Mr. HOT & Ms. COOL

CHAPTER 4: When Their Pets Met

Driving her SUV, Reina met with her cousin Zandro, her best friend Jennie, and her staff at the Costelo Residence. There, Reina would be picking up her van blue point ragdoll cat, Jill.

They all had breakfast first with her Uncle Reuben and his wife, Aunt Zola, before doing the first part of the prenuptial photo shoot in the garden.

Jennie asked Reina, "So how is Aunt Regina, Rei?"

Reina replied, "Oh, she is fine. Hopefully, they will be spending Christmas vacation here and attend my photo exhibit this coming December, if things will all just go according to plan."

Zandro felt the uncertainty in his cousin.

He was thinking – Anyway, it was not the first time that Auntie or even her father had planned things yet they did not materialize. Growing up, Rei just got used to it having her parents not being able to attend most of the important events in her school life. Auntie was faraway with her second husband, while her father was so busy with his family and all of his endeavors. Academically speaking, Rei was not that bad. Her marks were not very high but they were all above the average. But in the arts, she definitely excelled. She was a consistent winner in singing competitions. She was also the female vocalist of the band that we formed with my friends during their high school days. We were very popular on the campus back then. Rei had this versatile raspy voice which enabled her to do rock ballads, upbeat pop songs, and high-belting songs. She could even rap perfectly. She also learned how to play electric guitar under my tutelage. During school parties, we often performed. I just used to be the vocalist of the band, but when I let Reina be our main vocalist and I just doing the backup vocals, our band became even more famous. During our high school days she was described as to having the looks of Liv Tyler but the voice of Bonnie Tyler. Reina was also talented at dancing. She and Jennie had a hip-hop dance crew with their classmates back in high school.

So Zandro just told her, "Well, Dad, Mom, Jen and I are always here for you whether or not they come."

Jennie then tried to change their topic, "Anyway, the wall-mounted play area that you ordered for Jill had just arrived yesterday afternoon. I have already brought the package."

Zandro then asked, "Would you need help installing them?"

She said, "I think I can manage, Kuya. Anyway, you and Uncle taught me how to use some power tools and carpentry tools. You even gifted me a toolbox."

Her uncle then said, "Well, you have been travelling a lot. You should avoid depending on strangers to do some minor things for you. So we taught you some life skills, like changing your flat tire, some motorbike and car trouble shooting, and some handyman jobs. You were very keen on learning them, anyway. I have already bought you your own rechargeable drill, hammer, pliers and screw drivers. I have them packed already. Bring them home along with your other packages and Jill."

Her uncle’s wife then said, "I will definitely miss that cat. She is so sweet."

She replied, "Don't worry, Auntie. If I cannot bring her along on my travels, then I will have to leave her here."

Jennie asked, "Will you still be traveling a lot? I thought you would be preparing for your photo exhibit."

She informed them, "I might possibly close a big deal with the CEO of Viajeros Enterprises. So, fingers crossed."

Jennie felt excited, "Really?! Where did you meet Kian Estrada?"

Then it hit her – Could Kian be the same Kian Estrada that Mom had told me about last night, who lost his mother at a very young age? We have the same fate having separated parents, but at least both my parents are still alive and she was not abandoned by her father.

Then she answered the question, "We were seatmates on my flight back to Missi. He is also the occupant next door of my condominium residence. He wants to hire me as the photographer for all of the shows that he would be producing for his pay TV channel and other business endeavors"

Jennie shared, "Yeah, Viajeros Travel Network is his newest business venture. The test broadcast of this channel will be tomorrow."

She then added, "Well, we still have to discuss the details of the work agreement. We had already exchanged numbers so he would keep me posted. As for my photo exhibit, I already got two concepts to pitch to present at my next meeting with the art director of the art gallery next week, which I just developed as I relaxed on the balcony of my residence last night. I need some more concepts. Hopefully, I can develop three more. So this week, I will be reviewing the compilation of my digital images through the years."

Aunt Zola said, "There is no doubt about it, sweetie. You can focus on it more, minus all of the noise here in the house. But you should promise that you will still visit more often. This will always be your home."

Reina acknowledged that lightheartedly, "Of course, Auntie. I will always go back, especially to all the delicious meals you always cook."

They really did not want her to move out, but then she felt that with her career flourishing, she needed to live at the heart of the city where there were several establishments that would need her as a professional photographer. She had also been getting tired of traveling back and forth from home to her studio in the heart of the city. She needed a much nearer residence where she would have more personal space. She could not get those at the family home even if her uncle and her cousin were willing to build her own crib with a workshop in their still very vast lawn. The family house was just located on the outermost part of the city. She also felt that it was time to leave the nest. She needed to spread her wings even more.

