Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine 

The sun’s majestic rays were shining brightly, radiating UV rays, causing the whole afternoon atmosphere to be hot. If it weren’t for the cool summer breeze, the whole house would feel like an oven. 

“Since when did we live next to the sun?” Jiel groaned as he repeatedly fanned himself. 

“You should already be used to it, Kuys,” Alliyah responded. “There are only two weathers in the Philippines, it’s either it’s too hot or too cold.” 

“You guys...” Kaize chuckled. “Did you not notice? The weather is controlled by Ate Reya’s mood!” 

“When she’s sad or gloomy, the weather is cold and it’ll be raining cats and dogs, and now that she’s smiling very widely the sun is shining brightly!” Kaize explained.  

“Aren’t I a genius?” She smiled widely while she wiggles her brows. 

Alliyah and Jiel exchanged glances at each other and then they both shrugged.  

“I think you just need some more sleep, Ate Kaize,” Alliyah nodded. 

“I agree with Iyah,” Jiel seconded. 

“B-b-but...” Kaize pouted and sighed.  

While the other friends were busy sighing and thinking of a way to elevate the hotness of the weather, Reya on the other hand was silently sitting on a bean bag while thinking about things. A big smile was plastered on her lips, as she reminisced the conversation that she and Thomas had at the workshop. 

“Hey, Reys! What’s with that smile of yours?” asked Jiel. “Don’t get me wrong – You look good when you smile, it’s just that I’ve noticed that you seem very inspired lately." He said.

"That's what I was trying to tell you a while ago!" Kaize pouted. "Ate has been smiling brightly since yesterday!"

"Can't I just smile for no reason?" Reya chuckled as she sifted her attention to look at them.

"You can, Ate," Alliyah replied. "... but that would seem creepy, and sounds like something that only crazy psychopaths would do." She added.

"Gosh! Why does Alliyah's mouth have no filter?" Kaize said in between her laughter. 

"I'm just being truthful here," Alliyah proudly smiled and did a hair flip.

"Ya! Do you think your hair is tasty?!" Jiel scolded when some of the strands of Alliyah's hair came in contact with his mouth.

"Is hair tasty?" Kaize asked. "Anyways! Enough of what hair tastes like. Let's talk about the reason behind Ate Reya's glowing smile!" She said to divert the center of the topic back to Reya.

"Spill Reys!" Jiel enthusiastically said.

"I'm all ears!" Alliyah chipped in.

The three of them - Alliyah, Jiel, and Kaize, sat on the floor and waited for Reya to start talking. Reya let out a sigh and a small chuckle. She then bit her lower lip to suppress the small smile that was forming on her lips, as she was again reminded by Thomas.

"You guys know that I attended a workshop, right?" She started, and the friends immediately nodded. "I... happen to meet someone there." She continued.

The three friends were all ears as Reya narrated what happened at the workshop. They were really curious as to what happened, and why Reya was smiling from ear to ear.

"Thomas Parri?!" Jiel reacted. "As in Thomas Parri?!" He added.

Reya's brows furrowed as she nodded. She was slightly confused as to why Jiel reacted that way.

"Why, Kuys?" She asked. "What's wrong with Thomas Parri?" 

"Who's he? I don't know him." Kaize seconded.

"Me too!" Alliyah agreed.

Jiel then gave them all the look of disbelief. "You aren't from Earth if you don't know him!" He said as he quickly took his phone up and typed something on it.

Both Kaize and Alliyah took a peek to see what Jiel was up to. He was searching for something on the internet.

"What was the date that you went to the workshop, again?" He asked still looking at his phone.

 "August 31... I think?" Reya replied with doubt.

"What's happening?" Alliyah asked. "I'm confused, I don't understand a thing."

"I'm with you Alliyah, I too, don't understand. My brain seems to be malfunctioning." Kaize responded.

Reya too was curious and confused, then finally Jiel showed her his phone screen. "August 31. The Sought-after Bachelor, Thomas Parri, was seen flirting with his new girl." Alliyah read the headlines.

"So? What if he's seen with a girl?" Kaize asked. "What does it have to do with Ate Reya?" She added.

Jiel sighed and rolled his eyes. "Look at the picture!" He said. "Don't you think those clothes look familiar?" He asked as he pointed at the picture that was posted in the article.

Reya's eyes widened when she realized what Jiel meant. She then took the phone and examined the photo herself to confirm Jiel's claim, and he really wasn't wrong when he said that the clothes look familiar, because the clothes were hers and she was the woman in the photograph!

She was lucky enough because her face was not exposed because the photo seemed to be taken by someone who sat behind them. Only Thomas's face was seen.

He looks handsome even in candid shots! Her inner thoughts said.

Reya immediately shook her head and turned the phone off before handing it back to Jiel.

Gosh, Reya! This is not the time to fall for his charms! She mentally scolded herself. You're close to being the next target of a mob of crazy fangirls, and paparazzi!

"What do I do guys?" She asked her friends.

"Your face was not exposed but that doesn't mean you're free from everything," Jiel said. "The media will surely do all they can to uncover your identity, so the best thing for you to do is stay low." He added.

"I agree with, Kuys Jiel." Kaize seconded. "You can just stay at home first until everything cools down."

Reya took a deep breath to calm herself down. They're right! I'll just stay low. There's no need to panic.

"Uhmm... I think we're a little late." Alliyah spoke. "A new article has just been published; Ate Reya's identity has been revealed." She said as she showed her phone to them.

Thomas Parri is dating the rookie CEO of Posh Glams, Reya Fernandi.