. It sounds slutty, you know?"
He cackled. "Well, you're the one who thought about that. Not me," he said and pointed the tip of his finger on my nose. I scrunched my nose when he did that. "Do you want me to kiss you on your nose?"
"No," walang pang isang segundo kong sagot. "I don't want to kiss you again and what happened last, sa atin lang 'yon at sana hindi na makalabas pa."
"Tell me," sumeryoso ang mukha niya sabay halukipkip niya. Binatuhan niya ako ng mapanuring mga tingin. I don't like it. Ano pa bang ginagawa ko rito sa kama niya at feel na feel ko pa? "Did you like our kiss last night? Tell me honestly, you will be spared to some kind of punishment if you say you do."
"Nye, nye, punishment mo mukha mo! I didn't like it, okay?" pagtaas ko ng kilay sa kanya. He should know na kahit masarap maglaro ang mga dila at malalambot niyang labi, I shouldn't be telling it to him right away. Ano na lang ititira ko sa sarili ko? I'll let him sweat with him.
"What? Are you for real?" he wondered, biglang kumunot ang buo niyang mukha dahil sa sobrang pagtataka. Binalak niya pang lumapit sa akin pero inambahan ko na siya ng kamay ko para hindi niya ituloy. He stayed on his position and I think, I just did the right thing there. Masyadong maharot ang lalaking 'to. I should be mindful of what Victor said.
French men are horny. Cashel might be too! Oh gosh!
"Oo kaya," paninindigan ko pa sa kanya. I have to carry what I said para ma-realize niyang hindi niya good kisser which is the opposite. Para siyang janitor fish, higop kung higop. Lasap kung lasap. Other than that kahit pangit pakinggan, he makes my mouth so attended.
And I shouldn't be thinking about this time. Kay aga-aga. Ang dumi na agad ng isip ko!
"Masyado kang makalat humalik. Napupuno ng laway mo ang bibig mo. Ang tulis pa ng dila mo. Para akong nakikipag-espadahan, like really? Is that how you kiss? Alam mo mas magaling pa sa 'yo 'yong mga nakahalikan kong actors sa Pinas. Naturingan kang French pero hindi ka marunong humalik. Try to kiss a fish so you'll know how I feel."
Did I do it right? Or masyado namang harsh? Bahala na. Lumabas na sa bunganga ko. Hindi ko na babawiin. And I don't care if I hurt his ego or not. Minsan kailangan lang talaga ng kaunting paninira para tumino siya.
"Wow," he muttered, namilog pa ang kanyang bibig. "That was a little bit harsh. You don't mean that, do you? You're just being mean to me because you really like it? How come I can't kiss? Every lady wanted to taste these lips and I'm giving it to you for free. How is that, Cosette?"
"'Yan, good! Call me Cosette, not Setty or anything else. Baduy mo."
"You're not answering my question, Cosette," aniya at pumeywang na siya sa harap ko. Nanatili namang tikom ang bibig ko. Ayokong palakihin ang ulo niya. Baka ibang ulo ang lumaki e. "By the way, it's already seven, are you going to work?"
Pagkasabing-pagkasabi niya no'n ay mabilis akong bumalikwas mula sa kama. Nataranta ako bigla. Bakit bigla kong nakalimutang may trabaho nga pala ako? Nabudol-budol ako ni Cashle. Ang lakas ng kamandag ng laway nito!
Pinagkukuha ko naman ang mga gamit ko. Ang handbag at mga damit ko. I hastily told him to drive me back to my apartment pero tinititigan niya lang ako.
Sinimangutan ko siya dahil hindi siya gumagalaw sa kinatatayuan niya.
"Hoy! Ano ba? Ihatid mo na ako. Bakit ngayon mo lang din ako ginising? You know I really have strict schedule. Kainis naman 'to."
"I'm not going to drive you home, not even my drivers," sagot nito sa akin.
"Fine! May metro pa naman, uuwi ako! Gigil mo ako. May pahalik-halik ka pang nalalaman kanina. Hindi mo na lang sinabi sa akin kung anong oras na."
He chuckled. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to and it is still early though."
"I don't care kung maaga pa or not. Sabi ko na kasi sa 'yo kagabi ihatid mo ako e. Ang kulit kulit mo kasi!"
