my sweet escape. park jihoon

16

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CHAPTER.16
ELEANOR

"Let's go," Nine said, calmly. She held my hand and pulled me inside the mansion. I was still frightened, I feel humiliated. I feel anxious. Gusto kong umiyak. Natatakot ulit ako.

"Baby, no. Don't cry," hindi ko napansin na may luha na palang pumatak sa pisngi ko. Nine wiped my tear with her thumb and held my cheeks.

"Don't worry, Eli. I'm always here, I'll keep you safe." she held me tight and hugged me.

We were already at the kitchen, kung saan kaunti lang ang mga tao pero nag-aalala pa din ako. Nakakatakot talaga, baka mamaya biglang may mang-hipo sa akin. I'm so scared. I don't want this. I don't like it here. The excitement just left my body, parang gusto ko na lang umuwi.

"You want a drink?" Nine asked me while I lean on the kitchen counter. I nodded in response.

Nine walked away to search for the bar area of the house. Sa sobrang laki ng bahay, pwede kang maligaw. Nakakatakot talaga maging mag-isa dito, knowing na halos lahat ng tao dito hindi ko kilala.

I hugged myself trying to stop myself from shaking. I can't breathe properly. Kinakabahan ako. Hindi ako sanay sa mga ganito. Lahat ng tao dito ay kilala ko lang mula sa itsura at hindi sa pagkatao nila kaya takot na takot ako. Mahirap magtiwala.

Pagtingin ko sa paligid ko, nakita ko ang mga pamilyar na mukha mula sa school namin. Nag-iinuman at naghahalikan sa sulok ng kusina. I just stayed there, feeling frightened about everything. I just want to breakdown in this party.

Nabigla ako nang bumukas ang pinto sa kusina, akala ko bumalik na si Nine pero hindi pa pala. Pumasok si Junkyu, Hyunsuk at si Yoshi sa loob ng kusina, mukhang seryoso ang pinag uusapan nila. Then I remembered Jihoon, nag aalala ako sa kanya.

I took a step closer till they realize I was there. Their heads simultaneously turned in my direction. I was still shaking.

"Miss Eli," Junkyu called, with a serious tone in his voice. "Okay ka lang?"

I slowly nodded, pursing my lips. "Where's Jihoon?"

Nagtinginan silang tatlo, mukhang may pinag uusapan sila tungkol doon. Kinakabahan ako.

"Hindi siya pinapasok, nakipag-away, e." Junkyu responded and leaned on the counter in front of me.

"Is he okay?" I took a step forward.

"Okay lang siya, pero yung kamay niya hindi." sagot ni Hyunsuk.

I breathed out. I thought he hated me, why would he do that for me?

Maybe, it wasn't for me baka lang naman ayaw niya talaga doon sa lalaking 'yon. Ayaw kong mag-assume kasi baka masaktan ako.

Why am I even thinking about this?

"Here's your drink, babe," Nine entered the kitchen, once again, holding two drinks and she had her phone pinned under her armpit.

I looked at the drink she brought me, "Really? Coke?"

"Yeah, kasi I think you're so bad at drinking." She chuckled, fixing her dress. I just drank the cup and not say a word.

It's true naman. I'm bad at drinking. I don't think this is the right time to drink, lalo na't puro strangers ang mga kasama ko dito. Hindi ko na alam ano nang pwedeng mangyari sa susunod.