"Geumandugo sipda, sajangnim,” I'm quitting, boss. I said as I handed my resignation letter to Cha Eun-woo. I can sense confusion in his eyes as he is reading it.

Unti-unti niyang ibinaba ang letter na hawak at tiningnan ako. “Waeyo?” Why?

I smiled at him. “I'm planning to go back to the Philippines, sajangnim. I put up a salon there and I am the one who will manage it.”

I saw him swallow several lumps in his throat. He released a deep sigh.

“I wanted to tell you how much I wanted to keep you, that I don’t want you to resign. But I realize that if I do that, it is like I am blocking you to achieve your dreams, and I don't want you to remember me for that.” He walked closer to me and cupped my face. “Do whatever makes you happy.”

Yun na 'yon? Hindi niya ako pipigilan? Like, iga-grab niya ako sa waist palapit sa dibdib niya?

Charot. Asa pa ako. Eh, isa lang naman akong hamak na make up artist niya.

I responded with a nod. Siguro nga, hindi naman ako ganoon kaimportante kay sajangnim. I can easily be replaced.

And it pains me.

~°~

Ilang buwan na akong nakauuwi sa Pilipinas. Stable na ang salon na ipinatayo ko. I'm also earning a lot. Well, hindi naman kasinlaki ng kinikita ko noon sa SoKor pero puwede na rin. Nakakabuhay na ng pamilya.

I keep myself busy every day sa pag-aakalang makatutulong iyon para malimutan ko si Cha Eun-woo. I was wrong. His absence makes my heart grow fonder. Kaya heto, araw-araw ko tuloy ine-endure ang pain ng pagka-miss sa kaniya.

“Do whatever makes you happy.”

Umaalingawngaw iyan nang paulit-ulit sa aking tainga. If only I followed that, wala siguro ako sa Pilipinas. Nandoon pa rin ako sa South Korea bilang professional make up artist niya.

Kung alam lang sana niya.