Chapter 33

"I can't believe it, Cosette. You and Cashel are finally back together?" Minetta barged into my desk, holding today's newspaper, and of course, we're on the front page. After Toro found out our location is, Cashel and I prepared for what's coming next. Nilapag niya ang diyaryo sa desk ko. It is me and Cashel kissing like a thirsty mfs.

Napailing ang ulo ko sa sinabi niya. I know she was just shocked as I am. Hindi ko rin naman inasahan na agad na ibebenta ni Toro ang pictures na kinuhaan niya kahapon. But if this picture would resolve their curiosity by finding out if I and Cash are going back together, maybe that's the answer. I don't have to give any further explanation. Kissing is already enough and proof of their ungodly eyes.

"How is this true?" she questioned. She even frowned, as if believing is seeing a ghost—a lie. "I don't think this is true. I believe this was photoshopped. You know how they manipulate online stuff, right?"

I looked at her and not saying any words. Gusto kong matawa pero mas malakas ang loob kong 'wag na lang pansinin iyong tanong niya. But I know she wouldn't stop until she knows the truth. 

"Minetta, do you want to know the truth or not?"

She smiled, "I'd love to know the truth."

"Sure... so listen to me very carefully, okay?" I said. She pulled a seat and placed it right in front of my desk. "That picture was true."

She gasped. Her face seems full of terror and shocked."But—"

"Let me finish first," I said and she nodded. "We kissed, that was also true. But Cash and I were not together. We're getting there—mostly it was called by everyone as dating. We've resolved the issue and we're here moving forward. We only want the good stuff and we don't wanna dwell on negative vibes anymore. It's such a mood killer. But there you have it. It's not fake—we're not faking it. This is real. Not acting. Not for a show."

Minetta wants to shout and release all her excitement but because we're inside the faculty room, she contained by hugging me so tight that I feel I couldn't breathe anymore. But it's nice to know and see her reaction. People still might say bad things about it and we'll get passed through it. Kung nasolusyonan ko nga issue with Chevalier noon, whatever they may throw at us ay hindi ko na kailangan pang isipin.

Their opinions are valid but they can keep it to themselves if it meant hurting someone else.

"I'm so happy for you, Cosette! I really am," she said.

It was a heartfelt appreciation. "Thank you. I know we'll be coming a long way but we'll try to keep this relationship between us with a strong foundation of love and trust. You can count on me."

"Of course, dear! I will totally count on you! If I found that Cashel breaks your heart again, I'll come to him and break his motherfucking nose."

"That's harsh but let's not see that day, okay?"

She giggled and nodded. "Of course... but I also do have another question if you don't mind e asking about it?"

I raised a brow. Nagsimula naman akong ayusin ang gamit ko para maghanda papunta sa morning class ko. Minetta, if some days, always held me hostage with her round of morning gossips and rumors. Parang hinid makukumpleto ang araw niya ng hindi nakakapag-share ng chismis. It's like it was her morning coffee! It energizes and boosts her system!

"What about it?"

"Do you have any contact with Chevalier?"

Napakunot ang noo ko sa kanya. "What's the matter with him?"

She bit her lower lip and looked away. Hinawi niya pa ang tumakas na buhok at pinatong sa likod ng tainga niya. "Nothing. I just want to ask him out... you know? If I just could have a chance with him, I'll definitely take it. Would you mind giving his phone number or anything you have on him?"

"I'm not sure about that..." I sighed and scooped my phone out of my purse.  I scrolled down to phone contacts. Nahanap ko naman agad ang name ni Chevalier. We're not in communication anymore or seeing each other. It's what we agreed or more likely I told him to stay away from me. "But Minetta."

"Oui?" her eyes glistens with full of hope.

Tumayo naman ako sa kinauupuan ko. "I will give you his number but promise me one thing that you won't say my name if he asks you where'd you get his number, okay?"

She nodded like a kid. "Oui! Oui! Bien sur!"

"D'accord."

I take her phone and then I added Chevalier's number on her phone. Inabot ko rin naman sa kanya pabalik.

"Do what you want with it. Sell it, bid it for people, just don't say my name at him, okay? I'll count on you to this one so I'll trust you."

"You can trust me on this one, Cosette," she grinned. "I won't disappoint you."

"Surely you won't. So please, if you'd just let me go to my class now. They must be waiting for me now."

