Chapter 35

Chapter 35

The flight took about eight hours but I was grateful to get in some sleep and that there wasn't much time difference between Sydney and Manila. I swear if it's another ten-plus-hour difference, my body would give.

The sun was bright in the middle of the day and the hotel service picked us up from the airport.

As we drove past the landmarks of Manila, I felt like I was sixteen again – with my aunt picking us up from NAIA and having pancakes and burgers for lunch before going back on the road for Olongapo.

I can't believe this is happening. I've been wanting to go back since last we came, but the flight is excruciatingly long and tickets were expensive.

I have to find a way to visit my aunt and cousins somehow before I go back to New York.

"That's a huge-ass globe," Dave said, snapping me out of my thoughts. I looked out the window and saw a giant steel globe in the middle of the road.

"Oh my God, we're at the Mall of Asia complex."

"The what?" Cassandra asked.

"You see that big stretch there? All of that's the mall. They also have an arena, a convention center, multiple business buildings, hotels, and look at that..." I pointed at the Ferris wheel next to the bay.

"A small amusement park."

"Oh, wow," Dave's mouth hung open. "I thought the Philippines is a third-world country."

"Dave!" Cassandra hissed.

I chuckled, "It's alright, Cass." I turned to Dave, "And it is."

We stopped in front of the Conrad. I stretched my legs out and helped pick up our luggage from the trunk.

A giant floating art greeted us as we entered the lobby. It looks like a twisted branch of yellow flowers with green leaves.

"This is our hotel?" Dave's eyes widened.

"Is there a problem, Dave?" Harper asked as her luggage rolled to a stop next to him.

"Nothing. It's perfect." He replied. "Way too perfect," he whispered.

The hotel concierge gave us the key cards to our rooms following check-in. This time, each of us got a separate room.

"Oh, I'm gonna miss you, roomie," Cassandra said.

"Awww, I'm gonna miss you too, buddy."

"Alright, listen up," Harper said and we all turned to her. "You can take the rest of your afternoon but make sure to meet up with all your models before 6 P.M., okay?"

"Okay," I nodded.

Mitchell spoke, "We'll have a rehearsal later tonight at the SMX Convention Center. The hotel will lead us to where it is, so you don't have to worry about finding it. You three would have an assigned car each with all your models so, you have to make sure to gather all of them before that. This assignment is simple but very important and time-sensitive. The first show is tomorrow and we cannot slack. Understood?"

"Yes," Dave said.

"Any questions?"

I raised my hand.

"Yes, Lauren?"

"Where can we get the itinerary or the program?"

"You can ask anyone at the concierge for that later. But first, make yourselves comfortable in your rooms. Relax a little. It's just 12:30."

"Okay."

*       *       *

After exploring the room, I texted my Mom and Hailey, letting them know I arrived safely.

I sat by the window as I was folding my clothes and I can't help but be tempted by the calming sea and the swimming pool two floors below. I called Cass and Dave, "Hey, look out your window."

"Yeah, that pool does look good," Cass said.

"What pool? All I could see is the city." I could hear the confusion in Dave's voice.

"Oh. Well, your room must be on the other side. Anyway, wanna go for a dip?"

"Hells yes. Let's meet at the lobby in ten?" Dave replied.

"Yeah, I'll just put on my swimsuit." Cass agreed.

"Okay, see you then." I dropped the call and changed into the swimsuit I bought in Sydney. It's a simple black one-piece, nothing eye-catching; I just want to swim peacefully.

After taking a quick shower, I put some SPF all over, wrapped myself in the hotel robe, and made my way down the lobby.

"Why are you wet?" Cassandra squinted.

"To regulate my body temp before going in. Swim class?"

She grimaced, her voice pitching a higher octave, "Okay."

I ignored her remark. "Where's Dave? Is he lost?"

She just shrugged.

The elevator dinged and out came Dave.

"Hey, girlies!" he walked out with arms wide open in red underwear.

I choked on my own spit. Cassandra patted my back as I coughed. "What are you wearing?"

