III

"This is why I sometimes hate the Philippines, Ali. Even though it's fun here, traffic can be pretty much annoying! Nakakainis!" I just shake my head with Ate Prim's outburst.

"I told you. We should've gone to Bacoor or Imus," I said, matter-in-fact-ly.

"I guess you can apply what people sometimes say, ' There's two side in everything.' Every country, even people, can be awesome and good at the surface, but each have imperfections in them. You just gotta accept that nothing's perfect, yeah?" Ali muttered. I don't know if it is just my imagination, but I can feel she's hinting something to us with her tone.

"You know what? Why don't you try Binibining Pilipinas? You're pretty, and very witty. You'll definitely win the crown," Ate Prim complimented as we entered the NBS. "You're really pretty, I mean it. I'm also pretty, too, but your beauty is very very rare. It's like, there's something enchanting about you. But still, I'm also pretty." I didn't know if I should laugh or not with how Ate's acting. Even Ali. She was trying not to grin, but was failing miserably.

She's really sometimes shameful to be with, Ate Primo. If she wasn't my sister, the eldest at that, I would've pleaded my parents to send her out of the country, away from me. She has never failed to embarrass me in public places, for as long as I can remember.

"Isn't it the first time you'll go out after coming here?" Ate Prim asked, finally changing the topic.

"Yup, and I'm excited," Ali happily answered. She half-smiled, half-smirked at me like she always does, when she accidentally met my eyes when she looked around.

"If ever we have time, maybe next weekend, we'll show you around so you can be familiarized here in Cavite," I butted in.

"Really? That would be nice!" The conversation continued as we roam around, assisting Ali at picking up some stuff.

"So... we're gonna be classmates, right?" she asked as we wait for my sister to finish. We were at the counter, lining up, when my sister said she forgot to pick up some pens.

"Yup. So, I'll be your baby sitter for the rest of your stay," I tried to joke.

"I don't need a baby sitter. I'm pretty much a grown-up." She winked at me, which made me chuckle. Yes, I can sense that much. There's something about her I can't grasp. Something I never felt from people my age, or people at Ate Prim's age group. It's like, there's something about her, different from the rest of us. And I don't know what that difference is.

"Yeah, yeah. You can say that when you grow up..." I eyed her from head to toe. "... like literally." I failed to held back my laugh when her face scrunched in irritation.

I am tall, but so is Ali. She is definitely taller than most average Filipinas, mostly because of her being a mixed. But the fact doesn't change that she's still a few inches shorter than me. My sister is even taller than she is, and Ate's almost reaching my eyes. Ali on the other hand is around my shoulders, so definitely short compare to us.

The twins are also almost as tall as she is. Four is taller than Third and already reached her jaw, Third is around her shoulders.

Yep, definitely short.

She was about to slap me on my shoulders when a young girl shyly walked towards us. She stared at Ali for so long, without saying anything, with curiosity and recognition in her eyes. Ali, sensing that she's the subject of the child's attention, knelled on her right knee and smiled at the child.

"Yes? Do you need anything?" she asked softly.

Seeing that Ali is kind and approachable, the kid's eyes shone brightly, almost twinkling. If this was anime, I bet her eyes would.

"Can I have your autograph?" the child excitedly asked as she opened her bag and fished out her small notebook with a pencil in hand. Having Ali's back towards me, I can't see her reaction clearly, but Ate Prim, who, coincidentally, just arrived, and I, for sure, were shocked.

Autograph? Is it because she's too pretty the child mistook her as a celebrity? It's possible.

"My autograph?" Ali asked, confusion filled her voice. She looked up behind her, to me and Ate Prim. Whether she's asking why the child is asking for her autograph or what to do, I shrugged. She sighed before looking back at the child.

"Yup. Aren't you Jane de Guzman? The girl from Sweet Love?" Shocked is an understatement. We were bewildered. Sweet Love? Is it true? Is Ali one of their models? Wait, I am hella confused.

"Ow," was all Ali said. She, then, took the notebook and signed on it. She even asked the girl's name, Lilac, and left a short message. Lilac left shortly after a few hugs and picture taking.

The moment Lilac left, Ate Prim immediately ambushed Ali. She held her tight on both shoulders as she stared intently on Ali. She, then, took out her phone with one hand and scroll through it before looking back between her phone's screen and Ali's face. "You do look like her!" Ate Prim exclaimed. I took her phone from her as she covered her mouth with both of her hands.

I looked into it and saw a picture of a Sweet Love ambassador. It was a picture I am familiar with, as Limuel and a few of his guy friends searched for it a lot. The picture is also all-over social media, months ago, even until now. It went viral, because not only she's pretty and a new face in the modeling industry (hence the curiosity), Sweet Love is also one of the most prestigious millennial brands as of now. Its clothes and perfumes vary and fit perfectly the customers it's aiming's tastes. They became a big icon for the kids, teens and young adults' current fashion.

Some of our clothes at home are also of Sweet Love. Even the perfume I am using, Whirlwind Romance, is under the same brand. Most of their perfumes are unisex, and only a few astray towards pure masculinity or femininity, unlike their line of body spray and clothes. But overall, their products are big hits. None of their products failed to sell in the market as far as I know. This big of a brand never offered sponsorship to anyone or even associated itself to models, both known and amateurs, so this picture became somehow controversial, as Jane de Guzman is the only model ever seen in any Sweet Love's social media accounts. Not only that, but a day after the picture was posted, Sweet Love publicly announced their "loyalty" to Jane de Guzman, saying she will be the only ambassador of the brand and will be the only face of it. Jane de Guzman is that big.

And I didn't even realize Aliyah de Guzman is Jane de Guzman. Holy shit.

Even while having dinner at the mall, Aliyah Jane de Guzman's identity was the only thing we talked about. It seems that Sweet Love is a family business and she was forced to pose for their products. The public's enthusiasm brought her to an unexpected contract of being its ambassador. She started talking about her family and her life in states, but somehow, deep in me, I know she's still keeping some things. I don't want to be nosy, but for some reason, I want to unveil the mystery that surrounds the girl who's making me feel giddy. And so, that, I will do.

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