"Go on! I won't keep you up anymore!" she cheered. Para rin siyang sabik na bata na hindi ko na maintindihan ang excitement. If she hadn't got the chance with Cashel, free na free na siya to take Chevy out. Wala na naman ako pakialam kung anong gawin nila. As much as I want to be their so called tulay sa if ever magiging relationship nila, hindi na lang ako makikisawsaw but I still want the best for Minetta so whatever she wants to do with it, bahala na siya sa buhay niya.

I left the faculty and headed to the homeroom. Wala pa naman iyong mga students at isa-isa pa lang din silang dumarating. I waited until we're half full at sinimulan ko nang batiin ang buong klase.

This is another day to be grateful.

***

Nang tanungin ko ang mga students kung anong gagawin nila on Christmas Vacation, they are all anticipating the fall of snow at this time of Winter. Malamig na ang simoy ng hangin at makakapal na rin ang mga suot naming gamit. And as for the forecast said, in the next few days ay posibleng magsimula nang bumagsak ang niyebe and so classes will have their early vacation in these coming days as well.

"Thank you, class! See you tomorrow!"

Habang isa-isa akong nagpapaalam sa afternoon class ko, ang utak ko ay nasa ibang bagay na. Cashel and I planned to... just go around the city in a disguise. It's not that special. Baka kumain lang din kami sa isang restaurant. We'll try not to be in plain sight kahit halata pa rin kapag may disguise. But who are we to complain? People put us in the limelight so it's just a matter of respect and privacy.

"Ma seour!" tawag sa akin Adie nang dumaan sa harap papalabas ng homeroom.

"Yes, Adie?"

"Are you going out with Kuya later?" she asked and I nodded. "Please tell him to bring me some cookies and cream ice cream, okay? He keeps saying he will but when he comes home, he has nothing for me."

I chuckled. "I will, Adie. I'll tell to your pasaway na Kuya."

Her smile grew and her eyes shine na parang nangyari kanina kay Minetta. Hinatid ko na rin naman siya kung saan naghihintay sa kanya si Salve. She reminded me once again before they headed inside the car. Natawa naman ako sa kanya kaya hindi dapat mawala sa isipan ko 'yon kung hindi sa akin naman mapupunta ang tampo niya.

Bumalik naman ako sa faculty para kunin ang ilang gamit. Agad naman akong sinalubong ni Minetta. She's just coming out of nowhere. Naloloka ako.

"I have some news!" she excitedly announced. Nakuha niya pang hawakan ako sa magkabilang balikat saka inalog. Pinatigil ko rin naman siya dahil baka mahilo ako nang bongga sa ginagawa niya.

"Calm down, Minetta," I said, giving motion to my hands so she can keep her hands to herself. Nang bahagya siyang kumalma ay sabik niyang ipinaalam sa akin ang ibabalita niya. "Chevalier replied!"

I was a little surprised when she mentioned that. Napakabilis naman ata?

"And what did he say?"

"Nothing interesting but he's trying to get to know me... and maybe, after that, we could meet!" she hugs me when excitement took her body. Pinakalma ko muna siya bago ko siya kausapin ulit. "That's so exciting, right?!"

Napangiwi ako sa kanya. "Uh... yeah. It is but please be careful. Just because you know Chevalier as one of the hottest models or whatever you wanted to call him, you're not supposed to meet him this early. It could be something you know. So take it easy. Don't rush it and when the time comes, you will know."

"Oooh! I really love you, Cosette! You're such a huge blessing to me!"

I chuckled. Pinalo ko rin siya ng mahina sa off-shoulder niyang braso. "Oh, no. Please. Anyway, I have to leave."

"It looks like I already have an idea where you're going and who you will be meeting with," she said, squinting her eyes.

I nodded at her. "Yes. It's him. So, if you don't mind. I'm just going to grab my stuff and I'll leave."

"Sure! Allez!"

Hindi na rin naman ako nagtagal. Kinuha ko lang ang gamit ko at saka ako lumabas ng faculty patungo palabas ng building. Sakto namang pagkalabas ko ay pumarada ang sasakyan ni Cashel. Binaba niya ang bintana ng sasakyan. Dinungaw niya ako saka niya ako kinawayan. He opened the door. Hindi na siya lumabas pa at sinigurado kong walang taong nakabuntot sa paligid namin. When I made sure that there was no one—not a single paparazzi lurking around, pumasok na ako sa sasakyan at saka pinaharurot ng takbo ni Cashel. Though people would know that it is Cashel because basically, a lot knows what car he uses so we're expecting people coming at us.