"Speedos." He moved his towel from one shoulder to the other.

"Why?" Cassandra said rhetorically.

He stopped for a moment to think. "Well, I heard it's hot in the Philippines and I only have two options when we went shopping. It's either the full-body suit or this."

"And you chose that?" she scowled.

Dave looked around, out of words. "Well..."

I cleared my throat, "Alright, alright. Let's just go. We don't want to waste time."

The water was glistening blue under the blazing afternoon sun. There was a bar next to the pool and an island in the middle of the water with big umbrellas and several lounge chairs.

We have the pool to ourselves, considering how hot it is, but I like it this way. I don't mind getting a little tanner.

I folded my robe and held it up as I stepped my toes into the cool water. When I reached the island, I set my robe on a lounge chair, and Dave and Cassandra followed.

Cassandra put her sunglasses on and laid under the sun in her navy bikini. I did the same.

"You guys get some tan, I'll do some laps," Dave said.

Cassandra waved for him to go, like a mom allowing her child to go play.

My eyes were open under the shades, looking at the ocean view from the glass panels surrounding the pool area.

I should contact my cousin to meet up with me sometime. Who knows when I can come back here next? Tickets are damn expensive and the long flight isn't a picnic.

After a few minutes, Cass and I joined in on the water. We ordered drinks from the bar and we swam and swam until our fingers pruned.

"Okay," Dave said as his watch beeped. "It's already 4:30. Have y'all got your models' info yet?"

"I have." Cass nodded as she sipped on her strawberry daiquiri.

"Wait, seriously? When did you find time to do that?"

"Before going up." They said in unison.

"How?"

"Well, I asked the concierge..." Dave started to explain.

"Right... Well, I haven't done it yet so I guess I have to go now." I stepped out of the pool and reached for my robe.

"I'll come with. I have to get something from my room." Cass said as I tied my robe around me and she stepped out of the water.

"Alright, let's go."

We took separate elevators – with Cassandra going up to her room, and I, going down to the concierge area.

"Hey," I greeted.

"Hi, Ma'am, how may I help you?"

"Right, um..." my mind immediately flew to the card that's sitting inside my bag. Thank God, I took a picture of it earlier. "Here," I took my phone out and showed him the picture of the card with the model's names.

"I'm from MGC. I'll assist the models on this list. I was told you'd give me information about them."

"Ah, yes. May I know your name, Ma'am? For security purposes."

"Of course, it's Lauren Grant."

He nodded, "One moment, Ma'am."

"Sure," I said and looked around while he's typing away.

"There." He said as he clicked on one more button. "Do you want me to print their information, Ma'am?"

"Uh, is it just one document?"

"Yes." He smiled.

"Is it okay for you to email it to me?"

"Of course. May I know your email address?"

"It's [email protected]."

He nodded as he typed, "Sending..."

My phone pinged. "Got it. Thanks."

He smiled and went back to arranging some pens.

I scanned the email to see the information. Hm, is this all?

"Excuse me?" I went back to the desk.

"Yes, Ma'am?" he smiled optimistically.

"Is this everything? Can I ask for their phone numbers? I'm thinking of calling them just to gather them in one place."

"I'm sorry, Miss. As per our instruction, the only information we can give is their room numbers. That's the most I can provide, I'm afraid."

I nodded. "Oh, okay. Thank you."

"You're most welcome."

I looked at the email and found that Lexa Morphe's room is the closest. 705.

I went straight to the elevators and found Cassandra waiting for one as I got out. "Hey!"

"Hey, you got it?"

"Yeah, but these are just room numbers."

She groaned, "Tell me about it. I had to make rounds just to meet them."

"You already did?"

"Yeah."

"How?" I wondered then finally gave up, "Never mind."

She laughed, "You took an awful lot of time in your room. What did you do, huh? Rearrange everything?"

I rolled my eyes playfully, "I did not."

She chuckled, "Do you think Dave made his rounds in that tight speedo?"

"Cassandra!" I almost tripped, my robe slipping a little as I laughed with Cassandra.

"Hey, are you sure you're gonna see the models in your robe?"

