Chapter 19

"I need you guys to come back to Seoul," Chini stated, sounded like an order already. I know what she's trying to impose because we have to be there for his work and BJH just can't get away with it whenever he can. I can see the frustration in Chini's face, but the dismay was plastered in BJH's face. "Jelay? Jin-Hyeong? Ano na?"

BJH took a deep breath. He was about to get up from where he was sitting pero agad siyang pinigilan ni Chini. She even looks at me as if I did something wrong. Sa tingin ko, malaki nga talaga ang pagkakamali ko rito. We wouldn't be in this situation if it wasn't for me.

I feel like he's just trying to be cool and act so calm kahit na iritadong-iritado na siya. I'm probably his number one hated person and I'm already accepting my fate because of it.

"What do you want me to say?" BJH asked, he looked so done with this conversation already.

Pumeywang si Chini. "Why did you left Seoul without telling me something about it? And then you brought Jelay as well. Yeogiser shiganeul nangbihazi anhass eumion johgessda?" (I hope you didn't waste your time here.)

Napangisi si BJH at bahagyang napailing sa binitawang salita ni Chini. "Nanen gazocceae hamkke jinagoissda. Ywae naga yeogiser na shinageul nangbihago issni?" (I'm staying with my family. Why would I be wasting my time here?)

Wala namang naisagot si Chini at napaismid na lamang ito. Hinarap naman ako ni Chini saka siya humalukipkip. I was never ready for this kaya kung ano mang sabihin niya sa akin, tatanggapin ko na lang kaysa mapauwi sa Pinas nang wala sa oras.

"Thanks to you, Jelay at sinabi mo sa akin kung nasaan kayong dalawa ngayon. Less struggle for me, you know?"

Sinilip ko ang mukha ni BJH at hindi siya lumilingon sa akin. Napabuntonghininga na lamang ako. Alam kong ipapasok ni Chini 'yong tungkol do'n kaya naman nahihiya ako sa boss ko kasi kabilin-bilinan niyang 'wag ako magbibigay ng kung ano mang salita. Not even our location.

"Pwede mag-explain?" tanong ko.

Napataas ng kilay si Chini. Wala pa rin namang kibo si BJH kaya sobra-sobra ang kabog sa dibdib ko.

"At... bakit mo naman kailangan magpaliwanag?" takang tanong ni Chini.

Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga. Umayos pa ako sa pagkauupo ko at nilunok ko pa ang laway na barado sa lalamunan ko. Ang lamig-lamig na nga pero feeling ko nag-iinit ang buo kong katawan. Para bang pinagpapawisan nang kung ano na hindi ko maipaliwanag.

"Okay... I only told you where we are kasi pinilit ko akong sabihin 'yon, but at first, bago ko sabihin sa 'yo 'yon, I have an idea that you've already figured out where we are kasi nga you're using a tracking app and you can find us by means of Jin-Hyeong's phone. I thought you'd already know by then, so I believe you knew. And then I just found out that Jin-Hyeong's using a new phone and you wouldn't be able to track his location down if the app isn't downloaded there. I guess that's why he told me not to say anything because you won't even have a single idea about where we are... but you did now because of me."

I was explaining myself so dire that I just want to defend my side, but I know it wouldn't make any difference kahit na magpaliwanag pa ako nang paulit-ulit.

"Oh, so that's how is it?" she wondered. "But anyway, uulitin ko lang ulit ang sinabi ko kanina, we need to go back to Seoul now. I know you just want a holiday from what you've been through and I know you deserved it, but a lot of work has been waiting for you back in Seoul, Jin-Hyeong. If you won't be coming back, you'll lose it again. Then Dong-Yoon will get the offer again, as usual."

"Then let him take it," walang ganang sagot ni BJH. "If he wants the project, let him have it."

Chini grunted, rolling her eyes. Para bang susuko na rin siya sa pagpupumilit kay BJH. Hinila naman ni Chini 'yong wooden chair at saka siya umupo ro'n.

"What's the problem, Jin-Hyeong? Why don't you want to go back to Seoul?"

"I didn't say I don't want to. I never said a word," sagot pa nito.