I have no idea where will Cashel brings me. Though he said that the boat tour was postponed the day before Christmas. But I also remember that they are going back to Beaujolais to spend the vacation with their family. I wasn't still invited by Cashel. I am hoping yes but I should not. There's Victor who can join me do crazy stuff and jump into the Seine.

"I feel like we can't be out this time..." Cashel muttered as we tried to roam around and looked for parking spaces ay may nakaabang na kaagad sa amin.

"Do you think these disguises won't work?" tanong ko sa kanya. I have the blonde wig and beret on my hand. May shades pa para totally hindi talaga makilala but that made us more suspicious. 

"I don't think it will," he said. "We've been trending for like a whole day on Twitter. Jounalists are looking for us and wanting answers about it. Paparazzi are all over and once we get out, I believe it'll be a mess."

"So what do you plan?"

He glances at me. "Do you want to grab some food on drive-thru? That's the least we can do now."

Tumango naman ako. "Sure, wala namang problema. Ayoko rin namang pagpuyestahan ng mga tao. So push, wherever you want to go. Kasama mo lang naman ako. Isa lang ako backride."

He smirked. "I still want you to decide even though I drive it."

"I'm still not familiar around. Naliligaw pa rin ako and you know all the places where to go so ibibigay ko na sa 'yo ang time na 'to."

"You're so weird," he chuckled.

"I could be weirder... if we ended up together," halos pabulong ko na lang sinabi iyong huling litanya ko. Mukhang hindi rin naman niya narinig kaya hinayaan ko na lang. If he ever heard that one, wala namang masama. If we ever got the chance of getting into a real relationship, I wouldn't mind. He's not a typical kind of guy. He's more than that. He's more than just a model.

He drove to where a fast food place runs drive-thru. Hinayaan ko siyang mag-order ng para sa akin and so when we get our meals on the next window, inabot niya sa akin ang napakaraming pagkain. Napaanga na lamang ako dahil mukha bobondatin niya ako.

Cashel laughed at me while I'm looking at all these meals inside the bag. He went to look for a parking space na hindi gaanong crowded at nanatili kami sa loob para kainin ang biniling pagkain.

"'Wag kang tatawa-tawa diyan. Kapag nawala sa porma ang katawan ko, babaliin ko 'yang mga buto mo sa katawan," pagbabanta ko pa sa kanta.

But he's still laughing. Likes to play with me. "I want you to eat all of those."

"Ay may pag-demand? At paano naman kung hindi ko maubos?"

"Then take it home. Don't waste it. I bought it for you so it's special."

I laughed because I remembered something from what he said.

Kumunot ang noo ni Cashel. "And why are you laughing like a crazy witch."

"Gago. Maka-witch naman 'to. May naalala lang ako.

"Hopefully that's not Chevalier that makes you laughed like that."

Umikot ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. "No. He's not. Okay?"

"I was just making sure. So, what about it?"

"It's a long story but I'll make it short. Minetta asked for Chevy's number and so I gave it to her and told her that she can do whatever she wants to do with it. Before I left, she texted him and he replied then she mentioned out of nowhere that I was a blessing to her—that she's finally got to have a boyfriend or something like that."

"And what's the connection of it to what I said?" taka pa nitong tanong.

"You said this food came from someone special. And you're special, I guess, in some ways. You were a blessing in disguise for me, Cash. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here—not in the way that you brought me in Paris. Iyong agency ko ang nagdala sa akin no'n. But anyway, what I mean is what I'm getting here. I'm gaining millions of followers, sponsors, and a lot of offers and it's because of one thing, and that all happened when you kiss me. That's the magic. That's the special thing that brought us together. That's why you're special and a blessing to me."

From his confuse look, napalitan iyon ng ngiti at hindi maalis iyon sa labi niya.

"You thought of me that?"

I nodded. "Oui... because you are, Cash. Kahit na nagkaroon ng problema, hindi ko naman itatanggi na ikaw ang dahilan. And we gotta admit to ourselves that we used that image to be where we are now, right?"

Inilingan niya ako. "No. I don't used it. You're the only one who said that."

"Bwisit ka!" hinampas ko siya sa braso.

"So can I get a kiss for that?"

"Just because you're my blessing it doesn't mean I can give you a kiss anytime. Matutuong maghintay. Matutong magtiis."

He heaved out a sighed. "Whatever. I'm just gonna eat."