"Yeah, well, I'll just meet the girls first."

"Oh, okay." The elevator dinged open.

"Alright, go! I'll check in on Lexa."

"Kay, I'll be at the pool bar. I got my card with me." She held up her credit card, "Next round's on me. Want anything?"

"Ummmm, just a smoothie."

"Okay," she nodded and the door started to close.

"Strawberry! Please and thank youuu!"

"You got it." I saw her thumbs up before the elevator doors closed entirely.

The halls were suddenly quiet and I began searching for Lexa's room.

Here it is. 705. I cleared my throat and tried to compose myself a little.

I knocked on the door, "Lexa?"

No response.

I knocked again, "Hey, Lexa, are you awake? It's Lauren from MGC."

No response.

"I, uh, I need to go over some details with you for the rehearsal later."

The door clicked. I moved away from the door a little so I wouldn't fall forward.

As it opened, a masculine figure greeted me. Looking down with a towel drying his hair and water dripping down his torso.

I looked away.

"I, um, I could go back if she's still busy."

I turned to walk away from their room.

"Wait!" he called.

I stopped in my tracks and sighed. "No, it's okay. Just tell her I–" just as I turned, the towel on his head came off. "Axel?" I breathed.

His face paled, "Lauren? What are you doing here?"

My face contorted in confusion. What?

"What are you doing here?"

"I asked you first."

"No." I insisted. "What are you doing here?"

He just stood there, not saying a word.

Huh. Is this another part of the game?

Why does it feel like I just can't be rid of him?

I felt the heat rise from my neck. And everything I felt from that night came back like it was only yesterday. I shook my head, both in disbelief and in a sad attempt to control my emotions.

"How dare you show your face to me again?"

He was taken aback, not uttering a single word from that stupid mouth.

I just don't understand how and why we always cross paths.

And now he's toying with another girl?

God, I want to rip him to shreds.

I felt my teeth grind against each other. If looks could kill, he would be thrown out the window with multiple stab wounds.

I turned and walked the other way before my sight dims and I end up in jail.

"Lauren, wait." He tried to catch me but instead, he caught the string of my robe, letting it fly open.

I gasped and immediately hugged the robe to myself. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" I advanced to him.

He exhaled with his brows raised, "What's wrong with me is that I find you hot even when you're mad."

I slapped him. And the resounding silence echoed through the hallway.

"You're disgusting." I snarled and began to walk away. "No," I turned back, my feet stomping the ground. "I should warn her."

"Who?"

I ignored him and leaned to the door, "Lexa? Lexa!"

"Oh," he chuckled darkly on my left. "There's no one in there."

"What do you mean there's no one in there? Where is she?" I moved closer, daring. "What did you do to her?"

He looked straight into my eyes and cocked his head, "There's no Lexa, Lauren."

My brows knit together.

"I'm Lexa."

"But–"

His brows raised, "Lexa? Lexa Morphe? Axel Morpheus?"

And then it dawned on me. 'Lexa' is 'Axel' backwards.

"I use pseudonyms in hotels. I don't want crazy fans to find me." He said coolly, looking out the hallway window, then his gaze came back to my face. The same look he has next to the fountain that night.

I shook my head, "I should've known something like this was bound to happen sooner or later. Is Harper in on this again?"

"Well, no, but if you want to talk, I'd prefer..." he bobbed his head to the door, "inside."

My brows furled even more at his suggestion.

"But if you wanna talk half-naked in the hallway, fine by me."

My eyes widened by the stated fact. I looked away, becoming hyper-aware of how dangerously low his towel hangs around his hips. "I'm gonna go." I turned, facing the open-end of the hall. "Be in the lobby at 5:30 for the 6 P.M. rehearsal." I began marching away.

"Duly noted, boss!" his voice echoed through the hallway then the sound of a door clicking close followed.

I exhaled a sigh. This will be the death of me.

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GLOSSARY:

NAIA – Ninoy Aquino International Airport – The major airport in Manila, Philippines.

Olongapo – A city in the Philippines.