Chapter 7

"Hindi na ba natin hihintayin si Jin-Hyeong?" tanong ko kay Chini.

She mumbled, shaking her head then put the meat in her mouth using the chopsticks. Feel ne feel na niya iyong apple cut hair niya dahil sa stress niya kanina sa interview ni BJH. She just decided na pumunta kami sa salon to have her brown-wavy-hair cuts and then there she goes looking so pretty in her new hairstyle and I'm not gonna lie, she can carry it alone by herself. Her small face, thin red lips, small pointy nose, and her squinted eyes matched her hair perfectly. That's why she's proud of how it turned out like BJH doesn't matter anymore.

"Kain ka lang. You'll see later what I'm talking about," ani Chini at muling nagpatuloy sa pagkain niya. It's like she's not minding what happened because she believed she already know what would be the ending of this thing between Mi-Sun and BJH.

When she checked the tracker earlier, they went into a private high-end club that most of the celebrities went to. Nakapunta na ako ro'n one time, but I was only there to look after BJH and not to have fun. Minsan pa nga hindi talaga pumapayag si BJH na may kasa-kasama siya sa mga clubs at gusto niya siya lang 'yong nando'n at walang nagbabantay at nagmamata sa kanya. Like he can do whatever he wants without being told what he should be doing.

I do what Chini's doing, I continued eating trying not to mind what could be happening with BJH right. He just got back from the military and he supposed to build his career back, but I guess he has a different agenda of building something out of what he had left with Mi-Sun almost two years ago.

"You should've got a haircut as well. Jelay," Chini said. "I think you'll look good with short hair and then some bangs. I think you could be a celebrity if you'll change your look a little."

Napangiwi naman ako sa sinabi ni Chini. "E, hindi ko naman gusto maging celebrity."

"Jin-Hyeong bought you some lipsticks that could be the sign you're waiting for. Don't worry, ako ang mag-aalaga sa 'yo. I'll be your manager, just give me your consent, ipangangalandakan na kita sa mga producer. I'm sure they would love you."

"I'm also sure they don't want someone who doesn't speak Korean fluently. Doon pa lang, ligwak na agad ako. But I'm already fine as a personal assistant at saka hindi pag-aartista ang pakay ko rito and you know... I'm going to be paid very well sa pagiging P.A. so why should I asked for more, right?"

Tumango naman si Chini sabay kain sa kimchi sa isang subuan. "You're right," she said, munching. "But if an opportunity comes, I'll be there for you. But after this, sa condo tayo ni Jin-Hyeong pupunta dahil may matamis na sermon siyang makukuha sa akin."

"I hope he'll take it very well..." Ngisi ko pa.

Bahagyang natawa si Chini saka napailing. Nagpatuloy na lang din kami sa pagkain namin though hindi pa rin naman mawala sa isipan ko si BJH and what should I be expecting after this day. Paparazzi's everywhere so I assume they could be following them now at kung saang high-end club man sila ngayon, their name would make a noise. I'm not sure if that's going to be a good or bad thing because tabloids and articles from paparazzi aren't reliable and full of speculations.

After an hour eating at a buffet restaurant just around Seocho-gu. It took us thirty minutes as we got back to the Seoul Forest Trimage. Natuwa pa si Chini dahil kami ang nauna kay BJH so she could prepare her sermon to him. Tahimik lang din naman ako sa couch at nanonood ng TV. Walang subtitle kaya hirap na hirap akong sundan kung anong mga linya ang binabato nila, but good thing I'm quite good to know how the scenes went well.

"Oh, look, Jelay!" pagtawag sa akin ni Chini. Agad naman akong lumapit sa kanya at iniharap niya sa akin ang screen ng phone niya. It's an article from a paparazzi blog and it's just showing many photos that BJH went with Mi-Sun to the high-end club and they were holding their hands. "See? They're already making some speculations na nagkabalikan na 'yong dalawa. It's Mi-Sun manipulating Jin-Hyeong. That interview earlier was so bad that I got mad at our bosses because of what they did. Wala naman kasi 'yon sa usapan. They just want it to make it happen. Mga uhaw din sa ratings 'tong mga 'to."

