September 24

"I met him because of my brother. They were friends before us. He was our neighbor together with his family and his younger brother in Korea. We have 2 year age gaps, have the same age as my brother. 21." Tumikhim ako bago magpatuloy "At that time I didn't know his real name, his real identity. I just know his nickname which is Hoseok." Kumunot ang noo nya sa sinabi ko. Kahit ako di makapaniwala na 10 years kaming magkasama yet di ko alam pagkatao nya specially his name. "I don't really know why he doesn't want to used his real name, as far as I remember, he hated it. I was curious back then but that curiosity always slip away whenever we meet." Akmang magsasalita na sya but I cut it out. 

"We went to the same school. My parents know him so well. Kaya siguro malaki ang tiwala nila kay Hoseok even though hindi ko alam kung sino ba talaga sya. He's like my 'stranger' - bestfriend. We went through a lot of memories. Marami at mahaba ang pinagsamahan namin,  I can say that." She smile. Napahilot ako sa sentido ko. Parang kumikirot na ewan. She asked me if i'm okay and I said yes. I continue the story "I thought sabay pa nga kaming gagraduate ng college." Huminto ako sa pagsasalita at napatingin sa mga kamay ko.

"Huy okay ka lang?" She asked after a minute of my silence. 

Inangat ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. "He died" kitang kita ko kung pano naging hugis O ang bibig nya.  Napasapo pa sya sa ulo nya at tumayo. Naglakad sya pabalik balik sa harapan ko.

"What the fuck" she cuss. "Shit naniniwala na ko sa multo ngayon" sambit nya na ikinakunot ng noo ko.

"What are you saying? His brother died. Nakikita mo ba sya ngayon?" Naupo ulit sya sa harapan ko at binatukan ang sarili. "Kala mo si Art?" Tumango sya. "Tange"

Umayos ako ng upo at inisip mabuti ang nangyari noon. "His brother died because of an accident. He was crossing the street nung nabangga sya nung driver. It's a teenager girl. That's all I know. After that, siguro pagkatapos lang ng burol, they left the country and went here. Long after, maybe 1-2 years, we left the Korea too and dito na nanirahan."

"Mygad ang sad naman ng childhood ni Art" pagkasabi nya non ay pinunasan nya ang mata nyang naluluha. "I feel so sorry for him."

"Matagal na yon. I'm sure he already moved on. Napatawad na rin naman nya yung pamilyang nakasagasa sa kapatid nya."

________

Lumipas ang maghapon na masakit ang ulo ko. Ang daming discussions na naganap. All about business and all that stuffs. Finally the bell rang. Papikit pikit ako habang inaayos ang mga gamit sa bag ko.  Nahihilo talaga ako. Dala siguro ng stress. We have 2 projects that is due this friday. Hindi ko pwedeng mamiss yon.

Kahit masama ang pakiramdam ko ay pinilit kong maglakad pauwi ng bahay. I called Amber to let her know na hindi ko na sya maiintay ng mga kagrupo nya because I feel sick. They have a meeting to plan the said projects. Unfortunately, we're not on the same group.

1 notification
Imessage: Hoseokie: Az i'm going to your house today. Wanna visit you.  Is it okay?

Kumirot ang ulo ko kaya inilagay ko muna sa bulsa ko ang phone at hinilot ang sentido ko. Napaupo ako sa harapan ng bahay.

Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay tumayo ako at pumasok na ng bahay. I headed straight to my room. I didn't saw anybody but I heard yaya and butler greeting me. I greet them back, I don't want to be rude just because masakit ang ulo ko. Kuya must be still on the company. Bago ako umakyat ay tinanong ako ni yaya.

"Ma'am okay lang po kayo?"

"Opo ya. Medyo masakit lang ho ulo ko."

"Gusto nyo ho ba ng mahihigop?" Umiling ako.

"Salamat na lang po."

Pagpasok ko ng kwarto ay halos gumapang na ako sa sahig. Ibinagsak ko ang bag ko sa paanan ng kama. I changed my clothes to pajamas kahit umiikot na ang paligid ko.  I don't want to sleep with a skirt on. 

__________

"Damn, man. I can't believe that she looks like a princess when she's sleeping."

"Gago"

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon and shit, that is a hella wrong move. Naalog na yata ng tuluyan ang utak ko. I let out a soft groan at nahiga uli habang hawak hawak ang buong mukha.

"Sap are you okay?" I heard Amber's voice. She's touching my back.

"Bakit ba naman kasi bigla bigla kang bumabangon" then Art.

