Hindi ko na nasundan pa ang sumunod na nangyari. I just heard some muffled voices inside the room before I got dragged away by the man who saved me from seeing the scene that may totally break my walls of being strong.

Nasundan pa ang pagtulo ng luha ko habang hawak-hawak ako ng lalaki sa papulsuhan at hinihila palayo roon. Hindi ko mawari kung sino siya dahil nanlalabo pa ang mga mata ko. I then decided to use my free hand to wipe the tears off my face and took a good look of him. Doon ko natantong si Jimin ang humihila sa akin. Tahimik lang siya kaya tumahimik lang din ako.

I want to ask or say something but nothing came out from my mouth. I just know that wherever he's taking me or whatever he's doing helps a lot. I think I wouldn't last too long witnessing that kind of scene. I need an escape, and I am thankful he came.

Tahimik at tulala ako nang tumigil siya sa pintuang pinag-aayusan namin sa kanila. He instructed me to stay outside and wait for him and I just silently nodded as an answer.

Hindi ko alam kung ano nang nangyari kina Yeri sa loob ng kwartong iyon. But I am certain that they kissed. I clearly saw how Jungkook held her by the nape and cheek before moving in what seemed like a speed of light to crash his lips with her. Though, I wasn't able to see that his lips indeed landed to hers because Jimin covered my eyes with his hand. But with the intensity of the situation, I know they ended up kissing each other.

Jimin did not took even three minutes inside the room. Mabilis lang siyang nakabalik sa labas dala-dala ang isang coat at black tri-folded wallet. May suot na rin siyang shades at sombrero. When he went out, he hastily held my hand and dragged me away again.

Hindi naman ako nagsalita at nagpahatak lang sa kaniya. I don't have a single idea of where he's taking me. But I am only thankful to one thing— that is because he never talked about that scene.

It wasn't that much of a deal to me that we were walking on the street, still with his hand on mine, even if I didn't know where we were headed to. That's not until we went inside a bus in Dong Seoul Bus Terminal.

"Wait. Where are we going?" Parang doon lang ata ako tuluyang natauhan.

He smiled cheerfully at me. He seemed excited. "You'll see. Come on." And he pulled me and guided me to a seat near the window.

Naguguluhan akong tumingin sa kaniya nang maupo siya sa tabi ko. Inayos niya ang sombrero at nilagay sa hita ang coat na dala.

He faced me and smiled. "You'll like it. I'm sure of that."

Naramdaman kong umandar na ang bus kaya napabuntong hininga na lang ako at inayos ang pagkakaupo. Wala na akong kawala rito. Kung saan niya man ako dadalhin, sigurado akong talagang makakarating kami.

I was silent the whole ride. Paminsan-minsan nag-uusap kami ni Jimin pero nakatulog siya nang nasa kalagitnaan na. After a while, we arrived at another bus terminal—Gapyeong Bus Terminal. We took a taxi and then we arrived at a ferry terminal.

"Wait. Why are we here?" Nagtanong na naman ako nang muli niya akong hatakin. Ngayon papunta na kami sa direksiyon ng mga lantsa. Talagang naguguluhan ako.

"We're gonna take a ferry to reach it."

"It?" Kumunot ang noo ko. "What it?"

Lumingon siya sa 'kin at ngumiti. "The half-moon island."

"Half-moon..." bulong ko. Pamilyar kasi, e. "Omg! Nami Island?!" Napabilis ang lakad ko para sabayan siya. Hindi ko maitago ang excitement habang tinitingnan siya, naghihintay ng kompirmasyon, and when he nodded, I shrieked. "Oh my God, we are going there?" Hindi ko pa rin maitago ang galak. "Now?"

"Ye—Careful." He swiftly scooped me by the waist and pulled me closer to him. Hindi ko pala napansin na may mabubunggo na ako dahil hindi ko pinagtotoonan ng pansin ang dinadaan.

"Oh..." napaawang ang labi ko nang sundan ng tingin ang babaeng muntik nang matapilok dahil sa katangahan ko. "I should say sorry to her," I said and tried to walk but Jimin only chuckled and held me in place.

"It's fine. Let's just go." And he went back to dragging me.

Nawala agad sa isip ko ang babae nang tuluyan na kaming makasakay sa lantsa. Inalalayan niya akong makasampa roon at nagpasalamat naman ako sa kaniya.

We were on the deck, watching the peaceful sea while I was bombarding him with questions. Marami kaming nakasakay sa lantsa at paniguradong iisa lang ang destinasyon.