"Nasaan na ba si Jin-Hyeong?"

"Let me check the tracker," she said and clicked the app icon. Napakunot-noo naman ito dahil nasa same area na lang din si Jin-Hyeong dito sa condo kaya nagkatinginan pa kaming dalawa. "It looks like he's here already... is this a glitch?" she even questioned herself. Napakibit balikat na alng din naman ako dahil hindi rin naman ako sigurado on how this app worked.

Saglit lamang ay narinig namin na bumukas ang pinto. Sabay pa naming sinilip ni Chini kung si BJH na nga ba 'yong dumating or unwanted house keeper lamang. But then Chini crossed her arms upon only hearing the footsteps and then a moment later, BJH showed up to us. The grin grew on his lips and then he just scratched his head, taking a seat next to us on the couch.

Naningkit naman ang mata ni Chini habang pinalibot ni BJH ang braso sa balikat ni Chini. Umurong naman ako at umusod ng kaunti. Agad namang inalis ni Chini ang braso ni Chini at tinakpan niya ng kamay niya ang ilong niya. Napangisi na lamang si BJH saka inalis ang kanyang damit at sumaludsod sa pagkauupo niya sa couch. Hinablot naman ni Chini iyong throw pillow at hinampas sa mukha ni BJH at bigla itong natauhan at tiningnan si Chini na salubong ang kilay.

"Mwer?!" he asked. (What?!)

"Dangxineun sul namsarl matassgo uri apeser butgher nassspnida. Nanen dangxinageser sulmongeuldleul issdago saenggakhapnida, dangxineun gruhge saenggkahapnikka?" mataray na usal ni Chini sa alagad nito. Tumayo na ito sa kinauupuan niya, hinarap at pinamaywangan si BJH. (You smelled alcohol and you just stripped in front of us. I think I needed to hear an explanation from you, you think so?)

BJH shook his head. "Ani. Nanen pigonhada."

Chini smirked, nodding her head as if BJH made a mistake by saying that on her. She's tapping her foot to the tiled floor as if she's thinking something that would annihilate BJH right away.

She then looked at me. "Would you mind giving us some space, Jelay?" she requested. "Pwedeng do'n ka na lang muna sa balcony while I'm going to turn Jin-Hyeong's world upside down."

Hindi naman ako umangal at kumilos na lang ako ng mabilis. Iniwan ko silang dalawa sa living room at tumungo ako sa balcony at sinara ang window glass para hindi ko marinig at mabigyan ko talaga siya ng private space. Umupo naman ako sa silya na naroon at pinanood ko na lamang ang madilim na kalangitan na pinamungaran ng mga makikinang na bituin. It's so good to watch the starts up so high na para bang kaunting abot na lang ay mahahawakan ko na 'yon.

Pa'no na lang kaya 'yong mga lumilipad sa ere? Mga flight attendant, piloto, lalong-lalo na 'yong mga astronaut. I've dreamed of flying to the moon, but I know that's impossible, but there'll be peace there. It's going to be me and just the moon alone.

Kahit na may harang na mula sa living room, naririnig ko pa ang lakas ng boses ni Chini pero hindi ko rin masundan dahil nagsasalita silang dalawa kanilang lenggwahe. Isa ring pagkakamali na tumambay ako rito sa balcony nang naka-shirt lamang dahil ang lakas ng ihip ng hangin at nilalamig ako. I tried hugging myself and making myself warm by rubbing the palm of my hand onto my skin, it worked, but it doesn't last long.

Napaigtad na lamang ako nang biglang buksan ni Chini ang sliding door at tinawag ako nito para umalis na kaming dalawa at bumalik sa bahay. As I followed her, biglang hinabol ni BJH ang kamay ko para pigilan. Napatitig naman ako sa daliri niyang nakapalibot sa palapulsuhan ko saka tumapon ang tingin ko sa mukha niya na gulong-gulo.

"Ah, Chini..." tawag ko rito saka ito humarap sa akin. She then saw BJH holding me tightly as if he doesn't want to let me go.

"Leave her alone, Jin-Hyeong. She's coming home with me," matatas na utos nito sa kanyang alaga. Kinabahan naman ako bigla dahil naipit ako sa kanilang dalawa, though I don't have a choice but to be here and watched what was going on. "Jelay, let's go. Putulin mo 'yang kamay niya."