"Di muna dumilat. Tayo agad eh" then to my evil brother na tumatawa pa ng malakas.

"Eh kasi naman nagulat ako. May nagsasalitang mga kabayo" i said without removing my hands to my face. Hinila ni Amber ang isang strand ng buhok ko. She sat down beside me.

"Aww"

"May tinamaan hoy" sabi ni kuya sabay hampas sa kung sino man. Rinig ko yung hampas pero di ko nakita kung sino. Inalis ko ang kamay ko at tumingin sa kanila. I saw Art's meme face.  He's the victim.

"What happened to you?" Art ask after a moment. They all are waiting for my answer.

"Sumakit ba ulo mo kasi kapakner mo sila-mmm" mabilis pa sa alas kwatro kong tinakpan ang bibig nya.

"Who?" Kuya ask out of curiousity. Umiling ako at inalis ang kamay sa bibig nya. Agad akong nagsalita para hindi na sila magtanong pa.

"Honestly hindi ko alam kung bakit. Ngayon lang to eh. Yesterday, wala naman. Ang sakit ng ulo ko at ang bigat." Napatango ng ilang beses si kuya sa sarili.

"I know the solution" mabilis syang naglakad palabas ng kwarto.

"That's why you didn't answer my textsssss" sadyang hinabaan nya talaga ang pagbigkas ng S ha. Nakaupo sya ngayon sa paanan ko.

"And that's why you left me in the school"

"I'm really sorry guys. Jjinja" i apologize. Then silence.

"Gwaenchanh? (Are you okay now?)" Art ask with those worried eyes after a minute.

"Ani (no). Katulad pa rin kanina." I smiled at him. Attempting to ease his worries. 

Amber understand what we are saying. She learned a lot from me.

"Asan na ba kuya mo." Inip na tanong ni Amber. She look at her watch "It's 7:37"

"What?" I blurted out. "I'm supposed to create a powerpoint for my team mates. Argh."

"Hayaan mo na yon. Lalaki na ng mga yon eh. Yakang yaka na yon" pagkukumbinsi sakin ni Amber.

"Anong oras kayo dumating?"

"I was here first. Maybe 3:30 then after an hour, they both came. Then your brother left again and nung nagising ka, kararating lang nya." She explain. Oh that's why she's still in her uniform. All I can say is 'Ahh' and nod. I'm so lucky that I have a bestfriend like her. Minsan lang talaga pahamak. 

"I'll see what Jarred is doing" pagpapaalam nya at saka lumabas.

Agad kong siniko si Amber paglabas ni Art. Nanatili akong nakaupo.

"What?"

"What what ka dyan. Pasalamat ka masakit ulo ko at di ko kayang gumawa ng kung ano ano." I hissed.

"Sorry. Hindi ko naman alam na ayaw mo pala ipaalam." Sumandal sya sa balikat ko. Then slide down to my pillow. Then nakahiga na sya sa kama ko. Mababatukan ko na to. Nahiga rin ako katabi sya. "Bakit ba naman kasi ang malas mo" banat pa nya.

"Makamalas wagas. Di ba pwedeng di lang pinalad." She laugh. "Ayoko ngang maipartner sa kanila. Bukod sa hindi sila nasa department natin ay naakwardan ako."

"Sino ba namang hindi. Eh lahat ng yun nanligaw sayo. And you turned them down." Eto na naman sya, paalala mo pa sige. "Biruin mo, 4 guys na ang hahot at pak na pak ang kagwapuhan ang nireject mo. Halos lahat ng babae inggit sayo." She continued.

"I don't want to talk about them"

"Woooo. Okay okay i'll stop"

"Good"

"Here comes the medicine!" Nagulantang kaming dalawa sa sigaw ni kuya. May dala syang isang medyo katamtaman ang laking kulay pulang box.  Hinila nya ang mesa sa kama (breakfast in bed thingy) at nilapag ang box. Pagbukas ay agad lumabas ang amoy ng..

"SUSHI!" Sabay nilang sigaw ni Art.

It's a sushi but it is not made by my brother. My excitedness goes lower.

"Babawi ako. It's just that, I don't have enough time to do it." Napansin yata ni kuya ang 'medyo' pagsimangot ko.

B for an effort.

"And here, fresh orange juice. I made this." He smiled widely at me while holding the juice na iilapag rin naman nya agad sa mesa. Napansin kong may gamot ring kasama ang juice na inilapag nya.

A for an effort.

I smiled secretly, to myself.

"Thank you guys. I appreciate this so so so much."

They all give me a thumbs up. Kuya hug me.