"It's autumn, right? We'll see the beautiful redwood trees? The maple garden?" Excited na tanong ko kay Jimin, wala na ang atensiyon sa kanina'y kinamamanghaan na karagatan.

"We'll, yes, but not on its peak season yet. It might not be like what you probably seen in photos."

"That's totally fine! You know, it has been one of my greatest dream to visit Nami Island!" I excitedly told him.

"Well, thanks to me, huh?" He seemed fond of seeing me excited.

"Ne! Kamsahamnida!" I enthusiastically answered and gave him a tight hug.

"Alright. Alright." He chuckled.

When we arrived in Nami Island, I was in full awe. Nakaawang ang labi ko at kung hindi pa ako hinila ni Jimin ay talagang hindi ako magsasawa sa kakatingin lang doon. Sa labas pa lang, breathtaking na!

"Do you want to rent a bicycle?" Jimin asked when we finally got inside.

Oh my God! I feel like I am going to faint!

"We'll roam around?"

"Of course, Tryza. That's why we're here. So?"

Mabilis akong tumango at sumunod sa kaniya. He indeed rented two bicycles and we started roaming the place. He served as my tour guide because he had been here for multiple times already. We would stop to some spots and he would tell me the things he knew about it.

We stopped and he told me about that spot where General Nami's grave was placed. He was the one who led a great victory against the rebels in the 13th year of the 7th king of the Joseon Dynasty, King Sejo.

And then we explored by the riverside path which gave a beautiful view of the river and what's inside the island.

"Oh, a squirrel!" Nagulat ako nang makita ito sa puno ng kahoy sa gilid ng daan.

I stared at it, long enough for me to lose a bit of balance in the wheel. Nagpagiwang-giwang tuloy ang takbo ko. Mabuti na lang at hindi naman ako natumba.

"Careful," Jimin reminded behind me.

I chuckled. "Alright. I'm sorry."

After that, we finally went to the majestic lining of the redwood trees on both sides of Metasequoia Road.

"Oh my God..." I mumbled in great amazement while looking up.

"You like it?" Jimin asked.

Lumipat ang tingin ko sa kaniya habang nakangiti. Naabutan ko siyang seryosong pinagmamasdan ako pero may kaunting multo ng ngiti sa labi.

"I love it. Thank you," I sincerely told him.

"You're welcome, Tryza." He smiled. "Now, go and pose. I'll take a picture of you."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh."

"Okay!" I excitedly said and ran my way in the middle of the road.

He took a lot of pictures of mine. We also took a selfie together. Nag-offer pa nga akong kuhanan din siya ng litrato pero tumanggi siya. He said, it wasn't that new to him anymore.

Pagkatapos namin doon ay napagdesisyonan naming bumili na muna ng pagkain. He bought the famous pan-fried rice cake. And I swear, it was delicious! It was a rice cake filled with red bean paste and was crispy and crunchy to the bite!

"I love this," I told him while we were nearing a bridge. We decided to just walk and leave the bicycle since we were eating.

"Uh-huh," he said and settled by the side of the bridge.

Huminto kami roon at ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain. Hindi matigil sa paglilikot ang mga mata ko sa mga tanawin sa paligid habang nasa gitna ng tulay. Wala namang masyadong dumadaan dito kaya hindi naman ako nakakaabala.

"This is the..." Jimin started. Tinuon ko sa kaniya ang pansin para mapakinggan ang kaniyang sasabihin. He was looking straight at me. "First Kiss Bridge," he added with his eyes on mine.

"Wow, really?" I asked in awe as I roam my eyes around the bridge.

"Yeah."

I am not sure but I think his voice was husky when he said that. Hindi ko naman iyon pinansin dahil nga captivated pa rin ako sa nakikita. Not until Jimin took a few steps towards me until he's already so close to me.

He gently slid his hand from my neck to nape. Namungay din ang mga mata niya.

"Uh..."

Hindi ako nakagalaw sa sobrang bigla. I was like immobilized while his face was moving closer to mine. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. He's trying to kiss me, goodness!

Kumabog pa lalo ang dibdib ko nang mas lumapit pa ang mukha niya. At nang akmang ilalapat niya na ang bibig sa akin ay mabilis kong iniwas ang mukha kaya napatigil siya sa ginagawa.

Damn, I felt like I was cheating! And suddenly, the memories of what I've seen in that room earlier went back like a sudden flow of water. Doon ko lang din ata lubusang naintindihan na umalis na lang kami basta-basta roon!

