Chapter 27
"Merci! Bonne journee!" I left the boulangerie with a piece of croissant. I took a bite then Victor shares his baguette with me.
"Don't you like it plain?" he asked.
I shook my head. "No. I still like the Croissants Au Chocolat."
"Of course, with your dull personality, you need a little sweet to spice up your now—what you call it? Boring life."
I laughed at his remarks. Shakes my head a little and breathes in then let it out. It stuck with me for a second but I got back into my senses. I smiled, flushing all out the unwanted stuff in my head.
"I'm afraid it's not boring at all, Victor," depensa ko pa sa kanya. "I will never get bored in Paris. This is my dream country. Why would I waste my time sitting alone in the corner, pitying myself? But it's good to have something like this. Peaceful. Contentment. Privacy."
"I see what you're trying to do there, Cosette."
"What, Victor?"
"You're avoiding your past."
I smirked. "It's already been a month, Victor. We've moved past the issue. I'm done with it. I've resolved it in the public's eyes. They don't need Cosette Calafiore flashing on their TVs and blogsite. I hate how it all started. Really."
"Even though you hated it. You're still getting a lot of attention to every platform. You're making good money out of it."
I chuckled, nodding my head as I agreed with him. "Yes. Totally. I think that's the good thing that happened after the controversy. I reached a huge amount of followers. It helps me to speak my voice out. Share my own opinions even though some don't like it. I'm just being me..."
"Good thing, you remained to be this—"
"To be what?" I questioned.
"The unproblematic."
"Was I?" I creased my forehead. "I never thought I was. But thinking how it all went, maybe I did at some point. But do we care now? Time changed. People focus their attention on other things now. Since—"
I didn't get to continue my sentence when I have to speak his name. I barely speak his name. Once or twice for the past month. When I encounter a paparazzi and asked if I still have communication with Cashel. I just speak the truth. After the day he scolded me, and put it all on me, we never see an eye and eye together.
"Cashel you and I ended your fake relationship," pagpapatuloy nito.
"Funny how it all went," I sighed. "We should walk fast now. I can't be late for my morning class."
Victor and I headed down to the metro. Some quickly recognize me and take a photo with me. Victor being nice took those pictures for my so-called fans. So weird when people hated me, they all throw shades and hurtful remarks on me. Siguro nga nagbabago talaga ang takbo ng mundo.
I was at the lowest of my low. At ngayon ay unti-unti na namang umaangat ang pangalan ko. No fake relationship. I stood on my own feet to defend myself and fortunate of me, I'm on the good side now.
With more than 9 million followers, I think I did a great job there. Though some of them come from a month ago who criticized and bashed me.
After my scandal with Cashel and Chevalier, they are pairing me with some French single actors ages from 20 to 25. At sino naman ako para tumanggi sa mga ginagawa nila? But I don't take those seriously. Katuwaan lang.
When we finally got into the metro and travel on rails, I noticed some people are giving me looks and stares. Kalaunan ay hindi rin nakatiis ang isang tao na lumapit sa akin. She's curious. Questions are evidently can be seen on her face. I wonder what she's thinking right now?
"Can I take a picture with you?" she asked, her phone's already out and in her hand.
I glance at Victor and he nudges me off. Binalik ko ang tingin ko sa babae. I smiled and nodded at her.
"Voulez-vous me prendre la photo?"
Umiling iyong babae kay Victor. "I'm sorry. I don't speak French. I'm a tourist—from the Philippines."
"Oh, wow," I muttered when she said that. Pero nahiya ako bigla dahil baka pangit na image ang binigay sa akin ng media sa Pilipinas. I know they will be showing some footage of my career there. Pero kahit na isang buwan na ang nakalipas, I'm still bothered by the fact that it's etched in my name. Like a carve on an old Narra tree.
"Yes! I was really hoping to see you around. I'm a fan!" she exclaimed.
Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "You are?"
She nodded like a kid. "Yes! Since the moment you trended in every social media, I followed you since then. Nakakabilib ka. Isa ka lang extra o kaya naman alalay ng mga kontrabida sa mga serye o movie pero ngayon namamayagpag ang pangalan mo sa international media."
"Uh... would you still like to have a picture with Cosette?" Victor chided in.
"Of course!" she said, giving her phone to Victor. She sits next to me, extends her arms to hug me. Ang awkward naman ng ngiti ko dahil doon. Masyado siyang naging close sa akin bigla. And where's the private space with that? "Thank you much!"