Nagsimula naman kaming kainin ang mga pagkain. He bought some big mac for both of us and then a dozen pieces of nuggets. A large cup of fries and softdrinks. Muntik pa akong mabilaukan ng isang kainin ni Cashel ang anim na pirasong nuggets. Dahil sa gulat ko at natawa siya at muntik na niya ring mabuga sa akin ang nasa bibig niya. Pinandilatan ko siya at pinilit niyang lunulin ang nasa bibig niya sabay inom ng softdirnk.

"Oh, that was crazy," he cackled and sipped on his drink.

Kinalabit ko siya at nilingon niya ako. "What are your plans for Christmas? Are we going to the boat tour? It's going to happen the day before Christmas, right?"

"Hmm..." he thought his answer for a quick second. He then wipes his lips with the back of his hand. "At that time, Me and Adeline are already in the Beaujolais and celebrate the holiday with them. But if you would still like to continue that boat tour, we can make that plan. What do you think so?"

I shrugged. "I don't know..."

"Did I already invite you to come with us for Christmas?"

"I thought you might never ask."

"Then that's the plan," he said. "We'll ditch the boat tour and do it next time. There's still a lot of time to do that. Because you won't be on the next Christmas, will you?"

Tumango ako. "Yup. Just right in mid-October, I'll be leaving the country."

"I can make you stay."

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. "And how you do plan to do that?"

"Marry me. I'll make you my wife and then you can stay here for as long as you want."

I chuckled. "That's too soon, don't you think? Marriage isn't what I had in mind but we never know what could happen. I still have a few months to go so don't bother yourself with that, okay? Let's enjoy this upcoming holiday and see what can we do."

"Yeah, that's right."

"So, Amauree... she'll be coming home to Beaujolais too?"

He nodded. "Yes. She asked if she can hop a ride to us. You know, it's expensive to spend a huge amount of money on a taxi all the way to Lyon. And just like what I said, you don't have to worry about her. She's not going to take me away from you. Amauree's just a friend. And nothing more than that, okay? And she's busy with her work here in Paris so I guess she doesn't have any time to get herself a boyfriend. You know what I mean."

Napatango na lang ako sa kanya. At least now I know where to stand.

We continued eating then Cashel staring checking his socials. He just wanted to check what's happening. Kung trending pa rin ba kami o hindi na. Nagugulat na laang ang mga pamilya at kaibigan ko sa Pinas kapag bumubungad ako sa mga newsfeed nila.

"Hey. Hey, Cosette. Look at the comment of this girl."

Seilaverne Mercondia: OMG. I never thought I would stan an online couple! I love you so much guys! Hopefully you guys will visit Tokyo next year and meet you there! #KinikiligAko

"She's funny, 'no?" Cashel chcukled.

I nodded pero mas na-curious pa ako sa pangalan nito. "I feel like I know her..."

"Really? Is she your friend? Or a celebrity in the Philippines?"

I shook my head. "No. I don't think so. Kilala ko naman lahat ng artists sa Pinas. Her name sounds rich to me. Oh well, baka katunog lang ng pangalan."

"Maybe she does," pagsang-ayon ni Cashel saka niya ako nilingon at napatitig sa labi ko.

"Really, Cash? Sa labi ko na naman nakatingin?"

He laughed. "No, you have some ketchup on the side of your lips. Teka, let me wipe that fo ryou."

Kumuha siya ng napkin at umusog papalapit sa akin. He could just extend his arm, ang dami pang pakeme nito. And I was waiting for him to wipe it away pero inilapit niya ang mukha niya sa akin. The next thing he did was lick the side of my lips with his tongue. Parang isang inch na lang ang pagitan namin at titig na titig pa ang mga mata namin. Mas naramdaman ko ang malalalim na kabog ng dibdib ko.

"Can I kiss you now?" he asked and I seem to like what he did so I nodded.

I closed my eyes and he just devoured me. It's like the first time. There's a lot of feelings and emotion with it. He really tasted like wine. Nakakaadik. Nakakaloko. At habang tumatagal ay mas along sumasarap. No one's watching so we took our time. Nakalimutan na namin ang pagkain namin dahil sa pagpapalitan ng mga halik ay busog na busog na ako. But then I had to push him away when I remembered something.

"What?" gulat at takang tanong ni Cashel.

"I almost forgot. Adie requested cookies and cream ice cream so buy her one when you're heading home, okay?"

He smirked and shook his head. "I got it. Don't worry... let's just continue on what we're doing..."

He pulled me back closer to him and at that point, I can always lose myself within his kisses. It's refreshing... and out of this world.

***

Last 2 chapters next!

#FrenchKissInParis33 #FKIP33

Interact with me on Twitter >>> @Imjacobxoxo