Chapter 15

"What do you think about it, Raijine?" he asked, the smile grew on his face.

"I think it was wonderful." Napahagikgik pa ako matapos kong alalahanin ang bawat nangyari at ginawa namin do'n. "You know what, I'm just gonna tell you what's going on in my head now. Iyong totoo, gusto ko lang sabihin sa 'yo..."

"Oooh," he swooned. "Surprise me."

"Well, you brought me there and told me those personal stories makes me feel like I've got to know you more. And I know you're not the type of person who will just tell someone your experience in life and something you've done."

"What are you saying, Raijine?" he questioned me. Napangisi pa ito at umiling na para bang may mali sa sinabi ko. But I don't think I said the wrong thing about it. "You're like a family to me now. You're not different from Chini or to my parents. We've known each other and closely been with each other most of the time so I guess you're not a stranger to me anymore, so from now on, don't think that you are."

Napatungo ako at bahagyang napatingin. I'm not sure if he peeks to see my reaction, but that made me smile and somehow warm my heart. Ang sarap lang marinig sa kanya no'ng mga salitang 'yon. I never thought he would say that—not in a million years and while I'm here working for him. Sa totoo lang, madalang niya lang akong kausapin no'n. Nasa background lang ako palagi at tatawagin niya kapag may kailangan siya.

There was one photo that circulated online before na nakunan ng isang paparazzi. Tampok din ang issue no'n na nag-break kuno si Mi-Sun at BJH dahil sa mga kumakalat na haka-haka. Pero hindi naman 'yon totoo. Nag-inarte lang talaga si Mi-Sun no'n. Maraming nag-aabang na insider kay BJH no'n para alamin kung totoo nga ba talaga 'yong break-up nila hangga't sa one time, magkasama kaming dalawa at dahil sa dami ng mga paparazzi ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ko para hindi ako mahiwalay sa kanya sa dami ng mga sumusunod sa amin. That moment and the photos captured from that scene became somewhat controversial pero agad namang pumasok si Chini to clarify things na hindi ako ang bagong jowa ni BJH at P.A. lamang niya ako.

I could still remember that time and when I do, natataw na lang din ako. Hindi rin makalilimutan 'yon ni BJH dahil mas lalo siyang natawa sa issue na 'yon na ikina-stress naman ni Chini. Remembering those times, bago-bago pa lang din ako sa trabaho at sumasabay lamang sa alon ng trabaho at walang kamuwang-muwang. I'm glad that I've got to experience it... hindi ang maging parte ng issue pero iyong maging parte ng buhay ng isang taong hindi ko inaakalang pamilya na ang magiging turing sa akin ngayon.

Pabalik na rin kami sa bahay ngayon, just before dinner, sinakto talaga niya para hindi sayang 'yong oras nang pagpunta namin do'n.

"Matanong ko lang..."

"Yes?" He furrowed his brows.

"Some people there recognizes you... baka mamaya i-post nila 'yon sa mga social media nila and it will get attention. Baka dumugin ka ng mga paparazzi ngayon dito."

Umiling naman ito. "No, I don't think so. They're not locals and from South Korea... they are just tourists who happened to know me. I don't believe they'll post those photos right away. Believe me..."

Maniniwala naman ako sa kanya though hindi lang ako makampante sa gano'n. Iyong mga foreigner kasi kanina na I believe na tourist from Indonesia—based on their accent ay nag-request ng picture kay BJH na hindi naman niya tinanggihan at go lang siya. These Indonesian tourists are excited to have a picture with him and this one of the closes interactions he had with his fans since he got out of the military.

As soon as we reached the house and parked the car, we both headed inside the house where his parents are waiting for us to join them for dinner. But what we didn't expect is that there's someone who joined us tonight. Sumilip pa ito mul sa kusina para lang kompirmahin kung totoo nga 'yong nakikita niya and his face lit up so much when he saw BJH.

"Hyung!!!" sigaw nito. Nagmamadali itong tumakbo papunta kay BJH at sumampa pa ito at niyakap ang kanyang kuya. Natawa ako sa kanila kasi binuhat din talaga siya ni BJH and he's just so excited to see him. He's been away for almost two years and I guess the excitement we saw from him is so genuine. (Big brother!!!)

"Jinjeongha, sersuna," ani BJH. Pinipigilan niya lang din matawa at dahan-dahang binaba ang kanyang pamangkin. (Calm down, Seo-Jun.)

"An dwae, hyung! Nanen mioc nion dongan dangxineul boge mothassgo igerteun dangxineul dashi ball shuissnen cheeumipnida! Wau!" Hindi pa rin makapaniwala itong pamangkin ni BJH na makita muli ang kanyang kuya. Though if he's not my boss and we're so close to each other, baka mas malala pa sa pagyakap ko 'yong ginawa kong pagsalubong sa kanya. (No, I can't, hyung! I haven't seen you for years and this is the first time to see you again! Wow!)

Natatawa naman si BJH. "Nega uriwa hamkke jinanen girl ija buriossa." (I forgot that you're staying with us.)