Muli naman niya akong tinawagan. Akala nito natatawa ako sa kanya. Nag-aalala na nga ako sa sitwasyon ko dahil baka ma-late pa ako sa pagpasok ko at ayokong mangyari 'yon. I've been here for two weeks kaya ayokong malagdaan kaya ng bad records ang profile ko.
"Aalis na ako," paalam ko saka ako tumalikod pero hinarap ko rin siya para paalalahanan muli. "And don't follow me. When you need something, call me. Don't go into my apartment anymore."
Papalabas na sana ako ng kwarto ng tawagin niya muli ang atensyon. Hawak hawak ko na ang handle and he always the time to keep me off my schedule.
"I have an idea," he stated.
My eyes darted on him, like I don't even need his suggestions and ideas anymore.
"What is it, Cash?"
"Well, you don't have to go back to your apartment anymore," he started, but I feel like I'm not interested to listen to him. "You already have some clothes here. The one that comes from the fan?"
"And so?"
"I guess, it'll take you time if you wear those dresses they gave to you. You can take a bath in my shower, I don't really mind. Take your time and I'll drive you to school. Adie's be going to school in the afternoon so she won't know."
"Seryoso ka ba?" tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.
He nodded slowly to confirm it to him. "Yup. Go on, take a bath now while Adie's still asleep."
"Yeah, because it is weird that her English teacher is sleeping with her kuya. Napakaharot naman kasi ng kuya niya."
He cackled. "Well, that's true, I'll give you that one."
"Maliligo na ako. 'Wag mo akong sisilipan ah?" I warned him, even pointing a finger at him para balaan siya.
He bobs his head. "Of course. You can take a clean towel from the drawer there. I'm sorry I don't have any robe but if you'd like to stay here with me from now on, I'll buy the things you needed."
"Mais non," sagot ko sa kanya. "I'll be back taking a bath now and would you please prepare the dresses and shoes for me so it'll be easy for me to pick one?"
"Bien sûr, Mademoiselle," he smiles at me. "I will."
"Merci," I muttered and then opened the door out of his room.
Pero bigla akong napahinto ng makita ko kung sino ang sumalubong sa akin pagkalabas ko. It wasn't Salve. It wasn't anyone else but Adie. My jaw dropped. Kulang na lang pasukin ng bangaw ang loob ng bibig ko.
"A-Adie," I stuttered.
She just woke up. She's rubbing her eyes while hugging a bunny bear on her left arm. Saglit lang din naman ng sumilip si Cashel at nakita niyang nakatayo sa harapan namin ang nakababata niyang kapatid.
"Bonjour, l'Adie!" masigasig pang pagbati ni Cashel sa kanya.
"Kuya?" she wondered. "Avait-elle dormir ici?"
Nilingon ko si Cashel dahil inaabangan ko ang sagot niya. "Ah, kinda."
"Okay..." she responded wearily. "I'm still sleepy..."
"And why are you up?"
"I took a pee," she answered.
"Okay, get back to your room now. Allez, dors encore."
I was stunned for a moment until she went back to her room. Gulat na gulat ako. Hindi ko alam pero humalo ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Nilingon ko rin si Cashel na puno ng kaba ang mukha ko.
"See? You shouldn't worry about her."
I grunted heavily and turned my back on him. Dahil hindi ko rin naman alam kung nasaan ang bathroom niya, naligaw pa ako.
"Nope, yup. That's right, the bathroom is in the right corner. Enjoy! Or do you want me to go with you?"
I gave him a sharp look before I went inside the bathroom. He laughed at it and I locked the door as I walked in.
Just like what he instructed, kumuha ako ng tuwalya sa drawer at mabilis din naman akong naligo. I also got frustrated when there's no shampoo for me. It is a men shampoo and then, on the other hand, there's a kiddie strawberry shampoo and I think it's Adie's. I have no choice but to use it. Good thing the body wash can be used by men and women so it's fine.
It only took me fifteen minutes at dali dali rin naman akong bumalik sa kwarto. I walked into Cashel preparing the dresses and shoes for me.
"I'll let you have the room for yourself," he said and made his way to the door. Bago pa siya tuluyang makalabas ay napansin kong sininghot niya ang amoy ko. "Oooh, you smelled like Adie. I should've gotten you some shampoos and conditioners. My bad."
"Okay, enough na. Magbibihis na ako."
