In Between Real and Reel

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER II

Cob’s POV

I tapped the table while looking outside Amelie’s office through the one-way mirror wall. A woman wearing a black skimpy square neck dress was walking along the hallway.

A black baguette bag was hanging in her left hand while she was using her right hand to cover her face.

Behind her was a bunch of reporters waiting for an exclusive to write. I didn’t realize that I was looking at her for too long, not until the woman in front of me talked.

“What are you looking at?” naguguluhan niyang tanong habang sinusundan kung ano ang tinitignan ko. Ibinalik niya sa akin ang kaniyang atensiyon nang makita kung sino ang tinitignan ko. “Do you know her?”

I just shrugged my shoulders. Ibinuhos ko ang aking buong lakas para iiwas ang tingin ko sa babaeng ‘yon. She was such an eye candy, but I didn’t want Amelie to think that I’m already eyeing someone here.

Today was my first day to come to the building of Star Entertainment. It took them a while to make me say yes to joining their entertainment.

I was already known internationally, so I didn’t find the need to be a celebrity here in the Philippines. Amelie was the only one who could convince me by blackmailing me.

“Hindi na rin nakapagtataka kung kilala mo siya. She topped the chart of being the most beautiful woman in the world, and it’s not only once but in three consecutive years,” aniya.

Nagkibit balikat lamang ako. Sa totoo lang ay hindi naman pamilyar sa akin ang dalaga. I just find her attractive to look at.

“She’s stunning, isn’t she? As far as I remember, even international artists slide in her DM’s,” Amelie commented.

I smirked. Really, huh? Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at muli ko siyang nilingon. Who wouldn’t try to make a first move at her if she’s such a catch? Kahit ako ay hindi magdadalawang isip na lapitan siya.

A smile left my lips when I saw her hiding behind a post. Her back was facing in our direction while looking at the bunch of reporters. Hmmm… not bad. Her skimpy black dress was also backless, and in front of me was her sexy back.

I wonder what her rosy skin would feel like when I touched it with my bare hands. I’m usually not like this. I’ve seen a lot of pretty faces in the states, but no one can catch my attention as much as she caught mine today.

I didn’t finish fantasizing about her when a man got near her. My face hardened when he tapped her bare back to scare her.

The woman slowly looked at him with a scared expression, but her face softened after seeing the man who scared her. She jokingly tapped the man’s shoulder before giving him a beautiful smile.

My whole attention was now on her when she showed the man that billion-dollar smile. Damn! Even the iceberg will melt after seeing that smile.

I almost burst out of the office when she left with the man. I only stopped myself because I didn’t want to be called unprofessional by Amelie.

“She is?” hindi ko na napigilang magtanong.

It wouldn’t hurt to try asking Amelie, right? I mean, I’m also an international artist. How can I slide in her DM’s or get to know her if I didn’t know her name?

Amelie smiled at me. “Lily,” she simply said.

“Lily,” ulit ko sa pangalan niya. That’s a cute name for someone as pretty as her.

“So…” Amelie started. She stood up and get a folder above her desk before putting it in front of me. “You’ve got a lot of offer, Cob. Iilan pa lang ang nakakaalam na nandito ka sa Pilipinas pero madami nang gustong kumuha sa ‘yo.”

Nagkibit balikat lamang ako sa kaniyang sinabi. Even while I was in the states I received a lot of offers from the Philippines. Ipinagsasawalang bahala ko lamang ito dahil kailangan kong tapusin ang pag-aaral ko roon. Kaya hindi na bago sa akin ang marinig na maraming gustong kumuha sa akin.

“Here I personally picked this one for you,” aniya habang inilalabas ang ilang piraso ng papel mula sa envelope.

Kinuha ko ang papel sa kaniya at binasa ito. Pakunot nang pakunot ang noo ko habang binabasa ang nilalaman nito. A reality show to pick partners for a show. Anong pakulo ‘to? Puwede namang magpa-audition na lamang gagawa pa ng ganito.

“Wala na bang iba?” walang gana kong sabi.

Makahulugan akong nginitian ni Amelie. “Marami pa naman… pero kasali kasi diyan si Lily. So… baka lang… you know, you might want to work with her.”

I kept my expression as hard as it could be. I didn’t want to show her I got interested after hearing Lily’s name.

“Where’s the other offers?” pagkukunwari kong wala akong pakealam sa kaniyang sinabi.

Tumayo si Amelie at kumuha pa ng ibang papeles sa kaniyang lamesa. “Here,” aniya habang inilalagay sa harapan ko ang tumpok ng mga papel. “You can choose from any of these. Just give me a heads up, kung anong gusto mong gawin.”

She briefed me with each offer, but my mind was already elsewhere. I knew that I didn’t need to be brief with anything because I’d finalized in my mind what proposal I wanted to accept.

When my meeting with Amelie ended she left me inside her office. May titignan pa raw kasi siyang ibang bagay.

