Chapter 8

"Jelay?" She kept shaking my body and calling my name repeatedly for the last few minutes already. "Gising ka na... Where's Jin-Hyeong?"

Biglang nag-click sa utak ko nang marinig ko ang pangalan ni BJH at agad kong iminulat ang mata ko at bumungad sa akin si Chini na nakapamaywang sa harapan ko. Agad naman akong napabalikwas mula sa pagkauupo ko at hinarap ko siya pero napatitig na lamang ako sa isang direksyon dahil pakiramdam ko ay lutang na lutang pa ako at gusto ko pang matulog.

Tumungo naman si Chini sa may balcony at hinawi nito ang kurtina ro'n. Maliwanag na ngunit hindi pa gano'n kaaraw. Maybe because of the weather. Winter na ngayon dito sa South Korea until sometime mid-March ayon sa news. Full-blow pa ang aircon dito sa loob ng condo ni BJH kaya naman nakanginginig hanggang buto.

"Bakit diyan ka sa couch natulog?" tanong nito nang maglakad pabalik sa akin. "May sinabi-sabi pa si Jin-Hyeong na may sarili kang kama na hihigaan and then you'll just ended here. Tulog pa ba 'yon o tinakasan ka na naman?"

"Hala, wait!" I gasped, thinking that it could be possible.

Agad naman akong tumayo at tumakbo patungo sa kwarto ni BJH. Hindi na ako kumatok at agad kong binuksan ang kanyang kwarto at kinapa ang switch sa dingding at pinindot iyon upang magbigay liwanag sa buong paligid. And then there I saw Jin-Hyeong sleeping on his back and grunted, scrunching his face from the sudden burst of light so I had to switch it off and had the door closed. Napabitaw na lamang ako ng malalim na hininga ang saglit kong pinikit ang mga mata ko at umiling upang bahagyang magising.

Bumalik ako kay Chini na narinig ko sa kusina kaya ro'n ako tumungo at naabutan ko siyang naghahanda ng makakain ni Jin-Hyeong for breakfast.

"Is Jin-Hyeong in his room?" she asked, breaking the eggs in half on the frying pan with only one hand.

Tumango ako. "Yes, he's still sleeping..."

"I know, sinilip ko na rin siya ro'n," sagot ni Chini. "Naninigurado lang ako kung binabantayan mo talaga 'yon, though I don't believe he'll leave his room when he came drunk last night." Nang harapin niya muli ay saglit siyang napatigil at tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Namuo naman ang ngiti nito sa labi saka umiling. "Mukha kang sabog, Jelay."

Bahagya akong natawa sa sinabi niya. "Kulang pa nga 'tong tulog ko... gusto ko ulit matulog!"

"Good thing for you," aniya at bigla akong nabuhayan dahil posible akong makabalik sa pagtulog ko. "Makatutulog ka ulit mamayang gabi, but not now. Marami tayong gagawin today at alam kong kapapasok mo lang din sa work mo, but we're not gonna slack and slouch all day dahil dumarating na ang offers kay Jin-Hyeong and it'll be busy for all of us. From location to another location, meeting people over and over, nakapapagod 'to promise, but once we settled all for Jin-Hyeong, it'll be all worth it."

"Agree naman ako... and I'm not here para tumambay at maging turista."

"Yup, hindi talaga." Ngisi pa ni Chini. "Now, help me prepare our breakfast and wake Jing-Hyeong up later so we can run through his endorsement."

"What kind of endorsement is that?"

"Brief model, Jelay. Bet mo ba 'yon?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko sabay iling. "Teka, ba't ko naman mabe-bet 'yon?"

Humalakhak naman ito sa tawa. Napangiwi naman ako kasi hindi ko ma-imagine na magiging underwear model si BJH, though it's not really impossible, but I don't think he's comfortable enough na gumawa nang gano'ng bagay so Chini's might just be joking around, so I just lend her a hand to finish what she's been doing on the kitchen.

A little while when we slowly finished every meal one by one and I was the one who's preparing it on the table. Nang iniangat ko ang tingin ko sa kitchen doorstep ay muntik ko pang mabitawan ang mga baso na hawak ko at mabuti na lang ay mabilis din akong sumalo at natawa na lang si Jin-Hyeong sa akin.

"Ano 'yon, Jelay?" tanong ni Chini. Napangiwi naman ako saka lumipat ang tingin niya kay Jin-Hyeong na papalapit sa akin. "Ay, mabuti naman at gising ka na. We don't need to wake up na. It's seven AM, good thing you woke yourself up."

BJH chuckled, shaking his head. "No, I didn't wake myself up, but you guys did. What are you guys even doing? Are you guys cooking? You made so much noise... maybe next time, try to be a little quiet."

Umikot naman ang mata ni Chini. "Whatever, at least, we're cooking something for you. Anjeser meokeul gutipnida," utos nito sa kanyang kaibigan. (Sit and we'll eat then.)

