Runaway Series: My Formidable Bias

Peurollogeu

K-pop boy band Illusion continues to dominate the world charts with their latest fourth full length album comeback Universe...

I immediately scrolled down after seeing the headlines from one of the Korean news pages that I follow online.

Ilang taon na rin naman ang lumipas at masasabi ko na naka move on na rin naman ako sa nangyari. I am in a happy place now with my mom's family. I should not go back to those times that I consider now foolish. I knew from the start that we will never be a thing. His world and my world is different, relationships are not for them, fame is their second name, fans are their life, they are a public property, no one can own them.

"Rexi," rinig ko na tawag sa akin ni Clarise.

"Bakit?" tanong ko habang abala pa rin sa  social media.

"Gezela called," she informed. Napahinto ako at tuluyang ibinaling ang atensiyon sa kanya. I stared at her without uttering any words. Hearing her name is a warning that something ominous is coming.

Clarise watches me.

"What is it?" I impatiently asked.

"Shun will be here..." she hang her words while carefully examining my reaction.

I raised my brows. "And?"

"He'll take a break."

Now she totally got my attention. "I saw that they've just had a comeback Clars, is something wrong?"

She shook her head, "Wala naman. Gez promised them a long vacation after this comeback. Shun said that he'll be home."

"Oh, 'yun naman pala. I see no problem with that. They deserve a long break after all those tours."

Clarise nodded in agreement, "Yeah. You are right, but..."

"What's the ordeal really?" naiirita na tanong ko because she kept on hanging her words.

"You know that Iloilo is already gaining attention not just locally but internationally. Shun is not coming alone, the band too, of course it will be discreet. Gezela made sure of it. There I said it."

Bahagya akong natigilan. After all these years...am I ready to see the man who broke my young heart?

"Are you ready to see him again?" my sentiments were voiced out by her.

"See who?" Aki inquired, she strode the living room and sat down in front of me. Clarise moved closer from the dining.

"Leon," sagot ni Clarise.

Aki gasped. "Oh, Leon the idol," she looked at me weighing me down, "so?"

I breathed out. "Calm your horses. Mas affected ata kayo kaysa sa sakin. I've moved on."

"Jinjja?" Aki asked with a doubtful look. Of course, she had seen how I picked myself up and start again, kaya hindi talagang magdududa siya. I was a hopeless case, but that was a long time ago.

I rolled my eyes. "Of course! I have my life here in Iloilo Akia Fei. Why wouldn't I? I am sure he forgot about me. They are famous now, wala na siyang oras para isipin ang ilang buwan...."

I stopped. I can't finish it. Dahil wala namang kami.

"Sabagay, He knows you're here too," ani Clarise.

"We have our own lives, lingering to old feelings is futile Clars."

I left Seoul many years ago, hindi ko naman itinago kung nasaan ako. My communication with Shun was constant so it was never really a secret. We continued with our life, and pretended that nothing happened kaya hindi ko maintindihan ang concerns ni Clarise ngayon. Yes, dinamdam ko ang nangyari, but as I have said, I have moved on.

"I really don't mind seeing him again. Anyway, I hope they will enjoy here. Hindi naman siguro sila pagkakaguluhan dito."

"Gezela made sure of it. After a few promotions with their new album, they will take a break. They only gave a little details to fans, and I hope that they would honor the vacation of their idol."

"That's good to hear then," I said dismissively.

Inabot ko ulit ang phone ko at nanuod ng videos. Aki left the couch and I went to I don't know where while Clarise went back to the kitchen.

I spent my Sunday afternoon lounging on the couch. Moments later I fell asleep, dreading for Monday to come.