Once Upon a Time in South Korea

Something in Common III

TAO's POV

"Hyung." I muttered under my breath.

Halos mangalay na yung leeg ko kaka-stretch at kakalingon para hanapin si Duizhang. Sabi kasi niya sa akin kanina, sasamahan niya akong bumili ng bubble tea dun sa shop malapit dito sa SMEnt. Nauna na kasing lumabas si Sehun para bumili rin ng bubble tea, hindi man lang ako sinabihan. Nagulat na lang ako nung habang nagpapahinga kami after guesting, lumabas si Kris-hyung ng dressing room nang walang pasabi. Kaya eto ako ngayon, parang asong humahabol sa kanya. But it seemed like I lost my track on him. Bigla na lang kasi siyang nawala.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "Sabi niya, sasamahan niya ako tapos aalis pala siya. Tss." Tampo much. Ipinasok ang mga kamay ko sa bulsa ko at nakatungong naglakad pabalik sa dressing room.

"Girl, si Miss Jung, may binibiktima na naman daw." - Girl 1

"Eh? Tara, tingnan natin." - Girl 2

I craned my head and squinted my eyes on those girls. Pagdating sa mga gossip, ganyan sila. Napailing na lang ako at itinuloy ang paglalakad pabalik sa dressing room. Ewan ko kung paano at bakit pero nakita ko na lang ang sarili kong naglalakad kasunod nila. I slightly shook my head, letting the curious part of me prevail-- as always.

We ended up near the cafeteria. Right at where I was standing, kitang-kita ko yung itsura nung babae. She was petite at naka-working clothes. Nalintikan na! Trainee ata 'to.

Yung likod naman ni Miss Jung ang nakikita ko. Though hindi ko pa nae-experience na makabangga ito, takot na ako rito. She was the most feared person in the entertainment next to the president. At base sa mga naririnig ko she was a real monster.

Nakita kong nag-bow yung trainee. "S-sorry po. Hindi ko naman po sina--"

"I was asking you kung kilala mo ako. I don't remember myself asking you for your explanation."

That had me gawking at Miss Jung. Was it just me o talagang sinabi niya yun? Grabe. I couldn't believe her.

"Excuse me, everyone!" - Miss Jung

Tiningnan ko ito ulit. What is she up to?

A smirk formed on her red-painted lips. "Will you tell this dumb girl who is she talking to?"

Something in me snapped. Kusang naglakad ang mga paa ko palapit sa kanila pero napatigil ako dahil biglang nagsalita yung trainee.

"S-sorry po talaga." - Trainee

Then she started to run away. My heart went heavy. Sino bang hindi? Wait, naiyak kaya yun? I had to find out. Tatakbo na sana ako nang may nakita akong sumunod dito. Lalaki ito at medyo maliit. Napaisip tuloy ako. Susunod pa ba ako?

"Aba 'tong--"

"Hindi naman po tama yung ginawa ninyo, Ma'am."

Imbes na dun ako sa nagsalita mapatingin, my eyes settled on the boy who stopped running after the trainee. His eyes went wide and--

"D.O-hyung?" I murmured.

Tatawagin ko na sana ito pero tumakbo na ulit ito palayo. Haay. I would just ask him later.

"Sino ka naman?!"

I jerked and goggled at Miss Jung. Kaharap nito ngayon ang isang babae. She was much taller than the other girl at mukhang mataray.

"l happened to be her sister, Ma'am," sagot nung babae.

Wow! I admired her guts, huh? Nakipagsagutan pa talaga.

"Sister?" Miss Jung smirked. "Bakit? Ipaghihiganti mo yung kapatid mo? As if kaya mo. Kilala mo ba kung sino ang kausap mo ngayon?

Umiling siya. "Hindi. At wala akong balak makilala ka."