Seo-Jun chuckled. "Valcer iljuil dongan yeogi issass ni? Gge imoga malhan gutipnida?" tanong nito. Tumango naman si BJH. "Nanen na chingu jipe issassda. Urinen yakgan camping mulgonelhassa." (You've been here for a week already? That's what auntie said. I was at my friend's house. We did some little camping stuff.)

Napakunot naman ng noo si BJH. "I shiganceae geiane?" (At this time and season?)

Mabilis namang tumango ang pamangkin nito. "Gra. Grado jamiissassspnida." (Yup. It was fun though."

Tumapon naman ang tingin nito sa akin at nginitian ako.

"Hiongjinhiongyn yeozachinguya?" He even squinted his eyes as if to question me. (Are you Hyung Jin-Hyeong's girlfriend?)

"Ani, gionien aniya," sagot ni BJH. (No, she's not.)

Umiling din naman ako para dagdagan lamang iyong pagkompirma ko sa tanong niya. "No, I'm not his girlfriend... he has no girlfriend right now and I'm just his personal assistant."

Seo-jun giggled. "Of course, I know you noona. Oh! Yeogi alamna isseul guya?" tanong muli nito kay BJH. (I know you big sister. Oh! How long are you going to stay here?)

Hinawakan ni BJH ang magkabilang balikat ng pamagkin niya at pinisil iyon at umiling-iling. Pansin ko naman ang pagpikit ni Seo-Jun sa gilid ng mata niya kasi mukhang dinidiinan nito ang pagkakapisil. "Nanen ggerte daeha morna." (I don't know about that.)

Napabuntonghinininga si Seo-Jun. "Du ora mermugirl barapnida. Nanen bangm dolawassda." (I hope you'll stay longer. I just came back.)

Saglit lang din naman ay tinawag na kami ng mother ni BJH para kumain na dinner. Nauna namang tumungo ro'n si Seo-Jun. I was just about to walk behind them, but BJH look back at me at pinasabay niya akong maglakad sa tabi niya hangga't sa makapasok kami sa dining area at maupo sa aming mga silya.

BJH's mother prepared their own style of bibimbap for dinner and it's impressive how tasteful everything is. May niluto pa si tita na adobong baboy which she thought she could cook for me. Hindi naman niya ako binigo dahil sobrang nasarapan ako sa lasa. Nanonoot ang lasa ng pinaghalong toyo, suka, at iba pang mga sangkap. Though she lives most of her life in Korea, but her mom who was here before teaches her everything about the Philippine culture down to traditional dishes.

"How do you find my adobo, Jelay?" she asked.

Tumango naman ako dahil inuubos ko pa ang pagkain sa bibig ko. Uminom muna ako ng tubig para tuluyang makapagsalita. "This is great po. I love your version po. It's so unique."

"Maybe you should cook your own version as well, Raijine." Paniniko pa sa akin ni BJH.

"Yeah, why don't you try it?"

Napangiwi ako kasi hindi naman ako kagalingan magluto pero dahil wala akong kawala ay pumayag na lang din naman ako. Nakangiti naman itong si BJH nang sabihin ko 'yon. Nang-aasar lang din talaga 'to, e.

Pumasok din naman kaagad sa usapan si Seo-Jun at kinuwento niya 'yong nangyaring camping nila sa bahay ng kaibigan niya. He's just seventeen years old pero halos magkasingtangkad na rin kaming dalawa. Pamangkin siya ni BJH sa father side so he's pure blood Korean. He's staying here at Baek's house because he's studying near here. Sa Seogwipo High School siya nag-aaral and he's in 12th Grade and once he graduated, he'll be joining his family in Seoul where he would also take up his college degree.

He's the one who keep the mood very light and funny. Kahit hindi ko masyadong maintindihan dahil limitado lang din ang alam kong language ay nakitatawa na lang ako kapag tumatawa sila para hindi ako out of place masyado. With this kind of feeling and how they treated me so well makes me feel so welcome and belong. Dito ko lang napatunayan na tama na bumalik ako rito at tinanggap ang trabahong ito.

If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here and experience all the luxurious things in life. Kung noon sa Pinas, ayos na ako sa mga normal na bagay-bagay pero nang makarating ako sa South Korea ay tila ipinaramdam sa akin na may malayo pang mararating kung magsusumikap at patuloy na abutin ang pangarap. I just happen to believe in what I can do and it showed me that I can be more if I pursued it and step out of what's holding me back.

I was afraid before, but now that I'm dealing with that kind of fear, happiness is somewhat the result of it. It always does.

When we finished eating, I told them that I should help them cleaning, but his mom insisted that she should take care of it and BJH advise me not to push myself too hard so I just give it away. While BJH and his nephew are catching up together in the living room, I decided to go to the room and changed my clothes. While I'm preparing, my phone rings and it's Chini calling.

Agad ko namang sinagot ang tawag niya because she said she'll call me back and so she did.

"How's your day?" bungad naman nito sa akin.

"It's good... how about you?"

