CHAPTER XII
Five months.
I’ve been preparing for another fashion show for about five months. This would be the biggest show for me and I’ll be flying to New York.
I am now painting something for a customer. I am on a break from school and I have been taking serious art classes since we arrive from Maldives and I’ve been posting these works on my website. The proceeds are donated to a shelter where they take the babies whose parents are not yet ready to take the responsibility or cannot afford to raise the kid.
Luckily, a lot of people buy my paintings, my artworks and I have a big sum to donate plus I also add half of my income to the donation.
“Ate, si Kuya Louise daw susundo sa’yo sa airport.” My brother barged in.
“Noted.” I informed him. He went inside, closer to my paintings.
“Ang gaganda, ate.”
“Well, thanks. Ginagalingan ko para sa mga bata sa orphanage.”
“You do have a golden heart. I don’t know why the asshole cheated on you.”
“Stop it, Aidan. Out.”
He obeyed me. I still don’t want to hear anything about Kade or Coleen right now. I am still on sixty percent of repairing myself.
I make small progress every day but it’s still a progress so I consider it a step to moving on.
Aside from paintings, I also paint on tote bags and shirts. I also practiced calligraphy and is currently writing a book about the life in the limelight.
I knew I have enhanced and develop some skills while trying to fix myself that help me and the people around me.
My eating disorder treatment is still on-going and my mom is strictly looking out for me. She personally prepares my meal plan for the whole week and makes sure I am on track always for me to not go binging and purging again.
The doctor told me to practice a healthy lifestyle and to not mind the weighing scale number.
The day came for my flight. I am at the airport. My fellow models are already in New York. They had their flight yesterday. I will fly a day late because I still have to finish some things for the orphanage and other things that I look at to.
I am now seated on my assigned seat when the people inside went crazy.
“Andito sina Kade at Coleen!”
“Cute nila!”
“Another couple trip ata.”
“Baka concert tour ni Kade.”
“Diba sila nung model?”
“Last time pa sila wala.”
“Siguro staged lang ‘yon for fame.”
I should have requested for a private plane. I’m not yet ready for this and I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.
When I step out of the plane as it landed, the media bombarded me with lots of questions. Thankfully, the guards were quick to stop them from getting to me.
Someone then suddenly tapped my shoulder. I turn around to see, Louis Zayn Wesley. The highest paid male model in the world.
“Louis! I’m so happy to see you.”
“Me too, love. Me too.”
He helped me with my things and we rode his car. He sent me to the hotel where we should be.
I was once again sharing a room with Keesha.
“Hey, Keesh.”
“Hey.”
I changed into comfortable clothes and jumped on the bed. I have nothing to do and I still am not sleepy so I opened my Twitter to see a photo of Kade and Coleen going out of the same plane as me.
‘Is this another hint that the two are getting stronger?’
Then another picture was a picture of Louis and I hugging each other.
‘Is this Isla de Catalina’s new love interest? Have she finally moved on with Kade or she uses Louis Wesley as a rebound?’
“What is this, Isla?”
“What?”
“These people are funny, thinking that Louis is your new lover. This is incest!”
We both laughed at how hilarious it was.
Louis Zayn Wesley is a family. His grandmother and my grandmother from the side of my father are siblings. Our parents are cousins.
“They don’t do fact check, Keesh.”
“And I know my name would be dragged here since we’ve been seen in his condo yesterday.”
Keesha and Louis are a couple. They have been together for five years now but are keeping everything lowkey.
I was left alone since Keesha went out with the others. Louis visited me and invited me to explore New York since he already took Keesha out and they wanted me not to feel left out.
We went out the next day to eat breakfast.
It was fine, exquisite restaurant in the metro as he describes it. The restaurant deserves it though. The interior and exterior are classy and even the foods served are delicious that they deserve every penny paid for it.
It was the same things for the past days before the show. We go out for breakfast together with Keesha sometimes or we stayed in our hotel room then have practice and fitting for the show.
Articles after articles came as they see Louis with me. They suspected that we are dating secretly and I am making him my rebound.
We would just laugh it off. They call us the power couple. They even complimented that we look too good together that we have some facial trait similarities.
We don’t say yes to every interview that the press wanted. We want to be silent and let the clowns speak nonsense about us.
Keesha was right because her name was soon tied to our ‘supposedly-love triangle’.
‘Keesha Atalia Romanov seems to be the third wheel to our power couple. Keesha and Isla had been friends for years. Will this be the reason for their friendship over? Or they would choose friendship over Louis.’
Today, a day before the show, Louis wanted to take me into a shopping galore. He says he’ll pay for everything but I just wanted books.
Arriving at the bookstore, my eyes twinkled at the sight of the books. I can even smell them from here. I quickly scan every bookstand looking for books of my likings.
After picking about 10, I also choose a bookstand and let Louis pay it. While walking back to the hotel, we bumped into someone, causing my books to fall out of my grip.
To my surprise, it was the persons I was most anxious to not cross paths with. It was Kade and Coleen. His hand on her waist, showing possession.
I just stood there, unmoving. Louis was the one who grab the shopping bags.
“Let’s go, love. Come on.”
I just let him take me away from here but even though we are already miles away, I still couldn’t forget Kade’s eyes blazing with anger and jealousy while looking at me and Louis.
Is it just my imagination playing with me?