Sumunod si BJH sinabi nito at umayos sa kanyang pagkauupo. Chini and I then settled across him and we started eating.

"Why are you wearing my sweatshirt?" Jin-Hyeong asked out of nowhere.

Napakunot noo naman ako sa kanya. Naguluhan pa ako sa tanong niya kaya nilingon ko si Chini at bumaba ang tingin niya sa ibabang parte ng katawan ko kaya naman nang tingnan ko ang suot-suot kong damit at bigla akong tinayuan ng balahibo sa katawan dahil ang pastel pink sweatshirt na may bunny icon ni BJH ang suot ko ngayon. Huhubarin ko na sana pero agad akong pinigilan ako ni Chini.

"You can change later, not here at the dining table," Chini said at ibinaba ko ang suot kong damit.

I searched for BJH's eyes and he's smirking and continued eating using his chopsticks.

"Hindi ba mabaho 'yan?" tanong ni Chini sa akin. "Amoy alak, gano'n?"

"I don't smell bad," pagtatanggol pa ni BJH sa sarili niya. "It might be the alcohol, but does it smell bad, Raijine?" he asked, looking straight in my eyes as if he's waiting a valid answer na magugustuhan niya talaga at tatanggapin niya ng buong-buo at magpakatotoo lang din naman ako.

Umiling ako. "It doesn't smell bad... it still smells nice actually. It still had the perfume you used from yesterday's interview and I guess alcohol? I'm not that really familiar so I don't know what it smells like. And... I just wore this shirt because I was freezing last night. I don't know how to lower down the air-conditioner's temperature so I found it you left it at the couch and just wore them and it made me comfortable sleeping."

"Wait, you slept on the couch?" he asked.

"Now tell who told her she's going to have her own bed and room," Chini said, rolling her eyes then bite aggressively on the sausage.

"Okay, yeah, I'll take responsibility of that. I was drunk last night... and did I just puke on you, Raijine?" Napangiwi na lang din naman ako sa kanya saka siya napasinghal.

"Ayoko na lang talaga magsalita, but if you're going to read the blogs and posts on every social media, they are already speculating that you and Mi-sun are together. If you're trying to get back with her, let's build your image first so don't try ruining it again—oh, my bad, you're not ruining it—you're about to."

He sighed, shaking his head. "I didn't do anything bad."

"Not yet," mabilis na sagot ni Chini.

"Let me explain first," BJH said.

"I will, but—"

"Cini, gmanha," utos ni BJH. (Chini, stop.)

Chini stopped so she continued eating her breakfast. Gusto kong tumawa kasi feeling ko nang-aasar lang din si Chini at asar talo naman itong si BJH.

"I'm going to tell you, nothing happened between me and Mi-Sun. We're just hanging out with some of our friends and that's all. There was a few little drinking moments and I can assure you, that's all that happened. I'm not gonna get back with Mi-Sun. We're just friends and I hope that's clear."

"For now, maybe..." Ngisi pa ni Chini.

He grunted, shaking his head, and continued eating his food silently while Chini started discussing his new endorsement. Nakikinig lang naman si BJH at pinapalubag niya iyong pagkabanas kay Chini. Hindi naman ako sumasabat sa usapan nilang dalawa kasi I feel like I don't have any right to say anything to their conversation, I just eat here like a potato between them.

"It's an underwear endorsement," Chini announced and I almost choke upon eating the sausage. Napatingin silang dalawa sa akin. I tried not to meet their eyes and I just have to apologize and drink some water to make myself fine. "Gulat ka ba, Jelay? Akala mo ba nagjo-joke ako kanina? No, it's real..." she then continued discussing it to BJH while I'm composing myself dahil hindi ko in-expect na 'yon nga ang mangyayari.

They must be so shocked with that kind of reaction from me, but what would they expect me to have? And would BJH even use the underwear if he got sponsors from them kung hindi rin naman siya madalas magsulat ng underwear? I washed the thought away and learned what the endorsement is all about. Tango lamang ang tango si BJH at okay lamang sa kanya iyong bagong trabaho niya. It feels like he didn't mind and bother what could it be.

BJH would have to pose almost naked with only underwear and that'll be posted everywhere. He's going to be a part of the new Calvin Klein campaign that's why the one who has a contact from the management coordinated with Chini so BJH would be a part of it.

"I know this will be a good thing for you," Chini said, supporting what she discussed. "This is a big brand and many people knew this product. Jelay, have you heard about Shawn Mendes' Calvin Klein underwear campaign before?" she asked and I nodded. "That creates a huge noise to the brand and to the market, right? Shawn is a singer. You, Baek Jin-Hyeong is a Korean Superstar and people love you. Doing this project, I believe, will catch their attention. Good thing, Mr. Hwang thought of you before he could hand it over to another male superstar, Joh Dong-Yoon."

Napakunot noo naman si BJH. "I thought he was just enlisted?"