"Okay, if you didn't a thing about that, tell me why do you want to give the project to Dong-Yoon and not for yourself?"

Jin-Hyeong shrugged off. "Maybe he wants it."

"But they want you in it and not him," dagdag ni Chini. "Is this because of what you went through to military or something? Would you mind telling me about it?"

He shook his head. Not interested in saying anything. Nakikinig na lang din ako sa usapan nilang dalawa. I feel like I don't have to be here, but I need to be dahil nagta-trabaho ako para sa mga 'to.

"It's alright if you don't want to talk about it, but please tell me when do you think you can go back to Seoul?"

Umayos nang pagkauupo si BJH at humugot ito ng malalim na hininga. "Give me one week. That's all I could ask for and then I'm going back to Seoul."

"Are you sure? Final decision?"

"Naga dashi gaziogalkka, Cini?" Ngisi pa ni BJH. (Do you want me to take it back, Chini?)

Agad namang umiling si Chini na para bang ayaw nang pakawalan 'yong chance na 'yon. "Of course not! I'm going to expect that, alright? But don't you worry, once you got back there, we'll take it slowly."

"Everyone!" Napatingin naman kami sa mother ni BJH. "Lunch is ready. Please get Seo-jun out there."

"I'll call him!" pagpresenta ko naman.

Agad akong umalis sa kinauupuan ko at hinanap ko si Seo-jun sa labas. He would be planting something there pero pagkalabas ko ay hindi ko siya matanaw. I walked out of the house and searched for him and then I found him not far from the house at kaya hindi ko siya agad napansin ay nakita ko siya na naka-upo sa isag tabi at may tinitingnan siya sa lupa.

Curious ako kung ano 'yong ginagawa niya kaya pinuntahan ko siya ro'n at sinilip 'yon.

"What are you doing there?" I asked.

He jumped out when I asked him. Napasalampak pa siya sa lupa at hindi ko naman mapigilan ang pagtawa ko. Dahan-dahan naman siyang tumayo at pinagpagan ang sarili. He's laughing at how he reacted to me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "No, it's fine. I was just watching these eggs intently that I thought the mother duck is here to peck me to death, but I'm glad it's you! No offense."

I giggled. "Of course, none taken. Can I see the duck eggs?"

"Sure, they are all here."

Itinuro naman niya sa akin 'yong nest kung nasaan ang ilang itlog ng duck doon. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit balot kaagad ang unang pumasok sa isip ko. I'm sure BJH never tasted one before pero kung makapunta siya sa Pilipinas soon, I'll make him try to eat that street food. For sure, he'll like it and hate it at the same time.

"How long have you known about this? Have you been keeping an eye here?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No. I found this just now. I was just planting and then I'm looking for a spot where I could this plant and then I found it here. It's just interesting..."

"Have you eaten a balot before?"

He looked at me with a lot of questions plastered on his face. "What's balot?"

"It's a fermented duck egg and it's so good."

Nanlaki ang mata niya as if nagulat siya sa sinabi ko. "You're eating it like that?"

Tumango naman ako. "Yes, it's great though. When you and Jin-Hyeong traveled into the Philippines, I would make you eat for it."

"I feel like I'm far from going to the Philippines at this moment." Tawa pa nito. Gusto lang tumakas sa sinasabi ko. "But yeah, I would love to go there. It's just... I have other things to do, but who knows what could happen in the future, right?"

I nodded swiftly. "Yup... who does even knows?"

"Oh, wait I would just like to ask this," he queried. "If hyung's manager is here already, are you going back to Seoul now? Are you going to leave the island today?"

Umiling ako sa tanong niya. "No, we're not leaving the island today, but we only have a week left here to stay. I think that's enough for us to enjoy our remaining days here."

"Yeah... that's sad. We haven't been able to go around the island together."

"Maybe soon once we get back here and once you're in Seoul to take your college there, stay with Jin-Hyeong, and surely you'll love the place he's staying. But yeah, I'm going to miss this island. It was so soon."

"I agree... but the island's not going anywhere, anyway why were you out?" he questioned.