After breakfast, she and her staff had already setup in the garden for the photo shoot. After that, she received a call from her father while her staff was loading up the photography equipment.

She received the call answering – Yes, Dad. Good morning. I am in a middle of a photo shoot. What can I do for you?

Her father said – Well, I just heard from Ronaldo while we were playing golf that Robin tried to visit you last night but you did not open the door. And then when he was already near the elevator and looked back, he saw you allowing a man to enter your residence. Do you have a boyfriend that I don't know of?

At first she did not know how to respond to her father. Then she eventually thought of something – I was probably in the bathroom when he came, Dad. As for the man I allowed to enter my house. He was a neighbor, whose cat got onto my balcony. So he rang the door to ask me if he could get his cat. So I allowed him in and then he left right away afterwards.

She had been tempted to admit that the man was her boyfriend just so her father would already stop matching her to Robin Estrada, but she did not want to involve Kian with that issue.

Her father's response – Do you personally know the man? You should not be so trusting.

Her reply was – Yeah, I already know the man, Dad. And as far as I know, he is a good man. I won't allow him to enter the house if I feel that I will not be safe. Anyway, kindly tell Robin not to visit me at my residence, Dad. He even visited me late at night already. It was past 10 PM already if I am not mistaken. I need to focus on developing some more concepts for my photo exhibit. My meeting with the art director of the gallery will already be next week. So I need to pitch at least five concepts and show some prints.

Her father agreed – Okay.

And then she added – And I got one more request.

Her father's response was – Okay, what is it?

She said her request – I might visit the city hall one of these days to take some photos of people working. Do you think it would be possible?

Her father then said – They might feel their privacy to be violated. If you want, you can just stay at my office and take my photos while I work.

She responded with – Yeah, that is possible, Dad. But as much as possible, I don't want my subject to be aware that I am taking snaps. So that the images will be more realistic. Promise that I will first ask their permission first should I include a photo of them in my exhibit.

His father then said – Okay, I will ask the pleasure of the body. If they agree, then you can do it.

She replied with – Thank you very much, Dad. Well, I got to go now. We have to leave now for another location.

Her father responded – Okay. Bye for now, bunny.

Reina rode with Zandro and Jennie in her cousin's SUV while her staff rode her SUV on their way to their next location. On their way, Zando and Jennie questioned her.

Her cousin asked, "Why did your Dad call? Is she trying to match you again with another guy?"

She could not lie with them because her cousin and her best friend knew when she was trying to cover up something, "Sort of."

Jennie then said, "Spill the beans, now."

So she told them, "Yesterday, as soon as I arrived from my flight. I did a family portrait photo shoot for one of Dad's friends. I agreed to it while I was still in New York. His driver fetched me from the airport, helped me out unload my staff at the condo and then we left after I had freshened up a bit. After the photo shoot, while having dinner, Dad and the parents of the guy did try to suggest that we go out on dates."

Zandro then asked, "What did you say then?"

Reina said, "The usual things, that I want to focus more on my career and not be restrained by conventions like marriage and children, and that I am currently busy preparing for the photo exhibit, so I will have no time for dating."

Then Jennie asked, "So why did he still call you?"

She said, "Well, the guy tried to see me last night at my residence at around past 10 PM already. I didn't open the door for him, but then it seemed that as he left, he saw me allowing Kian to enter my unit."

Jennie was surprisingly happy, "You allowed Kian inside your residence?! Why? What did the two of you talk about?"

Reina explained, "Well, we found out about being neighbors when we both went to our balconies at almost the same time. I took some photos of the city lights and the night sky. And then I suddenly took a snap of him while he was working on his tablet. I could not resist the urge because it was a picture-perfect subject for the concept that just suddenly popped into my mind as I saw it. He noticed that. I apologize for not asking his permission first and then explain myself. He was not angry at all but he requested to see the photo, so we agreed that he went to my unit instead of me going to his unit. He ended up asking me about a large print of that photo in exchange for his approval for me to have it exhibited when chosen. So he would set an appointment in my printing lab. And he also told me his interest in hiring me as a professional photographer, which I had already told you about over breakfast. Then afterwards, he left. Dad called because the father of the guy told him that I might already have a boyfriend. That is why I rejected the idea of dating him."

Zandro reacted, "You should have admitted it."

Reina said, "I was tempted to admit it actually, but it would be unfair to Kian. I just told Dad that my neighbor's cat had been to my balcony. So he rang my doorbell to get the cat and then left."