Tinulak ko siya palabas ng kwarto at ini-scan ko ang paligid kung meron bang CCTV o kahit anong camera na nakapaligid sa kwarto niya. When I feel like I was safe here, tinuon ko na ang atensyon ko sa mga dresses na maayos nakalahad sa kama. Nakita ko na naman 'to kagabi kaya hindi na ako mahihirapang pumili. I picked the maroon sundress and the maroon flat shoes so it'll be paired up with my top.
Cashel doesn't have a hairdryer, no straightener, and I haven't got my make-ups here but only the press powder and nude shade lipstick. When I barely have any options, hindi na ako magiging choosy pa. Good thing, Cashel has some fans who think of me too.
Effective nga kaya ang plano naming dalawa? And if it does really made people blind, siguro nga we have to go further on our plan. It is not lying if it benefited us in a good way. Hindi 'ko alam. Nakikisakay lang naman ako sa plano ni Cashel and our so-called-relationship can be an instrument para maging clickable na ang pangalan ko sa Wikipedia.
I wore my clothes quickly as I could. Binuksan ko na rin naman ang pinto at dali dali rin namang pumasok sa loob si Cashel at sumampa sa kanyang kama. Pinanood niya akong maglagay ng powder at lipstick.
"Why are you watching me?" I quizzed him.
"Rien," he answered smiling. "You don't need to wear makeup though. You already look pretty... for me."
"Yeah, for you. Paano naman sa iba, duh?"
"Do you need people's approval?" he asked and I didn't answer. "I'm sure you don't need to. You're wonderful as you are. Do you want to see me now in the underwear from my fan?"
"No!" matigas kong tugon sa kanya. "I don't want to see you in your underwear. Nakakaloka ka! Hindi mo naman kailangan sa akin ipamukha 'yang katawan mo at junior mo. We're in just a fake relationship, hindi natin kailangan pang pumunta sa point na 'yon."
"Maybe... maybe not." Kibit balikat pa nito. "Anyway, are you done? I can drive you now."
"Yes, please."
"Alright! Wait for me," aniya at tumayo sa kama at nagsuot lamang ng pants at sabay na kaming lumabas ng kwarto niya.
Nakasalubong din namin si Salve kaya nagpaalam na rin kami sa kanya. Nahihiya ako dahil sa iniisip niya ngayon. She might have been thinking na nagharlem shake kaming dalawa ni Cashel all night and that thought humiliates me. Wala namang nangyari sa amin other than we shared kisses and tongues... at palitan ng laway. Good thing, he tastes so good like an old fashion wine.
"What if people thought that we're already having sex?" mahinang tanong ko kay Cashel nang makabas kami ng elevator at patungo na sa sasakyan niya.
Tinatawa lamang niya ako. "And so we care? Every couple does sex, right?"
"But we're not a couple," pagtatama ko sa kanya. "We're only on an agreement. We kiss and that's enough. That's the only thing we can do. Ayokong ipasok mo ang pipino mo sa akin. That's way out of our agreement."
"Pipino?" he queried.
Umiling ako. "Nevermind and please don't look it up on google."
"Oh, I will," he chuckles. "And if we can fake it, we can still make it real, 'no?"
Hindi ako sumagot at pumasok na lang sa loob ng sasakyan niya. Sumunod naman siya sa pagpasok sa loob ng sasakyan at mabilis niya iyong pinaandar. Because his place is near the school, mabilis-bilis din akong nakarating not from the usual travel I had from the eleventh.
Before I step out of his car, she stops.
"I'm going to the postal office and make a PO box just for you," he said. "Can we also have dinner tonight?"
"With Adie?"
He shakes his head. "No. Just both of us."
"And what about Adie?"
"Salve can cook something for her and we'll just bring her some sweets when we came back home. What do you think so?"
I shrugged off my shoulder. "Hindi 'ko alam. I told Victor that we'll have a date tonight. I postponed it last night because you took me to your home. I'll let you know when I got to talk with him. He might be mad at me now."
"Sure, let me know," he said and then he leaned closer to kiss me on my cheek. Natigilin pa ako ng sandali. Sanay naman ako makipag beso. Gawain din 'yan sa showbiz industry pero kapag si Cashel ang gumagawa no'n sa akin, I felt intimidated and there's just this feeling na hindi ko mapaliwanag.
Napatitig din ako sa kanyang labi and when he noticed it, hinalikan niya ako sa labi and we're like that for a few seconds and parted our lips away when we sucked out of breath.
