Because of the incident that night, I needed a way to apologize to Ash. "Well you could treat me for a dinner," he teased, but I think that's a great Idea!
I first looked at my schedule before giving an answer. "I guess I'm free the day after tomorrow, friday. How about you?" I asked. I have set plans with many people before, our times have never met! It's always me or them who's not available.
"I'm free depending on how delicious that free meal is," Ash jokingly said.
I laughed at his joke. "I like you, you're such an opportunity taker. You have the spirit, and the looks. You'll pass screening for modelling if you would only want to." I teased him again. I already know how shy he is when it comes to camera and taking pictures, he can do many things but posing in front of a camera, isn't one of those.
He just laughed at the thought. "So, you bought the house next door, are you going to move out? We'll really miss your mom's Lumpianada and your dad's money advices." He opened up.
I guess my decision really shocked everyone, but I mean it's obvious I would do that, it was my goal from the very start. Aside from buying the house, I'm trying to buy more properties, and maybe start some few small businesses, there isn't anything wrong with being practical with money.
"My mom and dad hasn't decided where to move back in yet, aside from the house nextdoor, I also bought back our Mansion. " I confessed awkwardly, I know he's already shocked, so I tried to explain more simple this time.
He blinked atleast three times while looking at nowhere before talking." Ohhh! Uhm- that's great. " He said and turned his back to go upstairs in his room.
I should buy them a thank you gift before moving out, they did let us stay on their humble abode.
" Hey! You're always not here, you're always working. I don't know when I'll be going to see you again, so might as well tell you now. I really really like you, El. I like you even more than before, you rose up from the dumpster that they've thrown you in, you are incredible," He paused for a bit to catch some air. " You're flawed, I know, I see that, but I accept your flaws. Don't scare me with whatever you are carrying on your back, because I already accepted that, the day I started liking you. " He said smiling.
My cheeks flustered the familiar feeling of redness, I covered my face and turned around so that I won't see him, the loud thumping of this crazy heart of mine didn't help with the feeling either, I was shocked and excited at the same time." Excuse me!" I ran passed him up to the stairs stil covering half of my face." Oh! And see you on Friday, " I smiled before running again, making sure he gets that I didn't reject his feelings for me.
That night I couldn't sleep, I had this very different feeling. You know how they described butterflies being on their stomach? It's like that, only it was more wild but gentle like I don't know ants? The point is the feeling is so extreme that I couldn't stop thinking about his confession. I need to distract myself from this until Friday, if I keep on thinking about this, I won't be able to sleep well.
"El, what's wrong with you? Why are you fidgeting?" Valerie asked because this is the third time she tried to do my eyeliner, I kept on moving that it won't level the other.
"El, don't piss that woman. She's mad, she likes Demon. " Aileen tattled, which made me distracted.
"Oh my God, Valerie! What are you feeling? How did you fall for him? Is he a sweet talker? " I wiggled my eyebrows to tease her, well that was a wrong move.
" Shut the hell up! " She scolded and then started to do my wing again. I looked at Aileen but she just motioned her index finger back and forth to the sides. Why am I in trouble? What did I say?
"Demon already has a thing for a man, don't test my patience. Stop asking questions." Valerie commanded and I just opened my eyes wider to Aileen, meaning I was shocked.
"I saw him hanging out with women before, maybe he likes both?" I asked.
"Stop bringing that up, why don't you just tell us about you and Ash Ron." Valerie changed the topic.
"Antonette drive slowly, please. I want to wait for El to finish this story, before arriving at the venue." Aileen told Antonette.
"Will do miss." Antonette responded.
"We're having dinner on Friday night, so don't you dare give me work on that day." I opened the conversation and the two started getting excited and made noisy sounds, Antonette was listening too she's smiling while driving.
"I won't give you work starting one p.m. that day, you need to get ready before meeting him." Aileen assured me.
"I want to hear the story," Valerie complained about me refusing to tell them, so I eventually gave up and just told the girls everything.
"That's it! We're here, stop talking about it." I hurriedly got off the Van though we weren't on the door yet.
"Hey we're not yet there!" Aileen complained.
"It's okay! I'll walk, I need excercise anyways!" I yelled and took off my wedges, I walked barefooted on the side walk of the resort driveway.
I had a commercial shoot for a liquor brand, my job was to just stand there while a famous actor approached me and hand me a liquor bottle. All I need to do was to be pretty and tempting, they said.
"It's a wrap! Thank you so much for your incredible efforts everyone!" The director yelled in happiness after three long hours of being under the stressful heat of the sun.
"That actor is still eyeing you, El." Valerie told me about the actor I worked with.
"He's so fine, and he's good at acting. It's too bad he popped up when there was already an Ash Ron, you'll totally like him if you didn't have anyone right now. " Aileen exclaimed as he look at the hot pack abs of the actor that shines even more because it's being ignited by the sun's rays.
" You sure about that? I'm all about work right now, it's even a surprise for me that I let Ash Ron enter my border of focus. " I stated, it's real though I didn't expect Ash Ron could penetrate my thick wall of revenge thinking.
" There's a package for you, " Antonette suddenly appeared out of nowhere holding a long box.
" Aww! I wish someone would send me a box of crocheted flowers too! That's so sweet, who is it from? " Aileen asked blushing alongside me.
" It's from you know who! " I whispered and they all smiled like crazy while teasing me.
