The Rose: Mistaken Identity (Book 1 of THE ROSE Pentalogy) COMPLETED

CHAPTER 0001

CHAPTER 0001

Andie's POV

I took the flight to Manila.

Naiinis talaga ako, buti na lang talaga kasama ko si Baby Kitty (pangalan ni doggy). Gusto ko lang pangalanang 'Baby Kitty' para maiba lang. Weird ba? I know!

Seoul to Manila is only few hours away, but still pakiramdam ko pagod na pagod ako. Sino nanaman kaya ang I bli-bilnd date ni mama sa akin? Dumeretso kami sa hotel, hotel na pagmamayari daw ng magiging ka-date ko. Papalabas palang ako ng kotse ng biglang may nagsalita sa likod ko~

"Hi, so you must be Laurette Lee?"

Siya na siguro yung ka date ko. I fixed myself before facing him. Medyo na turn off lang ako sa ginawa niya, hindi ba niya pwedeng hintaying humarap muna ako bago niya ako batiin? Must be one of the guys na nagsasabing isa siyang dugong bughaw!

I faced him. "Yes, you must be?" Iniabot ko ang kamay ko sa kanya, to shake hands.

"Andie Lee?" He said.

"Ruan Hamilton?" I said.

"What are you doing here?" Sabay kaming nagsalita.

"Oh, I must be mistaken; I was actually.." He trailed off. "I'm sorry; I am looking for Laurette Lee." He said with a very confused face.

I smiled.

"Don't tell me Andie and Laurette Lee are---, Oh!" He laughed while tapping his head. "What a fine coincidence, call me straightforward but I'd like to call it destiny!"

Natawa na lang ako sa sitwasyon namin. Actually, kilala ko si Ruan. He is a model in Korea, a very famous model. We belong in the same company but we never crossed each other's path before kaya we do not personally know each other.

"Coincidence?" I said, smiling at him. Parang ayokong maniwalang hindi niya alam na ako ang ka date niya ngayon.

He smiled back. "Hindi ko akalaing dito pa tayo sa Manila magkakakilala to think we both share the same industry?"

I smiled. "Same here."

Same here? Wala na ba akong mas matinong sasabihin kung hindi 'same here?' Kung sabagay, mas maganda ng ganun kaysa naman umasta akong parang magkakilala na kami before di ba?

"So, it must be my lucky day. Honestly, hindi ko alam! Hindi ko alam that the Andie Lee would be my date today. Kung alam ko lang, san sa airport pa lang sinundo na kita!"

Nagtawanan lang kami. He's not bad, my sense of humor naman pala siya, at mukhang magkakasundo kami. He doesn't sound boastful at all. Hindi katulad nung last. Ayan tumatayo nanaman ang balahibo ko! Bakit kasi kailangan ko siyang maalala! Yih!

"Hindi ba ako ang maswerte? If I know, a lot of woman wishes to be in my shoes today." It's true, gwapo siya at maraming nagkakagusto sa kanya.

"Bago ako mamula sa papuri mo, shall we enter the hotel first?"

We entered the hotel.

Ruan's POV

"So how's the trip?" I asked.

"It was fun; especially now that I brought my dog with me." She smiled.

I smiled in return. "Doesn't the family business thing bother you? I mean our business with each other, personally. You and me dating against our will?"

She stared at me blankly before she spoke.

"I'm sorry?"

I took a deep breath. I didn't expect that kind of reaction from her. Obviously, I pissed her off.

"Again, I'm sorry for being straight forward. I know I just ruined your mood in that question, but, I just wanted to know how you feel about this so we'd be both comfortable with each other. Ayoko naman na habang nag-eenjoy ako sa pakikipag usap sayo, ikaw naman gusto na palang madaliin ang pag-uusap natin para makapag pahinga ka na."

She looked away, and then she laughed.

"Why, what's funny?" I asked, now I feel stupid.

"It's just that you exactly knew what I was thinking."

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya.

"Well, is that a compliment?" I asked. Honestly, I wasn't offended on what she said; I was even fascinated by her. I was expecting her to cover up and lie, but she admitted instead. You see, a beautiful woman admitting she is bored sure is discouraging, but a woman who is honest and frank; now that's a keeper.

"Kanina inaantok na talaga ako but you just boosted my mood."

"I'll take that as a yes."

"You're funny you know?" She chuckled. Now this is the first time I get to see her face without a make-up, and boy, she bloody gorgeous!

"Well, funny is my middle name!" I yelled in excitement.

"Really? I thought it's Hilario?"

"Hilario?"

"Hilario. Hilarious?"

"Oww.."

Laughs.

"You know what? I was wondering if your middle name is Psych?"

"Psych?" She looked blankly for a while then she understood. "Shut up!"

Ruan's unspoken words: 'Andie Lee, now I regret the thousand times I hid myself from you.'