PARADISE OF THE DEVIL (GONCALVES 1)

Chapter 35

My apartment was close to Claude's pub, fortunately. I left Jair's car with an absolutely heavy heart. It was hard for me to say those things but I had to. After he messed with me again today, that was the only closure I could give myself to completely stick to my words of not accepting him in my life once again.

That night I cried, a lot. He picked a healing wound and made it reopened and worsened. I cannot forgive him. It would take a longer time for me to subside this growing anger toward him.

If he was aiming at something, he should've been straightforward... but I knew I wouldn't listen to him. I wouldn't be listening to his bullshits anymore. He sucked.

Lilia would be in Paris for the rest of the fashion week. As the days went on, she invited me to a lot of places... and with a request of not going to talk about Jair. I didn't want her to save her friend's ass to me. Jair might get her on his side but it'd be meaningless.

We went to the spa together, her businessman friend got us a VIP at the Ritz Hotel and we enjoyed the amazing accommodations, it felt like we were royals. We went to a picnic overviewing the Eiffel Tower and I introduced her to the restaurants I usually went to.

Sobrang daming tourists ngayon dahil na din sa fashion week kaya crowded lahat ng tourist spots. Sinamahan ko na din si Lilia na magshopping. Marami syang pupuntahan na events ng friends nya pagkauwi kaya kailangan nyang bumili ng mga dresses.

"When are you going to introduce your boyfriend to me?" Lilia suddenly asked in the middle of our dinner.

I never spoke about Claude to her and I figured out Jair must've mentioned him to her. It wasn't like I didn't want him to be known but recently, I was having this thought about keeping this relationship up with him or not.

I'd got a lot of realization, honestly. I might entertain men but I wouldn't jump and risk into relationships. If I really wanted to be in a relationship, I wanted to do it right, not because I was lonely. And I couldn't promise Claude anything.

I knew that we were going on with a ride but I was afraid we'd go nowhere especially since I couldn't give him a proper destination. I was not a person who only got into a relationship for personal gain, unlike flings who wanted each other to warm each night.

I defined a relationship as a serious matter. I had a fair share of naughtiness and wilderness back in college but it didn't mean I wouldn't be looking for a serious and genuine relationship. I didn't wanna be a partner like this, I couldn't do that to Claude who'd been so gentle and generous to me.

"Eden?" Lilia snapped me back to attention.

"Sure. We can go to his pub tomorrow after the event at LV," I said in the end.

Wala na akong magagawa pa kundi ipakilala sya kay Claude. I had mentioned her to him so he should also be expecting me to introduce a friend from my country. We could just drop by because I knew Lilia didn't drink alcohol much.

We just finished getting our nails done, I wasn't supposed to get this but Lilia insisted. Kailangan ko ng umalis para makapagpahinga sya agad. Atsaka medyo malayo pa ang apartment ko mula sa hotel nya.

The next day, there was also an event and a visit of some famous personalities at the headquarters while stylists were given a chance to sightsee at the atelier. We couldn't do the regular work so today wasn't as hectic as the period we had before the fashion week.

I should be sued for going to the headquarters where Lilia was at. She told me that it was serving a buffet and I should go there to eat dinner with her. I didn't know if they were going to allow me or what excuse would Lilia make for me to get in.