"I-I'm sorry," he apologized and stepped backwards.

Hindi pa rin ako makatingin sa kaniya. He shouldn't have done that!

Natahimik kaming pareho. Tipid ang naging pagkagat ko sa hawak na rice cake at hindi pa rin magawang ibalik ang tingin sa kaniya.

Suddenly, everything fell awkward.

"Jimin, I..."

"I know. I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry."

Tumango lang ako at napakagat sa labi.

"Uh..." I tried to make the situation less awkward but he cut me.

"Jungkook likes Yeri-noona," he stated.

Natahimik ako bigla.

"And I know you like him, too," he continued.

This time, napatingin na ako sa kaniya, handa nang ibato ang mga katanungang bumabagabag sa isip ko. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. Seryoso siya habang ang mga mata ko'y may mga katanungan.

"But... Yeri's getting married..." mahina kong sabi na parang ayaw iparinig iyon sa kaniya.

"Well, yes."

I bit my lower lip. "And... she has a child. Is he-"

"I see you've met Joon Gi, huh?" Umayos siya ng tayo at maayos akong hinarap. "Joon Gi's not Jungkook's, if that's what you're worried of."

Napakurap ako at sa huli'y napakawalan ang tila ilang araw nang iniindang pagdududa.

I felt relieved. And selfish it may seem, but I really do.

Tumingin siya sa kalangitan bago muling nagsalita.

"Yeri-noona is getting married to Jungkook's brother."

And that information stopped me. Parang bigla ata akong nahilo sa narinig.

"W-What?" Hindi ko naitago ang pagkagulat. So, that explains the familiarity of the eyes? And why did it not crossed my mind to check if Yeri's wearing a ring?!

"You heard me, Tryza." He then looked at me. "Jungkook likes her for a long time now. Two years, maybe? But Yeri-noona and Junghyon-hyung has been engaged for already four years. And Joon Gi's their son."

Natahimik ako. I think the information I got was suddenly too much for me. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng awa kay Jungkook. So, all this time, he kept on loving her even if he knew from the very beginning that Yeri's engaged with his brother. That hurts for sure. Lalo pa't sariling kapatid niya ang kahati niya. O mas maiging sabihing kakompetensiya?

I gulped unconsciously when I thought of him hurting. Never in my life I asked for something like that. I want him to be always happy. I want him to be always loved and cared for.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Mahinang tanong ko, nag-aalala sa pwedeng mangyari sa kaniya kapag tuluyan nang maikasal si Yeri at ang kapatid niya. Because if I were on his situation, I would surely lose myself.

"I'm sure he will be. He's a strong man, Tryza. And you'll be there for him, right?"

Natigilan ako. "W-What?"

He faced me and held me by the hand. "Tryza, I like you."

Napaawang ang labi ko. He just confessed to me! Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko.

"I..." I tried to say something but I just couldn't find the right words to say.

"No." He shook his head, saying that I should not speak. "Just listen to me," he instructed and I nodded nervously.

"I like you," he repeated but it was as if the first time I heard it because my lips parted again. "And I know you like Jungkook. I am not saying this to confuse you but to tell you that I accept defeat for this battle. Ever since the first start, I know I am fighting a useless one." Malungkot siyang ngumiti sa akin.

Napalunok ako nang maramdamang may nagbabadyang luha na lalabas.

"So, I want you to fight for your feelings for him. I want you to be there for him. This is my only request, Tryza. Don't leave that kid behind," he sincerely asked.

"B-But... he doesn't like me-"

"I'm sure, he will. You're a great woman," he assured me.

"H-How about you?" Hindi ko napigilan ang pagtulo ng luha ko.

I don't want to hurt anybody! And I know I am hurting him. I don't want to be selfish and just be happy of my own knowing that I am hurting someone.

"I'll be fine. Come on, you don't have to cry for me." He patted my head and smiled sweetly. "I am more stronger than him. He may act strong but he's the softest, Tryza." He helped me wipe my tears away. "So, please, don't give up on him."

Ilang sandali akong hindi nagsalita. I was hesitant. Ngunit nang ngumiti siya ay tumango na rin ako sa kaniya. He smiled even more and pulled me for a hug.

"I'm sorry," mahinang paghingi ko ng tawad habang nasa dibdib niya, feeling how sad it is for him.

"All good, Tryza," he assured me and finally let me go.