Ash Ron sent me a package of crocheted flower, I mentioned from the past that I didn't like their flower landscape outside the house, It's because I'm allergic to Flowers, I get itchy and my skin will wound up because of the redness.
"Seriously if you won't end up with that dude, just enter the convent." Valerie joked.
"Our El has a boyfriend, who's the lucky man? " The director asked when he saw the flowers, he was passing by when he noticed.
" It's just an admirer, I don't have a boyfriend. " I answered, my manager would kill me if she hears I'm having a relationship.
" Yet, you don't have a boyfriend yet. Don't be shy honey, a pretty face like you is the dream of many men. I'm sure you'll have someone someday too, for now say hello to your admirer for me, if you don't like any good looking ones maybe you can hook me up. " He joked and then walked away laughing.
We laughed with him and packed up after. I need to fly to New Zealand for a quick Runway show with the others. Runway hasn't been my thing lately, I'm yo busy dominating the demand board to fit in well in that field. I'm slowly getting more known, brands and people who are attending Runways have been contacting me too, I'm really getting closer to my dream, and that means I'm also getting closer to get back dad's company and having my revenge.
As soon as we stepped out of the plane, I turned my phone on, only to be flooded by messages. There was one message that stood up from everything else, it was Ash Ron's. He reminded me to eat my lunch, well it's already two in the afternoon so it's late for that.
"Aileen get me something to eat, somethings that won't make me bloated." I commanded while replying thanks to Ash.
"Looks like you two are on the talking stage already," Valerie teases me from her affirmation.
I just kept silent, I need to conserve energy for the Runway. After that Runway we did a couple more shows and commercials, each day that week Ash Ron sent me crocheted flowers, each day there was a different message. Everyday since then we always messaged each other what were doing, it's cliché, but yeah we're in the talking stage, so we're still on the puppy love stage.
"I already booked you a V.I.P. catering restaurant, the whole restaurant will close just for the two of you. While you're at that please don't worry about bloating, you paid great amount of money to that restaurant, so eat a lot okay?" Aileen Reminded me about how much I paid for the restaurant just to shush them up.
I can't have rumors or anyone seeing us start a ruckus, I'm almost at the top, I can't go back to zero now. Besides my Manager will kill me if she hears about this.
Today's the big day! Today's going to be our first date, I don't what'll happen, but I'm hoping for the best.
"Don't move, honey. Do you want your eyeliner on flick or do you want to look like you smudge your eyes from crying? " Valerie warned me about moving, because she's doing my eyes.
"Don't you think it's a little too fast? " I asked them, I'm not nervous, I really am not.
" Ofcourse it's fast," Aileen responded.
" What? " I panicked so Valerie messed it up.
" Im going to need to do this over again. " She scolded before getting the cleanser and cotton again.
" Don't panic, your a model, you're always not free, but you guys found a way to understand each other despite your hectic schedule. " Aileen comforted me.
I sighed." Do you really think so? " I asked hoping for the best.
" Why would I lie? " Aileen rolled her eyes and I just smiled.
" Honey, Ash is the most understanding person there is, he know what's he getting up himself into, you're the one who you should be worrying about. " Valerie exclaimed, still patching and fixing that wing.
Aileen held my hand which made me look at her. "He knows what he's doing, do you? He's in it for a relationship, are you?" Aileen asked but I just kept silent. "You two have Filipino bloodlines, you know about Maria Clara?" She asked. " We studied about her on History: Spaniard's colonization effects on Filipinos. " She explained because my look probably was questioning how she knows about that.
" Listen to me, you're not Maria Clara! You don't have to wait years before having a relationship, we live in the twentieth century now, everything is moving fast. You don't have time to sit pretty and wait for flowers, he doesn't have enough time to send you flowers because he's going back to the Philippines. The both of you doesn't have time to waste anymore, but you two have something in common, the two of you understands and care about each other. " Aileen elaborated, which made me see things clearer.
"With that common thing you two have you'll develop love. This man is ready for whatever you want to throw at him, and you're going to need someone like that in the future. " Valerie exclaimed.
" Wait, what? He's going back to the Philippines? Why? " I confusedly asked.
" He didn't tell you? " Aileen's eyes grew bigger, she just realized that she just revealed a secret to me. Is it a secret though?
" He didn't tell me about that. " I affirmed, I don't get why he would hide that from me.
"See? He's delaying everything, he's trying to delay the message to have more time with you. He wants to pursue you, and know if he has a chance." Valerie explained.
Am I really that dumb? How can I not understand this earlier? "Alright girls, today's the day that I'll answer that man's most precious question." I told them and continued getting ready.
"He's already at the Restaurant," Aileen told me before I left the Van. We were doing my make-up on the Van.
When I opened the door I saw rose petals scattered on the floor, at first I panicked because I'm allergic with flowers, but then I felt calm when I looked at it more clearly, it was just plastic.
There were candles lit up on the place, the light was dim inside, the candles definitely helped with the light and smell.
"You really know how to organize a surprise, huh?" I asked as soon as I saw him.
"I know you paid for the place, so the least I can do is surprise you right? Were you surprised? Did you like it?" He cheerfully asked and held my hand to walk me up to the table located at the elevated private outdoors of the Restaurant.
"I am, but not as how surprised I was when I knew about your travel back to the Philippines." I stated refusing to look at him. I mean we aren't even in a relationship, I can't cry in front of him, I just cant.
"I'm sorry-" I cutted him off, he didn't need to he sorry, I was the one who lacked time.