"Oh, it's fine. As a usual super busy na naman. I've been dealing with a lot of things lately and no, that's not a personal thing but work-related. I've been talking to clients left and right and as much as I want to settle it up, I just can't because Jin-Hyeong isn't around. Gusto nilang ma-meet si Jin-Hyeong and I keep repeating the same lies para lang pagtakpan kung nasaan man kayo ngayon. But they bought my lies so some of them are still pushing the project. I'll just get their word soon before the contract signing. Anyway, isa pa pala, the Calvin Klein campaign video will be out this January... I guess saktong new year? Walang minention na date, but January. That's all I've been dealing with lately. Ikaw? Ano naman sa 'yo?"

"It's been quite amazing for me and BJH actually. Pumunta kami sa isang garden hill and we're just spending most of the time with his ano... basta..."

"Sabihin mo na nga kung nasaan kayo, Jelay. Hindi naman ako magagalit... siguro slight lang? Pero dali, sabihin mo na o pauuwiin kita sa Pinas."

"E, baka magalit si Jin-Hyeong kapag sinabi ko sa 'yo. Bilin pa naman no'n sa akin na 'wag kong sabihin sa 'yo, e."

"E, ano bang tinatago niyo?" tanong nito sa akin.

"Wala naman..."

"O, e 'di, go. Nasaan nga kayo? Hindi ko naman kayo pababalikin dito, e. I just want to know where you are guys para maging komportable na rin ako rito," pamimilit pa nito sa akin.

Nakapagtataka lang dahil kung may tracker naman si Chini, she would already know where we are pero tinatanong niya ba iyon sa akin para kompirmahin na tama 'yong nasa tracker niya? Nag-aalangan talaga akong sabihin sa kanya 'yon pero kung wala naman siyang gagawing ibang bagay ay sasabihin ko na lang din sa kanya 'yon.

"Sasabihin ko sa 'yo kung nasaan kami ngayon, but please 'wag mong sabihin kay Jin-Hyeong na ako ang nagsabi sa 'yo, ha?"

"Oo naman, believe me."

Napahugot pa ako nang malalim na hininga para lamang kumuha ng lakas ng loob. "Okay... ito na... sasabihin ko na, but I'm just going to remind na 'wag mo sasabihin kay Jin-Hyeong, a?"

"Ay, paulit-ulit, Jelay?!"

Napangiwi ako. "Okay... nandito kami sa Jeju ngayon. We stayed with his parents now at sa tingin ko next month pa kami babalik diyan... not really sure pero baka ilang weeks pa. Don't worry, I'm looking after him so ako ang magdadala ng balita sa 'yo kung anong ginagawa niya. Just please don't tell it to him, okay?"

"Okay, Jelay—wait, may incoming call ako. Drop na kita, ha? Sagutin ko lang 'to. Client 'to, e."

"Sige, sige... bye, Chini."

Nang binaba ni Chini ang tawag ay napahinga na lamang ako sa kama at napatitig sa kisame. I trust Chini that she won't tell BJH that I told her where we are right now. Para naman kasing hindi niya alam kung nasaan kami ngayon. She used to track BJH and she would've known it by the time we've left Seoul.

But I guess, I just have to take this worry out of my head and just enjoy what's going on while still, I can.

The days had passed quickly. Dumaan ang new year's and I've got to spend it with BJH and his family. They were so kind and happy that we all got to experience this new kind of celebration. It's 2022 and we're all so pleased with what's coming for us this year.

Ang nakatutuwa pa ro'n ay dapat sila lamang ang magkakasama sa family picture. I would be the one who's going to take the photo for them, but then they invited me to join them as if I was blood-related with them. All throughout my stay, they didn't make me feel like I'm someone who supposed to know my limits and all, but they were so generous to treat me like I've been with them since I was young.

I shared the family photo with my family back in the Philippines. I did a video call pero dahil medyo malabo ang connection ay mabilis lang din ang naging pag-uusap namin. When Chrizzle saw Seo-Jun on the photo, ang sabi pa nito ay ireto ko siya ro'n dahil ang cute-cute raw. Kahit 'wag na raw ako mag-uwi ng mga merch o chocolate ay ayos na raw si Seo-Jun para sa kanya.

She's freaking out that Seo-Jun is almost the same age as her. What amazed me about the Korean age culture is that they all add a year older to their age. Jin-Hyeong turned 27, then Seo-Jun turned 18 now. Every Korean added a year to their age as the new year's come. It's quite fascinating and if I'm a Korean, I would be 24 by now.

With the celebration coming in left and right, I couldn't be happier experiencing all of this stuff. But when I check my social media and then I just found out something that would freak Jin-Hyeong out is that because of this one terrible surprising news that just comes out in new year's.

Nahm Mi-Sun and Joh Dong-Yoon spotted celebrating together on new year's eve!

And then the next articles and photos coming in flooded with a lot of Mi-Sun and Dong-Yoon kissing under the fireworks.

Nahm Mi-Sun and Joh Dong-Yoon confirmed that they are dating.

And if Jin-Hyeong finds out about that, he'll be mad. Or maybe something is going to happen and we're not just aware of it. But I'm going to keep it lay low... as if I have no idea about it. I'll just let Jin-Hyeong live a peaceful life here in Jeju and be not bitter about it. Hopefully.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much!

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