Hindi ko naman agad sinunod iyong utos ni Chini sa akin. Nanginginig ang tuhod ko. Nakaka-ewan iyong pakiramdam. Malamig ang kamay ni BJH kaya nakakakilabot.

"She's going to stay here with me," mariin niya ring sagot kay Chini. "You should go home by yourself while she's going to stay here. She's my personal assistant and being around me is her job. Am I right, Raijine?"

I gave him a slow nod dahil tama naman siya.

"See? Even Raijine knows what she's doing." Ngisi pa ni BJH kasi alam niyang mas kakampihan ko siya dahil kung wala siya, wala rin akong trabaho ngayon—at mas lalong wala ako sa SoKor ngayon kung hindi dahil sa kanya. "You should go now, Chini, don't worry she'll have a room for herself. I just need someone here with me now."

"Dapat sinabi mo 'yan kay Mi-Sun, hindi sa akin." Irap pa nito. Kinuha na niya iyong bag niya sa couch. "I'll be back here early tomorrow morning and you guys should be up because we're going to talk about your latest endorsement, Jin-Hyeong. I'll be going now. You guys should behave or else..." pangbabanta pa nito.

Chini didn't say a word again when she left. After that, BJH just lay down on the couch and feel so exhausted. He's still topless and it's cold inside his unit and he needs to take a shower dahil amoy alak din siya. I've only seen BJH have been drunk once no'ng birthday ni Mi-Sun. He's just so drunk that the next day, there were pictures of him everywhere on social media that they are kissing. It's not bad because they were in a relationship at that time... just not this time.

"Sir?" malambing kong pagtawag sa kanya. He just murmured and already fell asleep. Hindi ko naman siya kayang buhatin papunta sa kwarto niya so I just started shaking him until he opened his eyes and looked at me. "Mi-Sun?" he questioned and then he just cupped my face with his hand, leaning closer to me, and gave me a kiss.

I immediately pulled myself away from him. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa ginawa niya dahil hindi ko naman inaasahan 'yon. Biglang bumilis ang kabog ng dibdib ko at napahawak na lamang ako sa labi ko habang pinapanood kong matulog muli si BJH. But I washed it out of my mind dahil hindi ko uunahin 'yon kaysa sa papunta si BJH sa sarili niyang kwarto.

I grabbed his arm and I started pulling him out of the couch. Mabigat siya kaya buong lakas kong kinaya mapatayo ko lamang siya. Nang magawa ko 'yon ay pinalibot ko ang braso niya sa balikat ko at inalalayan ko siyang maglakad makarating lamang sa kwarto niya. He was murmuring something to as we headed to his room, but it was too late for me to comprehend everything.

Sumuka itong si BJH at nagkalat sa sahig ang suka niya at nahagingan ako no'n sa shirt ko. Mangangamoy suka ako dahil sa ginawa niya. He just apologized to me and said I should take him to shower so he could take a bath kaya dinala ko siya ro'n. I let him in the shower alone by himself while I clean and mopped off the floor dahil sa nagkalat na suka nito.

It took me fifteen minutes cleaning it up then I just went back to his room and already found him lying down on his chest on the bed. Tapos na itong maligo at naka-pajama lamang siyang matulog. I was about to leave his room, but then he mumbled some words and pointed something to a chair where there's a shirt he would let me use because of what he did for me.

I thanked him for what he did. Kahit hindi niya nakita ay nag-bow pa ako. As I walked out of his room, tumungo ako sa common bathroom para magbanlaw na rin. Kumpleto na naman ang bathroom necessities—may sabon, shampoo, at tuwalya kaya no need for me to ask him around. Hinayaan ko na lang din naman siya magpahinga dahil kinabukasan, I assume he'll freak out to what he has been doing this evening. When I'm done cleaning myself, wearing BJH's shirt that's so large for me, it was nice and comfortable—but I have no idea where should I be sleeping so I found myself lying down on the couch.

This was a rough day for us, I hope everything will be better tomorrow—hopefully, crossing my fingers!

***

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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