Victor handed her phone back and when we thought she's going to leave us, she stayed next to my side. Victor sits next to me. Bantay sarado sa kung ano man ang mangyari.
"Uh... do you still need anything?" I asked, wondering off.
She shakes her head abruptly. "Nothing material pero gusto ko lang magtanong. Dahil magkababayan naman tayo, gusto ko lang din i-clarify ang naging relationship niyo ni Cashel. Alam mo ba na sobrang big deal sa Philippine media ang relationship niyong dalawa? Since mag-bloom ka online, they never stopped admiring you. And of course, Cashel too! Tapos no'ng lumabas na 'yong scandal, we were affected. Parang bagyong dinelubyo ang fandom. But we're happy to see you're thriving back again. And I'm so happy that I got to meet you personally!"
"Sure... thanks," I winced.
"So, ano nga?"
I creased my forehead. "Anong ano nga?"
"Kayo pa rin ba ni Cashel? Naka-secret relationship pa rin ba kayong dalawa?"
"I think I don't need to answer that anymore, I'm sorry. Napaliwanag ko na naman ang dapat kong sabihin on a press on the signing event. I can't give you any further details, I'm sorry."
Bumagsak ang balikat niya at nag-pout pa. Kailan ba kami lalayasan nito? Saang istasyon ba 'to bababa? Bakit feeling ko ang tagal kong marating ang destinasyon ko dahil sa kanya. She's freaking me out inside, kalmado pa lang ako ngayon.
"Okay lang... but I have a copy of your magazine! Naiwan ko lang sa apartment ko. I was never expecting naman kasi na makikita kita ngayon. I'm so happy! Ibang iba ka na ngayon. You really look pretty than before. Laki ng kinaganda mo. Saan ko ba makikita si Cashel? Gusto ko rin siya makita?"
Umiling ako. Bawal 'yon. Red flag ka girl. User ka rin pala. Masaya raw na nakita ako pero iba pala ang hanap. "No, I can't give any info. I'm really sorry. Please respect me and Cashel's privacy."
Napangisi naman siya sa akin. "Ang arte naman..." bulong nito at akala niya ay hindi ko siya narinig.
Nilingon ko si Victor sa tabi ko at nang huminto ang train sa isang istasyon, hinayaan ko na siyang gawin ang madalas niyang tactics sa mga ganitong klase ng tao.
"Excuse me, I think you're at your station now. Doors are closing now."
"Ha? Really?!" agad siyang napatayo sa kinauupuan niya at ginatungan pa ni Victor at pinagmmadali niya ito. Walang nagawa iyong babae kung hindi lumabas ng train at nang ma-realize niyang nasa maling istasyon siya ng binabaan, huli na nang maka-react siya dahil sumarado na ang pinto ng train at tumakbo papalayo.
Pinigilan naming humagalpak sa tawa ni Victor. May ilan pa rin kasing napapalingon sa amin kaya steady at poise pa rin kaming dalawa.
"When you thought she's really a fan of yours but looking for someone else," ngisi pa ni Victor.
I grunted, rolling my eyes. "Yes, super crazy. And how many times they wanted to explain things? I thought I had it all out on that signing event. Cashel and I were there, clearing our names to the public, and still, people are wanting to have a piece of gossip in it. Hindi na sila nagsasawa nakakaasar. But that day was so tense! Cashel and I never smiled, talked, and looked at each other. He's completely avoiding and I understand it. People just don't believe what they see and hear, they want to dig new holes in it for fresh items. They are so scandalous."
"That. I absolutely agreed," said Victor.
Nagkahiwalay naman kami ni Victor ng mauna siyang bumaba ng istasyon kaysa sa akin. Nang makarating ako sa istasyon ay nilakad ko na lamang ang daan papunta sa school. Good thing for me, no one follows me around.
My days forward to the afternoon. Isa rin sa ikinakasaya ko ay hindi na masyadong nagtatanong si Minetta sa akin tungkol kay Cashel. If she's going to talk about it, pinipigilan na niya agad ang sarili niya dahil sinabi na sa kanya ng harap-harapan na ayokong pag-usapan si Cashel sa kahit na anong bagay. At least, she respected my request.
When I met Adeline at my class, hindi naman nagbago ang pakikitungo namin sa isa't isa. I guess she doesn't mind about it or on the other hand ay nasabihan na siya ng kuya niya about sa aming dalawa. But Adie's fine to me. Nothing changed.
Though a few months ago, I gave Adie the LV purse her brother gave to me.
