A Close Second

Sixty-Fourth

Hello! 

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I was still thinking about the Press Release even after 2 days when I knew about it.

When I asked Andrew, he said that it was a project that he and Greg were working on, which made me glad because for a while, I didn't think that King Greggory was the type to be serious on business, but then again he was born into money and that business still ran on his blood.

I missed them all terribly and I thought about calling pero masyadong magulo ang time zones namin pareho. Not to mention the crazy schedule that Via and Matt had us on for the last days we had in Paris.

Renee had me on photoshoots pa. Flitting from Versailles to Montmartre to maximize the time that I was here.

Keith Andrew stood by me and never left my side for a second. I think he was enjoying it too, taking his time to take some candid shots of me and the sights while we're there.

Kapag gabi naman, it's his turn para pagurin ako.

Natatawa na nga lang ako kasi may time na sobrang pagod naming dalawa na hindi namin namalayan ang oras kung hindi pa kami kinatok ni Matt para gisingin.

"Tignan mo itong gagong ito."

Natawa ako sa inis na mukha ni Andrew nang makita namin si Kuya Rocky sa airport in JFK.

He was dressed casually, gray sweater, beige pants and white sneakers. Okay na sana pang welcoming committee pero ang nagpainit siguro ng ulo ni Andrew was the fact that he stood there, may hawak na isang cartolina nakalagay 'WELCOME HOME COURTNEY!' tapos sa ilalim may mas maliit na "AND ANDREW".

Via had to stifle her laughter habang si Matt naman nasa gilid halos hindi makapaniwala.

"Alam mo, king-ina ka. Ako ang pinsan mo diba?" Sabi ni Andrew nang makalapit kami dito.

"Napakabayolente mong hayop ka." nakatawang balik naman sa kanya ni Kuya Rocky. "Bakit? Pasalamat ka nga inilagay pa kita e. Mas excited kaming makita si Madam sayo. Ikaw ba ang celebrity? Hindi naman diba?"

"Itinatakwil na kitang pinsan. Wala kang kwenta."

"You say that, pero alam kong mahal mo parin ako."

"Kadiri ka, gago."

Natatawa lang ako sa kanilang dalawang mag pinsan habang si Via at Matt naman nakatingin lang kay Keith Andrew. This has been the first time they heard him na nagmumura ng halos deretso.

"Break it up, you two." biglang sabi ng katabi ni Kuya Rocky, who I didn't notice. "It's nice to finally meet the girl I've heard a lot about. I'm Rachel."

She blended in the crowd so well that I didn't think na kasama siya ni Kuya Rocky from the start. I could see their resemblance though, mas maliit lang siya ng kaunti kay Kuya but her facial features really was Kuya Rocky in girl form.

She was pretty too, her slender figure could be seen in her outfit: a black turtleneck tucked in some denim jeans and white converse sneakers over a gray overcoat.

"You must be Beatrice." sabi nito sa akin, a warm smile towards me as she gave me a hug. "It's nice to finally meet you."

I smiled. "It's nice to finally meet you too." I say pleasantly.

"I thought getting shipped off in DC was a bad thing but at least I get to finally meet you." sabi nito sa akin. "I had an inkling that Andrew was holding you off against me."

"Okay, tama na yan." sabi ni Keith Andrew, holding me by the waist. "How about we move and get home first. Then you two can chat all you want."

Ipinakilala ni Kuya Rocky ang sarili kanila Via at Matt bago nito tinulungan ang mga ito sa dala dala. We exit the airport quietly, the older ones chatting pleasantly. A van was awaiting us, the driver helping us load the luggages into the back.