Chapter 8: CHAPTER EIGHT - Date
E L I S H A / F R A N C E
"Is this really a date? You mean it right?" I asked him right away when I was done fixing myself. I was wearing a white tube dress above my knee partnered with silver heels and I let my wavy hair down.
He laughed and I can't help but to stare at him. He looks so handsome to my eyes. When he started to looked at me, I avoided my eyes right away.
"Of course Eli, you deserve it. Let's go?" He asked and I nodded.
He held my hand while I was staring at his back. I can feel my heart was beating so fast, so loud that I'm afraid that he will heard it.
I should act more casual. I shouldn't let my emotions control over me. I shouldn't forget that he likes someone and that will keep myself from being reminded that I need to put our limits. I don't want to be a second option to a person.
I focused on the present and he fixed his chair for me and let me sit first. I looked at the glass window and I can clearly see the city lights from here. I can't help but to smile.
"You looks so happy," I turned to look at him and nodded.
"This is my first time to have a date without camera's." And now I'm so overwhelmed.
The waiter came and poured are glass. I knew that the wine is so expensive when I saw it. France decided what we eat, and there's no problem with that. I can eat anything he will order, as long as I'm with him.
We chatted an hour while eating steak, pasta and the dessert. I knew my consequences after eating a lot and I need to go to the gym after this. I still have a shoot for more episodes and I still have an another project with Saji.
"How come you can work being a model and an actress?"
"That's my dream, and I keep managing my time to maintain those two. I also have a Perfume Scents and that's the first reason why I entered modeling after they saw my first picture."
After the chatting, we both looked at the city lights. I have nothing ask for more but to thank him a lot.
F R A N C E
Hindi ko na alam kung anong ginagawa ko pero ito na din siguro yung kabayaran nang pagkawala ko ng hindi man lang nagpapa alam sa kanya. Siguro nag gu-guilty din ako. Ni hindi ko nga sya kilala gaano, alam ko yon pero hindi rin iyon ang dahilan para tratuhin ko sya ng hindi tama.
Wala naman akong masabi kay Eli bukod sa maganda sya. Nakikita ko din ang pag intindi nya tuwing minsan may nasasabi ako na hindi maganda o minsan parang walang rason.
Siguro, hindi na din masama kung kumilala ng iba. Hindi naman ako kinukutuban ng masama sa kanya. Mukha lang talagang intimidating tignan. Napapansin ko din na popular sya sa mga tao lalo na sa lalaki. Kaya dito ko sya dinala sa private hotel resort para makapag pahinga man lang sya saglit sa trabaho nya nang walang humahabol na camera.
"Will you plan to leave after the project here in the Philippines?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang pinaglalaruan nya yung wine sa baso nya.
Hindi agad sya naka sagot pero tinignan nya ako. "After a month, yes. I only have a project and to meet my future husband that's why I'm here."
"P-paano yung arrange marriage?" Hindi ko na yata napansin na nakapag salita ako ng tagalog.
Kumunot yung noo nya pero nung banggitin ko yung 'arrange marriage' ay naintindihan nya tinutukoy ko.
"We can do that after my work, and we'll still see each other so don't worry."
Bigla akong napa isip. "What if I don't want to continue?"
Tinignan nya ako at nginitian ng may kalmado. "That's- I mean maybe I can talk to my parents about that. Sorry for the burden France." Mukha na syang na gu guilty ngayon kaya hindi ko maiwasan na mag alala.
"No, it's fine. I also signed the contract remember? And I also remember that contract is valid for 1 year." Biglang sabi ko na muntik ko pang makalimutan. Kahit pala ayawan ko ay hindi pwede dahil may valid 1 year yung contract.
Pero anong sabi nya? Gagawan nya pa din ng paraan kung talagang mag ba back out ako? Paano? Kung nakita na nang magulang nya yung kontrata na parehas naming pinirmahan.
"If you think about the contract, you don't need to worry. I only make the contract alone without my parents knowing. You can tell me what's bothering on you right now so we can fix it."
Hindi ko na alam kung papaano pero lumipas ang dalawang tatlong araw at ginagawa nalang namin yung parang mag couple. Halos I date ko na sya sa mga hindi public na lugar para lang walang makakita samin. Kasama na ang pagtuturo ko sa kanya ng tagalog.
Ngayon naman ay nag picnic kaming dalawa at may hawak na canva. Pininta namin yung sunset at hinintay talaga namin maghapon para lang maabutan namin. Pi nicturan din namin yung gawa.
"Wait lang," Sambit ko sa kanya sa kalagitnaan nung date namin. Tumango naman sya, naging maganda din ang process dahil nag aaral din sya ng sarili nya para makaintindi ng tagalog.
"Chloe." Napangiti ako at lumayo kay Eli na busy pa pagandahin yung pininta nya. "Miss mo na naman ba ako?" Pang aasar ko pa sa kanya.
[Sira! Lagi kana lang wala kapag inuman o gala pinag uusapan. San kaba nagpupunta?]
"Hindi naman ako palaging wala ah, marami kasing mission ang pinagawa samin ni Israel, alam mo naman yung asawa ng kaibigan mo." Mahinahon na paliwanag ko. Hindi ko din masasabi na nagsisinungaling talaga ako dahil may trabaho pa din naman ako. Iyon nga lang ang mission is samahan si Eli at alamin ang background nya at ng pamilya nya.
[Alam mo nakakatampo kana, kaonti nalang iisipin namin na may dina-date ka!] Pagalit na sambit nya kaya natawa naman ako.
"Ano kaba, alam mo namang ikaw lang diba?"
[Ewan ko sa'yo masyado kang magulo kausap. Basta pumunta ka at malapit na birthday ng anak ni Nicole. Invited ninong ka kaya hindi pwedeng wala ka doon!"
"Oo na, see you."
Binaba ko na agad ang tawag dahil baka naiinip na si Eli pero pag lingon ko ay pinapanood lang nya ng tuluyan ng paglubog ng araw.
"Ok kalang?" Tanong ko nang maupo sa tabi nya. Pero hindi nya sinagot yung tanong ko.
"Is that Chloe?"
Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagtatanong lang naman sya pero parang ang hirap umamin. Tumingin sya sakin at tinawanan ako. "I said it's fine. I only have two weeks left. We only have two weeks to know each other and you can be honest with me."
"Bakit kaba ganyan?"
Kumunot ang noo nya ng lingunin ako. "What do you mean?"
Sobrang bait at napakaintindihin nya. Iyon ang gusto kong sabihin pero nanatili akong tahimik. Mukhang naiintindihan na naman nya ang pag hindi ko pag sagot kaya umiwas nalang sya ng tingin.
Mukha ako pa yata ang mahihirapan saming dalawa.