To The Stars And Back (Completed)

15: The Controversy

“Jiyeon.. open the door! Please..”

Nag mamadali ako sa pag pasok ng apartment at 'yun agad ang narinig 'ko. Rain and Seji are outside the CR kung saan nandoon yata si Jiyeon sa loob, nag kukulong. Mabilis akong tumakbo palapit sa kanila at tinanong kung kamusta siya.

“Hindi mo pa ba nababasa?”

“Her nude photos has been leaked. 'Yun 'yon, 'diba?” Seji nodded at binalik na ang tingin pintuan. “Why is she shutting us down?”

Mahina akong tinulak ni Rain paatras, “This is not the time to be insensitive, Chaein. Please.”

But i wasn't.. i clearly understand what she's going through. I'm not here to judge her actions again. Because i already know why she's being so harsh to me. She's got anger issues because of the trauma she's experiencing right now.

Nanggilid ang luha sa mata 'ko, “Who.. who posted it?”

“Chaein?”

“Gem!” tawag 'ko pag kakita sa kaniya sa taas.

Mahina akong tinulak ni Seji at sinabihan na sumunod muna ako kay Gem at sila na daw bahala kay Jiyeon. Wala akong kaalam alam sa nangyayari pa talaga kaya sumunod na lang muna ako at pumasok sa kwarto niya.

Pag pasok 'ko, nando'n si Minji, umiiyak, ang dami pang tissue ang nakakalat sa kama nila gawa niya. I sat  beside her habang si Gem ay sa dulo ng kama naupo. Palipat lipat ang tingin 'ko sa kanilang dalawa, nag hihintay kung sino ang mag ku-kwento.

Nanginginig ang boses 'ko.. “Paano.. sino.. who did this to her?”

“We don't know that too! She's not saying anything! We asked Manager Cheong if he knows, but he said wala rin sinasabi si Jiyeon sa kaniya! Argh! Naiinis narin ako kay Jiyeon! Bakit ayaw niya mag open?!” panay ang hikbi ni Minji.

Hinaplos 'ko likod niya na halos hindi na ata makahinga sa kakahikbi niya.

“I didn't know she was going through a lot. They checked the details of her photos at 'yung mga dates.. some of it were taken years ago. Months after our debut stage, doon nag simula 'yung nudes.” kwento ni Gem.

“The person who posted it was pretty smart. Hindi nila mahuli huli kung sino siya, they can't even trace his accounts. Even if they did, the name was still anonymous. Mukhang planado niya talaga na ikalat nudes ni Jiyeon.”

Ang bigat. If i was Jiyeon, hindi rin magiging madali para sa akin na sabihin 'to sa iba. Kahit sobrang hirap na ng dinaranas 'ko.. baka ikikimkim 'ko parin 'to sa kanila.

I would find it embarrassing.. if i share it to them. Pero kahit ganoon, i'd still try to open it to someone i trust the most. Someone like Seji, since i'm closest to her and we click in many things. Siya, she's closest to Rain. She shouldn't have hesitated to approach her.

Lumakas pa ang hagulgol ni Minji habang ang tissue ay nasa ilong, “I'm really scared for Jiyeon! She's been so silent lately and i didn't even notice it! Silent people are more scary when handling these situations! What if — ”