"See? You liked it," ngisi pa nito.
Bahagya rin akong napangiti. "Well, I thought I can resist it."
"Anyway, you smell so good in my little sister's shampoo, should I buy you hundreds and get them to sponsor you?"
I chuckled. "Baliw! I'll go now, Cash. Tawagan na lang kita mamaya if Victor won't be coming with me tonight."
"I'll be waiting," he winked at me.
Lumabas na rin naman ako ng sasakyan niya. Muli naman niya akong tinawag ng ibaba niya ang bintana ng sasakyan niya.
"Hey, next week there will be a holiday. Adie and I will be going to Beaujolais and I would like for you to come with us."
"Is that an invitation Mister Corprew?"
He chuckled. "Of course, would you?"
I nodded. "Sure, that must be nice."
"Okay. See you tonight or tomorrow," he blew me a kiss, winked, and then put the window up. Pinanood ko rin naman siyang umalis palayo saka ako pumasok ng building.
I headed to the faculty which I met some of the teachers. Saglit lang din ng makita ko si Minetta at imbes na ako ang mapansin niya at batiin ay tumapon ang atensyon niya sa dress na suot ko.
"Oh my gosh, fille! Are you wearing a Chanel burgundy mock-neck dress?"
"Huh?" I was confused. "No. I don't think so. And this is a maroon sundress."
She laughed at me. "You don't know what you're wearing girl, huh? See this." Agad naman niyang kinuha ang phone at may pinakita siya sa aking sinearch niya at lumabas doon ang same dress na duot ko ngayon. "See? How come you didn't know you're wearing a high-end brand? Did you sole this?"
Agad akong umiling at itinanggi ang pag-aakusa niya. "No. I did not, Minetta. It was gift for me. Why did you think I stole it?"
"Well, just suspicions. That cost almost seven hundred euros so that's just not a maroon dress you thought it was. Girl, if you need some advice, I can help you with your fashion. You looked so dead sometimes when you dress."
I mean, she said was an insult but I didn't react so I just smiled.
"How good of you, Minetta. Sure, I'll put that in mind, merci."
"Pas de problème."
Napailing na lamang akong umupo sa silya ko at inayos ang gamit ko. I only have two classes. One in the morning and one in the afternoon kaya parang whole day na rin akong nasa school but it's okay, mas maganda pa rin namang gumala sa Paris kapag gabi.
When I take my phone out and try to search for the dress I am wearing. Nagtataka rin ako kung bakit may fans si Cashel na magbibigay ng ganitong brand sa akin. If I'm going to convert it on my own money, it'll cost me almost forty-five thousand pesos just for the dress. Paano na lang kaya 'yong iba pang dresses na naiwan sa apartment ni Cashel? gano'n ba kagalante ang mga fans niya at kayang magbigay sa akin ng mamahalin damit?
They don't even know me!
Mayamaya lang din ay nakatanggap ako ng message kay Cashel so I look it up and when I did, nagsend lang naman siya ng naka-brief and it was a mirror shot. Ang kukulit pa ng poses niya. He only wears his brief at wala ng iba. Mabuhok pala talaga ng dibdib niya. Mahulma rin naman ang pecs niya at abs. Hindi gaanong malaman pero pwede ng sambitinan ang mga muscles niya. he stood over six feet kaya nakakalula kapag nakikipagtitigan ako sa mata niya. He also has an animated Eiffel Tower tattoo on his left butt cheek--it has eyes and it's smiling! Saan naman kaya nakakuha ng lakas ng loob ang taong 'to?
But then what shook me and my soul when I scrolled down to the last photo and it was a nude photo. I immediately close the app and stare blankly at the wall. Pucha. Nakakita ata ako ng trunk ng elepante. And I'm not expecting it. He's hung... cut and very clean. And why am I even describing it? Did Cashel mistakenly sends it o sinasadya niya talaga?
Oh gosh. Magkakasala ako nito. Parang gusto ko kumain ng pipino ngayon.
I'm hallucinating. I shouldn't be thinking of it. Pesteng Cashel 'yan. Pinapasabik ako! But nope. Only a baguette I would eat... not his. And I have children to teach so I must cleanse my brain now. I feel like I'm not a good influence at all. Cashel did this to me. Binudol na naman niya ako!
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