***
Victor and I were supposed to go to the Louvre after our work today pero dahil naging busy na naman siya sa kanyang work ay postponed ang ganap namin. Mag-isa naman akong bumalik sa apartment. After a month, may mga iilan-ilang umaaligid pa rin sa tabi ng building to spot me pero hindi ko na lang sila pinapansin.
As I walk upstairs, natigilan ako ng may nakatayo at nakaabang sa harap ng unit ko. I even tiptoed and keep myself in silence to wonder why there is a man standing behind the door?
The man stood above six feet but I couldn't have a guess who it is. Could this be Cashel?
"Salut! Que fais-tu là?" I greeted and he immediately turned to face me. Nagulat pa ako ng makita ko siya at muntik pa akong mapaatras at malaglag sa hagdanan. Kinuha ko naman ulit ang balanse ko at pinigilan ko siyang lumapit sa akin. "What are you doing here, Chevy?"
He smiled and brush his hair up. He's wearing a thick coat, red and black scarf around his neck. He looks cozy, classic on it. It's Winter. Even I couldn't bear the coldness.
"Salut, Cosy..."
"Please don't..." I said. "Don't call me with that name."
"I—I'm sorry. I didn't mean," he said, shifted his stares to the ground.
"What are you doing here?"
"We haven't talked for a month, Cosette. And I thought of seeing you so maybe we could finally settle it all down without avoiding each other in public."
"And are you going to spend your time explaining to me about what happened a month ago? Don't worry about it. It's over. You're too late to explain it. I might not know all that happened that night but I don't bother it anymore."
"If you don't want to hear it then let me just say that I'm sorry. I also didn't mean to make that happen. It was out of my hand. I wasn't the one who made you drink. It's yourself but I also had my fault there because I kissed you back. You blocked me on Instagram, Twitter, and even my number. I can't reach you out and this is the only way I can personally say that I was sorry and I am still."
"Just like what I said, it's over Chevy. I'll accept your apology and remain friends but we can't hang out together anymore. Thanks for coming by, I'd like to have my rest now. Please would you mind making a way for me?"
He moves to give me space so I can open the door of my room. Nakatayo pa rin siya sa tapat ng pintuan at hindi ko alam kung anong hinihintay niya sa akin.
"Do you still need anything?"
He shook his head. "Nothing... but would you please unblock me? If you don't mind."
"Sure, Chevy. I'll do that. Thank you for coming. You can leave now and I'm going to take some rest."
"See you soon?"
I shrugged off. "Maybe, Chevy."
Tuluyan ko na rin namang isinara ang pinto at nilapat ko ang tainga ko sa pinto para marinig ang pag-alis niya. I've heard deep sighs before he took off. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag at napasandal na lamang ako sa likod ng pinto.
I never expected to see him again. He's still the same Chevy, cocky and playful but he took this opportunity to apologize to me. I am happy that he did it but it took him a month just to feel sorry about it. Still, whatever happens, I can't make any mistakes anymore.
I spend my evening preparing for my dinner. It is just a stew I learned from Victor and I'm quite good at it. While eating, I did what Chevy ask me to do. I unblocked him and when he messaged me, nag-reply na lang ako ng happy face emoji. he has over 18 million followers. Sa isang post niya, nakita kong naka-like si Cashel do'n. I check his profile and he has over 13 million followers whilst mine following him at nine million.
Thirty minutes before midnight, hindi ako makatulog ng maayos. Its 4th of December tomorrow. Somewhat a special day for me. Nakakailang buntong-hininga na ako at tingin sa phone ko. And wistfully waiting for someone to message me. I have received multiple greetings from my family and friends from the Philippines even my fans from there. But there's only one person I had in mind.
Pinikit ko na ang mga mata ko, matutulog na lamang ako ng biglang may kumatok sa pinto. At ilang ulit pang mmay kumatok. Nagtaka naman ako dahil wala nang pupunta sa apartment ko at this hour. Nanahimik ako at pinakiramdam ang paligid. Nagulantang pa ang pagkatao ko ng bigla ulit itong kumatok.
Dahan-dahan naman akong tumayo sa kama. Trying not to make any creak sounds from the bed. Naglakad ako patungo sa pinto. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago ko binuksan ang pinto at hindi ako makapaniwala na siyang bumungad sa akin.
He smiled, and his breath comes along with the breeze. "Sorry to intrude but I just want to be the one who greets who first in Paris. Joyeux anniversaire, Cosette."
I exhaled. "Cash..."
***
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