Umiling naman si Chini. "No? Saan mo naman napulot 'yan? I believe, from what I've been hearing, he's going to be enlisted next year by March or April, I'm not sure about it, but we don't care, you've got the role so do your best, alright?"

"Mulon, nanen hangsanghanda." Ngisi pa nito. Alam naman niya sa sarili niya kung anong kakayahan ang meron siya so he deserved to act like he can do everything. BJH is humble even though people admire him for being so perfect and all, he's just... trying to avoid being tagged as perfect because he believed, no one's ever perfect. (Of course, I always do.)

Saglit lamang ay may nag-ring na phone. Chini instantly checked her phone and it's coming from her.

"Oh gosh, it's Mr. Hwang. I guess this is about the new project. Excuse me, I have to talk to him for a second," she said, excusing herself and leaving us alone at the table. Kahit nasa living area na si Chini ay naririnig pa rin namin ang boses niya kaya hindi napagilang matawa ni BJH.

"Would you like to perform again?" tanong ko out of nowhere.

Inangat niya ang tingin niya sa akin kasabay ng pagkunot ng noo. Tumango naman ito. "Yes, of course, why do you asked?"

Napakibit balikat naman ako. "Wala naman... I've always thought of seeing you sa stage performing and all. Doon ka mas nakilala at hinangaan ng tao, and of course people even love you more nang gumanap ka na sa mga drama. May mga nababasa pa nga akong higop king ka raw kasi kung... alam mo na."

Napangisi siya kasi alam niya 'yong tinutukoy ko. "Well, I was told to do that so it doesn't look like I'm restricting myself from doing that. But thanks for saying that to me, I must put that in mind now... but yeah, I also missed performing on the stage with the boys. They are all still in the military and serving their time, but I'm hoping there will be a big comeback for all of us. I just don't know when will that happen..."

"Time will come for that," aniko. "Sa ngayon, focus on your own career and I'm sure they'll be proud that you're thriving on your own. I know you're expecting a lot of attention when you got out of the military, but I guess everyone's attention seemed focused on some people. And for sure sa Pilipinas, they'd already been happy that you're back and expecting a lot from you. Do you want to go to the Philippines if you have the opportunity?"

He nodded, chuckling. "You know what, the funny thing is, we're about to have a concert there, but then it was canceled and I've never been to the Philippines since I was born. My mom does, but she only tells stories to me, and I want it to experience those fun stories by myself... maybe soon."

"Yeah, soon..." I smiled and imagining it, pwedeng ako ang maging tourist guide niya para ilibot siya sa Pinas. That's just a dream for me now pero hindi iyon malabong mangyari in the future when BJH wanted to be there personally.

"You're really comfortable with that shirt?" he asked with a growing smile on his face. He's even cute though. Iyong bagong gising niyang buhok na brinush niya lamang gamit ang kamay at ang kanyang mga mapupungay na mata. He's gorgeous when he just woke up.

I tried to hide my smile as well kaya yumuko ako ng bahagya at tumango sa kanya.

"Maybe you'll keep it for yourself... and I'm sorry if I didn't get into your room last night... I passed out so bad."

I chuckled. "Don't mind it... nakatulog naman din ako."

"You should've sleep with me in the bed," he said. Napataas ang dalawang kilay at bumuka ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. "I also don't mind..." Hindi naman ako sumagot at unti-unti naman akong kumakalma. "Next time, alright?"

I just made a slight nod and pressed my lips together affirming to what he said.

The next thing happened, Chini come running back at the dining table announcing some news.

"Guys, that's Mr. Hwang and he just told me that the Calvin Klein campaign shoot will happen today, and Jin-Hyeong, you should take a shower and prepare now. We'll leave as soon as you're ready."

"Why now? Why's the hurry?" BJH questioned, so confused.

"There's just seems to have a problem and the people who will handle the campaign shoot is already at the location so every model is already on their way there. You should be after you eat, alright?"

"Jelay, prepare his clothes and everything he needed, alright?" Chini ordered.

Tumango na lamang ako at sinunod ang utos niya. As soon as we finished eating our breakfast, Chini just put everything into the dishwasher and then BJH headed to his master bathroom and then I prepared everything he would wear and bring to the stuff he needed. Hinanda ko lamang iyon at isinabit sa gilid para mabilis niyang makita kapag lumabas na siya ng bathroom.

I left his room and then I prepared taking a bath as well. As I removed the sweatshirt off of me, pumasada sa ilong ko ang amoy ng damit at wala iyong mabahong amoy o kung ano man. Inilapit ko sa ilong ko ang shirt at sininghot ko iyon. It smells nice and BJH. Para akong tanga na napangiti dahil amoy na amoy ko siya rito.

I'm just lucky that I've got to work for him. Someone who cares for me even though he's already at the top and still cares for the people who are there for him. I couldn't ask for more. BJH is my lucky charm and my sweet success.

***

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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