30: The Romantic and the Realist part 2

“Sorry for waiting.” Drino just arrived at the spa.

Ashmille has been waiting for him for an hour. She arrived at the venue early to reserve a booking.

The female massage therapist blushed and giggled. “Hi, Sir. You’re Drino Montezales, right?”

“That’s me,” he smiled sweetly.

Ashmille poked him. He lowered his head to meet hers. “We shouldn’t be seen together in a spa and buffet?” she whispered.

They forgot that Drino is a public figure who might spread unwanted rumors about them.

“No, it’s okay.”

“Would you prefer we have a water spa instead?”

“What are those?”

“It’s also a spa, like hot showers, sauna, jacuzzis, and hot tubs, but doesn’t need human touch since you don’t want us to be seen together.”

“They have that cool stuff?”

“Yup. We can try all of it.”

“If that’s the case, we’ll be using the public facilities, not the private rooms, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Yet it also means a lot more people would see us together when we use those.”

“Indeed”

“And our private conversation is limited to private rooms.”

“They have massage rooms good for two. Two people with one massager each.”

“Still, we can’t talk much about ourselves because they would be listening to us, which could stir up gossip.”

“It’s a weekday, fewer people than usual. Besides, phones are forbidden in the water spa. If we were caught, they won’t have a picture or video for proof.”

“You’re chill about this,” she frowned, wondering why he doesn’t mind.

“And you worry too much.”

“It’s because I don’t want to be seen alone with you… in a spa! It would be better if another friend or colleague were with-”

“Look who’s here!” someone approached them. “Drino, aka Aldrin.”

“Oh, yeah. Are you done with a massage session?” Drino responded.

“Yes, and hanging out by the buffet is next. How about you?”

“Yeah, we just arrived here. So, maybe after an hour.”

“We?”

“I’m with Ashmille,” he introduced her. “We’ve known each other in college. Now, she’s helping me with my acting career.”

“How nice,” she smiled at her. “Oh, that’s why you were talking with her a while ago.”

“Ashmille, she’s Ritch, one of the actresses I work with for the film.”

“Your leading lady,” she nodded and smiled back.

Ashmille shook her head. They might avoid being seen by strangers, but they didn’t anticipate being seen by Drino’s colleague.

“I highly recommend getting the half upper body massage. Gotta get a shoulder and head massage after that scene we had.”

Ashmille flashed back to her mind how this woman rested her head on Drino’s shoulder. And when their heads turned simultaneously and kissed.

“We’ll take note of that. Anyway, we’ll be heading into the water spa.”

“Sure. Enjoy your night together!”

Enjoy our night together? Ashmille isn’t sure if she will be pleased or not.

“You too!”

She left and went straight to the buffet area.

“Shall we?” Drino asked her.

“So, you’ve decided to go to the water spa and not in the massage rooms.”

“I thought you didn’t want them. I’m okay with anything.”

Ashmille is having a slightly bad mood. That woman recommended a massage package, so she’ll go with the opposite choice.

“Onto the water spa.”

Drino smiled secretly.

“But on one condition,” she added. He gave her a puzzled look. “We should keep our distance. No conversation. Act as if we’ve never known each other.”

He immediately understood her condition and agreed on one condition, too.

“I’m okay with that, but we should act like we’ve known each other again in the buffet.”

“No way,” she disagrees.

“Yes way. People won’t suspect a thing if they see two colleagues eating dinner together.” He pulled her gently. “Let’s take a dip.”

They entered the water spa area. At least 12 people are using this facility. Ashmille enjoyed exploring its functions. She giggles and is having fun like a kid. While Drino was staring at her, sitting in the jacuzzi for 50 minutes. He finds it amusing to watch her enjoy herself, but also feels miserable that he’s not part of her fun.

After an hour of the water spa session, they rinsed themselves in a shower, separating men and women. They went to the buffet area.

Drino wore a casual yellow t-shirt, black shorts, and slippers.

Ashmille saw him with wet hair and some water drops from his scalp down to his chin. She was thinking about how someone could look cool and hot at the same time, coming out of the bathroom. She looked at herself. It seems like she’s a wet baby chick.

After seeing his bare, wet face, a realization came to her.

“I forgot that the people here can now use their phones, unlike in the spa,” she murmured, biting her nail from her right index finger.

She raised the hood of her red hoodie and secured that it wouldn’t fall on her head with bobby pins.

“Cute hoodie, little red riding hood,” he patted her head.

“H-Hey, my hood might fall.”

“Shall we transfer seats? It’s too dark here.”

They sat at the farthest corner of the restaurant.

“No, this is the best spot. I’ll go take some food first, then you follow, okay?”

She left him and returned after 7 minutes. She brought two plates full of savory and sweet dishes. It’s Drino’s turn.

“I almost forgot, you’re a star. You shine so bright, it can cause you trouble when they see us multiple times being together.”

“The star won’t shine without the moon.”

Ashmille started binging on her food. “Speaking of the moon, since you look good together, how was your first physical intimacy with that actress?”

“With Ritch? I wasn’t the first choice for this role, but I’m glad that we look good together. That scene wasn’t the first one. We had our first kissing scene together before the audition. It happened once.”

Not once, not twice, but thrice! Wait, why am I counting it? It doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter. Their job is to kiss! Her mind is tense.