Jennie then shared all of a sudden, "By the way, Arthur's fiancée is actually Kian's ex-girlfriend. They broke up just last February. So he went to New York to study filmmaking after the breakup. He had not dated again after that. There were rumors that he turned to be a woman hater after that. It is even rumored that his chief-of-staff, who is a beautiful lady, could be the reason of the break-up. But I don’t believe it. I don’t like my cousin’s new girlfriend. She had been too friendly to Arthur even if the two of you had not yet ended your relationship. And if my guess is right, she flirted with Arthur even when she was still Kian’s girlfriend."

Reina said, "Well, I don't think that he is a woman hater because I saw a beautiful lady, whom I presumed was his chief-of-staff, go to his unit once to accompany a housekeeper during his sabbatical leave during the time when I was arranging my stuff at the condo before I left for London."

After the rest of the photo shoot, they had lunch at the ancestral home again. She got Jill already and then loaded up some of her other personal stuff in her SUV.

Reina had already gone back home after dropping off her staff at the studio. She borrowed a trolley cart from the concierge to load her packages. She was installing the wall-mounted play area for Jill by the narrow wall of the kitchen covering up the sink area, when she heard another ragdoll cat meowing at her balcony. Jill even went ahead of her as she opened the sliding door to the balcony. Jill played with the other cat and then she saw Kian coming out of the balcony and asked, "Is Jack there?"

She asked back, "Is Jack your ragdoll cat?"

He affirmed, "Yes. I forgot to close the screen doors as I got some water and he had run away to the balcony already."

She scooped the two cats into her arms, "Yes, he is here. He might have smelled Jill, my cat."

He said, "I will go there to get him."

She agreed, "Okay," and then entered the house, closed the sliding door and freed the cats from her arms.

She then heard the doorbell so she went to the door. She opened it as she saw from the monitor that it was Kian.

His initial question was, "What are you doing?"

She said, "Well, Jill and I have just arrived. I picked her up from my Uncle's. I am now trying to install the wall-mounted play area with a scratching post for her."

He replied, "I got almost the same thing for Jack. I can help you out installing it if you don't mind."

Her answer was, "If I am not disturbing you at all, then yes, please help me out."

As Kian installed Jill's play area, she prepared some snacks while their cats were playing with some plush toys.

In her mind – Good thing I accepted the cakes and muffins that Auntie packed for me. I just need to make coffee. If Kian wanted juice, I also got some glass bottled fruit pulpy drinks and some bottles of sparkling fruit juice.

When he was already done installing the play area on the wall, he lifted Jill and Jack and guided them into the play area.

She then asked him, "I prepared some snacks. What drinks do you want – coffee, tea, sparkling water or fruit juice?"

He answered, "Sparkling water will do." He then washed his hands in the kitchen sink and joined her in the living room where she set the snacks on the center table.

He asked then while he chose from the selection, "Did you bake them?"

She smiled and said, "No. I have no talent for cooking. My uncle's wife had just packed them for me when I picked up Jill. I grew up with them. So she is like a second mother to me. They only had a son anyway, so they treated me like their own real daughter."

He was munching on the corn muffin while she was having blueberry muffin when the doorbell rang.

She stood up to check the security monitor by the door and saw her father with the Estrada father and son. Everyone was still dressed in their golf attire. Her father was holding a basketful of fruit. Robin was holding a bouquet of red roses and some paper bags with goodies, while his father was holding some more paper bags of goodies.

She immediately opened the door. And she did not expect what just happened next.

Ronaldo Estrada uttered, "Kian..."

Kian suddenly stood up and then spoke without minding his father and his half-brother, "Good afternoon, Mayor," then addressed Reina, "Jack and I will already leave, Rei. Thank you for the snacks. Please excuse us," picked up his cat from the wall and then headed directly to the door.

Ronaldo Estrada ran for his son and Robin then followed his father, leaving the flowers and all the paper bags behind.

Reina was then left with her father, who asked her, "What is your relationship with Kian Estrada, Reina? Why is he here?"

She was still taken aback by what had just happened, that she did not seem to have understood what her father was asking her.

Her thoughts were – So Kian is indeed the abandoned son of Mr. Estrada. Gosh! Kian did not even bother to look at his father. He just left like that. I could sense the pain in his eyes as he expressed his intention to leave. Did they just actually meet here again for the first time after so many years?

She heard, the ringing of the doorbell next door as well as the tapping on the door.

Ronaldo Estrada was begging his abandoned son, "Please let me come in, Kian. Let us talk."