Rendezvous in August (Astrology #1)

XIV

RIA 14

And that's how I find myself smiling at the people I know nothing.

"Franco, this is Rio." Aries introduced me to a man who looked like a prince. Halos matawa ako sa naisip.

Well, this guy really looks like a Prince to me—-blond, short curly hair with faint blue eyes. Even at night, his freckles were evident. Franco extended his arm and gave me a warm smile.

"Nice to meet you, Rio," Franco said. "This is my fiancee."

Inuwestra n'ya ang babaeng katabi. My brows shot up in curiosity. The girl he's with is so pretty. Simple pero elegante. She had that had of beauty that you can't get enough to stare at. Her eyes sparked with innocence and allure. She has porcelain skin. Kulot at may pinong highlights ang kanyang buhok. She looks like a doll!

"Brielle nga pala." She smiled. "Tingin ko nakita na kita sa isa sa mga mall shows na minsan inorganize namin."

I slowly nodded at her, trying to remember the event she mentioned.

"Hmm. . . Teka, I'm trying to remember it." Ngiti ko sa kanya.

"Ah, it was for a charity. At isa yung agency n'yo sa sponsors."

"Oh, yung sa Abreeza ba, last year?" I probed, hoping I was correct.

"Yes, yes. Yun." Brielle enthusiastically nodded. "Itim pa ang buhok mo noon at hindi blonde."

I chuckled as I remembered my hair last year.

"May konting streaks lang." I nodded. "Streaks na hanggang naging ganito."

We both laughed as I grabbed some strands of my bleached and frizzy hair.

"Nagsisisi nga ako e but it's for my job." I shrugged. "Ikaw ba, natural ba yang streaks mo?"

Brielle's eyes lit up. "Ah, yes. Nilihi daw kasi ako ng Nanay ko sa mais kaya ganito."

Ngumuso ako at nakuha agad ang sinabi n'ya. "Talaga? Wow!"

I always hear from the elders or even my former co-models that paglilihi is effective and will be evident once the kid grows up. Now that I think of it, Mom always tells me back then, na pinaglihi n'ya ako sa vanilla ice cream which is Dad's favorite flavor, habang si Recka naman ay pinaglihi sa cashew nuts at sans rival.

I blinked the memories away. Suddenly, I feel sappy over a memory of my family.

"Yup, di nga rin ako naniwala noong bata pa ako pero noong highschool ako, doon na siya mas nagiging halata."

"Hindi ka ba nasisita noong Highschool ka pa?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

I was somehow diverting my head from my sad thoughts to the topic at hand. Baka mamaya kung saan pa umabot ang isip ko if I dwell on the memory.

Brielle laughed. Her cheeks glowed in a faint blush.

"Syempre nasisita. Kahit public school ako noon, strikto pa rin. Kada enrollment kailangan ko kulayan ng itim yung buhok ko. Baka kasi hindi tanggapin yung enrollment form ko. Natigil lang noong nag-College na ako."

We continued talking and getting to know each other. Even though we work from different industries. Nagkakasundo kami sa local travels.

"Hindi talaga ako pala-travel noon. Nagkataon lang na sobrang hilig ni Franco sa mga ganon kaya nadadala rin ako. Masaya naman." Then something dawned her. "Oh, pag nag-Siquijor kami ni Franco, sasabihan namin kayo ni Aries!"

Halos mapawi ang ngiti ko. Does she know? Maybe not. I think Aries' friends were the only ones know about his open relationship with his boyfriend. Baka hindi nasabihan ni Franco ang fiancee n'ya but that's none of my business.