"Oh, they were looking for you. Lunch is ready and you have to clean your hands now."

"Nanen hal gutida!" he exclaimed. (I will!)

Sabay naman kaming pumasok sa loob ng bahay. He went ahead to the bathroom to wash his hands while I meet the other in the dining area. Tumabi naman ako kay Chini. Ngingiti-ngiti lamang ako at hindi nagsasalita. Nang makaupo na ang lahat at sumalo na rin si Seo-jun ay nagsimula na kaming kumain.

It was so quiet and we only get to eat our food solemnly. I really wanted to talk to BJH after this, but I feel like he's pissed off and he doesn't want to talk about anything. Ang naiisip ko lamang kung bakit ayaw pang bumalik ni BJH sa Seoul ay balik stress na naman ulit. He has to face the paparazzi, issue, and all. Hindi naman napapagod ang mga tao na gumawa ng issue o kung ano man. He just has to ignore it, but it seems like he wants to avoid it for the rest of his life kaya nandito siya ngayon sa Jeju. And I feel like Chini was the only one who wanted this for him.

But I don't have the right to question how she manages things, I also worked for her so she has the say in everything we would do.

After that awkward dinner—if Seo-jun wasn't there, it would be like a desert but he keeps it light and fun kaya naman naalis kahit papaano iyong tension. I presented to help BJH's mom to clean the aftermath of our lunch. Pumayag naman siya at masinsinan ko namang nilinis ang mga plato at kobyertos.

"Aalis na ba kayo ni Jin-Hyeong pabalik sa Seoul?" tanog ni tita.

"Hindi pa sa ngayon, tita. Sa isang linggo pa po."

"Akala ko mag-stay pa kayo ng matagal-tagal dito. Marami bang trabahong naghihintay sa kanya ro'n?"

Tumango naman ako. "Yes, tita. There's a lot of job waiting for him there pero sa totoo lang po, parang ayaw pa umalis ni Jin-Hyeong."

"At bakit naman?"

Napakibit balikat ako. Ayoko lang sabihing direkta kung bakit. "Maybe he just wants to take some time off. He just got out of the military tapos isinabak agad siya sa mga project niya. I know he wanted to lay down for some time and I think he really deserves it. Back in the Philippines, tita, a lot of people there admire him and his group. But they love him more kasi nga half-Filipino siya. A lot of people believed in him, I know you do and I am as well, but I feel like... he's not believing in himself anymore. Ewan ko, tita... baka sinasabi niya lang din 'yon."

"He does think of that when he was young as well," pagkuwento pa ni tita. "Isinali namin siya sa Taekwondo training before and he cries a lot dahil lagi siyang natatalo at kahit gustong-gusto niyang makuha iyong black belt, nawawalan siya ng tiwala sa sarili niya kasi lagi siyang natatalo. So we talked to him and believed in him. He just needed someone who will support him all throughout the course of his struggle and when he knew that we believed in him, he finally made it. He got the black belt for himself. He was so proud of it and we were. Here's my advice, Jelay. Be with him if he needed someone to talk to or you think that there's something wrong, reached out to him. Hindi naman siya mahirap kausapin at alam kong alam mo 'yan. 'Wag ka ring panghinaan ng loob. Be there for him, always, okay?"

Determinado akong tumango kay tita na tutugunan ko nga iyong mga sinabi niya sa akin. Na gagawin ko 'yon. And I felt so sad that Jin-Hyeong had to doubt himself, but I guess all of us did at some point, but it's my job to be there for him and I'll do my best to keep him out of the darkness.

As soon as we finished washing everything, I went back upstairs to check on BJH, but he's on bed and sleeping. Hindi ko naman siya iistorbohin muna and we could talk sometime later. Pagkasarado ko ng pinto ay bumungad naman sa akin si Chini and I think I just had to take the chance to know something and clear out the air.

"Uhm... Chini... can we talk?"

She smiled and nodded. "Sure... where?"

"Kahit saan..." sagot ko.

I'm not sure if Chini's mad at me, but I guess not. But I'm hoping that nothing bad will happen and to our last week here on the island.

***

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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