CHAPTER XIIIIt is D-Day!We’ve been in this room since 6 o’clock in the morning. We had salads and tea for lunch and early dinner.Louis is not part of the team but he was invited to be in the front-row of the show. My parents are also here. They arrived yesterday but I was not able to meet them as I was too occupied about Kade’s reaction.While I was munching my leafy salad, Louis came to me.“Let’s have some pics. Mommy wanted to see you and they cannot attend because of a business trip.”“Sure!”He had his front camera open.“Say money!”“Moneeeey!”I had a piece sign and tongue out while he had a pout.“This is perfect!”“By the way, I’m going to post it on Instagram.” He continued.“Sure,” I agreed.I asked my make-up artist.“Who will be the guest star fo
CHAPTER XIVTwo years later“Let us welcome the highest paid model and actress, Isla de Catalina!”I walked towards the center stage and shake hands with the host.“Have a sit, Isla.”“Thanks,”The audience were screaming my name. It was bustling in the studio. I can’t believe how time flies swift.“So Isla, how are you?”“I’m fine, Michelle.”“So glad to hear that!”“How about your reality show?”“I am kind of M.I.A in the show because of constricting schedule. But I am ecstatic that people actually love the show.”The audience then screamed before I can continue.“Sorry to interrupt. I’ll just hand Isla her drink. She might cry.”I cackle and accepted the lunch box.“Bye, everyone.”Applause followed.“That
CHAPTER XVMorning came. I am off to a movie interview for a movie in which I am one of the main characters.I was served some pancakes, bacon and eggs. The cameras are rolling right now. It is the third season of our reality show. Mom was the one who cooked the dish I am eating.“Where are you going today, honey?”I first swallowed the pancake before answering.“Interview and then photoshoot.”She kissed my forehead.“Good luck, hon.” My mom now went upstairs and one camera man followed her.I did my thing and didn’t mind the cameras.After I was done with everything, I went to the garage.I put my things inside the black Chevrolet trailblazer which I am going to use for my appointments today.I am in my Plaid Lapel Collar Blouse and an acme de la vie (ADLV) retro track pants paired with Valentino Garvani climbers.I started the car engine and started drivin
CHAPTER XVII’m seeing the pain, seeing the pleasureNobody but you, ‘body but me‘Body but us, bodies togetherI love to hold you close, tonight and alwaysI love to wake up next to youIt was a video of Kade singing that a fan has sent to me.‘Kade is definitely still into you!’I don’t want to associate with him anymore but faith has another plan for me.He keeps on dm-ing me and I later found myself replying to his messages.Seconds turn into minutes and hours. I just couldn’t stop myself from replying to his every message. I just realized that I still do love him.‘I love you, Isla.’‘I love you too.’ Just like that, I fell on his trap again. I hope he doesn’t do the same to me again.The nex
CHAPTER XVIIIt was an exhausting week for me. News about me and Paul have been on the TV for weeks. Mama Honey advised me to not say anything. I just stayed at home.Kade would sometimes visit me but he always makes sure that no one will see him.“Kade, hindi ba nagagalit si Coleen?”“Coleen and I are over. We ended things between us silently to avoid the ruckus.”He was feeding me some chocolate ice cream while I am eating fries.“What are your plans for your birthday?”“I plan to celebrate it early with my family and maybe with you on the day of my birthday.” I said hopefully.“Why don’t we travel abroad? Like Hawaii or Maldives?”My face lightened up.“Yes, sure!”He is with me the whole day. We spent it by eating, watching movies and goofing around. It was like before.We also look up to some things we need for our tri
CHAPTER XVIIIThree o’clock the next morning, we exited his building and rode to the airport. He calls someone to get the car from the airport.We were in the air for hours. A private plane took us to Hawaii and we rented a car to take us to our villa in Kona, Hawaii.It was another few hours sitting in there until we reach a gigantic place.“Wow,” that was the first word I uttered as I stare at the villa. It was a huge one painted with white and some black on its sides. We entered the house to see that it has a grand piano near the tube-like elevator.“This is so beautiful and huge, babe.”“All of this, just for ourselves.” I gave him a quick kiss in the lips.“Let’s go to our room!” I exclaimed. We rode the elevator and we arrived at maybe the master’s bedroom. The king-sized bed is filled with rose petals. The wide glass door leads to a balcony and a large pool is be
CHAPTER XIXI woke first the next morning. I showered, dressed and went to the kitchen to cook breakfast.I prepared pancakes, sausages, bacons, eggs, avocado toast and white rice plus orange juice.A pair of arms enveloped me from behind while I was putting the foods on the table. Kade kissed my neck.“Good morning, babe.”“Good morning. I cooked breakfast. Let’s eat?”He sat down and he pulled me to seat on his lap. Kade was sniffing my hair.“I’d rather have you for breakfast.” His voice was hoarse and sexy to my ears.“Che!” I was about to get up when he pulled me back.“I was just kidding, babe. Let me feed you, okay?”I nodded and let him feed me.“Hey, hey. I’m full already.”“You need to eat more. You’re skinny.”“I’m not skinny. I’m sexy!”“O
CHAPTER XXWe arrived late that night. I was driving home from his building. I was exhausted but enjoyed spending my birthday with him. I parked my car in my garage and exited but something feels off.There is something wrong with my house. I didn’t have with me the luggage. I left it in the car. I opened the main door and it is not locked.Have I missed checking this door is locked? I went in readying myself for any attack but none came. I turned on the light to see my house was in a mess!The sofa has been ripped, my appliances are broken even the vases. The mirror on the left side of the door has something written on it with red lipstick.‘STAY AWAY FROM KADE OR I’LL KILL YOU MYSELF, YOU SLUT!’Trembling, I dialed Kade’s number and called him.“Hey, babe. Are you home?”“B-Babe, h-help!” I cried out and dropped the phone. I just was too weak to handle and sat the