Chapter 12 "Did you miss me?" Her answer is a no

Wow. Did he agree? That's easy.

"Okay then, I'm good to go."

I stood up and that he backed away from what I had done. He held my wrist and looked up at me with his puffy eyes. It looks like a child will be left by his mother.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going home." He cocked his head to the other side and glared at me.

"Let's go." He stood up and turned the table around again. I was confused by what he did. "What? I'm going home, alone!" on his cellphone he turned to me again.

"And what do you want people to think? That I'm letting my girlfriend book a car service, going home alone? Coming from the inside of my company? Really Ava?"

I looked at him innocently as if I couldn't get what he said. He's right but ... we have to pretend just by the press and not by the each citizen of this country. He raised his eyebrows because I look so puzzled looking at him. Am I circling him or am I circling him?

"Let's go."

He went straight out the door, carrying nothing but his phone. The week was smooth, as some wanted to happen, the relationship between Levi and me was spread in various articles. I didn't feel it because we also hadn't seen each other for a few days, that was actually better. We don't have to pretend that much, though he's really consistent when it comes to texting me and calling me.

Why text if we are just pretending right? The fashion week was crucial, the models I met in Mr. Summer Collection came from all over Asia.

Alcaraz. "Cyreese! I know I'm gonna meet you here. It's nice to see you again."

Nadine Almazan, also a Filipina Model I met at a fashion week in Paris, kissed me. We also met a few times on a few other occasions and we're pretty much friends. It was just a leap of joy meeting with the same race as you when you are in a foreign country. She's much taller than me and by her looks you know right away that she's not pure Filipina. She's half british, her nose is thin while her hair is up to her shoulders, at first glance it's rude but when you talk to her it's okay.

"Where's Olivia?"

"Uhm, probably just around here."

Trouble on the back stage after the final run away. The world is all about him talking, some are doing interviews and stuff, we happened to stumble upon each other so ...

"You'll gonna go to after party?"

She crouched a little bit so she can hear me due to the noise in the hall. She'swearing a few inches of heels so he became even taller than me.

"I think so."

I smiled at her, I'm probably going because Olivia will be there, Lucy isn't here but at least she's here.

"You- with your boyfriend tonight?"

She asked so casually that made me so nervous. If he asks me, he seems to know very well what my life has been like in recent months. After all, social media world ... sometimes people even know more about what you don't know about you. And one more thing, I forgot that it was really our purpose to spread the word about us to cover up the scandal as well as Levi's fiancee. Damn.

"N-no. He's out of town. Business."

I smiled and replied as if I'm used to those king of questions. "Oh that's sad, I must have meet him if he did come. Maybe next time then?"

"Yeah, sure." I grin. We chatted for a couple of minutes when a group of press came after us, they ask for some questions for the Summer Collection. Gladly, there was no question there that made me nervous.

"You did well."

Aunt Matilda said when I got into the van. My PA reached for my lunch and saw that chicken salad again. I looked up at the roof of the car. I feel like I will throw up that chicken salad if I eat it again.

I want a real food! I just sipped the lemon water I was holding and refused that salad. I checked my phone and immediately searched for his name there. Levi: Are you done with the event? Don't skip your lunch. I twitched my lips trying so hard not to suppress a smile. He's taking this to seriously as a pretention of us huh? Me: Yeah I'm on my way home.

Don't skip yours too. I let go of that and looked at the PA. I reached for the salad he was holding and he seemed to come alive inside of what I had done. "You want to have a driver tonight Cyreese?"

Tita Matilda asked.

"No, I'll use my car. I'll drive, only to the Fort, right?" I mixed up the chicken salad and thought it was the most delicious meal in the world. Levi told me to eat my lunch, hmm.

"Ah! I forgot, the Fort is small for sure." Auntie laughed.

I turned to him and nodded at what he said. He teased me about the picture of us having dinner at Shangrila, The Fort. My phone beeped. I quickly picked it up hoping for his reply.

Levi: We'll be back tonight. Do you have more schedules this day?

I nodded. He's coming back to Manila, he's out of town because of a certain project he's explaining to me a couple of days ago. I didn't know why he is like this but maybe, just so I can answer every time someone asks me? I don't know, maybe he's just being responsible.

Me: None, just an after party of the fashion week tonight. Take care.

Levi: After party? Is that the one held in The Fort?

Levi: I will.

Me: Yeah. Why?

Levi: I am invited.

Oh my God! He's freakin 'invited that means we'll be spotted by the press on the same place together. I bit my lip due to the adrenaline I felt, a bit excited and worried at the same time.

Me: Really? That's great.

Levi: You don't want me to come? I stared at it for a long time, not knowing what to reply.

When I told him I wanted to go he might say I really wanted it if it wasn't a big lie. My heart jumped when I saw his name on the screen.

I turned to Tita Matildan who also looked at me while the PA was on ear phones. I answered the phone.

"Hi."

"You did not reply."

He breathed. God, I miss his voice. I'm so carried away by our pretense of this.

"Sorry, I'm in the car." I'm sorry.

"But, I'm okay, yeah. You should come, you're invited anyways."

"Hmm."

He said sparingly. I nodded and waited for him to say something.

