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home ; chapter seven - santillan

Matapos kong patahanin si Marione at makarating na ako sa convenience store with Woozi tailing me, kinausap ko yung manager namin. Naghintay yata si Woozi sa labas kaya naman ay nakampante ako na hindi siya pwedeng pumasok dito sa may bandang authorized personnel only.

"What's wrong, Freya? Why did you suddenly want to talk?" Tanong ng manager ng branch na ito, and I sighed.

Tinanggal ko yung name pin ko mula sa damit ko and then placed it on the desk. She furrowed her brows at saka tinignan ako.

"Why? You're gonna be on duty," sabi niya, and I gave her an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'm quitting my job. Thank you for taking me in but it's time to say goodbye," sabi ko, at saka naman niya ako binigyan ng tawa.

"Wag ka magpatawa. Bakit?" Tanong ni ma'am, at ngumiti ako bago sumagot.

"I've made up my find and I'm gonna settle for a stable job now. Thank you for everything, ma'am," sabi ni ma'am, and slowly ay tumango naman siya.

"Okay. Naiintindihan ko naman. You were the longest here and it's sad to see you go, but I understand," sabi niya, at saka tumayo. She placed her hands on my shoulders, at saka umalis na.

Kinuha ko na ang ilang mga gamit ko sa locker, at saka ay dire-diretsong naglakad na rin paalis.

Nang makalabas na ako ay sinilip ko pa kung nandun pa ba si Woozi. When I saw him, he was already looking at me weirdly. I tried walking away faster para makaiwas na sa kanya, because I still couldn't take it.

Kilala niya si Marione all along but he didn't tell me. He even said na magkaapelyido kami. Pero bakit hindi man lang niya sinabi sa akin na baka ay siya nga ang tinutukoy? He knew I was desperate to look for my little sister.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang maramdaman na hawakan niya ang braso ko. I looked at him, at mukha rin siyang seryoso sa ginagawa niya.

"Why didn't you tell me you worked for SM Entertainment? That was a major part of your life and you didn't even tell me!" Sabi ni Woozi, and I smiled at him.

"You didn't even tell me that my little sister was your so called best friend. Tell me, alam mo na bang siya nga anng kapatid ko bago pa lang?" Tanong ko, and then he looked down.

I chuckled, and I took that as a yes. He knew. He knew that Marione was my little sister yet he didn't say a word.

"I... did. I just didn't introduce you yet dahil sa sinabi mo. Dahil sa kwento mo. What would you dad have done kung malaman niyang magkakilala nanaman kayo?" Sabi ni Woozi, and I sighed.

"It's different now, you know? I expected more," sabi ko. "But I guess expectations really fail us."

"That doesn't change the fact that you lied to me, too. You never mentioned working at SM-"

Hindi na natapos ni Woozi ang sasabihin niya nang may tumigil na isang kotse sa harapan namin, at nagbukas naman ang car door nun.

It revealed Lay, at saka lumabas siya. He crossed his arms across his chest, at saka ako nilapitan.

"Hey, Frey? You forgot you'd write songs with me tonight. At my studio. Sabi mo babalik ka?" Sabi ni Lay, and I blinked rapidly.

I did?

Nang tignan ko naman si Lay ay agad kong nakuha ang nais niyang iparating. He was trying to save me from an argument.

"Right. Let's go," sabi ko, at saka sumama na kay Lay, only to have Woozi hold me back again.

"Why are you going with someone else when we are still talking? And who's this?" Tanong ni Woozi, and I cleared my throat.

Inialis niya ang hawak niya at saka naman nang sasagot na ako ay inunahan ako ni Lay.

He stepped in front me at saka inialis ang shades na suot.

"It was clear she was uncomfortable in the situation. Besides, she wanted to quit talking anyway. And I'm Lay Zhang, Freya's my friend. We work together mostly," sabi ni Lay, at saka naglakad palapit kay Woozi.

I held his arm trying to hold him back, dahil kahit paano ay ayaw kong maramdaman ni Woozi na ipinagpapalit ko siya o kung ano man. I mean, I'm allowed to have other friends but I feel like I'm betraying him somehow.

"We were trying to solve something," sagot ni Woozi, at ngumiti naman si Lay.

"Solve things out with a clear and calm mind. You, of all people, should know about that. You seem pretty calm but right now, talk to her some other time," sabi ni Lay.

He held my hand, at saka pumasok na kami sa kotse na pinanggalingan niya. Sa pagsara ng car door, I couldn't help but look at how Woozi glared at Lay.

There was something in it that I couldn't explain.

Nag umpisa na sa pag andar ang kotse, at binitawan na ni Lay ang kamay ko na hindi ko namalayang hawak pa rin pala niya kanina.

"We cancelled activities because of what happened to Sulli. Wanna go to a cafe or something? To refresh our minds?" Sabi ni Lay, and I smiled before nodding.

Hindi mawala sa isipan ko si Woozi. Naguiguilty ako, pero nangingibabaw pa rin ang pakiramdam na nasasaktan ako. I've been looking for her for years, pero he hid her from me kahit na alam niya ang pangungulila ko sa taong unang nagparamdam sa akin ng tunay na pakiramdam ng magkaroon ng pamilya.

"Hi, Stella! The usual. Freya, ano sayo?" Tanong ni Lay, habang nakangiti pa. I could see he was tired, but he kept smiling. I just told him na kung ano nalang ang sa kanya.

"Hey, Lay. Coming right up. Aba, who's this?" Sabi nung Stella, and I smiled.

"Freya Santillan. My friend," sabi ni Lay, at ngumisi naman yung Stella na akala mo ay nang aasar.

"Kayong mga EXO members, mahilig kayo sa Santillan, ano?" Sabi ni Stella, and I furrowed my brows.

"What?" I asked, and she chuckled.

"Nothing, it's just that Baekhyun also used to come here regularly with Marione Santillan," sabi nung Stella, and I widened my eyes slightly.

Really?

Nang makuha na namin ang order namin ay agad naman akong nakareceive ng text message so I opened it.

From: Woozi
Talk to me whenever you feel like nalang. Let's talk about it some other time. Magpalamig muna tayong pareho ng ulo. I'm a call away kung handa ka nang makipag-usap.

I sighed.

He's right. Magpapalamig muna kami.