Hinayaan ko lamang siya dahil may hinihintay pa akong makita sa labas. Hinayaan na rin ako ni Amelie dahil baka raw may makakita sa aking reporter kung lalabas ako at baka kumalat pa na nakauwi na ako sa Pinas.

I was scrolling on my phone for some minutes now. I searched for Lily’s name online, and Amelie was right. Lily’s name can be seen all over the internet. I even found one of her social media accounts where she posts pictures.

She has a captivating cat-eye, straight eyebrow, small and pointed nose, plump lips, and rosy beige skin tone. She looked gorgeous in these pictures. I wonder if she’ll look like this in person without those oversized sunglasses hiding her captivating eyes.

Napalingon ako sa labas nang makarinig ako nang iilang boses. Nagkakagulo ang mga reporters sa pagdumog sa isang babaeng may kulay tsokolateng buhok.

I got out of the office to see what was happening. I couldn’t see her face clearly, but when I heard her name from the reporters, I rushed to her place.

I covered her with my jacket and guided her toward my car. She looked so stunned and confused while following me.

Minadali ko ang paglayo sa lugar na iyon at tumigil lamang ako sa pagmamaneho nang makasigurong wala nang nakasunod sa aming dalawa.

My car is heavenly tinted but I wouldn’t risk being photographed with her right now. Sa mga nangyari kanina pakiramdam ko ay mayroon siyang kinakaharap na isyu. For now, I don’t want to be included in that issue.

Kinuha ko ang telepono ko sa aking bulsa nang maramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate nito. I looked at the woman in front of me while answering my phone.

“Hello, Amelie?”

Damn, she’s prettier now that I saw her whole face. Actually, pretty is an understatement with how god perfectly made her.

“Oh my god, Cob! Ikaw ba ‘yung humila paalis kay Lily?” natatarantang tanong ni Amelie sa kabilang linya.

Lily blinked twice while looking at me. It was like she was comprehending what the heck was happening.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako. “Yeah.”

“Nasaan kayo? You two can’t be seen together. That will be a disaster, Cob.”

“Yeah, I know. I will share my location with you,” simpleng sabi ko.

Hindi ko na siya hinintay pang makasagot. Ibinaba ko agad ang tawag at ginawa ang dapat kong gawin.

I looked back at Lily only to find her looking intently at me. She tilted her head while trying to comprehend who I was.

“I—“

She smiled at me. “Ah, ikaw siguro ‘yung tinutukoy ni Amelie.”

Kumunot ang noo ko. For real? Binanggit agad ako ni Amelie sa kaniya?

“So, is Amelie going to pick me up?” she innocently asked.

I nodded while watching her every move.

Tumango-tango lamang siya. “You’re my new body guard then. Hindi ko inaasahang bata pa ang kukunin niya,” anito na parang kinakausap ang sarili.

My forehead furrowed. Me, a bodyguard? Heck, I know that I have a nice body, but this body can do better than protecting someone.

She took out her sunglasses from her bag. Grabeng pagpipigil ang ginawa ko para hindi siya mapigilang takpan ang kaniyang mukha.

She looked back at me which almost took my breath away. “Do you have a mask here?” tanong niya habang inililibot niya ang kaniyang paningin sa loob ng aking kotse.

Hindi pa ako nakasasagot ay nakita niya na kung saan nakalagay ang isang kahon na mask sa aking kotse.

She wore a black mask to cover half of her already covered face. “Thanks,” aniya.

Napaiwas na lang ako ng tingin sa kaniya at napapikit para itago ang iritasyong nararamdaman ko. Damn, I want to see her red lips and cheeks more.

I looked back at her when I felt her hands tapping my shoulders. “By the way, Kuya. Puwede sa susunod ibang paraan nang pagprotekta sa akin mula sa mga reporters ang gawin mo?” she innocently asked that made my eyebrows form a line.

“I greatly appreciate it, pero baka kasi iba ang isipin ng mga tao. Sa susunod kahit hawiin mo na lang sila para makadaan ako.” She took off the jacket that was still covering her. “Thanks for this.” She extended her arms to me to give back my jacket. “…but you don’t have to lend me your jacket next time,” dugtong pa niya.

“Look, Miss. I—“

She cut me off when she heard a beep from a car behind us.

“Oh, Amelie is here.” Nagmamadali siyang lumabas ng kotse.

Dire-diretso siyang naglakad patungo sa kotse ni Amelie na parang nakalimutan niya na ang presensiya ko. Buti na lamang at hindi pa siya nakasasakay ay bumalik ulit siya sa aking kotse.

She opened the door. “I forgot. Anong pangalan mo?” she asked.

“Cobalt,” I simply said.

“Thanks again, Cobalt,” she said before bidding her goodbye. She continuously waved her hands at me until she hopped on Amelie’s car.

Pagkasakay na pagkasakay niya ay humarurot na ang sasakyan nila paalis habang naiwan akong nakatulala sa loob ng aking kotse.

Fuck! So what just happened? Me? Cobalt Prieto, an internationally known actor-model from a well-known family, was mistaken for a bodyguard? Kindly wake me up from this dream, or tell me that the woman was just insane.