"I'll pick you up tonight then."

"Huh?"

I turned to Tita Matilda again but she didn't seem to be paying attention to my interlocutor.

"Or do you have someone to pick you up?"

"No- no. Okay. 8 PM."

"Alright. See you later."

I couldn't figure out the throbbing of my chest when I turned off the call.

"Have you talked to your brother yet?"

"Yes?" I looked at Tita Matilda who was leaning forward in the chair next to me.

"Lourd. About that matter."

I refocused on my salad. It was as if the mountain of fun I had felt before had collapsed again.

"He won't answer my calls and my texts."

A week and still no clue from him. I only know Lucy sometimes what she does but I know that she also forbids Lucy to talk to me. This is the reason why I don't want to be happy. I don't want someone hurting just because of my own happiness.

Tita Matilda just shrugged at what I said. It was 4 in the afternoon when we arrived at my condo. My PA just came up with the gown that I will use later at the party. Tita Matilda went straight to her schedules.

Six in the evening when Levi texted me saying he just arrived in Manila. I can't hide a little joy in my heart. I stared myself at the mirror, my hair is in a messy bun, some strands falls out while my eyes are a bit smoky but still defines the shape of my eyes. The make up that was put on me was just mild.

They matched it with my Leeymon Velvet Evening Dress with a thick choker that almost cover my whole neck.

"Ms. Cyreese, are you okay?"

"Yeah Lina, Thank you. You can go now."

The person who fixed me left earlier and he was the one who took care of the clothes I used before. Even before that night, I felt drowsy, maybe because of tiredness. After party was always this tiresome, the adrenaline is intense when there are runaways so this is how I feel tired.

Levi: What floor?

Oh my God, he's here? I looked at the clock and saw 7 o'clock. He's early!

Me: 14th. Room 20070 My heels clacked to my floor because of my back and fort walking. I checked myself in the mirror and saw that there was nothing wrong with looking at me

Oh damn! Why am I this nervous? Why am I this conscious? He saw me on my worst before! The door bell rang and my whole system went cold. One last check in the mirror I walked to the door. A Levi Vidalio greeted me, wearing his dazzling formal attire holding a bouquet of white roses. His eyes are locked up on my eyes and I don't even look at him. My heart beat are wild inevitably show a smile on my lips when I see him. Like full of anticipation and longing as I looked at him.

"Hi, you're early."

I opened my door widely for him to come in. He came in while his eyes are still locked on me. He presented it to me and kissed the side of my forehead. It was as if a million butterflies had disappeared from my body.

"What are these for?" I stare at the flowers and smelled it's fragrant. He towered over me like the hallway of my door is too narrow for him, I looked up at him and saw the squattershis eyes.

"It's for you."

I pursed my lips, unable to hide the smile. He looks so handsome in my eyes, the dim light in my hallway is not helping at all, his jaw is getting tighter. His jaw are clean shaved and his hair is in a clean under cut. How can he look so well?

"Thank you."

I could see a wind stir of emotions in his eyes, if you're brave enough to enter it's depths then congrats. Or else the whole world will blur and you'll fall into his world and you'll probably want to stay there forever and never go out.

"Let's go inside."

Carrying the flower I gently laid it on the center table of the living area.

"I'm sorry if it's a bit messy, fashion week and I have to deal with bunch of clothing."

It's not really messy, there are just a lot of clothing lines there because it doesn't fit in one room. He shuddered as he looked around the living area. Look at him, he's looking so tall in my high ceiling unit, how does he manage to turn a place into trash because of being himself? He look so expensive in this cheap place of mine.

"This is a nice place." He turned to me. As if on fire, I immediately avoided looking at him.

"You want some drink?" He just shook his head and made his way closer to me. Closer and closer my neck looked up at his height. He snaked his hands on my back declining the gap between us. He caressed his thumb in my cheeks so lightly and for seconds I feel like I met the angels. I don't think I want to go to the party.

"Did you have your dinner?" Drunk like eyes I answered him.

"Just at the party."

His lips parted as he looked at my face, I held his arm because I felt like I was going to fall to my feet, good thing is he's supporting my back. I tried to hit our eyes but his eyes were naughty hovering over my face. He bit his lips and gulped like he's having a hard time, all I can hear is my crazy heartbeat while all I can see is his deep brown eyes searching through my soul. I unconditionally squatted down and did not touch his own lips. This is making me insane. My lips brushed to his and I felt him stiffen.

I don't know why I did that, we just talked on the phone for a few days and now that he's in front of me, he still seems to be lacking. Even though the light was dim, I could clearly see how amazed his eyes were at what I had done. In one swift move he grabbed me and pressed me into his chest, dizzy I almost squatted down again and his lips touched me again.

This time it's more deeper, my eyes automatically closed as I felt his lips. In one flick of his tongue I left out a soft moan. I can feel his arms tightens on my small waist. I slid my arms to his neck and encircled to it. He almost had to lift me so that I could reach his lips because of his height with me. One hard pressed of his lips seemed to be with great difficulty he pulled his lips back and gasped as he looked at me again.

"Did you miss me?" His voice is husky. I brushed his hair and traced his eyebrows. I bit my lips feeling my cheeks heating.

"No."